Books review: Books by and/or about Women
Books about and by women.
Books all about women: feminism, religion, mystics, sorceresses, history, motherhood, biology, sex, sexism, mother-daughter relationships, lesbians, prostitution, ethics, politics, society, family, and so many more.
Simone de Beauvoir: Le deuxième sexe
(1) Simone de Beauvoir: Le deuxième sexe (The second gender)
Le deuxième sexe is a must in the feminist literature. It is a very comprehensive work about the whole condition of women. Though a few given scientific data are not the latest anymore (esp. the biological data) and a few jugements on history or psychology may be controvertial, it remains an tremendously realistic and finely detailed study of a woman's entire life and situation. On one hand, it gives hopes since the situation of women has evolved positively in the occidental society, compared to the situation of the 60's described in the book. On the other hand, Le deuxième sexe describes things that are still very true and gives us to think that the fight is far from being won. The book gives us to understand that a lot of social conventions are to be changed, in the interest of women and men.
(2) Peter Dinzelbacher: Heiligen oder Hexen? (Saints or sorceresses?)
After having finished the book, I was still wondering why the author studied the cases of woman rather than the one of men. He maintains himself troughout the book that attitude of "normal" people was regardless of the sex of those "exceptional" people and that the sorcery hunt in the middle age was not a a result of a misogynous wave, since, in some places in Europe, the number of male victims was higher than the number of the female victims. The only reason for it must be that the author is known to be a specialist of women's mysticism.
Beside of this disconcerting aspect, the stucture of the book lacks some rigorosity, which leads to unnecessary repetitions and odd waiting for what will not come.
Still, it is worth reading to discover some surprising aspects and unusual details of the saints' lifes, and to follow back the evolution of mentalities out of the "middle age's darkness", since the author describes the saints/sorceries rather as a historical phenomena, due to the acceptance/credibility of the surrounding people, which relies itself on the advancement of Knowledge in a society.
(3) Ingrid Riedel: Die weise Frau in uralt-neuen Erfahrung (The wise woman in ancient and new experiences)
Since Bertelsheim's psychoanalisis of fairy tales we have learnt that fairy tales play an important role in the growing up of children. Fairy tales are still fascinating to adults, and that is not surprising, regarding the emotional potential implied in the symbols and archetypes they contain.
Ingrid Riedel focuses in her book on the archetype of the old, wise woman appearing in fairy tales. Under different appearances (grandmother, sorceress, ...), the old, wise woman is represented as a trigger to maturity and psychological harmony. She appears when one knows no way out and needs some advice. We meet old, wise women in our dreams, in the mythology, in our lives ... Growing old is thus represented under a new light: it gives us more strength, helps us to consider things with distance, to deepen relationships ...
With this book, Ingrid Riedel helps us a little way to wisdom.
(4) Geneviève Fraisse: Les femmes et leur histoire (A history of women)
The title of the book ("Women and their history" for the French version) is deceiving. Buying the book, I had expected a description of the women's condition, social situation or culture throughout the ages: Something like the chapter "History" in Simone de Beauvoir's "Le deuxième sexe", but further deepened. Later on, I was brought to think over the syntactic structure of the title: What does this "and" means? "How do women perceive their history"? "The history of women"? "How did women made their condition evolve throughout history"?
None of those.
I would rather call the book "The History of Feminism in France". Or did I misunderstand the whole book? The presentation on the back of the book tells us that women dealt with their "reinsertion" into history: "Reinsertion" would mean that they used to take an active part to history before a certain period of time during they did not anymore. What made their participation to history cease then? But this aspect does not appear in the book either.
The author begins with an interpretation of the conception of woman or their capacities/roles in society by different (male) philosophers that are supposed to have influenced or to reflect the mentality of their times. It goes on with the evolution of the participation of women in civil and political life and with their specific aspects according to the different periods of times as of the French Revolution to the nowaday's French society. It describes when the term of "feminism" has appeared and how feminists have been treated or considered during this section of history, and what were the argumentation against women's emancipation. A history of feminism, then: This new mentality that women are not confined to the domestic world only anymore, but that they can take part to the outer world.
Some kind of pedantic, this very detailled description of the evolutions of rather a political movement is trying to be impartial throughout the book, though a few sudden and very partial remarks escape now and then the author, when you would espect more deepening to other facts or quotations; In some cases, you hesitate to think if G. Fraisse shares the exposed opinion or if there could be some alternative.
A very well documented account of the historical evolution of feminism in France, but a bit exhausting to read.
(5) Caitlin and John Matthews: Ladies of the lake
This book describes nine female characters of the legende of Arthur. With the help of quotations out of the work of different authors, Caitlin and John Matthews attempt to reveal an archetype represented by each of these women, to bring out the symbolism contained in old celtic legends and to highlight an universal value for the celtic wisdom. Each presentation of a character is followed by a suggestion for a meditation exercise.
A very entertaining and instructing book with a lot of interesting aspects, and an excellent doping for your imagination and creativity.
(6) Hildegund Wöller: Aschenputtel: Energie der Liebe (Cinderella: The energy of love)
(coming soon...)
(7) Ika Hügel-Marshal: Daheim unterwegs: Ein deutsches Leben (Invisible Woman – Gowing up black in Germany)
Erika is a "child of the occupation". She is a daughter of a German woman and Afro-American soldier and is born not long after the end 2nd world war in a bavarian village. Before she was born, her father falls ill and is sent back to the USA. After years of fascist government, racism is still throughout pervaded in the German mentality. Growing up and living as an isolated black person in a racist society will be for Erika an endless fighting for her rights and dignity. During her whole education, she will be refused chances and will have to endure but humiliations, unfairness and even violent treatments. As an adult and a working woman, she will catch new opportunities to improve her situation and, among others, starts a study of social pedagogy. She also joins the feminist movement, that will, though the interests of feminists are closely akin to the ones of the anti-racist movement, offer her only half-satisfactions. Later, she will meet upon an association of "Afro-Germans" which will give her a new feeling of coalition. Finally, with the help of friends, she will realize the greatest of her dreams: to meet her father.
The spontaneity and sincerity of the author make the story of her life a very moving book. Throughout the book, you cannot help admiring the courage and strength of the character, who, despite of all, still wants to believe in herself as a human being. I consider Ika's witness and action as one of the major monuments in favour of the evolution of our society towards more openness of mind and tolerance. And I am thankful to her to offer us some substance to think over and an opportunity to get us a little way out of obscurantism. A great book.
(8) Catherine Clément & Julia Kristeva: Le féminin et le sacré (The feminine an the sacred)
C. Clément and J. Kristeva had decided to write a common book on the subject of "women and the sacred". As they live far away from each other, they chose correspondence as a mean of communication. After having failed in finding an agreement on the aim and contents of the planned piece of work, the book is a compilation of their correspondence.
You will not find scientifc statings or enlighting conclusions over the relationships of women to religion in this book, but rather a large and very diversified collection of samples of situations out of life and literature in which women take part in spiritual life or of feminine aspects of spirituality.
Considering the huge difference in personality and backgrounds of the two women which comes out of the correspondance one can hardly imagine that they are as good friends as they maintain to be throughout the book.
J. Kristeva concentrates more on the occidental culture, with very concise and rigourous analyses of samples out of history, literature and the Bible.
C. Clément, because of her context as a diplomat, shows exemples out of many different cultures. The tone of her letters is light, humorous.I can better find my way in C. Clément's colourful world, but it is just a question of tastes, I suppose. Anyway, I appreciated the sincerity of both witnesses and have been amazed by the vast knowledge of these two erudite women.
(9) Jostein Gaarder: Vita Brevis
Jostein Gaarder found a copy of a manuscript written in the Latin language in a small bookshop of Buenos Aires. It seems to be a letter adressed to the famous bishop of Hippo and theologist Saint Augutine from his former concubine Floria. As few is known about her, Jostein Gaarder decides to buy the letter. Gaarder's book is the translation of the letter.
In her letter, Floria makes comments on Saint Augustine's Confessions and gets back to the time they spent together during their youth. She describes how Aurelius Augustinus evolved from a sensual and loving young man to an austere Manichean. She critisizes the philosophy of Saint Augustine that rejects the sensual world and thus despites what the god he believes in gave him. She makes that philosophy responsible for having broken their relationship and for the persecution of women in general, becoming to men an "object of temptation" only.
The authenticity of the letter could not be proven, the more the Vatican made it disappear after Jostein Gaarder brought it there for authentification. The text, at least, sounds authentic because of the very sincere retrospection on the relationship between Aurelius Augustinus and Floria. It is a very moving expression of her feelings towards his career ascension and psychological evolution, a keen analysis of the mentality and the trends of her time, and also a visionary warning for the coming times: Floria is far from being wrong when she assumes that writing such a letter to Saint Augustine is writing it to the entire Church: "I shiver, because I am afraid that one day the men of the Church aim at suppressing us [the women]. And why should I believe this? Because these women remember you that you denied your souls and the nature of your bodies...". She predicted with this centuries of oppression of women by the Church and their social submission, while the Church has mainly been ruled by men. A still very modern book.
(10) Jean Markale: La femme celte (Women of the Celts)
Through the analysis of history, legal aspects of the Celtic society and of Celtic legends, Jean Markale tries to describe the special postion of women in the Celtic society. Indeed, according to Markale's description, the Celtic law grants the women self-determination and a good social protection. Among others, she is allowed to decide who an if she wants to marry, divorce is allowed, and her financial security is granted in case of heritage, divorce, and so on. In a traditonnal context, transmitted by the Celtic tales and legends, the women are symbols of souvereignity, knowledge, spirituality, and even power. Women are implied to a great part in the education of young people, even in matial arts.
The book is to me nevertheless not very convincing, because many of the examples in history or tales cited reflect rather contradictory facts: Some women took the power, but only in rare cases and because they were no men to take this role at that moment, which also happens in other, less woman-friendly societies. "Political" marriages were usual, where the woman was not asked for her opinion. Some women were usurpated by an other man because the bridegroom was complied to hold a promise the day of the marriage: here again, the woman is treated like a merchandise and you cannot really talk about self-determination.
The fact that women symbolize an ideal or have a religious dimension is far from implying her favoured place in a society: in some ethnic groups, women are sacrified in the name of a great Goddess; How lucky you can then feel to represent Her! The legend of Tristan and Isolde, inherited from the Celtic tradition, is cited in the book as an example of women's striving for self-determination and some people see in the medieval "courteous love" the glorification of women: my opinion is a bit more sober on this subject. I understand more in women's symbolism in those kind of legends Catherine Clément's interpretation in La syncope, where she compares the role of the guru, the Lady and the psychoanalist: there is certainly an educative role (the Lady teaches good manners, the psychoanalist takes the patient on the way to his convalescence), but they all "stand as a lure". The inaccessible Lady herself does not matter, she is just a step in the evolution of the young man, she is not an acting person and she will in the end stay in her castle. The Ladies of the courteous litterature are seldom heros, they are mostly only a mean. The good fairy will help but retire in right time, and thus is not the point of attention in the story.
Rather than of a free acting person, some tales cited leave the feeling of women wanting to have their souvereignity and having to fight for it because of its fragility – this being often a subject of frustration.Feminists in quest for a model or trying to prove that the relationship between men and women could be else or even have been else at the premices of our world should not fall to the trap of the idealisation of former societies. Certainly, the situation of women in the Celtic world seem to belong to the better ones. But no one could convince me untill now that there was a time, a place when or where women were totally free, self-determining, powerful and equal to men.
Depite of this, I have to pay homage at Markale's immense knowledge and brilliant spirit which make out of the book an enriching and interesting reading.
(11) Franjo Terhart: Weise Frauen und magische Kulte – Priesterinnen, Sybillen, Hexen und andere Zauberinnen (Wise women and magical cults – priestesses, sybils, sorceress and other enchantresses)
Put every belief and every superstition about women of every former society, every former culture, and every religion into a basket and shake well: you will obtain Franjo Terhart's book. Of course, it is no bad intention to try to find the main thread about woman's nature (if there is one) throughout different cultures, but this dumb admiration of women's occult "power" in each and every narration about women in former times is simply too naive. The author gathers too many of different believes from his many readings (the book does not leave the feeling that he studied one of those subjects deeply and scientifically) and considers every superstition as a proof. But the cited cases have nothing to do with each other and taken too far away out of their context: this wide-ranged data results in an untasty porridge and that picking up of every advantageous fact about women in history is simply not convincing.
Once again (as I said for Women of the Celts) I think that looking back to former societies to try to find a model to improve women's condition is vain. The world has changed since then: live now, look forward!
(12) Dr. Med. Rainer Gros: Gynäkologie für Frauen (Gynaecology for women)
This book offers a recapitulation of the occidental medical knowledge about gynaecology: the development of the body of a woman from child to the end of her life, the female organs and their functions, the monthly cycles, the possible dysfunctions and sicknesses of the femine appparatus, the usual therapies, pregnancy, the different contraception methods with an analysis of their advanges, disadvantages and efficacity, a.s.o. All those aspects are explained in a very clear, and, for a profane, understandable way. The author takes also psychological aspects of sexuality; sterility, menopause and dysfunctions in account, gives some wise warnings and hints towards, among others, the intake of medicine and which life style which should be adopted. The point of view throughout the book is kept as very objective.
What I missed is the mention of alternative medicines and a more precise description of the regular examinations at the gynaecological surgery and indications on how often which examination should be done. Still, this book contains a basic knowledge that every women (and also every man living in a partnership) should have.
(12) Jean Verdon: La femme au moyen âge (The woman in the Middle Age)
A simple-to-read an informative book covering all the aspects of the life of a woman in the Middle-Age. This very compact documentary contains lots of interesting and sometimes surprising pieces of information.
(13) Ingrid Ahrend-Schulte: Weise Frauen – böse Weiber (Wise women – evil vixens)
Ingrid Ahrendt-Schulte defines what was believed to be a sorceress during the period from the 16th to the 18th century, how women came to be accused of sorcery and how the process of sorceresses took place. The report is very well-documented and detailed. The scientific and rigorous approach of Ingrid Ahrendt-Schulte make out fo this book a very interesting and instructive document.
(14) Claudine Cohen: La femme des origines (The women of the origins)
Claudine Cohen studies how myths, mentalities of different time periods, and personal ideals can influence the interpretation of acheological material. In our male-dominated society, women have not been considered to be actors during the development of humanity: in the representation of prehistorical scenes, males are always represented as conquerors while females wait passively at home, bearing children in their arms, when not only enduring sexual abuse. Nevertheless, neither the available acheological material nor the diverging anthropoligical data gathered nowadays do allow such conjectures. While the feminist movement of the last century led to some extreme counter-interpretations, these offered the decisive advantage to open alternative views on the interpretation of the past. Not only spectacular discoveries, but also the study of everyday objects used in prehistorical times can enlight us about the real role of both genders within their society and also give back to women their share in history and human development.
While concentrating on one case (the interpretation of the role of women in prehistory), the book has a very universal scope: scientific research and data have always been subject to subjective interpretations and it is an appeal to any scientist to question his/her cultural context and personal ideals while interpreting scientific data.
(14) David P. Barash & Judith Eve Lipton: The Myth of Monogamy
Under the point of view of evolutionism and using observations made by biologists, this book explains why monogamy is not of advantageous for any of the partner in a sexual relationship, while each partner has an interest in both being unfaithful and his/her partner being faithful. Numerous examples taken from the animal world and different human societies show that monogamy or monoandry is far from being "natural" and cheating one's partner is rather the rule. The tone of the argument is witty and all cases clearly explained, making of this book an entertaining, amusing and easy reading. Many descriptions of animal behaviours help us understanding human behaviour as far as sexual partnership is concerned. Even if the authors support the opinion that humans constitute an "special" case in the animal world, the book leaves the feeling than humans do not distinguish themselves from the animal world as much as these like to believe.
(15) Paula Fox: Borrowed Finery
Paula spends a happy childhood as an adopted child in the care of a reverent. Until her family comes to reclaim her. She then begins a jostled life between different social environments and places, rejected by a hating mother, adopted by a caring, but mostly absent grandmother, successively retrieved and abandoned again by a coward and drunkard father - mostly in isolation, deprived of familial tenderness, "borrowing finery" from others to cope with basic life situations. Arrived to adulthood, Paula still bears the aftermaths of a disoriented youth and passes by life opportunities despite of favourable circumstances and obvious talents.
A very moving story. A survival story, indeed.
