Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Genre: Contemporary; Literary Fiction
Rating: 9/10
Fifteen-year old Kambili lives a very luxurious life with her older brother, Jaja. But everything is not as pretty as it seems. Kambili reveals that while their father is extremely generous and well-respected outside, he is a religious fanatic and a tyrant at home. Kambili and Jaja have only known silence and oppression at home, until they get sent to their aunt’s house during a military coup, where they discover life beyond their father’s authority.
This book was a breathtaking read. I first heard about Purple Hibiscus many, many years ago, but I had forgotten all about its existence till I found a second-hand copy of it recently. I went into the story, not knowing what to expect, and needless to say, I’m blown away.
The writing of Purple Hibiscus is so unique. Kambili’s voice is so young and innocent, and it really contrasts with all the torment she goes through at home. I felt that this served to highlight the horror of her situation even more, because her naivety at the start of the story meant that she would not try to escape her situation, no matter how terrible it was. Moreover, Adichie rarely stated Kambili’s feelings directly. Instead, she described the events in excruciating detail, painting a portrait of every character’s actions and reactions, allowing us to feel the emotions ourselves. It really helped to build the reader-to-character connection.
“Being defiant can be a good thing sometimes... Defiance is like marijuana - it is not a bad thing when it is used right.”
And wow, the characters. Every single one of them was so well-developed. I am literally floored by how tangible every character felt, even the very minor ones. In all honesty, I sometimes felt like I was reading a real person’s life story, and not fiction, because every character was so realistic. All of them had distinct traits and motivations, unique voices and thought processes, and many of the characters exhibited growth throughout the very short span of the book. It truly felt like watching a biopic playing out in my mind’s eye.
But what I really found impressive was how every character was so intricately developed. Kambili’s father is a literal tyrant. Some of the things he did made me feel as though he were soulless; and yet, he was genuinely big-hearted and provided help and money without a second thought, to all those who were poor and needy in his community. It was impossible to completely hate or completely love a particular character, because they all had their vital strengths and fatal flaws. I was truly enthralled by every single one of them.
Initially, I thought this book was going to be a tear-jerker, a sad story. And of course, there were many parts of the story that tugged at my heartstrings, but it was more than just that. This was a book about hope, in which an oppressed girl finds her voice. I loved how the plot maintained the delicate balance between the bad events happening around Kambili, and her inner voice that was always full of strength and hope. I think that made for a very meaningful read.
I also adored how the Igbo culture was incorporated into the story. Culture was the living, beating heart of the story; not just some aspect that showed up every now and then, and took a backseat afterwards. Looking back, the way Adichie introduced the Igbo culture to us reminded me of a quote from the book itself. “It was what Aunty Ifeoma did to my cousins, I realized then, setting higher and higher jumps for them in the way she talked to them, in what she expected of them. She did it all the time believing they would scale the rod. And they did.” Even if we didn’t understand the culture and practices initially, we slowly got used to it, and became a part of the culture itself by then of the book.
By writing in this style, Adichie avoided what many books do when writing a story in an unfamiliar setting; info-dumping. Adichie didn’t give us long monologues explaining the cultural practices, nor did she try to justify the practices that may seem slightly problematic to some. She just writes, showing us the sights as the narrative plays out, and allows us to experience the setting in our own way. This really appealed to me.
I also felt that the themes and topics raised in this book were beautifully and painfully portrayed. Many of these themes were ones I could personally resonate with, or ones which I could observe in the world around me. This really helped me build a deep connection to this story; something I rarely experience with other books.
All in all, this tender-voiced account of Kambili as she navigates her adolescence stirred up so many emotions. This book was equally soulful and full of hope, it was rich with culture and heritage, and was written with both simplicity and great skill. I am in awe, and I highly recommend this story to everyone.
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (1st reading)
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