Black Coffee discussion

A Brown Paper Bag and a Fine Tooth Comb by Claudette Carrida Jeffrey

Open Discussion Start Dates

PART 1: Chapter 1-11 -- April 7th
PART 2: Chapter 12-25 -- April 18th
PART 3: Chapter 26 through END -- APRIL 25th

Book Blast Thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've requested it through InterLibrary Loan but last time I did the request got cancelled so I might end up purchasing it on Kindle.

I bought it on kindle. Right now it is selling for $3.75.

I just bought it on Kindle too, my request got cancelled again. >:(

Thanks Londa my library didn't have it so I was worried. I'll be getting the kindle version as well.

I picked this up on kindle when it was first announced as our April group read. The synopsis is so interesting! I'm looking forward to reading and joining this discussion.

I may join this as well. Hopefully I can keep up.

Lee, did you ever finish the book thief?

42% (chapter 32)

Part 1:

What does everyone think so far? What impression do you have of Miss Claire Soublet?

What impression do you have of Miss Claire Soublet? "

I was a bit thrown off by her change in voice. After her mother died, she started cursing around her grandmother. It seemed that she matured too quickly or something, and felt out of character.

Big Mama's reveals felt a little off for me too. The entire reveal scene was weird.

Claire is becoming a strong you lady though. I approve 100% with her handling of the Bobby situation.

So far I'm not overly impressed, although I do like her sticking up for herself it comes across as a bit unrealistic.

I too think she matured too fast, maybe she's trying too hard to appear like she's an adult. I did that at her age xD

Frankly, I was disappointed that one of her reasons for rejecting Bobby was that he's Creole. She's doing the exact same thing she hates in the white people and it's disappointing to read.

If anything, she's coming across as a bit of brat.

Anastasia wrote: "Frankly, I was disappointed that one of her reasons for rejecting Bobby was that he's Creole. She's doing the exact same thing she hates in the white people and it's disappointing to read..."

I felt like she was rejecting his attitude and color classism. He told her that she was lucky that he would even consider her because he was so much 'whiter' than she was.

She wants something more out of life than what she has grown up around, and this is showing up as rejection of her entire community and way of life.

Yeah but if I rmmbr right before he ever said anything about how lucky she was she'd already dismissed him, with that being one of the reasons. When my kindle recharges I can go back and look.

Yeah I'm definitely seeing that.

There's something about this book that I can't put my finger on. lol

Claire changed very quickly in a short period of time.

I'm behind, but I'm getting there. lol..

What chapter is everybody on?

I'm still in Chapter 12, but will read some more tonight. Will discuss next portion tomorrow.

I finished it yesterday.

Sorry ladies, but I didn't get any reading done this weekend. Hope to play catch-up soon.

I'll probably start this one Wednesday.

This one doesn't seem to be faring well. LOL I hope to finish tonight or tomorrow and offer final thoughts. I have to say that the first chapter was pretty much the best one in the book so far.

I haven't enjoyed Claire's personality since she hit puberty.

The most interesting question I have now is "What is Sera Menard's big secret?"

I haven't even started yet. I guess this will e one of my May reads. Work and life are getting in the way of my reading....grrr

I really wanted to like this book. The time, the place, and even the plot would have made for an excellent read but I honestly feel like the author butchered it. :(

The big reveal...a big let down. This book just kept getting worse. Glad I finished.

I could've read something else. I did not get my satisfaction. lol

I just started reading. Y'all are making me nervous. Lol. I better stay out of this thread for a while.

Sorry Lulu

You never know. This book might connect with you in a way it didn't for me. I think I was one of the few who really liked My Name is Butterfly. This one might be your Butterfly :0)

lol

I am a believer of every book is not for everybody but every book is for someone.

After learning the lesson the hard way (time & money spent) I try to determine if a book is for me. What I normally do is look at book reviews but also look to see what the reviewer/commenter said about other books they have read. If it looks like those giving the book a great review does not have the same reading taste/opinion as I do I usually pass on the book unless someone I know tells me this is a book that I would like.

So I decided to pass on this book and read instead Red Now and Laters which had similar themes. I was only able to read just the very beginning before work projects became too demanding but will be picking it back up.

I think all the reviews on Amazon looked good :/

I was so mad Goodreads was down today. I had so many remarks, but I can't remember. Lol


I hate Bobby with a passion.

Do you think people still "pass" in today's society?

I'm sure they do. If not for white then other ethnicities.

Yes. One if my clients has interracial children. They are often torn between cultures by trying to choosing one over the other. I told them they are not one or the other, they are both. Every week I'm getting them to acknowledge both races equally because they shouldn't have to choose.

One child was telling people that she was white and the other child was saying that he was black. I told them you are both, "It wouldn't be fair to either of your parents if you choose only one."

Most importantly I told them they were wonderful children just the way they are and that they are special because they are getting knowledge from more then one race. etc....

So........

Too many loose ends...

the biggest secret was that Sera was her great aunt...as if that wasn't obvious.

Claire's biggest enemy was herself...another

I didn't learn anything from the this book, which is always a waste of time.

Lee that's very interesting. I see what you're saying, the should have to identify with just one part of themselves. But doesn't society make us?

According to my PhD research, interracial status is increasing at a fast paste. Especially since President Obama is an example, although he identifies himself as AA.

I don't know how long the one drop of "AA" means your black will last.

It's very interesting.

Lee wrote: "According to my PhD research, interracial status is increasing at a fast paste. Especially since President Obama is an example, although he identifies himself as AA.

I don't know how long the one..."

Yes, race is a social construct which means it has changed over time and will change over time.

But let's hope it changes for the better and does come up with a schema that has dozens of categories (like Brazil).
But any change will bring a flutter of mess.inc

I know interracial status is increasing at a fast pace but that is understandable and while I hope it is because we are becoming more tolerate - it is also because laws have changed and the ethnicity of immigrants has changed. I understand that one of the interracial status increasing the fastest is white/Asian.

Here is an article I saw this morning - which is interesting how Madison Avenue is according to the author not in tuned with America.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scholas...

Lee wrote: "Yes. One if my clients has interracial children. They are often torn between cultures by trying to choosing one over the other. I told them they are not one or the other, they are both. Every wee..."

Yes, it seems we are very obsessed with race or at least other people wanting to know "what are you".

There are are many ways people are racially identified or self-identify themselves and often we chose more than one way to identity ourselves.

But often times for "mixed" children - having thick skin and lots of self-confidence helps as they need to embrace all that they are.