Americanah

William Boyd - Sweet Caress ~ 7/10.

Two richly told stories that span multiple lives and generations of the characters.

Americanah (2013) follows the life of Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman who immigrates to the USA for university, and Obinze her teenage boyfriend as they grow up in different continents. It’s a very interesting read that expresses the effect of globalisation on race and contrasting cultures.

Sweet Caress (2015) is based on the life of Amory Clay, a female war photographer and the people she meets in multiple countries. Although the characters are fiction, Boyd brings them to life with such detail that you can’t help wanting them to be real people in our own history. A really charming read that blends artifice with naturalism through Amory’s fascinating, well-lived life.