AFAS160 University of Arizona Igbo Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Review AFAS 160A1 – The Africana Experience General Book Review Guidelines 1. What is

AFAS160 University of Arizona Igbo Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Review AFAS 160A1 – The Africana Experience General Book Review Guidelines 1. What is the subject matter of the reading? You may start with a broad contextualization of the subject matter, main idea, or argument. 2. What are the salient and auxiliary ideas, issues, and/or arguments? These two pointers will guide you in crafting an introduction. 3. Discuss each of the salient points/issues and their supporting facts or arguments. 4. Do you find these arguments, discussions, and expositions convincing? 5.What knowledge or experience of the issues, ideas, or events discussed in the reading do you have that supports your position above? 6. Evaluate the organization of the reading. Is it easy to understand? Your essay should be free flowing using full sentences and paragraphs to structure and organize your thoughts and ideas. The guidelines above are just that: guidelines. Note: The title of your review should be: the author and title of the reading being reviewed. Additional Book Review Guidelines (Things Fall Apart) 1. Your discussion should be carried out within the context of this class. The first part of this class is concerned with the early history of Africa with particular focus on ancient African civilizations. This reading and the society it referenced should be seen in the context of this early history of Africa and the ancient civilizations that emerged on the continent. In fact, about 50% of the book (all of Part I) is on aspects of Igbo civilization. The only video material we have watched in this class also weighed in on the debate on whether African peoples had any civilization before the coming of the Europeans into Africa or not. This reading and the video material will enable you focus on the theme of Igbo culture and civilization in your discussion. Another theme covered in this reading that is important to us in this class (see course syllabus) is the expansion of the Europeans into Africa (colonialism) as from the 1880s. This book not only painted a vivid picture of how the Europeans carved Africa into colonial enclaves (process) but it also discussed the EFFECTS of colonialism on the African civilization referenced. As far as this class is concerned, these are the issues that are important. Do not waste your time on minuscule issues like: the character of the protagonist, polygamy, the inferior status of women, masculinity, domestic violence, how repulsed you are with infanticide (e.g., killing of twin babies), etc. These issues may be mentioned to the extent that they illuminate the big picture (main themes) described in 2 & 3 above. Avoid the temptation of plagiarizing the myriad of sources that are online (e.g., Wikipedia, Sparknotes, etc.). Be warned also that I have an archive of past essays on this assignment for the past 10 years. Any plagiarized work will score a zero. In addition, the student will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for additional sanctions. Pay attention to the formatting requirements for this assignment on page 5 of the Course Syllabus. Running head: BOOK REVIEW
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Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Review
Mohammed Alghowainem
Date
9/19/2019
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BOOK REVIEW
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
The art of writing is strangely compelling, almost magical. This notion can draw support
from Chinua Achebe’s novel; Things Fall Apart. The book, first published in 1958, brings a story
from Africa through the voices of an educated African. The book reveals the conflict between
African values and the advent of Christianity in Nigeria. Achebe, I would say, has successfully
succeeded in taking ideas and putting them into a lasting, physical form that can strive outside the
mind. However, I feel that the way the characters are portrayed in the novel makes it less
impressive in quality. [ ]
The writing style used in this novel is reason enough to read and like it. The writing style
is simultaneously lyrically and spare. There is no one irrelevant word, and still, it is not remotely
rigid. Instead, Achebe uses a writing style that vividly describes a superstitious, frequently opaque,
world. The novel is written in English. However, the book is written through with the proverbial
inherent structures of the Igbo dialect. These proverbial vernacular structures are referenced at the
outset of the novel. The other thing about the book that caught the eye is the fact that the story is
not about the culture of the author. The novel reflects European culture from the perspective of an
Igbo man. This, to me, is a brave and revolutionary act by Achebe. He is slightly modest with his
inspirations. That is, he wants the reader to see that the Igbo culture is like Western culture. He
wants the reader to recognize the Western culture and mark them. It is important to note that I do
not, by any means, suggest that it is a problem that Achebe is too Western. The fact is, the author
needs to reach across boundaries and move away from racial determinism.
In another dimension, by trying to make the novel more universal, it has ended up lacking
more depth, sympathy, and possibility. Although the book is exceptionally fair in revealing the
flaws of all characters and the institutions under which they live, no character is wholly
BOOK REVIEW
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sympathetic. The moment of joy or inconsistency in the novel exists only in the inflated ego of the
characters. The book does not give the reader the chance to sympathize. Achebe ought to have
considered contrasting the immense weight of loss with satire and irony through quiet moments of
introspection. In another dimension, although the characters in the novel are portrayed as being
hopeless, they are not able to find their meaning in this state. These characters only strive through
innocence and fantasy. This makes the reader see Achebe’s world only full of despair and
delusion.[ ]
I have read a dozen novels, some of them have to be a disappointment. I have liked others
to the extent of rereading them twice or maybe thrice. What gives me the drive and the motivation
to read a book is the ability of the author to narrate a story in well fashion style that anyone can be
able to relate. There is also some other aspect that makes a novel interesting to a reader, but I think
that the storyline is very crucial. In this regards, I would say that Things Fall Apart, although
having been regarded as a good piece of literature, should be noted for its place in the Canon than
its quality. For me, the novel is less impressive than the gesture that produced it.
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BOOK REVIEW
Reference
Chinua, A. (1958). Things fall apart. Ch. Achebe, 1-117.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
– This is your book review, so I suppose that you can write something from the book and give me some
examples and analyzations.
– You did not meet the requirements of the book review, please read the “General Book Review
Guidelines” under the D2L content.
Essay could be revised using all the themes outlined below:
–
Aspects of Igbo culture and traditions that show them as civilized by any standard;
The expansion of the Europeans (Christian missionaries and colonialists) into Igboland;
The effects of colonialism on Igbo culture and civilization.
o Destruction of Igbo culture and civilization
o Okonkwo, the main character, is a metaphor for the Igbo.
Scoring
Introduction:
1.5/2
Igbo Culture/Civilization:
1/5
Colonialism:
0/2
Effects of Colonialism on Igbo civilization:
0/3
Conclusion and evaluation of reading:
SCORE:
3.5/15
1/3

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