In contemplating this review, I wonder what theme to lead with: immigration, belonging vs other, relationship love vs love of oneself, the American Dream, racial hierarchies, and concepts of opportunities in different countries.

 

The choice is near impossible but suffice it to say that Adichie does it all justice. She writes with humor and grace accented by an extraordinary talent to glide between generational voices and national perspectives, invoking nuanced code-switching to highlight concepts of sameness and differentness between characters or between the story and its reader.

 

This story centers around Nigeria—being in Nigeria, leaving Nigeria, being Nigerian, and returning to reclaim being Nigerian. If it sounds like a singular story about a niche experience, think again then read the book. Americanah is a shared experience with universal trappings of hierarchies built by social, racial, nationality, and economic standings.