ARC REVIEW:Women Talking
Genre: literary fiction
***TW: sexual assault, child abuse***
With Miriam Toews you can always expect two things:
1. Mennonites
2. The Feels
and with this new novel, you will definitely experience both of those things.
Set in the Mennonite community of Molotshna, this story focuses on two dynamic families who have to decide whether to stay or to leave after they discover some of the men have been raping women while unconscious. The novel is beautifully structured as the minutes of the meeting, taken by the social pariah August Epp since the women themselves are not literate. The Loewen women argue that the females should leave the community and the Friesen women want to stay by fighting the men. None of the women believes they should apologize for the violence against them, although this is the option suggested by the (male) community leaders.
The structure of the novel reminds me of Platonic dialogue as a back and forth discussion trying to parse out not only the practical implications of their options, but also delving into questions about art, beauty, ethics, and religion. At times the writing feels a bit pedantic and I enjoyed reading this book best in small bursts with lots of breaks.
In terms of content, it is substantial that the primary narrator is a once ex-communicated man who has been selected to write and translate the meeting’s minutes. As we learn about the atrocities committed against the Mennonite women, we too learn about the excommunication of August’s family and his returning trip back to Bolivia. One of the greatest themes throughout is scepticism of outside knowledge and critical thinking aimed against the teachings of the community.
Sometimes the conversation takes a captivating turn and other times veers truly horrific when the women casually mention elements of the attacks. The age of some of the survivors is staggering. Miep, a three-year-old girl, has been violated by 2-3 men and then is denied medication for the STI she develops. Autje and Neitje are young teens who are found covered in various foreign body fluids, with their hands tied, and we are reminded of their youth when we see the girls playing and gossiping. Emotional trauma is heartbreakingly woven into the everyday dialogue at the women’s meeting and its affect highlights that sexual assault and shame are still experiences women are continuing to deal with.
very difficult to enjoy but important to read.
4.5/5 stars
Read if you like: being fucking sad and angry - sangry, Little Big Lies, Salvage the Bones
Women Talking by Miriam Toews is available for purchase starting August 21, 2018.
