1.Title: Purple Hibiscus
2.Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3.First Published by: Fourth Estate (2004),An Imprint of
HarperCollinsPublishers.
4.Present Edition: Fourth Estate (2013)
5.Copyright: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2004)
6.ISBN: 978-0-00-727235-8
7.Genre: Fiction/literature
8.Pages: 307
9.Price :Rs.399.
Adichie is now a
known author from Nigeria and
Purple Hibiscus is her first book.It was longlisted for Man Booker Prize 2004
and shortlisted for the Orange Prize 2004.It received the Hurston/Wright Legacy
Award 2004.
Purple Hibiscus is the story of a young girl Kmbili and her brother
Jaja, brought up in a strict religious regimentation by their father Eugene Achike (Papa).Achike gave up and condemned his past
religion and became Christian.He always tried to prove how true Christian he was , and kept vigil over his children so that they also remained
strict Christians.But this is not to say that he was a monster.He was
kind and thoughtful in his own ways but
when it came to religion , he did all
kinds of awful and horrible things.He
was a strict believer in religion and order and
himself makes a daily
schedule for the children and pastes it on the wall above.
Eugene was the publisher of a a
fiercely independent newspaper the Standard.His editor Ade Choker
was killed by the dictator of Nigeria .Eugene looks after the family of
Choker.Eugene is connected and
intelligent enough to survive death at the hands of dictator.
Eugene has
a sister whom his children call Aunty Ifoema.They were born and brought up in
Abba , but Eugene , on becoming
Christian , breaks contact with his own father (Papa Nnukou).Every year ,
Eugene visits his home town with his family , but his children are allowed to
meet their grand father only for 15 minutes.Eugene humiliates his father
as he thinks his father is a Pagan.
Aunty Ifoema is a lecturer in the
University at Nsukka.When Kambili and Jaja meet her , they understand what freedom and fearlessness means.The three
children of Aunty Ifoema also breathe in a free and unregimented environment ,
unlike the tight and regimented life of
Kambili and Jaja, back at home where their father beats them violently for any alleged
transgression . From Aunty Ifoema’s house , Jaja brings stalks of Purple Hibiscus and plants these in
his own house .Purple Hibiscuses symbolise
freedom and non-regimentation .Aunty Ifoema set higher and higher jumps for her children
in the way she talked to them .Eugene made his children jump higher by creating terror in their minds.
One day , Eugene
is found dead in his factory premises at
his table .I will not be spoiler by telling who kills him.But it is important
to know .
.I recommend you to read this very powerful , lyrical
and touching story by Adichie.
No comments:
Post a Comment