Litsy

Pachinko | Min Jin Lee

Pachinko Discussion Question #2

This novel begins with an arranged marriage. How do you feel the concept of love and marriage changed as the book progressed?

#pachinko #lfbc #question2

BookishFeminist, TheNextBook, rachelm

LitsyFeministBookClub @saresmoore @lucky_LaDee @shawnmooney @repollock @alancristin 7y

FairyHighRoad There was definitely a sense of duty to family before love at the beginning of the book. Marriage was more of a business arrangement that could benefit families. As the book went on, the younger generation looked for love and companionship rather than beneficial arrangements. 7y

REPollock The arranged marriage of Sunja's parents Hoonie and Yangjin struck me as a very positive, supportive relationship for those characters. I kept what-iffing how things would have been different for Sunja & her children if she'd agreed to be Hansu's 2nd wife instead of accepted the marriage she did. Financial stability would have been easier but he was so violent. 7y

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BookishFeminist

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness | Michelle Alexander

Prepping for the @LitsyFeministBookClub discussion of this...and eating ALL OF OUR HUMMUS. Such a fundamental book that everyone should read. ⚖️

👉🏼We start tomorrow! Who read along with us this month? Let me know by commenting below and we'll tag you in the discussion!

You don't have to finish it to participate, as always. Come join us even if you've just watched 13th on Netflix or just want to learn about mass incarceration. #LFBC

lauralovesbooks1 I would love to join in. 7y

BookishFeminist @lauralovesbooks1 Consider it done! 7y

TheBookHippie Cried my eyes out watching 13 and I know it's true: I've visited and have seen kids I mentor go through this, it's just so overwhelming, such a helpless feeling, I hate it so.. good thing to discuss! Now off to order the book! 7y

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Yellowpigeon I'm in! It's been in my tbr pile for too long 7y

Weaponxgirl I'm a little way through and have seen 13 so please count me in 7y

mhillis I haven't finished but I'm in! 7y

BookishFeminist @TheBookHippie @Yellowpigeon just a heads up, this was our read for February! Our survey for March is up now & we'll announce the winner in a couple days. But, I just set up a Goodreads page to continue discussions so there's no deadline to talk about The New Jim Crow with us 😀 https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/214436-books-that-shook-us 7y

BookishFeminist @mhillis @Weaponxgirl Awesome, I'll tag you both! We'll also have a discussion going on Goodreads if you want to join in there too https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/214436-books-that-shook-us 7y

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LitsyFeministBookClub

Kindred | Octavia E. Butler

Hey hey, folks! Thanks for your patience in postponing the Kindred discussion until today. We appreciate it and hope you all had some time for self care this weekend.

🍋To kick off our discussion, what are your thoughts on the title of Kindred? How did it help you relate to the themes of the book? Do you think it changed your impression of the events?

🍋If you have any questions, suggestions, or things to share for our discussion, let us know!

BookishFeminist, rachelm

LitsyFeministBookClub #KindredDiscussion #LFBC 7y

KVanRead I kept thinking about the title while reading this, or more the root word kin. Both the book and the title so poignantly reveal the way we inextricably tied to our ancestry/collective past. Really resonates with themes of identity and reconciliation. 7y

MMenefee I kept thinking KinDREAD would be more appropriate. 7y

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rachelm @MMenefee omg so true. 7y

rachelm @KVanRead I can absolutely see that. And what a complicated relationship when your ancestors were raped and enslaved. I thought it was almost a reflection of the US in the title too-- the uneasiness of being kin/owning up to our past as a nation. 7y

Hooked_on_books I originally thought of the title as it related to family but came to think of it as Dana's kindred feeling toward the other slaves. She was thrust into this situation of slavery and came to a deeper understanding of the other salves and their decision making, allowing the reader to feel some of these emotions alongside her. 7y

KVanRead @Hooked_on_books Such a good point. So true. @rachelm And the rapist/enslaver is also her ancestor. Her insistence on saving him until her line is assured underlines the painful fact that she also owes her existence to him, and yes, as does the US as well. 7y

Bibliogeekery The title made me think of the two different meanings of the word "kindred" - one being relatives and the other being similar, related, allied. As @KVanRead pointed out there is such complexity in being related to a slave owning rapist and not only protecting him but repeatedly forgiving him and connecting with him. As for similarities, Butler so skillfully weaves moments of connection and similarity between past and present. . . 7y

Bibliogeekery Like how Dana and Kevin fight because he expects her to do his typing and then she ends up doing Rufus' secretarial work etc. It feels so uncomfortable (in a really important way) to think about similarities between contemporary times and historical slavery - 7y

KVanRead @bibliogeekery Yes, her writing is so layered. I love how she weaves together issues of gender race and class. 7y

whatthelog I was really interested about how, in some ways, Dana was more in kinship with Rufus rather than the slaves. Just because she is also black doesn't mean that she'll automatically assimilate - a fascinating point, I think. 7y

TheNextBook Once I realized the connection between Dana and Rufus the title made sense. It was interesting because for the life of me, this really was not what I was expecting. The fact that she was so explicitly tied to his well being was jarring. 7y

beaniebankbeth Originally, I took the title to mean the bond between Dana and Alice, but then as the book progressed, how that bond, which was oh so fraught, was between Dana and Rufus. 7y

beaniebankbeth The other thought I had was the meaning of the word kindred to mean a group of people associated with someone: folks. That had me remembering the line from "To Kill a Mockingbird" again and again in my reading: "There's just one type of folks, folks." Which, of course, the failure of this idea, people recognizing those around them as simply people and not part of some hierarchy, overt or covert, is dealt with all over the book. 7y

beaniebankbeth @BookishFeminist @TheNextBook I'd mentioned in another post that there's a reading guide in my library ecopy of the book, part of which is a critical essay that is great for additional reading. It's available as a pdf, simply Google Robert Crossley's critical essay on Kindred. 7y

BookishFeminist @beaniebankbeth It's in my book too I was going to post a link! I'm glad you already have it :) 7y

beaniebankbeth @BookishFeminist It was great closure to my reading of the book. Definitely worth a read for peeps who may not have it included in their copies. 7y

TheNextBook @beaniebankbeth thank you for that link!!! 7y

merelybookish Kindred immediately makes me think of kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables. In the context of Butler's novel, that concept shifted and spirits took on a different meaning, suggesting ghosts from the past, spiritual connections we don't choose. 7y

merelybookish @MMenefee KinDREAD works! 7y

beaniebankbeth @TheNextBook no, don't thank me. I didn't even post a link, just a "Hey, Google this!" I tried to get a link, but it would just download the pdf on me again. My tech savvy isn't so savvy at the moment. 7y

beaniebankbeth @TheNextBook I hope you enjoy it if you do read it though! 😊 7y

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LitsyFeministBookClub

Americanah | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

BLOGGER FEATURE |
ANTOINETTE SCULLY 🍋

Antoinette blogs about black culture in fiction and nonfiction at https://blackandbookish.com/ and tweets @ amariescully. She's also one of our very own on Litsy at @BlackandBookish! She's a must-follow! She also posts great content on Instagram @ blackandbookishblog.

Antoinette's interview can be found on @rachelm's blog at http://tinyurl.com/litlemscully. 🙌🏾

LitsyFeministBookClub 🍋This is part of FEATURE WEEK, an interview series featuring black female bloggers to explore what the Internet is like for black women.

🍋Are you a blogger & want to be featured? Email litsyfeministbookclub@gmail.com or see our last post for details!

#AmericanahContent #Lemonade #LemonadeSyllabus #LFBC #BlogFeatures 8y

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LitsyFeministBookClub

Americanah | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

BLOGGER FEATURE | CAMRYN GARRETT 🍋

Camryn blogs about diversity, racism, sexism, & biphobia at halfmonstergirls.blogspot.com & tweets @ dancingofpens. Her work has been on Time & Huff Post!

Camryn's interview can be found on @rachelm's blog at https://rachelmans.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/camryngarrett/. 🙌🏾

🍋This is part of FEATURE WEEK, an interview series feat. black female bloggers to explore what the Internet is like for black women.

LitsyFeministBookClub 🍋Are you a blogger & want to be featured? Email litsyfeministbookclub@gmail.com or see our last post for details!

🍋For those @rachelm has already featured on her blog, stay posted here. They will be featured here throughout this week prior to our Americanah discussion next week!

#AmericanahContent #Lemonade #LemonadeSyllabus #LFBC #BlogFeatures 8y

read_diverse_books My goodness, I need to be following her blog immediately! Thanks for the heads up. 8y

LastSplash I've never participated in a Litsy book discussion- how does it work? I'd love to participate; Americanah was impossible for me to put down! @LitsyFeministBookClub 8y

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BookishFeminist @read_diverse_books It's a great blog!! We've got more awesome bloggers featured coming up this week too. 🙌🏾 8y

BookishFeminist @LastSplash I will be posting discussion questions on this page for everyone to chime in when they can. I will also likely announce a date where those who can make it can participate in a more "live" discussion. Toying with making a Goodreads group for a discussion board there as well. Mostly, it's a way to bond over the book throughout the month, learn new things & participate in what capacity you can. ? 8y

LastSplash @BookishFeminist That's wonderful! Thank you for this information! I'm excited to participate. 8y

BookishFeminist @LastSplash We're excited to have you!! 8y

LitsyFeministBookClub #AmericanahContent 8y

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LitsyFeministBookClub

Americanah | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu, the main character of Americanah, is a blogger who focuses on the intersection of race, feminism, & the Internet.

To explore what the Internet is like for black women, we'll be featuring black female bloggers all month!

Are you a blogger & want to be featured? Email litsyfeministbookclub@gmail.com!

You can also DM @rachelm on Twitter at @ rmckennyisu or @BookishFeminist on Twitter or Instagram at @ thebookfeminist.

rachelm First post is here: http://tinyurl.com/z7tkwq7 8y

BookishFeminist @rachelm Psst I'm doing a full feature of it later lol 😉 8y

BookishFeminist #AmericanahContent #LFBC #BlogFeatures 8y

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TheNextBook

Americanah | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The next book on my list is.... My 2013 book for my Birthday Challenge! I am so excited to finally be able to read this. Life and distractions have gotten in the way but I begin today! This will also be my read for #diversathon and a read as part of @LitsyFeministBookClub #birthdaychallenge #readingthrough30 #diversathon #lfbc

rachelm Yay! It's incredible. 8y

TheNextBook @rachelm it has taken me way too long to finally get to this book on my list! I'm one chapter in and I wish I could read the blog she talks about in the beginning 8y

BookishFeminist YES ITS SO GOOD! God I can't wait to discuss it with everyone and have a whole month of freaking out over this book 😍 8y

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Notafraidofwords Omg I'm 60 percent in and I'm consumed by it. I will have the worst book hangover ever!!! 8y

TheNextBook @BookishFeminist @Notafraidofwords lets do this. I'm glad I started this morning, even though I get to think about it at work all day. Something to come home too! 8y

Notafraidofwords @TheNextBook love that feeling. It gets me through work! 8y

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