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A review by tashspice
Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee
4.0
I have felt this inspired by a book since "I am Malala". Leymah's story was powerful. The focus of her book was her personal journey and struggle which made her demand change her country. She takes you through the history which lead her to the point where she sees the need for change, but struggles how to change that need into tangible action.
"I believe, I know, that if you have unshakable faith in yourself, in your sisters and in the possibility of change, you can do almost anything" (230).
There is a part in the book where her first work-mentor,BB, is saying to her "Yes, the was was evil, but why had is tarted, Leymah?...Look at our history" (88). Her book is structured much the same way. She begins speaking of her high school graduation, and how her family had such high hopes for her. Then war broke out, she spent time in a refuge camp. She doesn't give much details about what happened in the camp, but mainly how the camp and the war impacted her state of mind enough to start a relationship with a man she knew she probably shouldn't.
I was expecting a lot more details about the actual war, and seeing it impact her, but I was expecting to hear a lot more about the brutality of war. Her portrayal of the war is demonstrate when she explains in the prologue that a foreign journalist asked if she was raped during the war. When she told him no she "was no longer of any interest" (x). She speaks of her abusive relationship, and the lack of employment and food for the people. But with all the war and it's effects around her, she speaks of the kindness of the Liberian people, and their desire for peace and wanting to help each other.
I appreciated her talking about her struggles with trying to get jobs, feed her family, being a single working mother. You could feel how she sacrificed so much to help so many, but at the cost of relationships with her children. Her life is a push and pull in all directions, but she was driven. She's very inspiring. She's not perfect, and I love it. I love that she sees a need, and wants action instead of tons of meetings to discuss options with no decisions.
My only complaint about the book was the timeline was a little unclear. I couldn't follow along with how much time she spent in a particular place or when something happened in her life. It was a little confusing.
"I believe, I know, that if you have unshakable faith in yourself, in your sisters and in the possibility of change, you can do almost anything" (230).
There is a part in the book where her first work-mentor,BB, is saying to her "Yes, the was was evil, but why had is tarted, Leymah?...Look at our history" (88). Her book is structured much the same way. She begins speaking of her high school graduation, and how her family had such high hopes for her. Then war broke out, she spent time in a refuge camp. She doesn't give much details about what happened in the camp, but mainly how the camp and the war impacted her state of mind enough to start a relationship with a man she knew she probably shouldn't.
I was expecting a lot more details about the actual war, and seeing it impact her, but I was expecting to hear a lot more about the brutality of war. Her portrayal of the war is demonstrate when she explains in the prologue that a foreign journalist asked if she was raped during the war. When she told him no she "was no longer of any interest" (x). She speaks of her abusive relationship, and the lack of employment and food for the people. But with all the war and it's effects around her, she speaks of the kindness of the Liberian people, and their desire for peace and wanting to help each other.
I appreciated her talking about her struggles with trying to get jobs, feed her family, being a single working mother. You could feel how she sacrificed so much to help so many, but at the cost of relationships with her children. Her life is a push and pull in all directions, but she was driven. She's very inspiring. She's not perfect, and I love it. I love that she sees a need, and wants action instead of tons of meetings to discuss options with no decisions.
My only complaint about the book was the timeline was a little unclear. I couldn't follow along with how much time she spent in a particular place or when something happened in her life. It was a little confusing.