Oh and I guessed that Baby was Amala's as soon as we found out she was pregnant, did anyone else?

I thought the end was very sad because I had thought that they would all survive. Kainene was the last person I expected to go, since she was so strong throughout the story.

I definately learned a lot from this book though. I ahd no idea this war had even happened until I read it. But it didn't shock me any more than any other war story. These things are inevitably tragic and unnerving.

I like how both sisters threw themselves into helping in the war effort. It was a way of showing their similarity as twins.

Richard was an intersting character. He remains insecure throughout the whole book, in all aspects of his life - his writing, his relationship with Kainene and his position as a white man. His determination to speak Igbo fluently and his annoyance at being always considered an outsider displays that insecurity, and in the end he accepts that it wasn't really his war after all.

Odenigbo was different. He was the strong masterful one at the beginning and he seemed to sink lower as the story progressed while Ugwu, his scared little houseboy, grows and develops.

The World Was Silent When We Died - well, it usually is in this sort of situation. Its strange to think of life carrying on as usual for billions of people while these truelly horrible events are occurring.

This book really made me feel so ignorant of Africa & African history. I know very little about Nigeria despite knowing Nigerian people here in London & I remember hearing about Biafra when I was young & never hearing of it again until I read this book. It was a real eye opener! The inevitable war which it was obvious Biafra was never going to win as they had very little foreign support or recognition was shocking & sad but so like what is still happening in the world today.
I found the storyline/plot good but it could have been stronger. The relationship between Olanna & Kainene could have been better explained as from the beginning I never felt there was a strong bond between them.
Kainene was also a character I thought could have been better developed I love to know more of her history/background pre-Richard & what exactly was her relationship with Madu. She was a strong & complicated woman & I would have liked to see inside her mind some more rather than Olannas i.e. what attracted her to Richard & how did she forgive him!
Richard was also another character I'd liked to have got to know better & I would love to have learnt more through this book about the Igbo art he had gone to Africa to see. Olanna,Odenigbo & Ugwu were all excellent characters.
However I have one question how come if Olanna/Odenigbo were so patriotic that Ugwu was never encouraged to join the army & fight for Biafra? Olanna seemed to be afraid to let him go.