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bickie's review
5.0
Absolutely magnificent! What a powerful rumination on the complexities of life, power, colonialism, misogynism, feminism, assimilation, memory, dreams, inheritance, family, survival. "After survival, there is the survival of the survival."
I am interested in the title of the book and its focus on Nono, while in many ways, the book is focused on the mirrored experiences of the author and her mother and their shared inheritance through Nono.
I plan to go buy my own copy so that I can re-read and make notes.
The first section of Chapter 23: The Mirror: "...The histories and stories of a people are a mirror--they tell how and when and where and why a people lived. No matter the year or the hour, empire will always seek to destroy the mirrors in which it does not see itself...the language in power. It has never been able to imagine anything outside itself."
Audiobook narration is terrific, which excellent modulation of tone and pace. One thing that was hard was that "Nono" and "Nona" sounded very similar, so I sometimes got confused about which one we were talking about until context made more sense. Often I reread those sections using the hard copy.
I am interested in the title of the book and its focus on Nono, while in many ways, the book is focused on the mirrored experiences of the author and her mother and their shared inheritance through Nono.
I plan to go buy my own copy so that I can re-read and make notes.
The first section of Chapter 23: The Mirror: "...The histories and stories of a people are a mirror--they tell how and when and where and why a people lived. No matter the year or the hour, empire will always seek to destroy the mirrors in which it does not see itself...the language in power. It has never been able to imagine anything outside itself."
Audiobook narration is terrific, which excellent modulation of tone and pace. One thing that was hard was that "Nono" and "Nona" sounded very similar, so I sometimes got confused about which one we were talking about until context made more sense. Often I reread those sections using the hard copy.
lnbrittain's review
5.0
Stunning story of her family, going back generations. It’s memoir, family and country history, and deep philosophical thought. You just have to read it. I haven’t ever read anything like it!