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In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose
by
Alice Walker
In this, her first collection of nonfiction, Alice Walker speaks out as a black woman, writer, mother, and feminist in thirty-six pieces ranging from the personal to the political. Walker explores the theories and practices of feminism, incorporating what she calls the “womanist” tradition of African American women. Among the contents are essays about other writers, accoun...more
Hardcover, 420 pages
Published
October 10th 1983
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published 1983)
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I am starting to read more womanist literature and hope to get into some research eventually, so if anyone has any recommendations, I would gladly welcome them!
Mar 06, 2013
Jessica La La La La La!
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Jessica by:
Dr. Phillips
Shelves:
non-fiction,
feminism
What is a womanist?
A black feminist/feminist of color; the opposite of girlish, frivolous; "usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered 'good' for one.... Responsible. In charge. Serious." (xi)
Womanist can also mean lesbian/bisexual women, a woman who "loves music. loves dance. loves the moon. loves the spirit. loves love and food and roundness. loves struggle. loves the folk. loves herself. regardless...more
A black feminist/feminist of color; the opposite of girlish, frivolous; "usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered 'good' for one.... Responsible. In charge. Serious." (xi)
Womanist can also mean lesbian/bisexual women, a woman who "loves music. loves dance. loves the moon. loves the spirit. loves love and food and roundness. loves struggle. loves the folk. loves herself. regardless...more
I need to re-read this to assign stars (how presumptuous that appears in the face of this sort of book). This collection helped shape the better part of my teenage self, though I wonder if I found validation for my habits (say, "Everyday Use") a bit too conveniently. Regardless of my possible shortcomings in using the works to identify myself, I still feel grateful to Walker for getting her writings into the public's hands.
If you read my recent review of Alice Walker's famous novel The Color Purple, then you'll know that I think she is an excellent novelist. Well, dear readers, the good news is that she is also an incredible essayist. I would encourage teachers everywhere to use her essays in their classrooms as an example of the perfect personal essay (especially Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self). If you know me or if you've read my blog, you know that I don't usually read non-fiction. It usually bores m...more
Perhaps the best book of essays I've ever read, and one of the first. The title refers to one essay where the author visits the home of female white southern author Flannery O'Connor, now deceased, and discovers a familial connection. I still remember the peacocks on the property, though I've not read (and reread and reread) this book for years.
A book of essays by Ms. Walker, who is one of my favorite authors. My favorite ones are the ones with reference to Zora Neale Hurston. This if full of ideas that may usually be linked to feminism, but Walker instead coins the term "womanism" as she feels black women were left out of the feminist movement dominated by white women.
May 04, 2010
Meen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Meen by:
"Looking for Zora" was in Best American Essays of the 20th C.
Some of these feel a little dated now, but many of them are still so relevant, and that was actually kind of depressing. The ones from the '60s and '70s, talking about what were then still fairly new movements for racial and women's justice, in light of all the advances that the neo-cons and patriarchal and racist fundies made from Reagan one, and now with the ignorant racist teabaggers, ugh, just soooo depressing. The lesson I take from reading these now is that we can never, ever stop fighting...more
I do not remember anything about this book except one lesson I learned from it: Envisoning your future is the key to overcoming your obstacles. This one factor has been key to the nature of my existence changing from surviving to thriving. Thank you Ms. Alice Walker.
A lesson in every essay that everyone should would benefit from reading. Articulates the black experience, the female experience, the southerners experience (US obviously), the workers experience...a thoroughly eye-opening interpretation of America's recent history.
A collection of Walker's essays, reflections, speeches, etc. It's moving, historically revealing, always concerned with the roles that women play in American society (especially in the South)...great to read all at once or little by little.
I learned appreciation for simplicity and reverence for the commonplace. This book is about grounding oneself in the familiar, recognizing the strengths of beginnings, no matter how rude or provincial and mining those ingredients into fortitude.
The essays in this collection of prose are heavy with the delicateness of feminine power, revealing the strength of and for black women artists. I am not a black woman, so it is very hard to relate to many of the issues Alice discusses in which her mother, grandmother, sisters, friends, etc. went through. While I am aware of the struggles and hardships of the African-American race, I will never fully understand them. I appreciate Alice's ability to present them as immediate works to the fullest,...more
This is a compilation of short stories, some of great, some are only good. But it gives the basis of the concept of being a womanist, which is essential for women of color to know and understand.
I first read this book in the 1980's I borrowed it from someone and spent many years trying to get a copy for my own library. I finally found a used one on line (Amazon) and I am presently reading the book for the second time!
By far the best essays of the 20th & 21st centuries. Walker's writing is what critics envisioned when the phrase "prose poetry" was coined. I can only describe it as liquid.
The Color Purple has always been a favorite of mine because it is so shockingly blunt. It makes no apologies. And, it has no qualms telling it like it was (and is).
Fascinating perspective. Lovely short stories. My favorite was about her losing sight in her eye and her daughter's observation, "You have a WORLD in your eye!"
One of my all time favorite books to read. When I was beginning my writing self, I looked to Alice Walker is this book for inspiration, and I found it.
Among the first of the feminist books I uncovered in my hometown library. Blew my mind when I was 11 or 12, though I doubt I understood much of it.
Honest and bold. Especially appreciated her essays on race - she holds nothing back and makes you think about yourself and your own attitudes.
Read it my Junior year of high school, for my thesis and have loved it ever since. The best collection of Alice Walker's nonfiction.
I wasn't a huge fan of The Color Purple, but I'm quite impressed with Walker's essays on writing, gender, and race. Got this for $2 at the Powell's sale and it's worth every penny.
I think the author's viewpoint values women and supports freedom for other groups as well.
Currently re-reading...
There are plenty of strong theories here, but I strongly prefer the bits where Walker shares personal rules and anecdotes: a call in the middle of the night; standing on Hurston's overgrown, snake-lurking grave; sharing lunch with her mother near Flannery O'Connor's home; attempting to document older women's lives in the rural south. The writing is funny and inviting within a serious context of critically analyzing race/gender/sex. On the negative side, there's some over-g...more
There are plenty of strong theories here, but I strongly prefer the bits where Walker shares personal rules and anecdotes: a call in the middle of the night; standing on Hurston's overgrown, snake-lurking grave; sharing lunch with her mother near Flannery O'Connor's home; attempting to document older women's lives in the rural south. The writing is funny and inviting within a serious context of critically analyzing race/gender/sex. On the negative side, there's some over-g...more
My first exposure to explicitly womanist prose.
Extremely inspiring and thought-provoking stories of different women living their lives & the lessons and hardships they've endured along the way.
After reading this book, 26 poems poured from me!
Alice Walker. How are you so eloquent?
Nearly life altering.
1st edition
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Alice Walker (b. 1944), one of the United States’ preeminent writers, is an award-winning author of novels, stories, essays, and poetry. In 1983, Walker became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction with her novel The Color Purple, which also won the National Book Award. Her other books include The Third Life of Grange Copeland, Meridian, The Temple of My Familiar, an...more
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“Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be.”
—
48 people liked it
“(a womanist)
3. Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.”
—
30 people liked it
More quotes…
3. Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.”
Jul 11, 2007 08:05pm
:)
Apr 16, 2010 11:38am
Apr 15, 2012 01:49am