编辑推荐Review'What raises Leaving Mother Lake above the general run of travel books is Namu's personality. She 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 Huddled in the mountainous region of the Himalayas is a mysterious place known as the 'Country of Daughters'. Here on the shores of Lake Lugu, the Moso people eke out a living from the harsh landscape, carrying on the traditional way of life which has set them apart for hundreds of years. For the Moso people belong to a matrilineal society, where the women rule the men, property is passed through the female line, and marriage is considered irrelevant. The matriarch rules the family unit, ensuring that the traditions and rituals relating to puberty, birth and death are correctly observed, while the men spend months away trading in distant parts of China and Tibet. This is the story of one Moso girl who grew up among these traditions, but finally rebelled against her upbringing and went out into the world to follow her dreams. Christine Mathieu has spent many years researching the background to the Moso culture, and several months with Namu herself, delving into her past, unearthing many buried memories. As a result, Leaving Mother Lake is not only a fascinating and incredibly detailed account of life amongst the Moso people, but also the poignant tale of one girl's flight for freedom, and how she eventually reconciles her new, sophisticated life with her traditional past. Namu tells her story with a fluency and richness of language which is utterly compelling. When she recalls the freezing nights spent guarding the yaks with her uncle, you can almost feel the beasts' steaming urine as she runs her icy hands in the flow to thaw them. The rituals of life with the Moso are full of fascinating detail such as the 'skirt ceremony' when Namu becomes a woman and is given her own flower chamber, where she can receive young men for sexual pleasure whenever she wants. Namu, however, is restless and longs to experience the world beyond the 'Country of the Daughters'. Her opportunity arises when she is selected to take part in a singing competition; her success is just the first step on the road to international acclaim, and a chance to put her Moso heritage behind her. But Namu has some hard lessons to learn, not only about making her way in the world, but also how important her Moso inheritance is to her. This is a serious work of scholarship, a fascinating historical account and a deeply moving human story; no one who reads this powerful book can fail to be captivated by it. (Kirkus UK) |
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