Things Fall Apart is one of those books where, as soon as I started reading it, I knew it’d be one of those books I wish I’d had the opportunity to study at school or university. I would have gotten so much more out of it if I’d had someone to shed light on it, than I did just reading it ‘casually’.
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Thankfully the Internet exists and I could google as I went, but even so it didn’t make as much of an impression on me as I hoped it would. The first section felt slow, the second section was a bit better, and the third section was my favourite part, despite how brutal things turned.
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The main character was difficult to swallow too, as he is very flawed. He’s proud, cold, abusive towards his wives, distant with his children, and although he’s not supposed to be a likeable protagonist, he was difficult to read about.
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Overall I think this is an important book, certainly powerful, as it explores the devastating effect of British colonialism, but not one whose style and characters I really connected with. I’m glad I read it though!