Dec. Book Club - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

[minzy]

What did you think?

[minzy]

I liked this one a lot. I thought it was very well written, and told a compelling story. Normally I’m not a big fan of fantasy elements, but I think the “conduction” worked here. I thought it was interesting just how much long game strategy was employed at freeing the slaves in the book (i.e., Corinne’s proposed marriage to Maynard so she would be better positioned socially in Virginia to further the cause), and how much the “chess” of the movements was orchestrated by women - Santi Bess, Corinne, and Moses/Harriet. The one interview ufcasey referenced, the author spoke about how black women have it doubly hard. He seemed to pay such homage to them, with Hiriam’s reverence towards his grandmother, mother, Aunt Emma, (ultimately) Thena, Harriet, and respecting Sophia’s choices about her personhood. I thought that was pretty cool. The dedication of so many toward the cause of freedom, even at tremendous risk and/or after they themselves were finally free, was inspiring.

I am embarrassed how long it took me to realize Moses/Harriet was Harriet Tubman!

An aside, when I went through Cambridge, MD last year on the way back from the beach, my kids and I stopped at the Harriet Tubman Museum. We were able to check out this huge, really cool mural of her: visitdorchester.org/new-harriet-tubman-mural-goes-viral/

[aurora]

I also liked it. In addition to the character development, which was excellent, I liked that we were learning about Conduction along with Hiram, and also all the flashbacks woven in to the story (e.g., his mother towards the end).

I've read two of Coates' non-fiction books (Between the World and Me and We Were Eight Years in Power) and many of his articles in The Atlantic and I was a little skeptical about reading his fiction because I had him pegged as a non-fiction author (an excellent one). This book, though difficult to read due to the subject matter, was excellent.

My copy had some reader guide questions at the end. I'll post a couple of the questions separately.

[aurora]

Here are a few of the questions for discussion in my copy. I am typing them so I'm not going to do the whole list.

1. Why do you think Coates uses terms like "Tasked" and "Quality" instead of "slaves" and "masters"? What do you think the novel gains from this altered language?

5. Sophia tells Hiram, "But what you must get is that for me to be yours, I must never be yours." What is Coates saying about the particular struggles of black women in this novel? How does Hiram's relationship with Sophia change over time to reflect this?

7. Discuss Harriet's role in the story. Did you know immediately who she was? What impact does the inclusion of a historical figure have on the narrative?

8. What is the significance of water throughout the book? Why do you think Coates chooses it as the medium for Hiram's power?

11. How are the themes of The Water Dancer relevant to modern discussions of race, privilege, and power?

[aurora]

Only two of us read this one?

[rootbeerfloat]

I liked this book.

I had read reviews prior that didn't like the fantasy element, but I didn't mind it. That they were able to relocate so many slaves such a far distance was amazing.

I didn't know she was Harriet right away. Not sure if anyone else watched Harriet, but some of the story (about her family) was similar in the movie.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I hated the supernatural element. I like my historical fiction more historical and less fiction on stuff like this.