Tayari's Blog: The Women of Brewster Place

Posted by TayariJones on August 28, 2005 01:53 PM
Filed under Bookshelf

You know, we all spend a lot of time reading new books, but sometimes it's good to revisit the classics. I assigned this book to my graduate class, "The Craft Of Fiction." I had forgotten how very good this book is.

Books can be like clothing, they go in and out of style. There was a time when everyone was reading Gloria Naylor. But now, her name hardly ever comes up in conversations about books.

I urge you to re-read The Women of Brewster Place. The writing is just gorgeous. The heartbreaks are deep but there is a comfort in reading such a painful book. It's hard to explain but in reading about this pain, there is a certain relief that comes from the bravery of expression.

If you can, put the movie out of your head. Read Mattie as a product of Gloria Naylor's imagination. Try not to see Oprah playing the role. Forget about Jackee playing Etta. Just read the book again, experience the characters again.

This is a book that makes you remember why you loved reading so much when you were just a girl. It's that kind of book.

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There are 4 comments on "The Women of Brewster Place". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by Dawn

I love that book. I don't like the sequel very much although I can't get rid of it because, you know, it's a set. I was trying to tell my sister about the book and couldn't because I started crying just remembering it.

Thanks for the reminder that I should take it back down for another read!

August 28, 2005 03:47 PM

Comment #2, by Jennifer

Very good suggestion Tayari. I pulled out Of Love & Dust, by Ernest Gaines. Also, Gloria Naylor has an upcoming book, 1996. I read the excerpt in Essence. Thanks for the good suggestions and information in your blog.

August 29, 2005 12:42 PM

Comment #3, by Frederick Smith

Thanks for reminding us to pull some of our older books off the shelves. I remember reading Gloria Naylor "Brewster Place" back in the day and being so moved.

I used to feel weird about re-reading books -- since I already knew what happened in them. But I've learned there are things you miss the first time around. And there are always writing craft things to be studied and picked up on while re-reading a novel.

Nice post.
fs

August 29, 2005 05:18 PM

Comment #4, by Judy

The Craft of Fiction? By whom?

August 29, 2005 09:10 PM

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