One Book One Community: Americanah

While fiction can create fantastical worlds of mythical creatures and intrepid heroes or heroines, it can also be deeply rooted in reality, resonating with readers who see themselves reflected back to them in the ink-printed pages. For the fourteenth annual One Book One Community series at East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s story Americanah exhibits themes everyone can relate to. Through the OBOC initiative, the library and its partner Forum 225 encourage patrons of all ages to read the chosen title, and organizes a plethora of immersive events designed to facilitate a cultural conversation around that year’s literary pick. Think of it as a parish-wide book club, with seven weeks of programming across the parish’s fourteen library locations.

Adichie’s 2013 novel—winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award—recounts the poignant, powerful story of Ifemelu and Obinze, a young Nigerian couple who each depart their home country, which is under military rule, to study in English-speaking, western countries. Ifemelu travels to the United States, and Obinze to the United Kingdom after he is denied entry to post-9/11 America. Ifemelu experiences race for the first time while in America, while Obinze lives undocumented in London. Fifteen years later, Ifemelu and Obinze reunite in a now-democratic Nigeria, and reckon with resuming their relationship after their long separation.

Adichie, who is also Nigerian, explores the themes of love, race, identity, immigration, and citizenship. The literary page-turner has something both younger and older readers can relate to or learn from, says One Book One Community coordinator Jessica McDaniel. This spring’s program incorporates a variety of educational and entertaining events, from panel discussions, movie nights, informative presentations, and more. The lineup begins with a Kickoff Party at the Main Library at Goodwood on March 7, 6 p.m. The free, family-friendly party will include games and prizes, refreshments, and a live musical performance from Lafayette percussionist collective I Am I.

Start your reading now, and you’ll finish in time to join other patrons for a discussion on Americanah at the Main Library on March 16 and April 9. Visit readonebook.org for more information on OBOC events throughout March and April, and learn how your local branch is participating.