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Reason Read: TBR takedown 1001
This is a work of feminism by Senegalese author. I enjoyed reading this story of a woman who is in the period of mourning following the death of her husband. This is a story of a woman who’s husband had taken a younger wife. It explores what this meant to have a cowife. It also explores what it is like to be a part of a husband’s family. In her writing, or journal, she writes to her friend whose husband also took a second younger wife. That woman chose to divorce. B ...more
This is a work of feminism by Senegalese author. I enjoyed reading this story of a woman who is in the period of mourning following the death of her husband. This is a story of a woman who’s husband had taken a younger wife. It explores what this meant to have a cowife. It also explores what it is like to be a part of a husband’s family. In her writing, or journal, she writes to her friend whose husband also took a second younger wife. That woman chose to divorce. B ...more
I enjoyed this book almost as much as Maraire's Zenzele, which Is also written as an epistle. Ramatoulaye has just buried her husband, and is writing to a very good friend, Aissatou with whom she grew up and remained very close. This is the story of what is happening all over Africa, the struggle between traditional values and modern society, particularly in the Muslim countries. They have much in common: their very successful husbands, married a second wife ( which they didn't know about until
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Ramatoulaye is a middle-aged, educated, Senegalese wife who has been deserted by her husband for a younger second wife and then widowed. This is her letter to her best friend, long because she is secluded in a 40-day mourning period, explaining all that has happened.
A classic of African feminist writing, this is a window into a world far from my own, but easy to identify with.
A classic of African feminist writing, this is a window into a world far from my own, but easy to identify with.
Feb 10, 2015
Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
fiction,
1001-books-challenge
As a story that shows what it is like to be a woman in Senegal, this is a great novella. Mariama Ba shows aspects of Senegal society that Western women may find more distasteful- polygamy, marrying off teenagers to much older men, and various other disturbing customs- but these unpleasant sides to Senegal are tempered by other more universal and humanizing scenes that make it easy to relate to the characters. I also like the way the author works in themes of feminism and colonialism, not as phil
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Aug 25, 2015
Diane
marked it as to-read
Jan 25, 2016
Kyle Mahoney
marked it as to-read
Mar 16, 2016
Paula S
marked it as to-read
Aug 25, 2016
Mary
marked it as to-read
Sep 23, 2016
Karina
marked it as to-read
Sep 24, 2016
Nanosynergy
marked it as to-read
Nov 26, 2022
Alec
rated it
did not like it
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Shelves:
1001-read,
1001-total
