So I have decided to continue to read throughout the year since I know I can and if it interest me I actually enjoy it. We should share what we are reading through out the year not just during the summer together.
I read Heaven is For Real, a few weeks ago. It literally took me four days to finish it. It was an easy read and very compelling. I guess we can discuss and debate whether the child actually went to Heaven or a special holding place or something we don't know about since we've never died. However, I believe this young child had a real supernatural experience. In reading this book I found a renewed hope in Christ and my faith. I want to one day experience a place that is far beyond my dreams and even expectations of life after death. I recommend taking a chance on this book and maybe you'll get something good out of it.
The book I'm currently reading is the Mitch Album book called Have a Little Faith. I'll be back with more about that later. Happy reading.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Finished!!!
So I finished the book this weekend. Actually at 7am Sunday morning. I was so excited to finish because the book was that good and powerful and because I read it in record Cecily time. 17 days that is. I deserve ice cream for that accomplishment. Patting myself on the back right now!
I know a few people are still working on it or have just started because of the word on the street or on Twitter which is virtually the street now right? I won't go into book details because I want them to have as pure a reading experience as possible and make their own decisions. Last week I was talking to some friends and I was very close to finishing the book at the time. We were discussing how the book made us feel etc. One of my friends pointed out how hard it was for people with a different opinion to speak up. White or black, having another opinion was not okay. Standing up for what you believe in could get you killed.
We don't struggle in the same way in 2011 for the most part but we still struggle with this in our daily lives. One friend mentioned how in small ways its hard, such as the lunch table at work. Everybody is hating on one person and although you don't get involved you never step in and say things like "well I've never had a problem with her" or "maybe we should be careful of what we say about them". Its hard even thinking about how many conversations I could have stepped up and didn't and allowed others to believe they were right or even worse, that I agreed.
I have many other thoughts about this book because I loved it so much. I can't wait to have conversations with more people about it. I'd love to hear other people's responses to the book as you finish. It seems everyone takes away something different and that's what I love about life, we experience the same things but we interpret it differently based on other experiences and its okay. If you hated the book, I'd like to know why, not to throw you under the bus but to understand another view point.
Good day folks!
I know a few people are still working on it or have just started because of the word on the street or on Twitter which is virtually the street now right? I won't go into book details because I want them to have as pure a reading experience as possible and make their own decisions. Last week I was talking to some friends and I was very close to finishing the book at the time. We were discussing how the book made us feel etc. One of my friends pointed out how hard it was for people with a different opinion to speak up. White or black, having another opinion was not okay. Standing up for what you believe in could get you killed.
We don't struggle in the same way in 2011 for the most part but we still struggle with this in our daily lives. One friend mentioned how in small ways its hard, such as the lunch table at work. Everybody is hating on one person and although you don't get involved you never step in and say things like "well I've never had a problem with her" or "maybe we should be careful of what we say about them". Its hard even thinking about how many conversations I could have stepped up and didn't and allowed others to believe they were right or even worse, that I agreed.
I have many other thoughts about this book because I loved it so much. I can't wait to have conversations with more people about it. I'd love to hear other people's responses to the book as you finish. It seems everyone takes away something different and that's what I love about life, we experience the same things but we interpret it differently based on other experiences and its okay. If you hated the book, I'd like to know why, not to throw you under the bus but to understand another view point.
Good day folks!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Emotions
I just tweeted about how this book is ripping my emotions apart. I'm about to read chapter 19 and so far from 1-18 I have laughed out loud literally, cried, been pissed off, disappointed, frustrated, wanted to throw up (not an emotion but you know), and sad. Really you're going to do this to me?
I'm so into this book that when certain events have happened I felt like it was happening in my own community and responded in a similar way. I'm not going to lie, I wish I could go back to the 60s just to punch Hilly's lights out, be a supportive community member, and show support to friends or even my boss in times of personal tragedy.
One great thing is that I can have all of these emotions and reactions in the privacy of my own home or car. I will say you may not want to read it in the car when you're waiting on people depending on the chapter you're on. You may just go ahead and smack somebody in the face or have to explain why your eyes are watery. Anyway, I'm trucking along and getting a little nervous because the end of the book is coming. What will I do when I'm finished? Oh and I think the movie will be great in August but I'm already claiming the book is better. Hmmm I like reading?
Good day folks!
I'm so into this book that when certain events have happened I felt like it was happening in my own community and responded in a similar way. I'm not going to lie, I wish I could go back to the 60s just to punch Hilly's lights out, be a supportive community member, and show support to friends or even my boss in times of personal tragedy.
One great thing is that I can have all of these emotions and reactions in the privacy of my own home or car. I will say you may not want to read it in the car when you're waiting on people depending on the chapter you're on. You may just go ahead and smack somebody in the face or have to explain why your eyes are watery. Anyway, I'm trucking along and getting a little nervous because the end of the book is coming. What will I do when I'm finished? Oh and I think the movie will be great in August but I'm already claiming the book is better. Hmmm I like reading?
Good day folks!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
No tv
So I am amazed at how much teevee I have not watched since I started reading this book. I haven't wanted to watch really. In some ways its really good, I haven't been sucked into stupid nonsense of Ashley from the Bachelorette. I don't know what's going on in the world today, but I'd assume its still the same with a few random things that are no longer surprising like murder, embezzlement, war, and the such. I feel free reading this book. I am not as far as many, as I have stated before I am a slower reader. However, I am truckin along and slightly surprised at how fast I am going.
Some people can read anything. I can only read what is interesting to me. Maybe I'm just not disciplined enough to sit through boring stuff. The Help is very interesting to me. Oh Skeeter and her somewhat naive personality is very interesting to me. I love Aibileen's nurturing sense. And Minny, oh Minny is just a character. She says or thinks things I wish I could say and get away with. Yup, I'm into this book and the world and teevee as they call it, can wait. I have to find out how this all works out I'm so eager.
Some people can read anything. I can only read what is interesting to me. Maybe I'm just not disciplined enough to sit through boring stuff. The Help is very interesting to me. Oh Skeeter and her somewhat naive personality is very interesting to me. I love Aibileen's nurturing sense. And Minny, oh Minny is just a character. She says or thinks things I wish I could say and get away with. Yup, I'm into this book and the world and teevee as they call it, can wait. I have to find out how this all works out I'm so eager.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Connections
So I’ve been thinking about what Cecily wrote, about connecting with the characters. I thought about how I connect to Skeeter in finding stories and how much I love Aibileen. I couldn’t really think of how I related to a smart mouth, tough yet abused, maid. And then today I “burned my damn caramel” just like Minnie. I was making Millionaire’s Shortbread and had to start over on the caramel layer. I sure felt connected with her then. I appreciate how much she loves food and talks about it. Skeeter even makes the comment that a lot of Minnie’s contributions to the interview book include descriptions of food. At one point, Minnie says, "Frying chicken always makes me feel a little better about life." Frying meat stresses me out because I never cook it enough, but I have felt that way when cooking other things. Minnie’s life is a mess in a lot of ways and I like that she can find moments of peace and solitude through food.
I can relate to Skeeter in her desire to dig for stories. Like her, I love to hear stories from the past. I love asking old people about their childhood or youth. My grandma grew up on a farm way out in the country and she always has interesting stories to tell about her childhood. With my grandma, I can usually think of things to ask, but with other people, I get stumped, much like Skeeter feels when she begins her interview with Aibileen. I wanted to hear stories from someone recently, but couldn’t think of how to get them talking. I too didn’t have the right questions. This book has also made me realize that I never ask about life during the civil rights movement, and that I don’t know anyone who was directly affected by it. At least if they were, that’s a story that has remained unearthed.
The first connection I made was with Aibileen. Her relationship with Mae Mobley is what drew me into the book. It warms and breaks my heart that she loves her more than her own mother but knows the day is coming when “Mae Mo” will become like her mother and she can’t stop it, just prolong it. I have picked up on some parenting tips from Aibileen, and although I want to raise my own children, if Aibileen knocked on my front door, I would be more than happy for her to raise my child. She is a carefully crafted character who draws you in with her compassion, wisdom, and love.
Initially, I thought I wouldn’t connect with all these characters, but I guess I have. Kathryn Stockett has created some great characters that are typical southern women, yet not stereotypes, so it is no wonder I found I related to each one in some way.
How can I change your mind?
First of all I'd like for you to know I'm officially in the hundreds in my page count of reading this book. Wow, I'm a slower reader but I truly am into this book. I hope I don't loose interest around 355, I usually stop reading at the last stretch of a book and pick it up three years later. Since we are reading this together I'm sure I'll finish :).
So as I'm reading this book I find myself laughing but really reflecting on my experiences and how to change the future. I specifically began thinking of my time in college in a small town in Tennessee. It was a Christian liberal arts school and its a great school for a well rounded education within certain safe boundaries. My experience with my friends are the biggest memories of my schooling which for many people it is. I feel like my experience was in some ways unique. Most of my close friends were white. Most from the South and I was a few of their first black friend. Yup in the 2000s I was black friend number one.
You can imagine how sometimes it was awkward because I became all knowing powerful one of black people culture. That's so funny because I've been made fun of for being "white." Ohhh world! My feelings were often hurt because of misunderstandings or people's inner conflicts. Years later I learned that a few of my friends were taught that they were better than black people. Well that explains much of it. You are friends with someone who you were told was not as good as you and now you have a conflict. That's real deep and I understand. We all remain good friends to this day but I sometimes wonder did I do enough to change their minds. I didn't graduate with honors, did that prove they are better? I didn't go on to be something great and making all kinds of money and things like that. However, I continue to love, I continue to forgive and I continue to be thankful for the friendships God has given me in all the shades they have come. I do think that minds have been changed for the better. Maybe not completely but for the better.
For the generations after me, whether I have children or not, I wonder how I can influence them to know that we are not our skin, our hair, or our money. How do I let them know that they should value the begger on the street just as much as they value our Presidents or super stars w the cash? I'm kind of thinking it starts with showing them that they are valued. That their value is not on the outside but on the inside. In the book Aibileen whispered to Mae Mobley everyday, you're a good girl, you're a smart girl. Maybe that will change her life. I don't know because I haven't finished the book but maybe I'll try it with some of the kids I volunteer with. Affirmations, God's love may just change someone's mind for the good.
Those are my thoughts for the day...well this entry at least.
So as I'm reading this book I find myself laughing but really reflecting on my experiences and how to change the future. I specifically began thinking of my time in college in a small town in Tennessee. It was a Christian liberal arts school and its a great school for a well rounded education within certain safe boundaries. My experience with my friends are the biggest memories of my schooling which for many people it is. I feel like my experience was in some ways unique. Most of my close friends were white. Most from the South and I was a few of their first black friend. Yup in the 2000s I was black friend number one.
You can imagine how sometimes it was awkward because I became all knowing powerful one of black people culture. That's so funny because I've been made fun of for being "white." Ohhh world! My feelings were often hurt because of misunderstandings or people's inner conflicts. Years later I learned that a few of my friends were taught that they were better than black people. Well that explains much of it. You are friends with someone who you were told was not as good as you and now you have a conflict. That's real deep and I understand. We all remain good friends to this day but I sometimes wonder did I do enough to change their minds. I didn't graduate with honors, did that prove they are better? I didn't go on to be something great and making all kinds of money and things like that. However, I continue to love, I continue to forgive and I continue to be thankful for the friendships God has given me in all the shades they have come. I do think that minds have been changed for the better. Maybe not completely but for the better.
For the generations after me, whether I have children or not, I wonder how I can influence them to know that we are not our skin, our hair, or our money. How do I let them know that they should value the begger on the street just as much as they value our Presidents or super stars w the cash? I'm kind of thinking it starts with showing them that they are valued. That their value is not on the outside but on the inside. In the book Aibileen whispered to Mae Mobley everyday, you're a good girl, you're a smart girl. Maybe that will change her life. I don't know because I haven't finished the book but maybe I'll try it with some of the kids I volunteer with. Affirmations, God's love may just change someone's mind for the good.
Those are my thoughts for the day...well this entry at least.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sucked in
Oh my gosh friends, I love this book. I don't think I loved a book this much since The Secret Life of Bees which I read in 2005. I'm really enjoying the way these women talk especially the black women. Its just so funny. One thing I am learning is how things are passed down through generations and cultures. Many of the descriptions of what the maids did like how they clean and cook I see in how my family cleans and cooks. We never double dip or taste our food with a spoon our mouths already touched for example. Its not because we don't want to contaminate the white people's food because that's not our current reality. We do it probably because at one point we did have maids in the family and what they did at their jobs they came home and did it there too and it passed down. Not to say that things are not added or subtracted over the years like I have never seen Crisco in my house but that's bc my mom doesn't fry food. Honestly I don't clean everyday, my mom does though.
That's just an observation. I challenge you to compare your experiences while you read. Also pick up some good one liners. I feel like my Twitter will be full of one liner smart comments based on some of Minny's statements. I'm a quiet smart mouth if you don't know.
That's just an observation. I challenge you to compare your experiences while you read. Also pick up some good one liners. I feel like my Twitter will be full of one liner smart comments based on some of Minny's statements. I'm a quiet smart mouth if you don't know.
First book
Our first summer book is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This book will suck you in so clear your calendar if you are going to start it!
Feel free to post or leave a comment and start a discussion, but don't give too much away in case you are ahead of someone else. I guess we'll figure out a deadline date by which we can talk about the whole book and choose a new one to read together.
Have fun!
Feel free to post or leave a comment and start a discussion, but don't give too much away in case you are ahead of someone else. I guess we'll figure out a deadline date by which we can talk about the whole book and choose a new one to read together.
Have fun!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)