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1mirrani
I really enjoyed this book and it was surprising to me that I enjoyed it even though it was about slave owners and had nothing to do with gaining freedom or what have you. It is perfectly written for the time period that it comes from, with everyone acting exactly as you would expect. That correctness was surprisingly comforting, even though I don't want anything to do with slavery.
Above all, Father deplored the practice of some of his neighbors, who paraded about the town with their mulatto children in tow. That these men were often to be seen singing in church on Sunday morning was one more reason, Father maintained, to have nothing to do with religion. p22
There are so many rumors of planned uprisings at Bayou Sara that the authorities have banned all church meetings of any kind, as it seems one of the preachers may be responsible for inciting the negroes. One story has it that there are three hundred runaways hidden in the low country near there and that they plan to march down the river road killing every white person they find.
"They would come right past here," my husband exclaimed on hearing this.
"That they would," Dr. Landry agreed. "If the rumors are true."
"I will inform my meeting," my husband said, solemn and pompous as an ass. This is how rumors turn into dead negroes.p 43
Here's a style of writing example. It tells you so much without telling you too much. I love that.
Unbalanced, I thought. So that was the name hey had for a woman who could not pretend a villain was as good as a decent man. p 57
This regarding a husband who isn't being kind to the wife. Loved the way that was written.
He is so bound by the lies he tells himself; he can only play at feelings he thinks he should have. p63
Again, loved this line. Sadly, I know people like this and it is so very true.
People are always praying for the weather to change and, as it eventually must, they conclude they have been instrumental in effecting what was actually inevitable. My husband continually urges me to pray for rain or, after it comes, to pray for it to stop. p80
I was reading outside when I got to this part and I remember setting the book down and thinking about the whole cycle a while. I liked the line, of course.
Maybelle alone of my relatives showed me the courtesy of refraining from any mention of God in her condolence letter at Mother's death. She recounted a kindness Mother had done for her when her son was ill and Mother directed her to a specialist. Everyone else felt the need to assure me that Mother's death was part of God's plan. Exactly, I wanted to shout after reading this sentiment half a dozen times -- his plan is to kill us all, and if an innocent child dies in agony and a wicked man breathes his last at an advanced age in his sleep, who are we to call it injustice? p136
This is so true of what people feel they "have to do" in order to look good. It's a reflection of the falseness, but it's also the true nature of things. And I can't really put it down in words here, but maybe I'll be able to come back to it and throw more out there in a conversation.
...for it wasn't childlessness that had chilled it. It was the lie at the center of everything, the great lie we all supported, tended, and worshiped as if our lives depend upon it, as if, should one person ever speak honestly, the world would crack open and send us all tumbling into a flaming pit. p179
There's a little more of that "what society expects of us" feeling. It goes on, but I'll make you read it 'cause the book is damned good. :)
Review to follow.
Above all, Father deplored the practice of some of his neighbors, who paraded about the town with their mulatto children in tow. That these men were often to be seen singing in church on Sunday morning was one more reason, Father maintained, to have nothing to do with religion. p22
There are so many rumors of planned uprisings at Bayou Sara that the authorities have banned all church meetings of any kind, as it seems one of the preachers may be responsible for inciting the negroes. One story has it that there are three hundred runaways hidden in the low country near there and that they plan to march down the river road killing every white person they find.
"They would come right past here," my husband exclaimed on hearing this.
"That they would," Dr. Landry agreed. "If the rumors are true."
"I will inform my meeting," my husband said, solemn and pompous as an ass. This is how rumors turn into dead negroes.p 43
Here's a style of writing example. It tells you so much without telling you too much. I love that.
Unbalanced, I thought. So that was the name hey had for a woman who could not pretend a villain was as good as a decent man. p 57
This regarding a husband who isn't being kind to the wife. Loved the way that was written.
He is so bound by the lies he tells himself; he can only play at feelings he thinks he should have. p63
Again, loved this line. Sadly, I know people like this and it is so very true.
People are always praying for the weather to change and, as it eventually must, they conclude they have been instrumental in effecting what was actually inevitable. My husband continually urges me to pray for rain or, after it comes, to pray for it to stop. p80
I was reading outside when I got to this part and I remember setting the book down and thinking about the whole cycle a while. I liked the line, of course.
Maybelle alone of my relatives showed me the courtesy of refraining from any mention of God in her condolence letter at Mother's death. She recounted a kindness Mother had done for her when her son was ill and Mother directed her to a specialist. Everyone else felt the need to assure me that Mother's death was part of God's plan. Exactly, I wanted to shout after reading this sentiment half a dozen times -- his plan is to kill us all, and if an innocent child dies in agony and a wicked man breathes his last at an advanced age in his sleep, who are we to call it injustice? p136
This is so true of what people feel they "have to do" in order to look good. It's a reflection of the falseness, but it's also the true nature of things. And I can't really put it down in words here, but maybe I'll be able to come back to it and throw more out there in a conversation.
...for it wasn't childlessness that had chilled it. It was the lie at the center of everything, the great lie we all supported, tended, and worshiped as if our lives depend upon it, as if, should one person ever speak honestly, the world would crack open and send us all tumbling into a flaming pit. p179
There's a little more of that "what society expects of us" feeling. It goes on, but I'll make you read it 'cause the book is damned good. :)
Review to follow.
