Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, (Fourth Estate, £12.99)
Nigerian born Adichie has previously been short-listed for the 2002 Caine Prize for African writing and is currently short-listed for the 2004 Orange Prize.
Her debut novel is an emotive insight into the life of a young girl living in Nigeria at a time of political crisis with her fanatically religious and violent father.
Kambili has only known a life dictated by the daily schedules that her father carefully prepares for his teenage children. Desperate to please, she dares not fault her father in any way, think badly of him or resent him for the harsh punishments he inflicts when she falters.
Even when given the opportunity to escape her repressive home for a few days, Kambili struggles to embrace the temporary freedom she is faced with. Filled with the guilt of living with what her father would describe as heathens, it takes a while before Kambili can dare to laugh, love and live in the home of her auntie.
Her thoughts, which once only surfaced as bubbles in her throat, eventually become words and she begins to confront the truth about her father.
The novel is captivating and easy to read, and the only drawback, I think, is the ending, which seems to conclude all too abruptly with Kambili being virtually stranded by all those who helped shape her.
I think perhaps too much is left to the reader's imagination, and there isn't any sense of real closure.
Adichie's portrayal of glaring innocence through using a simple form and language, results in a child-like quality to the storytelling, yet also reveals itself as a mature and striking literary style.
Despite the mediocre ending, the novel still proves to be an excellent read. Thoughtful, provocative and hopeful, Adichie constructs an insightful depiction of struggle, survival, culture and youth.
Reena Gopal
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