NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is worthy of our nomination due to its exploration of complex themes, its powerful portrayal of women and its engaging narrative style. Adichie’s writing is thought-provoking, intelligent and defiant, marked by a sharp social critique. Her linguistic artistry balances clarity and depth while empathetic crafting a vivid portrayal of Nigerian women, both in their homeland as across the diaspora, both specific and universal in its exploration of women’s experiences, capturing the tensions of identity and memory amidst the pandemic, in a globalized, unequal world. What makes Dream Count especially compelling is how it speaks directly to the present moment. Adichie is a contemporary author deeply engaged with the world we live in today and which work resonates with the concerns of our time, making this novel a perfect match for a literature prize that celebrates living writers whose voices shape and reflect our contemporary existence. (Almeida Garrett Municipal Library, Porto)

We’ve nominated Dream Count as this book has been on the top of our reserved lists as soon as it came out, both the English and Dutch version. This did not surprise us as Dream Count reflects our readers’ need for diverse and authentic voices in literature. It also provides a stable ground for introspection in a time where the world feels a bit uncertain and people look for recognition and refuge. (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam)

The novel is about four Nigerian women who are in search of true happiness, facing the challenges of life boldly and wildly. It is divided into four parts, each of which is about one character. Although Nigeria is their native land, they travel to America trying to make their dreams of a better life come true. Hence, the novel discusses ideas like displacement, identity crisis, love relationships, and mundane problems which give the book a universal dimension and not making it just about women but every man. (Bibliotheca Alexandrina)