Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful Examination of Cultural Forces
Review: You know, I was really looking forward to writing this review. "Nervous Conditions" is a truly wonderful book that manages to provide endless topics for discussion. All pleasure at the prospect writing this review was taken from me, however, as I was finishing the book this afternoon. I was reading while having dinner at a local restaurant when a woman came in and was seated at a table near me. I noticed that she kept looking at the book, trying to see the cover. Eventually I looked up and made eye contact. She looked squarely at me and said: "You can't possibly understand that book." I didn't ask if this was because I am not black or because I am not a woman (she was both). I also didn't ask if it was because I wasn't raised in Zimbabwe, or a pre-industrial society, or in the sixties, or go to a medical school in London (she, presumably, also experienced none of these, except for being a black woman). I simply told her that I thought I would go ahead and finish the book as I was so close anyway. I then proceeded to not look up from the book until I left the restaurant.Now I feel as if by writing a review I will be trying to prove to the world that perhaps I do understand. That I am so sympathetic and empathic that I can completely understand the emotions in the story I have just read (for the third time). In short, I now feel as if writing a review would be a defensive act. I don't like being put in that position by a woman I don't know who said six words to me in a restaurant. All I will say for now is that this is a wonderful book. I recommend it for everybody. And if you are ever reading it in a restaurant, don't look up.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Examination of Cultural Forces
Review: You know, I was really looking forward to writing this review. "Nervous Conditions" is a truly wonderful book that manages to provide endless topics for discussion. All pleasure at the prospect writing this review was taken from me, however, as I was finishing the book this afternoon. I was reading while having dinner at a local restaurant when a woman came in and was seated at a table near me. I noticed that she kept looking at the book, trying to see the cover. Eventually I looked up and made eye contact. She looked squarely at me and said: "You can't possibly understand that book." I didn't ask if this was because I am not black or because I am not a woman (she was both). I also didn't ask if it was because I wasn't raised in Zimbabwe, or a pre-industrial society, or in the sixties, or go to a medical school in London (she, presumably, also experienced none of these, except for being a black woman). I simply told her that I thought I would go ahead and finish the book as I was so close anyway. I then proceeded to not look up from the book until I left the restaurant. Now I feel as if by writing a review I will be trying to prove to the world that perhaps I do understand. That I am so sympathetic and empathic that I can completely understand the emotions in the story I have just read (for the third time). In short, I now feel as if writing a review would be a defensive act. I don't like being put in that position by a woman I don't know who said six words to me in a restaurant. All I will say for now is that this is a wonderful book. I recommend it for everybody. And if you are ever reading it in a restaurant, don't look up.
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