Things Fall Apart ~Book Review~

I have finished my 5th book on my classical to-be-read list!!! If you haven’t seen my list, check it out here: Classics TBR to see what’s coming! Also, feel free to take a look at my other reviews from the list: The Alchemist, Animal Farm, Candide, and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

Things Fall Apart

By: Chinua Achebe

Cleanliness (See “About” for scale): Slightly Tainted (Topics to consider: drinking, suicide, abuse, murder, drugs, sexism, religion, and death.)

3.5 stars

This is the story of a cruel man with a phobia of laziness who simply wants to be something in his small world. Everything is ruined by an accident and white men.

Things Fall Apart is a very interesting book. Although it doesn’t really stick to a main plot (there are a lot of tangents you must go on), this tale teaches you tradition and that hard work doesn’t really pay off. None of the characters are very likable. I would’ve felt very sorry for the main character, Okonkwo, in the second half of the book if he hadn’t been such a jerk in the first half. You could feel the pain, anger, and hatred steaming off of many of the people.

One thing I learned from this book was that you should never let things get you down because it can always be worse. When Okonkwo thought he was the lowest he could be, colonization came. Things Fall Apart is an amazing insight into what a horrible process that is and how much it tears lives into pieces. Religion is forced; respect is thrown out; and love is nowhere in the picture.

I liked this book in many ways, and it taught a very good story that needs to be read. But, the tale jumped around so much that it was confusing, and it was hard to love the book while hating the characters. Do I recommend it? Yes, but know what you’re getting into. Things Fall Apart is not a fun story, but it is an important one.