another one found in Lausanne book box. I liked The Color Purple so look forward to reading this.

Tashi, a minor character from The Color Purple, her life as an Olinka in Africa and later in the US (as Evelyn) - and her return to her homeland. Never has a book made me feel so angry. Not because it is badly written - on the contrary, it swept me along and I could not put it down. But because of the theme, that of excision - or genital mutilation. Tashi's story is so much more compulsive, vivid and effective than the tearful pleadings of an Edmond Kaiser or others whose voices fight to be heard. I am angry because I can't understand how anyone can believe their god-given body has "unclean parts" that need to be cut off in a ritual (and unspeakably unhygienic conditions...) That women should not be allowed to feel pleasure. That men should be granted the satisfaction of having "tight" wives. Wives who have to be cut open to give birth and sewn up again afterwards. Who as adolescents have an opening so small it barely allows menstrual blood and urine to pass. Which causes bad odours and forces them to shuffle rather than walk. How can this still happen? (And I would say the same thing of male circumcision.)
Devastating and tragic. Tashi, I wish you had been able to possess the secret of joy.

A quote from Tashi's husband Adam: "Though not a priest, I am a man of God, even now, I could not bear a life lived without belief. But this I know: There is for human beings no greater hell to fear than the one on earth."

à la réunion

Caught this book from an open Bookshelf. Looking forward to reading it!