MovieChat Forums > Desert Flower (2009) Discussion > Some contradictions in Dirie's novels

Some contradictions in Dirie's novels

posted 13 years ago by ekpyrosis-1
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I saw some contradictions and illogicalities about her books. Or just things I just don't catch on. First of all, the age of Waris when she was molested - at one point she says she was about 5, in the second novel in turn, she says she was about 10. And her mother and a mirror: she was raised in Mogadishu, she wasn't a nomad for her whole life so how could it be that she never saw her own reflection before daughter gave her the mirror? And one thing more: if giving birth with one's vagina so mutilated is extremaly dangerous for a woman, how can it be that her mother gave birth to so many kids and didn't die? And how could it be that Waris didn't even know the exact number of her siblings and had no idea about her mom's early life because as she explained, she left home so young that she didn't have time to ask her about the stories from her childhood and youth? It's mostly kids who ask adults for stories so how did it happen that Waris was already a teen and never asked? And was asking about how many children her mother had before her such a difficult thing? Anyway, at one point Waris contradicted herself by saying that she was one of 12 children. And I rather can't imagine that their animals they had in Somalia could stand thirst for so many days - it could take weeks before they found a source of water. And how could Waris find her family when she was sent for the water after several days? Normally, you could think one would get lost. I also find it hard to believe that she could forget her native tongue so fast - she was a teenager when she left.

Btw, I have also some questions maybe some people know the answer for: can you give any name to your baby in Somalya? Because, as I understand, Waris isn't a normal name from a catalogue of baby names, can you just make the name up on your own in there? And what was the real name of the Old Man, Waris' brother, did she ever say it in any interview? Do you think he indeed had some sort of powers normal people don't have or was he just an extraordinarily bright little boy? Did Waris undergo that surgery that was mentioned in one of her books on breaking the taboo?

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[–] zombiesushi 13 years ago

I think the discrepancies with the ages and such were explained in the novel, the author said she never knew the year or date of her birth, only that it was during the rainy season. As for her mother not dying, that was just luck, (I think Waris mentions an older sister that died from infection caused by her circumcision) I don't really want to think about the physical pain she had to go through to be able to, but my understanding (not just based on this but other sources as well) was that the husband has to open the wife up and sew her back up after she had given birth:(
Waris was simply sewed up much more tightly then normal if I remember right, and until she had surgery to fix it even going to the bathroom took forever because if the tiny opening. Its a wonder she didn't die from infection.

About the mirror I can't say as I don't remember that part but I think the second book had alot more in it about her mother in general. I think your right about the animals, but (again this is just my recollection) if I am remembering right Waris had an almost perfect sense of direction and always seemed to know how to find her family, and later how to get to her grandmothers across the desert.

Waris does mention being molested, but since it happened more then once (if you are including the vaginal mutilation) perhaps she was referring to the incident with the truck driver or a different occasion?

I don't remember the name of Wasis' brother, but I do recall that she explained that he got the nickname "Old Man" because she believes he was born with an old soul, and was wise beyond his years because of that.

Also I remember she did have the surgery, one thing that sticks out about it was how fascinated she was with how quickly she could go to the bathroom afterwards, when before it would take a very long time.

I hope my answers helped with at least answer some of your questions, sorry to be so long winded:)
I have copies of both ebooks if you want to do some further reading:)
((Also, if your interested in reading the subject from a different perspective I have to recommend Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker, it deals with some of the same subject matter and is something of a sequel to The Color Purple and Temple of MY Familiar, unfortunately I don't have ebook copies of those, just my worn out paperbacks))

[–] ekpyrosis-1 13 years ago

Thank you for your answers you delivered but in some cases I meant something else than you thought that I did. As for the age at which she was when molested, I meant the age when she had this encounter with Guban - not the mutilation, not the scene with the truck driver and his pals when she ran away, but the scene with uncle (?) Guban - even if she didn't know her exact age, she should know at least approximately how old she was then - whether she was closer to 5 or 10. And wrote at one point she was like 5, only to state in another book she was about 10 then - that's the difference. Anyway, her mom should have known how old her daughter was - of course, she didn't know the exact month, let alone a day, but she should have known how much dry and rainy seasons had passed since she gave birth to her - that would be the number of years that passed since that time. By the surgery I meant the one which was talked about by the doctor from "Breaking the Taboo" - the one that made for women possible to get the clitoris back. Thank you for the proposition of sending me the e-books but I already read them - I haven't read only the one containing the letters and the one about the black woman and the white land.

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[–] zombiesushi 13 years ago

Glad I could help a little:)
I don't remember the surgery you mentioned, but I hope she did have it. I don't remember the incident with her uncle either, its been a while since I read these, sorry I couldn't help more.

[–] Falkner09 12 years ago

Well I haven't read the books, but having studied female and male genital cutting, I can tell you that not all the women it's performed on have severe problems, in fact it seems to be a minority, although it's still a violation of human rights. for those who have their labia cut and sewn together, there is usually a practice of opening them once they marry, either by cutting or the husband literally forces them open with his penis. If the edges are not fully separated before birth, they will be cut further, and then sometimes sewn back together.

In fact, there was one famous case of a cut immigrant woman in Canada who came in to give birth, and her OB had to perform surgery to open her birth canal enough for the baby to pass through. After the birth had concluded, and all was well, she asked the OB to sew her back up so she could remain a "clean woman." Just like male cutting, women who have been cut often support it, and do it to their own daughters. The cultural reasons aren't always as simple as "men force it on the women." it's a cultural gender norm, enforced by all of the members of the community, including women towards themselves.

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