Honored Marc: The Matrix

China

The week ended with the round-up of "Salvage the Bones" by Jesmyn Ward. A book which captured the experience of a rural family, before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina, over the course of 12 days. This literary composition had all the ideographic of a typical poor country family, early sexual activity, drug usage, dog fighting, egg hunting, death, deceit, and unity. The one thing that truely magnetized me was the bonding of the children. The father was a drunk, preoccupied with everything but the well-being of his family. The mother, surrendering her child and her life, was absent, but left a lifetime of memories. The children were submerged with life on life terms and united through the storm of adult situations. I was impressed with Ms. Ward's writing style. The reader could feel, smell, taste, hear, and see the experience, line for line. Each character played such an important put of the development of this story. One could either judge the character because one could not relate to that experience or one would empathize having experienced or know of someone else's experience. When a child is not educated about the emotional exposure of sex, so-called falling in love, pregnancy, and hormone development, there is no telling what may come of that child's life. For Esch, the daughter, being sexually active at the age of 13, is not uncommon in the state of Mississippi. I was engrossed with her love affair with Manny. I can remember being so in love at that age, so I thought, or even loving someone for which you cannot have, how common is that for humans of all ages. Even when we know better,as we age, emotions are very powerful. But I was just as hurt when Esch realized that the person she thought she loved, the father of her baby, didn't love her back. Big Henry said it best, "this baby got plenty of daddies". It takes a village to raise a child. The unity that Ward unveiled in "Salavage the Bones"exemplifies rural family life. Jesmyn tells about motherhood through the mother, the matriarch of the family, Mother Lizbeth, the grandmother, China, the dog, and Esch, the mother-to-be. She also exposes the role of the male with many illustrations of the diversity, from Papa Joesph on down to Junior. I am truly appreciative to have read this book. And ever more glad that I brought it, to remain in my possession for eternity. Thanks Doc.