Elinor’s Bookshelf

My rating: An enthralling, deep and astute account of Nigerian emigration and the pull of the motherland. Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love as teenagers. As their relationship strengthens, they decide to attend the same Nigerian university, only to find their studies are thwarted by repeat teacher strikes. When Ifemelu is given a chance to study in America, they agree she must take it, even if it means leaving Obinze to find his way to the US or the UK to pursue his own. Will their unwavering love survive the forces of distance and time? Will they remain obí ocha or let western living mar their souls and roots? Unabashed, indignant and dignified, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie makes her case for race-consciousness from treating kinky hair, the meaning of mainstream, the paper-bag test, reverse racism, playing the race card, white privilege, to slavery and much more. —— What really worked well for me is the honesty and frankness of Americanah. The characters are nicely fleshed out,...

My rating: Probably the only book in the universe that is both centred on cricket and really comical! In this third volume of the Trilogy of Five, Arthur Dent has spent five harrowing years in his cave on prehistoric Earth. Ford pops out of nowhere, and they travel in time to Lord’s Cricket Ground, just as England win the Ashes. Arthur and Ford end up fleeing a chaotic scene on board Slartibartfast’s cleverly disguised spaceship. And the adventure begins! In his usual laugh-out-loud style, Douglas Adams tells an astonishing story centred around cricket, its wickets, a Golden Bail buried deep within the Heart of Gold, and a Key that needs protecting. We discover the Krikkit Wars, sentimental robots, the power of reincarnation, the paradoxes of time travel and restaurant bills, the knack of flying, a 4-generation cosmic party, Zem the floopily flobbering globbering mattress, not to mention Trillian’s level-headedness and Arthur Dent’s dismal bowling skills. — The format is...