"There was a boulder lodged in my throat. My heart surged pitifully. I knew what the boulder was; that it was a word; and that behind that word I would find my earliest emotions.”- Alice Walker, Possessing the Secret of JoyTashi, an African woman from the Olinkan tribe, marries Adam, an American man, and spends most of her life in America. Witnessing her sister, Dura, die from a botched female genital mutilation (FGM) surgery, as well as undergoing FGM herself, Tashi becomes traumatized and has to be treated by psychotherapists who try to find the root of her mental instability.This was an extremely tough read but any book about FGM is bound to be. The book questions the patriarchal societies that encourage FGM and other such restrictive practices. FGM is compared to foot-binding in China, another patriarchal practice that was used to control women.In Lisa See’s book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the sister of the main character dies due to a bungled foot-binding procedure. It’s quite disturbing that in both cases brainwashing is in effect and women are told that these practices will make them more desirable to their husbands AND will also allow them to become welcome members of society: “Even today there are villages where an uncircumcised woman is not permitted to live. The chiefs enforce this. On the other hand, circumcision is a taboo that is never discussed. How then do the chiefs know how to keep it going? How is it talked about?” The book is made up of several short chapters, each concentrating on one character narrating their thoughts. It shows how everyone: spouses, friends, children, can be affected by FGM, not just the woman who undergoes the surgery. This book is very Jungian in its approach, Jung even makes several appearances as Mzee (Swahili honorific for an elderly man), Tashi's first psychotherapist.The most horrifying thing about this book is that FGM is still practiced in many countries. However, this book makes a statement; Alice Walker gives a voice to the women who have experienced FGM and have no voice. Walker shows how tradition can sometimes be oppressive. I was impressed by how Walker tackled such a controversial topic and with cultural sensitivity as well. I think her Jungian approach while delving into symbolism was extremely interesting. Because I've only recently gotten into Jung I feel I need to re-read this book once I've read a bit more Jung. I took this book on vacation with me last week, I was initially very worried about reading it as it isn't exactly cheerful reading. I can't say I enjoyed reading this book but it's the type of book I'm very glad to have read.
I don't even know how to begin reviewing this book?Well, I picked up this book because currently I'm doing a research paper on female circumcision (or genital mutilation, however you choose to see it). and while fictitious, the reality of the issue as put forward by our protagonist's Evelyn/Tashi struggles is painfully real.The book poses many questions about how to put yourself back together after having being initiated you are broken apart, pieces of you forever leaving you, why the practice continues, why it began in the first place, and what it means for both men and women, why it has to involve men in the first place, the supposed control (or absolute non-control?) women have over what is being done to their bodies. Many times throughout the book I wished Tashi would make an effort to heal herself, as hers (psychological trauma caused by the initiation) a worst case scenario among the millions of girls who have undergone circumcision. Many have been circumcised, and gone on, (this does not speak to the usefulness/effectiveness of the practice) without scars not exceeding those left on their bodies. Tashi however, was scarred in every way possible, mentally physically emotionally - to the inner most core of her being, even deeper in the places where she felt she was supposed to find her person. I felt her troubles so heavy throughout the book. But I get it. Walker had to bring all these up to be able to introduce perspectives of other characters, and really delve into the debate that surrounds why circumcision is practiced and why it began at all.The book talked a lot about suffering, and in the end revealed the secret of joy. While it was said in the book that joy belonged to the enslaved blacks, who though tortured and despised persevered in their joy, I believe, inside of us we all have the secret of joy. I believe we are one in our suffering, as we are in our joy.
Do You like book Possessing The Secret Of Joy (2005)?
This book has the ability to force one into numbness and retreat from it for self preservation which is apropos considering the entire subject matter is FGM, or female circumcision. The main character Tashi leaves us with questions unanswered. Her torture and trauma due to her own FGM, her inability to feel things, physically and emotionally was almost too intense to process only gives me, the reader, the tiniest sense of what some girls and women experience at the hands of their circumcisers, usually other women. Alice Walker is a gift, and this book that painfully highlights this tradition that has and continues to subjugate and maim women in the world is both fascinating and awful reading. It also begs, in a way I could barely stand to acknowledge, one to look at other thinking and practices in our world that make women a sum of their body parts and measures them by the usefulness of their orifices and organs to men.
—Scooping it Up
After reading The Color Purple and now this, I am thoroughly convinced Walker does NOT know how to tell a good story. She has all the information (not accurate - besides the point) but can't put it on paper.I really wanted to like this book, but they are SO many reasons why I didn't. Apart from the disturbing topic (female circumcision) which had the potential to be a good story, but instead read like a biology book! Walkers manner in dealing with such a complex subject was just horrendous!!A similar writing style to The Color Purple is used, in that it's written in a series of monologues. Some take place in the present, some future, some past, either way it gets confusing, all choppy, and not enough detail. The one dimensional characters weren't much better. Not sure why the main character (Tashi) was portrayed so dim witted.... (actually that was how everyone in 'Africa' were portrayed). Walkers whole fictitious Africa was just weird. One has to wonder if she's ever visited ANY country there??Needless to say it was disappointing and I don't think I'll be reading any more of her books, nor would I recommend her books.
—Farhana Faruq
The book details the life of an African girl, Tashi, from her youth through marriage - she meets the son and a daughter of missionaries and becomes friends with them - although still seeking acceptance from her village. The author, Alice Walker, gives us a unique perspective for each of the characters in each chapter. We see the wonderful youthful girl enjoying a crush and feeling the splendor of sex in the grass - yet - we learn that women in that village practice genital circumcision on every young girl. The book chronicles the history and the belief that women are unclean and that myths and practices destroy the person within. Tashi's struggles with her inner demons - trying to connect with the traditions that define her as a member of the village, with the knowledge that the practice killed her sister, Dura.Powerfully written, you are standing beside Tashi as she descends into madness and with Adam, her husband, as he tries to find a common ground but also has a mistress when Tashi's actions push him away.I learned more about how this practice destroys the very women who practice it - bound by village patriarchy. The book reached an explosive breaking point when Tashi meets the woman who performed her "rite." Years later, the woman has been raised to a public celebrity for another reason and Tashi goes to visit her.Stunning writing - difficult and horrifying subject matter - it's a must read for women.
—Tulara
