Scarlet Song

Winner of the Norma Prize in Africa for her first novel Une si longue lettre Read Scarlet Song – kino-fada.fr Given that Mariam Ba wrote this book as she was dying, I wonder if that is why she managed to put in so much of how she saw her world The African world And this she did brilliantly she showed, did not tell She expertly wove in the many layers of life as an African in the modern world, exploring many themes without losing the unity of the story.If I rated the book initially, in the first third or so, I d have given it a 3 I gotinto it as I read on, and by the time I was done it was a 5 Given that Mariam Ba wrote this book as she was dying, I wonder if that is why she managed to...This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers To view it, click here Ouleymatou had become his true soulmate, the woman in whom he recognised the extension of himself She was, as Mabo Dialli so rightly sang, at one and the same time his roots, his stock, his growth, his flowering They were linked by their childhood, spent in the maze of dusty streets Most important they were linked by their common ancestors, the same skies The same soil The same traditions Their souls were impregnated with the sap of the same customs They were ecited by the same causes N Ouleymatou had become his true soulmate, the woman in whom he recognised the extension of himself She was, as Mabo Dialli so rightly sang, at one and the same time his roots, his stock, his growth, his flowering They were linked by their childhood, spent in the maze of dusty streets Most important they were linked by their common ancestors, the same skies The same soil The same traditions Their souls were impregnated with the sap of the same customs They were ecited by the same causes Neither Ousmane nor Ouleymatou could disclaim this commom esscence without distorting their very natures Cultural heritage was taking its pitiless revenge It was reclaiming its due and revealing to Ousamane the end point of his flight Mariama Ba, Scarlet Song.The book explores a mixed race marriage and brings to light the cultural differences be...This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers To view it, click here For some reason I took a long time completing this book, and upon reflection I am not sure why Maybe because I sort of knew that the ending was...3 Sept 2011 To be honest, it has been a while What I remember is that the story challenged so many preconceptions of identityand I remember that I truly enjoyed it Will re read and better comment, perhaps 11 Sept 2011 I have just reread this book and remember why I was so moved during the first year so many years ago There are so many layers, like the layers of society and the often conflicting forces of progress, tradition, and culture Every character presents a strong message, if 3 Sept 2011 To be honest, it has been a while What I remember is that the story challenged so many preconceptions of identityand I remember that I truly enjoyed it Will re read and better comment, perhaps 11 Sept 2011 I have just reread this book and remember why I was so moved during the first year so many years ago There are so many layers, like the layers of society and the often conflicting forces of progress, tradition, and culture Every character presents a strong message, if even only temporarily engaged in the novel At times it may seem so easy to identify a true hero and villain, while at other times, our humanity is compelled to understand where each is coming from This adds nuance and allows the characters we embrace to have their flaws Certainly an important piece of post colonial thought, Mariama Ba extends her message fluidly into the timeless conversation of women and men, the politics...Women first, race secondIn most cases.This book made me ache for an African story in which the black man is not an asshole.I understand that pain is powerful and stories of pain need to be told, but can t love be madepowerful than pain, can t hope be madepowerful, why do we exalt pain Why is a story only powerful or real when it is painful Why are we telling stories of...A white woman does not enrich a family She impoverishes it by undermining its unity The gospel according to Mariama Ba I really have no sympathy for the caucascian woman in this novel What she endured is no different from what occurred in Ba s So Long...women despite the color the prestige suffers the blows and sweets of love any one of them is vulnerable to the ills of love this book also poses the question, are you strong enough to break through the norms of a society without breaking downThis short novel packs in a great deal, exploring the ups and downs of cross cultural relationships and the impact of society on those individuals who dare to breach the walls of conformity You may just find it too heart wrenching towards the end though.NiceEen verhaal over interculturele, interraciale relaties vertelt door een Afrikaanse vrouwelijke schrijfster Het is raar, maar velen zal dat een ongebruikelijk perspectief bieden Overigens zonder dat Mariama B alles door de ogen van een zwarte vrouw beschrijft Toch confronteert het boek je met je eigen stereotyperingen n de angst voor stereotyperingen Het boek gaat over de Senegalese Ousmane, een intelligente zwarte moslimman die verliefd wordt op de witte intelligente Franse diplomatendocht Een verhaal over interculturele, interraciale relaties vertelt door een Afrikaanse vrouwelijke schrijfster Het is raar, maar velen zal dat een ongebruikelijk perspectief bieden Overigens zonder dat Mariama B alles door de ogen van een zwarte vrouw beschrijft Toch confronteert het boek je met je eigen stereotyperingen n de angst voor stereotyperingen Het boek gaat over de Senegalese Ousmane, een intelligente zwarte moslimman die verliefd wordt op de witte intelligente Franse diplomatendochter Mireille Tegen de wil van beide families trouwen ze en proberen ze er iets van te maken Het werkt echter niet en dat ligt aan vele dingen cultuurverschillen, familierelaties, rolverdeling tussen mannen en vrouwen in Afrikaanse en Europese verhoudingen, religie en traditie, generatieconflicten, klasseverschillen Maar het zijn ook steeds weer individuele keuzes, leugen en bedrog, vriendschap en toeval die het verloop bepal...

• English
• 10 January 2018
Mariama Bâ
• Paperback
• 171 pages
• 0582264553
• Mariama Bâ
• Scarlet Song