Initial Impressions: Memphis, by Tara M. Stringfellow - July 2023

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please take care not to reveal information that might lessen other readers’ enjoyment.

[Terry]

I just downloaded the Audible version of Memphis.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I have the audio queued up for my next read as soon as I finish listening to Warlock, by Oakley Hall.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

Have a hold on it at the library

[Cathrine ☯️]

My hold came up a bit early so I let it go and was supposed to be first up next go around and now they're telling me #2 on 1 copy/4 week wait. That's a raw deal. My fingers are crossed.

[Sam]

The author of this book became a topic of controversy after responding to some criticism on social media, and consequently some said they would not read the book. I have started this and find in the first few chapters more reason to read than cancel and am looking forward to the rest.

[Terry]

Same here, Sam.

[Cathrine ☯️]

Good to hear Sam. I wasn't a fan of her remarks/response in that exchange but it won't influence my read of the book. The writing will speak for itself.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Sam wrote: "The author of this book became a topic of controversy after responding to some criticism on social media, and consequently some said they would not read the book. I have started this and find in th..."

I'm curious about this but think I should hold off asking for details until I have at least gotten a good start on the book.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

Me too Tom. I do remember an incident, but not what it involved. I will pick this book up on Monday - however I have a few to read prior to reading this. Curious as to what went down.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I wasn't planning to join in this one, but I found it on the shelf at my local library (no waiting) and I have some time before a group read coming up, so I'm in. I have no idea what the controversy is about, so I can judge the book by its content, which is as it should be.

[Sam]

I have finished and despite some trigger points and the novel having some first novel quirks, I still found the novel well worth reading and glad it was chosen. I will save any other comments till others have finished.

[Terry]

I am also saving comments at a point where I am well into the novel.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I have also finished and will discuss when others chime in. I will say that at first it reminded me a lot of Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd because of the strong black females, but did not end as strong.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Sam wrote: "I have finished and despite some trigger points and the novel having some first novel quirks, I still found the novel well worth reading and glad it was chosen. I will save any other comments till ..."

I'm spending so much thought, time, and research on Invisible Man that I don't think I can emotionally handle this one right now. One can only bear so much ancestral weight at one time! 😫 I'm still haunted and angry sometimes by our Take My Hand read by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. I knew about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, but not about the forced sterilization. 😡

I'm all in on The Killer Angels - I think you guys already know that CW studies is one of my favorite subjects! 🧡📚

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Cheryl, I would say that this is the one to skip this month.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Diane wrote: "Cheryl, I would say that this is the one to skip this month."

Thanks for the confirmation, my dear book buddy.

[Terry]

Understandable, Cheryl, but (selfishly, I admit) I was actually hoping you might read it so we could get your perspective. Maybe I should have read the Invisible Man instead of this one. If months from now you decide to come back to it, I will appreciate reading your comments.

[Wyndy]

I’m curious why readers are holding off on comments in this thread since this is the Initial Impressions section and is usually spoiler-free. Oftentimes, initial impressions draw hesitant readers in (or sometimes not). Cheryl, I completely understand and empathize with your “ancestral weight” comment. You take on a tremendous amount of heavy lifting in your reading choices.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Wyndy, I was pulled into blacktop wasteland book last month for the very reason you mentioned. I’m so glad there was “initial” reports! 5 stars of action.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Cheryl I’m still with you with Invisible Man bc I can’t read more than 1-2 chapters at a time. It’s so heavy and a gut punch with this narrator and his life. I think you are a remarkable reader and researcher.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Laura wrote: "Cheryl I’m still with you with Invisible Man bc I can’t read more than 1-2 chapters at a time. It’s so heavy and a gut punch with this narrator and his life. I think you are a remarkable reader and..."

Thanks, Laura. I really appreciate that. But, the reason that this is one of my favorite book clubs (second only to the Faulkner one) is bc of the regular group of contributors. This group has 2000 members, and only about a dozen regularly comment. 🙄 I've learned so much from the commenters, received and provided insight. We know each other's names and reading habits... It's awesome and rewarding to be part of an active reading community, even if it's less than 10% of the group! 😊

[Cathrine ☯️]

I stalled out on Invisible Man. It's not the right book at this time for me. The past couple of years has been packed with "ancestral weight" material for me and with my ongoing reading slump, I guess I'm burned out just a bit.
As previously stated, my Kindle hold has still not come in for this even though I was #1 in the queue and currently #2 for weeks now.
I requested a hard copy from the library which is in transit but now I'm feeling like maybe I'll get to it, maybe not. I am definitely not enjoying hard copy books right now and have read 3 in a row. My eyes prefer my Paperwhite and I want to get back to that.

10% participation is par for any group of any kind. Quality over quantity, and you guys have that in spades. :)

[Cheryl Carroll]

@Terry and Wyndy - I do plan to read this eventually. I also plan to give a good reread to Perkins's Take My Hand. With the Perkins, I'd like to dig deeper into the historical evidence that she used.

@Cathrine - I get it. This reread of IM comes at the right moment of time for me, Ellison's writing is "clicking" and I'm enjoying it. However, I did not have this feeling 20 years ago in high school and just skimmed through enough to pass. Diane mentioned her discovery of Ernest Gaines... I think that for me, only after reading Gaines and Wright (his male black author bookends) do I understand where Ellison fits in.

Also, based on the "Memphis" title, I would encourage anyone unfamiliar with Beale Street in Memphis to get a since of that geographical history. I had to do that two months ago, when I led a discussion on Faulkner's novel Sanctuary. I was delighted to learn of B.B. King's influence there! ❤️

[Terry]

Okay, well, I will start off talking about my initial reactions to this book, since I am not finished yet.

But first, in preface —I have always, my whole life, tried to be all in for the wonderful people of all colors I have had the privilege of being friends with. I have stood up to biogotry and said something. I have loved some, helped some, hired some, and have mentored some. I have gone into high schools on Chicago’s south side and spoken with teenage girls about my own very personal experiences growing up and finding a calling in hopes of inspiring some. I have influenced others to give scholarships to students in under-served communities, currently the chair-elect of one such committee with the primary goal of equity, diversity snd inclusion. I have done pro bono work to help communities. I have hoped for a better world in which there would be no discrimination and I have worked for and voted for those who would try to make the world a better place for all.

I don’t say this for a pat on my back. I say it to make this point which is this—I just don’t see how this book contributes to better relations between the races.

I can see, though, that this book isn’t written for me. I come from a background of white privilege. But I wonder if this is some kind of cathartic exercise in which the author is attempting to exorcise some demons, much like victims of rape are compelled to write about their experience.

Your thoughts?

[Cheryl Carroll]

@Diane- As we have all gotten to know each other as readers, I should have 100% just taken your advice, but I'm also nosy...
I got nine pages in and had to stop. Not the right time for any of the subject matter being presented.

@Terry- Race relations are complicated, and the complication is largely a result of European Colonization. Modern society is still feeling that impact. I think that only lit lovers, historians, and sociologists pay attention to that connection. (Case in point: the current riots in France, over the death of a biracial Anglo-Arabian teenaged male. Without crossing too far into political lines, I'll just half-an-inch into them by reminding the group of Camus' The Stranger.)

Although I cannot join this read, I do hope that it continues to spark careful and honest discussion among our 10% of contributors. For instance, you commented that you have a background of "white privilege". I have come to learn that that is not YOUR fault, anymore than MY background is MY fault. We are born into our circumstances and make our mark based on how we handle them and treat other people. If everyone had to read To Kill A Mockingbird and feel the Atticus Finch revelation for themselves, that we must walk around in the shoes of other humans to understand them, all aspects of society would be so much better off.

That being said - I think that it's okay to feel that not every book about the experience of black Americans works for you. I love love ❤️ Marvel and D.C. but I do not read all comic books...

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I've been holding off commenting because I didn't want to negatively influence others who might pick it up and love it. I've held off on writing a review for the same reason. It started out well for me, but didn't keep up the pace. I feel as Terry does, it's like the author needed to exorcise some demons in her own life. I didn't like the constant use of the word "nigga" when used by family members and friends. If the word is off-limits for others, it's off-limits for everyone. The story fell apart at the end, was rushed and had a few unnecessary scenes that did nothing to further the plot.

[Connie]

Thanks for letting us know, Diane. I had been thinking of trying to fit it in at the end of the month, but I really need some lighter books now.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Just not what I expected or had hoped for Connie.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

My library hold came in early so I have also finished listening to it. I enjoyed this multigenerational tale of a family of determined black women but was not thrilled by it. I will probably save any further comments for the backside discussion.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

I hope to be starting this book by the end of this week. I have a few books to finish first - like the finally materializing Blacktop Wasteland...sigh! - but that's another story.

I remember there was controversy when this book first came out and I decided not to read it then. Now, I can't remember what that controversy was, so I am going to attempt the read. However I do agree with Diane wholeheartedly - no one should use the word 'nigga' or any form there of. Last year I read thru 3 books in a row that used that derogatory term and I just could not handle another book using it. We will see how I fair with this book.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

I am only into the book about 50 pages now. So I haven't really formed any opinion. I see where the, so very often, back and forth in time periods from 1995 to 1978 takes place in this book. Sometimes that works, other times I wish that the author had just picked a time period and wrote forward from there. But so far so good. Once I can form any type of opinion I will will return.