Comments on: C.O.R.A. Diversity Roll Call

By: Claudia

Claudia — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:55:46 +0000

Hi Serena – it was my pleasure and I appreciate you returning the favor!

By: Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)

Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:12:23 +0000

Thanks for stopping by my blog for the CORA Diversity Roll Call! I really liked this post…very insightful. I’ve added you to my google reader feeds and will stop by often.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:54:49 +0000

Sorry to have you second-guessing! And of course, feel free to vent here anytime :)

By: Doret

Doret — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:43:14 +0000

Claudia right after I read your concern over the narrator, I started reading the part where the mother is dating the man who works for El Jefe. What you said was still in my head, it had me second guessing what was said about women, but than I thought he is simply giving us the unfilter thoughts of these powerful men. Its brash but its real. Its almost as if he’s simply retelling what was without trying to change it to make easier for the reader. But I totally understand that feeling of the over- sensitive reader. I read a new novel Little Bee by Chris Cleave which everyone loved but I didn’t care for And I don’t know if its me or everyone else. Though I am leaning towards B. Its the story of an African refuge little girl and a White woman’s relationship. The book had me rolling my eyes something fierce when the little girl had to be strong for the woman when she lost her husband. I was like WTF this little girl’s whole families been killed, she’s in another country, can’t go home, and spent years in a detention center. When is someone going to be strong for her. And I get it, everything this girl has seen and lived through made her stronger. She’s a strong Black woman in training. Screw that, when does the little girl get to be comforted. Please forgive that rant but I feel much better now. Thank you.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:31:41 +0000

Hey Doret, so do you think I’m being overly-sensitive about Yunior? Or that there is some sort of larger message about his character that just hasn’t reached me yet?

By: Doret

Doret — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:50:14 +0000

I finally picked up The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, the other day, I am right in the middle of it and loving it. Toni, one of my co workers has been telling me to I had to read it back when it was still in hardcover, pre pulitzer. But I never picked it up, because I was scared it was going to be over my head. I was so wrong, its a beauiful book, and I am loving the footnotes.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:22:49 +0000

Hey Susan, thanks for the feedback. Hopefully my comments won’t discourage you from picking up Diaz’s book.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:02:46 +0000

Okay, confession, I only recently learned about Junot Diaz. I think that authors do craft characters to invite or incite criticism. And most of these reads have made me stretch and grow as a reader.

Enjoyed reading your response. Thanks for participating.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:43:29 +0000

I’m glad you stopped by, Ali! And yes, please do let me know if you ever given Oscar Wao another try. I’d love to hear other reactions (even if they are different than mine!)

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:22:03 +0000

Thanks for participating, Claudia! Your post makes me want to give Oscar Wao another try to see if I have the same reaction. I started it and then had to return it to the library unfinished, and it was sort of easy to return because the writing was so dense, I hadn't gotten into the story yet.