It took me a while to really figure out why I liked this book, and consequently to post. I knew that I loved it. I knew that these characters were all women I would want to know. I knew I would recommend it to anyone, but I couldn't pin-point exactly what it was about the book that I found to be such a pleasure.
The content, primarily commentary on racial relations in the 60's, was nothing new to me, or really any educated person. The message, while hopeful and empowering, was also a story many times told. What I loved about this book was the women and their ability to see past the present day. I was really cheering on the characters, everyone likes someone to root for. It was sort of like when I saw the ET for the first time in the theater and yelled out "Go ET" in the midst of it all. I cheered out loud for these women despite the fact I was alone in a car.
For me, the message that resonated with me the most, days after I read it, was a line that came from the husband of one of the characters. He had taken to beating her regularly, and when she finally asked why he did it, his response was, in a nutshell, what would she become if he didn't beat her. He was a small man afraid of her potential, but what he didn't realize is he had posed a question to her, that before that moment, she didn't think deserved an answer. (I don't have the exact quote as I did this as an audio book...more on that in a minute).
That got me thinking, if we didn't have all the weight we do in life, what could each of us become? For the characters in this novel, the weight was racial oppression, lack of education, abusive husbands, and lack of opportunity.
What is the weight for us in the year 2010? Religious wars? Lack of time? A world becoming smaller and larger all at the same time? If we could remove all of that weight, what more could we become? What more could our society become? I really thought about how many things have changed, while at the same time nothing at all has. I am just as guilty of it as anyone else.
The last comment I will make, is that I did the audio version. Rarely can I say that I enjoy the audio version of a book more than reading it myself, but this was an exception. The narration was fantastic, it really brought the women to life for me. So, in a nutshell, while the message was nothing new to any of us, the delivery of this novel was delightful.
Who knew my commute would become such a treasured bit of time. I get to make my world bigger every day.
