The River Between | 
pickWhat a hard book to review. Almost fable-like, it describes a black savior trying to protect his people from the invading white people. It‘s beautiful in its telling. Conversely, it praises female circumcision as an important rite signifying the tribe‘s independence from the “evil” Christians. At once I want to love and hate this book. It was written by a Kenyan man in the early 1960s before circumcision was decried for its brutality. ⬇️
Texreader But the author was considered a “progressive.” Ha! I think he portrayed the gross outcome of the practice in the story but I can‘t get past this statement supporting its continuation: “Circumcision of women was not important as a physical operation. It was what it did inside a person. It could not be stopped overnight. Patience and, above all, education, were needed.” I still give the book a pick; it‘s an authentic viewpoint told well even if ⬇️ (edited) 2y
Texreader I find parts of it despicable. #Kenya #readingafrica2022 2y
Librarybelle Good review! 2y
BarbaraBB Very thoughtful review! 2y
Texreader @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB Thank you. Very hard review to write. I truly want to respect a native people‘s customs and beliefs but I have to draw the line at female circumcision, especially coming from a man who cannot know the horror and harm it does to the poor girls. (edited) 2y
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