by Nancy,
Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. A mother and daughter live on a plantation in Louisiana. The Civil War ends and the slaves remain. But freedom is still a fair way off..
There’s talk of magic and conjuring and the plantation is rife with suspicion.
Some things to think about as we read this months choice.
Afia Atakora has said in an interview with her publisher (Random House) that one of the central takeaways from her novel is that "our past isn't as far back or as well buried as we want to believe." What are the ways that the past haunts the present (and the future) in Conjure Women?
Let’s consider how racial issues have continually resurfaced in the USA: the shooting unarmed black men, the Black Lives Matter movement, football players kneeling before the flag, or the divisiveness over Confederate statues and flags. To what extent are the present issues tied to the very theme of a past that never dies in Conjure Women?
Have you read other works in the genre referred to as "slave novels," which creates, as Atakora puts it, "art from a legacy of horror." Atakora wanted her story to move beyond the "legacy of whippings" to consider what the years were like after the war and before the dawn of Jim Crow. Do you think she succeeded? How does her novel differ—or does it?—from others set during the Civil War era, and after?
I feel this novel has a lot to teach me, I hope we both enjoy it.
Hi Nancy!
ReplyDeleteHow is the family? Everyone doing well? Have you had your knee surgery yet? We are doing well. The kids finished school for the summer and are quite happy about it. We’re down to fewer extra circular activities during the summer months so I am feeling way less stressed. The sunshine helps too. I couldn’t live somewhere like in the Scandinavian region. Months of darkness and cold on end would be too harsh for me. But off to the book!
I was pretty enthralled with this book. I loved Miss May Belle’s saying how you didn’t need to do ACTUAL magic to make folks believe magic is happening. I also loved her thoughts regarding how to figure out who “hexed” you. She was a very knowledgeable, strong character until she lost her man. I do wish she had shown Rue a little more kindness and affection. I understand she felt that she needed to teach her daughter the harshness of life but I don’t believe she couldn’t have taught Rue both.
I don’t believe I have read any other books that fall into this genre and I’m not entirely sure I would have the stomach to. What Marse Charles did to Jonah was unexpected and horrible. I recognize the atrocities that my nation has committed, and continues to commit against other racial ethnicities is heartbreaking. My one coworker is from Pakistan and she says “the U.S. is the best, everyone wants to come here.” But all the terrible discrimination says otherwise. I simply try to teach my kids that people, love, and families come in all different shapes and sizes. None are bad, none are better than another, the only thing that matters is that we are kind to each other. They roll their eyes at me when I say this and say “yea yea we know”. I must say it too often, haha! It is a shame that there are so many things that come up in the news that make me have to say this.
There was a quote that really struck me: “Worrying was a disease for women, and it came as a chronic ailment.” I felt this to my core. How often are we as women, mothers, worrying? I am frequently worrying. Are my kids warm enough? Well-fed? Safe? I can’t even imagine the amount of worrying that African American mothers must feel right now with racial profiling and the amount of young black men being killed by police. When Covid first started and people were “blaming” Asians for the virus, I was so terrified that someone would cause trouble for Franklin or the kids. I know my mother still worries about me, and I’m sure you still worry about Grace and Sam. So a mother’s worrying never ends even when the kids are grown.
Thank you for suggesting this book, Nancy. It was excellent. I look forward to your thoughts.
Much love,
Katie
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry this has taken we so long to write, I had my knee surgery last week and while all is going really well I found myself in a bit of a post anaesthetic fog.
It”s wonderful the children are off school and enjoying their Summer and you are getting a break from all the busyness.
I’m with you when it comes to those cold dark places in the world, I’d never survive either. I recently read a story called Cold Coast by Tasmanian author Robyn Munday, it was an excellent read about the first female trapper set in 1932 in Svalbard which is in the Arctic circle. Such beautiful descriptions of the landscapes but so so cold and dark.
I feel so inadequate to make comment on our story this month. I simply can not imagine living the life of these people.
I found the story enthralling and moving.
I asked the question has Ms Atakora moved beyond the “legacy of whippings”she had hoped to achieve, I don’t know if that’s possible with novels about this time.
I have read some novels from this time. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, Cane River by Lalita Tademy and Roots by Alex Haley, all disturbing and gruelling reads but set entirely within slavery times not immediately after Abolition. I just can’t imagine the terror and confusion of these poor people.
There were many shocking and horrible crimes described in the book and Joshua’s was particularly sad, one other crime that really stuck with me was the tar and feathering. I opened my eyes to how some of the language and sayings we use so casually are deeply rooted in peoples pain.
It’s hard for me to comment on the social climate in your country as the worldwide media can be suspect bur it saddens me to see that some hard fought for freedoms are being eroded. It feels like scary times for us all.
I agree with you, “dam kids” you never stop worrying about them.
I agree also with your thoughtful comments about educating our children to be loving, accepting and inclusive with all people.
We’ve had an excellent advertising campaign running over here recently talking about violence against women and showing how it begins when kids are quite young and the attitudes they pick up from us and just how much our words matter.
I am looking forward to this months read.
Thinking of you all and sending love, Nancy