On 6/21/09, chippy wrote:
> 8. From the perspective of a twenty-first century reader,
> the hairshellac system that Skeeter undergoes seems
> ludicrous. Yet women still alter their looks in rather
> peculiar ways as the definition of “beauty” changes with
> the times. Looking back on your past, what’s the most
> ridiculous beauty regimen you ever underwent?

I guess it would be all the hours I spent trying to curl my
hair.....from childhood perms to adolescence and the new,
amazing hot rollers to now, just trying to keep it under control.

> OMG, I have permed and dyed hair many many times over the
> years. I think it's the "Curly always want to be straight,
> Straight always want curly" thing.
>
>
> 9. The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace
> and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does
> this?

Yes, Chippy, I agree. Writers write what they know....she must
have brought lively memories into Aibileen. I think, also, the
beginning of the book where we are given the background in
flashback to the death of her own son......how she was so
devastated and just stayed at home......thought,
prayed.......showed depth and wisdom....to finally just get
back into the groove.

> I think she was using her own history with her childhood
> maid to create Abilene. The way she calmed Minny down and
> told Hilly off at the end very quietly was great.
>
>
> 10. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in
> relationships where people of color work for people who are
> white?
I have no idea.

>
> I think as white people we cannot begin to see how their
> lives were and possibly still are in some respects. We can
> just do our best to leave at peace with everyone regardless
> of color. Things are better now but can always improve.
>
> 11. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly?
> Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?
I thought it funny, too. I would never go that far but have
certainly imagined revenge being meted on people.....one a
particular, a neighbor who took such pride in his lawn. He
would get angry when the cats went in his yard, kids chased
foul balls in the yard. I always envisioned, that, as I would
drive away from that house for the last time, pouring kerosene
in his yard in a creative fashion.

>
> I thought it was hysterical. Never in a million years would
> I have done that nor even ever thought to do it but the
> author certainly made Minny definitely be the type who
> would do it. It fit her character perfectly.
>
>
>

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