Raising a child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task. Last spring he sat in on a course devoted to studying his vast body of work; Things Fall Apart was only the first of his many novels, poems, short stories, and essays. My husband is Nigerian and based on the stories about school he's told me, this seems pretty accurate! Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Copyright FreeBookNotes.com 2014-2023. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. Books barged into my life and tossed my low self-esteem out of the window by showing me Pecola from. The main piece of advice she gives to Chike is to stay clear of the River Niger. Whilst in Onitsha, he washed cars and got the money. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Sites like SparkNotes with a Chike and the River study guide or cliff notes. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. I was actually really surprised while reading this how well it matched up with the stories and sentiments he told me :). Why is your favorite about chike and the river. It Runs in the Family. Since he is still considered the new kid in school he wants to fit in with his friends, leading him to tell some lies about the wealth of his family. Achebe doesnt even explain what is meant by explosive mechanism, but the clear violence in that phrase provides a harrowing analogy for how religion, language, and other customs are forcibly and often violently spread through colonialism. This information about Chike and the River was first featured Feels odd to give a Chinua Achebe book only three stars, but it wasn't like the rest of his works and that threw me off majorly. "African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." He did not know. Many children do not realize the poverty that many people experience across the world. Additionally, by giving Chike three names, Sarah and Amos demonstrate their desire both to preserve Igbo cultureChike and Obiajulu are Igbo namesand to assimilate into English culture with the generic biblical name John as the first of Chikes three names. Whilst on the other side, he lost track of time and missed the last boat back. This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. "In Chike and the River, young readers get an intimate look at African life, learn about the Niger River, and connect with Chike as if he is their. Author: Chinua Achebe. Originally published in South Africa in 1966, Chinua Achebe's children's book Chike and the River finally makes its debut here in the United States. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. Achebe presents the idea that nothing comes easy in a clear manner, while still writing an enjoyable, yet simple book for children to read. Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, Chike is a young boy from the small village of Umuofia in West Africa. Be the first to review "Chike and The River" Click here to cancel reply. on the Internet. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IGBO ARTS: COMMUNITY AND COSMOS By Herbert M. Cole & Chike C. Aniakor **Mint** at the best online prices at eBay! If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Chinua Achebewas born in Nigeria in 1930. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Title His first novel, published in 1958, is a slim, stone-cold masterpiece about the colonialism and the brutal collapse of traditional village life as seen through the eyes of its doomed hero, Okonkwo. Whats more, the fact that Chike and his schoolmates presumably dont understand the meanings of the English songs further demonstrates the fact that the colonial instruction the students are receiving is not relevant to them, and only serve as tools of assimilation. Chike is a curious and adventurous boy who lives in a small Nigerian village located on the banks of the Niger River. Neither text, nor links to other websites, is reviewed or endorsed by The Ohio State University. "Without a single sensational slip, this succinct little reading delight is an even-handed slice of life that depicts poverty and hardship realistically but with a dignified reserve, as a very likable young Nigerian boy learns the tough lessons of life, with honors." He also authored four subsequent novels, two short-story collections, and numerous other books. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Why, S.M.O.G. I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. Reviews | Chike and the River is a sixty-page chapter book intended for middle readers with illustrations by Prue Theobalds. To right this imbalance, Achebe created this short novel, Chike and the River, first published as a pamphlet in 1966, the story of a Nigerian boy who overcomes fear and . You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. Chike and his friends make you remember childhood as a time of dreams, friends and all the good and bad that come with them, warnings from adults and brave acts of discovery each day. Then one day his mother told him that he would be going to Onitsha in the new year to live with his uncle. My boy after reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. 2010. While this does not feel the caliber of Things Fall Apart, it is good story. Loved it. A delightful and quick read - part children's story, part fable. One day, Chike becomes fascinated with the idea of crossing the river to the city of Asaba, located on the other side. At first Chike was full of joy. Just $45 for 12 months or He was, for over 15 years, the Charles P. Stevenson Jr. Chike and the River. August 9, 2011. Overtime, Chike has some challenges at school that give him more courage and determination. There are no reviews yet. 8 - 11 years. He dreams of seeing the world beyond his village and experiencing the excitement and opportunities that the city has to offer. This moment further indicates that the way Chike is raised isolates him from his community. Chike and the River, by Chinua Achebe, is released on Tuesday, August 9, by Anchor Books ($10). Start earning points for buying books! Charming and short childhood story. The reference to Chikes school clothes illustrates the subtle influence of colonial culture: these are likely not traditional Igbo clothes, meaning that the schoolchildren are expected to conform to a westernized style of dress in order to attend school. Although he is concerned about the fact that his mother said to stay away from the river, this increases his curiosity even more. And if you want to celebrate Achebe's recent passing read. Reading age. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. In Indian context, this belief might slightly be different from the belief fed to a child, say, in Nigeria, but in its essence, there are similarities between them. He was tired of living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city. If there is a Chike and the River SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. Chinua Achebe was born in the Igbo village of Ogidi, Nigeria. are 1 Short Summary and 5 Book Reviews. Fax: 519-749-4455 Electoral District: 03. A few years after he published his great novel Things Fall Apart, the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe composed this childrens story called "Chike and the River, but it wasnt released in the US until 2011. FreeBookNotes found 6 sites with book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make "Chike and the River" a compelling and thought-provoking read. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. It suggests that although Chike may be excited about the new world that is to come, the narrator has reservations, and likely suspects that the violent destruction of Igbo traditions will prove detrimental to the continued existence of Chikes culture. Achebe gifts us with a short tale about Chike, a pre-teen, who is fixated on his desire to cross the river on a ferry boat. This information about Chike and the River was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter.Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. He is an ambassador of art, and a profound recorder of the human condition. Michael Dorris, Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House, Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network. Personally, I'm going to pick up a copy to add my library. Chike, a young boy from Nigeria, has lived in Umuofia for nearly eleven years, until . If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added. I read this book, and had it autographed, as a child. He saves up money by doing odd jobs and eventually convinces his father to allow him to travel to the city. And here is where old world meets new because to get to the other side of the river, Chike must take a ferry, which cost sixpence each way, more money than hes ever held in his hand. With this incredible debut Milan has rocketed himself into the literary stratosphere. 1,500. Short, sweet, and well worth reading. Just for joining youll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members. Many children do not realize the work that must be put in to reach a goal, which Achebe indicates throughout her novel. This passage suggests that Chike and his sisters are isolated from their community due to their parents Christian beliefs. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe (Children's Classic) To ride monkey styles ment to ride sitting down True or false? Book Review by Kam Williams. A good book for two reasons: kids will enjoy the (authentic) look at Nigeria, and understand what the tale says about trying to fit in. After finding a sixpence on the ground, he begins searching for a way to double his money to a shilling. Struggling with distance learning? Although many children cannot relate to the character directly, it is common for kids to want something, but they do not believe that they can achieve their goal. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. "Chike and the River" is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and the pursuit of dreams. Chike embarks on a journey filled with challenges and adventures. To some children, a trip across a river does not seem like much, yet, to someone like Chike, this journey means the world. The irony or more accurately, the confirmation of Achebes mastery is that he created a lovely classic with universal appeal for Africans and Westerners, for children and their parents, and its one you dont have to learn about in college. Also by Chinua Achebe. Complete your free account to request a guide. Chike makes it his goal to find money to take his journey across the River Niger. Sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF MOTIVATION: HARNESSING THE ART By Egeni Chike Camilius *NEW* at the best online prices at eBay! 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