Oprah's Book Club (Official) discussion

The last chapter, "Sala," shifts the focus away from Hattie's children to her granddaughter. What do you think this chapter's message is? Is it ultimately hopeful?

Hattie, would sacrifice spiritual faith connection and scorn from the church community to protect Sala from believing that she was ugly, wounded, destroyed, ruined or broken- at the tender age of 10 years old. Sala was the first child of Hattie's post childbearing years. Her action to prevent Sala from asking of 'spiritual mercy', in my opinion was meant to be an act of love. Hattie was expressing that Sala could still have a future filled with hopes, dreams, happiness, peace and love. Hattie internally made the conscious choice to weather the storms of motherhood with Sala- and to be her mother.

Hattie's character is an example of love's ability to take shape in different forms, while still being mystical, powerful and beautiful.

My views regarding this last chapter would be different if Hattie was going to sacrifice her belief in God and Jesus. She is only willing to give up her home church. Fortunately for her there are other churches a person can attend.

in this chapter it seems like its Hattie's "second" chance at fixing her mistakes from her children.

I was hoping that Hattie would take this second chance and be more mindful of her children's souls. Why would you try to turn a child away from God. Just because Six is not living the way the Bible would have him too, is no reason to hinder someone else from giving themselves to Christ. Generational curses can be broken, but for Hattie's family I see no happy ending just the same old hard outlook on life.

I think is hopeful. Hattie, was now finally seeing that she had a chance at mother and in that time, was not giving of herself. She did not want her granddaughter to see that side of her and wanted to protect her from the church and now had a chance to give herself.