1st Official Meeting of SWS

Hostess: Debbie Knatt-Jones

Book Choice for January 2006: The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips


From Publishers Weekly - Phillips's searing debut reveals the poverty, injustices and cruelties that one black family suffers—some of this at the hands of its matriarch—in a 1958 backwater Georgia town. Thirteen-year-old Tangy Mae Quinn loves her mother, Rozelle, but knows there's "something wrong" with her—which, as it soon becomes clear, is an extreme understatement. As the novel opens, Rozelle is getting ready to give birth to her 10th child (by a 10th father) and thinking about forcing the obedient Tangy Mae, who longs to stay in school, to take over her housecleaning job. Using a large cast of powerfully drawn characters, Phillips captures life in a town that serves as a microcosm of a world on the brink of change. There's Junior, the perpetual optimist, who wants to teach people to read and write so they can understand the injustices of Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan; Hambone, a here today/gone tomorrow rabble-rouser whose anger against white men and their laws inflames those around him; and Miss Pearl, the only true friend to the Quinn family. At the dark heart of the story is Rozelle, the beautiful mixed-race head of the Quinn family whose erratic mood swings, heart-wrenching cruelty and deep emotional distress leave an indelible mark on all her children. Through all the violence and hardship breathes the remarkable spirit of Tangy Mae, who is wise beyond her years; forced to do unspeakable things by her mother and discriminated against by the town's whites, she manages to survive and to rescue a younger sister from the same fate. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Food: Chips, Dips, and Cheesecake







The event began at the Jones household at 6:00pm. With childcare graciously provided by Ms. Denise on the second floor, the downstairs living room was open for adult interaction. We congregated together in the kitchen and complimented Debbie on her exquisite culinary skills.

Next, we sat in a circle to discuss this impressive debut novel by psychiatric nurse, Delores Phillips. It was general consesus that this book was incredible, and often outrageous. We all loved the read. We even had our very own "Tangy Mae" in the group (much to her dismay)!



Some of SWS' favorite moments in the book:(WARNING! If you have not read this book, the following comments are spoilers, so do not read on if you do not want to know key points of the story.)* Rozelle's revelation to her only friend Pearl that one of her youngest children, Edna, was actually fathered by Ms. Pearl's husband!* Rozelle throwing her infant daughter, Judy, off of the front porch to her death.* The nightmare that is the farmhouse, and the beating Tangy received from Chadlow within its' walls.* Rozelle's unbelieveable actions which resulted in her second oldest daughter, Tarabelle's tragic death by fire.* The many torments suffered by Rozelle's deaf daughter, Martha Jean, by her mother.* Tarabelle's frequent abortion horrors.
We also discussed who should play the main characters in the story if the book was made into a movie. For Rozelle, Jasmine Guy would be our favorite pick. Ving Rhames and Bernie Mac were jokingly mentioned as possible actors to play Tangy Mae's dark-skinned father, Crow.This was definitely a book that kept us talking, laughing, and gasping in disbelief throughout our meeting. Everyone also decided that we needed to put Rozelle in the middle of our circle and beat the mess out of her!Our next meeting will be hosted in March by Mrs. Wanda George -the book is to be determined.Stay tuned for details on the SWS' goal for 2006 in regards to where our club dues should be directed - some suggestions were a trip to New York to see Oprah's broadway rendition of The Color Purple, a group cruise, a SWS sponsored Christmas party, and a dayspa weekend retreat!