One of the most quietly striking aspects of the novel for me was a small episode in which Ifemelu experiences a period of depression. Ifemelu is a complex character who experiences anger, depression, love, confusion and empathy with others across her storyline.
Her personal struggles and the way she conducts herself in challenging situations are fully sympathetic and human. This is not to say that Ifemelu is aloof from the narrative in any sense. The blog is an excellent device for providing Ifemelu with an outlet for dissecting the strange racial politics she encounters in America from the position of observer and commentator. Instantly likeable and engaging, Ifemelu is a well-rounded character with a distinct voice. The greatest success of this novel is the character of Ifemelu. She has a serious boyfriend, and Obinze a family, but they remain drawn to each other in spite of the distance between them and the time that has passed since their last meeting. The novel opens after a period of some years has passed, with Ifemelu deciding to return to Nigeria. Ifemelu travels to America where she eventually comes to write an extremely popular lifestyle blog, while Obinze ends up in England, later returning to Nigeria to begin a successful career in real estate. When the unstable political regime causes disruption to their university lives, they separate to travel overseas and complete their studies.
Obinze and Ifemelu meet at high school in Nigeria and fall in love. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a novel of social comedy and observation bound up in serious issues of identity, race, and culture, in a globalised world.
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