staklene_perle's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jcaulder73's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
nan_1765's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
The Confession of a Lioness by Mia Couto
Trigger warning: This book contains rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse and ableist
A haunting, dark, beautifully written, poetic mystery about the women of Kulumani and the lioness that hunt them. The lyrical narrative moves back and forth between two narrators Mariamar Mpepe, a local woman of Kulumani and Archangel Bullseye, a hunter who was ordered to kill the lions terrorising the village, Kulumani.
Confession of the lioness, unveil the harsh reality of women suffering, abuse, exploration, women being shut away, facing misogynism and being oppressed.
They are literally treated as animals. They are not allowed to voice their opinions, not allowed to look a man in the eye when they are being spoken to and raped.
Hanifa, the mother of Mariamar ask the hunter “Why he’s hunting lions in the forest when the real predators are in the village.” She was talking about the men and the rape culture that they continue. The lions are always there, at the edge of darkness and attack and kill the village’s women. At the same time, the animals inside men also attack the women through domestic violence, incest and rape, or even genital mutilation.
However, later on in the book we see the women compared to lioness and in the pride of lions – although the lion is the king of the jungle, but the lioness is the one who does the hunting and who acts as the provider. The entire society is turned over in reverse with that metaphor.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was short and thought-provoking. It demonstrates that some things are universally experienced and that’s what makes great literature, that aspect of shared commonality and experience
Trigger warning: This book contains rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse and ableist
A haunting, dark, beautifully written, poetic mystery about the women of Kulumani and the lioness that hunt them. The lyrical narrative moves back and forth between two narrators Mariamar Mpepe, a local woman of Kulumani and Archangel Bullseye, a hunter who was ordered to kill the lions terrorising the village, Kulumani.
Confession of the lioness, unveil the harsh reality of women suffering, abuse, exploration, women being shut away, facing misogynism and being oppressed.
They are literally treated as animals. They are not allowed to voice their opinions, not allowed to look a man in the eye when they are being spoken to and raped.
Hanifa, the mother of Mariamar ask the hunter “Why he’s hunting lions in the forest when the real predators are in the village.” She was talking about the men and the rape culture that they continue. The lions are always there, at the edge of darkness and attack and kill the village’s women. At the same time, the animals inside men also attack the women through domestic violence, incest and rape, or even genital mutilation.
However, later on in the book we see the women compared to lioness and in the pride of lions – although the lion is the king of the jungle, but the lioness is the one who does the hunting and who acts as the provider. The entire society is turned over in reverse with that metaphor.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was short and thought-provoking. It demonstrates that some things are universally experienced and that’s what makes great literature, that aspect of shared commonality and experience
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
tashadhyani's review
2.0
a lot of great lines and wisdom, but the narration seems a bit disjointed to me. i understand that both narrators go back and forth to their past and present, reality and myth, but i find not few little details that are irrelevant to the bigger picture, making the book somewhat fragmented. maybe it's because i read the translation? or maybe i just don't get it.
mia_qh6's review
4.0
典型的描写边缘化群体小说。内容采用了两个主人公交替双线叙述的方法，可以从男女、猎人和村民两个不同的视角看同一件事，很有意思。
整本书都可以强烈地感受到对于战争（殖民创伤）和父权制社会对女性压迫的控诉。小说属于越看越精彩的类型，参杂了宗教和魔幻色彩，有时不太好理解，但是中后部分开始透露一些秘密。原来讲述者一直被父亲性侵，原来她曾瘫痪和得怪病（这一切都源于父亲对她的暴行），原来她的母亲一直都知情却要责怪的是女儿，原来杀死女人的不是狮子，是父权制。
整本书都可以强烈地感受到对于战争（殖民创伤）和父权制社会对女性压迫的控诉。小说属于越看越精彩的类型，参杂了宗教和魔幻色彩，有时不太好理解，但是中后部分开始透露一些秘密。原来讲述者一直被父亲性侵，原来她曾瘫痪和得怪病（这一切都源于父亲对她的暴行），原来她的母亲一直都知情却要责怪的是女儿，原来杀死女人的不是狮子，是父权制。
paulap's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
2.75
This is the story of the village of Kulumani, which is under threat from lions. We follow alternating perspectives from a girl in the village that is an outsider, and from a hunter of lions. I liked the story, but the different perspectives took me out of the story.
mirto's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tonimmarie's review
4.0
3.75
This was so interesting. Messy but so flowy and beautifuk. I don't know how to explain myself, but I loved it. Nothing was predictable and the mc could be unreliable? Except, it is written so lyrically and full of riddles which is kind of really true to life for some cultures so it all made sense that little made sense. Ya know?
This was so interesting. Messy but so flowy and beautifuk. I don't know how to explain myself, but I loved it. Nothing was predictable and the mc could be unreliable? Except, it is written so lyrically and full of riddles which is kind of really true to life for some cultures so it all made sense that little made sense. Ya know?
rosa44's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Es una historia muy triste por los temas que se desarrollan en esta novela en forma de diario. Como en capas que se abren al lector, distintos secretos y revelaciones tienen lugar a medida que avanza la narración. Novela psicológica, social, y feminista, que tiene como símbolo a la leona.