Welcome to Day Four of the Noontime Book Chat, where J.Kaye, Dar, Shana, Yasmin and I are discussing Going Down South
I think we’re all in Part Three now, which is told in Birdie’s voice. So we have three generations of women living under one roof, and have seen the scene from each of their individual perspectives. Isn’t it interesting how, like witnesses to a car accident, they each have a different spin on the situation?
We’ve learned that both Birdie and Daisy have secrets that they’ve kept hidden all these years. No spoilers in this post, but we can talk in the comments about those secrets and the reasons that each woman has held back the truth. Of the three views we’ve seen, which do you like the best? I’m partial to Birdie’s story.
In this section the family attends church, and we’re introduced to another man we love to hate – Percy Walker! And two men who are much more kind-hearted – Shorty Long and Lupe Rawlins.
Does anyone else feel that Daisy is jealous of the relationship that has developed between Olivia Jean and Birdie? I’m starting to see some regrets on Daisy’s part, I think that’s what inspired the family trip to church (this scene is in Part Four, “Of One Accord,” you might not be there yet).
What has stood out to you as you’ve read? Do you have any favorites passages, examples of Bonnies’ writing, that you’d like to share? I post some excerpts that really struck me (later, in the comments section)
As promised, I’m listing the schedule for this Noontime Book Chat:
Monday: J. Kaye’s Book Blog
Tuesday: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday: Literarily
Thursday: She Is Too Fond of Books
Friday: APOOO Book Club
Grab the book and join us, we’re a friendly group with a lot to say – new voices are always welcome!
As the author, the question I get asked most is the one about which character was easiest or hardest to write. Birdie was easiest, Daisy was the hardest and Olivia Jean was somewhere in-between.
But I did have a realization recently — that they were all probably the same woman at different stages of her life. Olivia Jean, the optimistic, full of love and hope; Daisy, beat down by life and a man; Birdie, the swell of optimism returning, the regrets and old sorrows a driving force within her. So, along with Dawn’s question, what do you think of my hypothesis?
Birdie is my favorite too, but I like them all. I feel for Daisy and still don’t carry ill fillings about her or Birdie. Having raised one and still working on the other two, plus coming from such a dysfunctional family, I have problems judging mothers. In my humble opinion, awesome mothers came from awesome mothers. If you are a product of a really bad one, it’s hard to be a good one. I know. So for me to point fingers, I’d need to take a long hard look in the mirror first. I also tend to think on the bigger picture, something deeper instead of surface stuff.
Now for a favorite passage…on page 182, it’s the mud scene. It was so funny, meaningful, good, everything. The description and dialogue was so real as though the author actually experienced herself.
As far as Percy Walker, don’t get me started on that one. I haven’t completed the book – will tonight, but I hope he gets his in the end. Which brings me to another question, did Turk know secretly that Olivia Jean wasn’t his? Is that why he acted the way he did towards her? I wonder now.
Hey I’m here and hope I have better luck leaving messages/comments here than I did yesterday with Shana.
Okay…I loved Birdie…lots of wisdom comes with age…but what I don’t understand is that Daisy could not know who her father was growing up…given her skin color and hair texture…I would have known right away…even as a kid…doing those times…there has always been inbreeding within the African American community and given that there weren’t any other men within a close proximity of where they lived…I just couldn’t understand why she didn’t know that the man they had dinner with every Sunday was her dad.
Hey J. Kaye…I wondered about whether or not Turk knew also…in my gut I felt that he did and that’s why he treated her so poorly at times.
Bonnie…excellent analysis regarding the three women…I can actually see that…esp. with Birdie…I saw the progression with her…through all three stages.
JKay–I loved that mud scene…and keep reading…cause the good Pastor is going to get his comeuppance…well I hoped he did.
Bonnie – thanks for joining us again! I love your hypothesis about the 3 stages, and now that you’ve shared the hypothesis … it is so clear (why didn’t I see that?). Perhaps saying I “liked” Birdie’s section the most was the wrong word; I felt sad for Olivia Jean and Daisy — Olivia Jean was unaware of how her world would change, and Daisy was in the middle of a real unhappy period. As you say, Birdie has seen the darkest depths and is now settled into a pleasant routine.
re: J. Kaye’s comment about the mud scene. I wondered the same thing … was it inspired by a story or “tall tale” you’ve heard? What a way to settle an argument!
Percy Walker – what a hypocrite (among other choice words I could use!). To take advantage of Daisy as a girl … horrible of any man, extra horrible to be a “man of the cloth”. Again, very powerful writing on Bonnie’s part!
I don’t think Turk suspected that Olivia Jean wasn’t his. He doted on her (at his convenience), but shut her off when she got pregnant. I think he believed she was his child.
As far as Daisy not wondering if Shorty Long was her father. … you make a good point, Yasmin. But Birdie was a bit of a rebel in everything she did … maybe Daisy simply accepted that her father was someone who was just passing thru town one time. It’s been a few months since I read the book, but I don’t remember Birdie feeding Daisy any story about who her father was (am I forgetting?). I know they named her Daisy specifically because of her lighter skin, so it was a big deal (not subtle).
This is another great discussion, let’s see where it goes ….
Hey SheIsTooFondOfBooks (SITFOB)…know Birdie didn’t ever make a big deal out of who Daisy’s father was…and I don’t think Daisy ever asked…I was just surprised that Daisy didn’t wasn’t even curious…esp. since she was so fair compared to others…hmmmm a wrap up question just came to mind for tomorrow.
Ahhhh – the mud scene. I was thinking of what I could write that would be outrageous enough that people would laugh at yet imply a lot of things. There is a scene in the Bible where man is wrestling an angel – they are locked together in fierce combat for the entire night. In the morning, the man begins to understand that he is battling an angel. Combine that with mud — you have Daisy and Birdie.
I don’t mean to be flip — but the Bible is the best source for conflict. Just spice it up some more with a few modern day equivalents and you’ve got great scene.
Yasmin/Dawn – as far as Daisy not knowing who her father was — I spoke to a group of ladies from my church. The age varied. But to a one, the older of them said there were certain things that just weren’t talked about back then. Remember why there was a split? There might have still been danger. And, I do think Daisy was naive up til she left town and after she had too many other things to deal with rather than thing of fatherhood. I think.
Dawn, I didn’t see him doted on her. Daisy had said that he had a way with all women at the beginning. It was just his nature. Remember at her birthday party? All she wanted was for Turk to sing her a song. Instead, he sang a song to Daisy. I just think he has a different personality and was easy to get along with, if that makes sense. Daisy was thorny.
Yasmin, I wondered why Daisy hadn’t been more persistent as well. It seemed almost out of character for her not to ask, but I think she was a different person in her younger days. Looking how she followed Turk in NY shortly after they were married verses the broom scene. Time changed her into an aggressive person. By the time she became mean and aggressive, I don’t think it was a thought until she moved in with Birdie.
I am glad I am not the only one who felt for Daisy. I know she was a bad mother, but so was Birdie. I say bad, like in dysfunctional. I think they all loved one another, but had so many other issues causing those to corrupt the love.
Hey Bonnie and thanks for your explanation regarding why Daisy wasn’t concerned about who her father was. It’s still a little hard for me to relate to because my paternal grandparents were in an interracial marriage during that timespan…when interracial relationships were definitely not accepted or as commonplace today. While I understand the bigotry, hatred and racism that existed during that time…esp. in the South…it’s still mind-boggling to me that Birdie didn’t tell and Daisy didn’t ask. Scratch that it’s mindblogging that Daisy never asked…but I have to understand that she was young, dumb and full of cum as the old folks used to say…LOL.
Dawn, I didn’t get much reading done on this today, with trying to finish up a book for a tour stop tomorrow. But I can’t wait to spend a little time reading tomorrow morning and I’ll be back then to reply to your question. I’m still in section two!
I liked all three female characters-I’m not sure I even have a favorite anymore. By the end of the book I loved them all for different reasons.
I thought the mud scene very symbolic of breaking that wall between Daisy and Birdie. After that they were able to move on some and heal past hurts.
You know I’m still not sure that Daisy didn’t have some idea that Shorty Long was her father. He was always so interested in what and how she was doing. He left them the houses. I don’t know, it just seems odd to me that she never had any inkling.
Turk never redeemed himself to me. Percy Walker deserved what he got. Shorty Long was a good man but my favorite had to be Lupe. He sounds like quite the gentleman.
I hope to get my review written today or tomorrow. I was sad to see this book end. I know all good books must come to an end but I would have still liked more.
I loved the character of Birdie! Her scenes were my favorite. I definitely think Daisy was jealous of the relationship between Olivia Jean and Birdie. I also loved the mud scene!