Black Coffee discussion

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

Chosen By: Maya & Linda

Maya: I haven't picked up the book yet, but soon:)

I know that there are book club questions, but I don't like to look at those before I read the book, because there are often spoilers embedded in the questions. But...evidently Julie Kibler called a book club meeting and answered some questions. It seems to be spoiler free.

Here is the website.

http://chapterbreak.net/2013/08/21/ca...

Ok thanks Linda!


I will start this book the first week in December

I will start this book the first week in December"

Yes. That is my plan, too.

I read the link you posted. It gave some good facts about the book and some history on what made the author write this book. Good to know before I start reading

Linda let me know how you want to discuss the book. Its 43 chapters. 322 pages. We can discuss after every 10 chapters or discuss the whole book when we are done. I am fine with either way

I just got the book from the library, yesterday. I think every ten chapters would be good.

Ok. We can discuss the first 10 in a week or so

Maya, I have only just started, but I am enjoying it so far. I’ve lived in California for 20+ years, but I was born and raised in the south. I enjoy books set in the south, but sometimes I can be a bit critical. I like the dialogue and the interaction between the women. It sounds authentic to me.

I am enjoying this book as well. There relationship is great and you can tell they have a lot of respect for each other.

I finished the book last night. It was a great story! I cried in the end and very few books do that to me. We can just take turns asking questions. There is so much to say about this book


What did you think of Isabelle and Robert's relationship in the beginning?

It seems like Isabelle was the aggressor.

Sounds good.

Lee wrote: "Sounds good."

Lee you would enjoy it

Hi Lee. Have you read the book recently? Welcome to the discussion.

Maya, I cried at the ending, too. That isn’t unusual for me. I cry all the time:)

Isabelle, definitely, did everything she could to get her man. I felt like Kibler did a good job of explaining her attraction to Robert. She was an oddball in her family. She didn’t connect with the people around her. She found Robert attractive. Seeing him, even in secret, was a way to “stick it” to her Mom. Ultimately, all of it together wrapped her infatuated heart around Robert.

I don’t think that Kibler did as good of a job explaining Robert’s attraction to Isabelle. That is, probably, my biggest criticism of the book.

I agree the author did not do a good job explaining Robert's veiwpoint. It was clear he was afraid and wanted to wait things out and get his life together. Isabelle just kept pushing for them to be together right now and it made things go from bad to worse very quickly.

In my review of this book, I indicated that I wasn’t overly impressed by Kibler’s writing skill, but, as I think about it, I give Kibler a lot more credit. She may not have done linguistic summersaults, but she demonstrated real competence in her craft. Her foreshadowing was masterfully done. She built tension by leaving us clues, but she never gave away too much. I am, personally, a fan of short chapters. I feel like they quicken the pace of a novel, but sometimes it comes off as amateurish. I didn’t even realize that the chapters were short until about halfway through. Kibler’s maneuver of alternating between the past and present was very nicely done. For me, one of the most important things about a novel is that I have someone I can root for or relate to. Don’t we all know a Dorrie and an Isabelle?

Maya, what is your opinion of the writing? Also, did you equally enjoy Dorrie’s storyline.

I thought her writing was unique(in a good way). Normally a author has you on the edge of your seat to get to the end. Kibler has the reader on a chase. Kibler puts questions in your mind and what you think may happen, did not happen at all. I really thought she was going to Robert's funeral the entire time. I got to the end and the truth was revealed. Secrets and lies were revealed too. Pure genius in my opinion.

I loved Dorrie's storyline. She had issues that everyday common people go through. It did not take me long to feel a connection to her character. It was like I knew her. Isabelle was so sweet she questioned beliefs that she just knew was not right during the 1930s. I was connected to both characters

Kibler talked about sundowning in her book. I looked it up and I was shocked that there are still towns where african-americans have to leave before dark.

http://sundown.afro.illinois.edu/sund...

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-p...

Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism

I didn't think that we were going to Robert's funeral, because Kibler was going through a lot of trouble to keep it a secret. I figured that she had something up her sleeve. I thought we might be going to Robert's sister's funeral. What actually happened was a complete surprise. Similarly with Dorrie, I was completely surprised about her son's involvement in the burglary. I just didn't see that coming at all.

I liked Dorrie, but I wasn't as interested in her storyline. I was a little bored by the cigarette issues, and I thought that it was inevitable that she that she would get together with T, so I was little bored that that too.

Maya, I didn't see your post about sundown laws. I haven't looked at the links yet, but that is interesting. I will look at them tonight.

Linda what was the best part of the book?

My favorite part of this book was the ending. I love that it was so cathartic without being really sad. I was excited trying to figure out what happened to Robert and Isabelle. I read a lot of action adventure, where the whole point of the book is the suspense, but rarely am I really taken in. I desperately wanted to know the outcome of Isabelle and Robert’s relationship. I liked the aspect of chasing that mystery throughout the reading process.

What was your favorite and least favorite, Maya?

My favorite part was when Isabelle found out the whole truth about Pearl. All those years went by and Pearl died before she got a chance to connect with her mother. At least Isabelle got closure.

My least favorite was Isabelle's mother took away her chance of letting her even touch the baby. She was a evil woman.

When I found out Robert died so young and he never knew the truth about having a child that part had me in tears.

I agree, Isabelle's mother was awful.