2013 Clutch Reading Challenge discussion

Let's discuss part three of Wench here.

Part 3 had me sad w/tears, happy and worried. A lot is going on in part three. Looking at the remaining amount of pages left to read, I'm almost sad the book is coming to an end.

Rosa, did you cry?

Part 3
This section has a lot of action with the main characters. For me, no tears, but a heavy heart. *** SPOILER ALERT*** I'm still frustrated with Lizzie. I want to shake her, but I am glad to see her start to turn from a selfish girl to a woman. This change is most obvious in Lizzie's actions regarding Phillip. She goes from regarding him with malice (p 178, or the last sentence in chapter 27) to actually speaking up to try to help him. Drayle uses his decision to manipulate Lizzie and avoid a loss. Then, of course her pitiful admission that she should have "let him take her", although Phillip never showed romantic or sexual interest in her - Ever! But, she did own her feelings of jealousy. And, I really liked the line, " a little more than friendship and a little less than love". Very well said Dolen Perkins-Valdez!

Reenie's depression and suicide attempt, understandable. Sweet: sooooo sad, but also understandable and in a way, a relief. She seemed to be bordering on madness after the deaths. Do you think Sweet fell, or was this a successful suicide? All that powerlessness and hopelessness for yourself and your children along with the violence and humiliation... it was a lot to live/exist with...

My favorite parts came at the end of the section. I was Thrilled to see Mawu and Reenie escape. The tension, sadness, even bit of humor made this the most emotional section yet.

********SPOILER ALERT*******Lizzie die some growing up, she really did. You will see her mature much more in Part4. I too wondered why Lizzie stated she should have let Phillip take her. I had to re-read that and go back to make sure I didn't miss something considering she felt she & Phillip were like sister and brother. I think that Sweet's death was no accident. Something just didn't add up. I wondered if she possibly poisoned herself? Talk about powerlessness and hopelessness, wow what a time. Humiliation, how about Phillip being tied to a tree and Drayle daring ANYONE feed him or give him water- DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO GO NEAR HIM. After that incident just maybe Drayle felt guilty for his actions and that is why he let Phillip "become a man". I too had a heavy heart after reading part3.

Wench was a tough read for me. There was such a sense if hopelessness for these women even though they had the massah's children. Very sad life. Not only were they mistresses, they were reminded daily they were also property. Thank you for recommending this book. Do you all see how this connects to "Sister Citizen"?

Greta, I didn't read Sister Citizen. Is there a connection?

Hi Greta, I read Sister Citizen and thought it was Excellent! I saw the connection. You could see, in Wench, the origin of the stereotypes in Sister Citizen. Also, why society embraces these negative images so easily and the uncomfortable truths they are designed to hide. Also, at the end of Wench, she showed the effects of a female God image, which was also discussed in Sister Citizen.

I think the last lines of the book support her statement that she should have let him take her. She only viewed herself as a sexual object used for the gratification of others or to get her needs met.

Erika wrote: "I think the last lines of the book support her statement that she should have let him take her. She only viewed herself as a sexual object used for the gratification of others or to get her needs met."

A slave. Drayle's slave.