Thanks to those who commented last week about Harper Lee’s legacy and books; there was quite a good discussion with various excellent points raised. Now today is the Academy Awards, which has its share of controversy this year (or once again) for its lack of racial diversity in its nominations. Some actors are boycotting it, believing some films and actors have been overlooked. I read an interesting New York Times article this week, which is worth checking out called “What It’s Really Like to Work in Hollywood (*If … a straight white man.)” It gives some good insights by various actors about instances of discrimination and racism they’ve faced in the industry, which aren’t hard to believe. I’m sure Chris Rock will have a bit of a field day about the diversity issue, which should be good, when he hosts the Oscars tonight.
My guess is that the film “The Revenant” will likely take home a few of the big awards, perhaps Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor — though it’s quite a rough and brutal film. For that reason alone, it’s not exactly my favorite film of the year, but I’m glad I saw it — some of its shots and cinematography are exceptional and I liked its mystical and metaphorical qualities. I’ve seen most of the films nominated this year. My favorites were: “The Big Short,” “Spotlight,” and “Room.” After those I liked “Bridge of Spies,” “Brooklyn,” “Steve Jobs,” and “The Martian.” A couple others I saw this week were the foreign film “Theeb” and the documentary “Cartel Land.” Both were pretty good, and reminded me of how films such as “Spotlight” and “Cartel Land” that address such important issues can be so powerful. Three films I haven’t seen yet are: “45 Years” with Charlotte Rampling, “The Danish Girl” with Eddie Redmayne, and the Hungarian film “Son of Saul,” which is favored to win Best Foreign Film. I’m sure to get to them in time.
Meanwhile I (finally) finished Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2013 lengthy novel “Americanah” which is a book I picked for my book club to discuss next week. It’s a story that revolves around two main characters, Ifemelu and Obinze, who fall in love as teenagers growing up in Nigeria — and leave because of their country’s military dictatorship to pursue school — she in the States and he in England. They part ways for over ten years, but eventually meet again when they both return to live in Nigeria — both wondering how much the Western countries have changed them.
The novel is an African immigrant story that’s primarily about race and identity. Ifemelu, who never thought about being black in her native Nigeria, is forced to grapple with it for the first time when she comes to live in America. Her observations about race are shaped as she vies unsuccessfully for awhile to get employment, affordable housing, and finish her schooling. While in America, she has a relationship first with a rich white guy, and later with an African-American professor — while starting an anonymous blog about race in America that instantly becomes popular.
This was my first Adichie novel (I hope to get her other two sometime) and the three things I particularly liked about it were:
- Adichie and her protagonist Ifemelu have a very keen eye for observation. There were times when I thought: Wow how did she pick up on that. She seems to anticipate and know people, places, thoughts and bring them to light before you’re aware.
- “Americanah” is also highly readable and accessible and a breeze for the most part to get through.
- It’s ballsy too. Adichie addresses race head on in this book, not only about the subtle and non-subtle ways racism pervades the West, but also its variations as it pertains to African Americans and “Non-American Blacks.” It sheds considerable insight into the African immigrant’s experience and the mix between races.
My only slight criticism of the novel is that towards the end I thought it went on a bit too long and that it could’ve been cut shorter. I kept waiting for the two characters to finally meet up again. And perhaps in a few places certain aspects or characters seemed to be more just a foil for her commentary than add much to the story. Perhaps I liked diving into the story more than its over-abundance at times of commentary.
Lastly this week I finished the audiobook of Sonali Deraniyagala’s 2013 memoir “Wave” about a survivor of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka who lost her parents, her husband, and her two young boys when the wave hit. I’ve had it on my TBR list for a long time and finally downloaded it from the library — though I was duly scared of its horror and grief.
And right I was to be: as the first half is agony to listen to someone who’s lost their entire family. The shock and grief are stunning. I wanted to find the author’s family in my dreams and give them back her. I wanted to make the world right again for her. But only Superman could undo time. I was amazed by how well the audio’s narrator (Hannah Curtis) managed to get through parts of the book without breaking down. She read it well and was a pillar of strength when I was ready to crack.
I’m sure the book isn’t for everyone: it could be too much for some. But I think it does honor those in the disaster to read about victims stories and to know what happened. The earthquake and tsunami that followed were one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, killing 230,000 people in 14 countries. God, I remember exactly where I was when it happened on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) in 2004. I was at a ski resort with my family skiing in Colorado. How awfully incongruous life can be: people are dying by the thousands on the opposite side of the world — while others are surrounded by family getting on a chair lift. It made no sense and seems sickening — though it took awhile for the scope of the disaster to be fully known.
But the memoir isn’t total agony — as it goes on it becomes something more — a study of grief and memory over the passage of time. Whereas Sonali, the author, once couldn’t bear things that reminded her of her family, she now welcomes them and seeks to integrate the memories of her family into her everyday life. The book lightens towards the end and shines love into those she lost, going back in time to tell of their history together. I thought the book seemed very honestly and beautifully done. It has courage and heart and insight into the universality of the human experience.
How about you — have you read “Americanah” or “Wave” and if so, what did you think? Or what films were your favorites this year? Do you plan to watch the Academy Awards?
Yay! I am so glad you liked ‘Americanah’, Susan. I agree with you. It could have been shorter, and some of Ifemelu’s blogs seemed contrived. Which one are you planning to read next? I have got ‘Purple Hibiscus’ in my stash.
I haven’t heard of ‘Wave’. Thank you for writing about it. I am adding it to my TBR. I particularly loved this sentence in your blog — ‘I wanted to find the author’s family in my dreams and give them back her.’ How beautiful! Let me see if I can grab a copy.
Have a great week ahead, Susan. 🙂
Thanks Deepika — very kind of you. Yeah I agree with you on Americanah. I’ll take a break from her for awhile, but PH looks good. You might like Wave b/c the writing is powerful. chat later!
Thank you, Susan. Ordered ‘Wave’ today. I am looking forward to reading it.
Oh my. It’s rather heavy or sad but I look forward to hearing what you think about it.
Watching the Oscars with a friend tonight. (I don’t have TV in my house.) I have hardly seen any of the films but I usually do that. The Oscars are like a big preview of the year’s top films for me. I was going to give The Revenant a miss but your comment about the mystical and metaphorical qualities has me intrigued.
I wasn’t bothered by the long section at the end of Americanah because I felt she was showing readers what 21st century life is like in Nigeria and why she and the old boyfriend could not be together. After all, she spent all that time figuring out race in America, why shouldn’t I spend a few hours learning about her country.
I like what you said about Wave: “I think it does honor those in the disaster to read about victims stories and to know what happened.” I had never looked at it that way. After all, there but for the grace of God go I. In fact, that is why I read: to learn how it is for others who are not me.
You might still miss Revenant as it is relentlessly brutal –depending on how you handle that — there’s sprinkles of mystical & metaphorical which I liked but perhaps there’s not enough of it? Good points about Americanah — thanks. I need as many ideas about it going into book club discussion next Monday. I’ll try to come up with some Questions. Wave is pretty powerful. By the end I was impressed by the author
I’m glad to know that Americanah is easy to get through. I’ve been worried about its length since we picked it for our book club — we usually choose shorter books!
Yeah Joy — it can take awhile even though it’s highly readable. My advice is: start reading this one early!
I read wave and was so moved by it. How do you survive when everyone around you does not?! The beginning of the book was hard to get through, but then it just opened up and I’m glad I did read it. Heartbreaking though. I imagine the audiobook was wonderful.
Americanah sounds like a good read. I wonder if the book needing to be a bit shorter would turn off my reading group members. I’m putting on my TBR list now though.
Have a great week! And fun watching the Academy Awards! I have only seen a handful of the movies, with most on my future “watch” list, but I’ll be curious how The Revenant does. It just sounds so dark and disturbing. The book sounds interesting, and maybe without the on screen visuals, reading would be easier.
Thanks Suzanne. Yeah the audiobook of Wave is amazing. I actually thought the narrator was the woman; so real. Americanah is an interesting issues book and so might be perfect for a book club. Just have to start reading early. I was so glad The Revenant didn’t get Best Pic and that it went to Spotlight, wow! Surprised me, but I’m glad.
Gosh, I’m glad it’s Oscars’ Night. Though I wish I would have seen all films in contention. You talked about Spotlight being among the best this year and I agree. I saw Room last night and din’t move me as it should have given its topic; perhaps I just had to many questions. I feel the movie addressed some and others were left unanswered. Yesterday as well I watched Trumbo and thought it was brilliant; I liked it even more than Spotlight. I don’t know how great Leo was in Revenant but Bryan Cranston was superb in Trumbo. So far that’s for me the best movie of 2015. I would like to publish my own list and perhaps I will; I would have preferred if it had been before tonight.
I haven’t read Americanah, but have read great reviews of it, yours and Judy’s among them.
I hadn’t heard of Wave, but it brought to mind two movies about that tragedy: one is with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor from the last 5 years I think; I can’t recall its title. The other is Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon. Maybe those will put an image into what you read.
Thanks Carmen. I will add Trumbo to films I must see, great to know. I’m so glad Spotlight won Best Picture. I’m still quite surprised but glad The Revenant didn’t get it. I remember that Naomi Watts tsunami film. We saw it. I had to look it up to find the title: The Impossible. It was a story about the family of Maria Belon while on vacation in Thailand. Luckily they survived. It was quite good. I don’t think I’ve seen Hereafter; will check it out. thanks.
So what did you think of the Academy Awards. I thought Chris Rock and others made their point very well. I haven’t seen many of the films this year which were nominated so I really didn’t have any opinions. you had a good reading week. So did I but I’ve had a rotten reviewing week.
http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2016/02/sunday-salon-leap-day.html
Yes Anne I thought Chris Rock’s opening monologue at the Oscars was quite excellent. I thought he made valid points and was funny too. And I was pleased and surprised that Spotlight won Best Picture. Hooray for journalism. I will stop by and see what you’re up to. thanks!
Like you, I thought Americanah was a bit too long. And some of the minor characters felt a bit contrived (like the sister of her Professor boyfriend). But I hope to read Purple Hibiscus this year, because I agree that her prose is highly readable. I’ve heard of Wave, but I’ve never really considered reading it, fearing it would be too devastating. But now I’ll reconsider. 🙂
Wave is devastating but it conveys some thoughts that seem worthwhile to me. I’ve heard Adichie’s two earlier novels are better than Americanah. I’d be up for reading Purple Hibiscus sometime this year. Thanks for stopping by TJ.
I actually watched some of the nominated films ahead of time: Room, Spotlight, and Steve Jobs. I want to see The Big Short and Brooklyn. I was happy that Spotlight won Best Picture, and that Brie Larson, from Room, won Best Actress.
I thought the awards show was slightly better than usual, in that people were reminded to stop talking when the music rolled. It was kind of funny…
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Thanks Laurel. I’m also glad that Spotlight won and Brie Larson too. Wow great wins I think. The show was different this year with its format but it still went long!
I loved two of the author’s other books but Americanah…meh. It came across as preachy to me. An author with an agenda.
Thanks Deb. Interesting point. I’d like to read her two earlier books, others have told me they like them better as well. Though I still liked Americanah.
I didn’t watch the Oscars but, did see both The Revenant and Spotlight. I am so happy Spotlight one – I thought it was wonderful. I also loved the Big Short and while Revenant was good, too gory for me.
Thanks Diane. Yes I was so glad Spotlight won too. Wow it was wonderful to have it win: for the abuse issue, and for journalism. I’m glad Revenant did not get all the top awards.
I agree with you basically 100 percent on Americanah, both the praises and the criticisms. Maybe cut 20-50 pages and it’s a perfect book.
Oh thanks Kim. Glad to know you had the same issues –pro and con — with Americanah.
I think the author’s reflections on America were so astute! I’d hear the characters make an observation and I’d think “that is so spot on, but I wouldn’t have thought about it!”