Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

"It is impossible to realize our goals while discriminating against half the human race. As study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."

    -Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General in 2006

I read this book some years ago, likely before 2012 when I began this blog. It was first recommended to me by a friend who is a former missionary to Africa. It was so memorable, I suggested it for this year's Page Turner list.

I have rated Half the Sky a 4. It is well-researched and well-written although I cannot say enjoyable. It is both heart-breaking and inspiring, covering some very disturbing topics. In the Introduction, the author says, "We will try to lay out an agenda for the world's women focusing on three particular abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence, including honor killings and mass rape; and maternal mortality, which still needlessly claims one woman a minute. We will lay out solutions such as girls' education and microfinance which are working right now." This, I believe, serves as a down and dirty summary of the book. The book was published in 2008 so hopefully there has been improvement in these areas by now but I would imagine some of the neglect and abuse still happens.

The most memorable and inspiring parts of the book are the individual stories of African and Asian women who have suffered some of these horrors but have survived to help others and even to establish organizations to reach beyond their own communities. The authors are very clear about recruiting readers to help in what has been named the Half the Sky Movement, titling the final chapter "What You Can Do" and including pages of charities and organizations that welcome donations and/or volunteers. That final chapter begins with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

I look forward to hearing the reactions of the other Page Turners when we meet. I shall return...

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Posted in August, 2018:  

"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while...People everywhere brag and whimper about the woes of their early years, but nothing can compare with the Irish version: the poverty; the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests; bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years."                        -Frank McCourt

Anticipating a visit to Ireland I wanted to read something with the flavor of the Emerald Isle. I began one novel titled Ireland,

 but it started out slow and I gave it up. For some reason I thought of Angela's Ashes, an older book but one that I had heard of and thought to be set in Ireland. When I checked the library, no print copy was available but there was a recorded version on CDs. The library clerk suggested ordering the print copy to be delivered when available and, in the meantime, listen to the recording. What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be! The book is narrated by the author, with his delightful Irish brogue. He changes his voice for different characters and even sings. Listening was a pure delight!

When the print copy came in the mail, I began reading and was several chapters in before I realized there are NO quotation marks and often no dialog tags like "he said" and such. In the narrated version, the dialog was obvious and, apparently, I was so used to the style, I had no confusion with the print copy.

Angela's Ashes is a memoir taking Frank McCourt from around four years old, when his family left New York for Ireland, to his late teens, when he finally achieves his dream to return to America. This reader's emotions ran the gamut---from profound sympathy for the abject poverty to anger focused on the alcoholic father to sadness over deaths in the family to the humorous perceptions of a child, especially regarding the Catholic faith and sex. One of my favorite laugh-aloud parts is Chapter IV in which Frank receives First Communion. The quote above, from the very first page, is illustrative of Frank's youth.

I was quite amused by the references to Presbyterians, seen by the Limerick folk as lower than low. I am Presbyterian and not used to being treated with scorn. An example is when Grandma is trying to get Frankie ready for First Communion, complains about this hair and says, "If your mother had married a proper decent Limerickman you wouldn't have this standing up, North of Ireland, Presbyterian hair." Seemingly, Presbyterians, North of Irelanders, the English and Americans are all seen in a very bad light.

It tickled me that each time Uncle Pat is mentioned, the reader is reminded he was dropped on his head as a child. I am going to borrow the expression "I don't give a fiddler's fart" from the novel though I don't remember which character used it.

I am sure I don't have to tell you I am rating this one a 5. It has me really looking forward to visiting Ireland. I enjoyed Angela's Ashes immensely and can't wait to read another by Frank McCourt. 'Tis has been recommended.

Updated in May, 2024

I loved this story so much when I read it the first time 6 years ago---listened to and read it, actually. It may not have been quite so enjoyable this time, since I did not have the audio version. I would still rate it a 5 though. I can't think of much to add to my first post. Just this: What an amazing life Frank McCourt lived! I am so thankful he survived to tell about it. In fact, in 2018 I quickly followed up by reading the two sequels: 'Tis and Teacher Man. Now I will decide whether to reread one or both of those.