Discussion: Praise Song for the Butterflies (scheduled read)

[Lark]

Another interesting thing re: Ukemby is that all the historical/fact based occurrences take place in Ghana in the novel, while the trokosi story line is removed to a fictional country. Is Ukemby created to avoid directly criticizing a real country, one that is still struggling with the aftermath of colonization and empire?

[Lark]

I feel a little weird to be sounding so critical/asking critical questions like these because one of the reasons I -liked- this novel was because it was so straightforward and focused and without complication.

[George]

William wrote: "I really enjoy McFadden's work. Especially "the Book of Harlan" which was an underrated gem. I hope that my library copy of Praise.. will arrive tomorrow."

Definitely my favorite McFadden work so far.

[Joelle.P.S]

George wrote: "...the US banned traditional religion and it pops up as a major part of the story line. Did grandma experience that, did she have memories of that? Is that why giving over Abeo to the old gods such a triumph for her?"

That is a really good point. Now I wish the Ukemby history had been pulled into the story more as well....

[Janet]

Grateful to all for these thoughts. I'd finished the book early and only came back to the discussion this week. I noticed comments about accountability and responsibility; this week I also read the Book of Harlan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) . Both books bring lives and faces and flesh and bones to history and lay out consequences of oppression, war, violence, systemic racism. No one and everyone seems to be held accountable; I've particularly thought about that with The Book of Harlan - it brings a stream of events to life through the vehicle of its protagonist without coming down in one way or another on or against the side of right or wrong. Or it does - both books do, implicitly - but/and leave the reader to do that work.

I'm not sure that Abeo let things go as much as she learned to live beside them.

at any rate, as ever, glad for the opportunities to learn and reflect.

[William]

I read the book and enjoyed it but I haven't commented so far because I did not experience the sort of emotional and visceral attachment to the characters that most of the early commentators expressed for them. The early posters seemed so sympathetic to the family and even the mother (in-law) that I had to reconsider my assessments and see what I had missed.
I've read a lot of West African and Indian literature and I think that if I ever read another southern hemisphere novel where the husband is so weak willed, his mother so domineering and his wife so long suffering that I will lose it. (if the wives are so put upon and long suffering , where do these domineering mothers come from??)
So thinking that an American writer would bring a fresh perspective about Africa: I was sorely disappointed. The history about the fictional country of Umbecky and the trip to the castle in Ghana seemed to me but filler. I actually think that a novel built around an Africans reactions to slavery is warranted..( Yes Homegoing was in this vein and there is certainly room for one more). I did learn of the troski practice which I had never heard of before and the book gets at least one star for imparting new knowledge. But how much different is it from the practices of western churches with prepubescent " alter boys" and children raped by all manner of Christian church leaders. The author doesn't shy from making comparisons with Western and African religions and cultures. But Abeo doesn't survive and thrive until she embraces western thought and culture. She's saved by the Western dogooder and transplanted to N.Y. This Is a pernicious idea that does more damage than good.

[Lark]

William weirdly I agree with 100% of what you wrote even though I gave this book 5 stars. I think this book was written for the sole purpose of illuminating trokosi, and it succeeded.

I also admired it for the way that tries so hard not to make anyone object to it. The writing choices feel like an attempt to shield the novel from broader implications. It failed in that regard for you, and now that I read your points I wonder if it was such a good thing that I didn't ask more from this book.

Some of the writing choices I noticed that seemed expressly made to shield the book from criticism that it was pro-Western/anti-Africa:

1) The Ghana trip, and the history-of-slavery lesson provided by that chapter. It didn't feel like 'filler' to me as much as it was 'necessary balance'.

2) And also: let's make up a country, Ukemby, rather than criticize a real country, Ghana, for trokosi.

3) Let's make the family members all have fairly simple motivations, because the real story is trokosi.

4) Serafine's rape as a child in the U.S. acts to balance Abeo's suffering.

5) The author quotes from both western and African religions and they are equally to blame--grandmother quotes from her religion, and Ismae from the catholic bible, and both women conclude from their religions that Abeo's sacrifice is the necessary choice.

[Nadine in California]

William wrote: " (if the wives are so put upon and long suffering , where do these domineering mothers come from??)"

I think a strong-willed woman can be long-suffering as a wife and domineering as a mother. I think I've met a few!

But Abeo doesn't survive and thrive until she embraces western thought and culture. She's saved by the Western dogooder and transplanted to N.Y. This Is a pernicious idea that does more damage than good.

I think Abeo was born into a life immersed in western thought and culture, so there was no switch to that embrace. I also give Abeo a lot more agency in saving herself - Taylor gave her the first step to a new life, but Abeo's strength is what enabbled her to survive her past and make her way to NY, where her new African family were her saviors too. Maybe McFadden chose an American do-gooder because as an American she felt like she could write her more credibly? But I agree that McFadden could have woven in something about how giving aid is inherently patronizing at all levels, from the cultural to the personal. The haves generously giving to the have-nots without acknowledging that their privilege is the result of immoral/amoral historical forces.

Thinking about alternate endings seems like a great new angle on the book though. What could have happened if Abeo stayed in Africa? I don't fault McFadden for taking the route she did, and I think it fit perfectly with the nature of the characters and the overall feel of the book, but it does make me wonder if African authors have handled a similar situation differently.....

[Lark]

Another thing about the Eden Rehabilitation Center plot sequence is that the work seemed close to pointless. The only women who were released from trokosi were those who had no value to their captors. It didn't challenge the status quo on any level. In fact it supported the system by infusing cash and giving the priests a way to get rid of women who had outlived their usefulness. I'm not sure if this was McFadden's intention but I came away thinking that her representation of Western humanitarian aid was a representation of failure.

[Nadine in California]

Lark wrote: "Another thing about the Eden Rehabilitation Center plot sequence is that the work seemed close to pointless. The only women who were released from trokosi were those who had no value to their capto..."

I see what you mean - the paradox of humanitarian aid: do something rather than nothing, even if that something is problematic. Some help rather than none?

[George]

Lark wrote: "Another thing about the Eden Rehabilitation Center plot sequence is that the work seemed close to pointless. The only women who were released from trokosi were those who had no value to their capto..."

The Eden Center clearly isn't accomplishing anything to eliminate the practice of trokosi in the country. One could easily argue it is actually supporting it by funding the shrines in buying these ruined victims of the practice. So, it's hard to see how it resolves anything in Ukembi. On the other hand, the Eden Center clearly did rescue Abeo by purchasing her and it's impossible to see how she could have survived any other way. No doubt there were other individuals who also survived as a result of the Eden Center. A paradox indeed.

[George]

There's a fair amount on line on the trokosi practice. Among others:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_...

https://www.nomadafricamag.com/trokos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edfTt...

http://news.trust.org/item/2013100312...

[Lark]

Now I'm thinking about how much or how little open-endedness is the right amount for a story whose goal it is to cast light on an obvious evil, a social atrocity.

[Lark]

One more day for our official chat about Praise Song for the Butterflies.

The time we spent talking about aspects of this novel--about the choices McFadden made, how she decided to mix fact and fiction, how she chose to resolve conflict, what stories she emphasized and which she glossed over, and most of all how she decided to end the story--added a lot to my reading experience and my understanding.

Thanks everyone for sharing your impressions and thoughts.

[Carmel]

Yes, thank you to all for this interesting discussion. We may look for (and appreciate) different aspects of any book, according to our own needs/expectations/"shoulds"....but listening to the varied reactions does deepen the experience, even if I don't have the same thoughts or feelings as others. It is always an educational experience, and often makes me sit back and say "Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of that."

[Beverly]

Lark -

Thank you for moderating this lively and informative discussion.

[Mary]

I’ve just started reading this book - a new author for me - because of the intriguing discussion you all had. I’m 1/3 of the way in and enjoying it very much. Thank you for enticing me to read it. I doubt I would have discovered it without you.

[Nadine in California]

I'm amazed at how much more I got out of this book with our discussion. It didn't change how much I liked it, but it showed me why I liked it in ways I would never have realized. And best of all, none (?) of us has to write a term paper about it afterwards :) Although now I'm wondering if students these days google for discussions of books they're assigned - and if we're bankrupting Cliff Notes. And the librarian in me is glad I'm retired and not helping a student try to figure out how to cite our posts in MLA style.

[Alfie]

This is my first time participating in a book club discussion and I am so very happy that I did. The discussion is golden! It truly opened up my perspective on the book more.

[ColumbusReads]

What a fantastic discussion! I need to go back and reread McFadden’s Sugar, which is considered her best by many, and the only one of her books I previously read. I wasn’t particularly fond of it at all when I read it at the time, but willing to to try again after reading Praise Song.

Thanks again Lark for volunteering to lead this discussion. Particularly since you run your own wonderful Goodreads group that I would certainly advise others to join. Kudos!

[Lark]

Thanks for the opportunity, Columbus.

Hey, I want to give a pitch to LF-POC members, especially if you haven't moderated a group read yet on GR: you should try volunteering to moderate one in this group.

The first group read I ever moderated on GR was here: Loving Day by Mat Johnson. I was nervous about volunteering but honestly I felt so supported by the group moderators and by all the readers who participated. Moderating a book discussion on GR for the first time is like jumping into the pool on a hot day--a little scary and then wow it's so much fun.

[ColumbusReads]

Did I see this right? Praise Song a Women’s Prize longlist nominee?

[Beverly]

Columbus wrote: "Did I see this right? Praise Song a Women’s Prize longlist nominee?"

Yes, you did!!!

[ColumbusReads]

Wow! I was parked and checked my phone and got a notification that the longlist was just released. Wow!

[Catherine]

Wonderful!!

[Karen Michele]

I was also happy to see Praise Song on the longlist! I read it close to when it came out and read all of the discussion and Q and A, and I feel it's definitely worthy of a spot on the list.

[Adrienna]

Janet wrote: "Grateful to all for these thoughts. I'd finished the book early and only came back to the discussion this week. I noticed comments about accountability and responsibility; this week I also read the..."

I still have to read this book mentioned by Bernice.

[Adrienna]

Karen Michele wrote: "I was also happy to see Praise Song on the longlist! I read it close to when it came out and read all of the discussion and Q and A, and I feel it's definitely worthy of a spot on the list."

Agreed.

[Adrienna]

Columbus wrote: "What a fantastic discussion! I need to go back and reread McFadden’s Sugar, which is considered her best by many, and the only one of her books I previously read. I wasn’t particularl..."

Yes I had a copy of Sugar, and read the sequel after reading this one too.