In recognition of the Black Women History Month, Chimamanda’s book, Americanah, has been listed as one of 15 remarkable books by women that are shaping the way fiction was being written and read in the 21st century.
The book was listed by the New York Times Staff Book Critics among fiction books, each of which features a woman at its center, to mark Women’s History Month. The 15 books selected were fictional novels that addressed diverse issues (According to The New York Times).
Released in 2013, Americanah is the third novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This touching story follows the course of Ifemelu, a young Nigerian, who decides to leave her homeland for the United States to pursue her higher education. Leaving behind her great love, Obinze, as an African immigrant, Ifemelu tries to find its bearings and its place in an America where whites and African-Americans are themselves faced with their own questions.
“Americanah” brings news, on many fronts, about how a new generation of immigrants is making its way in the world. Dwight Garner (one of the NYT book critics), described it as a book that has “lessons for every human about how to live”.
Since 2013, Adichie has won several awards and recognition for the novel:
– The 2013 National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award
– Selected as one of the 10 New York Times Best Books Of The Year
– 2013 Heartland Award For Fiction by the Chicago Tribune
– The 2017 ‘One Book, One New York’ campaign by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and BuzzFeed in March.
Source: Vanguardngr