Journal Entry 1 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, October 09, 2004

Journal Entry 2 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, October 16, 2004

Journal Entry 3 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, October 21, 2004

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRING

Rules of this bookring:
1. This is an international bookring -- if you join, you must be willing to ship anywhere.
2. Please journal the book when you receive it, and again when you mail it out -- that way, everyone will know the book's approximate location.
3. If you don't think you'll be able to read this book within a reasonable time of receipt, please let me know before it's mailed to you, and I'll be happy to move your name down the list.
4. Whether you have read the book or not, please do not keep it longer than six weeks. Thanks!

Participants:
1. Lotusflower77 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada - rec'd November 4, 04; mailed November 9, 04.
2. MartiP - Isle of Palms, South Carolina, USA - rec'd November 15, 04; mailed November 30, 04.
3. tantan - Gympie, Queensland, Australia - rec'd December 7, 04; mailed December 31, 04.
4. gypsyrose02 - Seville Grove, WA, Australia - rec'd January 13, 05; mailed February 18, 05.
5. Sherlockfan - Wellington, New Zealand - rec'd February 24, 05; mailed March 7, 05.
6. boreal - Dunedin, New Zealand - rec'd March 8, 05; mailed March 15, 05.
7. miss-gonewest - Perth, WA, Australia - rec'd April 8, 05; mailed May 9, 05.
8. Fire-Dragon - London, England, UK - rec'd May 19, 05; mailed July 19, 05.
9. Fellraven - Redditch, England, UK - rec'd July 30, 05; mailed August 11, 05.
10. milly1401 - Kelty, Scotland, UK - rec'd August 21, 05; mailed August 26, 05.
11. Sunneschii - Pfäffikon, Zurich, Switzerland - rec'd August 30, 05; mailed September 6, 05.
12. lauraloo29 - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - rec'd September 14, 05. 

Journal Entry 4 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Journal Entry 5 by Lotusflower77 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, November 04, 2004

I was delighted to receive "Purple Hibiscus" today and very excited to be a part of this international bookring-thanks goatgrrl. I will be starting it tonight, so hopefully I will be done by early next week. 

Journal Entry 6 by Lotusflower77 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Sunday, November 07, 2004

It is always wonderful to read a novel about Africa written by an African. Usually when Western authors tackle Africa in a novel they either romanticize it (its natural wonders, exotic animals, comfortable colonial life etc.), or they turn the continent into a victim by talking about the corruption of its governments, the looming AIDS epidemic, poverty, civil wars etc. It was refreshing to finally read a novel about everyday contemporary Africa as seen by someone who was born and raised on the continent.

The story itself tugs at one's heartstrings---you cannot help but feel terribly sorry for the 15 year old narrator, Kambili, who is a poor little rich girl. She has all the material comforts in the world, but having a tortured moralist/ Catholic fundamentalist, control freak for a father, she carries more pain in her heart than the poorest of the poor.

Personally, I found it to be a wonderfully written story with some very memorable characters who I will continue to think of even after I get into my next book. I enjoyed learning about Nigeria: about how religion plays such an important part in the lives of the people, also, being the gourmet nut that I am, I had to go look up the recipe for jollof rice and I certainly want to taste fufu!

At some point in the future I would love to listen to the audio book of "Purple Hibiscus", especially if it is read by the author. It would be a treat to listen to her pronounce all the sweet sounding Nigerian names and endearments which are sprinkled over so many pages of the book. I would especially love to listen to her reading the part of Aunty Ifeoma who is such a fascinating character!

Forgot to thank you for the wonderful bookmark you thoughtfully included in the book, goatgrrl. Both book and bookmark will soon be on their way to MartiP.





 

Journal Entry 7 by Lotusflower77 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Mailed to MartiP, yesterday, 09 Nov. It was delayed by a day because I couldn't locate the bookmark that goatgrrl included in the book. The book is now on it's way to MartiP but minus the bookmark. :( 

Journal Entry 8 by MartiP on Monday, November 15, 2004

Fortuitous timing! I just finished a book last night, and then discovered this one in my mailbox when I came in from work. I plan to start it this evening. :-) 

Journal Entry 9 by MartiP on Monday, November 22, 2004

I enjoyed this a great deal. As some others have commented, it made me want to try some of those exotic African foods. Most novels I've read set in Africa have either been overly politicized or overly romanticized. Purple Hibiscus gives a "girl's eye view" - the politics are there, but not central to her thinking. I also thought the father was pretty well-written: neither justified nor demonized. That's hard to do in this sort of story. (being careful of spoilers, here!)

It's packaged up and will go in the mail to tantan tomorrow, 11/23/04. Enjoy!

11/30/04 Edit: I am a horrible person - I didn't get by the post office before I left on vacation 11/23/04, so it just went out today. I made up for it by sending it express, though. :-) 

Journal Entry 10 by tantan from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Received in the mail today. This is a couple down on the rings and rays pile, but I'll get to it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 11 by tantan from Gympie, Queensland Australia on Friday, December 31, 2004

I did enjoy this, but I didn't find it as profound as I'd expected. The descriptions of the punishments that Kambili's father inflicted on his family were truly horrific, but I was rather surprised that Kambili never really seemed to get how cruel her father was. Right throughout the book she is constantly singing his praises about how wonderful he was, and just seemed to blind to his true nature. Maybe it's a cultural difference, but I found that a little hard to put up with. I'm glad I've read this, though, and it did enlighted me to more of Nigerian culture, which is always fascinating.

This will be on to gypsyrose02 as soon as I confirm her address. 

Journal Entry 12 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, January 13, 2005

received today. will get to it asap. 

Journal Entry 13 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, February 06, 2005

im not going to put a rating on this as i didnt finish it. i just couldnt get into it. i kept putting it down to read others. so im going to send it on its way. thankyou for including me though. 

Journal Entry 14 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, February 17, 2005

being posted out tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 15 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, February 28, 2005

Sorry but I didn't journal this the exact day it arrived - it is now 1 Mar but I think the book arrived Feb 24 which, thanks to the vagaries of February, is approx 4 days ago.
Have decided that I will try very hard not to read others' journal entries before I read a book as sometimes that can spoil things if there are negative reviews.
I'm hoping for great things with this book as it covers an area with which I am not familiar.
It is next but one on my TBR pile so shouldn't be too long in moving on its forward journey. 

Journal Entry 16 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, March 05, 2005

To say I enjoyed this book is perhaps perverse because I most certainly did not enjoy Kambili's controlling puzzle of a father. The book raised questions about him which it doesn't answer for me. I feel very sad that in that culture, as depicted, there was no way for Kambili, Jaja and their poor benighted mother to be free. It would be good to think that the country is becoming more enlightened but somehow I doubt it. I especially like the change in Amaka's attitude, and really enjoyed all the interaction with Father Amadi.
In so many ways a horrid story but a compulsive read never-the-less. Delighted to have been included in this bookring. I'd not have picked this book up in a bookstall. I'll send it off to Boreal on Monday. 

Journal Entry 17 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Just found this in my mailbox along with 3 other surprise books and some interesting photos of the site of the Tangiwai rail disaster -151 people lost their lives on Christmas eve 1953 when their train went into a flooded river after a lahar had washed away the bridge. As you say Sherlockfan, the site looks very tranquil now.
Anyway thanks Sherlockfan and thanks also Goatgrrl, I will try and get to this fairly soon. 

Journal Entry 18 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Monday, March 14, 2005

This, I would say is the best book I have read this year. I really enjoyed the writing style. I liked the way the foods and smells etc were descibed so that you actually felt you were in Afica. Why I wonder are religious fanatics so often violent towards their families, it is terrible to think that religion is used to justfy violence.
I found the bit where Kambilli watches the so called "heathen" Papa-Nnuwku greet the new dawn particulary touching.
Many thanks for sharing this Goatgrrl. I will get it posted to miss-gonewest as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 19 by boreal at on Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (3/15/2005 UTC) at

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Posted to miss-gonewest on Wednesday afternoon. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Journal Entry 20 by miss-gonewest from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, April 10, 2005

This book arrived on Friday from overseas - many thanks to Boreal for posting it along and to Goatgrrl for starting this ring.

I started this book last night and am looking forward to progressing more through it. I can tell this isn't going to be a warm fuzzy novel but I'm ready for the challenge.

I have read good reviews for Purple Hibiscus and am grateful to have the chance to read it for myself. I'll post back here shortly once I have finished it.

Again thanks to all for sharing your thoughts and for moving this book along. 

Journal Entry 21 by miss-gonewest from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Monday, May 02, 2005

Well I finally finished this book... at first I thought I would tear right through it, but I found that I had to take my time to get the real "feeling" of the novel.

It wasn't an easy read, and while the treatment of the children (and mother) by Eugene was horrible, I think after having read the reviews I was expecting far worse. And while I am not a fan of gratuitous romance, I did love the suggestion of a first crush between Kambili and Father Amadi - it made a lovely contrast to the sadness in her life.

I found that I had to concentrate very hard to get the real gist of the language and meanings.... having the english text sprinkled with the native language was interesting, but needed my full attention and I think slowed down my reading of this.

I am so pleased to have read this novel and to have gained an insight into life in Nigeria - an area in which I sadly lack much knowledge. As Lotusflower said, I will be thinking of the characters over the next few days...

Thanks to Goatgrrl for circulating yet another interesting and intelligent read.

I'll get the next address and have this book ready to post in the next few days.

Edited 4th May: Will be posting this along to Fire-Dragon who has swapped places with Fellraven. 

Journal Entry 22 by miss-gonewest at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 09, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (5/10/2005 UTC) at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Posted off to Fire-Dragon via Airmail, from the Westminster Post Office in Perth, all the way to London in the UK... 

Journal Entry 23 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Thursday, May 19, 2005

This arrived in the post today. I'm looking forward to it! 

Journal Entry 24 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Sunday, June 12, 2005

What a fantastic book! I was completely absorbed in the characters and their story and was sorry it had to come to an end. The author really appreciated the complexity of all her characters and even the unsympathetic characters are well rounded and have many good qualities. I enjoy getting to know other characters through my reading and appreciated the strong sense of place in the novel. I would be interested to know how autobiographical it is because it certainly has a high level of emotional truth.

The religious element is interesting since the last novel I read about Africa was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which was about an American missionary family in the Congo and was absolutely excellent!

It's on to tangledthreads next - I look forward to seeing what she and others think. Thank you for sharing, goatgrrl. 

Journal Entry 25 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Sunday, June 12, 2005

I just wanted to add a response to tantan about why Kambili doesn't get how cruel her father is ... I think the author and other people in the novel (Jaja, Aunty Ifeoma etc) certainly do get how cruel he is and it's very clear that the novel doesn't condone the violence.

Kambili has grown up being told how wonderful her father is (from everyone from the priest to the people of his home village). Her father tells her that his punishments are for her own good and her mother permits them to happen. Why would she question it? (Although it's interesting that she intuitively knows not to tell other people about them). The whole novel is about her gradual awakening to realise that his physical violence is not all right but these things take time, especially when you've grown up with it and you have an essentially submissive personality.

It's not just a cultural thing either as abused women in the West will usually condone the violence of their partners.

To me it rang really true that while Kambili is understandably terrified of her father, she also craves his love and approval. When you are starved of love, this is what happens. Also her father's principles led him to do a lot of good - running a politically independent newspaper, paying the school fees for 100 families, paying for his father's funeral even though it was against his beliefs. The social kudos this attracts is another way that Kambili can get the acceptance and approval she craves.

I think it's clear too that the novel doesn't condemn Eugene. He was abused by the priests at his missionary school (for example, his hands were burnt when he was caught masturbating), he accepted that it was for his own good and feels that it's his duty to pass it on. (Though this doesn't explain some of the more random and extreme attacks such as when he broke the table on his wife's belly). It's his sense of Christian duty that also leads him to do so much good in the community.

I found it intriguing and true to life rather than frustrating that Kambili has such a complex relationship with her father. If anything, I was more frustrated by her mother for letting this happen to them - but the novel has an interesting twist in store that challenges any assumptions I might have made about her.

 

Journal Entry 26 by Fire-Dragon from San Francisco, California USA on Tuesday, July 19, 2005

I am sorry that this book is still in my possession. Tangledthreads has asked to be skipped and it seems that Leighspeak didn't receive my original PM. We have now been in contact and she has also asked to be skipped because she's recovering from an eye operation and unable to read much. I am now waiting to hear from Fellraven and hope the book will be on its way soon. 

Journal Entry 27 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Monday, August 01, 2005

This arrived in Saturday's post. I have one book to read ahead of this but expect to have it read and on its way by the end of August. 

Journal Entry 28 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, August 11, 2005

What to say about this novel which has not already been very ably said by goatgrrl (as usual) and LotusFlower77?

I was by the sounds of it not as shocked by the violence per se as other readers have been, perhaps because of the graphic violence and brutality in one or two other novels I've read (time to mention "Memoirs of a Gnostic Dwarf" again).

However I don't see the contrast between the public and private faces of Eugene's behaviour as inexplicable or a puzzle. On the contrary his behaviour and that of the individual members of the family seems to be a very common pattern within domestic abuse whether or not religion is there as a catalyst or mask.

It's common for abusers to maintain an outward or public facade as normal, even as a pillar of the community, as a front for their private behaviour. If nothing else it ensures that any revelations about their private behaviour will be discounted as unbelievable. Abuse is, after all, about exercising control over others and there are many ways of exercising control, including the buying of respectability and influence in the community.

It's also common for them to tell their victims that it's for their own good, that they deserve what is done to them, that they are evil and deficient and have to be corrected. And it's common for their victims to believe them in all of this, whether as in Beatrice's case because fear and abuse has stripped her of her ability to think for herself and in the case of Jaja and Kambili because it's all they have known and therefore they assume it's normal. In that sense Beatrice is very typical of victims of domestic abuse in that she repeatedly returns to her abuser, partly because she realises that in the society in which she lives she has no economic or social alternative, but also because she is conditioned to believe that she deserved what happened, that Eugene is truly repentant for what he has done and that if she is (impossibly) perfect in future it won't happen again.

The real question therefore is whether Eugene's behaviour is truly the result of his religious mania or whether the religious mania is merely a camouflage for a pattern of behaviour which would have manifested itself anyway. I'm not sure I have the answer to that one.

The relationship between Kambili and Father Amadi did, as her cousins began to suspect, become as sexual as a relationship could become without actually becoming - what exactly? One had the feeling that both were skating on thin ice at times, that the relationship teetered on the edge of a very dangerous precipice and that but for his restraint rather than good judgement neither of them went over the edge. His touching her on a number of occasions was unnecessary but bolstered by an excuse (for instance, when he slapped a mosquito on her leg - why not simply tell her about it?) and at others seemed almost "courtly" in a Victorian symbolic with heavy hints and sighs sort of way, particularly the episode on pages 268 and 269 in which Kambili threads flowers onto her fingers like thimbles in the way children do with foxgloves. "He took my hand in his, carefully slid one flower off my finger and slid it onto his." Well, yes, but maybe sometimes a flower is just a flower, eh?

All right. I'll shut up now.

Posted to Milly1401 today. 

Journal Entry 29 by milly1401 from Kelty, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, August 21, 2005

received this as part of book-ring and absolutely loved it.Highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories set in another culture. Everything I wanted to say has been said already so I will just send it on to the next person. Thanks for introducing me to this memorable book.
Mailed 26/08/05 

Journal Entry 30 by Sunneschii from Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The book arrived safely at my home.... thank you very much for sending it!!!:-)))

(I was that close to buy the book three weeks ago... I totally forgot I'm participating on the bookring!!!:-))) So, this is great!!:-)) 

Journal Entry 31 by Sunneschii from Zürich, Zürich Switzerland on Tuesday, September 06, 2005

The book was a nice and touching read. But I could see again, that I can't understand religious (or any) fundamentalism/extremists. It's really sad, because Eugene does not treat his family like that because he's mean. No, he really wants to save them. But by that, he's barring them from living.
Aunt Ifeoma's family is so different from everything Kambili and Jaja knew, and finally, they can emanzipate.

I'll send the book to lauraloo29 this evening. 

Journal Entry 32 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Has arrived safely! I'm in the middle of a 900+ page bookring, but this is the next ring! :) Thank you!

Update: goatgrrl has changed this to a ray. I will read it soon, but I'm putting it at the bottom of my ring/ray pile. :) 

Journal Entry 33 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Saturday, October 22, 2005

Finished today. Not sure what my final thinking of this book will be. I too was frustrated that Kambili accepted her father's punishments on all the family. I did enjoy reading a book where something political was going on, but it wasn't the central story. I've had a glimpse into a piece of Nigeria.

I am glad I read this book, however. :)

Goatgrrl has made this a ray and I will have to find a new home for this book. Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 34 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, October 24, 2005

Sending to to Rossella05 as part of the "Yet Another Reverse Wishlist" Relay
Enjoy!
 

Journal Entry 35 by Rossella05 on Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Arrived yesterday, I love receiving well traveled books. Thanks lauraloo29! 

Journal Entry 36 by Rossella05 at on Sunday, September 02, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (9/2/2007 UTC) at

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