This was even too short to call a novella but it packed quite a punch. The story centers on a woman in labor and the various connections to her life to this point. There is so much in each little veer off that this could easily be used as the basis of a novel and I hope it does. I really wished it was much longer. ( )

"I felt angry and I felt ugly and I welcomed both like a bitter refuge."

Zikora: A Short Story
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

There is something about this woman and how she writes that keeps me coming back for more. Why don't I admit already that I am hooked and just binge read all her books? I think I will do just that!

So I was introduced to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie when I read....as many of my fellow readers have....the award winning Americanah. Although I did enjoy that book, I did not fall in love with it.

My second book of hers was an essay, the amazing "We should all be feminists" which I did love.

And now I have read story number three. Zikora is a short story that packs as much (or more) humility, tenderness, and depth in it than many full length books do. I do not mind admiting I was mesmerised.

Zikora is pregnant. She is from Nigeria and in the United States. Her lover has abandoned her. With no reasons as to why.

Now Zikora is giving birth. She is scared, lonely, and yearning. She is reflecting. As she begins to give birth, her mother is there beside her.

This book is achingly lovely and if I have one complaint it is that it is way to short. There are so many themes but in particular is the mother/daughter relationship. You also learn much about Zikora's mother's relationship with her husband.

Zikora and her mom are different and there is distance between them. But as the reader learns more about both mother and daughter, we realize maybe they are not so different after all....

I rated this a four and not a five only because I want more of Zikora! So, I see, do other readers. I also want to know the motivations of her lover but I do realize he is not the focus. Still, it was driving me mad! I knew this was a short story but I did not expect it to end when it did.

So I hope we will get more of Zikora but even if we do not, I have to strongly recommend this book. And if any of my GR friends have read it, please post....This is one where I'd love to know what you think. ( )

Die Kurzgeschichte konnte ich über kindle unlimited lesen - vor allem hat mich die Autorin interessiert.

Die Geschichte ist sehr lebendig geschrieben - eine Frau, die mit Beginn der Schwangerschaft vom Vater des Kindes verlassen wurde, liegt im Krankenhaus in den Wehen, begleitet von ihrer reserviert wirkenden Mutter. Man erfährt trotz der wenigen Seiten einiges über die Familiengeschichte und vieles von dem, was in der Gebärenden vorgeht.

Der Schreibstil macht auf jeden Fall Lust auf mehr - das Reflektieren über die Rolle der Frau, von dem man in anderen Buchbesprechungen liest, ist da, steht für mich hier aber nicht so prägnant im Vordergrund. Dafür bräuchte es doch noch mehr Seiten. ( )

Cool introspective personal story about a woman in her 30s. It's a short story so I don't want to give it all away, but it begins near the end when she's giving birth. I liked it, it's about expectations and differing cultures, relationships between people and themselves. ( )

A perfect short story you'd wish was a novel. ( )