Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar

Rabbi’s cat by Joann Sfar was a fantastic twist on age old questions. It is sometimes difficult to question traditions and faith without a lot of backlash, but this graphic novel does so with flare. Not only are the issues raised, but the wonderful character of the cat does so in a very different way than I have normally seen. It is out of curiosity that this cat finds himself. The cat also showed the lighter side of things by standing by the Rabbi and Zlabaya even when he was not sure if he agreed. This shows to me his good intentions in the questions he asks. I think this is what I enjoyed most about this graphic novel.

It is not often that I am introduced to new ideas through graphic novels. I think this was what really kept me interested throughout the story. Though at first it was a little difficult for me to follow, once I got into it the story flowed naturally. This experience has not only raised some of my own questions about faith and traditions compared to modernity, but has also peaked my interest in other writing styles.

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

This week we began reading Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga. This novel was very entertaining, but complicated all at the same time. As the reader you follow the life of the main character Tambudzai through her accounts of each potentially life changing moment. Though it is nice to hear this “first-hand experience”, we must remember that as a narrator this at times makes her unreliable. We only see events from her perspective and sometimes she tends to daze off and become more interested in her own thoughts. As we follow Tambudzai from the homestead to the mission and finally to Sacred Heart, she introduces us to a number of complicated traditions, lifestyles, and thinking patterns. It is left to the reader to interpret these as they may.

Of the many complicated issues within the book, the most prominent seems to be gender bias and education. Tambudzai shows us three women (aside from herself) that reflect very different paths that women can choose. By doing so we are able to see some of the complicated results from those choices. While showing Tambudzai what she can become, it also shows her the struggles and repercussions for each path. There is also the issue of education. Coupled with the gender bias, it is obvious that as a girl she is very fortunate to be receiving an education in the manner that she is. However, this too comes with a price. As her mother and others state clearly, they do not want her to forget her home. In order to receive this top education she must go away for school. Just as it had done to Nhamo, it is doing to her. She is being exposed to many new “white ways” and speaking more English. This makes it more difficult for her to remember Shona and the ways and traditions of home.

This novel had a large impact on the way that I view things. It is not that I have never heard of some of these issues before, but I don’t think I could ever apply them to anyone. Given a character and seeing them experience these issues made them that much harder to swallow. Education is regarded as such a good thing, but in the end the educated women aren’t held any higher. To top it all off, they are avoided by their older family and regarded as trouble makers because of how they have changed.  When I read that Tambudzai’s aunt never saw her own pay check and did not even have a car, I was speechless. She puts in all of the hard work, only to never see her full earning potential. I don’t think I could be as strong and fearless as some of these women. It showed me such great courage, and also the mental anguish these women deal with regularly. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I think I would be interested in reading similar eye opening texts.



Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

This week we read three pieces by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. First we read an excerpt from “Decolonization of the Mind”, then “Wedding at the Cross”, and “Minutes of Glory”. By beginning with the excerpt from “Decolonization of the Mind” it really helped me have an understanding of Ngugi’s views and allowed me to better understand some of the messages within the stories.

The story that stood out to me this week was “Wedding at the Cross”. The character Miriamu, was a very strong woman who despite the views of her family, made the tough, and sometimes sad, decision to do what was right for her. She chose to open her eyes to the colonization that was happening around her and that she was once a part of. Her decision not to marry “Dodge” helped her to reconnect with her traditional roots and to decolonize her mind.

This story makes me think about all of the women that may have been in similar positions. How despite knowing you love someone, realizing that they are no longer the person you fell in love with. It takes a very strong woman to understand that for her and her children she needs to remove herself from the situation. In Miriamu’s case, this decision was even more difficult because it was not only her lover that she had to leave behind, but her family as well. By overcoming years of having her mind colonized by the European Christianity of her family and material things, she showed her strength. When reading this story again, I tried to place myself into the story and think whether or not I would have been able to make the same decisions. It is a very tough question. We would all like to believe that we could, but unless you’re in the situation you can’t really say.



Nadine Gordimer

This week we read three stories by Nadine Gordimer, “Amnesty”, Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants”, and “Six Feet of the Country.” In all of these stories Gordimer has a way of drawing the reader in and making us feel something for the characters within. Though we feel strong emotions regarding these characters we must remember that they are in fact nameless, unreliable narrators. This technique shows the readers how complicated the truth can be.

The story that stood out to me the most was “Amnesty”. The narrator may be uneducated, a woman, and a farmer, but she is also a strong mother who remembers the importance of family and traditions. Her strong will and devotion to a man that will never fully be with her makes me remember just how many people out there do the same thing every day. Some women may not know exactly what is being fought over, but they know that they need to maintain the home so there is something to fight for and come home to. It is rare to find stories from this perspective. Most are from the perspective of the male “hero”. I think this was a refreshing change of pace. I can see why her literature has made such an impact.

While I am taking this class I am also taking an American Literature class. This week we have focused on Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Throughout the whole Frederick Douglass discussion I was thinking of how many connections there were to our class discussions this week. Most importantly, the need to understand that colonization starts and ends in the mind, then the body. How the thoughts and education of those colonized differs, and that sometimes they do not even think to question what is going on around them. This makes all the people who speak out that much more commendable. It seems there is a common theme amongst many of my classes this quarter.

Chinua Achebe

This week we focused on three works by Chinua Achebe. These pieces were "An Image of Africa", "Girls at War" and "The Madman". In the stories Achebe uses irony and satire to convey his messages about Africa socially, politically, and culturally. I really enjoyed this. Though I must read the stories a few times to fully grasp what may be happening within them, it makes finding the messages and lessons that Achebe presents much more enjoyable and beneficial.

I found a stronger connection to both “An Image of Africa” and “The Madman.” I had a much more difficult time relating to the story “Girls at War.” This being said I still enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed reading the others. All of them have made me think of Africa, racism, insanity, and war in ways that I had never done so before. They showed me images that I have never experienced firsthand, but could somehow feel and connect to like I had.

Overall, my favorite piece that we read was “The Madman.” I found this story to be the most relatable. I truly began to feel for Nwibe towards the end of the story. When he was first introduced I thought he was just an arrogant character, but once everyone turns on him and believes he is crazy, Nwibe is left alone. No one will look at him the same way ever again. Achebe does an amazing job at showing the reader how the minds work. He is showing us that when you are told something for so long, you begin to believe it blindly. This is true outside of colonialism, and Africa. It is true all around the world in every setting. I think every reader could connect to this in some way. I agree with Achebe, only through education and using your own mind is it possible to overcome this herd mentality.

After reading these, I am very interested in reading other works by Achebe. I would also suggest his works to others looking to explore new ideas and to expand their minds.

The Stranglehold of English Lit.

"The Stranglehold of English Lit." is a poem by Felix Mnthali. When I first read this particular poem I found that it reads in a very loud tone. The words are not only short, but sharp as well. The poet chooses to be very direct in every aspect. His message about the hold that English literature has on those in Africa is strong and clear.

When I first read this poem, I immediately felt the intensity behind the words. The one word lines in the first stanza are a great example of this. When I read the poem for the second time I was able to better focus on the matter at hand. I believe that he makes excellent points. Why is this English literature at the center of the education? Where is the literature that reflects the African culture? This is important too, especially to the students that are in fact African. How can it be said that these students are gaining a well rounded formal education? In the end I really enjoyed this poem and it really made me think. I had never even considered this reality before now.