Purple Hibiscus was the third novel I read from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and that allowed me to see how her style has changed as an author. I think both Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah are very rich and wordy (that’s not me complaining, I love both those novels!), whereas Purple Hibiscus felt almost sparse by comparison. But as it turns out, she does both equally well, as I was affected by this fairly simple and straightforward account of a 15 year old girl’s life in Nigeria as I was by her two later novels.
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Told from Kambili’s perspective, this book is the heartbreaking account of a family trapped in a cycle of abuse delivered at the hands of a man expected to take care of them. It was devastating to read, as Adichie perfectly captures the way Kambili, her brother Jaja and her mother are under the illusion their father treats them this way because he loves them; fearing his wrath and desperately craving his approval. Some scenes were incredibly hard to read, and Adichie doesn’t flinch from the abuse, without overdoing it on overly graphic details.
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Purple Hibiscus offers a glimpse into the darker side of religion in Nigeria, as well as the good side and the solace and comfort it can offer people. There’s also an insight into the political coups of the country and, while not really the main focus of the story, some idea of the corruption at play in roles of power (thinking of the prison scenes here).
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Clear, concise, impactful, and while not as richly evocative as Americanah, still a book that moved me and a must if you’re looking for a female coming-of-age story with a sharp eye for familial relationships, both good and bad.