Varsha

Re-read this last night, 20+ years later (!) after talking about a friends trip to Greece. Mostly enjoyed bc of nostalgia and how much I loved these books and characters when I was younger. Fun to relive that early 2000s vibe. Unfortunately that includes some throwaway racist/fat phobic comments

Just read it. It's so good and so true.

Adichie's prose is excellent, her characters are complex and compelling, and all of her observations about race, gender, and life are SPOT ON.

Such a beautiful character study. Funny, charming, poignant and so cleverly written.

Also I switched between reading + listening to the audiobook (read by Marin Ireland, highly rec).

Few months late on the review —

Great beginning and really enjoyed the premise. Sloggy middle. Picks up about halfway through and then impossible to put down. Took some unexpected turns. Ends a bit abruptly. Setting up for a sequel..?

This was the first time I had read an “action” book, usually a genre I've experienced with film or TV. Lots of weird body horror towards the end.

Many bits are funny and I liked her writing and world building. Lots of themes explored (oppressive and corrupt power systems, law enforcement, collateral damage and how one measures that, wide representation of different identities/relationships/abilities, how misinformation spreads) but some parts fall flat.

Initially I found it easy to sympathise with Anna, our main character (last name Tromedlov — bit on the nose if you read that backwards), but she eventually spirals into depravity and self-obsession and makes terrible excuses for her bad behaviour.

Overall I thought it was a fun and different read but with all the above caveats.

Good but not great. Some interesting and insightful musings but scattered amongst many unmemorable essays.