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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
i added this to my tbr in 2015, knowing that it was a classic but just pushed it off until now! i think that i had been misinformed about what the book was about, and i was really surprised by the structure. 'the woman warrior' is often characterized as a memoir, so i was expecting a straightforward narrative. instead, maxine hong kingston weaves together folktales, memories, non-memories, and stories to explore what being a chinese american girl in the 1950s/1960s means in the context of alllllllllll that history. i think it's interesting to look at 'the woman warrior' as more of an exploration of truths/nontruths and what we can never know about our families rather than an actual factual account of an upbringing. the author is not shy about questioning her own accounts of things and whether or not memories were constructed by herself, her mother, or others.
the first couple of sections focus mainly on stories of women and people from china. while these stories held my attention, i think i wanted more of maxine hong kingston's direct life stories, but i understand why this was included. the later chapters (especially the last two) caught my attention way more. i'm glad i read this! truly a trailblazer for asian american literature in so many ways and imo still one of the most interesting pieces out there and one of the standalones for this time period.
edit: with regards to the criticism that this book reinforces and propagates negative stereotypes of chinese / chinese american culture as being 'backwards' and uniquely oppressive towards women: i don't think the author ever implies that what she is saying is universally true nor the experience for everyone. i don't think that maxine hong kingston has to be responsible for the limited ways in which the audience of her time interpreted her work??? idk am i wrong lmk lol
the first couple of sections focus mainly on stories of women and people from china. while these stories held my attention, i think i wanted more of maxine hong kingston's direct life stories, but i understand why this was included. the later chapters (especially the last two) caught my attention way more. i'm glad i read this! truly a trailblazer for asian american literature in so many ways and imo still one of the most interesting pieces out there and one of the standalones for this time period.
edit: with regards to the criticism that this book reinforces and propagates negative stereotypes of chinese / chinese american culture as being 'backwards' and uniquely oppressive towards women: i don't think the author ever implies that what she is saying is universally true nor the experience for everyone. i don't think that maxine hong kingston has to be responsible for the limited ways in which the audience of her time interpreted her work??? idk am i wrong lmk lol
emotional
informative
reflective
Fascinating read where the author mixes her own experiences with the stories of her mother, mother’s village, and their legends
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Too violent. Writing good but hard to parse sometimes
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
I couldn't tell you what this book is about. Could not keep my attention at all.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I lioed it, it was for class so i prob would have enjoyed more if i read outside
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This book is another I've read and taught so many times that I've lost count. It is deliberately complex and sometimes even bewildering in its structure. But stay with it and be open to the ways it might challenge what you think you know, and you may find yourself deeply affected by it.