On The River Between

For class today, we read the first half of The River Between.

From just what we read, thought the book was mediocre (a B- as I told someone in class).

In class we talked about initiation rituals as they pertain to circumcision in the story.

The children of the tribe become adults through this ritual, and it is deeply meaningful for them, so much so that one girl undergoes it over her father's opposition and dies from it content that she will die a woman.

The initiation rituals in the story physically mark new members, but not all initiation rituals do so. In fact, modern initiation rituals are far more psychological or tests of will and stamina.

More after Friday's class!