When will I start to love 'Things Fall Apart'?

[Laura Corin]

No spoilers please.

 

I'm about 1/3 through and am so far mildly interested. From the reviews, I expected to be bowled over.

 

Thanks

 

Laura

[Rebecca VA]

My daughter read that book for English last fall. I'd have to say she was only "mildly interested" in it, too. :) The students had to write a character study of the main character, and it was kind of fun for her to analyze him (because he wasn't the brightest or most logical guy on the planet), but neither she nor I thought of it as an exceptional book. I think the biggest selling point was the exotic-ness of it.

[lavender's green]

I read it ten years ago for English class and still haven't started to love it. :ack2: I agree with PP that it's main thing is being exotic.

[LostSurprise]

It isn't meant to be a book you love, really.

 

I like the book. Its on my list of 25 books which influenced the way I think about things. I think it helps that I'm a Christian, and I read it after a missionary bio like Bruchko and after Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Its important to see different angles to European "exploration" and colonialism. For that reason I consider it a very important book, much in the same way that The Good Earth or Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee are important books.

[UnionJack]

I HATE THAT BOOK

 

I am yelling. Cause I hate it sooo much. It would take three, maybe four (if you use very flowery language), sentences to convey the entire point of the book. Which is decidedly NOT to be a pleasant read. Not enjoyable, not enlightening.

 

:) I totally agree.

[Violet Crown]

For a moment I thought you meant the poem. I was going to say that it might depend on how you felt about the Celtic Revival.

[Heather in Neverland]

I do love that book. I think it gives a profound description of the effects of colonialism (good and bad) as well as missionary work (good and bad). It was the first book I ever read that made me think hard about what it means to be "civilized." I read it decades ago and it has stuck with me.

[redsquirrel]

It took me a little bit to get into it. I agree that it isn't a book you truly 'enjoy' but learn from. I remember muddling through it and then when it ended it all just hit me like a load of bricks.

[Arcadia]

We had Things Fall Apart, Macbeth and Oedipus Rex for Literature in 9th grade. After decades I can still remember "Things fall apart, the center cannot hold, mere anarchy is loose upon the world". It was an interesting year.

[GinaPagnato]

No likey.

 

I read it once in high school, then again several months ago. "Surely," I thought, "there has to be something great about that book and the only reason I didn't like it in high school was because I was young and too immature to appreciate it," Nope, still don't like it.

 

Now The Good Earth... :001_wub: Love that one!

[6packofun]

I thought it was a very good book, but I sure didn't love it. The main themes, IMO, are about how the main character responds to changes in tradition within his culture, his struggle to adapt--or not--and his concern with reputation. He is very unlikeable to me!