The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Title: The Thing Around Your Neck
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Publisher: Anchor Books
Genre: Fiction, Short Stories
Year of Publication: 2009
Date of Publication: June 16, 2009
Pages: 218
ISBN-10: 0307455912
ISBN-13: 978-0307455918

Summary

The Thing Around Your Neck is a book written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It contains 12 short stories about different characters. Each story centers on the lives of Nigerians. Some of the characters live in Nigeria while others have relocated abroad.

A lot of the stories focus on the personal lives of the characters, migration, and the clash between tradition and modernity.

Adichie brings to light some of the differences and relationships between men and women, parents and children, and some of the difficulties Nigerians face both in Africa and the United States.

Main Plot & Characters

Each story is about unique characters and situations. Some of my favorite stories from the book include:

Cell One: This story is narrated by sister of the main character in the story (Nnamabia). She tells the story of her brother’s arrest and the time he spent in a corrupt Nigerian prison. Her brother had a way of always finding himself in trouble but this particular time he spent in prison was the turning point in his life. The story is about corruption, privilege, and personal growth in a broken justice system.
A Private Experience: A medical student and a poor Muslim woman find shelter together during a riot. These two woman end up confronting their differences and understanding their shared humanity.
Imitation: A young mother in Philadelphia learns her husband has moved his mistress into their Lagos home. The way the narrative unfolds in this story is beautiful.
The Thing Around Your Neck: A Nigerian girl moves to America, she narrates some of the challenges she experiences as an immigrant including unexpected loneliness. She also talks about some of the cultural differences and reexamine her desires.

Through these narratives, Adichie tells the stories of individuals dealing with personal and cultural challenges.

Key Themes of The Thing Around Your Neck

Identity and Migration: The stories are about the immigrant experience; struggles of adapting to new cultures and how one maintains their heritage.
Tradition vs. Modernity: Characters in this book grapple with traditional expectations and contemporary aspirations.
Gender Roles: Adichie examines the dynamics between men and women and draws attention to societal norms.

Writing Style

Adichie’s writing is clear and engaging. She writes in a way that readers can quickly understand the dynamics of the Nigerian environment. Each story has you invested in the journey of the characters. Each narrator in the book has a unique voice.