The title, she says, is a nigerian word for those who have been to. Home cu book club research guides libguides at caldwell. Each kit has 510 copies of the title and comes with a discussion guide and signout sheet, all placed in a handy tote bag. You can help us build our book club kits collection by donating copies of books your group. Read the book and join us for our discussion on july 11. This is a fascinating look at racism in america from the perspective of a young nigerian woman. The questions, discussion topics, and other material that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about americanah, chimamanda ngozi acichies powerful, moving story of a young man and woman from nigeria who trace the difficult paths of migration, exile, and homecoming in a rapidly changing, globalized world.
Americanah author explains learning to be black in the. Adichies story ceiling was included in the 2011 edition of the best american short stories. The title, she says, is a nigerian word for those who have been to the u. Like those in the novels nigerpolitan club, they have become critical of. One way to include all members is to write questions on an index card for e. African studies program starts book club with americanah. We have a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles to. Do you think it was fair of ifemelu to demand it of him. All attempts to change or improve ifemelusuch as aunty ujus warnings not to speak her mind or blaines organic foodsultimately fail. Americanah tuesday, july 28, 2020 find event and ticket information. What happens when the narrator shifts to obinzes story. Eventbrite scrawl books presents scrawl books paperback book club discussion. Her work has been translated into thirty languages and has appeared in various publications, including the new yorker, granta, the o.
Jun 09, 20 from such a distinction springs a deepseated discussion of race in chimamanda ngozi adichies third novel, americanah. Come share your latest great read and hear about titles to add to your reading list. These groups are supported by the library, and if you have an idea for a new discussion, send us a note. A discussion of americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie noon, july 30 via zoom. She likes princeton, but its population is mostly white and so there are no hairdressers there who know how to braid her hair. Discussion questions for americanah by chimamanda ngozi. This guide is a tool to enhance your groups conversation about americanah, chimamanda ngozi acichies insightful story of a young love, migration, exile, and homecoming. Lets try a slightly different format for this months discussion. Explore a character analysis of ifemelu, plot summary, and important quotes. Network to end domestic violence nnedv for the reader with a cause book club on goodreads.
Delve deeper into the books making the charts, and get tips for keeping your reading group engaged. Written by the multiple awardwinning, feminist author famous for many novels, essays, and the ted talk we should all be feminists, adichies novel wraps together race, gender, immigration, class, hair, and. First thursday book club discussion questions americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie oct 1, 2015, 2pm. Adichie is herself somewhat of an outsider in america, as is her character, ifemelu. Discussion topics here are a small selection of discussion topics for americanah that may help your book group launch a discussion relevant to where your book group is in discussing racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, secrets, romantic relationships or other topics that rose to the forefront as you read. Henry prize stories, the financial times, and zoetrope. This is the one book by an african writer that has spoken to me more than any other. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. In particular, the sacrifices and compromises people make to succeed or survive. The term americanah is used for nigerians who have been changed by having lived in america. The book club will take place in a closed facebook group and each day will feature conversation, questions, and resources related to a different facet of the book. Welcome to the second part of our chat about chimamanda ngozi adichies third novel, americanah.
Discussion questions for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. Cant wait to debrief after listening to the latest episode of your favorite audio series. A powerful, tender story of race and identity by chimamanda ngozi adichie, the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun. Read it forward readers told us theyre stories that have some real meat to itones that deal with issues ripe for discussion and that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Feb 12, 2018 the club met at le pain quotidien, a bakeryrestaurant in center city on a sunday to discuss the book. How does adichie reject or embrace keeping the reader comfortable in americanah. The discussion, led by guest poster shawn smucker, will be wednesday, august 27. Well meet virtually via zoom on thursday, june 18 from 11 am to. Obinze has a successful life in nigeria, and ifemelu is leaving her own successful american life to move back home.
Americanah would be a good read for any book club that would like to discuss the current cultural movements, but have already read books like the hate u give or any of the black lives matter non. Were following it up with another thoughtprovoking pick for. The first part of ifemelus story is told in flashback while she has her hair braided at a salon before. Additional questions available at guidesfiction9256 americanah adichie. A new growing crop of podcast conversation clubs on and offline can connect you with other eager fans, book clubstyle.
Reading groups for children and parents can bring families closer. How to find your local book club in the uk, because sometimes you need to discuss that ending. She gets on the train and looks around at the passengers, wondering if they would make good subjects for the lifestyle blog she used to run, which. Softcover first anchor books this discussion guide has move to my new website, relevant reads.
Ifemelu, a nigerian woman living in princeton, new jersey, must travel to another town to get her hair braided properly. Start a book club discussion and challenge your group to deepen their analysis of the reading material with this set of sample book club questions. Jul 23, 2014 our august book is a prayer for owen meany by john irving. Adichie, born in nigeria but now living both in her homeland and in.
This is a book about africa and the african diasporic experience in the usa and england, a backdrop for the love story between ifemelu and obinze, teenagers attending a nigerian university who have to leave. As teenagers in a lagos secondary school, ifemelu and obinze fall in love. For ongoing discussion each month, join the red couch facebook group. Reread ifemelus blog post a michelle obama shoutout plus hair as race metaphor p. Americanah is about ifemelu, a young nigerian woman living in the united states, as she grows up in nigeria, goes away, and. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety o. They were sanctified, the returnees, back home with an extra gleaming layer 408. How much does your own race affect the experience of reading this or any novel. Openended questions help ignite discussions involving the whole group. At the frankfurt book fair, adichie commented on likable characters in fiction, saying, women writers are expected to make their female characters likeable, as though the full humanity of a female person must in the end meet the careful limitations of. Our critics discuss chimamanda ngozi adichies novel about nigerians emigrating west. The london lit salon book club is a monthly book discussion group in south london that reads the finest 20th and 21st century literature from around the world with the occasional classic thrown in the mix for good measure. How does the attention and judgment paid to a womans hair reflect american societys greater issues with race and feminism. Use these book club discussion questions on the thirteenth tale to delve into diane setterfields magical world.
Discussion questions for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie these discussion questions were prepared by the national network to end domestic violence nnedv for the reader with a cause book club on goodreads. The book club s monthly schedule offers the same serious discussion and professional facilitation as the salons. Roger, a seemingly bland divorced middleaged guy, and. Come back wednesday, august 6 for the introduction to the book. On october 29 at 7pm ct, we will host a discussion to share our reading experiences.
Here is my more not that i am aware of, but you can listen to the audio book or a sample of the audio book here on goodreads and hear some of the names. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family. First thursday book club discussion questions americanah. Cje virtual book club discussion inheritance by dani shapiro. And now, in the era of donald trump, its important to consider whether or not the books you read are working to dismantle structures of inequalit. General book club questions for study and discussion. She notes in her blog post on the nigerpolitan club that attempting to change lagos is futile because lagos will always be its eclectic self, which sounds similar to ifemelus own journey. Were following it up with another thoughtprovoking pick for this months women for women international book club discussion. Even from about 10 pages in, i felt like the book was already serving up some serious realness and it hasnt stopped. Between the invitations and the prompts, you have rich resource which you can use whether you are a facilitator or participating reader in a book club. When two people fall in love, their lifestyles are. These discussion questions were prepared by the national. Jun 19, 2020 boomerangs online book club is hosting a new series and we want you to join us. Americanah, by chimamanda ngozi adichie the new york times.
Her third book, the thing around your neck 2009, is a collection of short stories. Podcast and discussion of chimamanda ngozi adichies americanah. Chimamanda ngozi adichies most powerful and astonishing novel yet. From september 17october 29, we are reading americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie.
The main character, a nigerian immigrant to america, runs a blog about racism, albeit anonymously, and through her sometimes humorous posts she dissects racism from every angle. From the awardwinning author of half of a yellow sun, a dazzling new novel. Why might adichie have chosen this structure for storytelling. Shop and save on gifts for everyone on your list sections show more follow today setting up a book club for your children will no. As in februarys book club pick, station eleven, the story is told from multiple perspectives. The best part of reading in a group is getting to dissect the book with other smart people after youre done reading. Americanah is a book of great impact and importance. The book club guide for part 7 of americanah center for. Theres no better way to introduce yourself and others to new books than through a book club. The group is a partnership between the office of student advocacy and prevention awareness and jennings library and is open to students, faculty and staff. The story examines the struggles of trying to assimilate into a different culture while trying to maintain ones own identity. We hope you enjoyed reading and discussing our inaugural book club selection.
If you like our questions please feel free to use them and dont forget to join the conversation online at. Taking place in nigeria, the united states, and england, americanah can be viewed by many as a novel that is one of the premier looks on race over the last five years. The first part of ifemelus story is told in flashback while she is having her hair braided at a salon. Join the african studies program in the university center for international studies for their first book club. May 20, 2020 discussion topics here are a small selection of discussion topics for americanah that may help your book group launch a discussion relevant to where your book group is in discussing racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, secrets, romantic relationships or other topics that rose to the forefront as you read.
Our first cje virtual book club discussion will be about the book inheritance. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie book club discussion. Like those in the novels nigerpolitan club, they have become critical of their native land and culture. With the endless supply of literature both online and in shops, it comes as no surprise that finding the perfect book can be a big challenge and thats one of the reasons why book clubs are so great. This month we will be reading americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. In 2010 she was listed among the authors of the new yorker. Americanah is chimamanda ngozi adichies awardwinning novel about a young nigerian woman, ifemelu, who immigrates to the united states where she struggles with racism, relationships, and identity. This discussion will be led by book enthusiast and volunteer renee hochberg. Desiring more of her captivating prose, i chose americanah, her intricate discussion on race in three countries and continents. The african studies program in the university center for international studies is hosting its first book club with the awardwinning novel join the african studies program in the university center for international studies for their first book club and engage in a discussion of americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. For each chapter of americanah, you will find a set of invitations and a set of discussion prompts. One book, one new york is the largest community reading. This is the great physical separation of the book, and the action begins as they move towards reconnecting. A memoir of genealogy, paternity, and love by dani shapiro.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. A day or two before meeting, alex sent us a list of questions that would help create the conversation. Americanah book club questions and recipe book club bites. Celebrate the work of chimamanda ngozi adichie with these stories of nigeria and the african diaspora. Jun 26, 2016 even from about 10 pages in, i felt like the book was already serving up some serious realness and it hasnt stopped. The lit salon book club americanah the london literary salon. Fayth not that i am aware of, but you can listen to the audio book or a sample of the audio book here on goodreads and hear some of the names. Despite its length, americanah will spark a lively conversation at your book club about both immigration issues in america and england and racial issues in america. Americanah author explains learning to be black in the u. Podcast and discussion of chimamanda ngozi adichies.
This awardwinning novel, which will also be an hbo miniseries, explores the lives of ifemelu as she moves to the united states to attend university and confronts. Book club discussions are great conversations based on a common book that everyone has read. The first part of ifemelus story is told in flashback while she is having her hair braided at a salon before she returns to nigeria. Reading guide for americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie. Is there an advantage to telling this story from an outsiders perspective. Mar 17, 2021 this book group was started to provide the caldwell university community a place to discuss great reads relevant to current events and issues. Rather than posting questions, lets just start by sharing our impressions, takeaways, likes, and dislikes and see where it takes us. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie reading guidebook.
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