Goodreads Sanctuary discussion

Here is where Maya Moon and myself will discuss about The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

I've read the three first short stories. Some topics developped : women and/vs men, religion, skin color, africanism, integration. It's incredibly rich. She is tackling such great questions in a few words. That's amazing! I really like her writing style: clear-cut, straight-to-the-shoulder.

I'm currently reading the short story The Thing Around Your Neck . I loved Cell One and Jumping Monkey Hill.
A Private Experience was interesting but I wanted to read more. I'd like to know about this relationship between Muslims and Christians, those who are actually victims of people who take religion as an excuse for their crimes...
That's a really powerful collection of short stories. I think I will read Americanah really soon after this book!

What about you Maya?

I've been enjoying this book... especially The first short story Cell One. These short stories seem to be a slice of life served to you on a 'take it or leave it' platter. Some of the stories offered me insight into different immigration experiences and how different things can be in the gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, social class mix of things. I too enjoyed the story of the Christian and Muslim women seeking safety and finding commonalities as women in the midst of danger and how they found strength to cope in different ways and respected each other. Some stories left me sad... like a teabag steeping in the reality of life and all its inequalities... it was hard to read at times but I feel it's necessary to do to guard against othering, stereotyping and plain old racism and sexism. Thanks Martin for suggesting this book. It was an enlightening read.

I wanted to ask you Martin... Why do you think the author named the book 'The thing around your neck'... I have my theory but I'd like to hear what you think....any thoughts?

...Ps: Reading Purple Hibiscus now, feel free to join in if you are interested ;)

I'm sorry Maya! i was so busy these days!
I was wondering about the title choice too! For me, it's to refer to women's dependence and submission to men. They need to free themselves and "break that thing around their neck". The necklace is feminine object, highlighting a woman's beauty, but it is also a symbol submission, slavery.
What do you think?

I really loved the last short story, especially the end!

I don't have time to read Purple Hibiscus right now. But maybe later in the year.

No problem, I totally understand... work does have a habit of interfering with my reading too!
I think you hit the nail on the head with your interpretation of the title! I could not have said it better myself. Thanks for getting me on to reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work!
Don’t worry about reading Purple Hibiscus with me, I’ll cope 
I’ll see if I can get anyone else to join in with me, I’m about 20% into the book so far it is really good... can’t wait to see what happens to Kambili Achike the main character  . It is another great story of a young women’s emancipation.