Katie's review
Unbowed by Wangari Maathai
Katie's review
rating:
bookshelves: class, non-fiction
recommended for: those interested in environmental activism and feminism
status: Read in December, 2007
rating:
bookshelves: class, non-fiction
recommended for: those interested in environmental activism and feminism
status: Read in December, 2007
I'll admit I was quite skeptical of this book when I first picked it up. Not one being one for biographies (auto or otherwise) or big on "woo! feminism!" I was pleasantly surprised. Maathai has a simple, clear voice that is strangely compelling and frank. Her gift lies in her ability to speak directly to the reader as an individual rather than as a group of people reading a book. It almost felt like reading a conversation, if that makes any sense.
Her story seems larger than life. Much of the hardship seems glossed over, though this may simply be her style of staunch optimism. So many serendipitous moments fell into place for her, it almost forces the reader to wonder about what moments defined them as movers or non-movers of the world. What opportunities were passed by and which shaped the current personality.
In all, though, I think it's one of the better books I've read for a class.
Her story seems larger than life. Much of the hardship seems glossed over, though this may simply be her style of staunch optimism. So many serendipitous moments fell into place for her, it almost forces the reader to wonder about what moments defined them as movers or non-movers of the world. What opportunities were passed by and which shaped the current personality.
In all, though, I think it's one of the better books I've read for a class.
