Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb

I just finished the book and I must say I can see that Ms. McCrumb dislikes Pauline Foster and I cannot say that I blame her. When I suggested this book for book club I was drawn to the fact that it is part of her ballad series, but knew that it was not quite like her other books in that series. I also suggested to the group that they will hate the character of Pauline. I have to say I was not thrilled by the character of Anne Melton and would have hated to be pitted against her. I have always wanted to know the history behind that ballad and know that I know I want to know more. I feel like I want to travel to that part of the world to see the things that Ms. McCrumb found. I appreciate the story but did get a little lost initially with the dated headings. I think that one of the March titles is really an April title, but that is what happens in the editing world. A good read, lots of emotions, most of them anger at one character or another.

GO TELL IT ON A MOUNTAIN by James Baldwin

SO I had to look up James Baldwin as I have never read any of his books, he is also a poet. He was born in Harlem New York and according to Bio.com this book is somewhat autobiographical. He was born to a single woman who did not tell him his father's name just like our character John. But in the book, I believe that John truly believes that his father is the preacher who his mom married to his mom, which must really bug him when his own father does not love him. In fact we know this to be true. WHen his mother has another son by John's stepfather then he is really put on the back-burner. The preacher condemning all those around him, but living a double life of lives and deceit. Married but messing around with another woman who he sends away after he finds out she conceived a child. She dies and the baby comes to live in the town, but he does not visit him, the only poignant moment that occurs is when he tells the boy to be careful about being out in town when there is a bunch of white boys around. Then that son tragically dies without ever knowing, though it is intimated he does, know his father. After reading the description of the preacher and knowing that this is somewhat autobiographical, I feel sorry for Mr. Baldwin and hope that his step-father, who was a preacher, was not as bad as this man seems to be. I do know that the North were just as hard-lined on race issues as the South, especially in the 1950's. There is always that treatment of all races as if they are not worthy of the ground they stand on. I believe that things have changed dramatically since that time period, but do we just use other scape goats? It seems Mr. Baldwin pulled himself up and out of Harlem, eventually moving to Paris. This book is about a man's life and how he makes the decisions that will affect him the rest of his life. The turning point of changing hell into heaven. But there is a part in the end when I wonder what he means after he has watched his mother and father, where he turns to Elisha and says no matter what happens, remember I was saved, I was there. It gives me pause.

Finished CLOUD ATLAS

Alas I have finished CLOUD ATLAS, by David Mitchell, I wish that I may have gleaned a little more knowledge about what was happening in the context of are these souls being reborn, transfiguration, or just a coincidence. Actually strike the word coincidence because we know that they are joined by the writings that each person contributes, the birthmark and if we are to believe the movie freakishly similar in looks. The author's note in the back of the book liked the idea of the same characters playing parts even if it meant that they had to change Zachary from a boy into a man. They also had to change him from a son to an uncle, in order to keep with the screenwriting. So we start and end with the same story, the Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing. I think the best hints as to what the book is about comes from the continued writings of Frobisher to Sixsmith in the next to the last chapter. I liked the way the book was written over the movie, because the book made sense and as with all books you get a wealth of information that gets knocked out of a movie. That happened with the HUNGER GAMES, because you could not get into the minds of the characters and that is where you needed to be in that movie. Also that is where you needed to be in this book CLOUD ATLAS. Poetic license I guess. Read this book but remember to follow the links.

MOvie Cloud Atlas

Okay, so I broke down and saw the movie Cloud Atlas before finishing the book. As with the book it was a little confusing, but had a good rhythm, problem is that is did not solve the questions I have, about timing. See in the movie all the characters are played by the same cast. So is this movie trying to say that these are the same people just in different time periods or is it saying that they are all related, which seems impossible because not one of them had children. Also there is the comet birth mark that never gets answered in the movie, just mentioned, and the birth mark is on a different spot on each character. There are differences in the movie from the book, for instance who has the birthmark, how people come to be linked to the previous story and sequences of events, especially with Somni and on the island of Hawaii. Also significant, at least I think is the sacred place that we see both at the beginning of the book and in Hawaii, but it is not mentioned in the movie. So once again we have more information to be obtained by the book. I should be finished this book before the end of the week. I will let you know if I get my questions answered or if this is a book that will be debated for its essential meaning.