Purple Hibiscus is the very first book of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and was short listed for the Orange Prize. Before, we delve into the multifaceted angles of the book, knowing the Author is a must. She is a Nigerian and has over the years became a prolific writer and spokesperson for women.
Purple Hibiscus is a testament to her profound ability to describe people and their lives encompassing all its complexities and layers in the most simplest language yet all the while, leaving an indefinable impression on the reader. From page one, till the last word, the pace of the events stays the same but the lows, highs and the turns are felt as intensely as a ruthlessly done ,edge of the seat suspense thriller or a heart breaking tragedy.
Our protagonist is a young school girl and the story unravels through her thoughts, actions and interactions. It happens against the backdrop of Nigeria as it goes through civil unrest and the culture and life of Nigerians permeates stealthily and slowly across the tale. She lives with her family with all the luxuries one could think of. Her Father, who is a rich and well respected Catholic Priest is a tyrant at home and mercilessly imposes religious ideals on his wife and kids. Her mother is an epitome of love, tolerance and deeply entrenched in the belief systems that society had created for her. Then there is her brother who is strong, loyal yet there is a storm raging in his heart and head. But our protagonist is silence personified. The book is full of her thoughts and she actually says very few lines which is very unusual considering she is the central character. Their lives goes through unimaginable changes after a short vacation with their cousins. The transformation does not hit you like a tornado but the effects are unmistakable.
The other aspect of the book is it shows how blindly following beliefs can actually do more harm than good. It justifies faith over religious practices and life's worthiness measured in laughter, togetherness and freedom from fear.
The brilliance of the book, i think, is the way it is written that can make you cry, tense, happy and fearful without you knowing it. As you move through events, you learn more about the characters and their changes. It is relatable to a common person because she appeals to people basic desires and interests. The yearning to experience freedom ,respect, joy is universal and that is the crux of it all.
This book is an intense but a beautiful read. Every page is special ,even the title is, as hibiscuses are rarely purple but the reason behind it is symbolic to the depth and range of this book.
Enjoy the read!
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