This is the compelling life story of a young Carib child, torn from her roots in an obscure coastal town and raised by wealthy German expatriates in Guatemala City, who struggles throughout a lifetime to reconcile her European upbringing and white identity with her dark skin. Her story takes us on a multi-cultural journey from Central America and the Caribbean through Europe and then the United States, offering profound insight into the relativity of racial identity and cultural assumptions. The style of this autobiography is vivid, dramatic, and moving. Particularly noteworthy is the lush and powerful way in which she evokes the immediate sensory experience of her childhood – the colors, tones, tastes, textures and scents etched upon her sense of the world. The narrative is wonderfully dramatic, at many points almost cinematic, as she lays before us the scenes, the people, words and gestures that shaped the unfolding of her mind and spirit. Particularly compelling is her portrait of her German mother, a strong woman of mature years, honed through difficult experience to face life squarely and independently, who struggles to prepare her Mohrle (little Moor) to find a place in educated and sophisticated society where her radiant spirit and keen intellect will outshine her dark skin. She teaches Mohrle the importance of the proper “frame,” and we see Mohrle build a series of protective frameworks in both her inner and outer worlds. We see her shape and play a role in life, and do not wonder but only cheer at her success as an actress of European stage, cinema and television. A move to the United States challenges all her protective frameworks as she discovers the difference between having dark skin and being Black in America. Brought into vivid relief by the racism of American culture, the deep contradictions and fears which lurk at the root of her identity prod her eventually to seek out her roots and to reclaim the birth mother whom she had rejected, in fear and confusion, as a young child. The image of her birth mother’s last visit and the recollection of her last words haunt the last part of the story, as Mohrle, now a professor of cultural studies, stops merely playing roles, albeit with consummate skill, and begins examining them. Throughout this story, vivid scenes of lived experience alternate with insightful commentary. The questions it explores strike at the heart of all of our lives: How do we frame the persona we present to the world? Ho do we reconcile the self-image we create and defend over a lifetime with the image we see in the mirror? How do we come to love and honor all of our mothers, and all of our heritage?
This beautifully written story is an emotional page turner, well set up in the beginning where you watch this child grow up in privileged surroundings, loved by all. Then as an adult, as she becomes more self aware, the physical search and internal inquiry into her real identity is actually heartbreaking, although eventually triumphant in its resolution. The vivid portrayal of life in 1940’s and 50’s Guatemala is exotic and beautiful, while there is always the slight undercurrent of mystery and thoughts shoved away by fear of the truth. The characters are fully formed, honest and many faceted. You are taken along as a companion in her childhood and young adult life, and then as she slowly becomes unable to handle pressures alone in the world, you are included in the details of her internal struggle. I could not put the book down, for the need to know what happened next and how she would continue with her search for herself and, eventually, her birth mother. The resolution of understanding and forgiveness is a lesson for all on how people cope with situations, and, right or wrong, that they do the best they can. It is emotionally honest and tremendously moving and while I was left with real sadness, I also felt I understood everyone involved. This is a story for anyone who has had to come to some understanding about the past and is also a very good read. I highly recommend it.
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This memoir tells the tale of a woman’s quest to discover her heritage and, ultimately, herself. Although Catana’s story is unique and the book’s setting is distinct, it is, in fact, everyone’s story.
Raised by a White, European family, Catana is an African Hispanic (a term she uses in the novel to categorize herself) whose cultural perspective and inner conditioning are in direct contrast with her outer shell. You cannot help but step into Catana’s shoes as she unveils her true identity and reacquaints herself with the family she left behind. In her search, she becomes the multicultural person that she was truly meant to be. Through her honesty and global awareness, Catana blends a mixture of societies that were, and continue to be, held in deep contrast, especially in the United States.
Split at the Root is a story of great historical significance for all persons interested in coming to terms with diversity. Family secrets, lies, protections, cultural viewpoints, racism and biases are brought to the surface and faced in grace and acceptance.
The richness of the tale entices you to travel along with the storyteller and then you are bound by the experiences that you share. It’s a beautiful narrative that you will never forget.
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Having grown up in Guatemala myself, I really waned to read this well written memoir of a young black girl from Livingston, who was raised by a German family in Guatemala. Because of her upbringing and lack of understanding her own cultural background, Catana struggles to find out who she really is, or how she should really feel as she grows older, and comes to terms with both her German family and her birth family . I will let you read her emotional story, and follow her search as this was really a fascinating story.
Split at the Root is a book to be read in one seating; one cannot put her story of love down, because of these painful questions, you just must have answered before ‘your next sleep’ comes, with hopes in heart, she will have the resolution of “self”, in only to be a humane way ~ sweet-child to loving woman. When you finish, you will want to reread her story, just so as you can get it all back together, “right”: she will be healed from these secrets and the lies. ( Don’t we just all want that PEACE-Train!) Having several adopted children in our own extended-family, was reason for me to Kindle, and then purchase the book on paper, in order to share this resolute child’s story, our family. For one, an adopted-child of Portuguese decent, another, who was not offered an open-adoption. (She, like Catana, wonders who brought her into the world, and what of her father;made so, where sometimes this wondering will never have an answer of satisfaction.)Then, again, there is an actually knowing ‘Who Am I’, and an acceptance of our own failings, those whom we very much love. Which were hers, interesting action (s), where Catana’s made-family is/ was concerned; here is “a real person”, aspiring to be her best-self, and you will grow to love such purpose in her, and how she turns out, despite all of untruth dealt. My own son, “Why didn’t I know ‘this’ growing up?”
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This book is written with such an interesting life of a child into late adulthood. This litel girl born to a dark skinned mother and brought up by wealth and position. Being dark skined she raised by a white wealthy family, taken from her natural mother to be raided by this white family. She was highly educated in private schools and went on to choose many courses in her life time.
From actress, international model to a PHD in a large university. The most interesting book I have read so far. You will love the twists and turns in her life.
This memoir is thoroughly enjoyable on many levels. Share her life and experiences – and be so glad you did!
For fans of Obama’s Dreams from My Father, and Mark Whitaker’s My Long Trip Home, this book is a must-read: a well researched, cinematic telling of a woman’s search for her true identity. This time the elusive parent is the mother, not the father, as in the two other memoirs. Raised in what appears to be idyllic circumstances by a German Guatemalan family, Catana is given the best of everything from education to toys. But as she enters middle-age, she finds herself growing anxious and unsettled. Her therapist prods her on a journey of self-discovery. At the heart of this book is a woman seeking to understand the mysteries surrounding her birth and her subsequent raising by a white family in the 1940s. From language interpreter to the glamorous life of an actress and model, then wife, mother and professor, I was captured by the story, written vividly, dramatically and with almost painful honesty. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next to all the characters whom I grew to care about, what twists and turns Catana’s search for her truth would take. To divulge more would be a spoiler, but I recommend you read this for yourself.
I was eager to read Split at the Root especially because I had a significant personal attachment to the subject matter. I, as Catana, was a child of dark skin raised by white parents. This is what initially drew me to the book as there are not many of this subject matter, at least that I have been exposed too. What enthralled me after the initial intrigue was the beauty of her writing. Her homeland and her childhood experiences are described in such vivid detail reminiscent of one of my favorite Latin American writers of our age Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the honestly of experience and matter of fact attitude was reminiscent of another favorite author of mine Paramahansa Yogananda. Additionally, and possibly more important and profound to me was her ability to describe her emotional experience of being a person of dark skin, raised by white parents in a white society. She touched a nerve to say the least and confirmed my own experiences. Split was not only a beautifully written book but one I could relate to on a profound level. I look forward to Catana’s further publications exploring on a deeper level the psychological issues presented in the book.
It is rare in this day of homogenized prose to come across any book, be it fiction or fact, that possesses an individual style while handling the language as artfully and as engagingly as Catana Tully does in “Split at the Root.” Moreover, Dr. Tully relates her autobiography while eschewing a point of view trapped by political correctness. Taking this fresh approach, she transcends simplistic racial and national stereotypes so that everyone you meet throughout her life shares a common humanity that surprises, but also lets us see such a portrait that we cannot but say, “Ah, that must be them” and “I wish I were there.” Colors, gradients of light during different times of day, the clothes people wear, the fragrances of foods and flora, the mannerisms of individuals and the inflections of voice–Dr. Tully uses them to paint portraits of people and the narratives they move through as she silently harbors deep questions about her identity and purpose in life. If you think you know Latin America, Jamaica, the British Isles, Germany or the United States, “Split at the Root” will teach you anew about people who call each of these places home — and, it will do it with an elegant, energetic prose style that we can only call original and Dr. Tully’s own. A must read for anyone who loves literature.
Catana gave us not only a personal account of an unusual upbringing, but I also learned a lot about the tangled history surrounding her story. It was very well written, intelligent and poignant. Her story is a must read for anyone seeking a different and very important perspective on the black experience.
Chilling, sad at times but truly amazing. I felt such a kinship through my read, as if I knew Catana , I think I just really wanted to know her to tell her to stop blaming herself she is awesome!
I chose this book because it looked interesting, I wanted to try my new Kindle, and the price was right. I found myself ignoring needed work to read. Fully engaging,wonderful story. Thanks for writing it!
I found this story engrossing from beginning to end. It’s beautifully written and the author’s writing style flows effortlessly from page to page. This author has a gift for bringing the imagery of the story to life.
There are a few typos and two places in the Kindle version of the book which contain formatting errors (can’t turn the page in those places without rotating the Kindle to re-orient the layout on the screen) but these issues are minor compared to the overall human value of the story.
I look forward to more from this first-time author!
The overall concept of this book was interesting and I’m sure that others will find it riveting. The writing was strong and the characters well-developed, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I’m sure that others will enjoy this book a great deal.
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5.0 out of 5 stars What a story! You could not make this stuff up!, June 20, 2013
By
Julia (Round Rock, Tx.l USA) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Kindle Edition)
Catana’s story had me hooked and mesmerized from first page to last. It also inspired me to look her up on Google and I have read as much about her as I could find. She is an amazing lady indeed and one with a fascinating story to tell. Would love to meet her sometime for real.
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Loyalties Lost, Loyalties Found, June 18, 2013
By
Truth~n~Honesty (FLORIDA) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Paperback)
Although I’ve just finished reading Split at the Root, my mind is still unable to fully absorb what this dear child had to endure. Multiple momma’s, multiple colors of skin, multiple languages all mixed with multiple moves and multiple losses! How could this child ever grow up not feeling torn from a long ago lost identity?
The author writes with much detail, like unto long letters written to a faraway unknown person with the hopes of helping that someone finally know and understand them…or at the least understand their struggle. As the author helps us know her outside life experiences, that of having servants, a fine education and opportunities in both fashion and movies that the majority of young girls only dream about, it is her emotional struggles between mind and soul, the struggles between loyalties of the heart, that interested me most.
And if the author intended for us to travel along with her, to experience enough of her life’s journey in order to come to know her essence and along the way develop some empathy for her – indeed Catana Tully was successful. Being raised by strangers that you come to know and love isn’t an easy prescription for anyone’s life, not when your heart yearns for your own kind. As an adoptee I know this in truth. And I’m ever so grateful this woman, who experienced similar heart wounds as mine, took the time and put forth the effort to share such intimate parts of her life with me. Somehow I feel I know myself a little bit better for having read her book.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Grafting Roots with Love, June 12, 2013
By
Pamela R. “PJ” (New Jersey) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Paperback)
A powerful life story of the author’s efforts to learn of her parentage, which means she must decolonize her mind before she can love her Black-ness and whole self. Catana Tully reconnects with her siblings and untangles the root work of narrative and silences propagated by her German family.
I cannot think of more than a handful of memoirs that conclude with love, forgiveness, and acceptance.
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Wonderful Read, May 30, 2013
By
This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Kindle Edition)
This is a fantastic memoir. It vividly describes the author’s journey of loss and discovery against the backdrop of a fascinating life. The book is very well written, and was tough to put down. Sad at times, funny at times, but always engaging. Don’t ponder, just buy it and read it.
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Split at the root, May 29, 2013
By
elizabeth cook (RUSSELLVILLE, AR, US) – See all my reviews
This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Kindle Edition)
I loved this book! Catana’s story touched my heart. Her tale of lost identity, perpetrated upon her by those who loved her was fascinating. I read it through in one night! A beautiful lady with a beautiful soul!
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4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story, May 25, 2013
By
Susana Campos (Chacarilla del Estanque, Surco Peru) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Kindle Edition)
I enjoyed this novel because it is an interesting and well written story. It also has an emotional background to it so that I couldn’t stop reading to see what happened in this persons life.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Who are you – really?, May 6, 2013
By
Northern Lights and Midnight Sun (North Norway) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Kindle Edition)
I picked this book up when it was offered free, recommended by a friend. It’s taken me a while to finish it but the story stayed with me – Catana/Adriana tells her story of growing up as “Mohrle”, “little Moor”, a black baby in a white German family in Guatemala. The complex ethnic identities are further complicated by the lies, hidden truths and assumptions – what was the real story of her birth, her parents, her self?
This is a hard book to review, it is certainly not a polished-to-perfection product. I was jolted out of the story telling at times by the German “breaking through” the English, and by the author’s seeming distance from the story she is telling, of her self. After finishing the book I am thinking that the narrative seems genuine, and describes the author’s persona – who she ended up as, thanks to the very events she describes. Interesting and different, recommended for those with an interest in social history and identity building.
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As someone who has never had to question her heritage, my heart breaks for Dr. Tully. She’s brutally honest and easy to relate to. Her story has forced me to think of the importance of one’s family history and racial identity.
Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity, by Catana Tully, is a story that is easy for any reader to relate to. Catana considers herself to be African Hispanic, and she tells her story of being raised as a privileged child by a white, European family. As she becomes older she begins to question her roots, and it’s through these questions that her story really begins. As a reader, you really get to experience all of Catana’s emotion right along with her as if you were a part of the story too. You see her story go from a happy childhood to a questioning adulthood, from heartbreak to triumph.
I absolutely loved this book and found it to be quite the page turner, which really surprised me. When I read what it was about, I honestly was not expecting it to be as good as it was, and I loved that about it. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys memoir’s, as this one is worth the read! Great job to the author!
Catana Tully, affectionately nicknamed Mohrle by her German adoptive parents, is a bright, cheerful black girl that only vaguely realizes the incongruity of her skin compared to the complexions of those around her. Unbeknownst to her, she was taken from her birth mother as a baby. The story deals with her childhood and growth and she attempts to reconcile her upbringing with her skin color (and with how people in various cultures perceive her as a result of it) as she travels the world. Eventually her confusion and desire to know more about herself leads her back to the place of her birth. The author paints a vivid picture, and the narrative is smooth as butter.
The book is chock full of everything I love; interesting “characters”, details and descriptions of historic events, and writing that invokes all five senses. It’s not always an easy read, as there are points where I felt angry or sad, but it is an important issue and a very good look at how unusual circumstances have affected some people. Split at the Root is a charming memoir and a down-to-earth exploration of racial identity and other problems.
A remarkably moving novel that was near impossible to put down. I would like to thank the author for sharing her story.
Reviewing an autobiography is difficult, how do you critique someone’s life story?
In this case, the critique is on the positive side. Catana (or Adriana as her birthname was) was given up by her biological mother to be raised by a German family. Normally, that does not seem unusual, but in this case, the child is a Black child and the family is very white, and they are living in Guatemala.
Growing up, Catana was loved and given the best of everything, never needing to want for anything, but also never knowing her Black heritage and family. Years later, after succeeding in school and becoming a famous model and actress, she was encouraged to write about her life and find out about her biological family and their heritage.
The truths she learned were not as she was led to believe growing up. The secrets and mysteries she uncovered opened her eyes to her true upbringing.
While you travel along with Catana, you will visit numerous locations described in vivid detail and meet her extended family, along with a very loving and supportive husband. This is true determination to discover one’s history. Travel with Catana to discover why her mother gave up her first born. The family has quite the difference in characters and her travels will keep you turning the pages to see if she ever finds the truth.
Split at the Root by Catana Tully is an intricate study of self-identity, social influences, and familial ties. The first story Catana can remember is one Mutti, her German mother, tells about her “birth.” Mutti tells Catana that she floated down the river on a leaf, and that, in that moment, Mutti knew Catana was hers to keep. This is just one of many “fairytales” that Mutti tells Catana about her life (and her history).
Catana was born to Rosa, a Black woman, in Livingston. However, she was raised by a White, German woman, who called her “Mohrle,” or “little Moor.” Catana grows up in a White household, treated as a privileged White. As such, she is uncomfortable around people of color and even begins to hate her birth mother. Throughout her life, she struggles with issues of race, identity, and prejudice. Mutti refuses to acknowledge the deeper issues, preferring to mold Catana into a likable, competent woman, who has “the right frame.”
Catana decides to flout her education and become an actress. Along the way, she meets Fred, and they fall in love and marry. All her life, Catana has been surrounded by White people. She knows next to nothing about her birth mother and even less about her father and the rest of her biological family. On a trip back to her birth village, she begins to get hints that Mutti may not have been telling her the whole truth–words like “stolen child” are thrown around in context to Mutti and Catana’s relationship. As Catana digs deeper, she uncovers secrets about her heritage and her upbringing. Along the way, she must confront her racial identity and all that goes with it.
Tully’s memoir is extremely detailed. She begins with her first memories and continues to the present day. By the end of the tale, it is as if the reader is a part of the family that Catana is trying to piece together. Her story is emotional–full of love, laughter, and even fear. The reader will watch Catana grow up and find her own identity. The story is impossible to put down as Catana attempts to unravel the complicated mystery that surrounds her biological family. It takes many years for her to learn the truth and just as long, maybe longer, for her to know herself. It may be a memoir, but at points, it reads like a detective novel. Even though it is one woman’s life and history, it touches on important racial, societal, and personal identity issues.
Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity is the author’s look at her own life as she grew up in the house of rich white people, went to fancy private boarding schools and moved out on her own. Throughout she tries to come to terms with the fact that although she grew up in a white world she is a black woman.
To be honest, even though I understand that her situation must have been very difficult, in my opinion she often seemed like an ungrateful rich spoiled brat. Yes, growing up as a black person in the 40s, 50s and 60s was certainly not a picnic in the park but this woman had it better than most black people and even most white people. The more I read the angrier I became at her attitude. All of this aside, the book is interesting and very well-written. It moves quickly and easily, moving through the years of Ms. Tully’s life as she recollects pertinent times in her very full life. After school, she became an actress and model, travelled the world and married actor Frederick Tully with whom she has a son. A constant throughout the book is her confusion at the emotions she has about not feeling like she belong to either the black culture or the white one. Included in the book are many pictures of the author and her family which lend a feeling of realism to the story.
Overall, the book is very interesting to read and does provide an inside look into how someone in Ms. Tully’s unique situation may feel and how she deals with the division of cultures.
Growing up biracial, I had quite an experience in figuring out my own self identity. Many insights explored in this memoir resonated with my experiences and perceptions. It is well written and insightful.
This is the most fascinating memoir I have read this year. Catana Tully displays courage and determination while she faces the uncertain and painful truth of her origin, and the eventual knowledge that for her formative years she was kept from her birth family. This memoir is well-written and painfully honest in its appraisal of the events that shaped her life and which were beyond her ability to influence. How does one move on beyond such losses knowing they were intentionally inflicted by loved ones?
Margaret Lange
Catana, a young Carib child has been torn from her home in an mysterious coastal city.
This is a memoir telling the story of a woman’s search to figure out her heritage and eventually, herself.
She was raised by a fancy and wealthy white European family, living in Guatemala during World War II. She is privileged and loved by her family, but she can’t help but feel like something is missing. She becomes unable to handle the everyday pressures in life, and you’ll read how she handles her struggles she deals with it internally.
Being a black skinned woman, she doesn’t feel comfortable where she is at. She is being torn between everything she was raised as, and who she really is. So she goes in search of her old family to understand her own cultural background. Travel from Central America to the Caribbean, through Europe and the United States as she reveals her true self and reunites with her family that she left behind.
You’ll see how she comes to terms with both of her families and who she is. It takes her awhile for her to make peace with how she was brought up as a black skinned woman.
It was hard to put this book down because I just had to find out what happened next, at the end of each chapter. The characters were so honest and real, I felt I knew everyone and was right along side her as she faced her struggles head on. It was a great memoir worthy of 5/5 rating.
Catana Tully’s amazing novel “Split at the Root” caught me completely by surprise. I must admit my expectations prior to reading this novel were simple; it would be a race relations book. Split at the Root is so much more than just race. This memoir gives a full circle view on topics of mixed race, multiculturalism, family dis-functionality and much more. Tully provides a very detail account of her life from childhood straight through adulthood. The reader will appreciate Tully’s thorough explanation of why she was a confused “German” kid who did not consider herself black. The relationship Tully had with both of her mother’s in itself was touching but lead myself and mostly other readers into Tullys psyche, and truly explains her thought process. Split at the Root gives another dimension another insight to how race is perceived from someone who is multiracial. I quite enjoyed this book and the look into Catana Tully’s life.
Zu dem Zeitpunkt, an welchem der Erfüllung eines Kinderwunsches weder medizinisch noch moralisch keine Grenzen mehr gesetzt sind erfüllt dieses Buch in mehrfacher Hinsicht den Anspruch gelesen zu werden.
Hinreißend farbig gelingt es der Autorin ihre eigene Suche nach der Antwort auf ihre Identität auch zu der des Lesers zu machen.
Sie nimmt ihn in einem bewundernswert dosierten Tempo über Kontinente und Lebensbedingungen in atemberaubender Leichtigkeit und gleichzeitiger Tiefe von der ersten Seite an mit.
Am Ende lässt sie ihn durch ihre positiv bewältigten Erfahrungen unbelastet, beglückt aber auch nachdenklich zurück.
Zukünftige Eltern könnte “Split at the Root” anregen ihre Verantwortung für die Persönlichkeit eines zukünftigen Wunschkindes noch tiefer in ihrem Herzen zu verspüren, bevor sie sich entscheiden diese Aufgabe zu übernehmen.
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5.0 von 5 Sternen Ungewöhnliche, faszinierende Lebensgeschichte, 18. Januar 2013
Von Alfred Bucherer – Alle meine Rezensionen ansehen
Rezension bezieht sich auf: Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity (Taschenbuch)
Brilliant geschriebene sehr ungewöhnliche Lebensgeschichte beim Zusammentreffen von europäischer, schwarzer latein-amerkanischer und afroamerikanischer Kultur. Eine Authorin mit brillianter Sprache, einem unendlichen Wortschatz und einer bestechenden Offenheit.
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5.0 von 5 Sternen Faszinierend und packend!, 28. April 2013
Die interessantesten und unglaublichsten Geschichten schreibt bekanntlich das Leben. Wäre dieses Buch Fiktion, dann müßte die Verfasserin sich vorwerfen lassen, doch ein bißchen zu dick aufgetragen zu haben. Aber sie beschreibt ja einfach “nur” die fesselnde und bewegende Geschichte ihres Lebens, das etwa mit ihrem fünfzigsten Lebensjahr zu einer Suche nach ihrer wahren Identität wurde. Es ist eine Identität, die jahrzehntelang vergraben und ignoriert worden war, auch von ihr selbst. Eine Identität, die ihr zunächst sehr fremd vorkam, die zu finden und anzunehmen dann aber doch ein Nachhausekommen für sie war.
Catana kam 1940 in Guatemala als uneheliches Kind einer schwarzen Hausangestellten zu Welt, die es gleich nach der Geburt der deutschen Familie gab, für die sie arbeitete. Mutti, wie sie ihre Pflegemutter nannte, überschüttete sie mit Liebe und sorgte in jeder Hinsicht gut für das hübsche kleine schwarze Mädchen, das sie “Mohrle” nannte, was keineswegs abschätzig gemeint war.
Als junge Frau ging sie nach Deutschland, wo sie, zunächst gegen Muttis Willen, Karriere als Model und Schauspielerin machte. In München heiratete sie ihren Traummann, einen weißen Amerikaner. Als sie ihm in dessen Heimat folgte, begegnete sie zum ersten Mal massivem Rassismus. Aber nicht nur in Form von Vorurteilen der Weißen gegenüber den Schwarzen, sondern auch in Form von Ablehnung der Afroamerikaner, weil sie einen Weißen geheiratet hatte. Überhaupt stieß die Mentalität der Afroamerikaner sie ab. Das zwang sie dazu, nach ihrer eigenen Identität zu suchen. Wer war sie wirklich?
Da ich viel Sympathie für dunkelhäutige Menschen afrikanischer Herkunft oder Abstammung hege und mich die Begegnung mit fremden Kulturen schon lange fasziniert, hat mich dieses Buch im Grunde schon gepackt, bevor ich die erste Zeile gelesen hatte. Und das hat bis zum Schluß nicht aufgehört. Kann ich es empfehlen? Dumme Frage!
Allerdings kann ich nicht ihre Beurteilung (bzw. Aburteilung) des Christentums teilen. Sie behauptet, die unterdrückten bzw. kolonialisierten dunkelhäutigen Menschen in Afrika und Lateinamerika hätten sich damit nie identifizieren können, weil es weiß als die Farbe der Reinheit und schwarz als die des Bösen betrachtet. Die tiefe christliche Frömmigkeit der schwarzen Sklaven in Amerika sowie die rapide wachsenden evangelikalen Gemeinden in Afrika und Lateinamerika beweisen das Gegenteil.
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3 – REVIEWS ON AMAZON.UK (Great Britain)
I absolutely loved this book. It was most interesting historically and culturally. There are some wonderful twists and turns which you really don’t expect. I didn’t want it to end. Great read.
A couple of weeks ago Catana Tully’s publicist wrote to offer me a review copy of Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity. I do not often review memoirs, but I found the description of this one particular intriguing – a black child raised by a German family in Guatemala during the World War II years. Let me tell you what I found so very fascinating about this description.
A couple of decades after the end of World War II I spent a few years living in Germany. As a matter of fact, I was probably in Germany at about the same time that Catana was, though I lived in a different part of Germany. In the Germany that I knew there were no blacks other than American servicemen and sometimes (rarely) their wives. None. Not on the TV, not walking down the streets. None. And in the part of Germany that I lived in, there were still places were people were abominably rude to American servicemen (especially in uniform) and doubly so if they happened to be black.
Chalk it up to youth and a certain naiveté I suppose, but when I helped a dear friend trace her genealogy back into Eastern Europe about five years ago I had the shock of my life as that trail wandered back to the very part of Germany where I had lived, a part of Germany that I learned had been a hotbed of the Nazi party, home to an infamous SS center & prison and not very far from the facility where the Nazis first gassed the infirm in the early 30s. I was even more shocked to come across pictures of pre-Hitler German children who happened to be black. I suppose that I shouldn’t have been – I had, after all, heard of German East Africa – but there it is. Never once in all of the many things I’ve read about WWII and Germany has any mention ever been made of the existence of German blacks. So, I was intrigued.
Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love and Lost Identity is a fascinating story. I’ve found that I have had to be especially vigilant in my refusal to psychoanalyze Catana’s journey, though very clearly she is a woman who has never for a single day felt comfortable in her own skin, despite all of her many accomplishments. Her writing is full of raw emotion, though sometimes stilted, as is often the case with those who don’t particularly like to reveal their innermost “self.” In making her story public, Tully raises some powerful questions about race and identity, questions that are worth pondering. I do think, however, that the book is misnamed. I don’t think that Catana Tully ever lost her identity. I’m not sure that she ever had one in the first place.
Highly recommended
WOW what a book. What can I say, except this is a Woman’s journey to find her true roots, peace and freedom.
This is a fascinating and at the same time very touching story and a person who enjoys and yet is torn by affiliation with numerous different cultures.
Catana Tully is very much a modern-day version of Leon l’African, the main character in the novel by Amin Maalouf.