Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Start discussion here for The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas.

This was one of my favorite books of the year. I felt like I was really in that village in Namiba.....with what was probably the Lutheran church and the old old ways.

I found this book to be quite an insight into rural Namibian society (at least as of its time of writing), and the challenges women face there, which unfortunately are not unique to Namibia.

The book's narrator, Mee Ali, is fortunate, even if she sometimes feels alienated from her fellow villagers, in her loving marriage with a husband willing to give her autonomy. Her best friend Kuana is not as fortunate, and upon the death of her philandering husband faces repercussions from the village and her husband's relatives for her unwillingness to express grief.

The other village women range from the meddling and self-important pastor's wife, Mee Maita, to the extremely supportive and wise elder Mukwankala. I appreciated the author's willingness to explore the variety of viewpoints from women in a rural village, and one of the most indelible memories of the book comes during the okakungungu, the group harvest run by women that takes place to assist Kuana after her husband's death. This act of grace was a high point, in contrast to the unfortunate events which close out the book.

I really want to read this book. My library has this book, but covid-19 measures have closed off that section of the library that stores this book.

The descriptions of the two posters above me sound delicious! I like when an author can transport the reader to another country and explores different viewpoints. Such an enriching experience!