Possessing the Secret of Joy: A Novel: Amazon.ca: Alice Walker: Books

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From Publishers Weekly

Pulitzer Prize winner Walker illustrates the truism that violence begets violence in this strong-voiced but often strident and polemical novel, a 17-week PW bestseller, which focuses on the practice of female circumcision in African cultures.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A peripheral character in The Color Purple ( LJ 6/1/82) and The Temple of My Familiar ( LJ 3/15/88), Tashi becomes the focus of this welcome new work. Tashi, who marries Celie's son Adam, submits to female circumcision partially out of loyalty to the threatened tribal customs of her people, the Olinka. As a result, she endures physical pain and long-lasting emotional trauma. Not a sympathetically drawn victim, the tortured Tashi stretches to bridge two continents and to understand why women must undergo this torture, even at the hands of their mothers, for the pleasure of men. Though she often succumbs to madness, Tashi eventually takes possession of the secret of joy. Her compelling story is every Eve's account of those "whose chastity belt was made of leather, or of silk and diamonds, or of fear and not of our own 'flesh.' " This is not a sequel to Walker's previous novels, but it easily equals, if not surpasses, their excellence.
-Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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First Sentence
I did not realize for a long time that I was dead. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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45 Reviews

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4.4 out of 5 stars (45 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Complex and Textured, July 8 2004

By

C. Baker "cbaker" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Possessing the Secret of Joy (Paperback)

Alice Walker states that the secret of joy is "RESISTANCE", which sums up the book nicely. But there is more to this single word. Resistance to what? Resistance to injustice, in this case specifically the injustice of genital mutilation...but Walker clearly means for this resistance to include other forms of injustice. Such as, you ask? Racism, sexism, bigotry in any form.

Walker's books, including this one, convey the psychological damage of perpetual abuse of a person throughout not only their own life but the life of their ancestors. Therefore, racism and sexism heap psychological damage on their victims for enerations--not to mention the clear sociological problems that germinate from them.

Why does "resistance" bring joy? First, if the injustice is eventually defeated it will bring a new found freedom and autonomy. If nothing else, resistance provides the resister with a moral victory over his or her opponents, which in the end, brings our ill-fated protagonist joy.

The more specific sexual aspect of the book is also embraced by this concept. Resistance to the injustice of genital mutilation, on both the individual and collective level, brings sexual pleasure to the individual and to generations of individuals yet to come. So sexual pleasure also is part of the "secret of joy", only in this case it is a specific instance of what "resistance" can eventually accomplish.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Possessing the Secret of Nothing, Sep 1 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Possessing the Secret of Joy (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading Walker's masterpiece, "The Color Purple," I was expecting another phenomenal novel from her. However, "Possessing the Secret of Joy" proved to be a severe let down. First and foremost, the cultural complexity of FGM is not addressed. While this practice is horrible, many women are excommunicated if they do not have it done. They are not considered women. This is an extremely difficult dilemma and Walker does not explore the cultural dictates enough. Having lived in Senegal for a year, I found Walker's portrayal of Africa bizarre and the manner in which she dealt with FGM shortsighted. I doubt a woman from a culture practicing FGM would have written the same account.

Second, the novel is just badly written. While different characters are supposedly speaking in various chapters, all the voices sound the same. If it wasn't for the titles at the beginning of each chapter, I wouldn't know who was speaking. The character development is stunted as well. Tashi and Adam are especially unbelievable, which is unfortunate since they are the main characters.

Overall, I found the novel ludicrous. Walker seems to be way out of her league with this one.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Speechless, Jun 24 2004

By

"llfarrow" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Possessing the Secret of Joy (Mass Market Paperback)

Talk about dignity in the face of adversity... I read this shortly after "Temple of My Familiar" and there was dangerous estrogen everywhere!!! Read "The Da Vinci Code" and you will be convinced of the power and sacredness of the female...

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This book holds many secrets-- and it unfolds many, but not all, to the reader. The astute reader wil see many hints of the deeper levels to which Walker alludes, but i am sure... Read more

Published on Aug 13 2003 by Carroll Straus