COMMENTS

30 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: Caucasia by Danzy Senna”

1. I really enjoyed reading this book. I hadn’t heard about it and am so glad the Book Club picked it for this month. I love reading and look forward to the next book!

   Reply to Debby

2. I finished Caucasia today. I am ready for discussion! Engrossing read.

   Reply to Lolly

3. Hello! I am new to the group and will start participating when the next book is announced.
   How far in advance are books announced? How do we recommend titles?
   Thanks;
   Harry Cohen

   Reply to Harry N Cohen

   1. Welcome, Harry! We invite book club members to share their book recommendations during the Zoom discussions (the next one is this Thursday, July 27th at 4:30pm EDT). You can also drop your recommendations in this comment section. We’ll put a poll in next week’s book club article for everyone to vote for the next two books we’ll read (August and September). We’ll announce next month’s selection in the book club article on August 8th.

      Reply to Nicole Alcime

      1. Hi Nicole ;
         How will I be able to access the August 8 book club article so I know what the next book is?
         Thanks!

      2. Hi Harry! You can visit the Book Club articles page at https://seniorplanet.org/category/features/book-club/.

4. Thought provoking, enjoyable book. Quick read, & brought back memories of those turbulent times. Looking forward to the group discussion.

   Reply to BERNADETTE SESSION

5. I was thrust into “the other world” in 1967. I had always been told I wouldn’t be able to keep up (in terms of academics.” The academics were not the most difficult part.
   Being too black at a majority institution and not being black enough at a minority institution 3 blocks away was a challenge. I learned to “change” accordingly.

   Reply to Veronica

   1. Wow, the physical difference was 3 blocks. Thanks for sharing your experience.

      Reply to Sarah

6. I finished Caucasia tonight. I have been engrossed in it this week, trying not to stay up too late. I loved her vivid descriptions of clothing, music, characters and places. This book will stay with me for a long time. It is a thoughtful interesting poignant look at unconscious and conscious bias and the conditioned obstacles to our connection with each other.

   Reply to Andrea Silver

7. I finished reading Caucasia a week ago. I enjoyed this book immensely. Can’t wait for the discussion. Hope others enjoy reading this book as much as I have.

   Reply to Deb

8. What a wonderful honest book! I am only halfway through the first section but I am totally engrossed. I am 76 and this story resonates so much with my own. Great choice. Brave author.

   Reply to Susan M

9. A heart wrenching account of the struggle to adapt, cope and adjust.

   May I suggest a book for the future? The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis about the migration from the South to the North in search of a better life and the struggles faced by Hattie and her family.

   Reply to Susan Augustyn

10. I just learned of this book club a couple weeks ago and am excited for the opportunity to read books I likely would not have picked myself, and to then be able to read the reviews by other readers. I read the June selection, which I never would have personally selected, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be an enjoyable, and even enlightening read.
    I’ve read only the first 25 pages so far of Caucasia but am already thoroughly engrossed in the story! Thank you for creating this club!!

    Reply to Carol Howard

    1. Hi Carol! Wondering if you’re the same Carol in my Current Issues class in Md?

       Reply to Joyce

       1. No, sorry! I’m in Colorado.
          Your class sounds interesting though!

11. Amazing read…thanks for selecting this brilliant author …we Boomers had so much invested in the Age of Aquarius American Dream…but this depicts the shadow…the Aquarian Nightmare..at least in the first few chapters.
    So many topics for discussion…identity, assimilation, class, body morph, standards of beauty, and how humans tend to stratify just about any aspect of being that makes ‘equality’ such a challenge. Best, Patti

    Reply to Patti Everett

    1. Patti, I love the term “Aquarian Nightmare”. For me, the shadow links to the musing – “Something didn’t make sense. What was the point of surviving if you had to disappear?” p7.

       Reply to Sarah

12. I am struck by the theme of language in Pt 1. Elemeno devised by the girls, Black English taught at Nkrumah, father’s campaign “Papaspeak”, language of home school, white grandmother, and music. All provided coping mechanisms, cultural identity, and behavior cues as needed. When Birdie was abandoned, it was the lack of language that finalized the separation – “They stood side by side, leaning against the car, arms folded across their chests, not speaking.” p103.

    Reply to Sarah

    1. Good points Sarah.. code switching a-go-go..identify, invisibility, standing out, not fitting in, (Birdie, Pony, Baby Lee, Patrice, Jesse, ..agrrr) and …loneliness..Senna sure has me invested in her characters..

       Reply to Patti Everett

    2. Thanks for pointing out the different languages, an underlying ripple so relevant throughout that I missed.. Carmen’s shift reminded me of an experience I had in the mid-60’s. Even the speaking of the same language, communication among and between the players was often lacking.

       Reply to Kathy Johnson

13. What time of day are the zoom sessions?

    Reply to Liene Chaudhuri

    1. Hi Liene! The Zoom sessions run from 4:30pm – 5:30pm EDT.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

       1. Thanks, Nicole.

       2. Hi , did the time change, in the past the time was 4:30 to 5:30.

14. I have just ordered the book. This is my first time joining a Senior Planet book club and am looking forward to the discussion .

    Reply to Katharynne (Mary Katharynne) Johnson

    1. Welcome Katharynne! We’re glad you’re here!

       Reply to Nicole Alcime

       1. Thanks. I finally found this page again! I have completed the book. Enjoy the comments in preparation for the 27th discussion.

15. I have started caucasia. It is well written and offers a lot of food for thought. Looking forward to discussion and have begun creating a playlist.

    Reply to Sarah

    1. Hi Sarah! We’re glad to hear that you’re enjoying Caucasia. We look forward to you sharing your thoughts about the book as you continue reading.

       Reply to Nicole Alcime