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On a Woman's Madness
On a Woman's Madness | Astrid Roemer
4 posts | 2 read | 2 to read
Nine days after getting married, Noenka leaves her husband in a squall. The path on which she finds herself is lined with memories, boa constrictors, and flowers--and the repressive, unwritten laws of post-colonial Suriname that inhibit young Black women like her.
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review
sarahbarnes
On a Woman's Madness | Astrid Roemer
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Mehso-so

My second book from the Booker Intl longlist and one I wanted to like more than I did. Most of the time I just felt confused. The story got most compelling toward the end, but even then it fell short for me.

BarbaraBB I‘ll temper my expectations. I read it in my teens but don‘t remember a thing about it. I‘ll reread it soon 3w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I could identify with the character, but always felt at arms length from the story. I don‘t know if it was just that the style it was written in wasn‘t for me? I‘m impressed that you read it in your teens! 3w
BarbaraBB She is Dutch-Surinam, her story was very relevant at the time. 3w
42 likes3 comments
blurb
Liz_M
On a Woman's Madness | Astrid Roemer
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#WhereAreYouMonday

Well, this book was ridiculously hard to search for in Litsy. In any case, I am in Suriname.

BarbaraBB I read this so long ago. Will reread it soon. Are you enjoying it? 1mo
Liz_M @BarbaraBB It's a bit nebulous -- I am neve sure where/when I am, but I do like the language. 1mo
BarbaraBB I‘ll reread it soon! 1mo
sarahbarnes Just got a copy of this from the library because of the Booker Intl longlist. I‘ve never read it. Good to know your thoughts on it so far. 4w
25 likes4 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
On a Woman's Madness | Astrid Roemer
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Panpan

Despite being one of the books I was more intrigued about from the NBA translated literature list (plus, it made the shortlist), this just didn‘t do anything for me. It tended to jump around in a way I didn‘t like, I didn‘t care for the writing, and it didn‘t have a strong sense of place in #Suriname.

#ReadingAmericas2023

Librarybelle That‘s a shame! 1y
BarbaraBB I remember feeling that way too when I read it, but that was ages ago. I hoped it would have gained relevance in the mean time but I do doubt that now. 1y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I feel like some of the topics covered were really worthwhile, but it just didn‘t really work. I‘m disappointed to see it on the short list. 1y
44 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
Hooked_on_books
On a Woman's Madness | Astrid Roemer
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It‘s the most wonderful week of the year: the release of the National Book Award longlists! 🥳🎉🎊 Above is translated lit, which you can read more about here: https://www.nationalbook.org/2023-national-book-awards-longlist-for-translated-l...

Plus, the tagged is set in Suriname, which I need for #ReadingAmericas2023. Bonus! Tomorrow, the nonfiction list (probably my favorite)!

BarbaraBB Thanks! Diving into it! 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen You were looking for some good NF right? See Holly‘s post! (edited) 2y
BarbaraBB The Astrid Roemer one is an oldie, it was published in the Netherlands in 1982! 2y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB Clearly it has stood the test of time! I love when a book can make an impact so many years later for whatever reason, in this case because it‘s finally been translated. 2y
42 likes4 comments