584. The River Between

The River Between

Ngugi wa Thiong'o
1965

Around 155 pages

Who had female circumcision on their misery bingo card? The List has really put us through it lately. Vonnegut, give me strength.

Waiyaki's father believes his son is the savior of his village, and eagerly sends him to missionary school. The missionary school is controlled by the colonists, who are vehemently against the female circumcision practiced in Waiyaki's village. Children whose parents still support the tradition are expelled from the school, so Waiyaki builds his own school for those students.

Female genital mutilation is evil, but I don't want to root for the colonists either. So the entire story was very upsetting. I've just about had it with crazed relatives believing they or their family are the messiah. It's weird that it's happened enough that I can say that.

One of those important reads that are miserable to get through.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Part of the African Writers Series, a collection of books written by Africans. 359 books appeared in the series between 1962 and 2003.

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