| Title | : | Chike and the River |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0521040035 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780521040037 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 64 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1966 |
Chike and the River Reviews
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Oh yeah, I did it, I picked a book without magic, monsters and great villains :D Miracles do happen :) But I'll get back to my monsters, I promise :) No need to worry :)
Oh what an easy and light read "Chike and the River" was. I chose this book as a finale to my Lithuanian reading Challenge for 2016. With symbolism to adults and some funny and exciting adventure to kids. As you probably guessed, Chike is a kid and the river symbolizes his struggle in life to overcome his fears, sneak peak into the exciting world and try to not be carried away by the stream.
This short book was quite a page-turner and offered me a glimpse into a simple life when people were way more innocent, even the baddies. Simple but quite appealing illustrations served good to express the simplicity of the story but at the same time they left a warm feeling, like looking at a lovely art of a child. The writing is so simple, but compelling (old lorry called Slow-and-Steady with a quite picturesque description and so innocently mischievous nincompoops are only two gems I found in this slight delight)
The story gently touches the innocent mind of a child, essence of loneliness, childish curiosity, survival skills, way to salvation. It is a heartwarming tale :)
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What a delightful read. Achebe waved his magic wand and made me feel 8 years old again while reading this charming children’s story.
The Summary:
Chike leaves his mother and his village of Umuofia to settle with his uncle in Onitsha where he would school. He settles into this new life and quickly makes friends at the school. The notorious S.M.O.G. becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence. Chike’s desire is to cross the River Niger to Asaba, a big city unlike anything he has seen before. The ferry ride is six-pence one way and this is beyond his means. The adventure begins as he figures a way to make the money, he then crosses the river only to miss the last ferry back home, and then he ends up in the back of a lorry for the night, which turns out to be a loading vehicle for robbers. The ending I shall leave for you to discover (Avoiding spoilers here).
Culturally Educational
Of course, as all children’s adventures go, there is nothing special here. In fact, one could go as far as to say that the story is a cliché, although the book was first published in 1966, so it could also be seen as a standard story format of the time. What stands out is Achebe’s simple prose and the continuous references to Chike’s tribal sayings, all of which are shown for young readers to understand. Likewise the occasional usage of pidgin English or references in local dialect. Another great factor is the actions taken by the different characters which are all accurate and vivid, representative of life in Nigeria. There is much to learn culturally for modern day young readers as well as adult readers who are interested to know about tribal African cultures. A highly recommended book. -
Raising a child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task. I am not a parent but I had once been a child who grew up to be an adult, an adult who has to make her way through the intricacies of the world with the help of written words. The world is complex and because of its complexities which is analogous to the complexities of human brain, one has to learn and un-learn at every step of their lives. As a child, I firmly held on to the belief of a white baby being prized. 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. Books barged into my life and tossed my low self-esteem out of the window by showing me Pecola from The Bluest Eye (1970), whom I have always considered to be my friend whose worries I wanted to erase. A few books later, I noticed that if I, for once in my life, overlook the colour of skin, human beings are essentially the same; we have our own cultural practices, gender norms, simultaneous and differing emotions and so on. Human beings, I feel, lack novelty when it comes to wreaking havoc in other human beings’ life.
Like me, there must be a lot of children at different nooks and crannies of the world that had/have to suffer from a low self-esteem during their crucial growing years because of the scorching expectations of the privileged world. Adding to parents’ huge responsibilities towards their children is the importance of making their child aware and be conscious of the world which might not be as privileged as the world demeaning them, but is, if not more, equally important as its voracious counterpart and their opinions. Chike and the River (1966) by Chinua Achebe is one such book for and about a child. The child in question need not be a human being who has not yet attained full physical maturity. It could be us as well, who, with a child’s indomitable curiosity, plunges heedlessly in a book and ends up finding a new world. Chike, whose name is a derivative of the Igbo word ‘chi’ (according to internet), literally translates to “power of God”. Chike, the boy, moves to Onitsha, a big city where his uncle lives, for a better prospect of education.
The book delves into the life of Chike and his friends, particularly S.M.O.G., who find their way to placate their curiosity and once, even experience newfound freedom of buying and eating from the market. The book tells the story of a child from Umoufia, who struggles with his everyday life and continues living even amidst all odds. Along with the story of a young Nigerian boy is the steady presence of Nigerian landscape which is intimate at its best. This book is a beautiful escape from American and European lifestyles and cultures and for once in my life, maybe because of my limited understanding, I did not find a children’s book problematic.
Also on
Instagram. -
A delightful and quick read - part children's story, part fable. In classic Achebe style, proverbs and folktales are peppered throughout the simple but well told story of a boy trying to make his way across the river and ultimately learning sometimes the grass isn't quite as green on the other side as one thought.
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When serendipity leads to a delightful read. If you have 30 minutes and any interest, this tale by Achebe will charm you.
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Sweet story about a Nigerian boy's dream to cross the river. I think kids anywhere would like it.
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Back in 1966, Chinua Achebe's wrote this gentle, touching story of an eleven-year-old Nigerian boy, Chike. He has to leave his beloved small village and his family behind and live with his uncle in the city Onitsha, on the shores of the Niger River, so that he can continue his schooling.
It is a charming tale about finding your way in a totally new environment and learning some important life lessons about loyalty, honesty, courage and the strength and limits of dreams. Best known for his first novel, Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, Chinua Achebe is revered as the father of the African novel and THE standard for African fiction writing.
For my comprehensive review, go to
www.mostlyfiction.com -
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. The tone of the book is rather juvenile, even for a children's story, and the ending ties up all loose ends rather too neatly for my likings. I do like the looks into Chike's daily life and the culture he grew up in; Chike ended up being a very likeable protagonist. Would probably not read again, though.
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A few years after he published his great novel “Things Fall Apart,” the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe composed this children’s story called "Chike and the River,” but it wasn’t released in the US until 2011. It’s a handsome paperback edition “for all ages” with woodcut illustrations by Edel Rodriguez, but Achebe’s reputation and a blurb from
Toni Morrison will likely bring this slight book more attention than it deserves now. Laced with elements of a parable, the story about 11-year-old Chike trying to earn money for a trip across the River Niger is not charming or perilous enough to hold the attention of most young people or adults.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta... -
Basically a long-ish children's book, 'Chike and the River' unfolds with all the simplicity and wide-eyed wonder of a parable or a fable, gently moralizing along the way. It it arrives at its conclusion a bit too abruptly, there is still a great deal of pleasure to be found in seeing this world through a young boy's eyes. The 2011 illustrated edition, from Anchor Books, is quite lovely, and worth tracking down.
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This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. I am quite surprised that I found this book in the 8th grade section of my school's library. I think that this should be an elementary school book. The reading and the way it is written is very straight forward. I really enjoyed the African art that was included in this book. I would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know.
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Interesting story that had that told around the campfire feel. Chike is a young boy from the small village of Umuofia in West Africa. Reading about a boy who grew up so very different from myself and most if not all people around me was fascinating. Intermediate teachers would enjoy sharing this small chapter book with their students.
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Loved it. Great and endearing story. Nice to see Chinua Achebe's work again, too.
Because this follows an intrepid character who thinks in interesting ways, it actually reminded me of Ramona the Pest, Beverly Cleary's masterpiece, which I recently re-read.
Certain children's stories are just lovely to read, and this is one of them. -
I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. The illustrations in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful touch. This book is definitely geared towards a younger crowd (9-13yrs) but enjoyable for older folks who are aware that it's on the lighter side of Achebe's writing. Personally, I'm going to pick up a copy to add my library.
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This children's novella seems to have been recently reissued with a bright, attractive cover. It's a simple story, told in the style of boys' escapades and heroic entanglements with comic-book hoods.
But behind the simple boyhood facade lies a deeper story.
See my full (short) review at my blog, The Silly Putty Review:
http://sillyputtyreview.blogspot.com/... -
Originally written in 1966, this book tells the story of Chike, a young boy with a simple dream: to cross the river. 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. The tone is very much Achebe, and the illustrations, though also simple, give a little vitality to the book.
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It's one of the short stories that use disobedient boys to teach a lesson. Chike defiantly going to see the ferry becomes a heroe. My boy after reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe
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I enjoyed some of the short stories in this book, but at times it felt very scattered and slow. I'm not sure if it would really appeal to kids I know, even if I read it aloud; the English is so simple, I would have to inflect quite a bit. It was just okay. I have to read more of Achebe's stuff.
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Loved it. My husband is Nigerian and based on the stories about school he's told me, this seems pretty accurate! I was actually really surprised while reading this how well it matched up with the stories and sentiments he told me :).
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With his passing, I wanted to make a point of reading more of Achebe. While this does not feel the caliber of Things Fall Apart, it is good story. Simple, fast, and well-written.
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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.
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What an amazing story. I really liked Chike's character and how he came to the right solutions on his own. It was a great story that wasn't too drawn out, but showed than innately we all know the right actions to take in most situations.
I can't wait to read Arrow of God from his other Trilogy of Things Fall Apart. -
Short, sweet, and well worth reading. The writing is child-like and innocent in the best ways possible.
I was taken back to my own elementary school playground with the nicknames and awe of the mundane. -
Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. Though there are some good images of Africa overall it dumbs down Chike and his town and friends. Rather than getting that visceral sense of such a distant place (from where I am right now), it felt a bit trivial, with some foreign vocab thrown in for show. And though I know the moral tale is a huge part of African lit, at least they usually have some fun with animals that speak and fuck and kill and humans who are evil or beautiful or unbelievably rich. This story of a boy who does what he isn't meant to but it all ends for the best doesn't do it for me. If you want to introduce children to Achebe, and you should, start at Things Fall Apart. And if you want to celebrate Achebe's recent passing read
No Longer at Ease. In the immortal words of my late grandmother, this book was "nicht besunders." -
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. Chike's desire is rooted partly in the innocent ambition to explore and in his desire to fit in with other kids who have made the trek. An alert reader will recognize more than one moral lesson gently woven into the tale.
Some may lump this story in with "coming of age" tales, but I think not. For me, other stories of the genre necessarily include a character-transforming loss of innocence. Achebe provides a storybook happy ending in which Chike's prospects for a better life are nearly assured, but the author stops short of providing our young protagonist with any growth or character. Of course, at 88 pages, one could argue Achebe was saving that development for another tale in another book.
This book was an enjoyable half hour investment that, I am finding, continues to pay returns long after this reader finished the book. -
Charming and short childhood story. It does meander a bit like a young child's mind/life tends to (or like a river which makes part of the title) so there isn't a driving plot per se, but still overall a sweet story.
I did find the ending and wrap up in the end a bit too quick and pat but not distracting so given it being just a gentle story of a young child. And frankly the book didn't have quite the narrative anyway to go much longer.
Despite being by the legendary Things Fall Apart - don't look for the same style or charged topics as that book. Consider them separately and you'll be happier.
Light, quick, but not necessarily essential reading.
