I thought it was so funny when that editor told Skeeter she was 24...to get an apt. How much easier it would've been writing if she'd had her own place.
When Skeeter's mom told her she didn't think Stuart appreciated her intellect, that was totally out of character for Skeeter's mom. Is she getting more retrospective since she's sick and Skeeter is helping tend to her so much? That came out of the blue for me.
The Constantine story brought tears to my eyes...so sad, all of it.
Can you imagine being in Constantine's position? And can you blame her daughter for behaving that way? She was raised in the North....remember in real history that poor boy who came down to the south to visit relatives and dared to say some flirtatious comment to a white woman? He was killed, I believe. The rules were not the same. The daughter could not have understood the danger she put Constantine in.
And now to find that Constantine died and Skeeter can't say thank you. How sad.
On 6/15/09, chippy wrote: > On 6/15/09, chippy wrote: >> Sorry, that chapter was just so full I was afraid I'd >> forget the thoughts I had. >> >> I thought it was so funny when that editor told Skeeter she >> was 24...to get an apt. How much easier it would've been >> writing if she'd had her own place. >> >> When Skeeter's mom told her she didn't think Stuart >> appreciated her intellect, that was totally out of >> character for Skeeter's mom. Is she getting more >> retrospective since she's sick and Skeeter is helping tend >> to her so much? That came out of the blue for me. >> >> The Constantine story brought tears to my eyes...so sad, >> all of it. >> >> >>
So much happened. What a hoot that Skeeter's mom willed herself not to...See MoreIt came way too fast. I didn't realize it was the end of the book until I went to read the next page and it said, "Acknowledgements". So I went back this morning and reread the last chapter preparing myself for it to be the end. Cried again when Abilene left the babies.
So much happened. What a hoot that Skeeter's mom willed herself not to die. And then that and the support of the maids made it where Skeeter was able to take the job in NY.
Sooooooo glad Minny is getting out of the abusive relationship. I'm sure there were so many other relationships like that then and the woment just had to endure. So glad she was able to get out.
So hope Abilene will be ok financially now. I hope her writing career takes off. Maybe Skeeter can help her.
Sorry that Celia still didn't make any friends though.
My dh grew up in AL and had a maid--because his mom worked full time not because his mom was like the jr. leaguers in the book. He's mentioned several times how much he likes Driving Miss Daisy because they talk in that movie just like his maids did. Since we're on a mini-vacation and have a little time on our hands I got him to read the first chapter knowing he would love the dialect. He said it was just like going home again and was very comforting. He ended up reading 2 1/2 chapters which is the most I've seen him pleasure read ever!!
Twas a great book and I'd LOVE to find out what happens to the characters!!
I also wanted to see what Minny did with her life and even wanted see Aibeleen find a real job as a writer. I didn't want the book to end with Aibeleen just being fired! I mean, common! What kind of an ending is that? I wanted to see more positive thngs to happen.
I just hope there is a sequel to this book because I think the author really left me hanging with that ending.
I liked all of them. They all seem so authentic. I love Minny's spunkiness even though it gets her into trouble. It is such a hoot that one of her daughters is growing up to be just like her.
What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?
Hilly is so interesting. She apparently has some deep insecurities to make her so mean and controlling to almost everyone she has contact with. I think her being a good mother shows us her soft side. And the fact that she was rejected by Celia's husband has probably affected her deeply too.
Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?
As we discussed earlier I think she is the most confusing for me. She seems determined like many mothers of the day for Skeeter to get married and always dress and look appropriately, and then decides Stuart doesn't appreciate her enough. That part was very confusing and seemed so out of character for her.
> ...See MoreOn 6/19/09, chippy wrote: > I figured we could do three at a time. > > Who was your favorite character? Why?
I liked Aibileen the best. She was so smart and so loyal. Her stories to Mae Mobley were wonderful. She was a good friend to everyone, kind. I also liked that others came to her for her special prayer power.
> What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is > terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to > Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet > she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a > good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person? >
Hilly did confuse me. I think a lot of her motivation came from being a wife of a political hopeful. There may be a lot of behind closed doors stressors we don't see when women are in this spotlight. Also, being dumped by Johnny was a major event in her life. I wonder if she softened a little after Celia told her that Johnny had already broken up with her before he and Celia were together? I am not sure she could be a good mother if she had that much stress. Maybe I should re read in between the lines in Hilly's relationship and interactions with her mom. Often, we parent as we were parented.
> Hilly is so interesting. She apparently has some deep > insecurities to make her so mean and controlling to almost > everyone she has contact with. I think her being a good > mother shows us her soft side. And the fact that she was > rejected by Celia's husband has probably affected her > deeply too. > > > Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone > deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care > for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings > for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine > is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is > critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or > unsympathetic character? Why?
Skeeter's mom is unsympathetic, in my opinion. She is constantly critical of her daughter, always praising her son, does not allow the family in on what is happening with her health, and to lose Constantine........ahhhh. Had I been Skeeter, I would have lived there about a month after graduation and then found SOMEWHERE else! But....that would have been a different book!
> > As we discussed earlier I think she is the most confusing > for me. She seems determined like many mothers of the day > for Skeeter to get married and always dress and look > appropriately, and then decides Stuart doesn't appreciate > her enough. That part was very confusing and seemed so out > of character for her. > > Your thoughts?
A huge amount and a lot we don't even know until years later. My parents were raising babies during the era of this book and seeing how their opinions and views have changed over the years in phenominal and I think it is largely because our society is so different.
5. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?
I think her being new in a relationship with men that she was sort of manning uncharted territory for her. It was all so new and she wasn't sure what exactly she was supposed to do. I knew she was strong and was hoping she'd eventually stand up to him. I was hoping he'd stand up with her.
6. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?
I think it was such a different time back then that people dealt with the life they had in the best ways they could. She had a big mouth and had been shafted so many times because of it and I'm sure she felt she had every reason to distrust white people.
7. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
I think times they were a changing and that Abileen would've helped Mae Mobley to see thing differently like the author's real made did in real life.
by Do all BFF novels have to be a formulary of "Beaches" ?
Jun 20, 2009
VERY disappointing novel. So many similarities to the novel "Beaches" (if you never read "Beaches", perhaps you saw the movie) and while it was an easy but long read, there was little meat to it for me and I kept thinking..."Beaches."
Of course, YMMV but I'd like to hear from others who also read it.
My favorite Kristin Hannah is Magic Hour and it is a murder mystery/drama about a psychologist who goes to help a little girl they found wandering in the woods who cannot speak. They don't know who she is or how she got in the woods in the first place, and the psychologist's job is to see if she can communicate and help the little girl. Awesome and quick read- -you can't put it down!
OMG, I have p...See More8. 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?
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?
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 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 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.
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. > > >
I loved it when Hilly went to Skeeter's house to "tell on her" and Skeeter's mother put Hilly in her place just as if Hilly were her own daughter. I must say we saw a human side to Hilly when she was so shocked by Skeeter's mothers appearance she swallowed her venomous words.
TriciaCheck out Half Price Books--they have coupons for next week all week. You may have to sign up for email--they sent mine to me. I have written down all these books you have recommended and going to shop this week for them. I have two that are pretty close to me. Thanks for the suggestions! I love good reads.
I read a murder/mystery entitled Fractured by Karin Slaughter. It is a thriller. Det. Trent comes up on a crime scene in a mansion where teenage girl is murdered in her bedroom, and mom is standing among shattered glass in the hallway below having killed her daughter's attacker with her bare hands. Det. Trent is dsyslexic but has an uncanny knack for finding clues in a crime scene--pretty good read that you don't want to put down. Read it in two days.
Just finished "Still Life." It's a thriller with an interesting twist--a woman is in a coma, and she can hear conversation, including that fact that she is in danger. But, of course, she can do nothing about it.
On 6/28/09, Elaine/ret/IN wrote: > Tricia-- > I don't usually like thrillers, but this one was good . . . I kept > wondering--what do people who've people who've been in comas say > about the things they hear? > > It's a thriller, though, of course, it's very predictable. I've > never read Joy Fielding as an author before. > > Elaine
Elaine/ret/IN nfmOn 6/28/09, Tricia wrote: > This is on my reading list now. I didn't think I liked thrillers > until I started reading some that were more mystery and not > horror. Try the book What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman. Very > good read--two sisters years ago were abducted from a shopping > mall, then an car accident happens and a woman i...See MoreOn 6/28/09, Tricia wrote: > This is on my reading list now. I didn't think I liked thrillers > until I started reading some that were more mystery and not > horror. Try the book What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman. Very > good read--two sisters years ago were abducted from a shopping > mall, then an car accident happens and a woman is put in the > hospital--she claims that she is one of the sisters who was never > found years ago. > I also liked Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah and Shoot The Moon by > Billie Lett. Mysteries but not too scary--keep you wanting to read > the whole book. > I like books that keep you guessing and wanting to read. > Thanks for the good book suggestion! > > > On 6/28/09, Elaine/ret/IN wrote: >> Tricia-- >> I don't usually like thrillers, but this one was good . . . I kept >> wondering--what do people who've people who've been in comas say >> about the things they hear? >> >> It's a thriller, though, of course, it's very predictable. I've >> never read Joy Fielding as an author before. >> >> Elaine
Tim Newlin (artist, writer, regular contributor to the Teachers.Net Gazette) shares with Teachers.Net readers his interesting interview - printed in the July issue of your Gazette.
The No.1 Ladies Detective Series Writer - Interview with Alexander McCall Smith
Tim interviews the best selling author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith.
Kinder GalI love his books! I have read most of them, and shared them with my mother and sister. I have also seen The No.1 Ladies Detective on HBO earlier this year!
On 7/02/09, Kathleen - it's a good read, here's a link wrote: > [link removed].