{"product_id":"9780773588288","title":"Bilingual Being: My Life as a Hyphen","description":"Written by a survivor of childhood abuse, this moving memoir traces the influence of the author's mother tongue in the formation of her identity, and the role her second language played in providing a psychological sanctuary. Kathleen Saint-Onge reflects on the ambiguities of growing up in a primarily French household while attending English schools as she richly recounts the emotional gains and losses of a life lived in two languages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA testament to the power of language in determining feelings of belonging or alienation, Bilingual Being also presents a portrait of the 1960s in Quebec and the changing role of the Catholic Church. Depicting with warmth and humour her own developing independence gained at school, Saint-Onge reveals the tensions between the social world of her evolving English and her deep roots in French-speaking Quebec City. It is an exploration of hope where language provides an escape from traumatic memories and a chance to reconstruct a secure sense of self. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBilingual Being is a superbly crafted autobiography that seamlessly moves from the remembrance of abuse to observations of living bilingualism and the gradual unfolding of recovery in adulthood. It is a compelling, beautiful, and brave narrative that tells a wider story about human resilience and the impact of language in creating new possibilities for life.","brand":"MQUP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47067177681136,"sku":"9780773588288","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780773588288_p0.jpg?v=1763661775","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780773588288","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}