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Queenie

Questions About Queenie

by Candice Carty-Williams (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (15)

why does queenie have to describe her sexual encounters in so much detail. Does the reader really have to know that much?
Carolyn Fitzpatrick I don't think that the sex was hot at all. Queenie wasn't getting off on it either - she tells her friends that she never experienced an orgasm with a…moreI don't think that the sex was hot at all. Queenie wasn't getting off on it either - she tells her friends that she never experienced an orgasm with anyone. The sex was sad and gross and violent in a one-sided and definitely not sexy way. But it is important to the story to know just how awful Queenie's encounters were, and how she overlooked how bossy and demeaning her sex partners were verbally, to contrast with how she spun these encounters to herself afterward and to establish a pattern.(less)
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I wonder why it was never explained why Queenie was not interested in/scared of black men?
Tania It was actually directly answered. She talked to Kyazike about it and the therapist. It's from her mother's relationships with men and the violence of…moreIt was actually directly answered. She talked to Kyazike about it and the therapist. It's from her mother's relationships with men and the violence of her stepfather. (less)
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The author writes about Queenie's protection of herself. She doesn't like any one to touch her hair. Also, just touching her while at a meal or some other informal occasion might cause annoyance. Are black women so really untouchable? If not, why did Candice Carty-Williams choose this way to describe women?
Madonna Grant No woman should be touched without her permission. There is a history of black women's hair being an object of fascination and objectification. …moreNo woman should be touched without her permission. There is a history of black women's hair being an object of fascination and objectification. (less)
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Kate Or, was this just about relationships in your twenties? This reminded me a lot of what I and my friends were going through in relationships at that ag…moreOr, was this just about relationships in your twenties? This reminded me a lot of what I and my friends were going through in relationships at that age. Most were super dysfunctional, with lots of bad sex, commitments made too soon (some ending in divorce in our thirties), people dealing with the first signs of mental illness, cheating, etc. It's a lot to work out at that stage of life. And it seems also like women bear a disproportionate share of the emotional/relationship work, while men just sort of do their thing, which was maybe a point the author was trying to make about straight relationships.(less)
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What does "kissed her lips" mean? By the context it's some sort of facial expression but I have a problem visualizing it.
Jernara Some people might call it "sucking your teeth", but it's that little 'tsk' sound you make when you put your tongue against your teeth then pull away (…moreSome people might call it "sucking your teeth", but it's that little 'tsk' sound you make when you put your tongue against your teeth then pull away (like if you were annoyed). Hope that makes sense(less)
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