Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and being able to learn about how people with black skin were treated in a mostly white community in the 1960’s. This novel went very in depth with the struggles faced with James racial identity as he really did not know how to handle being a black child with a white mother and 11 other siblings of all different skin tones. While reading this book, I almost felt as if I was reading 2 books at a time; James story and Ruth’s story. I really enjoyed how they alternated between the two, which I think adds depth to the text itself. I think this book has very valuable lessons, such as don’t wait to tell those you love how you feel because by the time you do, it may be too late. On page 217, Ruth says “That’s why you have to say all your “sorrys” and “I love yous” while a person is living, because tomorrow isn’t promised.” The goes to say that before it is to late tell everyone how you feel because if you don’t you will be left with a burden instead of a feeling of relief. Also, when people die, the last thing you ever want them to remember about you is how selfish you are and how the last words you ever said to them were negative. This is a very strong and important life lesson. Even though most of us today cannot relate to the story-line of this book, we can all relate to most of the lessons this book is preaching about; such as how education is important, others opinions of you are not. Life is short so don’t do things you will regret, and never forget who raised you and what you learned about life from them.
I think that was the best way that anybody could summarize this book. It is all about lessons and it’s great for teenagers to read to really understand how different races were treated back then. While you read the end of the book, I encourage you to ask yourself, how will the lessons that I learned in this book make me change in the future?
I’m actually surprised that I enjoyed this book. I got into it and I could relate to the characters and feel empathy towards them, and I’ve never really felt that towards a book in a while. I can relate to Ruth hiding her past and hiding the truth about things, I can relate to how James feels different (because of his race) but in a different way for me. There’s a part in the book where James is talking to his mother in church, and she begins to cry, she says, “I’m crying ‘cause I’m happy. Anything wrong with that?”(50). I can relate to that because I don’t always cry just because I’m sad. When I feel passionate enough about something, I can get a little bit emotional. The biggest reason I enjoyed this book was because I could relate to the characters and it was interesting to read.
I agree with you on how people not only cry when they are sad, but when they are happy also. I feel as if I related to the characters in the book like Ruth and James because Ruth hides her past because she doesn't want to remember it, and James does bad things like stealing to get peoples attention, maybe his mother.
I totally agree with you. Crying can occur on many different occasions. The human body was not built to only cry when we are sad. The body was made to cry when we are happy, surprised, anxious, feeling bad, hurt, etc.
I usually am not a fan of reading but when it comes to this book, I was intrigued by the racial issues and what it was like being in a time that they were in when racism was a big problem, bigger than it is now, and seeing how they grew up and how they acted when they were being discriminated. I can also relate to Ruth by her hiding her past and not wanting to tell her kids because there are things in my life that I hide and don't tell anyone because I would just rather not think about it. “When I asked her where she was from, she would say “God made me”, and change the subject.” (21) I love learning new things about racism and how it affects people, but I also love connecting with the characters and getting to know what is going on in their heads.
To add on to the beginning of your post, I think it also opens our eyes to what used to go on and how minorities were treated. We come from a very segregated area, and have been taught what not to say. We have never experienced how people of different skin colors were treated back then, because that just doesn't happen today, especially with all of the separation.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and being able to learn about how people with black skin were treated in a mostly white community in the 1960’s. This novel went very in depth with the struggles faced with James racial identity as he really did not know how to handle being a black child with a white mother and 11 other siblings of all different skin tones. While reading this book, I almost felt as if I was reading 2 books at a time; James story and Ruth’s story. I really enjoyed how they alternated between the two, which I think adds depth to the text itself. I think this book has very valuable lessons, such as don’t wait to tell those you love how you feel because by the time you do, it may be too late. On page 217, Ruth says “That’s why you have to say all your “sorrys” and “I love yous” while a person is living, because tomorrow isn’t promised.” The goes to say that before it is to late tell everyone how you feel because if you don’t you will be left with a burden instead of a feeling of relief. Also, when people die, the last thing you ever want them to remember about you is how selfish you are and how the last words you ever said to them were negative. This is a very strong and important life lesson. Even though most of us today cannot relate to the story-line of this book, we can all relate to most of the lessons this book is preaching about; such as how education is important, others opinions of you are not. Life is short so don’t do things you will regret, and never forget who raised you and what you learned about life from them.
ReplyDeleteI think that was the best way that anybody could summarize this book. It is all about lessons and it’s great for teenagers to read to really understand how different races were treated back then. While you read the end of the book, I encourage you to ask yourself, how will the lessons that I learned in this book make me change in the future?
DeleteI’m actually surprised that I enjoyed this book. I got into it and I could relate to the characters and feel empathy towards them, and I’ve never really felt that towards a book in a while. I can relate to Ruth hiding her past and hiding the truth about things, I can relate to how James feels different (because of his race) but in a different way for me. There’s a part in the book where James is talking to his mother in church, and she begins to cry, she says, “I’m crying ‘cause I’m happy. Anything wrong with that?”(50). I can relate to that because I don’t always cry just because I’m sad. When I feel passionate enough about something, I can get a little bit emotional. The biggest reason I enjoyed this book was because I could relate to the characters and it was interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on how people not only cry when they are sad, but when they are happy also. I feel as if I related to the characters in the book like Ruth and James because Ruth hides her past because she doesn't want to remember it, and James does bad things like stealing to get peoples attention, maybe his mother.
DeleteI totally agree with you. Crying can occur on many different occasions. The human body was not built to only cry when we are sad. The body was made to cry when we are happy, surprised, anxious, feeling bad, hurt, etc.
DeleteI usually am not a fan of reading but when it comes to this book, I was intrigued by the racial issues and what it was like being in a time that they were in when racism was a big problem, bigger than it is now, and seeing how they grew up and how they acted when they were being discriminated. I can also relate to Ruth by her hiding her past and not wanting to tell her kids because there are things in my life that I hide and don't tell anyone because I would just rather not think about it. “When I asked her where she was from, she would say “God made me”, and change the subject.” (21) I love learning new things about racism and how it affects people, but I also love connecting with the characters and getting to know what is going on in their heads.
ReplyDeleteTo add on to the beginning of your post, I think it also opens our eyes to what used to go on and how minorities were treated. We come from a very segregated area, and have been taught what not to say. We have never experienced how people of different skin colors were treated back then, because that just doesn't happen today, especially with all of the separation.
Delete