The Thing Around Your Neck
Ratings33
Average rating3.9
Only 1 story really stood out and wowed me, and it was a totally engrossing, gasping-out-loud-on-the-train-and-not-caring-who-noticed kind of story. A few years from now I will certainly still remember it, and maybe the ghosts of a few of the other stories (maybe). Generally fine book overall.
It's taken me so long to read this, although I enjoyed it. But, once I put it down I never felt a drive to pick it up again. Also, it's been a busy year and I've not had much time for reading.
I didn't like the first story in the collection as much as many of the others, which may also have influenced my eagerness to read it. But there are some really good story in here!
I discovered that the short story genre is not for me, despite the fact that I truly liked the book. I enjoy learning more about the characters and their backgrounds, as well as how their stories turn out. the work lacks only that, in my opinion.
A great way to end International Women's Day by finishing this collection of short stories by my favorite author. I didn't know that is was short stories when I picked it up, but Chimamanda has an amazing talent for making you feel strongly about her characters in less than a full page. The way she strings words together is always artful. I love how defiant and sometimes self righteous her characters are and yet all of them are unique in their experiences through political and personal trials. I'm excited to read anything and everything she publishes in the future.
I won this book and I never win anything. I push Half of a Yellow Sun on everyone I see so I was thrilled to see Adichie had a new book coming out and even happier to win a copy.
Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of short stories. Adichie has this way of making you think her characters are people who live right next door to you in America and then sneaking in some little this or that that reminds you her people are African and distinctive. The same and different.
I had to pause after I read each story to let the story sink in. To think about it a little. Now that's good writing.
She's the Queen, our literary Beyonce who delivers the goods with an earlier collection of short stories. You can see here the briefest of outlines that will become Americanah later. Confidently African stories told with a measured awareness of Western sensibilities. That storyteller voice that gently leads you across the page with a sharp eye and wry line. Adichie is so adept at alluding to deeper themes with a light touch that doesn't slow down your reading.
If I'm going to quibble the stories can be somewhat jarring in their abrupt end, building steam only to be just as quickly discarded. Like songs that end sharply just as you're expecting a third verse.