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Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

(Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)

(172)

| Library Binding | 9780791063361

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Book Description

This volume gathers together some of the best critical essays on Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Written in very straightforward prose, the simplicity of style belies the complexity of the novel in which there are no absolute stereotypes and no easy strategies for separating truth and fiction. ThContinue

11 Reviews

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*** This comment contains spoilers! ***

Someone not familiar with Nigeria (or the Ibo) may learn a few things. Not a masterpiece, though.

I have a fraternal twin brother, and he is alive. I studied sociology on a large campus where there were a few Nigerian students. I am embarrassed to say that I never heard about the practice of exposing twins as infants, until I read "Things Fall Apart". The book gives the impression that there is ... (continue)

I have a fraternal twin brother, and he is alive. I studied sociology on a large campus where there were a few Nigerian students. I am embarrassed to say that I never heard about the practice of exposing twins as infants, until I read "Things Fall Apart". The book gives the impression that there is even a high frequency of twin births. I wish I had access to some demographic data on this matter. (In August 2011, I see confirming data on the internet that Nigeria has a higher rate of twin births than most countries. Kodinhi, a village in Kerala, India, also has a very high rate of twin births.)<br />Perhaps part of the success of this novel was that it has been 'within the means' of many readers (it can be read without a great deal of investment of time). The 'economy' of the author may be accepted as a personal style. However, I feel that it is a weakness of the work that there is far too little attention paid to the psychologies, thoughts, and feelings of most of the characters in this novel. The protagonist, who remains the main focus, may be a tragic figure, but there is not much depth to him. I was hoping that the novel would include more from the perspectives of his sons, daughters, and wives --and neighbors, et. al.

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Philosopher said on Oct 13, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Once there was epic, and it was the story of how men tried to interpret in their own way the paths and destinies that the Gods had decided for them.
Then came novel, and it was all about men trying to live their everyday lives while forgetting that there would be no God beyond those everyday lives. ... (continue)

Once there was epic, and it was the story of how men tried to interpret in their own way the paths and destinies that the Gods had decided for them.
Then came novel, and it was all about men trying to live their everyday lives while forgetting that there would be no God beyond those everyday lives.
And then, in the end, came postcolonial literature, that speaks the tragic leap from epic to novel.

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il Ciri said on Feb 19, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

I enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting too. I'd wanted to read some books by African authors after we went to see the film Pumzi at the BL a few months back. I found this one in the library. It was MUCH more interesting than it sounded. The back cover basically told the story of 4/5ths o ... (continue)

I enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting too. I'd wanted to read some books by African authors after we went to see the film Pumzi at the BL a few months back. I found this one in the library. It was MUCH more interesting than it sounded. The back cover basically told the story of 4/5ths of the book in the summary paragraph (bad penguin). So instead of a book that looked just at the impact of colonisastion there was a lot of the village before the white people came. It was really interesting to read about the different culture and the people. I liked the religion and the magic, the approach to life. The guys who were just jerks and the intereactions between everyone. It was a harsh reality and there seemed to be quite a lot of child sacrifice. Despite being so short and covering so much time it gave an interesting glimpse at what life was like before and after the English came. Like the main character you were left wondering why there was not more protest. It seemed like colonisation happened when no one was looking or paying attention. Despite techinically having an MA in Asian and African history I feel like I know so little about Africa and should really change that.

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Robot-mel said on Oct 22, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

I found it a little entertaining, and liked the family descriptions. However, I couldn't find the reasons why it is so acclaimed.

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ariadna73 said on Mar 26, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Palm seeds have more purposes here...

Journey into the wild outback in the late 1800s in Africa, this is the tale of custom, tradition, matrimony, human behavior and spirituality.
Set within the confines of a small tribe and their usual yearly customs of farming yams and drinking palm wine, the village is progressive community. Quare ... (continue)

Journey into the wild outback in the late 1800s in Africa, this is the tale of custom, tradition, matrimony, human behavior and spirituality.
Set within the confines of a small tribe and their usual yearly customs of farming yams and drinking palm wine, the village is progressive community. Quarells sprout here and there but the people are able to handle it.
But suddenly, a terrible drought hits the small village like a hurricane leaving feilds barren and people starving, and the same time strange pale beings wander into the land coming from the Forbidden forest. These strangers bring animals, symbols, books and other strange customs alien to the African nomadic tribe. The sudden drought and this beings strange presence wasn't a coincidence, they bring demons to harm them.
The story line is well put together, language poetic and flowing, the characters bright and entertaining.-JuanCarletto

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JuanCarletto said on Aug 18, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback