My girlfriends and I have a bookclub that meets about once a month. I really enjoy our meetings...we chat about books, gossip about celebrities, share funny stories and usually chow down on yummy eats. It's so much fun.
This weekend we'll be discussing The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. I thought it was easy to read and full of tender moments. It actually made me tear up...although I have to be honest...It doesn't take much to get me to cry. The book takes place down south in the '60s. It's about a teenage runaway girl trying to come to terms with her mother's death and finds maternal love (and also a crush) in all the unexpected places.
The one line that stands out for me the most...and that makes me think...is this notion that forgiving is so difficult that "people, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard." I think it's true. Forgiving is extremely hard for a lot of us (I know it is for me)...but it's so necessary for our peace of mind and happiness. I'm a true believer that forgiving is more about being kind to yourself, 'cause you're not carrying all that junk that's weighing your spirit down, and less about the other person. Mental note: I need to work on that. In any event, I think Lily (the main character) realized that in order for her to fully live and to enjoy the love around her, she'd first have to forgive herself, her mother...and even her father. The other nice thing about this story is that she was able to recognize that she was surrounded by love...the "black Virgin Mary" sent her not one mother, but multiple loving moms. Sweet story.
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
-- Mark Twain
Posted by: Ingrid | Apr 21, 2009 at 08:31 PM
I have to digest that one for a bit. Thank you Ingrid!
Posted by: Gloria | Apr 21, 2009 at 09:44 PM
I read the book too...being part of the bookclub makes you read things you won't normally read. I LOVED most of the book. I was a bit disatisfied with the ending. I thought, "Just like a Spanish Novela". What was worrying me the most got quickly resolved in 1 paragraph. The corolation being that the Spanish Novela has so much drama through out the entire Soap Opera and it quickly all get's resovled in the last episode. The forgiveness thing for me was INTENSE. I too have a problem with forgiving. But I have always thought it was hard for me bc forgiveness doesn't come from my Brain (where my Logic get's processed)...it comes from my Heart. I have a lot of trouble in that part of my body.
Posted by: B. Margarita Ramirez | Apr 22, 2009 at 03:24 PM
ohhhhhh lawd!chica is still the drama queen. lololol. Very cute blog...look out carrie bradshaw.
Posted by: g | Apr 27, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Hi G!
Welcome to the girly network.
Thanks for your comment. Although...what drama queen are you talking about?! LOL.
Best,
Gloria
Posted by: Gloria | Apr 27, 2009 at 09:05 PM