Where We Once Belonged
Registered by Captainsdoxy of Waikanae, Wellington Province New Zealand on 9/2/2007
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
20 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Captainsdoxy from Waikanae, Wellington Province New Zealand on Sunday, September 2, 2007
"'I' does not exist. I am not. My self belongs not to me because 'I' is always 'we', is a part of the 'aiga...a part of the nu'u, a part of Samoa.
Alofa Filigia is 13 and lives in the village of Malaefouin Samoa. Growing up in the village, she learns to come to terms with violence, womanhood and her own personal sense of identity."
Alofa Filigia is 13 and lives in the village of Malaefouin Samoa. Growing up in the village, she learns to come to terms with violence, womanhood and her own personal sense of identity."
Journal Entry 2 by Captainsdoxy from Waikanae, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, September 29, 2007
A challenging read as there was a fair amount written in Samoan that I did not understand. Some sections read like a regular story, some are more like written down dreams so they make less sense. Overall not a book I particularly took to; I think it would resonate far more with Samoan/pacific island readers who can better understand the culture.
Journal Entry 3 by Captainsdoxy from Waikanae, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sending on to a friend in the UK for the Olympic Challenge.
Journal Entry 4 by blackwidow1971 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 29, 2007
Safely received from Captainsdoxy for me to read as part of the Olympic Challenge. There's some writing in the front which looks like it might be the author's signature!
Journal Entry 5 by blackwidow1971 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I really enjoyed this book! I found the young female characters believable, sympathetic and strong. The author really brought out their sense of humour too. She says she wanted to "deromanticise Western perceptions of Pacific Islands women" and in the book, it is explicitly stated that they aren't the way they are portrayed by Gauguin and I feel she definitely succeeded in this aim. To me, the women in Gauguin's pictures always look grumpy and sulky. Now I know they were all really laughing inside (probably at him)!
I also recently really enjoyed "Frangipani" by Celestine Hitiura Vaite from Tahiti so I will definitely seek out more women writers from this part of the world.
This would have got 8 out of 10 if it had had a glossary. I agree with Captain's Doxy on the amount of Samoan in the book. The meaning of some phrases became clear as you read on, but not most.
Counts as Samoa for the Olympic Challenge.
I also recently really enjoyed "Frangipani" by Celestine Hitiura Vaite from Tahiti so I will definitely seek out more women writers from this part of the world.
This would have got 8 out of 10 if it had had a glossary. I agree with Captain's Doxy on the amount of Samoan in the book. The meaning of some phrases became clear as you read on, but not most.
Counts as Samoa for the Olympic Challenge.
This arrived in the mail from England today, along with two other books for my 'a book from every country' challenge. Thank you so much, blackwidow!! This is very much appreciated. It will take me a little while to get these books read but I will definitely read them, and journal my thoughts on them. :-)
Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much!!
I've read this book now, and I really enjoyed the experience. It was a very unusual read for me ... of course I haven't read much Samoan literature previously. Or, in fact, any. :-) So for me this book was quite original and unusual. The story was pretty sad, with some hopefulness also, but the main 'tone' in the work was quite sad. Good characters. I know very little about Samoan society and culture, so I'm not able to judge whether the setting is believable, but to my ignorant eyes it seemed very credible. The author seems to know her setting very well.
There is some use of Samoan language in the novel, I of course understood absolutely nothing of this, so I just took it as some local color. :-) There isn't a lot of it though at any one time, and IMO it doesn't impede the flow of the story.
Overall a very worthwhile read. I'm very glad I got the chance to read it.
This book counts as Samoa in my 'a book from every country' lifetime challenge.
There is some use of Samoan language in the novel, I of course understood absolutely nothing of this, so I just took it as some local color. :-) There isn't a lot of it though at any one time, and IMO it doesn't impede the flow of the story.
Overall a very worthwhile read. I'm very glad I got the chance to read it.
This book counts as Samoa in my 'a book from every country' lifetime challenge.
Released 14 yrs ago (5/3/2009 UTC) at BC Meetup, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book went home with Jannike from meetup this afternoon. It'll be so interesting to hear what she thinks of it. :-) Happy reading!! :-)
This book went home with Jannike from meetup this afternoon. It'll be so interesting to hear what she thinks of it. :-) Happy reading!! :-)
Journal Entry 9 by Jannike from -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway on Thursday, May 7, 2009
I am very curious about this book. Samoan litterature is not something I ever have been exposed to before. Thanks to BookCrossing I get the chance to read this book, which I otherwise never would have discovered.
Journal Entry 10 by Jannike from -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway on Sunday, September 20, 2009
The problem with reading about a culture you do not know anything about, is that you have so few references, and therefore it is difficult to take in all the nuances in the communication between the persons. (Some of it is in samoan language....) But I enjoyed the book, and felt that it gave me a taste of the Samoan way of life, as it was.
Journal Entry 11 by Jannike at -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway on Sunday, September 20, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/20/2009 UTC) at -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Returned to Leisha Camden.
Returned to Leisha Camden.
The book's back home. We'll see what I'll do with it now. :-)
Finally this book will do some traveling again ... !! I can't believe it's been sitting on my shelf for so long. It will now make a short journey to my Christmas buddy Askeladda who is reading books from all around the world as a personal challenge. She doesn't have Samoa listed on her bookshelf so I'm hoping this will be new to her. Happy reading and merry Christmas!! :-)
Christmas present from Leisha Camden. Thank you very much! You are quite right, Leisha Camden, I have never read a book from Samoa! So I started to look into the book as the very last thing I did on Christmas eve. Looking foreward to read it!
Some parts of the book is real good. It is always interesting to read books from other parts of the world. I know nothing of Samoa, the book gave me some knowledge, and I have read some more about the history for these Islands to Get a better understanding of the book.
I could have liked to known more about samoian legends and myths. The storyteller is mostly a girl of 13, but some part of the book tells us the myth of how Samoa was created.
I reacted strongly on how commen it is in the book to use beating in the upbringing of children. In one strong story Alofas mother demand that her father must show his authority by beating up the girl. Alofas mother herself is regulary beeing beaten from her housebond. Not knowing nothing of Samoa I'm wondering, is this really so? That is the most unfamiliar way of thinking to me.
I agree with other readers, I do miss a glossary! So now I have tried to PM a bookcrosser on Samoa, asking if it's possible to get some verses translated into english. So Let's wait and see, maybe I will be able to put a translation into the book before it travels on to new readers?
Where we once belonged av Sia Figiel.
korte fortellinger/ episoder fra en oppvekst til ei jente på 13 år på Samoa, litt om hennes bakgrunn dvs.foreldre og besteforeldres historier. Gjennom fortellingene, ganske muntlige i formen, blir vi kjent med samoisk kultur og tradisjon. Samtidig får vi del i øyas skapelsesmyte. For en som ikke kjenner denne øy statens historie og kultur synes jeg boka virker å gi en god innføring. Den beste delen av boka synes jeg er de sidene der hun forteller om at 'jeg' alltid er 'vi' på Samoa. Det er dette som har gitt navn til boka,
Det mest plagsomme å lese om er hvordan vold er den store oppdrageren i den oppveksten boka skildrer. Det er forventet at en mann slår sin kone og sine barn. Boka er skrevet i 1996 og forfatteren er født i 1967, jeg vil anta at det hun beskriver er hentet fra hennes egen oppvekst, og at boka har enkelte selvbiografiske trekk. Isåfall er den voldkulturen hun beskriver relativt oppdatert - og en stor kontrast til det bilde turistreklamen tegner av Samoa. Interessant lesning for alle som vil lese bøker fra alle verdens land.
Hvis det er interesse for det kan jeg sende boka som en stråle. Si fra på det skandinaviske forum om du er interessert i å lese den.
I could have liked to known more about samoian legends and myths. The storyteller is mostly a girl of 13, but some part of the book tells us the myth of how Samoa was created.
I reacted strongly on how commen it is in the book to use beating in the upbringing of children. In one strong story Alofas mother demand that her father must show his authority by beating up the girl. Alofas mother herself is regulary beeing beaten from her housebond. Not knowing nothing of Samoa I'm wondering, is this really so? That is the most unfamiliar way of thinking to me.
I agree with other readers, I do miss a glossary! So now I have tried to PM a bookcrosser on Samoa, asking if it's possible to get some verses translated into english. So Let's wait and see, maybe I will be able to put a translation into the book before it travels on to new readers?
Where we once belonged av Sia Figiel.
korte fortellinger/ episoder fra en oppvekst til ei jente på 13 år på Samoa, litt om hennes bakgrunn dvs.foreldre og besteforeldres historier. Gjennom fortellingene, ganske muntlige i formen, blir vi kjent med samoisk kultur og tradisjon. Samtidig får vi del i øyas skapelsesmyte. For en som ikke kjenner denne øy statens historie og kultur synes jeg boka virker å gi en god innføring. Den beste delen av boka synes jeg er de sidene der hun forteller om at 'jeg' alltid er 'vi' på Samoa. Det er dette som har gitt navn til boka,
Det mest plagsomme å lese om er hvordan vold er den store oppdrageren i den oppveksten boka skildrer. Det er forventet at en mann slår sin kone og sine barn. Boka er skrevet i 1996 og forfatteren er født i 1967, jeg vil anta at det hun beskriver er hentet fra hennes egen oppvekst, og at boka har enkelte selvbiografiske trekk. Isåfall er den voldkulturen hun beskriver relativt oppdatert - og en stor kontrast til det bilde turistreklamen tegner av Samoa. Interessant lesning for alle som vil lese bøker fra alle verdens land.
Hvis det er interesse for det kan jeg sende boka som en stråle. Si fra på det skandinaviske forum om du er interessert i å lese den.
Haugtussa is interested in reading the book. I will post in the international forum to see if anyone else is interested in participating in a ray.
Edit: the book found more readers! These are the participates in an international bookray 20.05.14:
Mailing list is below... if you need more than a couple of weeks to read the book and pass it on, please just make a JE to let us know, so that we know it's not lost or stalled!
pam99- Scotland - international -------> done
Scruffycaz - UK - international ---------> done
J4shaw - within Australia ----------------> done
book-a-neer - within Australia or NZ----> done
Billbooks - Australia and international--> done
Edwardstreet - NZ and international-----> done
Arvores- Portugal and Europe ------------> done
Andrasthe- Austria/EU (int.if needed) ---> done
Meg72- UK/EU -------------------------------> done
sedna5213-German/France - international--> done
GronnLivsstil - Norway ----------------------> done
Haugtussa- Norway and Scandinavia--------> done
gunvor- Denmark/Scandinavia and Europe (int. if needed) - > done
okyrhoe - Greece - international-------> skipped, not anwered PMs.
Erishkigal - US - (prefer within US )----> the book is on its way here
Edit: the book found more readers! These are the participates in an international bookray 20.05.14:
Mailing list is below... if you need more than a couple of weeks to read the book and pass it on, please just make a JE to let us know, so that we know it's not lost or stalled!
pam99- Scotland - international -------> done
Scruffycaz - UK - international ---------> done
J4shaw - within Australia ----------------> done
book-a-neer - within Australia or NZ----> done
Billbooks - Australia and international--> done
Edwardstreet - NZ and international-----> done
Arvores- Portugal and Europe ------------> done
Andrasthe- Austria/EU (int.if needed) ---> done
Meg72- UK/EU -------------------------------> done
sedna5213-German/France - international--> done
GronnLivsstil - Norway ----------------------> done
Haugtussa- Norway and Scandinavia--------> done
gunvor- Denmark/Scandinavia and Europe (int. if needed) - > done
okyrhoe - Greece - international-------> skipped, not anwered PMs.
Erishkigal - US - (prefer within US )----> the book is on its way here
Journal Entry 17 by Askeladda at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Saturday, January 25, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (1/25/2014 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book takes off to the first participates in the international book ray.
Til deg som finner boka sier jeg: velkommen til bookcrossing!
Takk for at du tok vare på boka!
Skriv gjerne en kommentar JE (journal entry) så vet vi at boka er trygt hos deg. Jeg blir glad om du vil skrive hvor du fant boken. Senere kan du skrive hva du synes om boken når du har lest den.
Slipp den gjerne fri igjen, eller gi den til en venn. Da kan du også skrive hvordan du lar boken reise videre, slik at vi kan følge den på reisen. På det skandinaviske forumet deler vi gleden over bøkenes vandring i verden.
Du kan være anonym om du vil. Eller du kan bli medlem (join). Det er gratis. Din e -post adresse blir ikke oppgitt eller videreformidlet til noen. Du får ikke spam. Som medlem kan du følge boka videre reiserute. Du må gjerne referere til meg, Askeladda, som den som gjorde deg kjent med BC.
Under fanen 'Samfunn' vil du finne bokinteresserte mennesker fra mange land. Det er skandinaviske og internasjonale forum hvor du kan delta i bokpraten. Bookcrossere er generøse, vennlige mennesker, bare prøv!
Håper du vil like boka du har funnet!
Les den, skriv et lite bokslipp notat og la boka reise videre!
Til deg som finner boka sier jeg: velkommen til bookcrossing!
Takk for at du tok vare på boka!
Skriv gjerne en kommentar JE (journal entry) så vet vi at boka er trygt hos deg. Jeg blir glad om du vil skrive hvor du fant boken. Senere kan du skrive hva du synes om boken når du har lest den.
Slipp den gjerne fri igjen, eller gi den til en venn. Da kan du også skrive hvordan du lar boken reise videre, slik at vi kan følge den på reisen. På det skandinaviske forumet deler vi gleden over bøkenes vandring i verden.
Du kan være anonym om du vil. Eller du kan bli medlem (join). Det er gratis. Din e -post adresse blir ikke oppgitt eller videreformidlet til noen. Du får ikke spam. Som medlem kan du følge boka videre reiserute. Du må gjerne referere til meg, Askeladda, som den som gjorde deg kjent med BC.
Under fanen 'Samfunn' vil du finne bokinteresserte mennesker fra mange land. Det er skandinaviske og internasjonale forum hvor du kan delta i bokpraten. Bookcrossere er generøse, vennlige mennesker, bare prøv!
Håper du vil like boka du har funnet!
Les den, skriv et lite bokslipp notat og la boka reise videre!
book arrived safely and was waiting for me when I got home from work last night. I'm halfway through another book right now and look forward to starting this one over the weekend! I've been reading a few books from this part of the world recently as part of the 666 challenge (just finished one set on the Solomon Islands) but I don't think I've read anything from Samoa before.
a fascinating book, written from the perspective of a Samoan woman and drawing upon autobiography, myth and tradition. I didn't understand it all but that didn't take away at all from the rhythm and poetry of the language and storytelling.
have pm'd scruffykaz for an address and should have this book on its way soon.
have pm'd scruffykaz for an address and should have this book on its way soon.
on its way to the next reader - enjoy!
Arrived this morning. Can't wait to start reading!!
As much as I want to, I can't get into this book. I'm sure it is a good book but it just isn't engaging my interest. For me, the bits written in Somoan interrupt the story as I don't understand them.
I'm messaging the next on the list and will send it to them once I have their details.
I'm messaging the next on the list and will send it to them once I have their details.
Sending to the next on the list today.
Apologies for the delay
Apologies for the delay
This book arrived with me today. Thank you for sharing this with the BC Community Askeladda, and thank you to Scruffykaz for sending it all the way from the UK (I know its not cheap, and we Aussie BCers do appreciate the European and USA/CA BCers being generous with their willingness to ship international).
I am afriad I have a bit on at the moment, but I shouldn't hold this ore that 6 - 8 weeks or so.
Link to the forum thread is HERE
Update 15 June 2014: Started reading this today
Ok, this book totally lost me.
Not sure if it was the Samoan language creaping into the English text, or whether it was down to it just not making sense with its mythical/fantasy excerpt, which then swifty swung into chapters focusing on abused and racially discriminated against women.
I found the whole thing confusing. Way way too many characters that made no impact on me enough to be able to tell you who they were, how they are linked, or why they featured in the story.
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad to have experienced a book writen by a Samoan writer. I'm not sure I'll try another though!
This one is travelling on to Book-a-Neer today, whose address I got earlier in the week.
Arrived today. Thanks.
Edit: I have the same feeling as the others regarding the use of local language. It made it tricky to understand what the author was actually saying and I had to put my own interpretation to it.
Edit: I have the same feeling as the others regarding the use of local language. It made it tricky to understand what the author was actually saying and I had to put my own interpretation to it.
Handed over to billbooks who is next in line.
Book is safely in my hands and will help with my 666 challenges which will definitely please the next person after me
Put this on top of my pile to read because i have another book to send to Edwardstreet. I have to agree with most comments a better incite into the Samoan culture would help and the cross overs in language and mythology perhaps I'm getting too old and confused more readily. The interesting/frightening aspect was the strong religious presence in Samoa with a strong domestic violence - the abuse was fearful and as usual the hypocrisy of the men well I want say anymore. Glad to have read it -it's what I love about Bookcrossing to widen my reading horizon as much as possible.
Journal Entry 30 by Edwardstreet at Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Friday, July 25, 2014
a second letter box surprise thanks again Bill .I have tried tocontact the next two readers, no response, hence the delays moving it on.
Journal Entry 31 by Edwardstreet at —- by hand, post, or courier in Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (8/12/2014 UTC) at —- by hand, post, or courier in Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
off to Portugal I have now been contacted.
Re the book, living in multi cultural New Zealand I can cope with much of the language and the cultural concepts. However this is the second book I have read by this author and I feel she does Samoans a disservice- such a negative portrayal of her people.
Re the book, living in multi cultural New Zealand I can cope with much of the language and the cultural concepts. However this is the second book I have read by this author and I feel she does Samoans a disservice- such a negative portrayal of her people.
Journal Entry 32 by Arvores at Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo Portugal on Saturday, September 6, 2014
It's with me now.
Thank you all for sharing.
I'll read it as soon as I finish the one in hands.
Warm greetings to all.
Thank you all for sharing.
I'll read it as soon as I finish the one in hands.
Warm greetings to all.
Journal Entry 33 by Arvores at Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo Portugal on Monday, November 3, 2014
As much as it sounds appealing to me to cover West Samoa on my challenge "1 country - one author", I've decided that it doesn't make sense to spend more time with just an average book. You know what they say: "so many books, so little time". And I have lots of them waiting.
I'm really sorry for keeping it with me for such a long time. I really gave it a chance, you know? :-)
Thank you so much for sharing. I'll contact the next reader straight away.
Warm greetings to all.
I'm really sorry for keeping it with me for such a long time. I really gave it a chance, you know? :-)
Thank you so much for sharing. I'll contact the next reader straight away.
Warm greetings to all.
Journal Entry 34 by Arvores at Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo Portugal on Friday, November 7, 2014
Sent to Andrasthe today
Will be sending this onwards asap.
Rarely have I encountered a book with a title that changed its meaning so often. With every new scene, every tidbit or information about Samoa and its people, what I understood to be the message became a little different from what I had understood before.
I enjoyed this book, although I am sure I didn't get all aspects by reading it one time. There have also been some passages that left me wondering or even confused. Still an interesting experience and a new tale from somewhere else.
thanks for including me
Rarely have I encountered a book with a title that changed its meaning so often. With every new scene, every tidbit or information about Samoa and its people, what I understood to be the message became a little different from what I had understood before.
I enjoyed this book, although I am sure I didn't get all aspects by reading it one time. There have also been some passages that left me wondering or even confused. Still an interesting experience and a new tale from somewhere else.
thanks for including me
Book has arrived, thank you!
I read this book until the end to see if I could find some meaning in the structure, in the characters, in the native vocabulary used… But, nothing, this book was a total disappointment!
The plot was confusing, mixing real life, dreams and local folklore. The characters were rude, violent and plain obnoxious and the use of Samoan expressions, without the notes explaining the meaning, just made me ask constantly “what on earth is this?”
I confess it was a very bad experience…
The plot was confusing, mixing real life, dreams and local folklore. The characters were rude, violent and plain obnoxious and the use of Samoan expressions, without the notes explaining the meaning, just made me ask constantly “what on earth is this?”
I confess it was a very bad experience…
Going to the next bookcrosser on the list.
The book arrived safely in stormy Berlin. Thanks for sending it over Meg72!
Well, it could have been an interesting book, but the way it was written makes it a rather challenging read. As mentioned before, there is too much text in Samoan without an explanation.
Well, it could have been an interesting book, but the way it was written makes it a rather challenging read. As mentioned before, there is too much text in Samoan without an explanation.
The book is on its way to the next reader!
Thanks a bunch, I got it in the mail today. I just need to finish another book, but I'll read it as soon as I can.
It was an okay read, but I have read better books than this one.
I'll PM the next in line and hopefully it will be travelling soon.
I'll PM the next in line and hopefully it will be travelling soon.
Sorry for the delay, but it is now on it's way to the next reader.
The book has arrived. I'll get to it soonish.
The book has taken me some time to get through, no apparent reason though as I have quite enjoued the book.
I have ignored the Samoan, and just gone with the flow. I do like getting a glimse of a foreign culture, and this is one that I know very little of.
I have ignored the Samoan, and just gone with the flow. I do like getting a glimse of a foreign culture, and this is one that I know very little of.
The book travels on!
I love to get forgotten Ray/ring books in my mail box. Looking forward to going to Samoa.
Generally, I love reading books from other countries and parts of the world. I also liked parts of this book, but I couldnt really grasp the full story of the Samoan girl unfortunately.
The book is on its way to the next reader in the US. Enjoy!
The book is on its way to the next reader in the US. Enjoy!
The book is safely here in Utah, and I do look forward to giving it a try. Thanks for offering and sending it on !
Although I really am quite bad about journaling a book after I’ve read it, I could swear I remember journaling this and talking about it...
As this was a most unusual book (at least to my western sensibilities) I really wish I had journaled or if I did had saved it properly. Damn. Because, now several years later, I can’t say a whole lot as I don’t remember specifics. I do know it was a difficult read, for much of the subject matter as well as the manner in which it is written. It was also a very good read, Certainly want I’m glad I had the opportunity to read. So thank you all for passing this on.
As I was the last in a bookray, I am now planning on passing this on in an indigenous peoples bookbox last
As this was a most unusual book (at least to my western sensibilities) I really wish I had journaled or if I did had saved it properly. Damn. Because, now several years later, I can’t say a whole lot as I don’t remember specifics. I do know it was a difficult read, for much of the subject matter as well as the manner in which it is written. It was also a very good read, Certainly want I’m glad I had the opportunity to read. So thank you all for passing this on.
As I was the last in a bookray, I am now planning on passing this on in an indigenous peoples bookbox last
Adding to the Native American/First Nations/Indigenous Peoples bookbox, departing this week :)
I'm claiming this book from the Indigenous Peoples bookbox; the bookbox journal with the list of books taken and replaced is here. I was amazed to see how well-traveled this book has been!
I've read a few stories by and/or about Samoan people, but hadn't been immersed in that world as much as I was by this novel. Or perhaps I should call it a song; the structure weaves myth, poetry, memoir, and essay, resulting in some interesting - and occasionally disturbing - juxtapositions.
The book opens with teen girls comparing notes on their first periods, with the author noting that they use nicknames taken from "Charlie's Angels" - not exactly what I'd expected from a book about Samoa {wry grin}, but I guess pop-culture gets everywhere.
Parts of the book are lyrical, others are stark, still others darkly humorous. The emotions of kids on the brink of puberty are probably universal, even when the specific culture has taboos and requirements that warp the ways in which this process is received. The examples of the cultural losses due to colonization are hard to read about, and the book ends on a bleak note - a suicide, and ongoing questions for the survivors as to whether the dead woman made the right choice...
"People see surfaces only, and that's all."
The book opens with teen girls comparing notes on their first periods, with the author noting that they use nicknames taken from "Charlie's Angels" - not exactly what I'd expected from a book about Samoa {wry grin}, but I guess pop-culture gets everywhere.
Parts of the book are lyrical, others are stark, still others darkly humorous. The emotions of kids on the brink of puberty are probably universal, even when the specific culture has taboos and requirements that warp the ways in which this process is received. The examples of the cultural losses due to colonization are hard to read about, and the book ends on a bleak note - a suicide, and ongoing questions for the survivors as to whether the dead woman made the right choice...
"People see surfaces only, and that's all."
Journal Entry 56 by GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Gilson Rd in Jaffrey, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, June 24, 2021
Released 2 yrs ago (6/24/2021 UTC) at Little Free Library, Gilson Rd in Jaffrey, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.
I left this well-traveled book in this handsome new-to-me architectural Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!
[See other recent releases in NH here.]
*** Released for the 2021 Allergic to A challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2021 Keep Them Moving challenge. ***
I left this well-traveled book in this handsome new-to-me architectural Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!
[See other recent releases in NH here.]
*** Released for the 2021 Allergic to A challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2021 Keep Them Moving challenge. ***