Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart
Score Classic
What it's about
Okonkwo is a respected warrior and wrestler in an Igbo village in Nigeria in the late 1800s, driven by fear of turning out like his weak, debt-ridden father. His strength and temper bring him honor and tragedy, and when he's forced into exile for seven years, he returns to find that Christian missionaries and British colonial rule have begun to change everything.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels ever and is on the TIME and Bokklubben lists of the greatest books. It's the foundation of modern African literature, and it shows a whole society before colonialism.
You'll love it if you liked
Purple Hibiscus
The Poisonwood Bible
King Leopold's GhostGood to know
It's short. There's violence, including the killing of a boy Okonkwo raised. It's the first of a trilogy.
By the numbers
- Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics82 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #84 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #434 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1491 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Things Fall Apart worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels ever and is on the TIME and Bokklubben lists of the greatest books. It ranks #1,491 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Things Fall Apart about?
Okonkwo is a respected warrior and wrestler in an Igbo village in Nigeria in the late 1800s, driven by fear of turning out like his weak, debt-ridden father. His strength and temper bring him honor and tragedy, and when he's forced into exile for seven years, he returns to find that Christian missionaries and British colonial rule have begun to change everything.
How long does it take to read Things Fall Apart?
About 5 hours (185 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Things Fall Apart?
If you liked it, try Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver or King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild.