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[CCBC-Net] Homeless Bird
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From: Rita Auerbach <RitaAuerbach>
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 01:47:52 -0500
When I read Homeless Bird I found it extraordinarily compelling, particularly because I read it about the time of the UN conference on women which gave virtually no attention to the gross mistreatment of widows in many countries including India. I was reluctant to give my heart to a book, however, whose cultural authenticity I was in no position to gauge. I was fortunate to have two willing readers, both of whom grew up in India and are much involved in Indian-American cultural activities. One is a graduate student at Columbia. The other is the mother-in-law of a young librarian in my school district. I do not know where in India these women grew up, and I recognize the vastness and diversity of the country. I did not discuss the book in great detail with them, so I do not know whether they too found troubling details but were willing to overlook them because the overall book seemed to capture the country they know. I only know that they both reported being moved by a book which they felt accurately reflected their country. I offer this information to suggest that knowledgeable people of goodwill may disagree.
Rita Auerbach
Received on Sat 06 Jan 2001 12:47:52 AM CST
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 01:47:52 -0500
When I read Homeless Bird I found it extraordinarily compelling, particularly because I read it about the time of the UN conference on women which gave virtually no attention to the gross mistreatment of widows in many countries including India. I was reluctant to give my heart to a book, however, whose cultural authenticity I was in no position to gauge. I was fortunate to have two willing readers, both of whom grew up in India and are much involved in Indian-American cultural activities. One is a graduate student at Columbia. The other is the mother-in-law of a young librarian in my school district. I do not know where in India these women grew up, and I recognize the vastness and diversity of the country. I did not discuss the book in great detail with them, so I do not know whether they too found troubling details but were willing to overlook them because the overall book seemed to capture the country they know. I only know that they both reported being moved by a book which they felt accurately reflected their country. I offer this information to suggest that knowledgeable people of goodwill may disagree.
Rita Auerbach
Received on Sat 06 Jan 2001 12:47:52 AM CST
