Girls At War and Other Stories

Girls At War and Other Stories – Chinua Achebe

This collection of 12 short stories from the span of Achebe’s writing career shows the diversity of experience in developing Nigeria. His stories address everything from the differential impact of free primary school education, to how men gain respect and reputation in the village, to how women behave during war. Each story offers a glimpse into the daily routines of village life, how dreams become expectations, and how reality lurks constantly out of sight with the possibility of either bringing to fruition or dashing those cherished hopes. One misstep and the village chieftaincy will be forever out of reach. One oversight and a girl can leave a neglectful home life and never look back. This collection of stories conveys the challenges, struggles, and miracles of life in rural Africa.

Achebe writes simple stories, choosing to focus on daily lives and tasks of people living in a developing nation. However, simple stories do not necessarily mean simple interpretations. Achebe’s stories emphasize the irony and discrepancies (and intersections) of personal choice, village politics, and national attitudes. He offers up routines and habits which, upon closer inspection, reveal discrimination, corruption, and the heartbreaking impact of living unknowingly in false hope. Achebe’s attention to detail creates a world full of relatable characters, lively settings, and familiar struggles. Although he certainly draws attention to nuances in village life in Africa, Achebe’s stories also highlight the struggles, victories, and defeats that everyone can relate to.

I loved this collection of stories. Each story is quick to read, no more than a few pages, and creates an entirely unique world with characters, settings, and problems that are both familiar and foreign. His stories also reminded me strongly of village life in Peace Corps, so my perspective on this collection is probably biased by nostalgia. Although his stories focus on complexities and difficulties of village life in Africa, the stories are relevant in any setting. Each story tells the truth of the characters in the story, which is the most important aspect of each piece. Take each story at face value, digest it fully, and consider how it relates to your own life. Highly recommended.