Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion
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message 1:
by
Lisa
(new)
Feb 01, 2015 09:10AM
Discussion Schedule for our February group read
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Week 1 Feb 2- 8: chapters 1-6Week 2 Feb 9- 15: chapters 7- 12
Week 3 Feb 16- 22: chapters 13- 16
Week 4 Feb 23-28: chapters 17- 20
Mod
Mod
Really hope I'm up to this task. Emotionally, this is going to be challenging.
My edition doesn't have chapter numbers, but it is broken into unnumbered sections - I'll assume those are the chapters? Do you have associated page numbers? My sixth section ends on page 49 (out of 160).
How many numbered sections. Total of 20 chapters. My copy's chapter 6 ends on p61 of 195.The first sentence of chapter 7:'Her husband was pumping the Primus.'
I'll work out the others
Oh great, that means my sections are your chapters. The first sentence was a great help - the page numbers don't seem to be as useful. Thanks!
Mod
Odd how they published it in different formats - it's going to be a little bit tricky keeping track of these sections. I can't number them, it's from the library!
For week 2, my 12th section ends on page 90, and the next section starts, "At first the women in the fields ignored her...."
Are your books hard- copy? Mine is an updated ecopy. Often happens with SAn books as they are often initially published overseas (like this banned book would have been) then republished locally later with a format change
Alexa wrote: "For week 2, my 12th section ends on page 90, and the next section starts, "At first the women in the fields ignored her....""That fits with my chapter 13 start.
Alexa wrote: "Odd how they published it in different formats - it's going to be a little bit tricky keeping track of these sections. I can't number them, it's from the library!"Maybe work it out for the whole book and use removal sticky notes to indicate places?
I too have the sucky chapter-less edition that Alexa has. I'm using post-it note to keep track.
Mod
Lisa, why was the book banned?
My copy doesn't have chapter numbers either. I might write them in.
Mod
I looked up but I'm still a bit confused. So the apartheid government (I hope I'm using these terms right) obviously didn't like it but the current government didn't like it either....?
Mod
This book was banned under the Apartheid government as Gordimer was questioning the very nature of Apartheid, promoting racial equality and daring to suggest that the Apartheid government was wrong. Under Apartheid, this could have been considered treasonous.Gordimer was one of the anti- Apartheid white authors. She did not leave SA to go into exile. She was well respected by former president Nelson Mandela and worked with his lawyer George Bizos during the treason trial. She aided Madiba in the editing of his 'I am prepared to die' speach.
Madiba was quoted as having read her not banned works in prison to better understand white South Africa. She was apparently someone that he asked to meet shortly after his release.
Gordimer was well recognized by Madiba's government for her literary achievements. I linked to the SA history site where she is recognized. I don't think the current government regards the book as racist. It is not banned.
Due to the fact that many SA books were banned during Apartheid & published overseas, our access is often more limited still.
Other white SA authors who were anti- Apartheid include Ingrid Jonker, JM Coetzee, Andre Brink and Bruiten Bruitenbach. Authors of colour (black consciousness writers) include Mongane Wally Serote, Zeke Mphahlele, Chris van Wyk, Can Tema, Casey Motsisti, Damon Runyon, Bloke Modisane. I'm probably leaving many names out.
I am not as well read into SA struggle literature as I would like to be. I've read Jonker, Brink, Coetzee, Serote and van Wyk.
The Apartheid government was terrifying, you did not mess with them. There were white South Africans who did not agree, but they were so afraid that speaking out was just not possible. (Think about the average German living in Nazi Germany.)I've spent more of my life living within democracy, I have two very distinct recollections of Apartheid from childhood, but most of what I know is learnt as an adult. My dad reminded me of this fear recently, he was visiting and digging in my book shelves for something to read. He found my books by the aforementioned authors and he looked genuinely nervous, he commented something along the lines of; '30 years ago if you were caught with these, you would disappear.'
Mod
Mod
Everything I've read, our sites, all state that it was banned. Also, I'm not sure that the critique was that her work was racist, rather could not accurately reflect a non-white perspective as she herself was white
I remember noise being made about Othello and King Lear being racist.
Mod
I understand the view too, but I don't think that banning books has much of a point. Books should be used to start a discussion, to question what is said, to reflect on one's views.
Mod
I think the worst possible thing you can do if you dislike a book is ban it. That just makes people curious!
