The Devil

 

I have seen the devil, and the devil has seen me. He walks down the street where I live and waits outside my bedroom at night under the full moonlight. He stares at me with beady red eyes, and he glares at me with those beady red eyes. He waits outside my bedroom at night under the full moonlight, with those damn beady red eyes. I hear his black heart beating from under his chest. I cannot rest. And his claws are tapping, tapping, ever so gently rapping, rapping on the raw cement. As he sits waiting, waiting, waiting for me, to stake his claim and run away with me. His hatred seeps and creeps from under his skin, and I feel his breath, that putrid breath running, running down my spine, as if to say, "Now you are mine." And his claws are tapping, tapping, ever so gently rapping, rapping on the raw cement. As his black heart is beating and bleating, bleating and beating. And those beady red eyes, the eyes of nothing, stare and glare, glare and stare at me. Oh, how my blood turns cold, for the tale has been told, and my soul has been sold, for I have seen the devil, and the devil has seen me.

~Billie. Miller~

The Secret Life Of Bees

     There’s a danger when starting a book.  A  truth that is universally unacknowledged.  Sometimes a book cannot pull you in. However, the same cannot be said for The Secret Life of Bees. This book not only touches on the importance of mothers and community, but it also highlights the insidious nature of racism, misogyny, and the harmful effects of stereotyping.

The novel portrays racism in a powerful and thought-provoking way, emphasizing the impact of systemic prejudice on individuals and communities. The story also emphasizes the power of female friendship and community, as characters band together to support each other and challenge societal norms.

The protagonist, Lily, is not a typical racist, but her prejudices and stereotyping are still harmful. She initially believes that people have set roles that they cannot transcend, such as black women working as housekeepers and black men not becoming lawyers. However, as she learns and grows, she comes to understand the importance of breaking down these harmful stereotypes and challenging the status quo.

The novel's message about the dangers of stereotyping and prejudice is particularly relevant in today's world. Even if we are not marching down the street in khakis and carrying tiki torches, we may still hold harmful prejudices and beliefs. The Secret Life of Bees encourages us to challenge these harmful attitudes and embrace the power of diversity and community.

Big Stone Gap

  Big Stone Gap Is A Page Away. 

  If you're in the mood for a heartwarming Southern tale that will leave you smiling and crying, then look no further than the Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani. Set in the titular town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, the first book introduces us to Ave Maria Mulligan, a 35-year-old spinster who is about to face a life-changing revelation in 1978. As we follow Ave Maria through the ups and downs of her life in the next three novels, we get to know her family, friends, and neighbors in more depth. We see how they deal with love, loss, betrayal, and redemption in a small town where everyone knows each other's business. Adriana Trigiani has a talent for creating vivid characters who feel like real people you could meet on the street. Whether it's Ave Maria's best friend, the hilarious and wise-cracking Iva Lou Wade, or her long-lost Italian relatives, or the quirky residents of Big Stone Gap, each character is unique and memorable. Moreover, the Big Stone Gap series explores themes of identity, family, community, and heritage with sensitivity and humor. You'll learn about Italian-American culture, Appalachian traditions, and the challenges of being a woman in a patriarchal society. You'll also appreciate the power of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances. And if you've seen the 2015 film adaptation of the first book, you'll enjoy comparing it to the original source material. Ashley Judd gives a heartfelt performance as Ave Maria, while Jenna Elfman and Whoopi Goldberg add their own charm to the supporting roles. Overall, the Big Stone Gap series is a delightful read that will transport you to a simpler time and place, where life's joys and sorrows are shared by a close-knit community. You won't regret visiting Big Stone Gap and its wonderful inhabitants.

Good luck and as always may the odds ever be in your favor.