Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Adichie’s brilliant historical novel follows the fortunes of five characters living through the tumultuous 1960s—a time when the Biafran-Nigerian War raged in southern Africa.
©2006 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC
“This is a transcendent novel of many descriptive triumphs, most notably its depiction of the impact of war's brutalities on peasants and intellectuals alike. It's a searing history lesson in fictional form, intensely evocative and immensely absorbing.” (Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review)
“Adichie has written an ambitious, astonishing novel that succeeds on all levels.” (Bookmarks Magazine)
"Brilliant narration of a captivating story"
History comes alive!
I quickly became attached to the complex characters of this novel. I felt I was an intimate witness to their life struggles, traumas and transformations. In the process, I learned about a painful chapter in the history of Biafra/Nigeria. At the centre, the story is about the writing of a book, which examines the complicity of the world community in these terrible events and suggests that personal relationships are intricately tied to international relations.
Robin Miles performed the characters accents beautifully.
Chimananda Ngozi Adichi has written a masterful work of historical fiction. I look forward to reading more of her novels.
"Horrifyingly human - mandatory reading"
Beautiful, ugly, horrifying and to be permanently etched in your head. Should be mandatory for every white person, especially if you've ever thought that something going on too far away from your own world can be scary for just a minute but forgotten before your next meal. Robin Miles does some sort of magic with her reading of this book and the author is to be praised for the amazing job of being able to write something so real. I can't remember the last time I was this impressed with a book.
"Captivating and Educational"
I was enthralled by the complex characters and quickly drawn into their lives and how the war affected them before it began, during and after. How I had quickly fallen in love with the strong headed sister who becomes my hero.
I have read this book twice and will happily read it again. From an educational point of view I also learnt a lot about a war I heard of but knew little about.
A great, great read narrated by the wonderful Robin Miles
"CHARACTERS SO REAL THEY SIT ACROSS FROM YOU"
THE "GONE WITH THE WIND" OF THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE. AN UNFORGETABLE STORY OF CIVIL WAR AND THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE AND HOLD ONTO A WAY OF LIFE.
"beautifully narrated saga of Nigeria and Biafra"
its a chapter in history that need to be known. unforgettable story and characters/
draws you right each character, each compelling and unique,as if they were in your own room
disturbing history but compelling, satisfying and deeply engrossing listen
"Beautiful and sad story"
This beautiful and sad book provided me with an insight into the Biafran/Nigeran war that I was previously ignorant of. The narrator is wonderful - I have listened to many books by her and she is consistantly excellant.
The characters are developed slowly but gradually you gain an insight into their personalities and emotions. The descriptions of the war are heart rendering. I became very attached to the main characters and actually cried at the end of the book.
Highly recommended
"great book and performance a problem with sequence"
This book is recorded out of sequence. Earlier parts of the plot are in the second download. later parts are in the earlier download. This really messes up the experience of listening.
"a very human, universal story."
While this story was set during the war in Nigeria, it had more to do with the characters and their relationships with each other. I was hesitant to listen after reading some of the other reviews. This is not a quick story with something constantly happening or a lot of drama. The author kind of stays in a moment. However, ,I really loved this audiobook. It was very realistic...not sugarcoating the bad or over dramitizing. The more I listened, the more the Nigerian civil war sounded so much like any other civil war and the responses and behavior of the people the same of anyone else put in the same situation. It really illustrated, to me, how very similar we all are in our humanity, no matter our culture or country.
"good"
I could have handled a more linear storytelling style and the author could have made it better and shorter by eliminating some sub-plots but it was generally really good and I thought that the narration was great. It was also a window into something I knew nothing about (I had to google Biafra).
I have transformed from a bookworm into an audio-monster.
"A beautiful story full of rich characters"
The narrator was wonderful, I loved being told this story.
As the critics said, the book is an amazing history lesson told through the lives of characters with great depth. The story remains with me.