The June 2011 selection for the Lakeview Book Club is LEAVING MOTHER LAKE: A GIRLHOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, by Yang Erche Namu.
This 2004 book chronicles experiences of young Namu, who grew up in Moso country in south China, in a community where people usually live their entire lives in the same village they are born in. In Moso society, women own the houses and are heads of the households. Their adult children take lovers and have children of their own, but they do not leave their mother's house. As a teen, Namu left home to tour with a musical troupe. Namu and her troupe won contests all over China, but when she returned to Moso country again, she found her village too small and once again made plans to leave.
A fascinating look at a unique culture and a determined, ambitious young woman. (Coauthor Mathieu's afterword provides more insight into Moso culture from an anthropological standpoint.) Namu lives in San Francisco.
