Half of a Yellow Sun

The sun has a half because Biafra was cut in one. Flags do arithmetic on people.

Ugwu arrived as a houseboy and left as a writer of the war. The book's best arc is his notebook.

Olanna's vision on the train, the woman carrying her daughter's head. One image, permanent.

Odenigbo's salons full of revolution and gin. Idealism always has a housekeeper.

Richard loved Biafra more usefully than he loved anyone in it. The book notices quietly.

Kainene disappeared crossing the line. The book ends without her body. Families live like that too.

The refugee camps and the protein pills. Hunger makes liars of everyone's principles.

Baby calling Olanna mama and meaning it. Family is a verb with a witness.

Adichie wrote the war through a kitchen. Genius of scale.

Carried out of it: remember it forward. The missing half of the sun is the book's job offer.