Overall, what did you think of Dream Count? (no spoilers, please!)
I loved it! What a beautifully written and brilliant story about “dreams.”
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I have always been a big fan of Chimamanda Ngozi Adi. She is a beautiful writer and it’s a pleasure to read anything she writes. This book was no exception. I was drawn to the characters from the beginning and was sad to leave them at the end. Their stories were real, engaging and compelling. A wonderful book.
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It was my first experience reading Adichie. Her storytelling is spellbinding, and draws you into the characters. I will certainly read other books of hers.
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Adichie is such a lyrical while blunt writer, creating compelling, intimate characters with whom I felt a connection. It’s a beautiful book.
There were times I felt it was slow - for example each time I started a story line of one of the characters the build up to their story’s climax took a bit longer than I preferred. That does not mean I didn’t love the book in the end. Ms Adichie is a true story teller. Dream Count took a bit longer to build at the start of each chapter.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book! There were no wasted words. I savored every sentence. The interconnected stories of the four women were unique and engaging.
I really enjoyed the writing style. At first I was wishing for date headings when the events weren’t in chronological order but that became less important as I got more involved in the story and characters.
I have never lived in a diverse neighborhood and felt I was being introduced to complex and interesting lives and customs and expectations. Have gotten totally wrapped up in the women and keep switching favorites. I am almost done (I got it very late). So have to get back and finish it
When I first began reading Dream Count I thought it was going to be about two Nigerian women searching for love in America. I soon realized it was much more–a group of friends sharing views on life, love and loss. I love Adichie’s writing style and will also search out her other books.
The authors writing is wonderful. I will certainly read her other books.
Not a fan. I did not relate to any of the characters or their experiences.
I really enjoyed this, but could have been a tad shorter. It is my first read of Adichie’s; her writing is beautiful and poetic and I look forward to reading more by this skilled writer.
It was a wonderful book. I have read other books by this author, and I so appreciate her use of language and her ability to articulate and convey each character’s world. You really understand their story, motivations, and perspectives.
She is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. Not only is she a lyrical writer, but she has great insight into human nature and the dramas of everyday life. So grateful to have a copy of this book and join in this conversation.
I expected and wanted to love it, as I have other works by Adichie. It was worth reading, good but not great. I think the author was trying to cram too many political subtleties into it —better expressed in her nonfiction. The connections between the four women felt superficial, a device to cover the political ground. Sometimes TMI! Whereas I wanted to see all the characters learn and grow as Kadi did.
I enjoyed reading Americanah and I was looking forward to another great read. Even though the writing and the descriptions are beautiful, I was disappointed at the content. I had difficulty relating to the characters in general.
I was struck by what Adichie wrote in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel.“Novels are never really about what they are about. At least for this writer.” She goes on to explain that what the book is about is not obvious and that Dream Count is really about losing her mother. There are touching moments about mothers and daughters and their relationships including the very ending, but the theme of mothers and daughters does not resonate as the main theme or point of the book to me. The fact that she needed to make that point suggests that she knew the book did not build that case. It was a book about women and their complicated relationships and I thought those were well developed and intriguing. What I didn’t like was the fact that, by and large, none of the relationships women had with men were sustained. I felt like the male characters were tools and in a way objectified except for uncles or fathers. The only character I admired was Kadiatou. The other women seemed self absorbed and self serving. I did like learning about Nigerian culture and how the topic of racism was addressed. Those ideas challenged some of the classic academic ideas on racism in the US today. Much food for thought.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters were so engaging and I became involved with each and found the last third of the book so enticing that I couldn’t take any breaks-just had to find out what happened to everyone.thiw was a favorite for me
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It took me a long time to read Dream Count, but each time I picked it up I immediately became engrossed the the many sides of these 4 women, different countries, different tribes, different classes but all searching. That search for love, community, understanding, justice and peace is the heart of this book and wear drew me in.
I was hoping to enjoy it more as it was one of my most anticipated reads. I still had a good time but my favorite book by Chimamanda is Americanah, and I was eager to see if this would replace it as my favorite and it didn’t
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