"The Purple Violet of Oshaantu" by Neshani Andreas

 "The Purple Violet of Oshaantu"

by Neshani Andreas

Overall Review: 4* 

A narrative describing life in a small village in Africa: A small and sweet book giving a peek into the village of Oshaantu in Namibia.  When you read such books, you get a perspective towards life as a whole.  It is a story of a woman and her neighbor living in the same village but have totally different lives.  The book provides a peek into the patriarchal structure of the village and the total absence of women's rights in these villages.  

The narrator is telling the story of her friend and there is a comparison between hers and her friend's life.  The entire village is full of women with similar challenges and obstacles in life.  Her neighbor and friend is being cheated on, beaten and ignored by her husband.  The society just turns a blind eye towards anything that is done to her and just expect her to live on.  At the time of the death of her husband though people gather like vultures to take away whatever they can.  

An eye opener which tells the plight of women:  A behavior which is more or less common across the world.  A woman takes care of her family and her in laws.  In return her life is so much dependent on how her husband behaves.  If the husband is not with the wife, no one is there.  The same thought is being shared in the book when suggestion is being made so many times for her to leave the husband and move on.  I was angry at how this woman was treated by her husband, the society and his family.  At the end however, she chose her peace.  

Well written with great thought and flow: It is the first book by this author and she has done a good job and describing the lives of the women in the village. It is well written where each big and small event is being described beautifully.  It certainly exposes all things wrong with the society and human mentality.