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Procrastinate on This! Precious In A Good Way
I’ve somehow managed to avoid reading the novel, Push by Sapphire, even though my all-women’s college and my BFF worshiped it back in the late 90s. If I remember right, I was sick of all dark-skinned women being portrayed as downtrodden sad sacks, and I just couldn’t bear to read another book with a character I was supposed to identify with, but of course, didn’t.
However, watching the trailer for the film, Precious, which is based on the book, I wonder if I have done myself a disservice. The subject matter is so powerful, I now feel compelled to not only see the movie, but also read the book.
My shelves are alphabetized by author within each genre, so Push sits between Catcher in the Rye and Man and Superman. Then come Oedipus the King and Edge City. Can you tell who mostly prefers the classics but took one Women's Literature course in college?
The biggest things I remember from my reading of the book 15 years ago are "insect" (you'll see) and "Little Mongo."
I didn't love the book, compared to other similar-themed books with much more compelling protagonists and better prose like Bastard Out of Carolina. But certainly we don't get a lot of stories told from this vantage point, even though there are millions of young girls in this world who live a similar life.
It's a quick read, at the very least.
My shelves are alphabetized by author within each genre, so Push sits between Catcher in the Rye and Man and Superman. Then come Oedipus the King and Edge City. Can you tell who mostly prefers the classics but took one Women's Literature course in college?
The biggest things I remember from my reading of the book 15 years ago are "insect" (you'll see) and "Little Mongo."
I didn't love the book, compared to other similar-themed books with much more compelling protagonists and better prose like Bastard Out of Carolina. But certainly we don't get a lot of stories told from this vantage point, even though there are millions of young girls in this world who live a similar life.
It's a quick read, at the very least.
um…was that Mariah Carey actually like…. *gulp* acting in that trailer. She might make me have to see her in a new light…. you know a different light from the one I smashed after watching glitter…
um…was that Mariah Carey actually like…. *gulp* acting in that trailer. She might make me have to see her in a new light…. you know a different light from the one I smashed after watching glitter…
whoa. i didn't know that was mariah until the end credits, at which point i had to use deductive reasoning to figure out which character she played. she's not totally annoying! i'm so impressed.
although i want to see that movie, i already don't look forward to crying throughout.
whoa. i didn't know that was mariah until the end credits, at which point i had to use deductive reasoning to figure out which character she played. she's not totally annoying! i'm so impressed.
although i want to see that movie, i already don't look forward to crying throughout.
This book really moved me when I read it in the mid-90's. I talked about it all of the time. Her story could have been (and was) for so many women I knew, both friends and family. Sometimes I think without the amazing mother I had my own story could have been very different.
BabySmiling, Bastard Out of Carolina is a favorite as well.
This book really moved me when I read it in the mid-90's. I talked about it all of the time. Her story could have been (and was) for so many women I knew, both friends and family. Sometimes I think without the amazing mother I had my own story could have been very different.
BabySmiling, Bastard Out of Carolina is a favorite as well.