About this title: In her most intimate and seamlessly crafted work to date, award-winning author Adichie turns her penetrating eye not only on Nigeria but on America as well, in 12 dazzling stories that explore the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the U.S.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf, New York, Toronto.
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780307397898ISBN:0307397890
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. Signed and Dated By Author. A VERY FINE, unread copy of the FIRST NORTH AMERICAN EDITION. FIRST PRINTING. In VERY FINE jacket. " AS NEW.". SIGNED and DATED by the author on the title page. DATED: JUNE 11th., 2009. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780307271075ISBN:0307271072
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. Signed by Author Rust/orange binding/boards, gilt titles. Signed on title page. National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist by the author of Half of a Yellow Sun. Unread, as new in like DJ in Mylar with a faint boxcutter scratch to back panel of DJ. 218 pp. read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: Random House Inc
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780307271075ISBN:0307271072
Description: New. In her most intimate and seamlessly crafted work to date, award-winning author Adichie turns her penetrating eye not only on Nigeria but on America as well, in 12 dazzling stories that explore the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, A... read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly imported from the UK using International Priority Airmail. Delivery is typically 5-10 working days. Please do not select expedited shipping. Heavier and more expensive items have tracking number. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). read more
"A collection of graceful and evocative stories that portray Nigeria as the rich and diverse nation it truly is. The tension between Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans, and the question of what it means to be middle-class in each country, feeds most of these dozen stories. I read the author's other books as well, and this is my favorite!"
"When I heard someone on NPR mention that Adichie was, figuratively speaking, "Chinua Achebe's daughter", I knew I had to read this book -- not because I love Things Fall Apart (which I do), but because it always strikes me as short-sighted to compare a writer to another writer merely because of their homeland, in this case, Nigeria. I had a feeling that Adichie's writing would be all her own, and it was -- there is only one story that very blatantly mirrors the style of Achebe's writing (the last story in the collection), giving a wink and a nod to Achebe by also mentioning the name Okonkwo. The rest of the stories are very much a modern outlook on the Nigerian woman's experience, whether she is living, somewhat forlornly and guiltily, in North America, or dealing with change and suffering in the country of her origin. Every story is brilliant, but not in a way similar to Achebe's famous novel -- they are brilliantly independent, not to be sold in a set with Achebe but to be lauded all their own. Not only is Adichie a fantastic Nigerian woman author, she's simply a fantastic author."
"This brilliant collection of short stories once again overcame my hesitance about the form and presented me with a wonderful collection of tales and characters that left me with a single regret: that each story would instead be a novel. While some of the stories are about the themes you might "expect" from Adichie, she also ventures into other areas with very different characters. All in all I thought there was always something to relate to, something touching, and something to learn from. I would highly recommend it!"
"Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes of displacement. Of loss, of dysphoria, and of strange new begins for disseminated people in strange lands - which is some instances is their own country. She has the uncomfortableness of it all down to a science. She brings in the familiar, she talks of the past. She has concise images of family, friends, and former lives newly forgotten and traded away for the future. America seems to play the reluctant role of redemption, although it is always with a price. Going back home to Africa is sometimes the answer, but never one that appears to make anything better.
There is a sadness to her characters, she lets the reader see them for what they are. But unfortunately she is a bit too predictable, and seems unable to develop her characters. A few chapters, most notably: Cell One, and A Private Experience, are brilliant. Unfortunately the majority, are not. I really like the ideas, direction, and concept behind many of her pieces, yet the execution didn't keep my interest, and I found my mind wandering.
I know this is probably an unpopular position to take, but I wonder if it was the subject matter that prevailed in this collection being published. Timing, current events, potential sales, and world interest/guilt can play heavily towards a book being presented to the public.
In the stories that do shine, Adichie proves she is an excellent writer. Perhaps I need to read some of her other work."
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