Looking ahead, Meet…Jane Austen
February 28, 2008 at 11:22 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentPart One of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Two of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Three of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Four of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Five of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Six of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Seven of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Part Eight of The Real Jane Austen (2002)
Their Eyes Were Watching God
February 28, 2008 at 4:42 pm | Posted in 888 Challenge, by the decades challenge, classic, Zora Neale Hurston mini-challenge | 2 Comments
Hurston, Zora Neale. 1937. Their Eyes Were Watching God.
If ever a book is going to grab you at ‘hello’, let it be Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men.
Now women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly. (1)
This book, which I just recently finished reading for my online reading group, has to be one of my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite books of all time. (Yes, it’s right up there along with Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.) I first “discovered” Zora Neale Hurston by force. She was required reading in a short story course I was taking in the Fall of 1997. When I signed up for the course, I was not an English major. I was just looking to fulfill the core requirements. (The very fact that I was in that class was an accident because of schedule conflicts and classes having to be changed, rearranged, etc. at the last moment. One thing I don’t miss about college is the hassle of registering for classes, having some be canceled and having to scramble to find something new at the last minute.) By the end of the semester, however, I had changed majors and chosen to walk down a new path. (Zora Neale Hurston wasn’t solely responsible, however, she had help from some other greats.) Hurston kept popping up on reading lists in college. A short story here and there. And then there came the novel–Their Eyes Were Watching God–I honestly don’t remember if it was assigned reading just once or if I read it twice ‘officially’ (meaning for a grade). But regardless, it was love. I’ve read this one at least four or five times since that first introduction.
The story. At the heart of the story is a woman. Janie. Except for the very briefest introductions, we first meet Janie as a young woman, sixteen or seventeen and just awakening to the possibilities of love and life and passion.
Oh to be a pear tree–any tree in bloom! With kissing bees singing of the beginning of the world! She was sixteen. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her. Where were the singing bees for her? Nothing on the place nor in her grandma’s house answered her. She searched as much of the world as she could from the top of the front steps and then went on down to the front gate and leaned over to gaze up and down the road. Looking, waiting, breathing short with impatience. Waiting for the world to be made. (11)
But life and love don’t come easy for Janie. Her grandmother, the woman who raised her, forces her into a loveless marriage. Logan is Janie’s first husband, her first introduction to what it means to ‘be’ a woman. In chapter three, we read, “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” (25) But Janie goes on to have other dreams and second chances.
Janie’s life isn’t easy, and the things that take her from an unhappy wife of seventeen to a grown woman, a sadder but wiser woman, in her forties are often bittersweet. But her story is one that must be told, must be shared. It is an emotional journey of one woman’s life, one woman’s experiences and heart aches. Her hopes. Her dreams. Her everything laid before the world.
“Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” (191)
“Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.” (192)
The book is beautiful. Full of imagery–some beautiful, some haunting, some heartbreaking, but always, always authentic imagery. The language. The characters. The style. This one is a real gem of a book. The best of the best. A true masterpiece.
Official site of Zora Neale Hurston
On the official site you can listen to excerpts of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Mules & Men, and Every Tongue Got To Confess. All performed by Ruby Dee. (Now, if only MY library would have these audio books, I’d be very happy indeed.)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (Official)
A nice, brief summary that fills in the “why” of why you should read it! Also linked to the first chapter online, the reading group guide, and the teaching guide.
National Endowment for the Arts: The Big Read: Their Eyes Were Watching God.
To call Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God an “African American feminist classic” may be an accurate statement-it is certainly a frequent statement-but it is a misleadingly narrow and rather dull way to introduce a vibrant and achingly human novel. The syncopated beauty of Hurston’s prose, her remarkable gift for comedy, the sheer visceral terror of the book’s climax, all transcend any label that critics have tried to put on this remarkable work. First published amid controversy in 1937, then rescued from obscurity four decades later, the novel narrates Janie Crawford’s ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny. Although Hurston wrote the novel in only seven weeks, Their Eyes Were Watching God breathes and bleeds a whole life’s worth of urgent experience.
Two Polls for You!
February 28, 2008 at 11:16 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentThe first is asking when you would like to read Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Your two choices? April OR May. The companion novel, the dead and the gone, releases in June of 2008. (I want to have had the group read the novel by the release date.) One or two reasons might make May a better choice, but I’m leaving it up to you. (I’m good with April, by the way.) One reason is that the novel releases in paperback in May. That’s assuming that the participants want to buy the book. Which I would never ever assume. But it should be available–widely available–at most libraries anytime. The other thing which might push it back towards April is that everyone knows the other book is releasing in June. And other people might be eager to read or reread Life As We Knew It in May in celebration or preparation for the release of the dead and the gone. That being said, depending on your library, the book might be so ever-popular that it might not be on the shelves (unless you put yourself on the waiting list) anyway. Hardcover copies are available used (starting at $4.97) if anyone is interested, and as I said paperback copies are available starting May 1rst.
The second relates to the first. If the majority vote is for May, vote for which book you’d want to read in April.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
April shouldn’t have a book at all
New Polls are up at Becky’s Book Reviews.
February 28, 2008 at 2:42 am | Posted in Polls & Questions | Leave a commentNote: If the polls aren’t working properly (letting you vote) then leave a comment with your thoughts, OR go to the Becky’s Book Review site and vote there.
The first is asking when you would like to read Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Your two choices? April OR May. The companion novel, the dead and the gone, releases in June of 2008. (I want to have had the group read the novel by the release date.) One or two reasons might make May a better choice, but I’m leaving it up to you. (I’m good with April, by the way.) One reason is that the novel releases in paperback in May. That’s assuming that the participants want to buy the book. Which I would never ever assume. But it should be available–widely available–at most libraries anytime. The other thing which might push it back towards April is that everyone knows the other book is releasing in June. And other people might be eager to read or reread Life As We Knew It in May in celebration or preparation for the release of the dead and the gone. That being said, depending on your library, the book might be so ever-popular that it might not be on the shelves (unless you put yourself on the waiting list) anyway. Hardcover copies are available used
(starting at $4.97) if anyone is interested, and as I said paperback copies are available starting May 1rst.
The second relates to the first. If the majority vote is for May, vote for which book you’d want to read in April.
Final Day of Their Eyes Were Watching God
February 27, 2008 at 11:02 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Today is fifth and final day of our discussion of Their Eyes Were Watching God. You can join in the fun here. While the ‘official’ discussion may be over at the end of the day, unofficially you can still participate at any time. You can leave comments on any of the ‘daily’ posts and let me know what you’re thinking as you read the novel. I might even join in the discussion and respond! (Depending on how many things I’ve got going on at the moment.)
Monday, February 18th. Chapters 1-4
Wednesday, February 20th. Chapters 5-6
Friday, February 22nd. Chapters 7-12
Monday, February 25th. Chapters 13-17
Wednesday, February 27th. Chapters 18-20
Their Eyes Were Watching God; Day Five
February 27, 2008 at 8:33 pm | Posted in Their Eyes Were Watching God | 1 CommentTags: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Chapters 18-20
Chapters 18
This is a big chapter, an important one. Janie and Tea Cake (along with most of their friends) hear that a hurricane is coming, they see people leaving, they see animals leaving, but they along with other field workers think that it’s fine to stay, that it’s good to stay, that those leaving are dumb. After all, “You couldn’t have a hurricane when you’re making seven and eight dollars a day picking beans.” (155)
Their decision was already made as always. Chink up your cracks, shiver in your wet beds and wait on the mercy of the Lord. The bossman might have the thing stopped before morning anyway. It is so easy to be hopeful in the daytime when you can see the things you wish on. But it was night, it stayed night. Night was striding across nothingness with the whole round world in his hands. (158)
As the storm gets worse, as the thunder, the lightning, the winds, the rain gets worse, they all begin to worry.
“They huddled closer and stared at the door. They just didn’t use another part of their bodies, and they didn’t look at anything but the door. The time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door. Six eyes were questioning God. Through the screaming wind they heard things crashing and things hurtling and dashing with unbelievable velocity.” (159)
Tea Cake interrupts the mood by asking Janie if she regrets coming with him, being with him, he asks her if she would have any regrets if they were to die, if she were to die because of the storm.
Her response, “If you kin see de light at daybreak, you don’t keer if you die at dusk. It’s so many people never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin’ round and God opened de door.” (159)
The wind came back with triple fury, and put out the light for the last time. They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God. (160)
It is at this point that Tea Cake and Janie decide that to stay is to die, and even though they might still die trying to escape, to flee, they’ve got to at least try to do something. They face many dangers–many–as they walk, run, and swim in an effort to get out of the way of the lake. In the process, in the midst of their escape, Tea Cake is bit by a dog who was going after Janie, threatening Janie. Eventually, though they make it.
“It was the next day by the sun and the clock when they reached Palm Beach. It was years later by their bodies. (166)
Chapter 19
And then again Him-with-the-square toes had gone back to his house. He stood once more and again in his high flat house without sides to it and without a room with his soulless sword standing upright in his hand. His pale white horse had galloped over waters and thundered over land. The time of dying was over. It was time to bury the dead. (168)
Even though the initial threat is over, things haven’t really calmed down or returned to normal. For one thing, they’re in a new-to-them city after a huge storm. All the African-American men are being pressed into service. Being forced to work all day to bury the dead, to clean up the wreckage. The white dead get buried in cheap pine coffins, but the black dead just get thrown in a hole. Tea Cake, after one day of enforced service, decides to run with Janie and get out of there and go back home to the Glades. There at least the white folks know them. If they’re still forced to work, at least there’s that much going for them.
Halfway through this chapter, and a full four weeks after the hurricane, Tea Cake begins to get sick. They don’t know what’s wrong. But he’s acting strange, he’s not feeling himself. Janie goes to seek a doctor, but even with a doctor some things can’t be helped, can’t be stopped. The doctor tells Janie that it was a mad dog that bit her husband. That her husband has rabies and there is nothing they can do about it now. It’s progressed to far for him to be saved. He urges her to send her husband to the hospital where he can be tied down, but she refuses. These pages are painful and unpleasant. The heartbreaking moment being the showdown between Janie and Tea Cake as he tries to shoot her with his pistol as she has to defend herself with her rifle. The rifle wins. The pistol misses Janie’s head. Then the court has to sit in judgment of Janie’s actions. They acquit her. And she’s free. The next funeral is quite different from Jody’s. Here her heart is breaking. She doesn’t look the picture of a grieving woman all dressed in ‘veils and robes’ she attends in her overalls. “She was too busy feeling grief to dress like grief.” (189)
Chapter 20
So Janie finishes her story to Phoeby, and we’re back in the present. Back to where we started. “Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah kin set heah in mah house and live by comparisons. Dis house ain’t so absent of things lak it used tuh be befo’ Tea Cake come along.” (191) “Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” (191)
“Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.” (192)
“She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.” (193)
The last chapter is so lyrical, so beautiful to me. Full of imagery. It may be a sadder and wiser Janie, but life goes on. And like Phoeby I just got to say, “Ah done growed teen feet higher just’ listenin’ tuh you, Janie.”
Ask away!
February 25, 2008 at 8:51 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentHave questions about the “online reading group“? Just ask!!!
Do I have to participate on the assigned days? No. If you feel better posting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and sometime on the weekend, for example, that is fine. I don’t know why I chose M,W, F. There really wasn’t much logic behind it.
What if I get behind? If you get behind, don’t give up. Just comment on those posts as you get to that chapter. It doesn’t matter if you’re behind schedule. I’m still interested in what you have to say! I’d rather have you a day or two (or even a week) behind schedule, than for you to give up and drop out completely.
What if I start the book and hate it? Do I have to keep going? That’s up to you completely. Your comments (or posts if you blog about it on your own site) can be as negative as you like. But if you seriously hate a book and don’t want to waste your time, then drop out if you must! I’d rather you do that than come to hate me by association 
I’m not going to *force* you to read anything!
What if my copy is back due at the library before our discussion schedule is “finished”? If you don’t want to renew–and I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want the hassle–then you can always finish it ahead of schedule. You might want to jot down a few notes about the chapter(s) if anything strikes you as being outstanding–either good or bad. The number of notes you might have to take will vary. If you think you can retain it for a week or two, then none may be necessary. Otherwise, jotting down a key idea or two might help.
What if I read really quickly? What if I finish that month’s book in two days? Do I have to “slow” my reading down just to participate? If you want to read at your own pace, feel free to do so. Just comment when you can! Take a few notes if necessary. But basically just retain enough to let your opinions be known as we go along.
Answering A Few Questions
February 25, 2008 at 8:50 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentHave questions about the “online reading group“? Just ask!!!
How do I participate? Do I need to sign up anywhere? No ‘official’ sign ups are necessary. However, if you want to express your interest, your intent to participate, that’s good. It encourages me. But everyone is welcome to participate regardless of if they “signed” up or not. A blog is not necessary to participate. Participation comes from reading the book and visiting the online reading group blog. You may share your thoughts and opinions in the comments, OR if you prefer you can write your thoughts in a post on your own blog site (if you have a blog). Just be sure to leave a link so everyone can visit your site.
Do I have to participate on the assigned days? No. If you feel better posting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and sometime on the weekend, for example, that is fine. I don’t know why I chose M,W, F. There really wasn’t much logic behind it.
What if I get behind? If you get behind, don’t give up. Just comment on those posts as you get to that chapter. It doesn’t matter if you’re behind schedule. I’m still interested in what you have to say! I’d rather have you a day or two (or even a week) behind schedule, than for you to give up and drop out completely.
What if I start the book and hate it? Do I have to keep going? That’s up to you completely. Your comments (or posts if you blog about it on your own site) can be as negative as you like. But if you seriously hate a book and don’t want to waste your time, then drop out if you must! I’d rather you do that than come to hate me by association I’m not going to *force* you to read anything!
What if my copy is back due at the library before our discussion schedule is “finished”? If you don’t want to renew–and I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want the hassle–then you can always finish it ahead of schedule. You might want to jot down a few notes about the chapter(s) if anything strikes you as being outstanding–either good or bad. The number of notes you might have to take will vary. If you think you can retain it for a week or two, then none may be necessary. Otherwise, jotting down a key idea or two might help.
What if I read really quickly? What if I finish that month’s book in two days? Do I have to “slow” my reading down just to participate? If you want to read at your own pace, feel free to do so. Just comment when you can! Take a few notes if necessary. But basically just retain enough to let your opinions be known as we go along.
Sense and Sensibility is only ONE week away!
February 25, 2008 at 8:38 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentBecky’s Online Reading Group: March Selection
Sense and Sensibility will be our second book. I hope more people can join us on this next book! It is by Jane Austen. The sections (or “days”) are roughly 25 to 30 pps in length. I hope you find it quite manageable to keep up with. (Feedback would be a good thing if there are problems.)
Monday March 3rd: Chapters 1-7
Wednesday March 5th: Chapters 8-13
Friday March 7th: Chapters 14-18
Monday March 10th: Chapters 19-22
Wednesday March 12: Chapters 23- 27
Friday March 14: Chapters 28-30
Monday March 17th: Chapters 31-34
Wednesday March 19th: Chapters 35-37
Friday March 21rst: Chapters 38-41
Monday March 24th: Chapters 42-44
Wednesday March 26th: Chapters 45-47
Friday March 28th: Chapters 48-50
The Masterpiece Theatre production will air Sunday March 30th and Sunday April 6th.
Announcing the Second Book. Make plans now. So you can join us.
February 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm | Posted in Announcements and Schedules | 3 CommentsTags: Announcements and Schedules
Sense and Sensibility will be our second book. I hope more people can join us on this next book! It is by Jane Austen. The sections (or “days”) are roughly 25 to 30 pps in length. I hope you find it quite manageable to keep up with. (Feedback would be a good thing if there are problems.)
Monday March 3rd: Chapters 1-7
Wednesday March 5th: Chapters 8-13
Friday March 7th: Chapters 14-18
Monday March 10th: Chapters 19-22
Wednesday March 12: Chapters 23- 27
Friday March 14: Chapters 28-30
Monday March 17th: Chapters 31-34
Wednesday March 19th: Chapters 35-37
Friday March 21rst: Chapters 38-41
Monday March 24th: Chapters 42-44
Wednesday March 26th: Chapters 45-47
Friday March 28th: Chapters 48-50
The Masterpiece Theatre production will air Sunday March 30th and Sunday April 6th.
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