by Lanae Celeste

Created on: May 25, 2008   Last Updated: May 27, 2008

Although different human cultures possess a broad spectrum of techniques for dealing with the various natural and manmade environments they live within, one aspect of humanity seems to universally exist: the trials and tribulations of everyday life. In her semi-ethnographical memoir, "Monique and the Mango Rains," Kris Holloway reveals that amidst the alien lifestyle of the Minianka in Mali, she found several of the familiar human dramas playing out especially those concerning women. Although the actors are different and the stage foreign, many of the themes exposed in this book are mirrored in some way the world over.

The domestic issues that many of the Malian women dealt with were strikingly similar to what women in America routinely experience, despite the fact these issues exist in completely different milieus. Irreconcilable differences like lack of communication, spousal incompatibility, and unhappiness between marriage partners are the most often cited reasons for divorce in America. Although divorce in Minianka is rare due to women lacking child custody rights, these same problems plague Monique's marriage, proof that some things are the same everywhere. She has more education than her husband Franois, she speaks a different language than he, and came from a much different city than the one he grew up in. As Kris gets to know Monique better, she learns of her friend's deep unhappiness with her marriage. Monique also reveals that she's having an affair with the man she would have married, had the cultural practice of arranged marriage not existed.

Infidelity is often common in bad American marriages as well, although divorce is an acceptable option for the resolution of this problem. Due to Miniakan cultural taboos on divorce, Monique's situation is much more difficult. She finds comfort in being with Pascal, the man she loves, but she knows that legitimately spending time with him is walking a razor thin line. It is tragic that she must go to such great lengths to secretly see Pascal while at the same time she can do nothing about Franois' "squandering of resources" on his girlfriend, despite the facts that it is her money and he is leaving his family with nothing to eat. Since Monique would broach cultural norms by complaining publicly, she pours her heart out to Holloway about how much her helpless situation bothers her; apparently people in all cultures need a shoulder to lean on and a sympathetic ear to listen to the problems of life each individual

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