Purple Hibiscus (2003)
by
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Book Read: 28 June - 2 July 2015
Note Written: 23 July 2015
Too much of anything can be trouble, that's what an old Malayalam saying says (well, kind of). Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche shows how too much of religion, blind faith, and religious intolerance can shatter things around you. The book talks not about fanaticism in ways of bombs, terrorism, murders and all but about the kind of fundamentalism, extremism, and oppression at our homes. The novel has disturbed me a lot. The story is told from the view point of Kambili, a 15 year old girl, who watches many things/changes happen in and around her family- her fear and pride of her rich, devout catholic father; the strife between her brother Jaja and father, after he experience what freedom is in the poor, humble home of their aunt; the defending nature of her mother towards her father even after being violated and abused etc. There is a huge amount of conflict within Kambili whether her father is a 'villain' as such. He is a respectable man, yes, but he is intolerant in terms of religion, and engages in fierce domestic violence in the name of asserting good behaviour and faith. It is people like him that scares me most, more than gun wielding terrorists. There were some things which I could relate to in the novel, being brought up in a conservative Catholic Christian society, where no one dares to go beyond the edicts of the church, where there is no less scope for rational thinking, and where such conflicts as in the book arise. Religion and I are in a conflict situation now. I have declared ceasefire for the time being- let's co-exist peacefully, religion. You don't disturb me, I don't disturb you.
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