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brontherun 's review for:
The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
by Maxine Hong Kingston
I first read Maxine Hong Kingston's work in college in the early 90's. I am pleased to see that it holds up well to my memory. The book is made up of 5 parts, with 'White Tigers' being the most memorable from my earlier reading. I found that I preferred 'No Name Woman' this time around.
The work is autobiographical, family history, and myth. Which basically sums up all family history, although most of us deny rather than embrace the mythology of our own families.
We all tell our own stories in a variety of ways, and these are told beautifully. " 'The difference between mad people and sane people,' Brave Orchid explained to the children, 'is that sane people have variety when they talk-story. Mad people have only one story that they talk over and over.' " So the wisdom of the mother's talk-story is passed down faithfully to the daughter.
What these stories all share is the voice of women, striving against both the challenges of daily life, and great, nation-altering challenges. The loneliness of this burden women carry is expressed in unique ways depending upon the woman. For one, "Nobody supports me at the expense of his own adventure. Then I get bitter: no one supports me; I am not loved enough to be supported. That I am not a burden has to compensate for the sad envy when I look at women loved enough to be supported."
And yet the strength of the women in myth, legend, and family household is undeniable. Women's strength is learned and nurtured by other women. And when these women have given up themselves to and for one another, and are then separated, the pain is significant. " 'Aiaa,' she sighed, 'how can I bear to have you leave me again?'
How can I bear to leave her again?"
I am glad to have re-read this one, as I think these female relationships resonate much more with me now than almost 30 years ago.
The work is autobiographical, family history, and myth. Which basically sums up all family history, although most of us deny rather than embrace the mythology of our own families.
We all tell our own stories in a variety of ways, and these are told beautifully. " 'The difference between mad people and sane people,' Brave Orchid explained to the children, 'is that sane people have variety when they talk-story. Mad people have only one story that they talk over and over.' " So the wisdom of the mother's talk-story is passed down faithfully to the daughter.
What these stories all share is the voice of women, striving against both the challenges of daily life, and great, nation-altering challenges. The loneliness of this burden women carry is expressed in unique ways depending upon the woman. For one, "Nobody supports me at the expense of his own adventure. Then I get bitter: no one supports me; I am not loved enough to be supported. That I am not a burden has to compensate for the sad envy when I look at women loved enough to be supported."
And yet the strength of the women in myth, legend, and family household is undeniable. Women's strength is learned and nurtured by other women. And when these women have given up themselves to and for one another, and are then separated, the pain is significant. " 'Aiaa,' she sighed, 'how can I bear to have you leave me again?'
How can I bear to leave her again?"
I am glad to have re-read this one, as I think these female relationships resonate much more with me now than almost 30 years ago.