Our Novel Escape discussion

This thread is to discuss Laila Ibrahim's book Yellow Crocus

N.B. Remember to mark spoilers



Participants:
Zara, Kelly, Stacie, Elizabeth

Whenever I read a book of this genre I always think about what I would do and how I would handle being separated from my daughters. Would I be able to mother another child while longing for my own? I am so impressed with Mattie and her capacity for love in the face of such adversity. When you compare Mattie to Ann it is glaringly obvious that all women should not become mothers!

Hi Zara, I finished the book and would love to discuss it. I am attaching some questions from the author I thought would aid us in our discussion! Let me know when you are ready to discuss!! *SPOILER* if you have not finished the book, do not read the discussion questions yet!
Discussion Questions
1. Who is your favorite character and why?

2. Mother-child relationships are a central theme in Yellow Crocus. How do you think the setting affected that relationship for all people?

3. In your family history, did anyone have a close relationship with a nanny or caregiver?

4. What, if any, parallels do you see between the culture and the central conflicts of the narrative in Yellow Crocus and in our current society?

5. What were some of the key experiences that Lisbeth had that changed her understanding of the world in which she lived?

6. Lisbeth reaction to Edward’s raping the field hand was naive. Miss Anne’s reaction was nonchalant. Who’s reaction was more surprising to you?

7. Early in the book, Mattie seemed certain she would never try to escape, yet by the end she did. What do you think changed for her?

8. Most people born into Lisbeth’s situation would have gone on with the status quo. If she had not seen Edward rape the field hand, do you think she would have married him?

9. What was surprising to you? Was there anything you could not believe?

10. What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?

11. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?

12. Did the book affect the way you think about slavery? If so, how?

13. How did you feel about the ending? Did it seem realistic to you? Were there any other endings you could imagine?
(Questions provided courtesy of the author.)

I have this on my TBR. I will add comments once I read it.

Thank you for posting the list of questions, Stacie. I've finished the book, gave it 5 stars, and will post my answers shortly.

SPOILER**
1. My favorite character was Mattie because of her fierce love of her children and Lisbeth. I loved that she was strong enough to take the ultimate risk a slave could take to protect herself and her daughter. I also loved her intelligence and vision, specifically the smarts to know that having Lisbeth teach Samuel would impact him later in life.
2.as a slave the mother child relationship is so tenuous. I cannot imagine that you had to live with the knowledge that at any moment you could be separated from your child permanently. I also have compassion for Ann because her incompetence as a mother was a result of brainwashing. Wealthy women of the period were taught that slaves were not full human beings. They needed their owners to help to save their souls. They honestly believed that slavery was a positive. I don't believe Ann was capable of an original thought because she was uneducated and under the thumb of every man in her life.
3. N/A
4.
5. There were many subtle and not so subtle moments in the book that opened Lisbeth's eyes. I think the first that really impacted her was when she ran to Mattie's house to tell her about her first dance but Jordan was ill and Mattie was short with her. That experience opened her eyes to the reality that while she was planning parties Mattie and her family were just trying to get through the day alive. The major shift, or catalyst to her total transformation was her finding Edward raping the slave girl under the tree.
6. I was more shocked by Ann's reaction. Lisbeth was sheltered so she truly was naive about the males relationships with the female slaves. Ann's reaction confirmed for me the fact that women of the period were brainwashed but when she verbalized that this poor, innocent young child was somehow benefiting from being raped by Edward, I was sick to my stomach.
7. I think Samuel being sent away changed her mind.
8. I believe she would have been swept into the marriage by everyone around her and I think she would have died inside the day they were married.
9. I found it difficult to believe that a shy, demure , sheltered young woman such as Lisbeth would have the audacity to ask Matthew to marry her.
10. To me the central theme was how unfairly women, mothers, daughters, and care takers were treated and the disasterous results of this treatment.
11. N/A
12. The book confirmed my utter distaste and abhorrence for slavery and racism in general.
13. I found the end to be too contrived. I think the fact that Mattie and Lisbeth wound up living in the same town was too coincidental. I also think that her being the midwife for Lisbeth was also a bit too contrived. I disliked the fact that Mattie and Lisbeth could not be friends although they were living in a free state. I am assuming this was historically accurate and a reality of life then but I feel as though two people who took so many chances in life would have found a way to secretly meet.

Below are my thoughts on the book, based on Stacie's list of thought-provoking questions: *SPOILER ALERT* DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T YET FINISHED THE BOOK!
1. My favorite character was Mattie because of her strength and the love she felt for her children. Through all the adversity and troubles that life threw at her, she praised God for all of his blessings. She is a strong character.
2. The Mother daughter theme was very prominent in this book, and I believe it helped illustrate the times of how it was back then. It saddened me to see how Lisbeth tried so hard to bond with her mother (when she was a little older) to no avail. That's why her love was so strong with Mattie, because she could feel the love, it was reciprocated....and was demonstrated by the little things: picnicking by the willow tree together and talking about when Mattie was a little girl; Mattie's comforting her when she was upsdet; simple things that we may take for granted today. It illustrated that long ago, parent-child relationships in wealthy families were so formal and cold. Her mother certainly had no idea how to be comforting and loving with her daughter like Mattie was, and it made me sad for both Lisbeth and Ann for that reason.
3. n/a
5. I was more surprised by Anne's non-chalant attitude. It made me sick that she thought that little girl was somehow lucky to be with Edward and that was "just the way it was" and "not of our concern". Once again, it confirmed that women of that period should have no thoughts or feelings - they should just sit around and do as they are told and "look pretty".

I would definitely read another book by the author and I know you would too Kelly! I can't wait to hear what Zara thought as you and I had a different overall impression of this book.