It’s time to discuss our November Book of the Month, PUSH by Sapphire and I thank each of you for joining us for the chat. For those who have not read the book, but were able to see the movie Precious, feel free to join us to share your insights on the movie!
This discussion also kicks off the first book in our Holiday Reading Challenge!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, Push recounts a young black street-girl’s horrendous and redemptive journey through a Harlem inferno. For Precious Jones, 16 and pregnant with her father’s child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous, determined teacher bullies, cajoles, and inspires her to learn to read, to define her own feelings and set them down in a diary.
This was a very intense & graphic book which truly highlighted some of the devastation many live through. What were your overall thoughts about the book (or the movie) and what one thing surprised you the most?
-Tee
I didn’t see the movie and I’m not so sure I want to see it because of graphic it is in the book.
I can definitely understand this, Sharon. When I first read the book, it was hard for me, but having children now I think made it a much harder read for me. I can’t imagine someone doing all these things to a child AND the mother being so mean-spirited to her own child. I’m not sure I could watch the movie either. I listened to the audio this time around and there are still images and words in my head I can’t seem to shake.
-Tee
Tee, I read the book and saw the movie. The book was better, of course. But in the movie the part that broke me down was in the end when the mother was telling the counselor how the abuse between the father and daughter started. MoNique’s performance was riveting! I felt her pain. What I took was the ONLY way a mother could be so mean-spirited towards her own child is she herself is hurting. They were all victims. But thank God Precious broke the cycle. And she was able to do so, by one person making a difference in her life.
Mo’Nique was AMAZING in that scene! I didn’t read the book. Saw the movie and it wasn’t nearly as graphic as I feared. I am a total wimp and I could handle it.
*Tee, I don’t see how you got through this book in audio.
Brenda
It was rough, Brenda! I did it Sunday on the drive back home and at times, I just had to stop it. (It did help with the vernacular though.)
-Tee
I listened to the audiobook several years ago. Thought it was fantastic. Most author-read books leave me unsatisfied. Sapphire did an incredible job of reading it. In fact, I listened to it twice. She was that good.
As graphic as the book was, I didn’t find it to be as graphic as the book. Some of the members of my book club couldn’t finish the book. After so many people who’d read the book told them it wasn’t as graphic as the book, they saw it and agreed.
Loved the book, the movie did gloss over some things and wanted to know more about the dads background. Hopefully ill get to interview the author.
I don’t know if I can say that I enjoyed the book. The story was disturbing but well written. I really like Ihow Sapphire made us get into the character by writing the story in the way that Precious was speaking. I can’t imagine going through what precious had to experience but I LOVE that she felt that she could and would overcome. Sometimes people in these situations think that things will never change but not Precious! The book was very graphic too! I wanted to see the movie but after reading the book, I think I am going to have to pass. I don’t want to feel depressed when I leave.
I didn’t like the ending either
What do you all think about the way the book ended?
I didn’t like the way the book was ended…it sort of dropped. But the movie was more positive and led you to believe that she was getting her life together with her two kids in tow.
I had just the opposite reaction. I thought the book ended on a redemptive high note. The movie ending seemed rushed. Generally, books allow me to get deeper into the character’s head. Precious’ arc seemed longer and stronger in the book.
I finished reading the book last night. All I can say is wow! I can not go see the movie. Like you said Tee, it was intense and very graphical. I just could not imagine a mother treating or allowing someone to treat her baby like that. Tooooo emotional.
Brenda
It was a very intense read. I read it in a couple hours. Made me wonder about the author herself. Did she go through something/anything like this to be able to write something like this? I think what shocked me the most was when we found out that Precious had HIV. I wasn’t expecting that at all, because by that point in the book I really couldn’t think of anything else bad that could happen to that child. I just wasn’t expecting a death sentence too. I thought the writing style was excellent though. Despite the roughness of the topic the writing was very poetic, which helped me to be able to digest the harshness in some ways
This book is an emotional read. I could never imagine a mother being as hateful as Precious’s mother. I was so glad to see Precious to finally take a stand for herself.
This book was a selection for one of my book clubs and we went to see the movie after we discussed the book. The book was very graphic and emotional. There were times when I had to put the book down a few times. When I finished the book, I really didn’t know how I felt about it. I think it was because there really wasn’t a cut and dry resolution at the end. I would have loved to know more about Precious’ mother’s background and childhood and why she was just so horrible to her own daughter.
@Sharon..the movie is not as graphic as the book but it’s still a tear-jerker.
Radiah, that was my biggest surprise with the book…the ending. I couldn’t believe that this one child had to go through so much and at the end, STILL not really get the resolution I was hoping for. She was victorious in a sense, but it was overshadowed by the news of her HIV status and for me, that was hard, unfair…and I guess how life is sometimes. It still made me mad though and very, very sad.
Books like this definitely make you aware of a situation, but they tear you down so much, it’s hard getting back up after the read. I can’t even begin to imagine how a child going through the things for real would actually NOT suffer on every single level.
-Tee
Tee, I definitely had to read something light after that book. I couldn’t believe after all the abuse she went through and on top of all that she had HIV! I had to re-read that part of the book over again because I just couldn’t believe it. The thing that disturbs me is that some child out there is going through the same thing.
Tee,
I would have to agree with you about the ending. I couldn’t believe that she had HIV! I would also have to say that I was impressed with how positive she was about the situation & moving on with her life regardless of how much was left.
I wondered if she ever went to get “Little Mongo” and I was lsot at the end of the book. I think it could have ended better. I felt like it had a cliffhanger ending.
@Tee, with all the things Precious had experienced–the abuse, criticism, incest, no love, no education and to then find out as she is trying to get out from under that she was HIV. I was overwhelmed with emotion at that point.
Brenda
That’s what depressed me so after reading Precious and watching the movie. She had went through so much and to find out she was HIV positive, that left me just emotionally drained.
Radiah, I wanted to know about her mother’s past and if this was a generational curse? I want to say that it was.
I agree, LaDena. Her mother’s behavior did seem very much like a generational thing.
At first I thought that the grandmother was okay because she was at least helping to care for Mono. But then there’s a scene in the movie where she just berates and belittles Precious which really drove home to me that the treatment of children by their mothers was a generational curse. I am so glad that Precious broke that cycle, especially considering everything that she went through.
@LaDena, I think it was generational too because in the movie the Precious mother said to the grandmother you didn’t do much better.
I agree, because even in the book, the grandmother was aware of how her daughter was using the first baby to lie to the welfare office. It would’ve been good to see more/hear more from her on everything.
-Tee
The movie definitely touched more on this than the book. Many people I’ve spoken to had a lot of questions about the grandmother. As small as her role was int he movie, it was still heftier than in the book.
Thanks for sharing, Christina. Listening to those of you who have seen it, I may actually see the movie now. I still have mixed feelings, though.
-Tee
I know what you’re saying Radiah…but my thought is something that happens in the movie is going to revert me back to a scene in the book and I don’t think I want to go back there.
This book moved me in so many ways. I was up and down through the entire book. I would have liked to see Precious be able to move into her own place with both kids or even get that “computer” job she wanted. I haven’t seen the movie yet but I have plans too.
I get this, but I think Sapphire didn’t do this because it would’ve been too predictable and kinda would’ve taken some away from the whole message of the book. Maybe…
I loved, loved, loved the book and the movie. Very emotional and unfortunatley, very close to real life for too many of our children.
The thing that surprised yet didn’t really surprise me was that no one helped her sooner.
The movie held quite true to the book. Now of course there wasn’t time to go into the other girls stories in the movie, but I still enjoyed it.
Peace
Dee
@Deatri, I was surprised also that no one helped her sooner. All the opportunities in school that were available, it just seemed like her teachers thought it was easier on them to let her have her way and move on. Even though they had to know she needed some help. You know it’s said to say, but there are probably teachers like that today. Don’t want to move out of their comfort zone to help a child in desperate need.
Why didn’t anyone help when it was obvious she wasn’t learning anything? Why wasn’t more done when she was pregnant at 12?
Brenda
It’s sad, but a lot of teachers just don’t care. When I adopted my middle daughter she was already a teen. She brought home her school papers and I of course wanted to see them. She got an A on this report she was soooooo proud of and I was proud of her also, until I saw the report. The thing was HORRIBLE. Page after page after page of no punctuation, misspellings, no indentions…It was a piece of JUNK.
I wasn’t angry with her and I didn’t blame her. I blamed the school system she was from and this particular teacher.
Soooo, me being me, carried my happy little butt on over to the school (after I properly graded the paper) called a meeting between me, the teacher, and the principle and discussed how on earth my child could get an A on the piece of crap that was in my hand. It all turned out well for us in the end, but what about children whose teachers don’t care and whose parents either just don’t know or don’t care?
Sad, sad, sad…
^5 Deatri! I don’t blame you one bit and feel that if more parents did this, the schools would have to be more accountable, from the teachers up to the principal and school board officials.
-Tee
Let me start by saying, I enjoyd the book even though it was a hard read, beacuse of the subject matter, the treatment of Precious by her mother. I have not seen the movie, and don’t think I will, the book had me in tears, and based on what I’ve heard about the movie don’t think I could handle it. Dee, I have to aks it the teacher who gave your baby the “A” was white? Beleive me A A teachers we are hard as he&& on our black children.
Also no matter the race most teachers do care, but schoool systems care more about test scores than educating our children, we teach test not the things children need to survive in the world. Also as a teacher if we suspect a child is being abused or mistreated, we have to report it to our principal, she reports to someone else and by the time something is actually done to help the child as many as 3 to 6 months may have passed. By then the child has gone deeper into a shell, or has been hurt , killed or if its a girl pregnant.
You’re right. I can remember my teachers routinely saying things like, “don’t do the work. I don’t care. I’ve already got mine.” And they meant it. I ended up pregnant at sixteen, and I was an honor student. I hid it until I was about five months, and I was a really skinny child, so that was a feat. Even my mother didn’t notice. It was my English teacher that confronted me. I had to give a report on The Count of Monte Cristo. She pulled me aside and asked, “what happened?” So I started giving her my synopsis of the book and she shook her head sadly and said. No. You’re pretty pregnant right now and I want to know who and what we’re going to do about it. She was instrumental in my fight to stay out of the “pregnant girl school”. I was pacing at the top of my class, and she argued with the school board that a move like that would destroy my chances and my future along with it. I graduated valedictorian…with my baby in the front row and I never repeated that mistake. It’s unfortunate that teachers are placed in that position, but they can save a lot of futures from the place they stand.
As one who was abused as a child, I related to this in a way that unless you have experienced being treated like Precious it is very hard to understand the why and how of an adult treating a human being that way. My childhood was so bad, it is amazing to even me that I didnt turn out to be a serial killer. That may sound extreme but Im being honest. Clearly my spirit was watching over me. I read the book and watched the movie even after feeling I couldnt but I had a mind set that I wouldnt let it upset me no matter what I saw and that worked. I also want to say that my father didnt sexually abuse me but he emotionally abused me. I hated him for years. Anywho, overall, I feel this is A story that is SOMEONE’S story no matter what the critics say.
Linda, I’m so sorry to hear this as emotional & verbal abuse are sometimes not looked upon as abuse. But, I’m so glad you’re here with us today and able to share.
-Tee
@Linda, I applaud you being able to read this despite your experiences. I agree too, that this is someone’s story. Even where I live you hear rumors about certain families.
Brenda
Linda, congrats to you for being able to read the book and watch the movie. Verbal abuse to you was your father’s lost.
I watched the movie with my mother, a retired school teacher. She thought it was unrealistic that Precious would not have fought back against her mother. After thinking on it a while, and thinking of the teens I see in the juvenile justice system, I could see her point. But the story is set in the 80′s.
I wondered why Precious didn’t move in with her grama. Many children hae found comfort and security that way.
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie yet and to be honest I don’t think I am. Not because it’s a bad book but I don’t think I can or want to deal with the emotional ride, just looking at events in the news today does that. On the other hand I would love to see the movie because of the acting that is required to show the emotions..just the movie trailer had me riled up, pissed off, mad and sad.
When I first read Push years ago, I was about one year into being a Job Corps counselor therefore I was not as startled as I would have liked. It is absolutely amazing how kids are treated at the hands of their parents. I heard so many stories about young girls who were making money sexually with their mothers consents as strippers, etc. I didnt hear many stories about sexual abuse from mothers, but many about fathers, stepfathers, mama boyfriends etc. Even having heard the true stories, I still found the graphic nature of the book startling. I have yet to see the movie. I am sure I will, just need to get there~
angelia
Who wants to share their favorite characters or scenes in the book? (Or even funniest moment as there were a few.)
-Tee
The funniest part for me, though there was a few, was Monique dancing in that floral leotard! I was sick!
The funniest parts for me were when she was with the ladies at the alternative school, too. They were such high-spirited individuals, even with their issues and hardships. Made me happy to see that Precious ended up with some very good friends who were there for her.
-Tee
In the book, I would say one of Precious classmates, the girl who wanted to be a boy ( can’t think of her name right now) was one of my favortie characters.
Radiah, her name was Jermaine…That was funny huh? And in the movie the chic Consuela was a hoot too. I don’t remember her being that funny in the book.
!! I thought the movie was a lot funnier than I anticipated. It seemed everyone was funnier.
My favorite character in the book was Ms. Rain. I was truly disappointed with how her character was changed in the movie. I was overall disappointed with the movie. Precious had some serious color issues!!!!! When she walked into that class and saw Ms. Rain, dark skinned, intellgent, with the afrocentric cornrows, it was the start of a new learning process for Precious.
I agree, Ms. Rain was my favorite character too.
Brenda
In the movie when she runs with the chicken. We may all be doing that one day if this economy gets any worse. LOL
Linda STOP!!!! But that was a funny scene. I loved when she said she was trying to watch her figure! LOL
@Linda…that was too funny. And you are correct, we may all be doing the same thing if this economy keeps sinking…LOL
Brenda
I thought the book was very intense. It was hard to read at times. It’s sad to say, that it’s a reality for many children, living the life as Precious. I pray somehow they seek help from someone they can trust to tell their story. The movie was an emotional ride as well.
I think the book was better than the movie, but of course what book isn’t? The movies don’t have the time frame.
Anyway, what kinda ticked me off about the whole thing is the fact that EVERYBODY is seemingly acting as if this is a brand new feat. This sort of thing has been going on for years! But I am grateful that light is being shined on it more so now than ever. Yes, her story, as well as many of ours, is and was HORRIBLE, but there was and is someone going through a lot worse. So I guess in a sense I am glad the media his bringing publicity to the subject. AND as an author, I’m like GO SAPPHIRE!
I was thinking the same thing…remember The Color Purple?!
I enjoyed the book and the movie, though it was very difficult at times to read and watch. As others have commented, it’s difficult to understand how a mother could be soooo incredible cruel to her child. What I also found disturbing was the jealously that the mother harbored towards her daughter…for taking her man away. What? And the lengths that the mother went through to “please” her man…even if that meant offering up your 3 year baby girl. Mind boggling. It’s upsetting because we know that this is, as Linda mentioned, someone’s story.
When I was a young lawyer, the first case I observed in family court was a White family–mama, her new husband, and teen daughter. Accusation of new husband molesting 14-yo daughter. The woman judge ordered the man out of the house while the investigation was done. Mama was literally begging the judge (crying, blowing snot) to put the daughter out instead. Said she was coming on to new husband. I know that looks can be deceiving, but teen daughter just look traumatized. That was as riveting a scene for me as the movie.
Evelyn, how sad. No wonder some kids don’t say anything. In cases like that, I think the mothers need to be locked up right along with the perverted man.
Yeah, a lot of people have been talking about the colorization issues in Precious, Ms. Rain being one of the most conspicuous ones. It seems that moviemakers, even AA ones tend to make nicer characters lighter in complexion and the villains darker :::sighing::::
I’ve heard people mention that they weren’t pleased with all the people trying to help Precious in the movie happen to be light-skinned but that really wasn’t a big issue for me.
That was very troubling to me. It’s almost as if Lee Daniels didn’t get the book!
I wondered if her mother was metally ill. I also thought the molestation was done to her too, because if a man was lying next to me in bed, and started on my daughter, I would have killed him, no question. The fact that she did not bathe shows some mental illness. I have not seen the movie yet, because I know I’ll cry my eyes out, and also I’m not ready to visually see that abuse. I’ve heard the performances were outstanding.
Monique really did an outstanding job. I really don’t know who else could have played the part.
Monique was EXCELLENT. I just hope the actress ( Gabby) who played Precious doesn’t get lost in the sauce when it comes to award nominations, if the Oscars even recognize this movie.
I have not seen the movie, but from the clips I’ve seen and then the interviews with Gabby, I do not see how she will NOT win something. She TRULY made you think she was Precious and it was such a major difference from what you see in her interviews. She’s articulate, funny, and very bubbly.
-Tee
Tee, exactly. She should win something. I just love her bubbly personality. She’s an intelligent young woman who I hope we see more of in the future.
I thought mental illness, too. Monique deserves an award for that performance. During the filming, I don’t see how she slept at night.
As an author, I read this book and thought “wow!” A book written with no corrections. A writer’s dream. But the more I read, the more I realized that Sapphire had quite a job on her hands keeping the vernacular straight. Although this was a difficult book to read, the subject matter is important and needs to be discussed. I haven’t seen the movie and probably won’t until it comes out on dvd. If the movie had been available to me on November 6th, I would have supported it but now I think I’d rather watch this one in the comfort of my own home.
I REALLY loved the book. The movie, for me was a disappointment. I really feel that the book is a contemporary “The Color Purple”. Take Ms. Celie, put her in New York City at the height of the crack epidemic, and add all of the societal ills that come with the time and you’ve got Ms. Precious.
The social commentary that Sappire makes is so raw it’s groundbreaking. This book could even be said to be a sort of manual for kids who have to triumph these circumstances. The book doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it still leaves the reader with realistic hope.
I felt is was brave of Sapphire to tackle subjects that don’t get covered in literature. I knew they wouldn’t be able to show everything in the movie, but I did feel that so much of the points Sapphire was trying to make got watered down or edited out.
@lenearc…Lee Daniels was on Tom Joyner a few weeks ago saying that they had to kind of water down some parts of the book for the movie because the book was so graphic. This isn’t a book that I can re-read again. I can’t watch that movie again either just like The Color Purple.
@Debra there was definitely mental illness going on, the not bathing, the rage, the allowances, all of it indicates textbook generational mental illness, which is why change within families is so HARD~
I agree that they had to be some mental illness going on. It just makes you want to know more about the mother’s childhood. I doubt if there’s going to be a prequel book.
@Radiah wasnt a big issue for me but it continues to be a huge issue in our community and in the media as to how good and evil are portrayed and what I am hearing is that an AA Director should have been sensitive to that. I am guessing however, he was driving home a point~
@Angela..that’s what I’ve been hearing too from some people.
Like so many others have already mentioned, I felt the book was much better than the movie. I went to see the movie with my mother and my mother’s knowledge of the subject matter was very limited so, in that aspect, I am glad I read the book first and knew what to expect. While the movie glossed over quite a few details, I think the movie still captured the gist of the story. Monique’s character was raw, cold and unbelievable.
The most shocking scene in the book was when Mary made Precious eat dinner and then Precious felt her mother’s hand coming up her thighs. I just couldn’t get my mind around that.
The scenes in the movie that affected me the most was how nasty Mary was to Mongo…and when Mary dropped Abdul and tried to drop the TV on Precious’ head. I just can’t understand how a mother could be that callous to her own child.
The funniest in the movie was when Mary was dancing around in that floral leotard. That was tooooo funny!!
@Susan….that scene when she tried to drop the tv on Precious got to me too and when she dropped the baby. But I liked when Precious was fighing her mother back before she ran out of the apartment with her baby!
@Radiah, I, also, liked that she stood up to her mother and fought back. Especially because her mother was mistreating an innocent newborn!
@Susan..there was a collective gasp in the theater when Precious fell down the stairs with the baby too.
Now…about the kids. I can’t imagine having kids at 12, shoot, I’m barely making it in my 30′s…ROFL. But, I really had mixed feelings about Precious and the kids and was a little turned off by her calling the baby Little Mongo BUT, I understood why. Sapphire did an exceptional job writing true to the character and her age & the thing she was experiences. Just the way she describes the baby and then her little boy are exactly what I picture a young child thinking/saying.
-Tee
Tee, I couldn’t imagine somebody that young having 2 kids either. I thought Sapphire did a good job with showing how Precious wanted to be a good mother to her kids. You could really tell how much Precious really loved them and wanted to protect them.
On another note, I think it was Jermaine in the book who mentions that not all stories need to be told. Do you all think this one should have been told? Ones like it? Why or why not? And, how do you let go of these memories after reading the story or seeing the movie? While it is fiction and only a book, it really ISN’T. It has happened and will continue to happen to someone’s child somewhere.
-Tee
I agree with Angelia. This story needed to be told because this type of thing has been prevalent in our communities but not talked about and it needs to be. Parts of that book and movie stayed with me for days after I read the book and watched the movie. I let go of those memories by reading and watching lighter stuff. I actually went to see This Is It that same weekend after seeing Precious.
Some stories need to be told not all. Some are just too much emotion and TMI. Silence can be golden. Like how Mackenzie Phillips dumped the story of her father molesting her and her agreeing. That should have been kept between her, God and her therapist.
LOL @ Shai!
I definitely think this story should be told. This probably was a generational cycle that could have stopped if it had been acknowledged and dealt with. We probably all have friends and famiy members who have been living with these kinds of secrets and havn’t gotten help because they are ashamed to speak out because no one wants to hear what they have to say.
@Tee I do believe this and all stories should be told. I know that many Black folks see it as ‘airing dirty laundry’ but MEthinks that is why we have so many unresolved issues as a whole, because we have a tendency to cover up egregious mess in the name of not talking about ‘the dirt’…I see this perpetuated wih so many people. We are literally lying to ourselves and the world about what goes on in families and communities. I totally understand why, because if we pretend it isnt happening then we don’t have to do a damned thing about it. Sorry for the expletive but this gets to me. I have said it once and I will say it again if we spent as much time washing away the dirt as we do hiding it, we would have a whole lot less dirt to worry about…sheesh~
I agree and really liked that it wasn’t a one-sided story that didn’t show the bad all the way around. Sapphire succinctly employs many tools of writing and while the book is graphic and at times unbearable, it gives one hope and the knowledge that you CAN push past whatever issues & problems you encounter–this is what I love about the story. The metaphors & irony and even some of the poetry Precious writes and her journal writing give credit to Sapphire’s background as a poet. It was definitely a remarkable story, one that I won’t get over for a while–it didn’t help that I listened to the audiobook this time around.
After hearing many of your comments about the movie not being as graphic, I may see it now.
-Tee
Reading it was graphic and heart rendering enought…I can’t imagine listening to it
Yeah…I agree. A lot of people have such a hard time hearing this story. How can you help if you can’t hear it! There are people living like this everyday. There are people who probably saw the movie and thought Precious didn’t have it bad. I saw the movie opening night in Harlem. The people at the movie laughed and laughed. I haven’t heard people who live in other cities say they saw the same reaction. I live on the street (Lenox Ave.) where the story takes place. I see “Precious’s” all over my neighborhood. Turning a blind eye because it’s not comfortable certianly won’t help.
Those who read the book – remember when Precious was in the hospital the first time she had a baby by her father? She told the authorities. NOTHING happened. I wish they had put that in the movie. But, it was too uncomfortable. When we dodge uncomfortable subjects, they cycle persists.
The ending was a disappointment, however, I think the author was going for realism and consequences, not to mention PAINFUL truths~
I agree, the ending was a disappointment. I would have loved to see more progress in Precious. I so wanted to see her in her own place and not having to depend on her mother for anything.
Brenda
What was the most memorable line of the book or movie?
For me, it was when Precious what at the Incest Survivors meeting and she said “I am a bomb” after describing the other women.
-Tee
I’m tearing up now thinking about this but when Precious said that she’s not good at anything. Also, the scene where she said that nobody loves her and love hasn’t done anything for her. I was just in tears at the movie theater. I felt soooo sorry for her. Whew…ok the tears are gone now LOL!
The most memorable line in the book for me was, “Why I not born a light-skin dream?” I want that issue to go away but it’s still pervasive and made me sad that a child would think that light is better in 1989.
It’s sad that children still think this in 2009! Just a few years ago, MTV had a show about Yo’ Mama jokes. Half the jokes were…”Yo’ Mama so Black…” I was FURIOUS!!! This light skinned/ dark skinned thing has got to stop. So many of our books are situated around the light skinned long haired beauty, with the dark skinned “ugly” girl who can’t get a date. We’ve got to do better.
Wow…this is a tough one. My favorite line, that really summed up the book is when Precious starts comparing her family to vampires. They suck off the system, and disappear in pictoral society. I thought that was kind of deep.
I had a hard time reading the book, but I am going to give it another try. I enjoyed the movie, and also felt MoNique really played the part. The hard part for me was the ending as well. Monique played a mother who was abused and didn’t know how to break the cycle when it was at her doorstep with her daugther. The part that really hurt was when monique or should I say precious mother was saying it was the childs doing.
Most memorable: Scene was when the mother told the social worker “You sit there and judge me” that scene was so privot in the problem of the family dysfunction.
I’m just jumping in. Give me a moment. cause i gotta catch up with the discussion
OMG! there’s just so much I want to say, but the majority of everyone’s comments pretty much sums up how i felt about the book.
I’d gotten Push a couple of years but forgotten i had it in my TBR pile because i moved (and ordered another copy when it was time for this discussion).
i’d started readign it when i got the initial copy and when i opened up the second copy i know why i stopped the first time.
by mid book i was thoroughly depressed. Sapphire does a gut wrenching powerful job of pulling the reader into the story and just being very real with life and feelings and heartache.
from the first time i met the main character i wanted to take her into my home and show her what family love is all about. OMG! I was tore up from the floor up about this girl.
my 14yr old has already started reading it and she’s deeply saddened by it, but much appreciative of me.
i’m having an awesome time reading the comments on the post
Sylvia, definitely let us know what she thinks when she’s done.
When Mama and I left the theater, we stopped by my sister’s house. I told her, You should see this. It will REALLY make you appreciate our mother.
We have teased Mama now about how she used to whip us about not not cleaning up our rooms, and how that was child abuse. She didn’t take it well. After seeing Precious, we will NEVA say that again.
The emotions the book evoked and the dialect made it a difficult read for me. I had to put it down alot. One of my biggest pet peeves is parents who abuse and neglect children.
I did not like the ending. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know if Precious succeeds. What happens to her mother, Mongo, Abdul and other characters.
The book was drama packed for such a short story. I hope there is a sequel. I plan to see the movie this weekend.
I agree with you Shai, I would have loved to know if she succeded in all she was determined to do. I felt this way with the book and the movie. I’m not quite sure if they should do a sequel, but it did sort of leave me hanging a bit.
The mother’s abuse of her daughter caught me by surprise in PUSH, the thought had never occurred to me and it hurt my heart.
The character that upset me the most was the grandmother. I need to believe that the mother was mentally ill, but how do you justify taking one child from the situation and leaving another? I thank Sapphire for writing this book because it cemented in my mind that ACTION is mandatory when you have knowledge of a problem. So often we think that “others” are taking care of problems or the children close to us and it’s not necessarily true. Precious never got her happy ending and I believe she would have had a brighter future if someone had stepped in/up sooner.
Wow, what a great discussion and a nice kick-off for our Holiday Reading Challenge! While we may have more folks chime in as the evening progresses, I wanted to send a big huge THANK YOU to everyone for participating. I’ll peek back in later tonight or in the morning.
Also, as a reminder, Book 2 of our Holiday Reading Challenge is TRAPPED IN PARADISE by Deatri King-Bey and the discussion is Friday. It’s a short ebook, available in PDF or HTML format via the Red Rose Publishing website.
-Tee
Everyone’s comments were along the same line as mine. The book and movie was very emotional and moving. You wonder how a mother can treat her own child with such utter cruelty. The fact is that the book touched on some real issues that do go on in our world today….just look at the things we hear in the news on a daily basis. I too wish that the ending were a little different. I wanted to know that “Precious” succeeded.
Gabby a.k.a TygerLily
I read the book and saw the movie. In reading the book, I had to put it down a couple of times due to its graphic nature and rawness. However, I think the movie writers did an excellent job at carrying out the story.
In reading this and watching it, I have come to the conclusion that “hurt people -hurt people”, meaning that the mother was experiencing some hurt, pain and rejection and instead of correcting the problem, she hurt her daughter and those around her. I feel as though she was depressed and basically gave up on life and feeling.
I am thankful that Precious found someone who was able to uplift her spirits and show her a different side of life. I question how she was passed along through grade after grade with no one noticing her illiteracy of showing any type of interest in her. No one saw any sign? That was disturbing to me as a mother and a educator.
I rated the book a 4.
One more question…
Why do you think Mary even named her Precious?
-Tee
Right!!!! Isn’t that something…to name your child “Precious” and then treat her like trash. It’s funny how that happens…
I saw the movie. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the turn of events that took place. It was truly unreal of how Precious was treated by her mother, and the world surrounding her. Seems as though she could never get a break. A harsh reality eventually kicked in for me, and it was that her story (Precious) needed to be told.
However, I did take comfort in knowing that in light of all the negative trials and tribulations she faced , she seemed to establish her own sense self-identity towards the end of the movie, evidenced by her actually seeing herself when she looked in the mirror, and not the image of someone else.
Overall , the movie was relevant.
~Ila
Great discussion ladies.
I saw the movie this past weekend. The scenes stayed with me long after I left the theater. I needed some comic relief because I was depressed after watching it.
I was glad that Precious knew that there was something MORE, than what she knew for sure.
I read this book and I must say that it’s very interesting. We read this book for the month of November in my book club, Vivd Thoughts. I must say that Mo”Nique played her part. She played a very hardcore mother who was jealous of her daughter because her “Man” wanted her daughter more than he wanted her. She treated her so bad and made her feel like she wasn’t worth anything and that all she needed to do was go to the welfare office so she can keep getting that money from the state.
Just to be clear this book clearly covers what goes on behind closed doors in America and all over the world. This book/movie may have touched someone and showed them that there is something better to live if ur in a “bad” situation. U have to have FAITH in the Most High and know that all things are possible.
I will conclude that the book and movie were good. The actors did their thang and the author opened many eyes!
~Ms. Wisdom~