Arts and Entertainment

Penn State Reads author Adichie to speak Oct. 14

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- “If we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding,” warns Penn State Reads author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The public is invited to meet Adichie, author of "Americanah," in an interview by Ellysa Cahoy from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Days Inn Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St., State College.

In “Americanah,” published by Anchor, Adichie examines the human experience, identity and blackness in America, Nigeria and Great Britain through the story of a smart, strong-willed Nigerian woman named Ifemelu. Her TED Talk recorded in 2009 has had more than 7 million views.

Born in 1977, Adichie grew up in Nigeria and her work has been translated into 30 languages. "Americanah” won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was named one of The New York Times Ten Books of the Year. First-year students at University Park received a complimentary copy of the book through the Penn State Reads program. 

Cahoy is the assistant director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress, and a librarian in the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library in Penn State’s University Libraries.

The interview will be followed by a reception and a book signing by the author, with books available for sale. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH), the Penn State Reads Program, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and the University Libraries; the Pennsylvania Humanities Council; and Schlow Centre Region Library.

For more information, call 800-462-0442. If you anticipate needing accessibility accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Karla Schmit at kms454@psu.edu or 814-863-5521.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of "Americanah" Credit: providedAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated January 10, 2015