The Vine: January 2, 2009
Seven years ago in freshman English, we read a book that I’ve almost forgotten but am dying to reread.
A girl grows up in a small African-American community and lives with her great aunt or grandmother.She moves to a big city and meets and falls in love with a man who was orphaned (maybe) in his childhood.For some reason she has to go back home and she takes him with her.
I very distinctly remember an older woman in the community who is very jealous and possessive of her husband, and although this girl was like a daughter to her, she mistakenly believes she is trying to steal her husband.She offers to do her hair and places “bad magic herbs” of some kind in her hair making the girl very sick.I also distinctly remember that the boyfriend was very skeptical of this small community’s beliefs in herbal medicines and “magic.”He also ends up dying after frantically searching a chicken coop for something the grandmother said she needed to help the girl get better.His death results in the healing of the girl.
If anyone can help me with the name of this book, as it’s been bothering me for weeks, I’d greatly appreciate it.Thanks again!
Signed,
Probably Never Wrote In Before Because I Couldn’t Think Of A Witty Name To Sign
Dear Sign,
We’ll see what the readers come up with here.Readers?
Tags: Ask The Readers popcult
It sounds awefully like something in the Zora Neale Hurston ouvre, but I know for sure it’s not “Their Eyes were watching God” but feel free to track down her back catalog because this sounds quite like something she would write.
I don’t know the exact book she’s talking about, but the themes sound a lot like Toni Morrison’s. That might be a good place to start.
Sounds to me like Mama Day, by Gloria Naylor: http://tiny.cc/98tUb
I, too, read it in a freshman English class!
I’m quite sure you’re talking about Mama Day by Gloria Naylor. I’ve read it several times, but first read it in a college comp lit class where it was compared with Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It’s mostly set on an island off the coast of South Carolina/Georgia. The main grandmother character, a descendant of slaves and a whole line of strong women, is named Miranda. Her granddaughter is Ophelia but goes by Coco. George, Coco’s boyfriend, actually grew up in an orphanage. There is a climactic storm…
That’s Mama Day by Gloria Naylor. One of the best books of all time.
That is Mama Day by Gloria Naylor!
I think that might be “Mama Day” by Gloria Naylor: http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Day-Gloria-Naylor/dp/0679721819
I forgot to mention also that if you like Mama Day (and you will!) you have to read Baily’s Cafe. It is, like all of Naylor’s books, related to the others but not in any way a sequel or prequel. But it brings in a different kind of magic and deepens the George character from Mama Day.
Thanks guys! You rock! Its definitely mama day! And thanks for recommending bailys cafe too!