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Start your review of Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn

The writer was writing her PhD thesis on Voudou and over x years grew shut to Mama Lola, Alourdes, the mambo - priestess of her local Haitian community. It'southward a very well-rounded volume, with as much about Mama Lola and her family and parishioners as near the lwa - the spirits and gods - rituals and ceremonies performed.

It's an interesting religion concerned more with the here and now than creation and after-life. Some rituals sound like shaministic magic until you lot recollect them through. One favo

The author was writing her PhD thesis on Voudou and over ten years grew close to Mama Lola, Alourdes, the mambo - priestess of her local Haitian customs. It's a very well-rounded book, with every bit much virtually Mama Lola and her family unit and parishioners every bit about the lwa - the spirits and gods - rituals and ceremonies performed.

It'due south an interesting faith concerned more with the hither and now than creation and after-life. Some rituals sound like shaministic magic until you call back them through. I favoured 'treatment' is the aromatic bathroom of herbs and other materials, which sticks to the pare for up to 3 days. What brings dorsum memories faster and more intensely than smell? You lot only have to have a whiff of something yous haven't smelled in years for it to take you lot back to that moment. There is a psychological base to most of the curative rituals, it isn't just a 'placebo' result.

In Haiti, but non Brooklyn, the organized religion which has get syncretised with Catholicsm, serves a quite different purpose. Haitians have been ruled by greedy dictators and an unbelievably rich upper grade that employs private 'armies' to protect their interests since the fourth dimension of their freedom. Their just means of political protest is to exist 'possessed' by a spirit, to be the 'horse' of that god, put on the accoutrements, top hat, dress, whatever, and take to the streets to say whatever they like. They are non responsible, it is the gods speaking. No one, not even the worst dictator, would cartel to the stop them being as they too are adherents of the religion.

There is a twist at the finish of the book, a very, very abrasive twist. Karen McCarthy Brown, this PhD anthropologist of organized religion, journeys to Haiti and becomes an initiate and so a mambo herself. As a priestess she feels unable to give away any of the 'inner' secrets of voudoo and there the book ends.

Read in 1996, reviewed 26 May 2019 and the book lost none of his power during those intervening years.

...more than

Feb 22, 2008 Bill rated it it was astonishing

Walking betwixt the worlds

Karen McCarthy Chocolate-brown has penned a masterpiece! Mama Lola, known to family and friends as Alourdes, is a Mambo, an initiated priestess of Voudou who earns a modest living by serving her immigrant countrymen in America as a traditional healer and by conducting Haitian Voudou rites in her Brooklyn home. In 1978, Brownish, then a professor of religion at New Jersey'south Drew University beginning encountered Mama Lola while doing an ethnographic survey of the local Haitian population.

Walking between the worlds

Karen McCarthy Brown has penned a masterpiece! Mama Lola, known to family and friends as Alourdes, is a Mambo, an initiated priestess of Voudou who earns a modest living by serving her immigrant countrymen in America as a traditional healer and by conducting Haitian Voudou rites in her Brooklyn dwelling house. In 1978, Brown, then a professor of faith at New Bailiwick of jersey'due south Drew University first encountered Mama Lola while doing an ethnographic survey of the local Haitian population. Intrigued by the priestess and her misunderstood and maligned tradition, Brown became at outset a friend, and then a member of Mama Lola's extended family and finally an enthusiastic participant in many of the rites that comprise the corpus of Voudoun devotional life.

Mama Lola, her daughter Maggie, their children and their ancestors, and the 'Lwa' (spirits) who frequently 'possess' them are an engaging, wonderfully various crowd: securely spiritual, profoundly thoughtful and ofttimes humorous characters marvelously skilled in surviving weather of extreme deprivation and oppression and in adapting to the atmospheric condition of life (or, afterlife) in the strange world of urban America.

Past the fourth dimension I had completed this delightful book, I felt myself securely involved in Mama Lola's life and that of her extended family. Chocolate-brown's writing is textured and a pleasure to read. The author goes far out on a limb, leaving her observer role and social scientist expertise and becomes an initiate into the faith, wedding ceremony the 'etic' of academia to the 'emic' of an ecstatic, profoundly sensual, Earth-centered religiosity.

The organisation of the text adds to its readability, with odd chapters offering stories nigh Mama Lola'south family and heritage and fifty-fifty chapters devoted to the pantheon of lwa (spirits) of the Voudou tradition. A glossary of Voudou terms has been added, which is indispensible to readers new to the subject.

Students and scholars of Haiti, the African Diaspora and African religious traditions volition enjoy and benefit from this work immensely. I recommend it as well to the general public for a about worthwhile reading adventure.

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Jul 21, 2014 Pamela rated it it was amazing

This is an boggling book. Karen McCarthy Brown spent over a decade getting to know the Haiti-born mambo (or Vodou healer) known in her Brooklyn community as Mama Lola. In this account, she is part anthropologist and part friend. Mama Lola comes off as an utterly real person: temperamental, sometimes unkind, simply a woman of great gifts and insight. (Her grown daughter likewise is "coming upward" in the line of family mambos.) Brown also does a proficient job of conveying what life is like for Haitian emigre This is an extraordinary book. Karen McCarthy Brown spent over a decade getting to know the Haiti-born mambo (or Vodou healer) known in her Brooklyn community every bit Mama Lola. In this account, she is role anthropologist and office friend. Mama Lola comes off as an utterly existent person: temperamental, sometimes unkind, but a adult female of bully gifts and insight. (Her grown daughter too is "coming up" in the line of family mambos.) Brown also does a good chore of carrying what life is like for Haitian emigres notwithstanding half connected to the country of their birth (or their parents' nascency) and one-half absorbed into American order. The Vodou religion is widely misrepresented and misunderstood outside of Haiti (and even within it), and this book, with its mix of chestnut, history, folk tale, travel narrative, and accounts of actual Vodou rituals (the author underwent her own initiation merely does non draw that here, as the details of that are considered sacred) brought me far closer to understanding than any other that I've consulted. I learned to my sorrow that Dark-brown adult an rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's in the belatedly 2000s and will not exist able to bring us whatever more than of her probing work. This volume was published in 1991 but has been updated a couple of times--I read the original edition. ...more

Concluding week, Mama Lola passed into the spirit world. Woukoukou, a slap-up tree has fallen. She was my Lucumí Godmother's mother in Vodou, and I'd always hoped to meet her. Since finding out nearly her passing, I reread Karen McCarthy Brown's Mama Lola: a Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn for the offset time in over a decade. What an astonishing and moving volume it is - both equally a portrait of a Vodou manbo, and a surprisingly frank discussion of the many complexities of a multi-decade interracial religious men Last week, Mama Lola passed into the spirit world. Woukoukou, a great tree has fallen. She was my Lucumí Godmother's mother in Vodou, and I'd always hoped to meet her. Since finding out about her passing, I reread Karen McCarthy Brown's Mama Lola: a Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn for the first time in over a decade. What an astonishing and moving book information technology is - both equally a portrait of a Vodou manbo, and a surprisingly frank discussion of the many complexities of a multi-decade interracial religious mentorship between Lola and Karen.

The book was originally published in 1991, and in places it shows. Some of the language that was in common usage among academics at the time is now awkward and even somewhat offensive ("Tertiary Globe women," for example, which no ane would say at present simply which was a progressive field of report in the 1980s). Still, as a whole the book continues to be vibrant, in equal parts due to Lola's singular voice and to Karen's self-reflective writing. It is no surprise that this book radically transformed the field of ethnography, and that information technology continues to be widely read and taught - both by academics and by practitioners of Afro-Diasporic religions (and particularly those who have a foot in both of those worlds).

Mama Lola is now a beloved ancestor. Her legacy extends through her family, out across her Vodou family, and throughout the world by fashion of this book. May her proper noun never be forgotten and she spirit forever be served.

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May 09, 2010 Juliana rated information technology really liked it

This is a really fascinating look at Vodou. Brown talks near it largely from the perspective of the people she grew to know in the form of writing the book, and from her own perspective as she became involved with the religion herself, rather than as an outsider looking at a petty-understood (and much-misunderstood) religion. I'd recommend information technology to anyone who wants to acquire more almost Vodou, and to people who want to know more about Republic of haiti, since while the focus is on Haitian immigrants in Brook This is a really fascinating look at Vodou. Brown talks near information technology largely from the perspective of the people she grew to know in the course of writing the volume, and from her own perspective as she became involved with the religion herself, rather than equally an outsider looking at a little-understood (and much-misunderstood) religion. I'd recommend information technology to anyone who wants to learn more about Vodou, and to people who want to know more than about Haiti, since while the focus is on Haitian immigrants in Brooklyn, their lives and experiences are very much tied to Haiti and the importance of Vodou in Haiti. ...more

Jul 15, 2016 Bey Deckard rated it it was amazing

Finally got my re-create back and it's returned to its shelf in my library. This is i of those books I'm forever lending out because I absolutely loved it and I retrieve more people should read it. I get-go read it in an anthropology grade that dealt with magic, religion, and spirituality and it stuck with me. Finally got my copy back and it'south returned to its shelf in my library. This is one of those books I'g forever lending out because I absolutely loved it and I think more people should read it. I commencement read it in an anthropology class that dealt with magic, organized religion, and spirituality and it stuck with me. ...more

Nov thirty, 2013 Rebecca rated information technology liked it

This is a book hard to rate. Some parts of it is quite interesting - on the modern (read 1980s) use of vodou in Republic of haiti and how it transforms and translates to life for Haitian immigrants in New York. That really IS quite interesting. The presentation of Alourdes (Mama Lola) is okay though I might found it a bit too personal, in a way that the book doesn't actually warrant.

But what really fabricated me desire to hurl the book to the other side of the room from time to time is Karen'due south personal involvement -

This is a book hard to rate. Some parts of it is quite interesting - on the mod (read 1980s) employ of vodou in Haiti and how information technology transforms and translates to life for Haitian immigrants in New York. That really IS quite interesting. The presentation of Alourdes (Mama Lola) is okay though I might found it a fleck too personal, in a way that the book doesn't actually warrant.

But what really made me want to hurl the book to the other side of the room from time to time is Karen's personal involvement - not in the vodou life herself (that's up to her) but in the book. I can perfectly empathise her statement that it is impossible for her to only stay out of information technology and be a silent observer (I might not hold, but I sympathize it) but that is no reason for her to always place herself smack in the heart of everything. It'southward about cringing in the brusque stories (in themselves a bit cringing) where she writes almost herself in third person.

But if you can look past that it'due south an interesting book.

...more than

Jun ten, 2015 Alex rated information technology really liked information technology

This is probably the first and easily the all-time ethnographic report washed of Haitian vodou to date. Brownish writes carefully nearly her field of study and notes, every bit anyone who tries to look at vodou purely from an academic standpoint will tell you, that the merely manner to really sympathize what vodou is and does is to become within and join the organized religion, which Brown did.

As someone who found vodou before he found Mama Lola, the book reverberates every bit a sense of taste of domicile--the practices detailed are familiar and the lwa wri

This is probably the first and easily the best ethnographic report done of Haitian vodou to date. Brown writes carefully about her subject and notes, as anyone who tries to look at vodou purely from an bookish standpoint volition tell you lot, that the only style to really empathise what vodou is and does is to get inside and bring together the religion, which Brown did.

As someone who found vodou before he found Mama Lola, the volume reverberates as a gustatory modality of home--the practices detailed are familiar and the lwa written about mirror the spirits I know. An splendid book for anyone curious about the religion or people involved in it, or anyone who wants a solid ethnography to chew on.

...more than

Jul 03, 2007 Ben rated it it was amazing

Recommends information technology for: anyone

This is a really fascinating look at what kind of faith makes sense for people whose lives are extremely dissimilar from our own. Brown'southward sympathetic handling of Vaudou helped me to sympathize non but Haitian religion, only also the religious culture of ancient pagan societies; information technology also gave me a better appreciation of the social functions that the modernistic global religions serve in our ain social club.

I wonder, though, whether in that location isn't some irony in Brown's highly positive handling of Vaudou. S

This is a really fascinating look at what kind of organized religion makes sense for people whose lives are extremely different from our own. Dark-brown's sympathetic treatment of Vaudou helped me to understand non but Haitian faith, but too the religious culture of ancient pagan societies; it also gave me a improve appreciation of the social functions that the modern global religions serve in our own society.

I wonder, though, whether there isn't some irony in Brown's highly positive treatment of Vaudou. She clearly feels the charisma of Mama Lola intensely, but Vaudou'south focus on immediate survival and family is largely incompatible with anthropology's tendency to reach out (successfully or not) to other cultures. Where does this study stop to be a disinterested study of another culture and instead become an idyll inaccessible to educated, showtime-globe men and women? I suspect that Chocolate-brown is highly aware of this outcome in her work, but that doesn't mean she is able to transcend information technology. Perhaps none of united states of america who experience the world through writing (and its audio-visual adjuncts) can.

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October 18, 2013 Jena rated it it was amazing

I didn't know anything almost Haitian Vodou prior to reading this volume (other than mutual stereotypes from popular civilisation). A friend of mine is pursuing her doctorate in religion and mentioned this volume during a "Bible study" session. (By Bible study, I refer to a group of people from my church who come across once a week to hash out all sorts of spiritual questions, issues, disciplines, etc.--whether or not they derive from a Christian perspective.)

Mama Lola fascinated me. Karen McCarthy Brown weaves

I didn't know anything nigh Haitian Vodou prior to reading this book (other than common stereotypes from pop culture). A friend of mine is pursuing her doctorate in religion and mentioned this book during a "Bible report" session. (By Bible study, I refer to a group of people from my church who see one time a week to talk over all sorts of spiritual questions, issues, disciplines, etc.--whether or non they derive from a Christian perspective.)

Mama Lola fascinated me. Karen McCarthy Brown weaves together stories of Haitian family lore with current Vodou practices. Through her stories, you lot gain a sense of how this group of Haitian immigrants have brought their healing traditions to their lives in New York. The book is very dense -- full of detailed stories of the various Vodou spirits (often a blend of African spirits and Roman Cosmic saints). More than annihilation though, it dispelled misinformation I had about "voodoo" civilization and shed light on a spiritual culture that strives to heal, understand, and connect in times of both suffering and joy.

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Apr 03, 2012 Saundra rated information technology really liked it

Information technology thought it was a actually interesting read. I doubt I would accept picked this volume up if it weren't for the grade I read it for, but I liked it non-the-less.

Karen McCarthy Brown becomes transformed through her anthropological field piece of work of Haitian Vodou, and information technology challenged a lot of supposition she had about life. It actually made me think nigh the "truths" that I hold and broadened my perspectives.

It was as well pretty center opening of to the hardships that Haitians and Haitian immigrants faces. Life

It thought information technology was a really interesting read. I doubt I would have picked this volume upwardly if it weren't for the form I read information technology for, simply I liked it non-the-less.

Karen McCarthy Chocolate-brown becomes transformed through her anthropological field piece of work of Haitian Vodou, and it challenged a lot of assumption she had about life. It actually made me recall about the "truths" that I hold and broadened my perspectives.

It was besides pretty eye opening of to the hardships that Haitians and Haitian immigrants faces. Life in Haiti is actually hard, especially for women, but life for them in one case they immigrate to the United States is not cake walk. Haitians often experience must bigotry because they practice Vodou. I never realized how much prejudice there is against Vodou until reading this book and talking about it in class. It was really eye opening.

...more than

First-class book. I learned non merely a lot about Voodoo simply also quite a bit about the struggle of the Haitian immigrant community in 1980s New York. I specially liked author's personal stories of Aloudes, the priestess who is the subject of the volume, and her family unit. Informative, personal, touching and occasionally funny - a much more accessible scholarly book than near.

If you're new to Haitian Voodoo, endeavor reading Alfred Metraux's Voodoo in Republic of haiti first. Metraux'southward book is a broad study, whereas

Excellent book. I learned not but a lot about Voodoo only likewise quite a flake most the struggle of the Haitian immigrant community in 1980s New York. I specially liked author'southward personal stories of Aloudes, the priestess who is the subject area of the book, and her family unit. Informative, personal, touching and occasionally funny - a much more than accessible scholarly book than nigh.

If yous're new to Haitian Voodoo, effort reading Alfred Metraux'southward Voodoo in Haiti start. Metraux's book is a wide study, whereas Brown's is much more intimate. Both are excellent studies that shed much-needed lite the colorful and vibrant world of Voodoo.

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Jun 04, 2007 Corbin rated information technology really liked it

Recommends it for: rebecca

When I saw this volume on one of my college courses mandatory reading lists I was dreading it. Afterward the offset chapter it had me hooked. The book is a terrific research into a religion that I was completely ignorant on. Voodoo to me was what I had seen in all the movies and cartoons, monsters and witch doctors. Afterward reading the book I became very interested in learning more on the Voodoo Gods and Ceremonies.

I read this book for one of my anthropology classes in college, then wrote a newspaper on information technology. I establish this book very intriguing equally well as educational. I learned a lot about vodou and the culture backside it. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to augment their knowledge and larn near a strong woman who faces many struggles, but overcomes them.

Apr 14, 2007 Christina rated it it was amazing

Packs in a lot of textbook information, without sounding like one. Personal, touching, and more tangible than any other anthropological piece I've read. Packs in a lot of textbook data, without sounding similar one. Personal, touching, and more than tangible than whatsoever other anthropological piece I've read. ...more

May 13, 2012 fleegan rated it it was ok

I liked this book, but the author is too involved I think. Is this some kind of text book? Is it a memoir? Can it be both?
It was an interesting subject to read about.

May 13, 2015 Mauzi rated it really liked it

An interesting volume - subject was fascinating, though I did notice the writing a little disjointed at times.

Similar Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Adult female, which I also loved, this is an ethnography that focuses on one adult female informant. Well, one woman and her family unit. Mama Lola faces a lot of drama, in her own life and in the lives of the Brooklynites she helps by serving the spirits, and then there are a lot of amazing stories in here. Brown alternates between capacity written similar gonzo journalism and chapters that are more in line with anthropology, which allows for more freakiness than other academic dis Similar Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman, which I likewise loved, this is an ethnography that focuses on one woman informant. Well, i woman and her family unit. Mama Lola faces a lot of drama, in her own life and in the lives of the Brooklynites she helps by serving the spirits, so in that location are a lot of amazing stories in hither. Brown alternates between chapters written like gonzo journalism and chapters that are more than in line with anthropology, which allows for more freakiness than other bookish disciplines, but still, strives for something like "truth." I don't know if Haitians or Vodou practicing people retrieve this book is true, but I idea it was amazing. Even at the distance of a few decades and thousands of kilometers, I thought some of the spiritual insights here and theories of magic were helpful for me personally. I also kept flashing back to $.25 of Nalo Hopkinson stories and memories of encounters with Santeria when I lived in NYC, which was nice. All in all this is an exciting, warm, and loving book. ...more

Sep 04, 2007 Robyn rated information technology liked it

Recommends it for: the craven soup for the soul crowd

[granted I read this most iv years agone!... ;) preface this review with a heavy "As I call back"...]

My blasé attitude toward this book has very little to practice with the content. It is, in fact, a very fast and pleasant read... certainly worthy (at least) of a aeroplane ride/summer peruse. Alourdes' (Mama Lola) tale is an important i... and certainly words like "inspirational," "admirable" and "touching" are not undeserved.

At the risk of sounding a tad ornery, I suppose my issue with the volume stems from

[granted I read this nigh 4 years ago!... ;) preface this review with a heavy "Equally I recall"...]

My blasé attitude toward this volume has very little to do with the content. It is, in fact, a very fast and pleasant read... certainly worthy (at least) of a airplane ride/summer peruse. Alourdes' (Mama Lola) tale is an important one... and certainly words like "inspirational," "admirable" and "touching" are not undeserved.

At the run a risk of sounding a tad ornery, I suppose my issue with the book stems from the fact that-- given my background in religious studies-- I am no longer struck past narratives which endeavor to explore the charm and value of deviation. By establishing herself as the foil to Mama Lola at the onset of the book, I came to observe KMB's (written) role as observer more or less an imposition of a certain hubris. "Equally Alourdes and I became friends, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain an uncluttered image of myself as scholar and researcher in her presence." "The just was I could hope to understand the psychodrama of Vodou was to open my own life to the ministrations of Alourdes." "A great guffaw exploded from her, and, with one manus planted on each thigh, she threw her head dorsum: 'Karen, y'all also smart for me!'" I understand the value of tracing the evolution of your own transformation equally a reader along with the transformation of your writer... but why hit me over the head with information technology? I get it, it's hard to exist then edumacated and then turn around to endorse caprine animal sacrifice as a generative practice... but why make that explicit? To hook me in and personalize the story? In my opinion, Alourdes can do the heavy lifting on her own. (As is the case as the novel wears on...)

Despite my lack of mercy, I do recommend yous at least give information technology a try. I've jokingly recommended this for the "chicken soup for the soul" crowd. That's simply the tenor of the offset 100 of so pages... its true voice emerges subsequently KMB's slightly awkward maneuvering at the onset.

...more

Dec 01, 2015 Steven rated it it was astonishing

This book was absolutely wonderful, and deepened my agreement of Vodou tremendously. Mama Lola, since the time that the book was written, has become ane of the nigh important Haitian-American spiritual leaders in the diaspora, and this book is a stunning business relationship of her life. My only criticism is that, since this book is first and foremost an ethnography, the author is sometimes a bit too analytical. She has to be, considering she is an academic, merely too much analysis takes away from the orthopra This book was absolutely wonderful, and deepened my agreement of Vodou tremendously. Mama Lola, since the fourth dimension that the book was written, has become one of the most of import Haitian-American spiritual leaders in the diaspora, and this book is a stunning account of her life. My only criticism is that, since this book is start and foremost an ethnography, the writer is sometimes a bit also analytical. She has to be, because she is an bookish, only too much analysis takes away from the orthopracitcal cadre of Vodou. It is a religion that depends more than on what a person does rather than what he or she believes in, and this notion gets somewhat lost when the author expounds her thoughts on spiritual matters. All the same, on the whole, this book is very good, piece of cake-to-read, and highly enjoyable. ...more

Entertaining, but more of an autobiography than a scholarly work. Brownish chop-chop and easily falls under Alourdes' charismatic sway, withal as an outsider from a Western academic background is incapable of truly agreement the dynamics of Haitian vodou.

She neglects the reality of male person vodou practitioners (who are, for their part, possessed past female spirits), the subjective nature of her own analyses, and the express nature of her experiences with ane detail individual's approach to one role

Entertaining, merely more of an autobiography than a scholarly work. Brown chop-chop and easily falls under Alourdes' charismatic sway, yet as an outsider from a Western bookish background is incapable of truly understanding the dynamics of Haitian vodou.

She neglects the reality of male vodou practitioners (who are, for their part, possessed by female spirits), the subjective nature of her ain analyses, and the limited nature of her experiences with one particular private'due south approach to i particular branch of voodoo. She is herself an excellent case against the experiential focus advocated by Schleiermacher and Otto.

...more

Vodou is a misunderstood religion - it is peaceful, individualistic, and deeply spiritual, non the demented caricature our order has created for us to believe. I love McCarthy Chocolate-brown'south fragile treatment of Haitians living in Brooklyn, as well every bit her articulate rendering of vodou'due south most complicated theological features. This is an of import book and a great work of ethnography for those who have read little of information technology. Vodou is a misunderstood faith - it is peaceful, individualistic, and deeply spiritual, not the demented caricature our society has created for us to believe. I dear McCarthy Brownish'due south frail treatment of Haitians living in Brooklyn, as well equally her clear rendering of vodou'south most complicated theological features. This is an important book and a great work of ethnography for those who have read footling of it. ...more

Aug 25, 2009 Lance rated information technology it was astonishing

This is an intriguing ethnography that clearly is written from the footing up. We really see in McCarthy's Brown's assay of Voudou how "primitive" religions really brand sense and play an important function in people's life. What is amazing to me is how McCarthy Brownish was able to embed and so many theoretical strands inside her narrative, making information technology a gold heed of methodology and theory for religions scholars without making information technology difficult or boring. This is an intriguing ethnography that clearly is written from the footing up. We really meet in McCarthy's Brownish'south analysis of Voudou how "archaic" religions actually brand sense and play an of import role in people'due south life. What is amazing to me is how McCarthy Brownish was able to embed so many theoretical strands inside her narrative, making it a gold listen of methodology and theory for religions scholars without making it difficult or boring. ...more

Apr xvi, 2008 Ellen rated information technology really liked information technology

Recommended to Ellen by: Sarah T

Really interesting ethnography of vodou, which I knew nothing near previously. For you anthropology nerds, in that location is a funny note in the foreword about how the author was doing fieldwork while the whole postal service-modern controversy was going. Immediately after its publication, her book was hailed as this great instance of post-modernism and she had no idea what they were talking well-nigh.

Sep 11, 2014 Aureola rated it it was amazing

Cute slice of scholarship. In embracing her subjectivity, McCarthy Brown created a consummate work that denied most misconceptions people accept about Haitian religion. Of grade you would demand more literature to practise some piece of work on Vodou, merely even so, Mama Lola should be required reading for anyone studying Afro-Caribbean faith. More than than a volume about religion, information technology is a volume about humanity.

May 13, 2007 Komal rated it it was ok

i loved reading this book. i love learning near new religions and this was a perfect way to learn abotu one. the author converts to become office of the vodou customs and its absurd to walk through her process while she writes near it. its equally if you lot, yourself are converting to this religion also.

Jun 28, 2007 Alexandra rated it information technology was amazing

Excellent overview of Haitian Rada vodou in Brooklyn. Both Alourdes and Karen McCarthy Brown emerge as complex individuals harnassing physical and spiritual resources to solve deep social problems associated with immigration and poverty in America.

Nov 10, 2009 Kineta rated information technology it was amazing

The chapters alternate betwixt biographical stories spanning multiple generations of Mama Lola's family unit and information near the lwa. It's well written and fascinating. Gives a very overnice overview of Vodou and Haitian culture. The chapters alternate betwixt biographical stories spanning multiple generations of Mama Lola's family and information most the lwa. Information technology's well written and fascinating. Gives a very nice overview of Vodou and Haitian culture. ...more than

Jan 04, 2011 Monika rated it it was ok

An instance of how the Vodou religion is so entertwined with practioners' lives you can non segregate the two. A religion that brings ancestors dorsum to life via possession and the hard history of the Haitian people. An example of how the Vodou organized religion is and then entertwined with practioners' lives you can non segregate the 2. A religion that brings ancestors back to life via possession and the difficult history of the Haitian people. ...more

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