Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This novel is one of the best books I've read in recent memory. I hadn't heard anything about it when I picked it up randomly at The Strand, so I had no expectations. Thank goodness I spotted it and was drawn to it at the bookstore. (And thank goodness there are still bookstores to go to!)

Here's a snippet of the book's synopsis:

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.

Bravo to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her story of Ifemelu and Obinze is captivating. Americanah is brilliant, funny and informative. It's a moving story about what it means to be a black immigrant in America, and what it means to be human. Despite not having much in common with Americanah's main characters - I'm a white Jew, born and raised in NJ - I found myself really relating to the female lead. This book is a beautiful reminder that we are all connected. And Adichie is a fantastic writer.