Purple Hibiscus cover art

Purple Hibiscus

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Purple Hibiscus

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
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About this listen

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a 2003 O Henry Prize winner, and was shortlisted for the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing and the 2004 Orange Prize. In Purple Hibiscus, she recounts the story of a young Nigerian girl searching for freedom. Although her father is greatly respected within their community, 15-year-old Kambili knows a frighteningly strict and abusive side to this man. In many ways, she and her family lead a privileged life, but Kambili and her brother, Jaja, are often punished for failing to meet their father’s expectations. After visiting her aunt and cousins, Kambili dreams of being part of a loving family. But a military coup brings new tension to Nigeria and her home, and Kambili wonders if her dreams will ever be fulfilled. Adichie’s striking and poetic language reveals a land and a family full of strife, but fighting to survive. A rich narration by South African native Lisette Lecat perfectly complements this inspiring tale.

©2003 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Africa Dream Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"One of the best novels to come out of Africa in years." ( The Baltimore Sun)
“Prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes. . . . Adichie's understanding of a young girl's heart is so acute that her story ultimately rises above its setting and makes her little part of Nigeria seem as close and vivid as Eudora Welty's Mississippi.” ( The Boston Globe)
"A sensitive and touching story of a child exposed too early to religious intolerance and the uglier side of the Nigerian state." (J. M. Coetzee)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book but right from the start I felt there was something problematic with the narration, why did the characters internal voice speak with and english accent, it just did not feel right. I looked the narrator up at the end of the book and low and behold it was a white woman reading. I do think that this is a very big mistake and frankly detracted from what was a really great book. The author herself is black nigerian and the book is set completely in Nigeria so why get a white woman to read it. There are simply too many good African, Nigerian, voices out there and to not use one a 100% mistake. I suggest you get this done again and in the right voice for the story!

Why this particular narrator

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If you could sum up Purple Hibiscus in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing emotional justified
Listen to this book on audible. I like the way the book was written, the story line was great detailing what exactly happened in a country foreign to me therfore I was able to picture it well. I felt angry a lot of the times and ashamed to say I loved the ending! Cant wait to read Adichie's other books.

Any additional comments?

The one thing I did not like was an English accent reading a Nigerian book. It took me a long while to get my head around it. She did well in trying to pronounce the words but I would have like to hear the author herself or similar read the book.

Great story

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What a shame to have such brilliant gripping story telling spoiled by a reader who places the story in South Africa by accent rather than Nigeria. Stumbling over names of places and branding out the emotion. Time for a re-record with a west African at the least reader.

Gripping story spoiled by white South African reader.

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such a moving book, beautifully written and full of powerful themes. I couldn't put it down.

beautifully written and heartbreaking

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The characters in this story not only deconstructed the stereotypical perceptions of a group of people who the West like to depict as “savages” it helps to explain where the savagery began; who introduced it to that civilisation and how it became embedded in their culture and ways of life. It shows how religion - the fear of God - was used and continue to be used to reinforce this regime of puppetry. How the ability to think for oneself was discouraged and the continued self loathing instilled by the brainwashing of the missionaries of old. This story showed the human desire to please God, honour parents, maintain virtue whilst suppressing emotion and freedom of thought. The juxtaposition was the aunt who encouraged discourse and free thinking yet we saw how fear was instilled in her (and many like her) and how they were expelled because they challenged the regime. Whilst this story is fiction, it is far closer to the truth than the stories the history books tell.

So engaging

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