Chinelo Okparanta

Inspired by her mother s stories of war and Nigeria s folktale traditions, "Under the Udala Trees "is Chinelo Okparanta sdeeply searching, powerful debut about the dangers of living and loving openly"

Under the Udala Trees

archie

From the narration in the early chapters, Ijeoma always tried to find light/comfort in everything that happened.  

Uzo. It was the kind of name I’d have liked to fold up and hold in the palm of my hand, if names could be folded and held that way. So that if I were ever lost, all I'd have to do would be to open up my palm allow the name, like a torchlight, to show me the way. 

I wonder how many people still feel this way. 

"Don't let me hear that you threw it away or let it go to waste. Remember Biafra.”

She said, “A woman without a man is hardly a woman at all. You won't stay young forever.”

Ijeoma’s mum tried so much to hide her grief 😩

“With a man, life is difficult. Without a man, life is even more difficult. Take it from me"

You don't drink kai kai for its taste. You'e focusing on the wrong sense. You drink it to feel its effect on you. Feel, not taste.

Under the Udala Trees quotes

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