100 Quotes From 'Things Fall Apart'

My first real experience of "Things Fall Apart" was as a kid and a big fan of television. The way I remember it, it was beamed into the homes of over '30 million Nigerians' by the Nigerian Television Authority broadcasting network as a weekly television series. Before then, I'd only heard about the book in snatches from my brothers. We might have had a copy or two of the volume in our home, too.

According to Wikipedia, 'Things Fall Apart' has sold well over 11 million copies worldwide and got translated into several languages. It is also considered the most read book by an African author residing in Africa. The entire plot of this great book might have been summarized in a one-liner delivered by one of the characters on the last page; the words of the District Commissioner who came to effect Okonkwo's (the MC) arrest but instead got a body dangling off the branch of a tree. Here's what he had to say:

"The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading."

Bet my pen he didn't know his statement was on point. I'm thinking that one-liner could have been all the legendary author, Chinua Achebe had when he drafted his masterpiece. But that's just me and my unshakable hunch. In any case, whether you've read the bestseller or not, these personal clippings are going to lead you by the hand into the heart of literary beauty.

May I have the pleasure?

Did your world seem to stand still? Did you hear the drums beat; heard the flutes as they sang? And did you feel your breath as it caught in your throat? I know I did. Thanks for your time.

Keep your pens bleeding.

Akpan