Owls Be Reading discussion

There are a lot of true stories and fictional novels/movies about the civil rights movement because it was such a monumental and life-changing time in history. But we are all human, and we all have one story or event which speaks to us most.

As The Help is based on this movement, I wanted to know - what civil rights even or story speaks to you most?

Two of my favorite books when I was a kid were , read them a zillion times.

It pains me that we still find ourselves fighting this fight in 2016. I'd like to see America come out the other side of all the recent police brutality and see a really good book on Ferguson etc published.

Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "Two of my favorite books when I was a kid were , read them a zillio..."

It really is sad that it is such a topic today... and well, the election results surprised me. I just hope that above all, love is what wins over everything else. I guess we just have to see what the future holds.

I think books like those would be very interesting to read.

My favourite fictional book about this matter has to be Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman. It flips the racism, and is a young adult novel so teenagers can relate. But it is so, so relevant still.

And of course, both the true story novel and movie 12 Years a Slave really got to me. I don't cry when I read or watch something often, but I was bawling...

12 Years a Slave was really good -- I liked the movie better than the book, I don't usually jive very well with the old-timey wordiness of older books. Did you see Selma? That one was fantastic too.

Hi all, so nice to join your group. I know Olivia, who started this group. because she did a couple of lovely reviews on my novels.

I loved The Help. It had special meaning for me because I drove down to the southern USA during the period Kathryn Stockett wrote about in her novel. I dug out an old post I wrote in 2011, in which I mention her book and the impact it had on me. Hope it's okay to post links here. http://bit.ly/2fGq3u3 And yes, Ashley, sometimes the films are better, though I thought in this case, both the film and book were great.

I also recently read The Gospel of Truth and The Book of Negroes. Both startling fictional accounts but truthful stories of racism in USA and also in Canada.

Diana wrote: "And yes, Ashley, sometimes the films are better, though I thought in this case, both the film and book were great."

As far as The Help is concerned, I loved both equally.

Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "12 Years a Slave was really good -- I liked the movie better than the book, I don't usually jive very well with the old-timey wordiness of older books. Did you see Selma? That one was fantastic too."

I actually haven't seen Selma yet but I really want to! I'm gonna have to put it on my list. For the book 12 Years a Slave it did take me a while to get into the writing style... but once I did I was just as captivated (if captivated is the right word). But the movie portrayal is done expertly too.

Diana wrote: "I also recently read The Gospel of Truth and The Book of Negroes. Both startling fictional accounts but truthful stories of racism in USA and also in Canada."

Hey Diana! Welcome :) So happy you joined us with this group <3 For reviews and opinions when it comes to the novel, we have another thread from dropping off links. So you should put yours there too!

And I haven't heard of those two other novels you mentioned, but I am going to have to look into them if you enjoyed them so much.

Olivia, yes. Loved Gospel of Truth so much. It's a prose poem for Y/A but it's so wonderful, that it crosses ages. My granddaughter owned a copy and recommended it. After I'd read it, I wanted to buy one for myself just to re-read it. It's that good.

Where do I find the threat to drop off the link?

And re: being part of this group, it may not work out for me as I have my own reading list that's miles long. :) But I saw your comments on The Help, and wanted to chime in.

Keep well.

Diana wrote: "Olivia, yes. Loved Gospel of Truth so much. It's a prose poem for Y/A but it's so wonderful, that it crosses ages. My granddaughter owned a copy and recommended it. After I'd read it, I wanted to b..."

I understand! But if there is ever a book that interests you, feel free to join in for that month!

And here's the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I don't know about civil rights specifically, because I find myself interested in all of the ones I've read about! We have a series about specific New Zealand ones though, our natural disasters, getting the vote, etc, and those always amaze me because I've actually been to all those places they mention!

Victoria wrote: "I don't know about civil rights specifically, because I find myself interested in all of the ones I've read about! We have a series about specific New Zealand ones though, our natural disasters, ge..."

It must be so engaging and all the more intriguing when the events which are being taught and discussed are set in places you've been yourself. You can connect to the story and information on a new level because of it.