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Confession of the Lioness
Confession of the Lioness: A Novel | Mia Couto
9 posts | 8 read | 33 to read
A dark, poetic mystery about the tribal women of Kulumani and the lionesses that hunt them Told through two haunting interwoven diaries, Mia Couto's Confession of the Lioness reveals the enigmatic world of Kulumani, an isolated village in Mozambique whose traditions and beliefs are threatened when ghostlike lionesses begin hunting and killing the women who live there. Mariamar, a young woman from the village, finds her life thrown into chaos just as the marksman hired to kill the lionesses, the outsider Archangel Bullseye, arrives in town. Mariamar's sister was recently killed in one of the attacks, and her father has imprisoned her in his home, where she relives painful memories of past abuse and hopes to be rescued by Archangel. Meanwhile, Archangel attempts to track the lionesses out in the wilderness, but when he begins to suspect there is more to these predators than meets the eye, he slowly starts to lose control of his hands. The hunt grows more and more dangerous, until it's no safer inside Kulumani than outside it. As the men of Kulumani feel increasingly threatened by the outsider, the forces of modernity upon their culture, and the animal predators closing in, it becomes clear that the lionesses might not be real lionesses at all, but rather spirits conjured by the ancient witchcraft of the women themselves. Both a riveting mystery and a poignant examination of women's oppression, Confession of the Lioness combines reality, superstition, and magic realism in an atmospheric, gripping novel.
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

Like many of the books I‘m reading for #readingafrica2022 I had to sit with this one for a bit. This is without a doubt one of the strongest feminists books I‘ve read in awhile. While at the same time dark. This one will stick with you. #mozambique @Texasamanda @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle Sounds interesting! 2y
KristiAhlers @Librarybelle I found it to be a very good read. 2y
46 likes2 comments
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Lindy
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Mehso-so

Be prepared for major melancholy and confusion in this dual narrative set in a village in Mozambique, not yet recovered from the devastations of war. Even worse is the ongoing war of men against women. So sad. As I read, I often felt unsettled by not knowing what was going on: were the murderous lions actually lions? Or spirits? Persons? Suicides? Also was conscious that I was reading a white man's tale about black women's lives. 👇

Lindy I must add that the writing style is very engaging. If not for that, I would have bailed on this book. 8y
Lindy @HardcoverHearts @shawnmooney You expressed interest in my thoughts on this novel. I almost gave it a pick, so I might like it better upon further reflection. 8y
HardcoverHearts @Lindy - Great review. Thanks for the tag. I will go into it forewarned. 😉 8y
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shawnmooney Great review - I think I'll pass on this one! 8y
ReadingEnvy My bone to pick with the book I read by Couto was how women were basically wallpaper. I liked reading Mozambique's first female author 8y
Lindy @ReadingEnvy Thanks for the recommendation. 😊 8y
36 likes6 comments
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Lindy
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Lindy
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I'm about halfway and I'm hoping that whatever is going on in this novel will come and find me soon. The fear permeating this village in Mozambique is quite unsettling at this point.

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Lindy
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Lindy
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Lindy
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They say that farther on, this river flows through the city. I doubt it. This river of mine, which doesn't even speak Portuguese, this river full of fish that only know their names in Shinakonde, I don't believe it would be allowed into the city.

HardcoverHearts I was raised in Mozambique and am holding his work until I feel a particular longing for home. The French call it "mal d'Afrique"- Africa sickness. It fits. I am looking forward to your thoughts on this one. 8y
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Lindy
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Just starting this intriguing novel, which is translated from Portuguese.

shawnmooney Ooh, I'm intrigued! 8y
readinginthedark This proverb made me think of Lafcadio! 8y
shawnmooney For some reason, I haven't been able to stop thinking about this novel – what do you think so far? :-) 8y
Lindy @shawnmooney Hasn't really grabbed me yet. I've got it on ebook and I've only been reading it while waiting for appointments and such. 1/8 finished, so it's still early to tell. 8y
shawnmooney Confession of the Lindyness re Confession of the Lioness! (I hope it gets better!) 8y
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BookishFeminist
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Beautiful tale originally written in Portuguese. Lions are killing girls in a Mozambique village, but no one knows why. Told in alternating perspectives between a married woman & a hunter hired to find the lions, Couto paints a tapestry of village life, marriage & relationships, sexual desire, mourning, & African folklore in Mozambique. His writing is lyrical & mysterious, chronicling a story that is ultimately about women's oppression. 🦁

vivastory Excellent review. I've had this one on my TBR for awhile now. 8y
LectricSheep Sounds awesome! And that cover! 🔥 8y
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whatthelog Oh wow, that sounds incredible. You have the best recommendations! 8y
BookishFeminist @whatthelog Thank you! ❤️ It was pretty good, glad I picked it up and hope you enjoy it! 8y
BookishFeminist @LectricSheep Yes! Isn't the cover pretty? That's what first drew me to this book. 8y
BookishFeminist @vivastory Thanks! It was a really quick read for whenever you want to get it off your tbr 8y
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