Leaving Mother Lake by Christine Mathieu

Leaving Mother Lake by Christine Mathieu

The Tibetans refer to Moso country as 'The Country of Daughters' because of their unique matrilineal society. In Moso culture, daughters are favoured children. There is no word for father, marriage is considered a backward practice, and property is passed on from mother to daughter. LEAVING MOTHER LAKE is the haunting memoir of a girl growing up in a remarkable place. In her village, Namu was known as the girl whose mother tried to give her away three times because she would not stop crying. The strong-willed Namu clashes with her equally fierce mother, becoming alienated from village life. When Chinese officials come looking for talented singers, she seizes her chance and breaks the taboo that holds Moso culture together - she leaves her mother's house. Winning a place at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as a special minority student, Namu becomes 'the Madonna of Tibet', singing on the soundtrack of The Joy Luck Club.

What raises LEAVING MOTHER LAKE above the general run of travel books is Namu's personalityShe is lively, wise and sparky, and breathes real life into an extraordinary story * Michael Palin *
Rich in local colour and lore, an evocative introduction to a unique way of life * KIRKUS *
A lyrical evocation of girlhood in a remote land... [a] phenomenal true story. * AXM *

Namu divides her time between Beijing, Geneva, and San Francisco.
Christine Mathieu is an anthropologist and short story writer.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780349117584
ISBN 10	0349117586
Title	Leaving Mother Lake
Author	Christine Mathieu
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Little, Brown Book Group
Year published	2005-12-01
Number of pages	304
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.