Americanah Quotes:
CHARACTERS:
Ifemelu: 9:
1:
• “in the landscape of her imagination the mundane
• “there was cement in her soul”
things in America were covered in a high shine gloss”
• “she would never be sure”
• “roughly braided hair”
• “even she had once been somebody else”
• “feeling reckless” • “frisson of expectation”
• “Nothing was familiar”
• “Vivid honesty”
• “scruffy braids”
10:
3:
• “as if she convinced even herself that she was not living • “ached for the lives they showed”
on memories mildewed by thirteen years”
12:
• “known for insubordination”
• “she doesn’t always know when to keep her mouth • “was standing on the periphery of her own life”
shut”
13:
4:
• “She is too much trouble. She can argue. She can talk” • “she repeated ‘I’m Nogozi Okonkwo’ in front of the
• “the intimacy frightened her” mirror”
• “sometimes she worried that she was too happy” • “The world was wrapped in gauze, she could see the
shapes of things but not clearly enough, never
5: enough”
• “being outspoken and different” • “a little less invisible, a little more present. Somebody
• “she was no longer sure what ‘herself’ was” knew her”
• “she did not know what ‘own yourself a little more’
meant” 14:
• “she shrank like a dried leaf. She had spoken English
6:
all her life”
• “Ifemelu felt older than Aunty Uju, wiser and stronger • “She woke up every day worrying about money”
than Aunty Uju” • “it strung her to have to beg”
• “new, knowing skin right away”
7: • “new words were falling out of her mouth”
• “thrilled that she could disagree with professors”
• “go to university in Igboland since she had lived her
• “Here, Ifemelu felt a gentle, swaying sense of renewal.
whole life Here, she did not have to explain herself”
• in the west”
• “did not feel as though she did not belong because
there were many options for belonging”
• “Ifemelu was restless, antsy”
CHARACTERS:
Ifemelu: 9:
1:
• “in the landscape of her imagination the mundane
• “there was cement in her soul”
things in America were covered in a high shine gloss”
• “she would never be sure”
• “roughly braided hair”
• “even she had once been somebody else”
• “feeling reckless” • “frisson of expectation”
• “Nothing was familiar”
• “Vivid honesty”
• “scruffy braids”
10:
3:
• “as if she convinced even herself that she was not living • “ached for the lives they showed”
on memories mildewed by thirteen years”
12:
• “known for insubordination”
• “she doesn’t always know when to keep her mouth • “was standing on the periphery of her own life”
shut”
13:
4:
• “She is too much trouble. She can argue. She can talk” • “she repeated ‘I’m Nogozi Okonkwo’ in front of the
• “the intimacy frightened her” mirror”
• “sometimes she worried that she was too happy” • “The world was wrapped in gauze, she could see the
shapes of things but not clearly enough, never
5: enough”
• “being outspoken and different” • “a little less invisible, a little more present. Somebody
• “she was no longer sure what ‘herself’ was” knew her”
• “she did not know what ‘own yourself a little more’
meant” 14:
• “she shrank like a dried leaf. She had spoken English
6:
all her life”
• “Ifemelu felt older than Aunty Uju, wiser and stronger • “She woke up every day worrying about money”
than Aunty Uju” • “it strung her to have to beg”
• “new, knowing skin right away”
7: • “new words were falling out of her mouth”
• “thrilled that she could disagree with professors”
• “go to university in Igboland since she had lived her
• “Here, Ifemelu felt a gentle, swaying sense of renewal.
whole life Here, she did not have to explain herself”
• in the west”
• “did not feel as though she did not belong because
there were many options for belonging”
• “Ifemelu was restless, antsy”
