Dream Count: Love, Longing, and Being Enough

Dream Count

Dream Count is a book that moved me in ways I didn’t quite expect. Or maybe I did, because it’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and I’m her biggest fan, but still, I wasn’t prepared for the flood of emotions it stirred in me.

Chimamanda Adichie’s debut novel, ‘Purple Hibiscus’ is a highly riveting, sensational and award-winning book. It introduced us into the sublime mastery that is Adichie’s world, and twelve years with many books and awards later, we are still in awe of the extraordinary power Adichie wields when it comes to storytelling. Dream Count is a beautiful book that explores womanhood, and I enjoyed reading it.

First, I found myself deeply relating to Chiamaka. She longs to be truly seen by another human being. I’m especially drawn to the Igbo meaning of love “Ifunanya” to be seen with the eyes. The eyes, indeed, play a powerful role in love. And that’s what many of us crave: not just love, but the experience of being truly seen; not for what we offer, but for who we are at our core.

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Chiamaka seems to lead an enviable life. She has wealthy, supportive parents, a luxurious lifestyle in the States, and the freedom to pursue a cool, fulfilling career. Yet, something feels missing. There’s a hollow inside her that longs to be filled. She goes everywhere, searching for someone or something to complete her. Her relationship with Darnell frustrated me deeply, but it also felt very real, because many people are in shitty relationships, just because they are afraid of being alone.

Many people don’t see the light they carry. They don’t recognize the preciousness of their being, and so they seek external validation to confirm what they should already know about themselves.

Zikora’s story was already familiar to me, having read the novella Zikora. I love her for choosing herself and her baby, especially after the father of her child walks away. I love when women choose themselves; when they decide to live boldly, make their own choices, and refuse to be at the mercy of men’s whims. When they choose their own lives, despite the odds.

Dream Count by Chimamanda Adichie (News Central TV)
Dream Count

Khadiatou’s story broke me. She represents so many women; poor, immigrant, voiceless. She works hard to survive, and yet becomes a target of oppression simply because she dares to speak out against a man who harasses her. Her story is painful, but it’s one that must be told.

And then there’s Omelogor, bold, unfiltered, and brave. She speaks her truth without sugar-coating it, the most vocal among the trio of cousins: Chiamaka, Zikora, and herself. I admired her courage and clarity.

These four women navigate a world that constantly tries to stifle bold, courageous, and self-aware women. A patriarchal world that ties a woman’s essence to a man. A world that questions a woman’s choice to remain unpartnered, as if her worth is incomplete without male validation.

Dream Count also sheds light on women’s health issues like Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); topics often treated as taboo or shrouded in shame. It’s a brave act to write about them so openly.

This book is a testament to how Adichie has evolved; both as a writer and a thinker. It’s not her best work, and at times, I found it slow. But it is undeniably important. It speaks to the power of being seen, of choosing oneself, and of telling difficult truths; loudly, boldly, and without apology.

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