Part I through pg 144

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

How are you enjoying Vixen so far?

To start things off, I thought I would comment that I noticed two things in this first section of Vixen and I'm very interested in hearing what you might think about them:

1. Each of the characters seems to be trying to change their lives by manipulating their image. Gloria is a good girl interested in exploring the flapper lifestyle. Lorraine is her best friend who is jealous of Gloria and thinks she can get attention through a bad girl reputation and appearance. Then we have Clara who has a past living the high life as a flapper in New York City, but decides to adopt of the persona of 'Country Clara' when she comes to Chicago to help with Gloria's wedding. Why do you think each of these character is so interested in changing their looks? Do you think they are successful? Does changing their looks change their lives?



2. The other thing that really struck me about this first section of Vixen is Gloria's first meeting with Jerome, a black piano player at the Green Mill speakeasy."'You're here because you think it makes you free,'" he tells her. "'Unlike the rest of your little schoolgirl friends, sneaking out without Daddy's permission. Listening to the black man play his music and dirty your lily white hands... But you ain't free, kid. You wouldn't know how to be free if your life depended on it.'" I'm very interested in hearing about what you think regarding 'freedom' in this novel. Does sneaking off to a speakeasy, drinking illegal substances, or cutting one's hair make someone free? What constitutes freedom to you, and do any of the characters we've met so far have it?

What are your thoughts about the first section of Vixen? What are your predictions (no spoilers, please!) about what might happen next?

[Stephanie]

I like the multiple perspectives; I was pleasantly surprised by this. It's also refreshing for me to read YA other than first person - it seems like so much YA is 1st person these days.

I like that there is a little more to Gloria's mom (I can't remember what page so I won't say what); she has reasons for her expecatations for her daughter. I think it's pretty common though, that when parents expect things of their children, there is a point of natural rebellion, and the desire to push against that. All of these girls are pushing against some type of expectation, whether it's society or their family.

[Kelly]

Re Freedom: I think freedom is when you can choose for yourself how your time is spent. So, Jerome is right about her because sheholds a place in society where her choices aren't her own. Many of us don't have freedom because of financial concerns, but at least we are free to pick work we enjoy, pursue an education, and love who we want. I guess this is the blessing of middle classness.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

Not sure what is going on with all the French words in this book. I am not very far but I just don't know why? Is it supposed to give the book a 20s feel?

[Stephanie]

Angie wrote: "Not sure what is going on with all the French words in this book. I am not very far but I just don't know why? Is it supposed to give the book a 20s feel?"
I think maybe it's because they are high society girls who go to a private prep school; French has been traditionally taught as a secondary language in those schools. That's my best guess!

[Kelly]

I feel like this author just wrote a list about everything she knew about the twenties and then felt bound to work in every one of them. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gloria toting a Tommie gun in future chapters.

[Rita]

I don't really have an opinion yet of this book. But I didn't think that Clara's sudden decision to remake herself was very believable. She started off with spunk and derisive hatred of everything boring and then decides to be the most boring of all. Unless she has bi-polar disorder, she doesn't make much sense to me.

[Kelly]

I mean is the threat of a boarding school worse than pretending you're a bumpkin? In all of the other books they have a blast a boarding school. :)

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I too like the multiple perspectives so far. I like the 3 girls. But I can't believe how jealous Raine is. Wow... who goes after their best friend like that? I have to keep looking up words in this book, but I kinda enjoy it. I like how the author is using words that have gone out of style.
I also have like the whole part about a upscale white girl who has a crush on a black man. That really was unheard of at the time. Clearly before the civil rights movement. I am curious to see where that goes.

[Grace]

Kelly wrote: "I mean is the threat of a boarding school worse than pretending you're a bumpkin? In all of the other books they have a blast a boarding school. :)"

It's not JUST a boarding school - it's a reform school. That's equivalent to a jail. So, yeah, that WOULD be more threatening than a boarding school. There would be very little freedom in a reform school without any of the advantages of being in a boarding school.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

That's true Grace. To be honest, when Clara described what happens in reform school I actually wanted to take those classes. This happens on page 149 so it is a little past where this discussion is supposed to stop but it's not a spoiler so I'll mention it. She says jewelry making, glassblowing, lock picking. Funny thing is these all sound so interesting to me. I would love this reform school. But I suppose when all you want to do is party then these things would be quite boring.

[Stephanie]

I'm listening to the audio book during my work commute, so sometimes I have to skip back if I feel like I miss something. I definitely felt like I lost track when Clara decided to reinvent herself. I couldn't figure out why! I'm glad to know the pacing of the book may have been just as abrupt as it was to listen to it.

[Grace]

Stephanie wrote: "I definitely felt like I lost track when Clara decided to reinvent herself...."

I have to disagree...it was quite clear to me why she felt she needed to reinvent herself. She thought it would be one way to keep on her aunt's good side and keep out of trouble. I think she was trying to fit in so she could continue to hide from the people who were looking for her (although it wasn't apparent at that point that she was hiding).

[Rita]

Stephanie wrote: "I definitely felt like I lost track when Clara decided to reinvent herself. I couldn't figure out why!"

I thought it seemed out of character. Here's a girl who ran away from home and now, before the battle even begins, she's throwing in the towel. If that's the kind of person she is, why did she run away to New York in the first place?

[Grace]

Rita wrote: "Here's a girl who ran away from home and now, before the battle even begins, she's throwing in the towel."

Perhaps she didn't want to risk getting into the same mess she had got into in New York. We learn more about her experience in New York later.

We really don't know what her character is this early in the book. We know she's made some bad decisions. Isn't is possible that learning from past mistakes is what defines her character and her attempt to redefine herself is the first step in the learning process?

[mstan]

I am at about pg. 150 so far, and I like how all three girls are imperfect, and sometimes, downright nasty!

Their idea of 'freedom' is quite immature but typical of most teenagers and - dare I say it - stereotypical women? A haircut, a rebellious boyfriend, a quarrel with parents - all these are very much the features of female adolescent rebellion in the (upper-)middle-class.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

Grace will you edit your post and mark it for spoilers? If I remember correctly that event happens way later in the story! Thanks !!

[Courtney]

Yes, please. I HATE spoilers. I'm not going to look at these discussions until I finish the book, now.

I love this book so far. It is so different from anything I usually read. I love the 1920s and flappers and prohibition. It was the one part of the Great Gatsby that I actually liked. That's all for now--my 2 year old is begging for attention, aka destroying everything in site.

[Grace]

Angie wrote: "Grace will you edit your post and mark it for spoilers? If I remember correctly that event happens way later in the story! Thanks !!"

Sorry about the spoiler. I've edited the post.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

Grace wrote: "Angie wrote: "Grace will you edit your post and mark it for spoilers? If I remember correctly that event happens way later in the story! Thanks !!"

Sorry about the spoiler. I've edited the post."

Thanks Grace!!!