Powell Branch Library Book Discussion discussion
"Daughters of the Stone" Discussion
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Cheryl
(last edited Jan 19, 2010 11:01AM)
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Jan 19, 2010 11:00AM
To me the setting and circumstances were the driving force behind the characters. Without it, the connection between the generations would not have been there. I was struck by the sadness/lostness that each generation felt and yet it was that very thing that gave them connectivity.
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That's an interesting point, Cheryl. I could see the setting magnifying the sense of connection between people, family and the extended family of the former slaves, in the face of sadness and loss when Mati transformed the patrone's house from Los Mercedes to Caridad. The setting at this point adds to the triumph of freedom that Mati and her large family found.I am only halfway through so I haven't seen the extended connections between the generations. I can see the connection between Fela and Mati. Mati chooses to stay where Fela gave birth to her and near the river which was so important to Fela.
I am enjoying how the setting, and nature is incorporated into the spiritual life of Fela and Mati. I think this may enhance the story.
I know we've moved on from this book but I would like to make one more observation. I'm going way out on a limb but the thing that haunts me about this book is its spiritual context. I find it so incredibly sad that the women found so little 'shalom' (order out of chaos) in their contact with the spirit world. Even in extremly harsh circumstances, there can be peace so I don't feel that was the deterient. And here is where the buzz saw comes out and my 'limb' is cut off - I think it was because they were in contacat with the wrong spirit world. I find that heartbreaking. Cheryl
I liked the portrayal of the spiritual in this book and how it is this spirituality that connects the generations of women beyond their shared experiences of love, loss, abandonment, etc. It is the use of the spiritual that helps to ground the magical realism embedded in this novel and makes it more believable. I finished reading a book on Santeria this summer and found it interesting the different ways it is shown throughout this novel and how the spiritual aspect of this religion is the connecting thread between the women and their stories.
Powell Branch Library wrote: "Good morning Book Discussion Group. Welcome to our first discussion. Hopefully you've had the chance to read our first book, "Daughters of the Stone". Although the book was character driven the s..."The setting was an integral part of the story for me; it was a novel setting that I had not thought about before presented in a very human context. I also like how it changed over time, from a slave owning society to a free-society that is caught up in the struggles and inequities that directly stem from the legacy of slavery. I thought she did a good job of presenting the current racial and socio-economic problems in Puerto Rican society without getting preachy or adamant.
For me one of the more disturbing parts of the story is when Elena and Pedro's son, Danilo, dies in NYC - one of the most affluent countries and cities on the planet. Despite being a nurse Elena still could not get the needed medical care that would have saved Danilo’s life. Yet, the author leaves little doubt that had Danilo remained in Puerto Rico he would have received the necessary medical attention. I think this is an interesting, depressing, a realistic juxtaposition between the third world and the first world and between the ways we choose to see ourselves rather than the ways we, as a society, really are.
I loved this book, and would thoroughly enjoy beginning a new thread of interest here in the Summer Reading Program of 2012. What struck me was the contrast between generations. It seemed that, in spite of the circumstance, the original generation (Fela) was more grounded in her sense of who she was, her past, and her legacy to leave to future generations. As we moved in the text, and advanced in generations, there was a shift in the movement of time as well as the connection each subsequent character experienced with self, with the past, and with the legacy that she would leave. I found myself fascinated with the oral tradition of history and family all over again. I believe that modern culture lacks the rich tradition of storytelling that weaves the past into our present lives. While I did not identify with the spiritual connections presented in this book, I did identify with the storytelling; the love of hearing and telling a good story. When I was younger I used to love to listen to my grandparents tell stories about camping trips that they went on with my father and his siblings, as well as stories about life during World War II. We recently lost my father-in-law, who was also an excellent storyteller, and this book reminded me how much I miss his, and my grandparents, stories. This book re-kindled in me the desire to pass on the oral traditions of my family to my children so that they will have a better grasp of who they are, and where they came from.
Powell Branch Library wrote: "Each story has a voice. When you are able to hear first-hand your family's history it can be extremely powerful. Scrapbooking, blogging, and social networking have replaced some of the oral tradi..."My husband and I were thinking of recording some of the older members in our family telling the stories that we love and compiling a book for our children to pull out at family gatherings/holidays. A family scrapbook if you wish. What I find lacking about the blogging, social networking tradition is that it feels cold to not have a face or a voice connection with the other person.
The traditions and stories will always be passed on from generation to generation. Each person learns something different, and takes a different nugget of knowledge, but the tradition still remains in the family.
Tuesdee wrote: "The traditions and stories will always be passed on from generation to generation. Each person learns something different, and takes a different nugget of knowledge, but the tradition still remain..."I'm not sure I agree that the traditions and stories are "always" passed from generation to generation, I believe you have to cultivate that in the culture of your family. I come in contact with many people who have no connection to their past because the tradition of sharing has been lost, and quite frankly I find it sad.
Kari wrote: "Tuesdee wrote: "The traditions and stories will always be passed on from generation to generation. Each person learns something different, and takes a different nugget of knowledge, but the tradit..."I suppose you are correct. I know that there are traditions that I had when I was a child that I no longer use. I don't have my own children so maybe that is why some things die out. Family dynamics change, therefore traditions either disappear or change themselves.
