Eunhae Han’s Reviews > Americanah > Status Update

It saddened her that Aunty Uju had settled merely for what was familiar.

She was disoriented by the blandness of fruits, as though Nature had forgotten to sprinkle some seasoning on the oranges and the bananas, but she liked to look at them, and to touch them; because bananas were so big, so evenly yellow, she forgave them their tastelessness.

University was bigger and baggier, there was room to hide, so much room; she did not feel as though she did not belong because there were many options for belonging.

The General, slaving and shaving for him, always eager to fade his flaws. It was not as it should be.

Aunty Uju liked to talk about The General, different versions of the same stories repeated and savored.

tangled
"You know, we live in an ass-licking economy. The biggest problem in this country is not corruption. The problem is that there are many qualified people who are not where they are supposed to be because they won't lick anybody's ass, or they don't know which ass to lick or they don't even know how to lick an ass.

She would miss her friend, but Ginika's leaving forced them both to wring out their friendship and lay it out newly fresh to dry, to return to where they used to be.

Obinze said,
, with a grin.
Because of her, he had joined the debate club, and after she spoke, he clapped the loudest and longest, until her friends said, "Obinze, please, it is enough."

She rested her head against his and felt, for the first time, what she would often feel with him: a self-affection. He made her like herself.

She knew everyone and everything and she seemed to be everywhere at the same time, with her weather-beaten air, as though life had tossed her around for a long time.