I know, I have yet to wrap-up the Wollstonecraft discussion but figured I would get this one started first – more open discussion is always a good thing right?!
As I mentioned in the introduction, it is a rather small volume but it really discusses a lot. I want to bring up first two items that were raised in the comments on Tuesday.
1. What did you think of the different responses each women had to polygamy? Did you think that one was portrayed as better than the other? Did you feel both were accurate portrayals?
2. What did you think of the way the funeral happens? From my limited knowledge I believe that the portrayal was fairly true to an Islamic funeral. Is this true? What did you think of the time it gave her to consider her options? Do you think the time of reflection is a good or bad thing? What about the way that both wives had to work together?
Another thing that was brought up was the way the climate of the country at the time of writing affected both Wollstonecraft and Bâ. Wollstonecraft wrote in response to the French revolution. I don’t know a lot about Senegal (note to self – learn more!) but I would imagine that Bâ wrote in large part because of the let down post-independence for the rights of women. What do you think of this – do you think the political situation played a part in her work? Did you see any other symmetry between the two works?
Dragonflyy419 has already posted the beginnings of her discussion here, do check it out. Have you posted about this book? Please include your link in the comments below and I will link to it in the next discussion post or wrap-up!
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I just posted on this novella (here), and talk quite a bit about the role of politics and Bâ’s depiction of heady idealistic youth followed by the compromises & disappointments of a post-revolutionary reality. For me this was one of those books that’s “just okay” while reading it, but once I started writing about it there was so much to say!
How interesting Emily! I’m glad that it grew on you so much. When you think back there really is so much isn’t there? Thank you for the link!
i just finished the book and have posted my thoughts on my blog. This was an interesting look at current cultural and religious practices that are working to subjcate women. Great choice for the challenge.
Thank you Beachreader! I really liked how it looked at culture and religious practices too and specifically their distortions.
I just read The War On Words about how what could not be said about slavery infected American writers both before and after the Civil War.
It’s also interesting to think about what could not be said about women.
That sounds like a really interesting book Shelley – it is so interesting to think about you are right!
My thoughts, which mostly focus on question one. Thank you for picking this book, Amy! I really enjoyed it, and who knows when I’d have picked it up otherwise.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ana – I’m glad you enjoyed the book!
My rambling post looks at the book as a whole, I will probably do up another post soon focusing on the discussion questions. I really loved this book!
Great choice!
Love the post thegirlwiththehair – I can’t wait to see your next post on the book
So glad you enjoyed it.
I finished the book days ago and then took forever to get my thoughts out! Such as they are–I have a lot more to say but can’t seem to get it written yet. Anyway, thanks so much for putting this book on the list; I am so glad to have been given the opportunity to read it. And here are my thoughts.
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