Naomie’s Comments (group member since Apr 02, 2018)

Naomie’s comments from the The Digital Book Club: Create. Learn. Inspire. group.

Hi everyone? How is everybody liking this month's read? I'm still laughing with each page I read.

Right now I am on the chapter: Zamunda Is Not a Country. Neither is Africa (pg. 128-148). This chapter is of particular interest to me because I honestly believe that Africa, as a continent is not reviewed in the public at the level it should be. I will admit that some parts of the continent are shown positively, but mostly individuals perception as to the type of place Africa is has been skewed for awhile now. I've never been and I myself, do not have a direct lineage to any country in Africa. But I have known a lot of individuals who were from various countries, such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Egypt.

There's so much wealth and beauty lying all over Africa and this motherland should be celebrated more. I know of it's beauty through other people and stories that I hear from people that know the countries in Africa well.

I love what Ife-oluwa said on pg. 133.

"Africa has a PR problem, and Olivia Pope needs to fix it."

Has anyone else read this chapter and noticed any negativity in the media or seen any negativity towards Africa?

Lol next time you’re reading in a public place and someone gives you “that look”, just turn to them and ask if they want to read with you. 😭😭

Yes, absolutely. As I was reading through the friendships section, I think I have been the “on-the-surface friend”...the one you know, but then again you don’t know them. Opening up more and not building a wall is usually a problem that I have.

Hi everyone! Hope your weekend has been relaxing.

I want to kick off the conversation by saying that I probably laugh 2-3 times with each page I read. This is a very opinionated book and the author is, in my experience, speaking truth. I like the way she upfront about this being her book and she is going to talk about and say what she wants to talk. Earlier in the introduction she gives a quote by Toni Morrison, "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

I believe Luvvie Ajayi did just that! Her rant about dinner scrooges was hilarious and she is right about her opinion on toddlers in the store - they act completely different when those innocent eyes see a toy they want.

Would anyone else agree on the book being hilariously funny?

What is the funniest and the most true opinion you heard so far?

Most funny: "Only God can judge me" "Well until He gives you His final judgement, here's some of mine." (pg. 9)

Most true: "Good friends are often our lifelines." (pg. 23)

*type not time

Hey everyone.

Decided to buy the e-version of the book and I was, to simply put it...CAPTIVATED by just the first few pages of the book.

Hawa - I feel the same way. I love a good background story. I like knowing the ins and outs of someone's life. No part is too small or less important. It all matters. Everything has roots. I also enjoy when movies have this time of story line, where the go back and forth. I believe it's called non-linear storytelling.

Angela gave a BOMB foreword and as black liberation activist herself, I thought that her introducing the book was marvelous. Angela is highly respected and I loved her insight.

Assata begins the book with the NJ incident and the allegations that she had one of the state troopers. I immediately thought of Assata has powerful. She was beaten and "pigs" as she calls them probably viewed as defenseless. Even as she is trying to recover in the hospital, they still wanted criminalize and taunt her, but she remained herself.

That nurse in the hospital was blessing and a sweetheart. I appreciated her kindness and the brutalization wasn't even happening to me!

"Anytime you need me or need anything from the nurses, just press this button," she said. "Don't be afraid to use it," she added, giving me a knowing look. I could have kissed her.

(pg 49)

*anxiety

I can feel most creative when the atmosphere around me or when a room that I’m in is full of variety. I feel as though I’m inspired by things like artifacts, portraits, sculptures, life, building, and nature etc. Like seeing marvelous work that was done around me - it just pumps me up. Hopefully that makes sense.

I am currently on the Enchantment section of the book. The point I like about the book the most so far is the letter Elizabeth wrote to Fear as her, Fear, and creativity go on a road trip together before every new project. She was courageous to tell fear that it wasn’t even allowed to touch the radio! Fear could be present all it wanted to be, but it wouldn’t make her final decisions. I also love the anecdote she gave about her own battle with fear - being fearful all her life up until the middle of adolescence.

I’m a fearful individual myself. How I’ve accomplished my goals so far is to put deep pressure on myself and let my aniexfg run wild! Not healthy and I even psych myself out. For example when I graduated with my Masters last year - I was so afraid of not passing and I worried myself to the core. But I did pass and in the end I wish I hadn’t put so much pressure on myself.

hey hawa,

I have made it through to chapter. As soon as I opened the book up, I just kept reading! It started off great. The book was relateable, energetic, and definitely current to today's time.

I do not think Starr was too young to have that talk with her father at all. Unfortunately, I know this is true especially in certain urban areas where interactions with police are very typical. She is young, yes, but if she can get even a little bit prepared as to what to do if she should ever get stopped, that's great. And she got stopped at a young age, so I'm glad her father had that talk with her.

I don't think Starr will continue to stay silent. But her reaction of being silent at first as all this is happening to her for the first time (versus just hearing about it) is understandable. She's frightened and shocked. Someone else may have handled it differently, but we are different people so everyone is not going to have the same responses. As time goes on, I think she will find her voice. I, however, wonder how and when things will unfold.

As far as when her worlds collide, lol, I think they already have. They collided the moment Khalil died and the fact that she was present at the time of his death. Now we will see just how she handles both worlds intersecting together.

I do wonder how her boyfriend and friends from her prep school will respond and how comforting they'll be. I also wonder about her older brother's father. I'm interested in seeing her father and his father continue to react towards each other. There's definitely some tension and history there.

Thanks Reven! This is my first time reading the book, although I heard about it first in high school.

As far as connections to Okonkwo's character, personally, I do not find myself relating to him, but I do understand how he would want to detach himself from his father's name. Being that his father was lazy and dishonest, Okonkwo seems to be completely the opposite from his father. My first impressions of him are that he is probably feared and as well as respected by many, being looked at as the town hero.

I do not necessarily agree with the way he treats his family, but I can see why any close relationships he has with anyway could be strained because of the one he had with his father. I would also argue that because he had such a strenuous relationship with his father, then why wouldn't that make him want to treat any current or future intimate relationships he has with others as treasured and not with a short temper? With that being said, I know these types of things can go one way or the other because everyone reacts to stressful things in their lives differently.

Overall, I look forward to seeing what is up next in Things Fall Apart.