The title of the book I have read several times over and will still read several times over is "Things Fall Apart" by African award-winning writer Chinua Achebe. The title depicts the tragedy that befalls the protagonist.
Source:
https://images.app.goo.gl/e9CdrAGrHedvmGZK7
HOW I GOT TO READ IT
The novel was written decades before my birth. But, due to its popularity I had always looked forward to reading it. One day in school, I saw my classmate holding a black novel which had the words "Things Fall Apart" on its cover. I went insane with joy. Before then, I had never set my eyes on the very renowned novel. So when I did, I was so elated. I took her permission first, and her novel second, to be returned in the next three days.
MY LOVE FOR IT
The third day came and I was reluctant as I had never been to return the novel. I had read it once and could not quench the desire to read it again. Just to imply my hankering to own that novel or a copy of it, I checked out its price. I discovered it cost 20,000 Nigerian Naira which is tantamount to 508 Ukrainian hryvnia.
HOW I GOT A PERSONAL COPY
I wasn't working(a high school student) so such amount was very trifle sweeping and too high for my affordability. Improvising, I attempted to buy it from the classmate of mine who owned it thinking she would sell it at a cheaper price. I wasn't wrong at all. Emmanuella agreed to sell the popular novel "Things Fall Apart" to me for 1,000 Nigerian Naira. An equivalent of 25 Ukrainian hryvnia. What a discount!!!
WHAT I THINK OF THE BOOK
I opine that Mr. Achebe did a very good work on this one. It's the only book of his I have read yet and I know for a fact that the rest of his books aren't any less entertaining. If I was Emmanuella, I wouldn't trade this book for anything.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The book speaks about the tradition of Eastern Nigeria, collectively referred to as the Igbo tribe. I hail from the South but have always admired the Eastern tales. The book captures the times of wars and peace, ancient customs, marital events, laws and punishments, the superiority of titled men in the Igbo tradition. It all began with the protagonist Okonkwo who rose from being the son of a pauper to a titled chief of the fictional village of Umuofia. He first earned popularity from beating the village's fiercest wrestler in a bout.
The novel highlighted when Okonkwo mistakenly shot a boy and got banished from the village for 7 years. On return, he met a changed village where his people no longer worshipped their ancestors, idols or "the gods" but "the God of the whites". He was very infuriated to encounter this foreign breed who had begin to spread culture that contrasted what the Umuofians initially believed and practised. He fought against it and was imprisoned by the whites. The contributed cowries of his people helped bail him out. After his release, he bumped into into the head messenger who mocked him during his imprisonment. The head messenger was telling the villagers to dismiss their meeting by order of the commissioner. Out of agitation, Okonkwo drew his machete and struck it twice, beheading the ill-mannered messenger. Afterwards, he hung himself. He had lost his first son Nwoye to the white man's religion. He had lost his friends to the white man's tradition and now his own people had lost their courage to rebel?
THINGS I LEARNT
Through this lovely novel, I learnt how life was in the previous century. I learnt so many native adages. I learnt so many uncommon words and phrases. I never get tired of reading "Things Fall Apart".
I am grateful for the opportunity to express myself on this platform. I call on @destinedhanik and @charles10 to join in on this contest.
Contest link:https://steemit.com/hive-145157/@sergeyk/contest-11-again-again-a
