Hello ladies! I hope you all enjoyed "Bring on Blessings" by Beverly Jenkins. Below are a few discussion questions but feel free to keep adding and commenting in the comments section.
- This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify?
- Who was your favorite character(s) and why?
- What was one of the most memorable scenes to you?
- Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character?
- Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it?
- Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues?
- Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption?
- Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart?
- What do you think about Beverly's writing style?
- Overall, how did you feel about this book?
6 comments:
This was a good read. I'm currently reading the second book of this series.
1.This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify? social dilemmas, a little bit of romance
2.Who was your favorite character(s) and why? Amari, the car thieve. Because of his humor and the fact he asks a lot of questions. I was the same way growing up. I was always told "If you don't know, ask".
3.What was one of the most memorable scenes to you? One was when the couple with the mute daughter caught her playing the piano.
4.Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character? That shows she knows the true meaning of "too whom much is given, much will be required"
5.Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it? Of course and hope a "Bernadine Brown" buys it.
6.Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues? I think they have. A lot of years has passed and they both seem to be still smitten with each other
7.Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption? I grew up in a family where there was always a new child. Some of the kids stayed, some of them were formally adopted. I think it's a honorable thing to do.
8.Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart? Crystal. Even though her mom was a drug addict and abandoned her, she still loved her mom very much and wanted to 'save' her.
9.What do you think about Beverly's writing style? Beverly's writing style has a way of bring you into the mind and thoughts of the characters.
10.Overall, how did you feel about this book? It was a good enjoyable read. Delightful. It left me wanting to know what is going to happen next so I got the second and third book in the series.
@traycee30
1.This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify? Forgiveness is a big one for me, because I used to hold a lot of contempt for people and have learned to let it go.
2.Who was your favorite character(s) and why?
I really liked Tamar, there is nothing like the wisdom of someone that's been around a long time.
3.What was one of the most memorable scenes to you? When the residents realized Bernadine was black.
4.Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character?
She has a very unselfish character. She could have easily continued to travel and spend her money on herself, but she chose to make a difference.
Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it? Yes, history should always be preserved.
6.Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues? No, it takes time to work through relationship issues. You have to openly communicate, and the really important part is to talk through the problems and not move on like they never happened.
7.Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption? Adoption is great for the ones doing it for the right reason, every child deserves to be loved and nurtured.
8.Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart? Devon, he had a great relationship with God despite being so young.
9.What do you think about Beverly's writing style? Beverly's story really has you wanting to finish the book right away to find out what happens next.
10.Overall, how did you feel about this book?
I enjoyed it and I will be purchasing the next book. The book brought out all the emotions in me.
@michelle072503
I cannot believe after a half an hour of writing my thoughts, I lost it all, aghhhhhhhhhhh. Here I go again.
There are other themes in the book that I can identify. For me, the themes of finding meaning and purpose, creativity, inspiration, and building community really reasonate in my mind. You have Bernadine who after a divorce, finds herself wondering what is going to do with the rest of life. There is a sense of self-reflection in the beginning of the novel, and becomes inspired by seeing a community of young and old helping one another. Low and behold sees a town in trouble and begins to put the idea together of helping children in need and a town regain its history of community.
I don't have a favorite character, but will say Bernadine strikes me the most because her idea inspires entire town of community and service, she helps them to also find their meaning and purpose.
Bernadine is a decent person, so I really didn't see her doing anything else, but finding out what she wanted with the rest of her life. She really wasn't very happy in her marriage and didn't like the life she had with her husband. In addition, Bernadine wasn't going to waste her life doing anything like revenge because it didnt positively serve her needs. She was looking for happiness.
Lily and Trent will have to grow up despite their ages. There has to be the idea of letting go of the past which they are still there. Their past holds them back because they are unable to move on and live in the moment. Their egos are in the way and are their own worse enemies. They will have to do a lot of soul seaching for they can finally be together or move on.
I have to say if I had the financial wherewithall, I would adopt to give a child an opportunity to become all he or she can be. Parenthood isn't easy whether the child is biologically yours or if you adopt. I think it can be rewarding if you make it about the child and not yourself.
All of the children touched me for different reasons. Each child had a set of unique problems that was through no fault of their own. Every child made the best of their situations with resources available to them.
I love the the story, and the author's writing style. I feel like was reading a movie fit for the Hallmark Movie Channel.
@SheriMaple
1. This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify? Trust was a major theme that I saw. Learning to trust again after being hurt. And trust seems to be the anchor that ties the aforementioned themes together.
2. Who was your favorite character(s) and why?
I loved Tamar. She was rugged and a strong woman, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
I also liked Trent July (Tamar's grandson)... because of the inner conflicts that he was having. That made him more real to me. And I could identify with him.
3. What was one of the most memorable scenes to you? Bernadine first coming to town, and the relief of the residents seeing that she was black. I think that brought together a better cooperation of the townspeople. And just seeing the town grow from that point.
4. Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character?
That she was a selfless woman. We are living in an incredibly self-serving society, and it was good to see someone who was thinking "What can I give? How can I serve?"
5. Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it? Only if we had a choice as to who would buy us. If it was this situation, yes. But it was some commercialism venture, no. That town's history needed to be preserved and respected.
6. Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues? I think talking about the past, including the hurt and pain, was what helped the two of them settle their differences. So yes, I think it helped them move past their issues. But it is an ongoing process.
7. Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption?
I think a person has to have a heart and a calling for being an adoptive parent. I am a little jaded because I have a friend whose aunt adopted a child, and he is grown now and has been hell on wheels for her. But I think someone who has a heart for it, the patience and wherewithal within, will be fine. And they will be the very someone a child needs.
8. Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart? I liked Zoey because something happening within her caused her to be mute. Yet she was a loving child.
9. What do you think about Beverly's writing style? Excellent. And that is from me, who studies the craft of writing. She is a great storyteller.
10. Overall, how did you feel about this book?
The book was excellent. I did not care for the Riley and Pig storyline at all. But it was a good conflict element in the story. But overall,
I loved the book. It takes a good writer to bring together a story with a LOT of characters. It was a pageturner, and I could not put it down for wanting to know what would happen next.
This comment is from your Friendly Neighborhood Oldgirl...LadyLee
@Oldgirlladylee
1. This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify?
Other themes I identified were community and a sense of belonging.
2. Who was your favorite character(s) and why?
Bernadine because she was so strong, giving and caring. I also liked Amari just because he was a such a trip, so funny, and had such a mind of his own.
3. What was one of the most memorable scenes to you?
The scene where Bernadine first came and each character was kind of sizing her up and were so surprised that Bernadine was Black also.
4.Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character?
It says that she has a pure, giving, and caring heart. She's a person that truly wants to help others without having a hidden agenda.
5. Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it?
Only if I had a say in who was going to purchase it.
6. Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues?
Yes, I do because they took the time, energy, and personal space needed to work through all the hurt, pain, and anger that each of them experienced.
7. Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption?
I am totally for adoption and think it's a good thing. Most of my family is adopted. My younger brother is adopted, so he wouldn't have been in my life without adoption. I also have cousins who were adopted. If I am unable to have children, I have made a personal decision to adopt a child.
8. Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart?
Zoey really touched my heart and the talent she had was amazing. I also loved Crystal because even though she had been abandoned by her mother she still had such amazing love for her. Crystal was also strong and sassy! I loved that!
9. What do you think about Beverly's writing style?
Beverly is an amazing writer! She has the ability to weave a story, teach, and develop characters that hold your attention.
10. Overall, how did you feel about this book?
I loved the book! It was the best book that I've read in a long time. I recommended it to my mother and two aunts. They all read it and loved it too!
@divagirlrn
1. This book touches on various themes: forgiveness, redemption, love, faith, hope. What other themes can you identify? social stigmas,
2. Who was your favorite character(s) and why? i loved Tamar's strength, I loved Trent's dedication and faith as a leader, I loved Malachi's realness, and Bernadine's heart.
3. What was one of the most memorable scenes to you? Anytime they spoke about Riley Curry and that pig. I can just see him and that fake flower. LOL
4. Bernadine Brown divorced her husband [Leo] and decided that instead of getting even, she was going to do something for the greater good. What do you think that says about her character? I think it says that she is a mature woman with a big heart.
5. Would you put your town up for sale on the internet to save it? If it would save it, yes/
6. Trent and Lily have a complicated past that took a couple of divorces and years to heal. Do you think they have truly moved past their issues? Yes and no. They went through alot and alot of years passed before they dealt with it. There may be some residual pain there.
7. Adoption is such admirable thing to do but its not always the easiest. What are your thoughts on adoption? I think it is a wonderful thing to do for a child.
8. Each child came from a troubled home and/or the foster care system. Was there a child who's story really touched your heart? All of their stories touched my heart but Zoey's was the mos traumatic to me. I wonder what happened to her.
9. What do you think about Beverly's writing style?
Overall, how did you feel about this book?I've read every single one of her books. I guess that means I love her style. I love how she incorporates history lessons into all of her stories.
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