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Purple Hibiscus cover art

Purple Hibiscus

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
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Summary

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

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)

What listeners say about Purple Hibiscus

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Why this particular narrator

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!

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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The story is fantastic. The narrator made me want to claw my ears off

Adichie is a fantastic writer and is the only reason why I finished this audiobook. The narrator seemed to struggle with pronunciation. The mic picked up every background noise and the narrator seemed to have a lot of saliva? It might not bother others but if you have a sensitivity to mouth noises etc seriously don't listen to this audiobook it was maddening.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

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.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Predictable story poorly narrated!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No, because of Lisette Lecat's performance. Her narrating was so slow and stilted. The listener can hear her every swallow, sniff and at one point someone coughing in the background! Lisette Lecat's reading spoilt this audiobook.

How could the performance have been better?

Don't use Lisette Lecat.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story but ends rather abruptly!

I wish she made more effort to learn how to pronounce the Igbo words.
Americanah is still her best book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

This is an excellent read. Some complex characters, and a compelling coming-of-age drama played out against an all-too-real background in Nigerian history. Very well narrated.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

A story about violence told with delicate strokes- a daughter caught in between her devotion for her father, a pious man 'who thinks he is God', and her desire to enjoy life. The pace of the narration is a little slow compared to other audio books but it suits this novel well. A very pleasant listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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Narrator

The book is amazing but the narrator didn’t do it justice. Her voice was annoying and you could hear her swallows and stuff in the background. I wish it had been read by someone else.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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Terrible narration

The fact that a book set in Nigeria is narrated by someone who sounds like they went to Cheltenham Ladies' College really ruined it for me. Could they not find a Nigerian narrator?
Truly terrible choice (she could barely pronounce the names and places)

Source: My Dads Nigerian

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

We absolutely loved it. All my kids too 12, 10 and 8 year olds girls

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1 person found this helpful