To page 281

This was a very long entry for Celie!!!

First, Nettie tells Celie that Tashi and her mom have run away to the other tribe. This doesn't sound good because they don't even know if the tribe exists. I don't know what I would do if the home I knew for so long was suddenly ripped from me.

I didn't realize how fast the time goes in this book. As of now, it has been thirty years since Nettie left! This really amazed me because I really didn't think about it.

Nettie then explains how she now sees God differently. She now doesn't have a vivid picture of what he looks like, but she has a greater appreciation for the work he does. Her work in Africa must be hard. She says, "After all, the Olinka know we can leave, they must stay”(page 262). Nettie knows that she won't be in Africa forever and that she will be able to escape the horrible conditions, but the Olinkas don't have the luxury of just leaving. She then tells that Adam is missing! This must feel horrible as a guardian to find out that he is missing. He must have a lot of feelings for Tashi.

We then hear from Celie. It seems like the relationship between Mr. ______ and Celie is getting even stronger. This is hard to believe because not too long ago, Celie wanted to kill Mr. ________ (and vise versa). Celie says that he is the only one who understands her feelings. I think that Mr. ________ had a big awakening and somehow has completely different opinions than what he had before. I wonder what made him change so much. The two of them sit and reminisce about all of the things that happened while they were together. At the time, they did not enjoy these things, but as they sit back and remember, it seems like these events bring them even closer.

Miss Eleanor Jane and Sofia obviously have some conflicting views. Eleanor Jane said that Sofia was the only one who loved her, but Sofia is just really annoyed with her and her baby. It is strange (for that time period) that a white woman would feel so connected to a black woman. Sofia is fed up and finally says that she doesn't like the baby.

It breaks Celie's heart to know that Shug isn't coming back like she promised. She got a letter from Shug explaining that her and her husband have moved in with her son, and they are having a good time.

Celie and Mr. _______ continue to talk. They talk about Shug, and Mr. ________ askes Celie why she loved Shug so much. They both share this love for Shug, and they feel like they can express their feelings together. All along, Mr. _________ was just jealous, and that is why he beat Celie. He was jealous that Shug and Celie had such a strong bond.

Somehow, they got on the topic of the Adam and Eve story. Her version was very interesting. She said that there were a lot of white men before Adam, and he just was the first one that wasn't killed. I found it interesting that they associated white with naked, and that black people could never be naked because they would never be white. I really don't think this has much significance- I just found it interesting.

Celie is still receiving letters from Nettie, so there is some hope that the telegram is false. Let's hope so.

--Leah

to page 281

I'm still going strong!
In the beginning of the reading we find out the Tashi and her mother have ran away to join a new tribe deep in the forest. Then on page 262 Adam is missing, they think he has gone to find Tashi because it's obvious that he has feelings for her. Eleanor Jane has been coming over to visit Sofia all the time. Bringing her husband, and then the baby. She is always over at Sofia's because she feels that Sofia was the only one who really cared and loved her. Her parents only love Junior and her husband only loves his job. When she brought over her baby and asked Sofia if she loved her baby Sofia said no. Eleanor was so hurt that she left.
Now Celie and Mr. ___ have some kind of bond. They are talking all the time and just really enjoying eachothers company. I really want them to get back together. Celie said something that maybe she just loved Shug because she was the first person really there for her and talked to her. Maybe Celie isn't a lesbian, I hope not because like I said before, her and Mr. ____ could try again. Mr. ____ explained that he beat her because he didn't understand why Shug loved Celie and it frustrated him. Celie was just a skinny ugly girl.
I predict that Mr. ___ and Celie will start to like eachother, I am predicting this because as we all know I really want this to happen. It would be so good for both of them!





--BethAnn

To page 259

So, I still can't decide if the whole Africa thing is a good experience for Adam and Olivia. They have been exposed to things that most children will never get to see. I don't know if this is good or not. I think that it is so sad that Tashi was forced to scar her face. This ritual seems really unreasonable and scary. This could easily cause infections. I also think it is sad that the children have to work because of the taxes. Children as young as 8 years old are working in the fields. When I was 8, I know that I didn't think one bit about working.

I find it very interesting that Celie and Nettie now have a house. I am really surprised that Daisy gave it up, because she sounded so disappointed. Celie and Nettie would have never found out if she didn't say anything. So now Celie has a place to make her pants. This is a good place for her because I think that making pants has really helped her cope with all of her problems. It keeps her mind off of life.

I felt really bad when Shug was talking about liking a guy. I know that Shug only feels comfortable telling Celie these types of things, but it left Celie heartbroken. It seems as though Celie finally found something to look forward to in life, and that whole safety blanket is crushed. At one point she even says, "I pray to die" (page 254).

It is horrible to see such a young child be as sick as Henrietta. She doesn't sound good. What is wrong with her? I forget, but this has sort of brought Celie and Mr. _________ closer. Mr. _________ has changed so much. He know seems to have some respect for Celie and is actually interested in her life. I think that their relationship has really changed. I don't know what will come out of this.

The telegram that Celie received is horrible. All of Celie's dreams would be crushed if Nettie really died. I hope you are right when you think that Nettie really wasn't on the ship.



---Leah

to page 259

Since I'm sick I thought I might as well get ahead on reading!
Well all has changed for Celie, on page 248 we find out that Pa is dead. His land and store was owned by Celie's father who left it to her mother who left it to Nettie and Celie. Celie is now using the store for her pant business, and is loving the house. However when she goes back to visit Shug, Shug tells Celie that she is in love with a nineteen year old boy. Celie is heartbroken but Shug says, give it six months and everything will be back to normal. Of course Celie just gives in. Celie has been visiting Henrietta and sometimes Albert has been taking her home. You can see Albert's change on page 257 when he admits to not paying her any attention, he even acts interested in her however Celie says how all men remind her of frogs. I really think Celie is now a lesbian. She cries at the thought of marriage or of men. Then on page 259 Celie reads a telegram that says the ship that Nettie and the children were on was sunk by a German ship. I guess this isn't true since Nettie is still writing, or are these writings from the past? Why would they send Celie a telegram that Nettie is dead if she really wasn't? Maybe Nettie was supposed to be on that ship but never got on. There are so many possibilities, I guess we'll find out later in the readings.






--BethAnn

To page 244

I agree that there is a lot going on! It is so sad that the Olinkas are being driven out of their land. Their village has now become the headquarters for the rubber plant. They now have to pay for their water and the tin, and they don't have good living conditions. I'm glad that they are still sticking to their beliefs. They won't put roofs on their houses because they cannot grow roofleaf. They do meet Jared Hunt on their ship to England. They are going to England to get help for the Olinkas, right? Anyhow, Jared is a very strange lady. She talks about how proud she is to be a good grandmama and how she is so wealthy. I am also not sure about her significance to the story. Then, the children seem to be having a hard time getting used to all of the change. Nettie says that Adam is "unusually glum" and she had to talk to Olivia about what was wrong. (page 235). They finally got there and they went to the bishop for help. When they asked for help, he was quite rude and didn't help them whatsoever. He refers to her as Mrs. _________. Why do they keep the last name a secret????? It seems that Samuel is coping well with Corrine's death, and Nettie and him are thinking about getting married. I got really confused about the part with the aunts. As you said, I guess they were just the ones who got them started as missionaries. Then, Nettie talks about how much she loves Samuel. I'm happy to see that she found someone who she can trust and rely on. Adam misses Tashi, and I think that they will end up being a big part of each other's lives.


Surprisingly, I found some vocab words, too:
verbosity: expressed in or using too many words
staid: sober and steady
blight: something that spoils or damages things severely



--Leah

to page 244

Well there is a lot going on, but it's a lot of boring stuff.
Celie is in her new house with Shug, Squeak, and Grady. I think that something is going on with Squeak and Grady, other than drug dealing partners. By the way, we find out Grady is now a drug dealer of marijuana. He grows it in the backyard. Shug is gone for periods of time with traveling and singing. Celie has found her calling, making pants. She loves it and everyone loves her pants. Two women are helping her, Jerene and Darlene. On page 218 Darlene is trying to help Celie talk. Celie is not really into the whole idea, but I really think it would help her for the pant business and her whole life. Then on page 220 it really shows how Celie is changing. She goes back to see Sofia, Harpo, and the children. Now she is dressing up all nice, doing her hair, and people are noticing. Then on page 227 we find that Albert is going through some troubles of his own. Leah, you were right in your predictions, he is the destruction of himself. He is troubled by everything he has done.
Then there is a long letter that Nettie wrote. I found it really boring. On page 229 it says something about Nettie and Samuel getting married, well at least I thought. However, then on page 242 Samuel announces to the children that they will be getting married. So now I'm a little confused. The family is now in England, which also confuses me because they talk about going back to Olinka, if that is the case then why did they leave to begin with? Samuel is troubled however because he feels that he is making no difference. Then they meet this women Jared Hunt, who seems all over the place. She wants to write but pretends to be a missionary just to please her family. I have no idea where she came from and what her purpose is in the book. Also in Nettie's letter her and Samuel talk a lot about the two aunts that joined Samuel and Corrine together. Althea and Theodosia seem to be the people that inspired the couple to become missionaries. However, they did not do too well.
Things are all over the place in the story. I want something to happen, or something to come together. Hopefully, Nettie will be coming to America, Samuel even told the kids that they would be going soon. I wonder if they will be returning to Olinka first, if that's the case Nettie won't see Celie for a long time.







--BethAnn

To page 228

Shug and Celie started drawing a sort of dream house. I was round and pink and had elephants and turtles. I wonder what is the significance of elephants and turtles. Then, Shug starts leaving for her job. I felt bad for Celie because she seemed lonely once again. It surprised me that Shug came back in such bad shape. Celie said that she was overweight and dirty. I didn't think that Shug would let herself get like that. Then, Celie starts to make so many pants. She makes them for Shug and Squeak and Jack. I think that this has become a hobby that keeps her mind off of her dysfunctional life. I also think that it gives Celie a sense of accomplishment. She has finally found something that she is good at. I am glad that Shug says that she is not ashamed of Celie not being educated. If she would have said that she was ashamed of her, I think Celie would have had a major breakdown. I was a little confused as to how Celie got back to see Harpo and Sofia again. But anyway, it had to be really good to see something familiar. Things changed since she left. Mr. ______ apparently worked in the fields. This really surprised me. I was also surprised about the drugs Celie was introducing to them. Was it illegal to grow and sell drugs at that time? I think that drugs are the last thing that they need right now. Then they were talking about a funeral. If was a funeral for Sofia's mom, right? We then find out that Harpo and Sofia's daughter is sick, and that Mr. _______ is pretty much going insane. Harpo has to stay with him sometimes because he is losing it. This has to be hard on Harpo to see his dad go through such a hard time. Maybe if Mr. _______ dies, Harpo and Sofia will have something more in common and could be there for each other and possibly get back together. It seems as though Mr. _______ has brought his failure upon himself. All of the horrible things he has done are now coming back to haunt him. We'll just have to see what happens.

--Leah