The White Masai

by Corinne Hofmann
This is a really engaging tale, an amazing life story on its own. I believe in reincarnation, so I think Corinne’s strong feelings must root from a past life. She is an amazingly strong woman to be able to leave behind everything she has and knows to marry someone in a culture so vastly different.

(The following contains spoiler:)

It is sad that this story does not have a fairy tale ending. I wish so much it does. From newspaper advice columns, I know that there are controlling, jealous husbands everywhere, even if they don suits and ties instead of loinclothes. So you can’t blame it on language barrier. At least, in terms of rotten husbands, Lketinga is far from the bottom of the rut. Nonetheless, I am deeply sadden that this great love could not end on happier terms, when it could have.

The story is really entertaining, although towards the end, the incidents somewhat gets repetitive: get grocery, car break down, domestic fight; that I almost long for the ending. Hofman wrote two more books about her experience after this book, I would love the chance to know what happens after the last chapter.

For anyone interested, I’ve found two websites about the Masai tribe, with photos which helps me trememdously in visualizing the people and the scenes (and hey you’ll find your Masai!):
http://laleyio.com/www.maasai-association.org
And this site has a movie trailer for the movie: (I must say the actor is not as handsome as the Lketinga in my mind.)http://au.movies.yahoo.com/The+White+Masai/movie/16085/

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

by Lisa See

I have been too busy reading to blog, but I guess I just have to do some catching up here.

I cried so much while reading the book my husband got quite alarmed. I tried to explain to him what the story was about (as I truly want to share it, though it was a miserable attempt) and that started another round of tears and sniffles.

This book is hauntingly beautiful, as exquisite as a handcrafted fan, as delicate as the nushu, and as intricate as an embroidery. Every time I opened the book, I fell mesmerized into the world of Lily and Snow Flower. The writer spent a lot of time and work on researches and it shows, as rather than portraying a generic Chinese village, she paints a vivid picture of the special locale and its unique culture.

I heard of nushu a while back, but all I know could be summarized in one line: developed in
China, nushu is the world’s only language exclusively for use by female. It’s a secret code for women to express themselves to each other, behind men’s back.

I read The Kite Runner a few weeks ago, and somehow end up comparing the two. Both tell of a wrongdoing that breaks up a friendship that is close like siblings, a wrongdoing that imepairably damaged the relationship and left both scarred for life, and the protagonist’s attempt at redemption. Both stories are masterfully crafted and very moving, but to me, Snow Flower feels less forced, and the story never loses momentum like Kite Runner does.