Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi: *1977

Purple Hibiscus, 2003 - Thematic Parallels: Family Dynamics

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi: Purple Hibiscus, 2003, ~300pp
The novel explores themes of domestic violence, religion, colonialism, and self-discovery within a restrictive environment.
The following books are thematically simliar. Having read Purple Hibiscus, these texts lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Cooper, J. California: Family, 1919, ~230pp
  This novel explores the complexities of familial relationships, delving into themes of love, conflict, and reconciliation.
  Both novels center on family as a site of suffering, resilience, and transformation, but they do so in distinct cultural and historical contexts and with different narrative styles and thematic emphases.
- Dunne, Catherine: The Things We Know Now, 2013, ~340pp
  The novel explores complex parent-child relationships and the strain within marriages and stepfamilies, offering a sensitive look at how a family copes with loss and uncovers hidden truths about each other.
  Both "The Things We Know Now" and "Purple Hibiscus" explore complex family dynamics, the impact of trauma and loss, and the struggle for understanding and redemption within families.
- Haddon, Mark: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, 2003, ~270pp
  The book examines both the misunderstandings and the resilience within a family unit.
  Both explore dysfunctional family dynamics and the profound influence of parents on their children's emotional and psychological development.
- Kidd, Sue Monk: The Secret Life of Bees, 2002, ~300pp
  The novel Focuses on a young girl escaping a violent home, with themes of race, female solidarity, and spiritual awakening.
  Both novels center on young female protagonists navigating oppressive domestic and societal structures, and their journeys toward self-discovery, healing, and empowerment.
- Lessing, Doris: The Fifth Child, 1988, ~130pp
  The novel focuses on the disruption of a seemingly perfect family by the birth of a fifth, "different" child, exploring how this event shatters the family’s idyll and tests their relationships.
  Both novels explore the complexities of family life, identity, and the struggle between individual desires and societal or familial expectations. However, they approach these themes from different cultural, psychological, and narrative perspectives.
List of general discussion questions on family dynamics (pdf)
List of essay prompts on family dynamics (pdf)