Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie

Purple Hibiscus

Chimamanda Adichie

A young girl's awakening from the domination of her violent and fanatically religious father, is echoed in the unfolding political crisis of a Nigerian military coup. The lightness of the writing belies some serious and complex themes - and it will definitely strike a chord if you can remember the first time you fell in love.

Extract
It rained heavily the day Ade Coker died, a strange, furious rain in the middle of the parched harmattan. Ade Coker was at breakfast with his family when a courier delivered a package to him. His daughter, in her primary school uniform, was sitting across the table from him. The baby was nearby, in a high chair. His wife was spooning Cerelac into the baby's mouth. Ade Coker was blown up when he opened the package - a package anyone would have known was from the Head of State even if his wife Yelande had not said that Ade Coker looked at the envelope and said 'It has the State House seal' before he opened it.
Parallels
  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou