Sunday, June 3, 2012

TwP ~ questions about SEARCH

Black Madonna
In this second section of Traveling with Pomegranates, Sue and Ann travel to France and then home to South Carolina in 1999-2000.  Chapter titles show us where they were.
SEARCH
Sue ~ Jardin des Tuileries, St.-Germain-des-Pres, Louvre ~ Paris
Ann ~ Seine River, Notre Dame Cathedral ~ Paris
Sue ~ Island of Gavrinis
Ann ~ Garden of Venus de Quinipily, Font-de-Gaume Cave
Sue ~ Chapel of the Black Virgin of Rocamadour
Ann ~ Cathedral of Notre Dame-Le Puy
Sue ~ Charleston, South Carolina
Ann ~ Charleston, South Carolina
Sue ~ Charleston, South Carolina
These questions are suggestions, so write about whatever interests you in this part of the book.

8. Sue is 51 years old, but worrying about old women and being old.  Bernard Baruch said, "To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am."  At what point do you think a woman goes from being young to being old?
9.  Does this sort of sexist language (pp. 142-143) bother you, as it bothered Sue?
I watched a television piece not long ago about an art gallery / featuring paintings and drawings of women.  "Here you will see every variety of the female form," the male reporter said, "from the young woman to the old hag."

"Did he say hag?  Did he?" I ranted to Sandy.  "When did the opposite of young female become old hag?  For God's sake!"
10.  Have you ever heard about the Black Madonna before reading this book?
11.  For Ann, finding this poem by David Whyte (see p. 153) gave her a mission:  "to find the world to which I belong" (p. 154).  Have you ever felt anything was your mission, even if just for a season?
You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
12.  Have you visited any of the places Sue and Ann wrote about in this section?

1 comment:

Shirley said...

8. Sue is 51 years old, but worrying about old women and being old. Bernard Baruch said, "To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am." At what point do you think a woman goes from being young to being old?
I don't think there is a specific time when a woman goes from being young to being old, but 51 sure sounds young to me. I started feeling old when it became increasingly difficult to get up when I am seated. I've been doing exercises purported to help, but so far, I'm still old.
My grandmother used to say that even though her body reminded her that she was old, her mind still seemed young. I can certainly relate to that.

9. Does this sort of sexist language (pp. 142-143) bother you, as it bothered Sue?
I think referring to a woman as an old hag is quite degrading. Some women may be an old hag, but not all women transform from youth to becoming a hag.

10. Have you ever heard about the Black Madonna before reading this book?
I had heard of her in The Secret Life of Bees. This section certainly gave more insight into the writing of this book.

11. For Ann, finding this poem by David Whyte (see p. 153) gave her a mission: "to find the world to which I belong" (p. 154). Have you ever felt anything was your mission, even if just for a season?
I'm still seeking.

12. Have you visited any of the places Sue and Ann wrote about in this section?
I'm only an armchair traveler to the places they visited. It is amazing how much more real events seem if I have actually been to them.