tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11428766.post7306643524230046837..comments2023-09-20T04:04:07.170-06:00Comments on A Few Choice Words: The Bean Trees - Chapter 1Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16453489879246452921noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11428766.post-11960844599609170602008-05-10T06:51:00.000-06:002008-05-10T06:51:00.000-06:00I am a big BK fan, and have read those two books. ...I am a big BK fan, and have read those two books. I just finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and am now reading Prodigal Summer.deedeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10278468497564430383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11428766.post-65492884732925523142008-05-04T10:15:00.000-06:002008-05-04T10:15:00.000-06:00she describes Oklahoma very well."Oklahoma made me...she describes Oklahoma very well.<BR/><BR/>"Oklahoma made me feel there was nothing left to hope for"<BR/><BR/>They should put that on their license plates!<BR/><BR/>Reminds me of a joke<BR/>You know why Texas doesn't fall into the Gulf?<BR/>Because Oklahoma sucks.<BR/><BR/>And 2 chapters this week? I had to wake up early this morning just to get one read.<BR/><BR/>oh all rightStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09113649615898017098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11428766.post-70755243992308895392008-05-04T10:13:00.000-06:002008-05-04T10:13:00.000-06:00I also think it's really interesting how matter-of...I also think it's really interesting how matter-of-fact she is about what it means to be female. The guys reading might be all "OMG, that's terrible!" while I think most of us women will be all "And..?" She was horrified but not surprised about the abuse of the child she is handed. She talks about being pregnant and barefoot. She describes Jolene's predicament. She talks about the old woman working the overnight shift for her son. She talks about the NA woman and all without any eyebrow raised. That's just the way it is. And it really is the way it is.<BR/><BR/>I think the comments re: head rights are very interesting as well, wherein she really contrasts the idea of the perception of life on the Rez, "If things get tough, we can always claim our head rights." and the reality of it, she would rather break her own rule and pay to leave the place than stay. She "takes her head rights with her."--naivete, abuse, abandonment. She talks of KY being a place where one can hope and OK as being a place without hope. That is a pretty apt description of life as it really is on the Rez.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11428766.post-25720402733302264482008-05-04T10:09:00.000-06:002008-05-04T10:09:00.000-06:00I was totally sucked in from the first paragraph. ...I was totally sucked in from the first paragraph. Her description of how she grew up reminded me so much of where I grew up, and the "deadendedness" of the area. And so I can totally identify with her desire to get away.<BR/><BR/>I also identified with the push-starting of the car, as I once had a VW bus that I drove without a starter for six months.<BR/><BR/>The whole scene in the bar reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's writing.<BR/><BR/>The injuries to the baby disturbed me very much and I was glad that the author sort of "glossed over" that.<BR/><BR/>I also loved the last paragraph of the chapter:<BR/><BR/>"I found my head rights, Mama. They're coming with me."<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to what comes next.splordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06426754745729551958noreply@blogger.com