Child of God

Professor · #1 11-02-2001, 09:20 AM

Did anyone read the book. I don't want to post if I'm the only one participating.

novella000 · #2 11-02-2001, 02:05 PM

Prof, I am still reading. I had to put it down last week. Anyhow, I should be finished by tomorrow. I will be ready to discuss...

All I can say for now is this is some buck wild isth!

Lolita does an excellent job supplying the images... Not much is left to the imagination. I have never sampled her work before, but she seems to be a great writer. I don't usually 'do' fiction, so this is a different type of read for me.

Good choice...

CrimsonTide4 · #3 11-02-2001, 02:17 PM

I read it in September when it first came out because Lolita is one of my favorite authors. NOVELLA girl you need to read SCENES FROM A SISTAH and GETTING TO THE GOOD PART in THAT ORDER!! This sista is fierce and funny.

She is an excellent writer with her description and dialogue. All of her books will make excellent movies.

In case you did not know she is an AKA. She even put that in Getting to the Good Part and Scenes from a Sistah for the major characters.

When you are ready to discuss, count me in.

Professor · #4 11-02-2001, 02:20 PM

I guess a few folk have not completed the reading. Let's discuss on Wednesday.

novella000 · #5 11-02-2001, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Professor
I guess a few folk have not completed the reading. Let's discuss on Wednesday.

Sounds good to me!

AKAtude · #6 11-02-2001, 05:30 PM

Thanks for the extra time. I needed it.

novella000 · #7 11-02-2001, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
I read it in September when it first came out because Lolita is one of my favorite authors. NOVELLA girl you need to read SCENES FROM A SISTAH and GETTING TO THE GOOD PART in THAT ORDER!! This sista is fierce and funny.

Ordered!!

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
In case you did not know she is an AKA. She is an excellent writer with her description and dialogue. All of her books will make excellent movies

Yea

Interestingly enough, she is a former Director of Communications for KinderCare... She is also partner/owner in an entertainment/communications company called MiLo or MicLo something like that. They plan on putting the books on screen and/or TV!! Specifically, Scenes from a Sistah. But I am sure that is a long way off...

novella000 · #8 11-07-2001, 06:34 PM

was supposed to be commencing today...

I will start:

Excellent read.

My favorite character was Javier... he was a good man!! I love the way he handled himself after having all of that dumped on him at one time.

Question:
Could you at all identify with any of the characters... and if so - Who?

Mine were Coolie & Polo... they really did love each other a LOT... unfortunately, while they were IN the relationship they didn't love themselves enough (esp. Coolie) and ended up looking back at the situation knowing what they SHOULD have done... and we all know hindsight is 20/20... But for them, sight came too late.

I could really identify with that... No matter how much you love someone, if you don't love yourself enough the relationship will still suffer.

Professor · #9 11-08-2001, 09:49 AM

I have problems sleeping and again have turned to reading to slow my role. This work is the first of first again for me.

I loved this story! As an English major I had an opportunity to recall skills that I no longer practice.

The vivid imagery was excellent. I could really feel Coolie's pain! My mind painted a picture of this once beautiful young lady whose body became ravaged by the use of drugs. This character was particular close to me because it reminded me of my aunt. Coolie's story is one of many Brothers and Sisters who want to be "Cool!" They try drugs and find that their bodies can't go without the craving. Coolie's story also reminds me of a philosophy that I live by. Choose a goal and no matter what happens continue to strive towards the mark. In Coolie's case, although she remained in the same environment she slowly weaned(?) herself from drugs. In addition, she mastered the art of typing that gave her a marketable skill. The liberation one feels after reaching a small or great accomplishment can be equally gratifying. I cheered Coolie on as she began with the thought until finally accomplishing her goal!

novella000 · #10 11-08-2001, 11:19 AM

YES YES YES!! The imagery was on point.. I could see the book playing like a movie in my head.

If you could cast the movie Child of God who would play who??

I've got to get outta here for a little while -- but I will be back with my answers...

CrimsonTide4 · #11 11-08-2001, 11:47 AM

I loved this book too. I loved it for fleshing out HAMLET and bringing to the table all of the issues that can plague a family.

I too loved Coolie's character. She was a woman after my heart as far as like the Professor said she might have been down but she was never out.

Lolita Files is a WRITER not an author. She writes vividly and paints the scene for you so you can picture it. I would love for this to be a movie as well as her first two works.

What struck me about the book was really just how well she turned this book into a modern Hamlet. I read Hamlet in college and never really got into it like I did this book.

I was struck by the drug dealing brother who seemed just really hard core and totally unfeeling except towards the psycho aunt. That babe was craaazy. This would make a hella movie.

Professor · #12 11-08-2001, 12:05 PM

I have more to say but I want to see if others pick up on the things that I did.

CrimsonTide4 · #13 11-08-2001, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Professor
I have more to say but I want to see if others pick up on the things that I did.

I was an English major and teach English now. Toss one out when you get a chance. I am on my lunch break and book is at home and I read it a month ago.

novella000 · #14 11-08-2001, 02:17 PM

Prof, share!!

Or we can wait til I get home to look over the book! LOL

I was impressed the chronology of the story.... It wasn't told in "order" per se... You know how you'll be telling someone a story, and they may ask you a question, and you will have to tell other history to make your listener understand WHY you give the answer you are about to give to their original question? (Did that make sense?) --- That's how the story was told.
It was told like I would have told the story, were it my family... Skipping back and forth, telling things you didn't need to know, or wouldn't understand unless I told you about another group of people...
I was grinning at the end once I realized WHY it was presented in that fashion.
Ms. Files apparently took great pains to relay the story from a realistic P.O.V.

Also, the section (I forget which, I need my book) called Coolie and Polo... did anyone notice how Lay and Coolie seemed to be the focal point of that section, until much later in the book?? I thought that that was pretty cool, how she - with great precision, brought all of the characters into their proper focus.

Professor · #15 11-08-2001, 02:42 PM

I agree with all the points of view. What do you think about the issue of a parent's sins being passed to the offspring. I think it is a valid observation. Seemingly, each generation had an issue and the "sin" or secret was further complicated because truth never prevailed... Until the last chapter where (damn I can't think of the girls name) the character confronts her fears and begins to love, trust and more importantly cleanse herself of her pass and accept the imperfections of those that were part of her life. I should also add the father found happiness by finally expressing that he was actually the father and admitted he was gay. He also found truth when his uncle/aunt (lol) told the history of his father, Coolie realized what was important to her and pursued her only true love, etc. etc. etc. I have some work to do but will check back!!!