Half of a Yellow Sun

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Half of a Yellow Sun cover
Good Books rating 4.58
Historical Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 602
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780007200283
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2007-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a powerful and evocative novel set against the backdrop of Nigeria's civil war. The story follows Ugwu, a houseboy; Olanna, a woman who leaves her privileged life for love; and Richard, an Englishman entranced by Olanna's twin sister. Their lives become entangled as the war tests their loyalties and forces them to confront the brutal realities of conflict and the end of colonialism. /n/n The novel is a literary masterpiece that delves into themes of race, class, and the intricate ways love can complicate everything. Adichie's vivid prose and deep emotional resonance make this a compelling and unforgettable read, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction.

Reviews
The Resting Willow · 2023-05-13
engrossing 4.75

Adichie's storytelling and character-building are superb and completely engrossing. The characters are relatable and evoke strong emotions, making the reading experience deeply immersive.

The reviewer finds Adichie's storytelling and character-building in Half of a Yellow Sun to be superb and completely engrossing. They feel a strong connection to the characters, which makes the reading experience deeply immersive. The novel's ability to evoke empathy and emotion is highlighted, making it a memorable and impactful read. The reviewer appreciates how Adichie manages to balance historical context with personal narratives, creating a rich and captivating story.

Quick quotes

    As with Americanah, Adichie's storytelling and character-building is superb and completely engrossing.

    We feel for her characters and we feel their experiences deeply.

    The novel's ability to evoke empathy and emotion is highlighted.

Allie Reads · 2020-08-03
heart-aching 4.50

Adichie's writing is heart-aching, her characters are robust, and she educates about a little-known historical period. The novel is considered one of the top reads of the year.

The reviewer describes Adichie's writing in Half of a Yellow Sun as heart-aching and her characters as robust. They appreciate how the novel educates readers about a little-known historical period while providing a deeply moving and engaging narrative. The reviewer considers it one of the top reads of the year, highlighting its emotional impact and historical significance. The novel's ability to balance personal stories with broader historical context is particularly praised.

Quick quotes

    Adichie's writing is heart-aching, her characters are robust, and she educates about a little-known (at least for some) historical period.

    Definitely a top-two book of 2020 (so far).

    The novel's ability to balance personal stories with broader historical context is particularly praised.

The Guardian · 2009-10-12
captivating 4.50

The Biafran war is an unlikely subject for a bestseller, but the quality of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's storytelling in Half of a Yellow Sun is captivating. The novel is praised for its ability to make a complex historical event accessible and engaging.

The reviewer was immediately hooked by the quality of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's storytelling in Half of a Yellow Sun. They highlight that the Biafran war, an unlikely subject for a bestseller, is brought to life in a way that is both accessible and deeply engaging. The novel's ability to weave together historical events with compelling characters and narrative makes it a standout work. The reviewer appreciates how Adichie manages to make a complex and often overlooked historical period feel personal and relatable.

Quick quotes

    The Biafran war is an unlikely subject for a bestseller, but I was hooked by the quality of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's storytelling in Half of a Yellow Sun.

    The novel is praised for its ability to make a complex historical event accessible and engaging.

    Adichie's storytelling in Half of a Yellow Sun is captivating.

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