Introduction
Ever read a book that stayed with you for years? That was Half of a Yellow Sun for me. What happened to my favourite character, Kainene, towards the end was deeply unsettling. I first read Half of a Yellow Sun in 2018 and knew I would need to revisit it. Seven years later, I returned to it. Chimamanda’s writing has a way of hooking one immediately, and even though this was a re-read, it was just as gripping as the first time I read it.
Book Summary
Half of a Yellow Sun is a story of so many things and so much learning. It is a complex interweaving of many layers of life, love, career, loss, war, and ultimately, survival. A thriving young professional couple, utterly smitten with one another, are tested in ways that can break anyone, but they survive.
Olanna and Odenigbo were living the life of their dreams. They loved each other and had moved in together, crafting a simple yet happy life for themselves. They were both educated and had a houseboy who adored them – Ugwu, and great friends who frequented their home for food, drink, and stimulating conversation. Odenigbo had great aspirations and strong beliefs for his country. Olanna’s twin sister, Kainene, always called him “the revolutionary lover.” Olanna was the daughter of a well-connected, wealthy man. What could possibly go wrong? Surely their love story was one written in the stars? But life, as we know it, is unpredictable and can change in an instant.
Odenigbo’s mother wanted a grandson, and Olanna was not producing one, even though this was not due to a lack of trying. So, the old woman devised a terrible plan to get her grandchild. As fate would have it, the grandchild she got was not the one she wanted: a boy. She got a girl instead and wanted nothing to do with her. Olanna immediately took her in and cared for her, despite the fact that the deceptive act of bringing that child into the world almost broke Olanna and Odenigbo. Olanna’s character was easy to love and adore. Still, this act of kindness on her part, taking in her husband’s child from an extramarital affair and loving her completely, was something to cherish about Olanna.
Just as life was about to get normal again, a civil war broke out, and Olanna and her family were on the side that wanted to break off from Nigeria – Biafra. This part of the book was a challenging read, as events escalated rapidly. Chimamanda described the devastation in incredible detail, which stays with you. Especially because the war did happen, and even though this was not a true retelling, it still made one think, because it’s not difficult to imagine that very similar events occurred in real life. The senseless killing of the Igbo people. The rape of women. The bombing and shelling, the starvation and death, and the utter deprivation that families suffered. From thriving, happy lives to being forced out of their homes and cities, becoming refugees and struggling to feed themselves and their children, to survive.
Kainene was one of my favourite characters in this book, which is why what happened to her still haunts me today. Kainene was a strong and resilient woman who lived life on her own terms. Having known her character from this book and having read all of Chimamanda’s books, I often feel that there is a character resembling her in many of Chimamanda’s works. In Dream Count, Omelogor reminded me a little of Kainene. Kainene was involved with a white man named Richard, and I couldn’t quite place why he was a character in the book.
Another favourite of mine was Ugwu’s character from the very beginning, and my heart broke for what the war did to him, but I suppose those are the consequences of such times. He was, nevertheless, a pure and good person, loyal to the core and full of love. Chimamanda, of course, wrote such a brilliant plot about Ugwu, and ultimately, I was happy he made it.
Before 2018, I had not studied African history extensively and had not read many books written by African women. I had also not travelled much outside Namibia. I was grateful to read this book and take further steps to learn about the Biafran War, which I had previously only heard about.
Chimamanda did an incredible thing with this book. Reading it felt like she sat down and wove an intricately complicated yet beautiful African basket: layered, twisted, decorated, and also complex and sturdy.
I would therefore recommend everyone to read this book.
See my review of Dream Count to learn about the author.
