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careinthelibrary's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This morning I finished So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ for @esotericareads's book club where we've read women-authored classics under 250 pages. This petite novella (90 pages!) speaks loudly the talents of the author. The book club ends strong with this small one.
The writing!!! Outstanding. Striking. I was explaining to my husband how remarkably thoughtful every passage was, did a test flipping to random pages and reading from the first paragraph on the page. Every single one was a jewel.
Senegalese feminist writer Mariama Bâ needs more praise. Give her her flowers. I can't wait to read Scarlet Song which I feel confident will also be awe-inspiring.
"At that moment you tumbled from the highest rung of respect on which I have always placed you. Your reasoning, which makes a distinction, is unacceptable to me. I am stripping myself of your love, your name. Clothed in my dignity, the only worthy garment, I go my way."
"The power of books, this marvellous invention of astute human intelligence. Various signs associated with sounds that form a word. Juxtaposition of words which springs the idea, Thought, History, Science, Life. Sole instrument of interrelationships and of culture, unparalleled means of giving and receiving. Books knit generations together in the same continuing effort that leads to progress. They enabled you to better yourself. What society refused you, they granted."
"Friendship has splendours that love knows not. It grows stronger when crossed, whereas obstacles kill love. Friendship resists time, which wearies and severs couples. It has heights unknown to love."
The writing!!! Outstanding. Striking. I was explaining to my husband how remarkably thoughtful every passage was, did a test flipping to random pages and reading from the first paragraph on the page. Every single one was a jewel.
Senegalese feminist writer Mariama Bâ needs more praise. Give her her flowers. I can't wait to read Scarlet Song which I feel confident will also be awe-inspiring.
"At that moment you tumbled from the highest rung of respect on which I have always placed you. Your reasoning, which makes a distinction, is unacceptable to me. I am stripping myself of your love, your name. Clothed in my dignity, the only worthy garment, I go my way."
"The power of books, this marvellous invention of astute human intelligence. Various signs associated with sounds that form a word. Juxtaposition of words which springs the idea, Thought, History, Science, Life. Sole instrument of interrelationships and of culture, unparalleled means of giving and receiving. Books knit generations together in the same continuing effort that leads to progress. They enabled you to better yourself. What society refused you, they granted."
"Friendship has splendours that love knows not. It grows stronger when crossed, whereas obstacles kill love. Friendship resists time, which wearies and severs couples. It has heights unknown to love."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Infidelity
Moderate: Pregnancy and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
So Long A Letter is semi autobiographical novel in which Ramatoulaye, a Senegalese woman doing ‘iddah, a mourning period for Muslim widows, writes to her best friend. The letter covers a range of topics - her emotions at her husband’s death (very complicated given he’d essentially abandoned her for a polygamous second marriage with a young teen), the realities of her marriage and her friend’s marriage, politics, religion, polygamy, the challenges of being a single mother, the changing political situation in Africa, the status of her children, education, religion, and her views of men. As a western reader it was easy to be shocked by some of the ways women were treated but I also noted the ways and places they had agency and stood up for their rights and wishes, and the signs of generational change to come. The power of education and of female friendship in helping women survive in a patriarchal world were well made. I need to check the present status of Senegalese women to see how these signs of change panned out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
slytherinheaux's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
2treads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bâ has written her character with heart and respect for the situation in which she finds herself. After losing her husband Ramatoulsye begins to reminisce through writing a letter to her dear friend of the trials and triumphs they both endured and overcame as women, wives and mothers.
She writes of harmful traditions and disregard for what a woman can contribute to not only her family but to society as well. We see the exploration of women's 'shelf life' and how the roles they play in many instances doesn't extend beyond the bounds of their home.
Bâ's novel is absolutely timeless as women are still facing many obstacles placed and interred by the patriarchy in attempts to hobble the progress and ascension of women into roles and spheres that they have labelled as being for 'men'.
What is clear in the voices and actions of Ramatoulaye and Aissatou is that being aware of the society and traditions in which they were born, they chose how to react, differently according to their situations and attitudes, in rebelling against what was done to and decided around and about them.
She writes of harmful traditions and disregard for what a woman can contribute to not only her family but to society as well. We see the exploration of women's 'shelf life' and how the roles they play in many instances doesn't extend beyond the bounds of their home.
Bâ's novel is absolutely timeless as women are still facing many obstacles placed and interred by the patriarchy in attempts to hobble the progress and ascension of women into roles and spheres that they have labelled as being for 'men'.
What is clear in the voices and actions of Ramatoulaye and Aissatou is that being aware of the society and traditions in which they were born, they chose how to react, differently according to their situations and attitudes, in rebelling against what was done to and decided around and about them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
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