Monday, June 30, 2014

On a reading high


So last Sunday, we decided to stay at home and just catch up on whatever stuff that needs catching up on. For me of course, that would have to be reading. As I slept at 8 pm last Saturday night, I woke up at 3 am, logged on to Facebook (goodness, 390+ likes for that photo!), checked my emails and downloadables, and started reading this latest novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah.

I bought Americanah on a whim, as I think I remember reading about it that the novel was optioned by Lupita Nyong'o. With my A to Z classics challenge, I figured I wasn't recently reading contemporary novels more often than before.

And then I checked the clock on my wall. It was already 8 am! I almost missed breakfast! Americanah is that good, dear reader. No wonder it received a lot of awards this year and last. The hype is oh so true! Read it! Read it! Read it!

I can't remember the last time I was so enamored with a book. So passionate I felt about this novel that I just wanna rush to the nearest bookstore and get all the novels written by Ms Chimamanda. I actually called my favorite bookstore and found out that they have only Americanah in stock, and there's no news as to whether they'll stock the earlier works of this author. Sucks vacuum cleaners.

The last time I felt like this after discovering a very talented author was after finishing José Saramago's The History of the Siege of Lisbon. That novel instantly converted me into a Saramago fan, making me read most of his novels. But The History of the Siege of Lisbon will always be my favorite Saramago. The novel combined history with proofreading! Orgasmic.

The hunt is on for the works of Ms Chimamanda. I never figured that I'd be interested in fiction which is very much centered on Nigeria. Americanah is just too beautiful, and I hope that the author's other works would be just as satisfying as this one.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Peter,
You should definitely try to get hold of 'Half of a Yellow Sun' by Adichie. It's breath-taking, and I have been saving Americanah since I secretly fear it won't match up to my favourite :)

Sharanya

Peter S. said...

Hi, Sharanya!

I will definitely try to get my hands on 'Half of a Yellow Sun.' Our local bookstores don't stock it, but I've been pestering them every since I read Americanah.

G said...

I have a copy of Half of a Yellow Sun, culled from one of my usual Booksale haunts for P50. I hardly go to bookstores now.

Peter S. said...

I will definitely go to Booksale! Thanks for the heads up, G!

Ziasab said...

Her Ted talk " The danger of a single story", is one of my favorite Ted talks.Hope i can find a copy of this book :).

Peter S. said...

Hi, Ira! I just saw it. Thanks for reminding me about her Ted Talks appearance!