Purple Hibiscus

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a 2003 O Henry Prize winner, and was shortlisted for the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing and the 2004 Orange Prize. In Purple Hibiscus, she recounts the story of a young Nigerian girl searching for freedom. Although her father is greatly respected within their community, 15-year-old Kambili knows a frighteningly strict and abusive side to this man. In many ways, she and her family lead a privileged life, but Kambili and her brother, Jaja, are often punished for failing to meet their father’s expectations. After visiting her aunt and cousins, Kambili dreams of being part of a loving family. But a military coup brings new tension to Nigeria and her home, and Kambili wonders if her dreams will ever be fulfilled. Adichie’s striking and poetic language reveals a land and a family full of strife, but fighting to survive. A rich narration by South African native Lisette Lecat perfectly complements this inspiring tale.

©2003 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"One of the best novels to come out of Africa in years." ( The Baltimore Sun)

“Prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes. . . . Adichie's understanding of a young girl's heart is so acute that her story ultimately rises above its setting and makes her little part of Nigeria seem as close and vivid as Eudora Welty's Mississippi.” ( The Boston Globe)

"A sensitive and touching story of a child exposed too early to religious intolerance and the uglier side of the Nigerian state." (J. M. Coetzee)

This is a tough book

When I began this book I had expectations of greatness for I loved "Americanah" and "We Should All be Feminists". But this was not like "Americanah" at all. This is a coming-of-age book about kids who live in a home with a religious father who is kind and generous to his community and not so kind to his family. I'm not going to say more except that I spent a lot of time really sad. The writing is skillful, especially for a debut novel so I finished it. The narration is excellent and I'm glad I listened to this.

Captivating

I have read a few of the author’s books, just never got around to this one. Glad I downloaded the audio or else I may never had found the time to read this. Just wish it was narrated by a Nigerian who can pronounce all the words correctly, or anyone else for that fact, who did not sound the complete opposite of the characters being portrayed. Since I was not reading the words, I cannot say for sure how the Igbo terms of endearment are pronounced. The story itself is breathtaking. I saw there is a version with a different narrator, choose that instead. It can only be better.

Could improve sound quality

The book is very impressive, I could not stop listening until I finished. Still out of words... The only thing I did not like was sound quality. The narrator was good, great dramatic reading, but in the recording we can often hear her swallow (which can be annoying), as well as people coughing on the background.

A good book, a bit too dramatized

The narrator was awesome, not only reading but using various techniques like voice modulation, pause, tone changes to add more value to the story. The story was very much focused on the dramatic side of the family's experiences, but all in all this is part of life.

Amazing book

The books is great. Unfortunately I got distracted because you can hear a lot of page turning on the audio.

Loved this book - beautifully written

A beautifully written book so well read - loved it . Such a well told story - there were times when I just couldn’t stop listening and other times when I had to stop . Well worth listening to - make all the better by an excellent narrator

Purple Hibiscus

Admittedly, this story really isn’t for me. However, I got this audiobook to help me get through the book for my literature class. The audiobook sounds fine to me. If you think that this is a book that you’d enjoy but not free enough to sit and read the actual book itself, this audiobook is perfect for you!

beautiful

beautifully written and narrated, the sighs the narrator made during the reading were especially wonderful and brought life to the narration.

Captivating story!

Perfect narration and very captivating story-I just wish the ending would have been a bit lighter.

La humanidad de Chimamanda

La historia de una familia sometida al fanatismo religioso de un patriarca nigeriano, el padre lleno de contradicciones, aunque de esencia buena. La tía de Kambili que abre un nuevo horizonte para la familia, es la representante de la visión crítica y el compromiso con la vida en libertad. Excepcional historia y ESTUPENDA narradora.