Purple Hibiscus Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Reading and reviewing this novel has been a "pleasure" but also painful. It is a cathartic experience for Kambili and the readers. The hibiscus plant grows all over the world and is important symbolically. In places such as S.Korea and Malaysia it is the national flower. The red hibiscus is the flower for the Hindu goddess, Kali. Adichie wanted to use it as the symbol of freedom, a new beginning away from the oppression of society and family life.

Kambili is the protagonist, a young naive girl who loves her father even though he intimidates her and constantly punishes her. On one occasion she is hospitalised, fighting for her life. Eugene, her father is a wealthy business man showing benevolence towards the poor but abuse and malevolence towards his family. He has been indoctrinated by the fervour of post-colonialism after independence was declared and the turmoil of civil war through his views on Catholicism. He is depicted as a religious zealot, an extremist and shockingly, he has severed his ties with his own father who he refers to as a heathen who continues to worship his ancestors in the way the traditionalists did.

As a contrast, Eugene's sister Aunt Ifeoma is warm and caring but poor. She is a university lecturer at a time of unrest and she provides Kambili and her brother Jaja with an alternative life, one that is full of hope and more moderate. It is her aunt's modest flat where the 15 year old falls in love with Father Amadi; it is a beautiful experience for her and the reader after tolerating the oppressive and damaging "love" of her father. He is a wonderful person, full of life, extremely caring, a young man who spontaneously bursts into Igbo song and full of humanity. The love is reciprocated but he is unable to commit to a relationship with Kambili.

Beatrice, her mother tolerates most of the abuse inflicted on the family. It is because of Eugene that she miscarries twice and like her daughter, is hospitalised. Adichie wanted to show that there were alternatives even if the fight for freedom and human rights destroys the nucleus of the family which it does for  Eugene and his family. Highly recommended.

Available from amazon.co.uk/amazon.es
ISBN: 987-064-692-2

Copyright. This review must not be republished without the consent of the author. August 2012.

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