About the book
In 1960s Nigeria, a country blighted by civil war, three lives intersect.
Ugwu, a boy from a poor village, works as a houseboy for a university professor. Olanna, a young woman, has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos to live with her charismatic new lover, the professor. And Richard, a shy English writer, is in thrall to Olanna’s enigmatic twin sister. As the horrific Biafran War engulfs them, they are thrown together and pulled apart in ways they had never imagined.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s masterpiece, winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, is a novel about Africa in a wider sense: about the end of colonialism, ethnic allegiances, class and race – and about the ways in which love can complicate all of these things.
Review by Keyhaven Book Reading Circle:
A good book group choice as there are many interesting characters to dissect, themes to discuss and the crazy politics of Africa to ponder on. Some thought it overlong.
3 stars out of 5
Hampshire Libraries 
Review by Bernfield Book Club
Historically enlightening, uncompromising and emotionally engaging.
Star rating: ***
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Review by Portchester Day Group (Monday am)
An engrossing story about a real situation. It brought back memories of Biafra which still continue in other parts of Africa. She is a natural storyteller combining fiction with fact. The chronology, or lack of it, was confusing and for what purpose? Overall a good read.
Star rating: ***
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Review by Parish Pump
Most of our group of 9 did not enjoy this book. One complaint was too many unpronounceable names. One lady said she found the second part much better than the first part but most gave up before then.
Star rating: **
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