Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Island of Sea Women by Lisa See



1.     The story begins with Young-sook as an old woman, gathering algae on the beach. What secrets or clues about the past and the present are revealed in the scenes that take place in 2008?  Why do we only understand the beginning of the novel after we have finished it?
- You don’t know that the young girl is also HER granddaughter.

2.     On page 17, Young-sook’s mother recites a traditional haenyeo aphorism: Every woman who enters the sea carries a coffin on her back. But she also says that the sea is like a mother. (Page 22.) Then, on page 71, Grandmother says, “The ocean is better than your natal mother. The sea is forever.” How do these contradictory ideas play out in the novel? What do they say about the dangerous work of the haenyeo?
- The love/ hate relationship is similar between people as it is with the ocean.

3.     On page 314, Clara recites a proverb attributed Buddha: To understand everything is to forgive. Considering the novel as a whole, do you think this is true? Young-sook’s mother must forgive herself for Yu-ri’s accident, Young-sook must forgive herself for her mother’s death, Gu-sun forgives Gu-ja for Wan-soon’s death. On a societal level, the people of Jeju also needed to find ways to forgive each other. While not everyone on Jeju has found forgiveness, how and why do you think those communities, neighbors, and families have been able to forgive?  Do you think anything can be forgiven eventually?  Should it?  Does Young-sook take too long to forgive given what she witnessed?
- Can you forgive someone who still has the power to inflict pain on you? Is forgiveness about yourself or the person you are forgiving? We spent a lot of time discussing this topic.

4.     Mi-ja carries the burden of being the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Is there an inevitability to her destiny just as there’s an inevitability to Young-sook’s destiny?  Another way of considering this aspect of the story is, are we responsible for the sins of our fathers (or mothers)? Later in the novel, Young-sook will reflect on all the times Mi-ja showed she was the daughter of a collaborator.  She also blames Yo-chan for being Mi-ja’s son, as well as the grandson of a Japanese collaborator. Was Young-sook being fair, or had her eyes and heart been too clouded?
- She was definitely jaded. We aren’t responsible for our ancestors, but we do have to make amends when we’ve benefited from what they did. We also have to think about how others will treat us, knowing historical trauma passes on through generations.

5.     The haenyeo are respected for having a matrifocial culture—a society focused on women. They work hard, have many responsibilities and freedoms, and earn money for their households, but how much independence and power within their families and their cultures do they really have? Are there other examples from the story that illustrate the independence of women but also their subservience?
- Mi-Ja has to be subservient to her husband, while Young-sook has a lot of power in her family and village structure.

6.     What is life like for men married to haenyeo? Compare Young-sook’s father, Mi-ja’s husband, and Young-sook’s husband.
- They cook and take care of the babies and bring baby to ocean shore. Women were the breadwinner and talked brought homr to the bacon.

7.     On page 189, there is mention of haenyo from a different village rowing by Young-sook’s collective to share gossip. How fast did information travel around the island and from the mainland? Was the Five-Day Market a good source of gossip or were other places were more ideal? On page 201, Jun-bu mentions his concern about believing information broadcast on the radio, “… but can we trust anything we hear?” Were there specific instances when information broadcast on the radio was misleading or false? What impacts how people hear and interpret the news?
- Many people listen to their friends, not the authority. Netflix is 98% right in suggesting movies. Yelp is helpful.

8.     Confucianism has traditionally played a lesser role on Jeju than elsewhere in Korea, while Shamanism is quite strong. What practical applications does Shamanism have for the haenyeo? Do the traditions and rituals help the haenyeo conquer the fear and anxieties they have about the dangerous work they do?  Does it bring comfort during illness, death, and other tragedies?  Does Young-sook ever question her beliefs, and why? It is a huge source of strength and the goddess is important like women are important.

9.     On page 39, Young-sook’s mother recites the aphorism If you plant red beans, then you will harvest red beans. Jun-bu repeats the phrase on page 199. How do these two characters interpret the saying?  How does this saying play out for various characters?
- If it quakes like a duck… What you nurture grows. If you plant bitterness, then you get bitterness.

10.  The aphorism “Deep roots remain tangled underground,” is used to describe Young-sook’s and Mi-ja’s friendship, and it becomes especially true when it’s revealed that their children, Joon-lee and Yo-chan, are getting married. How else does this aphorism manifest itself on Jeju, especially in the context of the islanders’ suffering and shared trauma? Do you think it’s true that we cannot remove ourselves from the connections of our pasts?
- I think that’s why we have historical trauma. Jewish people can’t remove themselves from the experience of the holocaust and need to protect themselves from anti-Semitism. Culture of violence stays entangled at roots and you have to remember it in order to be safe.

11.  On page 120, Young-sook’s mother-in-law, Do-Saeng, says “There’s modern, and then there’s tradition.” How does daily life on Jeju change between 1938 and 2008? Discuss architecture, the arrival of the scientists and the studies they conduct, the introduction of wet suits and television, etc.  How does Young-sook reconcile her traditional haenyeo way of life with the encroaching modern world? Do you think it’s possible to modernize without sacrificing important traditional values?
- No, values are based on how you do things, so you are sacrificing.

12.  The characters have lived through Japanese colonialism, the Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the Korea War, the 4.3 Incident, and the Vietnam War. How do these larger historic events impact the characters and island life? Death, degradation, hunger, violence, collaborators, and colonial powers.
- Location of island is pivotal.

13.  Mi-ja’s rubbings are critical to the novel. How do they illustrate the friendship between Mi-ja and Young-sook? How do they help Young-sook in her process of healing? It commemorated much of what they shared.
- Illiteracy has an impact of jobs you can do and communication.

Monday, September 9, 2019

The Leavers by Lisa Ko


One morning, Deming Guo's mother, an undocumented Chinese immigrant named Polly, goes to her job at the nail salon and never comes home. No one can find any trace of her. With his mother gone, eleven-year-old Deming is left with no one to care for him. He is eventually adopted by two white college professors who move him from the Bronx to a small town upstate. They rename him Daniel Wilkinson in their efforts to make him over into their version of an “all-American boy.” Ko lives in Brooklyn, NY and has been mistaken for other female Asian American coworkers.

1.     From Deming to Daniel and Peilan to Polly, do you think the name changes of the main characters helped them to find a fresh start, or further complicated their search for belonging?
 - We don’t think Deming had a lack of belonging until Polly left (he was a loveable trouble maker)

2.     The Leavers asks us to grapple with a complicated image of motherhood in Polly’s experience. Did you empathize with her? Did your view of her change as more of her story is revealed?
- We sympathized with Polly. She was 16 and owed 50 thousand dollars.
- We didn’t like that she never talked to her husband about having a son
- She’s a “leaver” and always needs new stimulation

3.     A major theme throughout the book is the fantasy of alternate selves. As Polly accepts that she is having her child, Ko writes, “Peilan continued on in the village, feeding chickens and stray cats and washing cabbages, as Polly lived out a bonus existence abroad. Peilan would marry Haifeng or another village boy while Polly would walk the endless blocks of new cities.” Likewise, Polly and Deming have a game of finding their “doppelgangers” and imagining the lives the alternate Deming and Mama would lead. Why do you think Polly and Deming keep returning to these ideas?
- Because it’s hard to live your life you are living when it is not the life that you want
- We all have thoughts of “if only I had” and “what if I had…”

4.     Similarly, as Polly and Deming make choices, face different situations, and develop in their stories, Ko continually asks us to consider the way we move into differing versions of ourselves and how those selves must co-exist, sometimes painfully. Have you had a life experience that brought you to a different version of yourself? What truly changes and what stays the same about Polly and Deming?
 - His mother’s leaving had the most affect (via government policy) but it was also part of the culture of the family (send them to the city to work and pay off their debt)

5.     The novel often goes backwards and forwards in time, and the viewpoint changes with Polly’s story in first person and Daniel’s in third person. How do you think structure relates to the larger narrative, and how did it affect your connection with the characters?
- More connected to Polly because of the first story, but didn’t like her (she seemed to “wash her hands”)
- Deming/ Daniel is third person so we were last connected

6.     Discuss Deming / Daniel. How is he personally accountable for his choices? Are they a result of nature or nurture? Whose actions toward him left the greatest impact, for better or worse – Peter and Kay’s, his mother’s, Roland’s (upstate Ny friend), Vivian’s (boyfriend’s sister), even government policy?
- His mother’s leaving had the most affect (via government policy)
- Peter and Kay cared but were “clueless”   

7.     What was your first impression of the title of this book? How did revisiting The Leavers inform what you might suspect to happen as plot twists appeared throughout the story? Discuss the power a title has in reference to a greater book.
- We thought “leaving” was going to be on purpose, not due to
- It foreshadowed referred to Poly’s wanderlust
- She didn’t want to get in touch with her son, but she hoped he would have a better life
- He tried out teaching English
- She left Deming in China and the grandfather died (left)
- Deming taught English in China but left it

8.     This book is inspired from a real headline and true story, and the issues of immigration it raises continue to be relevant. Did Polly and Deming’s story affect your thinking on this topic?
 - We think it was terrible during Obama and it’s terrible now

9.     The Leavers won the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize, an award that was “created to promote fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships.” What did you get out of this novel? If applicable, compare it to other novels written on a similar subject.
- We like that it is a relevant current story

10.  Deming plays a concert at the beginning of the novel and again at the end, neither of which could be considered a success by most standards. Compare these performances and consider what they convey about the journey he has been on.
- The first one was playing someone else’s music and he got drunk
- The last one was his own music and he was happier
- His adoptive family was not supportive of the music (they were academics)

Our own questions:
What was the culture/ expectation in country of origin? And then in United States?
- Being pregnant is the end of your life, if you want to leave. It changes your option

What were fears in country of origin? And then in United States?
- Seems like some people new there was going to be a deportation round up and weren’t in the shop, so they didn’t have to be afraid.

Monday, June 10, 2019

White Fragility: Why it's so hard for white people to talk about racism by Robin DiAngelo


This podcast was recommended: Seeing White Podcast

Study Guide and questions created by the author

Monday, May 13, 2019

In Regalia by Erin McCormack



Things we asked about and/or learned from Erin:
What indigenous vocabulary did we know?
What parts of the story were true?
Who were the characters modeled after (were any real people)?
What was the writing process like? How long did it take? (4 years)
How did you decide on names?
What did you think about when you choose to write a story outside of your cultural knowledge? And the fact that you might be taking space from other indigenous authors. (Native People couldn’t write this story!)

Discussion Questions we created and some of our thoughts:
1) How did your feelings about Helene change from the beginning of the story to the end?

2) What did you learn about First Nations/Native Americans by reading the book and what does it make you wonder about?
  Erin shared the meanings of many things

3) Was there a moment that stuck with you?
  When Helene wanted to take Wishi Ta because Western medicine would be better
  When Izzy was attacked
  When Helene was talking to Izzy and the guy was there looking out for the kids (mother was suspicious of white people)
  When Lewis was in jail
  Change is slow: Helene finally “got it” little by little, not all at once
•. Almost dying and killing Wishi Ta
  The ending was perfect

4) Does your life resemble Helene’s old life or new life or something in the middle?

5) What did you know about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and other legal forms of oppression against First Nations?

6) What parts of the story were believable and what was of concern to you as you read the story?
  Marriage of Lewis and Renee
  Helene seemed irrational when she took Wishi Ta
  Would Lewis really give up legal rights?
  Why would you have a garden, if you spent time away?
  Lewis was more likeable through the diary than in person

We hope a lot of people read it, especially if they don’t know much about indigenous culture. It is a compelling story.

Monday, April 15, 2019

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas


QUOTES and DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (from various on line sources)

Hip-Hop
  1. “Nothing’s been the same for me since Nas told me the world was mine . . . It was like waking up after being asleep my whole life” (p. 25). How does hip-hop make Brianna feel powerful? What makes you feel powerful?
  2. Art is a reflection of the times in which we live. What is the role of art and music in liberation movements? Can a song stir people to violence? To good? What is the power of music and art in the world today? In your own life?
  3. How does Bri define “the come up” throughout the novel? In what ways is the idea of the come up connected to Bri’s artistry, and in what ways is it connected to saving her and her family? Does Bri get her come up at the end of the novel?
Criminalization of Black & Brown Teens
  1. When Jay and Bri are in the principal’s office, what examples does Bri give of being targeted at school
    (pp. 61-67)? What is racial profiling? Do you think Bri is racially profiled at her school?
  2. When Bri comes back to school after the incident with school security, she is scared to walk through the doors (p. 139). Bri feels like she has been treated like a criminal. What is the impact of criminalization and racism on people’s bodies and minds? What are examples of the people Bri loves who are dealing with that impact?
  3. When Jay goes up to the mic to speak to the superintendent about the protest (p. 321), she says, “Is this the kind of message you want to send to your students? That the safety of some of them is more important than the safety of others? If that’s the case, there is no concern for the safety of all of them” (p. 323). What point is Jay making about safety? Is Bri safe in her school? Is it possible to be safe in a world that considers you a threat? 
  4. How does the media frame the story of the school protest? Who do they interview? Where do they place blame (pp. 242–46)? How do students from the Black and Latinx Coalition see the protest (pp. 235–40)? How does their point of view differ? Why? How can our positionality shape what we see, hear, and understand?
  5. A concerned white mother writes an article encouraging people to ban Bri’s song, stating that “we must do more to protect our children” (pp. 264–65). Whose children is she talking about? Do you think Bri is included in her definition? Why or why not?
Resistance
  1. How does Bri portray herself in her song “On the Come Up” (pp. 110–12)? Who is she speaking to? Who is she speaking for?
  2. Through her music, Bri becomes a hero in the Garden and a villain to the world. How does the Garden make its own hope in a system that often seems determined to oppress classes of people who operate within it?
  3. What does our understanding of who is a hero and who is a villain have to do with our values? Bri says that people in the Garden make their own heroes (pp. 88–89). Why do you think that is? Is the creation of our own heroes a form of resistance?
  4. Why does Bri feel like her dreams could rescue her and her family (pp. 366–67)? What is your dream? Have you ever felt like a dream could save you?
Self-Determination
  1. Reputation is important in hip-hop. How do Milez’s and Bri’s journeys toward developing a reputation in the hip-hop community differ or align? How are they both shaped by things they can’t control (i.e., gender, race, sexuality, economics, neighborhood)? How does your identity shape who you are and who you imagine you can be?
  2. Curtis says, “Yeah, people leave us. But it doesn’t mean we alone” (p. 340). Who are Bri’s people?
  3. How have they all suffered under the weight of capitalism, racism, and violence? How have they survived and held one another up?
  4. When Trey says he wouldn’t be who he is today without Bri (p. 362), how does that shift Bri’s understanding of herself, her relationships, and her own power/responsibility? How do the people who love you help you to know yourself better?
Compared to super heroes (Marvel and DC) and Game of Thrones because of heroes.