Rating: Summary: Great story teller Review: The first book that I have read on Africa that was wrien from the view of an African. Since this is Achebe's native land he is able to tell the real stroys about the real cultrue, traditions, their way of life and the way they viewed outsiders. Know I can relate to what the first slaves brought to this country must of thought and felt.
Rating: Summary: It was a book. Yeah..... I could groove to it. Review: Well everyone, from a socio-cultural standpoint, the book is quite worth reading. It is by no means a book that I would choose to read on a recreational basis. The diction is dignified yet simple and the book can be read in a day. The novel is a critical account of British colonialism inflicted upon an African tribe. It is fascinating and evokes solemn emotion. Things Fall Apart is used to broaden knowledge, an extremely important component of modern African Literature. Perhaps it is profound, read to find out.
Rating: Summary: this book blows Review: i hated this book. it's horrible. just a bunch of stories that happened to the same few people. no plot, lousy tales, and distant characters.
Rating: Summary: Read This Book Review: The first two-thirds of "Things Fall Apart" is an affectionate description of the culture of an Ibo clan told from an insider's viewpoint, focusing on the life of Okonkwo, one of his tribe's most respected leaders. The customs and religion of the Ibo village are described with sympathy and simplicity, creating a sense of nostalgia for a way of life completely exotic to Western sensibilities, but making the reader feel the force and logic of a traditional culture seen from within. This idyllic description is clouded by the reader's awareness of the culture's fragility, a foreboding sense of pity and of looming disaster. Disaster comes, of course, in the shape of white missionaries. In the last part of the story, evangelizing Christians and English colonial administrators establish themselves in the Ibo village, and act to corrode and unravel the traditional life of the Ibo people. An escalating series of misunderstandings and conflicts between the whites and natives lead to the inevitable tragic ending. In the last paragraph of the novel, the perspective shifts suddenly to that of the English colonial adminstrator, and ends with one of the most powerful and affecting last lines of any novel I've read.This book was thoroughly enjoyable, and I recommend it unreservedly.
Rating: Summary: Compact, Easy Read Review: Achebe gives us, in a brief novel that most can read in a day, a gripping story. While it is essentially the story of the Western take-over of a region of Africa, Achebe presents this take-over in a unique way. The novel follows Okonkwo and his exploits. At first, from Okonkwo's perspective, the Christian missionaries are a side-note to the daily routine of African life, then as the missionaries gain more and more influence, they take center stage in Okonkwo's life. Gripping. The previous reviewers mentioned some interesting aspects of this book. One says that "Things Fall Apart" gives legitimacy to highly structured African culture. Very true and excellent insight. I suppose I couldn't see the forest through the trees in this case. UBU35 claims that this is a book by a male for males. Although Chinua Achebe is a man, I think the male-domination theme of this book is more to caputre the spirit of African culture, which is definately male dominated. Instead of sexism on Achebe's part, I think it is more of a litterary device to capture the African culture. This is also true for Achebe's using short, simple sentences. In all, a great read.
Rating: Summary: Great book Review: Things Fall Apart is a great book that really shows how harsh we as westerners can be on secluded societies that we know nothing about. Achebe does a wonderful job relating to us what a negative effect imperialism in Africa and Asia had on its natives. Great book that points out some good moral qualites. A+
Rating: Summary: a remarkably well-known story Review: Things Fall Apart was written to enlighten western culture to the validity of African culture, how it follows distinct patterns and rules, however different from the west as they might be. Achebe encapsulates the culture of a man in ruin and identifies the logical iconoclasts, whereby culture and the people within it are defeated. The novel was written from a west-African third person perspective of a community of Igbo people and their own local legend, a man named Okonkwo. We explore the way life is for Okonkwo and his traditional people and how Okonkwo has grown proud and strong to overcome the memory of his weak father. Gradually, life changes for Okonkwo, starting with the accidental killing of a child and an exile to the land of his mother. Life gets progressively worse with the introduction of western culture--Okonkwo refuses to adapt to the changing culture and loss of personal security and pride. In the end, both internal and external forces of the character's demise are profoundly understood.
Rating: Summary: I've read better Review: I read this book for a college report, and, like most of my class, didn't much care for it. The tale itself, though coming close to historical accuracy, is bland and dry. The characterization is not developed or presented in an interesting way, and, in essence, it's a book by a man for male readers. There is little depth. There is also much repetition. For example, chapter three, page 12: "Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men usually had." Page 13: "With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had." It is difficult to relate in any way emotionally to the characters, especially Okonkwo, and such makes it difficult to really care what happens to them. From a historical perspective, this book is worth reading to learn how the British colonization of Africa effected the Africans, but I wouldn't recommend it for enjoyment.
Rating: Summary: it is awesome Review: wow this book was awssome. I mean can there be anymore stars. Come on i know you all putmore. give it a couple more stars. All the action scenes and blood and drama. there is no other book that comes close. you all it is awesomw so buy it. I'LL MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET_______ BUY THE BOOK!
Rating: Summary: A Classic Review: This is a quick and easy read, but that is owing to the great economy of Achebe's writing rather than a lack of content. On the contrary, the book is overflowing with ethnographic details which paint a colorful and unforgettable picture of Umuofia and the Ibo people. The changes which take place when the missionaries set in are mesmerizing. Without a doubt, this is among my very favorite novels.
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