On a scale of 1-5 stars (5 being the best) how do you rate Half of a Yellow Sun?
* Loathed it
0%
[ 0 ]
**
9%
[ 1 ]
***
9%
[ 1 ]
****
18%
[ 2 ]
***** Loved it
45%
[ 5 ]
Gave up on it (explain why below)
9%
[ 1 ]
Didn't read this one
9%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 11
Author
Message
miranda An Addicted Babbler
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject:
I agree Amarie, but I like it when an author leaves you wanting to know more about the characters, to me it emphasises that you are just seeing a snapshot of them.
_________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
I've just finished it and loved it! I read most of it in a day, would have finished it yesterday if my boyfriend hadn't come to bed early and turned out the light on me. I loved the style, jumping around people and it's made me want to read more similar stuff. I read Things Fall Apart the other week and it was interesting to read how Nigeria progressed after the English had been.
I too didn't know about the war, I'd heard the word Biafra but didn't really know what it was, as the war finished 11 years before I was born. It was really interesting to read about something I didn't know much about.
Agree though that some of the plot twists weren't very twisty. _________________ Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing
I am starting this book tonight, I moved it to the top of my TBR pile as have read so many good reviews on it. _________________ Currently reading: William Boyd - Restless
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:
Just started reading this one today, while awaiting news on the October choices. _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:
miranda wrote:
What a brilliant brilliant read. I cried through the last 50 pages it is soooo sad. You really care for all the characters even though none of them are perfect. I learned a lot about Nigerian history and I canīt stop think about it. Probably my top read this year, as well as Regeneration by Pat Barker. Will def write more when I get home, but I am on a timer here
*Really good point that none of the characters are perfect. I guess the demands of the situation mean "every man for himself" ...? I kept on having to pause during reading it too, sad, upsetting, thought-provoking phew!
When I first started reading it I wished I had it on Audiobook so I could hear the names of people and places said correctly- Oh, and try the food - jollof rice and pepper soup
My favourite character was Kainene, and as such
Spoiler:
I guess I found the ending unsatisfactory with its lack of resolution. Are we supposed to hope that like Ugwu she would be found (dead or alive) ?
I had looked at Purple Hibiscus in the library before, but never really fancied it. On the back of Yellow Sun however I will definetly check it out. _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 309 Birthday: 11th April
Location: Cheltenham
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:
At last got round to reading this and would give it 3 stars. Just to pick up on some queries/points that the others make and give my view on it:
Spoiler:
Quote:
I guess I found the ending unsatisfactory with its lack of resolution. Are we supposed to hope that like Ugwu she would be found (dead or alive)?
I also found the ending a little unsatisfactory because of this ... I think we are supposed to make up our own mind about Kainene's fate. Personally I think it is very unlikely she would be found; but I also felt that Ugwu's reappearance felt unrealistic.
Quote:
I had looked at Purple Hibiscus in the library before, but never really fancied it. On the back of Yellow Sun however I will definetly check it out.
I have read Purple Hibiscus and would say that Half a yellow sun was more accomplished ...
Quote:
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.
I think this was a interesting confliction/contradiction in both the characters and morals of Olanna and Odenigbo. I felt that this was exactly that - that Ugwu had become like a son to them (and brother to Baby), they were so afraid of what would happen to them. Olanna, especially, had witnessed some of the horrors of war and did not want to lose Ugwu in this way.
Quote:
Oh and I guessed that Baby was Amala's as soon as we found out she was pregnant, did anyone else?
Yes, I guessed this because even before we know that Amala is pregnant we are introduced to Baby with her calling Olanna 'Mummy Olanna' instead of just Mummy. I guessed that this was someone elses child at this point and as soon as it became obvious what was happening with Odenigbo and Amala I guessed the baby would be theirs.
I felt this book was very political ... and after hearing some questions put to the author at the Cheltenham Literature festival last week I feel this even more ... but also felt the book had a lot of heart and explored the key relationships well. I did feel shocked at the rape scene with Ugwu (as we were meant to) but felt this was massively out of character and a little unnecessary. I also felt that it would have been interesting to know how Kainene was able to forgive Olanna -- this seemed to be swept under the carpet a bit too quick. I found this book quite difficult to get into initially (the nigerian words and small print don't help), I then couldn't put it down but ultimately, I felt a little let down by the end. I'd give it 3 stars.
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