Thursday, September 27, 2007

Dance of the Dissident Daughter - Review

I finished reading Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd over a week ago. I have blogged off of some ideas that it spurred, but I have no been able to review it. It is just such a complex idea - this book. How do I tell you what I thought of it?

I will start by saying that I enjoyed reading Dance. I enjoyed it very much, actually. Kidd has a gift for sharing herself and her stories. She is a talented writer. Whether she writes about a subject I can relate to or one more distant from me, I still find myself drawn in. Her images are paintings with the paint still wet on its canvas. I could not help but enjoy this book.

I can't really review the ideas set forth by this book in a simple blog entry. I sometimes nodded, mumbled an adamant amen, scratched my head in confusion and disagreed violently. Always, emotions were evoked. Like I said, she is a good writer. In this book, she shares her journey through modern Religion to her Faith. Her story is not my story. As women, as people, we need to hear each other's stories, however, and I am blessed to have heard hers.

I have blogged some quotes from this book and some thoughts it sparked in the following entries:

I Had a Dream
Circles
Forbidden Anger
Screaming Feminist
Beginning at Zero
El Shaddai
13 Quotes from Dance of the Dissident Daughter
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Interview with Me
13 Quotes from a Lovely Book

There will probably be more entries to come. I will try to remember to update this list, if that is so. I chose this book from Bonnie's list, and I am glad I did. I have "danced" around it for ages and it was time to take the plunge. Thanks, Bonnie!

Heather

3 comments:

alisonwonderland said...

i've "danced" around this one for a while too. The Secret Life of Bees is one of my all-time favorite books - and i read Firstlight earlier this year and really loved it. maybe it's time to read Dance of the Dissident Daughter!

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Heather, I have read ALL of your musings during and after reading the book. I think Sue Monk Kidd really gave you a lot to think about, and I'm glad you are wrestling with all the ideas. I did, too. Very good work you've done with it.

Mama Kat said...

about to start a blog because of this inspiring book. only half way through but it is really opening my eyes...