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Welcome to my weekly update for November 7, 2021!
Last week I asked if you thought I should attend YALLfest, a young adult book festival, even as an adult reader, and you all agreed that I should. I’m looking at the festival schedule now and figuring out which panels I’d like to attend. But I noticed that there are virtual events and giveaways every day this week leading up to the in-person festival! Check out the links if you’d like to know more!
Last Saturday, my husband and I decided to visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. I thought hard about this and debated whether it was a…socially conscious?…thing to do. I obviously decided that I was okay with it but only if we toured the slave quarters too. The slavery tour was a powerful experience, even if there were things I thought our White guide could have addressed better (telling me repeatedly that Brazil “imported” millions more Africans than the United States doesn’t change the fact that we enslaved people for hundreds of years). The other guide I saw was Black so I’m curious if her tour would have been different. The gardens were beautiful, even this late in the season.
We also went to Folly Beach a couple more times.
Slideshow:
All images © Jennifer G. at Introverted Reader
- Bridge and Statue by a pond
- Fall decorations
- Live oak with Spanish moss
- A tree on Folly Beach draped in seashells
- Underside of a butterfly’s wings. I think it’s a Gulf Fritillary. There were so many passing through Folly Beach last weekend!
- Dunes at Folly Beach
Posted:
World War Z by Max Brooks, read by a full cast
My Year in Nonfiction for Nonfiction November
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph (Cybils Nomination)
Read:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang–5 Stars
Giant Days Volume Four by John Allison et al.–4 Stars
The Gathering (Shadow House #1) by Dan Poblocki, read by Dan Bittner–3 Stars
Currently Reading:
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (Young Readers’ Edition) by Jeanne Theoharis, adapted by Brandy Colbert and the author
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith, read by the author
Watching:
A Quiet Place Part II–We liked A Quiet Place so the sequel seemed like a good option. I can’t even tell you which one of us looked more tense as we watched! I caught myself watching with my hand over my mouth a lot, to make sure I didn’t make a noise as I jumped. My husband looked much the same way when I glanced at him! There were a few plot/logic holes but it was still good if you like tense, jumpy movies.
Up Next:
I’m continuing to read high school nonfiction nominations for the Cybils Awards. I’ll also be posting about fiction/nonfiction book pairings for week two of Nonfiction November.
What did your week look like?
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
20 Comments
Wow, gorgeous pictures! I appreciated your thoughtfulness about doing the tour and your quotes around “imported”. What an inappropriate word choice.
I’ve really enjoyed Clint Smith’s writing for The Atlantic, so I’m interested to hear what you think of his book.
I think you made the right decision on the tour. And while I suspect the two guides would have different tours, I do wonder how much of what they say is the official, approved script. They might get in trouble for deviating from a specific (whitewashed and “comfortable”) script, for example.
Yes, I agree. While we were hearing, yet again, that millions more slaves were sent to Brazil than the US, the guide was showing us a map that outlined the transatlantic slave route, which apparently always included a stop in Brazil. This was one of several props that were obviously used for every tour. And the plantation is still owned by the same family that owned it (and slaves) pre-Civil War. There’s probably only so much they’re willing to say about slavery. He probably did the best he could with the script he had, but it was frustrating to see how it could have been better.
Oooh… that’s frustrating. It really sounds like there’s a script, then. I would be surprised if the owners didn’t want to restrict what was said about their ancestors.
Nice photos. Makes me long to live in a more southern place than Northern Minnesota. Your tour does sound nice. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Northern Minnesota would be entirely too cold and dark for me in the winter. I applaud your fortitude!
Great photos. I too would have been interested in the difference between the two tours. And Ugh on the word “imported.”
Right? I don’t remember which word the guide actually used. He may have found a better way to say it. But Clint Smith uses it in the book I’m currently reading, How the Word is Passed, so it’s in my brain and came out in this post. It’s so indicative of the mindset of White slaveowners at that point in history, and so unfathomable to us today.
It’s so important that the truth of history is acknowledged. It’s great that you are continuing your education with related reading.
I can’t deal with jump scares, I’m such a chicken.
Wishing you a great reading week
I can handle some jumpy scares but I have my limits. I definitely can’t watch gory horror.
I get what you are saying about Magnolia Plantation–but I think your compromise (if that is the right word) to be sure to visit the slave quarters was a good one. I love to visit old homes!
Yes wouldn’t it be interesting to have heard what the black tour guide had to say about things. Sounds though like a really worthwhile experience.
It would have been really interesting to compare the two tour guides as I am sure they would have been different.
It’s definitely a Gulf Fritillary. They are one of my favorite butterflies.
I am eager to hear more about your nonfiction reading for the Cybils. I can’t wait to hear about your favorites.
Quiet Place was super scary for me when we watched it with my sister and her husband. I’ve just sent her a little photo from your blog. I don’t think she has seen #2.
Folly beach looks beautiful. And how cool to have a tree draped in seashells. Those oaks with Spanish moss remind me a little bit of all the trees here that are dripping with moss. I’m not sure what they are, maybe alders.
I think Quiet Place is too creepy for me, but I’m glad you guys enjoy it.
Beautiful pics! I love that bridge- and the butterfly too.
YAllfest sounds so fun. I might need to look at some of those virtual events, I miss going to bookish things!
Your plantation visit sounds amazing especially with the slave quarters aspect, we have such a hard time coming to terms with our slavery heritage in this country but it’s so important we do so, obviously. Thanks for sharing your experience there!
I’d like to visit Magnolia Plantation the next time we get to Charleston. The gardens look beautiful, too. Nonfiction November is off to a fast start… I remember enjoying American Born Chinese several years ago. How the Word is Passed looks like an interesting read.
We went to those Magnolia gardens in April of 2008 but I had a bad allergy attack. I’m allergic to some plant that grows there in April. I was glad to see everything though. Gorgeous photos!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Beautiful pictures.
I’m glad you’ll be checking out Y’all Fest. I wish I had the time and opportunity to participate.
Pam
Thanks, for this. I realized I didn’t really know anything about Rosa Parks except the obvious. So I “went” to the library right now and borrowed the Nat Geographic’s Kids issue of Rosa Parks.