APOOO Speaks Out About The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper
By APOOO • Sep 23rd, 2008 • Category: Buzzes & Reviews •
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The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is the October BOM for APOOO BookClub. Provided below is a sneak peek from APOOO book club member Beverly. Feel free to read…she doesn’t give away any spoilers.
I actually finished Sugar Beach last night.
I am still settling some thoughts in my mind but here are a couple w/o spoiling the story for those who have not read it:
-If I had to rate the book on the first 100 pages it would be have been a “3″ but after finishing it will probably be around a “4″.
- Some of the story was personal for me as my mother grew up in the Caribbean in a somewhat privileged environment so it was interesting to see the similarities in the childhood and reactions to events in their childhood.
- The writing was good but she is a journalist so it was expected.
- Did a very good job of speaking in a child’s voice–very believable–and when she switched to an adult’s voice that was also believable
- She told the story without apology and without second guessing her choices in life and her family’s situation.
- Provided information for those who do not know about Liberia - but I will still do some more research to add to what I know and hopefully to answer some of the questions I have.
- I think there is much in this book to discuss, e.g.: I was surprised that these “Ameicans” who came to Liberia to escape prized their “whiteness” but were light-skinned.
Okay, I just went over to amazon.com to pull the book cover and while I was over there I noticed that this book was not only ranked #385 (YGG) but also that all six reviewers gave it five (5) stars. I’m looking forward to reading it…and now hope that it lives up to my expectations…esp. since this book has been hyped so much.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What say so…do you plan to read The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper? APOOO wants to know why or why not. Share with us.
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APOOO is an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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I have added this to my list because I have seen this book so many times in the past week or so. ALot of buzz has got me curious. and I just won a Borders gift card…so more books for me!
I am going to start it this weekend…I read a few pages, when I first got it…looking forward to it…
angelia
Lashonda…get it and come read it with APOOO…the more the merrier.
Angelia…can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
I love Beverly’s comments… I am ordering it now!!
I was surprised that these “Ameicans” who came to Liberia to escape prized their “whiteness” but were light-skinned.
I don’t understand this. Do you mean to say they were not light-skinned?
Dera’s last blog post..I’ve Been Called Out
Dera -
LOL - yes that sentence does not read right
I believe what I meant to say that they prized their whiteness and were light-skinned according to African standards which in some cases would not be considered light-skinned in US.
Oh, Okay, gotcha. It is all relative.
Dera’s last blog post..I’ve Been Called Out
I too picked up this book at Starbucks and ran across the statement of the light-skinnnedness passing themselves off as white. It reminded me of Mildred D. Taylor’s trilogy of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. She talked about the hierachy of blacks from light- to dark-skinned. It’s interesting as a white person to learn of this, but even more interesting to me to learn that they prized whiteness; that I don’t really understand
By the way, I just found this blog through this book; I like the idea of an online book club
Hello Donna and thanks so much for stopping by…hope you will stop by and join us again.