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Americanah

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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Publisher's summary

Shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2014.

From the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, a powerful story of love, race and identity.

As teenagers in Lagos, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. The self-assured Ifemelu departs for America. There she suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a blogger. But after so long apart and so many changes, will they find the courage to meet again, face to face?

Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today’s globalised world.

©2013 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

“Actress Adjoa Andoh brings to life Adichie’s complex, beautifully wrought novel – which is both a love story and a nuanced analysis of political topics including systemic racism in America; immigration in the UK; and the class system in Nigeria.” (Vogue)

"One of the previous decade’s landmark novels [...] Andoh is a skilled, exciting narrator." (The Times)

"Andoh's rich voice and distinct characters and rhythm keep the listener engrossed.... Andoh has fun adopting a mocking lilt for Ifemelu's snarky blog entries.... [and] a more serious tone brings authenticity to the heartbreak of Obinze's London experience." ( AudioFile)

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What listeners say about Americanah

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Such Great Narration of a Beautiful Story

Adichie is a phenomenal writer, achingly beautiful prose holding up life's contradictions to consider. I often backed up to hear a line again just to admire.

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Love Adichie!

If there's a book to read, is this one. it's her best book, in my opinion... but so hard to describe... I just loved loved loved it!

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Empowering

It was a long book but it was insightful. I learned a lot about race issues. I could relate to a lot of the love scenarios. I could relate to the cultural references. The book was authentic in its details, believable and well written. I like how it showed African romance in a positive light. It touched on very relevant issues regarding love and race in today's world.

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Outstanding novel and narration

One of the best audiobooks I've "read", with outstanding narration by actress Adjoa Andoh — though I will say that her American accents are more funny than accurate. If you've ever emigrated, or ever known anyone who has — or if you've just been in a relationship — worth a listen.

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Fantastic book

Unexpected and fantastic. This story is at once extremely specific and yet a bit universal. I loved the main character.

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Incredible narration, incredible story!

Loved this book, and Andjo Andoh is making an absolute incredible performance narrating - her accent skills are insane! I feel sad for the ones reading the book missing out on her narration. <3

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Interesting and a bit disturbing

The narrator goes home to Nigeria, and makes herself at home despite the challenges that presumably sent her away in the first place. The parts describing her uneasy years in the US seem spot-on. The parts in Nigeria are also interesting and insightful but I find it hard to believe the happy ending. Her lover comes back to her, but he is married, and has gotten rich through corruption. Is this so great? Maybe there is something I am not getting. I would have expected someone so insightful to grapple with that a bit more.

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Good Read

Initially, I struggled to get into the story but so glad I stuck with it. It is truly an charming and thought provoking story.

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Pure poetry

This book is an example of how good writing is a true gift; and this author is beyond blessed with it!

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Fantastic read!!!

The American accents weren't the very best but aside from that, everything was perfect. What a talented and captivating narrator and Chimamanda is a wonderful author! This book completely pulled me in and I am looking forward to reading everything else she has now. Just fantastic!!!

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