The Bottom Line’s Recommendation of the Week

This week The Bottom Line recommends “Americanah”, a fictional book written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which covers the relationship between Ifemelu and Obinze. They are both natives of Nigeria, but Ifemelu travels to the United States for school and work. Most of this book is set in 2001 and beyond. A major event in the US was the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers (9/11). Because of this, the US created a negative stereotype against immigrants, especially immigrants of color. All 608 pages are filled with emotion and tension. This book falls under the “can’t put down” section.

“Americanah” gets a rating of 4.32 on Goodreads. Goodreads is a digital catalog website; it is an offspring of Amazon. The point of Goodreads is to create a database for avid and beginning readers; it allows readers to create a profile. In this profile you can add books you have read, want to read, and currently reading, it gives you the option to rate/review books and track your reading progress. Most book lovers have a profile that they can share with other readers to get recommendations, read reviews, and connect with other readers. Having a high score on Goodreads is extremely important. To add to that accomplishment, “Americanah” won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2013, Heartland Award for Fiction (Chicago Tribune) in 2013, and was named the winner of the “One Book, One New York” in 2017. After receiving the 2017 reward, “Americanah” sales surpassed the 500,000 copies sold mark only two years after publication.

The Bottom Line recommends this book to adult audiences. This book includes sexual descriptions and adult language. The Trigger Warning Database, a website dedicated to disclosing triggers, lists sexual assault, and forced sex work as the main triggers. The Bottom Line adds these triggers anti-Black discrimination, anti-immigrant discrimination, antisemitism, and suicide. If any of these triggers are known to affect you, The Bottom Line suggests avoiding this book. “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, receives a TBL rating of 4.0/5. Next week will be the start of Women’s History Month; we will be recommending books, shows/movies, and podcasts created/written by women.

The Trigger Warning Database, “Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”, The Trigger Warning Database. https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/2021/02/25/americanah-by-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/.