Search - Possessing the Secret of Joy

Possessing the Secret of Joy
Possessing the Secret of Joy
Author: Alice Walker
"Possessing the Secret of Joy" is the story of Tashi, a tribal African woman who lives much of her adult life in North America. As a young woman, a misguided loyalty to the customs of her people led her to voluntarily submit to the tsunga's knife and be genitally mutilated (pharoanoically circumcised). Severely traumatized by this experience, sh...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780671789428
ISBN-10: 0671789422
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 53

3.8 stars, based on 53 ratings
Publisher: Pocket
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
Similar books to this author and title:
Members who requested this book also requested:

Top Member Book Reviews

  • Currently 2.5/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on + 41 more book reviews
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A great, important book, but very disturbing.
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on + 11 more book reviews
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Awesome literature. I think it is a MUST READ for everyone.
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on + 13 more book reviews
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
From Library Journal:
A peripheral character in The Color Purple ( LJ 6/1/82) and The Temple of My Familiar ( LJ 3/15/88), Tashi becomes the focus of this welcome new work. Tashi, who marries Celie's son Adam, submits to female circumcision partially out of loyalty to the threatened tribal customs of her people, the Olinka. As a result, she endures physical pain and long-lasting emotional trauma. Not a sympathetically drawn victim, the tortured Tashi stretches to bridge two continents and to understand why women must undergo this torture, even at the hands of their mothers, for the pleasure of men. Though she often succumbs to madness, Tashi eventually takes possession of the secret of joy. Her compelling story is every Eve's account of those "whose chastity belt was made of leather, or of silk and diamonds, or of fear and not of our own 'flesh.' " This is not a sequel to Walker's previous novels, but it easily equals, if not surpasses, their excellence.
-Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on
Good reading copy, with a few spine creases, no inner markings.
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on + 21 more book reviews
I don't remember too much about it because I read it years ago. I do remember that it was a fast read and I enjoyed it. It gave me the same feeling after I had read The Color Purple
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
reviewed Possessing the Secret of Joy on + 438 more book reviews
As wonderful as "The Color Purple"! This is a great book!


Genres:

TagsFGM