things fall apart

SO COOL. The contrast between the violent plot and the poetic language is probably what I’ll remember most, but there are also the fascinating tensions between antiheroism and narrative convention, individual/character/person and society/clan/tribe, and then simply African culture and European culture. The proverbs make this such a compelling read – easy words for complex thoughts – and remind us that different is different, which means good and bad. For all the talk I’d heard about this book, Achebe has exceeded my high expectations and created an incredible piece of lasting literature.