Kylie Bray (Love Hate and Billions)

Chinua Achebe's 1964 novel Arrow of God depicts an Ibo pioneer as he defies the British directors and missionaries in his town. The novel spotlights on Ezeulu, who is the High Priest of Ulu. Ulu is the main divinity in the town of Umuaro, and he united six warring towns to create a strong community that shares fundamental beliefs however preserve local village traditions. Since Ezeulu is half god and half man, he battles to recognize what is human will and what is heavenly will. This contention becomes more relevant as new difficulties, in the form of British position and Christian religion, question the pecking orders and convictions whereupon the community was built.

Searing and profound, suffused with magnificence, distress, and yearning, these stories map, with Adichie's unique enthusiastic insight, the crash of two societies and the profoundly human battle to accommodate them. The Thing Around Your Neck is a resonating affirmation of the enormous scholarly powers of one of our most fundamental essayists.