So Long a Letter
8 journalers for this copy...
Translated from the French by Modupé Bodé-Thomas.So Long a Letter is a landmark book — a sensation in its own country and an education for outsiders. Mariama Ba, a longtime women's activist, set out to write a book that exposed the double standard between men and women in Africa. The result, So Long a Letter, eventually won the first Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. The book itself takes the form of a long letter written by a widow, Ramatoulaye, to her friend, over the mandatory forty-day mourning period following the death of a husband. Both women had married for love and had happy, productive marriages; both were educated, had work they loved and were intellectually alive. During their lives, both of these women's husbands chose to take a second wife — and each woman then made a different choice. Ramatoulaye decided to stay married, although it meant rarely seeing her husband and knowing that he was squandering money on a young girl, a friend of her own daughter. Ramatoulaye's friend divorced her husband and eventually left the country, settling in the United States. In her letter, Ramatoulaye examines her life and that of other women of Senegal — their upbringing and training and the cultural restrictions placed upon them. It is a devastating attack, made all the more powerful because of the intelligence and maturity of the narrator and the ability of Mariama Ba to honor two very different choices within one framework. — From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister
Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!
This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.
I am adopting this 1001-Library book for storage. It is available for check-out!
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing svoight:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Released 12 yrs ago (5/25/2011 UTC) at Valentine, New South Wales Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released to a fellow 1001-Library member, enjoy!
Received in the post today from bookstogive, will read and return to the library ASAP. Thanks again to Bookstogive!
A good short novel. I did not know much about Senegal previously, but by the end you felt that you knew the culture. One had read about polygamy in American culture, but it is interesting to see the African traditional take on it. Returning to the 1001 shortly.
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing davemurray101:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Journal Entry 9 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Released to katrinat in the Uk.
Journal Entry 10 by davemurray101 at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (9/1/2011 UTC) at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to katrinat
Thanks for sending this, I'll get to it soon and ensure that it keeps moving.
I requested this as I'm trying to vary my 1001 reading to include a wide variety of cultures and times. This novel provides a vivid picture of life in Senegal for women. Very short and easy to read, I felt it lost its hold on me in the middle but gained my attention again towards the end.
This is being sent out as part of the 1001 VBB in a few days. Thanks for sharing, I hope its journey continues to reach the far distances of the world.
This is being sent out as part of the 1001 VBB in a few days. Thanks for sharing, I hope its journey continues to reach the far distances of the world.
Sounds like an interesting read. Thank you for sharing.
Journal Entry 14 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, February 18, 2012
Taken from the 1001 VBB. It looks like a short and interesting read and I will get to it soon, thank you for sending so quickly mafarrimond xx
Journal Entry 15 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Sunday, February 26, 2012
I quite enjoyed this novel, and although short, it held my attention to the end. It was very ineresting to read about the Senegalese culture and even more so about the changing attitude of the women of the time.
Anther one ticked off the list and back to the library.
Anther one ticked off the list and back to the library.
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing Danielle23:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Journal Entry 17 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, March 25, 2013
Travelling to Caroley as requested from the 1001 VBB. I hope you enjoy it xx
Thanks for sending this so quickly. I'm looking forward to reading it :)
