Best of Chimamanda Adichie Books 

Chimamanda Adichie is one of the best female authors Nigeria has produced in her history as a nation. She is a literary queen and star, and her spoken and written words resonate with audiences globally. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on the 5th of September 1977 in Enugu but hailed from Abba, a town in Anambra state. She is a highly recognized and decorated author and public intellectual, and we’ll say that living a more significant part of her growing up stage in a University environment contributed a lot to this. It gave her the proper backup needed for development and success. 

Chimamanda published her first writing work in 2003, titled “Purple Hibiscus,” which brought her to the limelight. Most Secondary school students in Africa will testify about how good she is because they utilized her books in their literature. She is a literary genius, and her storytelling prowess and attention to detail are second to none. So, if you are interested in learning about her books, come with us, as we’ll be summarizing 10 out of all her books. Have a good moment with us!

1•     “Purple hibiscus” (2003)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Odeluwa Abba) published her first-ever book, Purple Hibiscus, in 2003, and it’s one of the best books that dig deep into themes of family, political unrest, and religion in post-colonial Nigeria. The story is about a beautiful young girl named Kambili. Kambili is 15 years old and suffered a strict upbringing from her staunch catholic Father, Eugene’s family.

In this story, Eugene is a well-respected and kind man in their Town, but back home to his family, he’s a tyrant. He made sure to impose rigid religious practices, behaviors, and routines on every member of his family, which he displayed violently. At some point in this story, Kambili and her brother, Jaja, travel to visit their Aunt, Ijeoma, and her family and witness a whole different loving lifestyle, which is way distant from what they had at home. 

“Purple Hibiscus” is a story that explores the impacts of colonialism on Nigeria and goes deep into its clash between traditional beliefs and ways of living alongside Western influences. It discusses the dangers and effects of oppressive rules and regimes in the lives of people in families. It’s a story worth reading.

2•      “Half of Yellow Sun” 2006

 

The creative queen Chimamanda Adichie published “Half of a Yellow Sun” in 2006. The novel discusses the Biafra War and the setting of the Nigerian war in the 1960s. It’s a story that explores the lives of three protagonists, Ugwu, Olanna, and Richard Churchill. Ugwu is a young boy from a timid village while Richard is a learned British expatriate and writer, and Olanna features as a university graduate.

The story digs deep into the social and political scenario of Nigeria at the time and after the war. It focuses on the consequences and suffering that come with war.  The title of this book, Half of a Yellow Sun, signifies the flag of the Biafran Country that existed only for a short while. The Biafra country comprised the Southeastern part of the country, Nigeria. Chimamanda Adichie creatively captured the effect of the war and the stress and suffering it Brings to the community and its people.

3•    “The Thing Around Your Neck” (2009)

“The Thing Around Your Neck” is one of the best works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s a collection of short stories which she wrote and published in 2009. The different stories in this book explore the diverse areas of Nigerian life and the experiences of Nigerians both at home and abroad. Each short story is a scratch on the surface into the complexities of identity, relationships, and cultural dynamics. 

She made use of her top-notch storytelling skills to convey a lot of lessons on immigration, gender roles, as well as the boundary between tradition and modernity. The author also blends different characters and settings, thereby showing a distinct voice that portrays the challenges, sorrow, dreams, and aspirations of contemporary Nigeria.

4•     “Americanah” (2013) 

“Americanah” is one of the best of Chimamanda Adichie’s books that she published in 2013. It’s an exciting story that revolves around the life of a young and beautiful Nigerian woman called Ifemelu. Ifemelu moved to the US for her tertiary education, which led to her starting a blog to discuss diverse issues as well as her life experiences living in the white man’s land.

Ifemelu’s blog became so successful. She shares her views on race, culture, etc. She also shares her relationship experiences, most especially with her high school sweetheart Obinze, who faces his own challenges as an undocumented immigrant in the United Kingdom. You should check the book out.

5•      “We Should All Be Feminists” (2014) 

We Should All Be Feminists is a well-thought-out book on feminism by Chimamanda Adichie. She wrote this book in 2014 where she shared her anecdotes and knowledge of what it means to be a feminist. In this book, she argues that the idea and term “feminist” should be accepted by all and is not an insult or rivalry. The most spirited opponents of women’s freedom argue that feminism is a social movement that aims to reverse gender roles and denigrate the male gender, even though feminism promotes equity and equality between men and women in all spheres of life.

In this book, “We Should All Be Feminists,” Chimamanda Adichie argues the need to dispel prejudices based on gender and established beliefs supporting the power gap between men and women. To put it clearly, we should all be feminists to support women’s emancipation and to encourage men to have discussions with women about roles, looks, sexuality, and success. 

Feminism is not a war against men but a movement advocating for women’s rights and working to improve the world for women. These are hallmarks of being a feminist. Since feminism primarily aims to eradicate sexism by giving men and women equal opportunities, it does not entirely question the biological roles assigned to each gender. 

6•      “Imitation” (2015)

 

“Imitation” is a fantastic publication by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Odeluwa Abba) that follows the life of a Nigerian lady named Nkem who resides in the United States of America with her husband, Obiora. Nkem was living a life of luxury and security until her friend told her that her husband had a girlfriend who stayed in their home in Nigeria. Nkem remembers the first time she arrived in the United States of America, heavily pregnant with their first child. 

 

Obiora spent several months living with Nkem. Following that, Nkem revealed to her inquisitive neighbors that Obiora was a resident of both Nigeria and America. The neighbors’ curiosity was met with only laughter from Obiora, while Nkem remained silent despite knowing of Nigerian couples that shared a year-round residence. Chimamanda Adichie did a great job on this book, and it’s highly recommended.

7•    “The Arrangements: A Work of Fiction” (2016)

“The Arrangements: A Work of Fiction” is a short storybook written by an award-winning author, Chimamanda Adichie, and was published in “The New York Times Book Review.” The story is a satirical take on the United States of America Presidential election 2016. Chimamanda used fictionalized storytelling to discuss power, freedom, and societal expectations. 

Adichie’s “The Arrangements” book shares an unusual perspective on politics by utilizing her storytelling technique to comment on current events in the setting of a made-up universe. Through her literary standpoint, Adichie’s ability to deal with current and pertinent problems is demonstrated in this short story. This is a powerful short story book worth a read.

8•     “Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” (2017)

“Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions”, is a mindblowing book published in 2017 by Chimamanda Adichie, which shares her message with her friend who sought advice on bringing up her daughter to become a feminist. She provided her friend with the advice she sought in the form of fifteen suggestions and guidelines to enable her to nurture the feminist mindset in her daughter and other young girls out there.

 

In this book, Chimamanda shared things like gender norms, demands, and the importance of providing girls the resources they need to be self-reliant and confident. The book promotes feminist child-rearing values and is a valuable resource for parents, caregivers, and anybody who wants stimulating discussions on gender equality.

 

The manifesto covers many subjects, such as relationships, education, and accepting oneself. It is a parenting manual and a motivation for more general conversations on breaking down barriers based on gender. 

9•     “Zikora” (2020)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s short fiction “Zikora ” was released in 2020. It follows Zikora’s journey through pregnancy and parenthood as a Nigerian lawyer in the United States. The story explores issues of self-identity, love, and the difficulties of modern relationships.

The storyline revolves around Zikora’s pregnancy encounters, examining her connections with her spouse and family and diving into her wishes and societal norms. Adichie crafts a gripping story that tackles gender roles, standards in society, and the meeting point of the past and present.

Adichie’s examination of the complexities of identity, gender, and the evolving nature of relationships in a setting of societal and individual expectations is further deepened by “Zikora.”

 

10•     Notes on Grief (2021)

 

“Notes On Grief” is a book by Chimamanda Adichie, published in 2021, and shares her personal experiences and journey through grief from the sudden transition to the glory of her dearly beloved father. Her father passed on in 2020, which led her to publish this book. In Notes on Grief, Chimamanda divided it into 30 sections where she reflected on the universality of loss. The book explores the themes of love, family special memories, and the complex nature of mourning. You can check it out!

Most of the time, we get several questions that confuse our audiences, and we try as much as we can to answer them in a simple way:

What was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s First Novel?

Chimamanda Adichie published her debut novel, “Purple Hibiscus,” in 2003 at the age of 26, and it marked a significant stage in her life. “Purple Hibiscus” brought her to the limelight.

What Genre Does Chimamanda Adichie Specialize In?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie specializes in contemporary fiction. Her works often explore themes such as identity, feminism, post-colonialism, and the complex socio-political landscape of Nigeria.

What Awards Has Chimamanda Adichie Won?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a creative and highly recognized author who has won many awards to her name, and this speaks volumes of how excellent and talented author she is. Check out a few of them below:

• Commonwealth Writers Prize Best First Book for her Purple Hibiscus 
• She won the Orange Prize for Fiction for Half is a Yellow Sun in 2007 
• National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction for “Americanah” 2013
• Women’s Prize for Fiction (Best of the Best) for “Half of a Yellow Sun” 2014
• Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (Longlist) for “Americanah” 2014
• Dayton Literary Peace Prize (Finalist) for “Half of a Yellow Sun” 2007
• BBC’s 100 Women 2021
• UN Foundation Global Leadership Award (2019)
• W. E. B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard University 2022

These are a few out of the numerous awards she has won in her writing career, and she deserves it all.

Wrapping Up

Chimamanda Adichie’s books are some of the best books on contemporary fiction I have read so far. She is so good with storytelling, thought-provoking, and perfectly crafted books that leave you glued to the end. Her books showcaseer mastery and have decorated her with many honorary and prestigious awards in the literary communities. As readers immerse themselves in her words, they not only gain insight into the diverse aspects of human experience but also encounter the transformative power of storytelling at its best. Undoubtedly, Adichie’s books stand as a testament to her literary prowess and continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.