I watched this video as part of a professional development day at work the other day, and I was completely enthralled with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's exquisite articulation of the stories we read and the ones we construct about ourselves and our fellow human beings on this planet we call home. You simply do not want to miss this.
I am winded, you guys. Winded from laboring over this list. This is the first time I've attempted to cobble together a Best Books of the Decade list, and I can't say I'll be up to it for another ten years or so. But my, I couldn't resist the challenge (or profound pleasure, if we're being honest). I kept trying to winnow it down, kept forcing myself to be ruthless. Like somehow I could (or should) keep it to a top ten (flat impossible) or at least a top twenty-five (who are we kidding?). But after bidding those constraints good riddance, I really did press myself to take a hard, clear look at what hurts (to mangle my favorite Hemingway quote). Because these novels hurt in the best way. Each entry on this list is a five-star book in my books. Which means I wouldn't change a single thing about a single one of them. They are the ones I call perfect when I recommend them to friends and strangers. They are the ones I have read and reread over the past ten years and…
This is great Angie! Thanks for sharing this with us :)
ReplyDeleteIt's stayed in my mind for days after. I had to pass it on. :)
ReplyDeleteVery illuminating. I have a copy of Half of a yellow sun on my shelf. Thanks for sharing, Angie.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely inspired to go pick up a copy as I have never read her before. Just loved this.
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