My thoughts on Americanah

Peace be unto you readers and bloggers. This is a different read and review compared to what I normally blog about…

Anyways, I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. One is the fact that it addresses so well the challenges immigrants face abroad; especially the United States and the UK.

Another reason is the fact that it felt a little too real for me as I’m also an Americanah to some extent. I immigrated to the USA to further my studies when I was in my late teens. I felt the struggles of the protagonist and lived many scenarios as well. All I can say that, I’m grateful to have succeeded abroad because many loose their ways.

So race, love, bigotry, culture, corruption, religion and almost all other social ills; the book addresses it tactfully. It’s hilarious yet serious.

Three quotes stayed with me amongst many others and there are true:

• Enemy of progress (This was used to denote a uppity black British woman who looked down on African Immigrants)
• Immigrant is code for Muslim (This was used in a conversation to refer to the state of politics in the UK at some point in time)
• An African becomes black when he or she comes to the USA. Before that, race doesn’t matter to him or her and it’s a rude awakening.

I give it a 4/5. Not 5 stars because in writing you have to show rather than tell and this book does it well. However, sometimes, things were so subtle and if you didn’t carefully read between the lines you missed the point.

Overall, it’s very thought-provocative and spares no one or no race! 😛

Thank you for reading and Gob bless!

Papatia Feauxzar