We met to discuss this book, but first some exciting news. Three of our group were lucky enough to meet Anna McNuff, the author of The Pants of Perspective, a book we read exactly a year before. So let me tell you a little about that first.
Anna was invited to visit a local school by a headteacher who was told about her by one of her teachers (who happens to be in our group!). The offer to come along to visit the school and listen to Anna talking to the children was extended to our group which was (for me) an opportunity too good to miss. Anna is a lovely, warm and very genuine person who can connect with people of all ages - her reveal of her Pants of Perspective (see them below) was particularly entertaining and the children loved it. I loved meeting her. In her books she talks about her close friends and, having met her, it's easy to see why she has so many.
"Gosh, I wish I could look as cool as Anna!"
Anyway, a year on from reading Anna McNuff, we were discussing a very different read indeed. A book about the Vignes twins - 2 sisters - who grew up in a small, black community, in the 'Deep South' habituated by fair-skinned African Americans, who neither accept their African heritage nor fit into the white American dream. Aged 16 the sisters escape their home town, determined to make it in the big wide world. From here their relationship and their lives changed beyond expectation.
Our discussion centred mainly around how this book makes the reader think, and feel, about being black or white.
We kicked off with a big question: what is white? These girls had the choice to be themselves or to live their lives as white, or as black. The question raised many more questions: are you white because you are white or does your heritage define your colour/race? And why does it matter? When you look white but believe things happen "because you are black" how does that shape who you want to be? what do you choose to tell other people? and how does all this shape the decisions you make, that may not be possible to undo? Is white 'safer'? does white mean freedom?
This book contains some shocking scenes that challenge the reader to consider the decisions each of the twins made.
This is not a book about race or racism, it is about attitudes and perspectives. It's a book that makes you think hard. As one of our group said: "I'm white, straight and white, I'm boring!"
There is a nice selection of supporting characters that add further food for thought.
Would we recommend it? - yes, it's a powerful read.
Our next book is The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela and we will meet at 8pm on 9th June 2022 in The Hundred.
