The Woman Warrior
Maxine Hong Kingston
1975
209 pages
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FTC: I also bought this one. You should give me an award for stimulating the economy.
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I’m pretty much speechless. So I’m going to steal the description from Wikipedia:
The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts is a memoir by Maxine Hong Kingston, published by Vintage Books in 1975. Although there are many scholarly debates surrounding the official genre classification of the book, it can best be described as a work of creative non-fiction.
Throughout the five chapters of The Woman Warrior, Kingston blends autobiography with old Chinese folktales. What results is a complex portrayal of the 20th Century experiences of Chinese-Americans living in the U.S in the shadow of the Chinese Revolution.
The Woman Warrior has been reported by the Modern Language Association as the most commonly taught text in modern university education. It has been used in disciplines as far reaching as American literature, anthropology, Asian studies, composition, education, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. In addition, it has also won the National Book Critics Circle Award and has been named one of Time Magazine’s top nonfiction books of the 1970s.
Back to me being speechless. Unfortunately, I don’t mean that in a good way. This book baffles me, totally and completely. Not so much the interweaving of the folktales (although it was a little confusing at first), but the style. I found her writing choppy and disjointed. One minute we’re in the folktale, then whammo, there’s a random observation, then Kingston relates an episode from her childhood. Except it doesn’t flow…it’s as if the random observations are non sequiturs, and by the end I was totally frustrated.
However, despite my frustrations with this one, it does work for the Women Unbound Reading Challenge. There is plenty of information contrasting the roles of women in traditional Chinese society with Kingston’s determination to break free of her mother’s traditional expectations. Then there is her mother, who despite her Chinese medical degree conforms to traditional beliefs about daughters being less worthy than sons. Finally, Kingston’s interpretation of Chinese folktales can be pretty kick-ass.
SEE?! did I know you bought this? I was able to bookmooch this from whoever had Herland and thought I might as well get two books. This title hooked me as perfect for Women Unbound. I don’t yet know when I’ll get to it – but I’ll be reading it this year.
Hummm. I read this in about 1980 and I remember loving it. I mean foisting it off on everyone I came across, shoving it at strangers in the bookstore. Your review makes me want to pick it up again just to see what I would think now.
Beth F´s last blog ..The Year Ahead: What to Expect in 2010
I’m surprised it’s “the most commonly taught text in modern university education” and all the rest of it. Odd!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter by Peter Manseau
I’m sorry this didn’t work for you, especially since you stimulated the economy to get it.
Kathy´s last blog ..Our life in France – grocery shopping
This comment made me chuckle ;D
I’m currently looking for more interesting books for the China challenge. Too bad this one doesn’t have glowing reviews from you.
mee´s last blog ..(Another) 1% Well-Read Challenge Completed!
It sounded like it ought to be good. And at least you did get something out of it even if it wasn’t the best written book. Here’s hoping the next one is much much better!
Literary Feline´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Christmas Loot, First and Last Books of the Year & A Blogging Break
Ah, I was really excited the FIRST time you said this book left you speechless. Don’t think this one is for me, but it sounds good for Women Unbound. Way to cross one off the list
Aarti´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: How many books do you read at a time?
I really loved this, but then that was over 10 years ago.
claire´s last blog ..New Year Reading Plans
I read it ages ago and remember loving it. Sorry it did not work for you and have a great week.
gavin´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – A New Year Begins
Okay, you are way braver than me for even trying this book. Wow.
Michele´s last blog ..Serious Tudor Fiction
I like the idea of blending with folktales but it does sound a bit complex. I hate choppy writing
Ladytink_534´s last blog ..A Story of Reinvention
Sounds like a love-it-or-hate it kind of book. Some aspects of it sound so interesting, I might have to give it a try at some point.
Ali (worducopia)´s last blog ..Short Story Mondays: Brokeback Mountain
Bummer! I have this one on my shelves, and I also stimulated the economy to get it. Hope it goes better for me, though I’m not positive it will!
Andi´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – The Truth is in the Numbers!
Well, at least it counted for the challenge.
Jenners´s last blog ..Review: Gemma by Meg Tilly
Sorry you didn’t like this one. I hate being frustrated by books. I hope your next pick will be more satisfying.
Julie´s last blog ..We Need To Talk About Kevin
Interesting. I’ve never heard of this book. I think it’s a good choice for Women Unbound especially since it takes a look at traditional and modern Chinese values and women’s changing roles.
Mrs.B´s last blog ..Winter Scenes
I read this for a college English course. Honestly, I don’t remember what I thought of it, though I do remember thinking that there were certain passages that I thought were nicely poetic. Like you, I also liked her interpretation of Chinese folktales. Sorry this didn’t really do it for you.
P.S. Happy New Year! (hey, better late than never. Lol)
J.S. Peyton´s last blog ..Why, Hello 2010: A Retrospective