Book Review: Tomorrow Is Too Far By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My grandparents had ten children; seven girls and two boys. They all grew up together in the same compound, playing, studying, and eating side by side. However, my grandfather valued male children much more than female children. Because of this, the boys were given more rights and privileges than the girls. The first five children were all girls, and when my grandmother gave birth to the fifth one, my grandfather was so disappointed that he refused to pay the hospital bills after hearing the news that it was another girl. That was how bad it was. Before he passed away, he gathered his children and told them clearly that all his properties would go to his sons because they were the ones who would carry on his name. The issue of gender equality did not start with my grandfather and it definitely did not end with him.

In many countries, particularly in African countries , Male children are given more rights and privileges. This issue did not start today. It started decades ago. Back then, female children were not even allowed rights to education. They felt it wasn’t necessary for them to be educated, since they would be married off eventually. Interestingly, things are better now. Female children are now allowed to study to great extents. However, the issue of gender inequality is still deeply rooted in our society. This is exactly what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie treats in her short story, TOMORROW IS TOO FAR

TOMORROW IS TOO FAR BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

This short story by Chimamanda revolves around an unnamed character, a woman who experiences the sharp and painful thorns of gender inequality mixed with favoritism and sibling rivalry. The unnamed character grew up with her older brother Nonso, and her cousin Dozie. They grew up in their grandmother’s compound, and just at the back of the compound are big trees of different kinds. From the very beginning, it was obvious that Nonso, the male son, was the grandmother’s favorite. She cherished and carried him like an egg while she paid little to no attention to her (the unnamed character.)

Many times, the unnamed character felt overshadowed by Nonso. Their grandmother allowed only Nonso to climb the tree even when the unnamed character was a better climber. Grandma taught only Nonso how to pluck coconut because according to her, “girls are not allowed to pluck coconut”. And when they shared the coconut water, Nonso was allowed to drink first. When the unnamed character asked why, she responded that it is Nonso who would carry her family’s surname.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. One day, while the unnamed character, Nonso, her older brother and Dozie, their cousin, were playing at the back of the compound, she tells her brother to climb to the highest branch to reach a fruit, knowing well that her brother was not a good climber and that it was dangerous. Nonso slipped and fell to his death. Now, the unnamed character is left to carry the weight of what she had done. She finally got what she wanted, but at what cost?

WHO DO WE BLAME?

MY NOTES

When I finished reading this short story, I asked myself this question; who do we blame for Nonso’s death? Nonso? Nonso was just an innocent child who saw nothing wrong in enjoying his position as the favourite child. That position came with sweet benefits, and Nonso licked every drop like a child licking his favorite soup, prepared by his mother, with his second finger. So, do we blame Nonso for his death?

The unnamed character? She didn’t kill her brother with her own hands, but she did it indirectly. She wanted him gone. But the question is, do we blame her for wanting attention? For not wanting to be under his shadows?

Finally, the grandmother. All fingers point to Grandma. On one hand, grandma also caused Nonso’s death. She valued him more and treated the unnamed character like a black sheep. On the other hand, it wasn’t as if she did these things intentionally. It was a tradition that she met and the only thing she did was to follow it. So who do we blame now, the society? There are so many questions to ask.

I’m not sure if this makes sense, but when I was reflecting on the book, I connected a dot: why do you think the girl’s name was not mentioned, but the man’s name echoed everywhere? “The unnamed character.” In my opinion, this is a narrative technique used by Chimamanda to show how the lady was overshadowed by her brother’s favored status. I hope this makes sense.

RATING

I enjoyed reading this short story. If you are interested in reading a collection of interesting short stories, you should consider reading The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I give this particular short story 4.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to everyone.

Thanks for reading.