This book just keeps getting better and better. So I was kinda right when I was talking about Celia's "drinking problem." Turns out she didn't have a drinking problem at all, but that it did have to do with having babies. Now it all makes sense with her being so tired and lethargic all the time, seeing as I went through that stage of the pregnancy. I now see why she wants to please her husband, because she is struggling with having babies.
Let's see... what else.. the streaker/naked guy was a bit random. But I loved how Celia took charge. She and Miss Skeeter would be great friends because they see all as equals... black or white, they just do what is right. I feel bad for Miss Skeeter and how her relationship ended, but I do not think that is the end of that particular story... something might come out towards the end, with the book maybe... we shall see.
Hilly, oh Hilly... she is just outright mean and decietful. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop... I am waiting for something to happen that will show Hilly that she is ignorant, snobby, and just plain mean.
Minny is a such a strong woman, that she needs to stand up to her husband. She is too strong of a woman to be a victim of domestic violence. Hopefully she will do something about it soon. If she doesn't, I have a feeling that Celia may help her out. Those two, Celia and Minny (with Minny kicking and screaming and being difficult of course) are going to be the unsung heroes in the book... you would think it would be Skeeter and Aibileen, but I am really thinking Celia and Minny both have those outgoing personalities that can do some good.
I hope that Aibileen and Skeeter can keep going with the book, they are so close to being done. But with the Jim Crowe's book being found, and everyone on edge, and of course Miss Leefolt's husband talking to Aibileen, I think at some point they are going to be found out.... But I agree with mom, through all of this trouble, I really hope the book get's published.
Then there was all of the shenanigans with the Benefit. Celia just wanted to impress those snobbish ladies and it all backfired, however, I think it is good. Because going by one of the last line of this section, "For Two-Slice Hilly," Celia finally sees those ladies for what they are worth (with the help of Minny of course).
I can't wait to read this last section!!!!
Boy Jen, you're right. It is a good book. That's what the book club does. We read many different genres which I might not have done on my own.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good book. It's hard for me to realize that this is the life in the South while your mom and I were blissfully growing up in the North. We were in high school during this time. Of course, was aware of the peaceful marches, the lynchings, the discrimination, Dr. King, but somehow, even though it was horrifying to hear and read of it, it didn't sink in how really awful it was for the blacks in the South. I knew of slaves being torn apart from their families and sold off, but didn't realize that it even happened in our time like with Constantine having to give her daughter up so she could survive working in the South where she grew up. Just goes to show you that sometimes even though you are aware of such news, it didn't seem really real to me growing up. I was more concerned with boyfriends, football games, friends and shopping, etc.
I agree with you, Jen, don't know why the naked man had to appear in the back yard but Minny being Minny had to go out to protect Celia and it turned out that Celia helped Minny by hitting the guy with the shovel. Good for Celia! Just shows you what kind of person Celia is. She doesn't make the distinction of color with Minny. Maybe, that was the reason it was put in the book. To show us what kind of person Celia is.
I felt bad for Celia. She loves her Johnny and in her own way tries to "protect" him by showing him that she can keep a clean house and cook good meals passing Minny's work off as her own. Even though Johnny knows, he loves her enough to pretend to go along with it. I was glad that she wasn't an alcoholic after all. The bottles were just a tonic to supposedly help her with failed pregnancies. Poor Celia - trying to have babies and miscarrying 4 times. That doctor was a jerk to her. Then, trying so hard to be accepted by the women in town and because of Hilly isn't accepted but ostrocized.
I think Hilly was jealous that she had dated Johnny and liked him a lot but he chose to marry Celia. I felt bad that she doesn't know how to dress or do makeup or hair but again, even though she was inappropriate, Johnny stuck by her. Of course, the other men envied Johnny by the voluptuous woman he had. He did say that being with Hilly was like being in the cold but Celia was warm. I had to laugh about the chocolate pie with Hilly. I think Mrs. Walters did that on purpose. But for Hilly to blame Celia. Another nasty thing for HIlly to do.
I really dislike Hilly. She is such mean, conniving B---h. Why don't the women in town grow a backbone and say enough is enough and stand up for Skeeter. I felt so bad for Skeeter. She is losing everyone. Stuart left her, her "friends" have turned their backs on her cause of Hilly, her mom looks like she's not doing well at all and she might lose her, too. All she has is her book and that is so risky. What happens to her if she is found out? I sure hope the book will get published. Not only for her but also for the maids who are risking their livelihood.
I also feel bad for Minny. She seems like such a strong personality but for her to be beaten by Leroy all the time cause he is frustrated seems like such an irony. Although, the book states that women in those days couldn't leave their husbands because then they wouldn't be able to survive. I don't know, will it come to the point where Minny will have enough and walk away? or run away?
Lots of questions and hoping it will all be answered soon. Aibelene and MaeMobley(Miss Leefold's daughter), Minny and the other maids. Will they be found out? What happens to them if it comes out? Will they keep it a secret successfully? What happens if the book gets published and they are found out through that?
We'll find out, hopefully.
I found out... I couldn't put the book down yesterday... finished it!!! Talk to you guys on Sunday about it...
ReplyDeleteWhat about a new book now?
Wow Jennifer, I'm impressed. After I wrote my comment, I read to the end, too. That section was shorter but was so glad that the book was published and that a lot of people were buying it outside of Hilly's town. This way the maids and Skeeter will get paid more.
ReplyDeleteWas interesting how quickly everyone picked up on the fact that it was their town and so glad that there was no real backlash to the maids. Except, of course, for Aibileen. How small of Miss Leefolt to capitulate to Hilly and fire or let Aibileen go. But at least, Aibileen gets money from the book sales and gets the weekly pay for writing the help column that Skeeter got for her. So it is an income for her and she doesn't have to work as hard.
Am glad that Skeeter got a job in New York like she'd always dreamed of having. Hopefully her life will improve.
Yeah for Minny for leaving Leroy finally. She's through being the punching bag for him. Too bad that she feels being pregnant will allow him to leave her alone so he won't beat on her. NOw she has another mouth to feed. But I have a feeling life will get better for her, too. Being employed by Mr. Johnny and Celia will let that happen.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I know your mom did, too. She should comment as she finished also.
Some suggestions for the next book are:Bird House by Kelly Simmons. It's about every family having its secret. Anne Biddole has much to regret in her life, particularly the uneasy relationship with her daughter-in-law:Tinsley has kept Anne from seeing more of her granddaughter. But when a school project lands 8 yr old Ellie in Anne's attic, the two soon bond over photos of captivating houses for birds. Kelly Simmons The Bird House is the mesmerizing tale of a woman struggling to hold on to her memories, even those she'd rather forget. For hidden in Anne's past is the tragedy of her daughter's short life..and aching reminders of the man who called her "little Bird".
ReplyDeleteOr, The Union Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini. Can the women mend their broken hearts during America's darkest hours? The author takes readers back to 1862, to Water's Ford, Pa. where the women of Elm Creek gather to quilt and read letters from their men fighting for the Union. But not all were allowed to serve. Constance's husband was turned away because of the color of his skin, and the reason Anneke's husband avoided the fray has become a source of shame for them both. Meanwhile, Gerda Bergstrom becomes ever more mindful of the bond she shares with the town doctor, one that can never be broken, not even by his wife. The Union Quilters is a powerful tale of strong women whose ingenious plan to keep the town they love safe will alter the patchwork of many lives for years to come.
Or, Her Abundant Joy by Lyn Cote. It's 1846 Texas, where young widow Mariel has arrived to start a new life. Forced by circumstances to become a servant, Mariel is determined to leave her harsh master, but can a single woman face the frontier on her own?
Or Love You More by Lisa Gardener. It's a grisly sight that greets Boston detective D.D. when she enters the home of Tessa Leoni, a cop who admits to having just killed her abusive husband. But of more concern to D.D. is Tessa's missing yr old, Sophie. Having just learned she is expecting a child of her own, D.D. is particularly sensitive to the little girl's fate
and finds, that Tessa, who's been read her rights, isn't talking. It's a psychological suspense with twists and turns leads D.D. to the same brick wall: TEssa. Tiny clues give D.D. insight into a mother's heart, but they emerge slowly-too slowly as time is of the essence for a child she can almost hear crying to be saved.
Or, A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer. The master of medical suspense delivers a thriller whose entirely plausible premise will make you truly afraid. On the night of President's State of the Union address, a ruthless cabal called Genesis unleashes a lethal virus in House chambers. Forced to quarantine the Capitol with nearly every presidential successor inside, Allair, an MD, understands the threat -because he helped develop it. And he knows, the only scientist who can find a cure is Griffin Rhodes, a rogue researcher in federal prison. With enemies closing in and national security at stake, can Rhodes unravel the virus before time runs out?
So these are different genres that are a possibility. Read these reviews and we can go from there?
I will look into these tonight when I have more time... and Lauren suggested the book "Water for Elephants." Lauren is thinking about joining us for a month!
ReplyDeleteThat would be great if Lauren joins us. Hopefully for more than a month.
ReplyDeleteDARN. I wrote 'volumes' and for some reason it didn't post. Wish there was some way these postings could be saved in case it doesn't go through. In any case, I did complete the book in time. It was a great book, I enjoyed it tremendously. Wish there was a follow up on the way cause I'd like to see what Skeeter is going to accomplish in New York - how successful she will become and any new love interest in her life. Plus I know she'd keep in contact with all the 'hired' help that she included in her book especially Abilene and Minny. I am glad though she left the town. She needed to get away because of her progressive thinking and acceptance of the Blacks as people not just as hired help beneath the Whites' social standings.
ReplyDeleteAm glad that Abilene got a job offer at the newspaper and that she will be able to get moneys from the book - she was so instrumental in the making of the story. Plus she was getting older and difficult to keep up with the job and her tolerance of the way she was being treated, how the children were being neglected and raised concerning the differences between Blacks and Whites.
Was glad to see that Celia was not an alcoholic but feel/felt bad for inability to bear children as she really wanted to have children with her husband. Wow, and I give credit to her husband for loving her as much as he did and that he stood by her in front of 'society's in-group'. Both of them are great with Minny and I think they will have a long lasting relationship.
So glad that Minny, as strong as she was with others, finally left Leroy and what a pity that she felt the only way he would leave her alone was when she was pregnant - now she does have another little one to feed. Hope she does stay away from him.
Hilly, she was the character that I really could not stand. I wanted to shake my Kindle, so as to shake her, when I read that she continued to be the mean, conniving, underhanded, spoiled, discriminatory, evil woman she was. Even when she realized that others were standing up against her, she felt they were the ones who were at fault and unreasonable.
Heard great things about Water for Elephants from variety of personalities. So, is that the book we'll be reading next?
I already read Water for Elephants last year but go ahead and read the book for the book club. I'll enjoy reading your comments as you go along.
ReplyDeleteNo let's pick another one then...I vote... Love You More by Lisa Gardner
ReplyDeleteNever mind, I found the author, Lisa Gardner, when I looked at older posts. Got it
ReplyDelete