Rating: 
Summary: it's all good
Review: March 2, 2000 The overall summary of, " Things Fall Apart", by Chinua Achebe, is that it's focused on imperialism and the reforms of Africa by European settlers, particularly concerning the Igbo people. European settlers had come to Africa to make it a modern society, but the Igbo's were far from the stereotypical view of them as being savages that had no morals or laws. This was because they are in a land, which the Europeans thought was a place to expand Calvinist ideas, survival of the fittest. The Igbo people were not like this, they had ways of dealting with their problems, they had a justice system, a currency system, and also having an economy that relied on agriculture. Another problem arose from the problem with religion. The reformers, besides wanting to make Africa modern, wanted to spread their religion to the Igbo, Christianity, but the Igbo already had their own faith. These reasons would then cause disputes and ultimately war between the two societies. Some exciting points in the book were when the Feast of the New Yam had arrived. This feast meant that there were going to be many festivities and exciting events that were going to take place. All the people in the village, besides Okonkwo, were invigorated by this event. One of the events that were going to take place was wrestling matches. The Wrestling matches are somewhat important because that was how Okon- kwo met his second wife, Ekwefi. Ekwefi fell in love with Okonkwo when he defeated Amalinze, also called "Cat", in a wrestling match. Another exciting point in the book was when Okonkwo and his family had to go to Mbata for 7 years because Okonkwo had accidentally killed Ezeudes' son. During that time, Okonkwo's village was burned and someone had sold all of his yams. This book, in my opinion, is an excellent book because it describes what was taking place in Africa during its reformation by European settlers. The story is first person narrative of what the Umouifio tribe and certain main characters were going through. These kind of stories are usually about how the settlers came and modernized Africa and very little was said of how it affected the people. "Things Fall Apart" is a perfect book because it describes the customs of the people and how they were affected by the changes that were going around them and also, how were they were handled.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid book that expressed truth and reality
Review: This book brought out a certain expression of truth and reality that gave me a different view on what Nigeria personally went through in such a horrible time. In being Nigerian, Achebe was able to capture to truth about how the country reacted in a fictional story. By including a historical truth in a story that gave one a sense of what really occurred sets what Achebe can do out from everyone else. The book was well-written and stressed a strong point. Achebe seemed to see a need for those who don't understand the truth of the concept to grasp it better and see what Achebe sees. He was able to combine his writing talent and ability with his knowledge and will to stress a point when he desires. However, this book wasn't perfect. If it was, I would've given it five stars. Achebe in this book used possibly too many names that were uncommon and hard to remember. I often found myself flipping back pages to remember who he or she was and what significance they had to the story. Also, when it was translated to English, some Nigerian facts or understandings were not completely cleared in English. This sometimes made it hard to relate and perplexed me. But if those are the only flaws noticeable to a reader like myself, I believe this book is noteworthy of a solid review.
Rating:
Summary: Okonkwo is cool
Review: Derek DeGennaro March 2, 2000 Things Fall Apart Part I This book begins talking about Unoka. Unoka was known to be lazy and improvident. Unoka's was the father of Okonkwo. As Okonkow grew older he realized how much he did not want to take after his father. When Unoka died, Okonkwo didn't inherit anything because Okonkwo was poor. He didn't have farmland as others did. As Okonkwo grew older, in time he gained high rankings in his tribal clan. He was gifted with three wives and many children. Okonkwo had a very bad agricultural life. The first year he planted his yams the blazing sun scorched everything green on his farmland. The second year Okonkwo planted seeds the rains pored so heavily that the city almost floated away. Okonkwo kept telling himself that he is not a failure. With his persistence he was able to grow yams and other crops for his family. After the harvest Okonkwo received a message from the Oracle saying the child named Ikemefuna had to be sacrificed. The child was very close to Okonkwo. This was a horrendous tragedy and caused Okonkwo many sleepless nights. During a major feast Okonkwo suffers yet another terrible mishap, for a ceremony Okonkwo fired a gun and it exploded ending up killing a sixteen year old boy. For this reason Okonkwo and his family were exiled to his Motherland for seven years. After the seven-year period, Okonkwo came home to a conflict of his people and white men that were trying to take over Umuofia. When Okonkwo finds this out he decides to fight back... You must read this book if you want to find out how Okonkwo and his family survive. Part II There were many exciting events in "Things Fall Apart". One exciting event was when Okonkwo was sent to his Motherland for seven years. I think this event was very surprising to see how foreign cultures adapt to different situations. One circumstance that I didn't care for in this novel was when Okonkwo let Ikemefuna be killed as a sacrifice for the gods. I think if he stopped this from happening it would have giving me a better understanding of protecting your own people. Part III My evaluation of this book is three and ½ stars. I especially liked this book because Chinua Achebe brings the reader through one mans life and death. Even though this book had a few loose ends I thought it was a great book for all ages.
Rating: 
Summary: Okonkwo
Review: Derek March 2, 2000 Things Fall Apart Part I This book begins talking about Unoka. Unoka was known to be lazy and improvident. Unoka's was the father of Okonkwo. As Okonkow grew older he realized how much he did not want to take after his father. When Unoka died, Okonkwo didn't inherit anything because Okonkwo was poor. He didn't have farmland as others did. As Okonkwo grew older, in time he gained high rankings in his tribal clan. He was gifted with three wives and many children. Okonkwo had a very bad agricultural life. The first year he planted his yams the blazing sun scorched everything green on his farmland. The second year Okonkwo planted seeds the rains pored so heavily that the city almost floated away. Okonkwo kept telling himself that he is not a failure. With his persistence he was able to grow yams and other crops for his family. After the harvest Okonkwo received a message from the Oracle saying the child named Ikemefuna had to be sacrificed. The child was very close to Okonkwo. This was a horrendous tragedy and caused Okonkwo many sleepless nights. During a major feast Okonkwo suffers yet another terrible mishap, for a ceremony Okonkwo fired a gun and it exploded ending up killing a sixteen year old boy. For this reason Okonkwo and his family were exiled to his Motherland for seven years. After the seven-year period, Okonkwo came home to a conflict of his people and white men that were trying to take over Umuofia. When Okonkwo finds this out he decides to fight back... You must read this book if you want to find out how Okonkwo and his family survive. Part II There were many exciting events in "Things Fall Apart". One exciting event was when Okonkwo was sent to his Motherland for seven years. I think this event was very surprising to see how foreign cultures adapt to different situations. One circumstance that I didn't care for in this novel was when Okonkwo let Ikemefuna be killed as a sacrifice for the gods. I think if he stopped this from happening it would have giving me a better understanding of protecting your own people. Part III My evaluation of this book is three and ½ stars. I especially liked this book because Chinua Achebe brings the reader through one mans life and death. Even though this book had a few loose ends I thought it was a great book for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: love it
Review: Things Fall Apart was an exceptional book. It gave us insight on how life was back in that time frame. I really enjoyed the book.
Rating:
Summary: Good presentation of European expansion into Africa
Review: This is the story of Okonkwo, a young man living in the land of Umuofia in Africa. He is a strong warrior whose life is dominated by fear and anger. As the story develops, the author gives a clear picture of the everyday life of Okonkwo's tribe, the Ibo. The author deals explicitly with the family life and the religion of the Ibo people. Many of the aspects of this primitive life seem savage and uncivilized to many readers, such as the ritual killing of children and polygamy. About half-way through the book, the local tribes come into contact with British missionaries who settle around them in the hopes of spreading the Christian Faith. This is the point where things begin to fall apart for Okonkwo and his fellow tribesmen as the European missionaries for the most part wish not only to "Christianize" the tribes of Umuofia, but to completely wipe out their African heritage and customs, and to turn the land into a sort of British colony. Sadly, this method of completely wiping out one's culture and replacing it with the culture of one's homeland has been used by many of the mission efforts of Western Christendom throughout the centuries. The author is very descriptive about the tragic effects this form of mission work can have on a culture. Christian missionaries may find this book offensive. However, I believe that it should be read by anyone considering Christian missionary work. The cultural insensitivity exhibited by the missionaries in this book is a pitfall into which all missionaries are in danger of falling in their attempts at spreading the Gospel. For a more Orthodox approach to mission work, I recommend MONKS, MISSIONARIES, & MARTYRS: MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS by Fr. Luke Alexander Veronis (Light & Life Publishing).
Rating:
Summary: Delicious
Review: It is seldom that my lover and I find a book that we both enjoy so much. The book built up towards a climax until I couldn't take it anymore. When it was finialy over I found myself wanting more. Huzzah and kudos to Mr. Achebe
Rating: 
Summary: Bad, Bad book
Review: I am sorry, but this book is just plain horrible. there is no plot to speak of, the characters are bland and not very original and the style of writing nearly put me to sleep. If you want to read good african literature, read Cry the Beloved Country!
Rating:
Summary: Why "Things Fall Apart" proves a point
Review: About a month ago I was assigned to read a book from a suggested reading list in my Lit. & Comp. course. Last Thursday I decided I should probably start looking for a book to read. Since "Things Fall Apart" was readily available, free, and short I decided to go for it. Starting out I thought it was pretty drab and boring. Talking about customs and rituals in some African tribe. "Who cares?" I thought. Slowly as I got deeper into the novel I was beginning to realize something. Achebe put all the tribal information in the beginning to prove something. He proved that we as WASPs aren't always right. The fact that we went into a foriegn country and automatically decided that what we knew was right and everything else is wrong emits the strongest sense of ego possible. Achebe tries to prove that Europeans destroyed much of this planets culture with Onkonkwo and his struggle with life. Okonkwo tried and tried to become the best by achieving all four of his lands titles only to be squashed in the end by a bunch of hypocritical Christians. Americans view themselves as knowing what's right for everyone. None of them see the other point of view. A person knows what's right for them; so let them make their own decision
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional Literature
Review: I am mainly a science fiction fan who picked this up on a whim. I sat down and read the book straight through. The plot was excellent, but the really strong point of this is how the characters develop. I did get the feel from this of the destruction of African culture by the Europeans,yet there is a much subtler theme that is very strong. This is the theme of how customs, religions, and society in general is really only 'right' from you're own point of view. That is, what one considers acceptable is really just a reflection of the learned values of the culture one is raised in. There is no 'inferior' culture. The writing in general is excellent, and Achebe pulls this one off using an omniscient narrarator--something very difficult to do. I would say read this not because you are forced to for some school class but because it is such a totally unique and fulfilling novel.
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