Discussion of The Wedding Gift

Members of the forum choose and read a new book every month together, and then discuss it. You can nominate a book to be book of the month using the book's page on Bookshelves. Simply click the link that says 'Nominate for book of the month' on the left side of the book's Bookshelves page near the social sharing buttons. Don't be scared to nominate, as you can change your nomination to a different book if you think of something better.
Post Reply

How do you rate The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden?

1 star - poor, recommend against reading it
0
No votes
2 stars - okay, fair
3
75%
3 stars - good, recommend it
1
25%
4 stars - excellent, amazing
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 4

User avatar
Scott
Site Admin
Posts: 4065
Joined: 31 Jul 2006, 23:00
Favorite Author: Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
Currently Reading: The Unbound Soul
Bookshelf Size: 340
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-scott.html
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Publishing Contest Votes: 960
fav_author_id: 248825

Discussion of The Wedding Gift

Post by Scott »

Please use this topic to discuss the March 2012 book of the month, The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden. Please wait to read this topic until you have finished the book because this topic will contain spoilers.

What do you think of the book? Do you recommend it? What do you think of the characters? Any favorite parts or characters?
"That virtue we appreciate is as much ours as another's. We see so much only as we possess." - Henry David Thoreau

"Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco." Virgil, The Aeneid
terrisbooks
Posts: 36
Joined: 07 Jan 2012, 08:16
Favorite Author: James Mitchener
Currently Reading: Eragon
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by terrisbooks »

Is there any where to buy this book for e-readers besides Amazon's kindle. I have a Sony reader, I did not find it in my library downloads either. please help.
User avatar
Agebabb460
Posts: 3
Joined: 29 Feb 2012, 21:01
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Agebabb460 »

I definitely was surprised by the topic but I thoroughly enjoy this book. Being African-American, I have definitely thought about slavery and the horrendous things that my ancestors had to endure but I have never read anything that helped me to understand that not just brown people were slaves. I felt so connected to the characters in this book and read it every free moment that I could (I'm a new user of e-readers and I love my kindle!). I, of course, loved Sarah's character and she surprised the hell out of me with her secrets at the end but in the end, I found myself feeling surprisingly sympathetic toward Theodora because she lived her life as property, similar to the slaves and I noticed a lot of similarities between her and the slaves. Marlen introduced new and interesting views on masters and those that they oppress. I definitely recommend it to all.
User avatar
Fran
Posts: 28072
Joined: 10 Aug 2009, 12:46
Favorite Author: David Mitchell
Favorite Book: Anna Karenina
Currently Reading: Hide and Seek
Bookshelf Size: 1208
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-fran.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
fav_author_id: 3104

Post by Fran »

Agebabb460 wrote:I definitely was surprised by the topic but I thoroughly enjoy this book. Being African-American, I have definitely thought about slavery and the horrendous things that my ancestors had to endure but I have never read anything that helped me to understand that not just brown people were slaves. I felt so connected to the characters in this book and read it every free moment that I could (I'm a new user of e-readers and I love my kindle!). I, of course, loved Sarah's character and she surprised the hell out of me with her secrets at the end but in the end, I found myself feeling surprisingly sympathetic toward Theodora because she lived her life as property, similar to the slaves and I noticed a lot of similarities between her and the slaves. Marlen introduced new and interesting views on masters and those that they oppress. I definitely recommend it to all.
Reading it on my Kindle too, 25% into it, & I'm having much the same reaction to Theodora as you. So far though, I am a bit disappointed with the character development they just seem to lack depth but I'll wait and see how the rest of the book goes before I comment any further.
We fade away, but vivid in our eyes
A world is born again that never dies.
- My Home by Clive James
User avatar
Starcat42
Posts: 10
Joined: 05 Dec 2011, 10:57
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Starcat42 »

The wedding Gift took me in a world I couldn’t imagine not even in my dreams. To live a live that did not belong to you and always with the fear of tomorrow, as you don’t know what your master‘ s whims were.
The women in this novel had to be more than strong. No matter if they were white or black they were all slaves ruled by the hand of gruel men.
Sarah was the strongest and she took and so she took up the strongest measurements on her way to freedom. Yet the end was a real surprise for me.

-- 12 Mar 2012, 11:23 --

The wedding Gift took me in a world I couldn’t imagine not even in my dreams. To live a live that did not belong to you and always with the fear of tomorrow, as you don’t know what your master‘ s whims were.
The women in this novel had to be more than strong. No matter if they were white or black they were all slaves ruled by the hand of gruel men.
Sarah was the strongest and she took and so she took up the strongest measurements on her way to freedom. Yet the end was a real surprise for me.
User avatar
Fran
Posts: 28072
Joined: 10 Aug 2009, 12:46
Favorite Author: David Mitchell
Favorite Book: Anna Karenina
Currently Reading: Hide and Seek
Bookshelf Size: 1208
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-fran.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
fav_author_id: 3104

Post by Fran »

I gave The Wedding Gift a rating of fair
Of course the setting of the book and the circumstances of the characters is horrendous, totally appalling and unacceptable to any right thinking person but on the whole the book just did not grab me. I thought the characters were not well developed and in honesty I did not feel especially involved with any of them. IMO sufficient time was not given to developing the characters to enable the reader to get to know them and their motivations and to be able to empathise with them ... for me they were all just too superficial and stereotypical. I found the chapters to be disjointed and in many instances confusing, some chapters I was 3 or 4 paragraphs into before I understood who exactly was speaking.

I did finish it, but then I rarely give up on a book once I've started it, but IMO there are much better books set in this time period and dealing with this subject.
We fade away, but vivid in our eyes
A world is born again that never dies.
- My Home by Clive James
User avatar
Schmunzelmonster
Posts: 59
Joined: 04 Nov 2011, 09:38
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Schmunzelmonster »

I wasn´t looking forward to reading this, because this kind of literature upsets me too much. I usually stay clear of all of it. Thinking that my ancestors were treated this way pains me. It is good and important, that we never forget what happened and these kind of books help, but as I said I am not strong enough to endure most of them.

That said, I gave this book a chance. I thought I´ll start reading it and if I can´t finish that´s how it is. Against all odds I did finish it and even started liking it. To me the change of perspective was a nice way of telling both stories, but always very disconnected. I wonder if that was on purpose or only bad character development.

Maybe it´s too obvious but not one charcter in the book raised a voice about the double standard, that a man can have as many "bastards" as he wants but when a woman has one she is despicable.

As I mentioned above I enjoyed the book more than I have expected and if it wasn´t for the ending I would rate it more than okay/fair. My main issues with the ending are three.
For once I expected Sarah to flee and succeed on her own wits. Everyone in this book praises her as a very smart girl. Yet only coincidences save her most of the time. To cut her hair was an intelligent thing to do, but other than that there wasn´t much. She learned to read. That and a lot of luck got her out of most situations.
The other thing is, does this book really call for a Hollywood Happy End? IMO it doesn´t and it makes the book unrealistic and it deviates from the rest of it´s style. Sometimes more is less and I would have been fine with Sarah living in New York as a paid maid or something.
The third and deciding factor that disappointed me, was Sarah´s revenge. I do get why she killed Mr. Allen. What I can not agree with is her mean behavior towards her husband. Yes, he did betray her and that is dishonorable, she didn´t deserve to be treated like this. But to sent him to certain punishment? Maybe even death? She could have expected him to lose a foot. Such a lack of compassion doesn´t fit in with the rest of her character (again bad character development?) and wasn´t even necessary for the story. It doesn´t serve any means, so why do it? That´s where the book lost me.
User avatar
cocoaaa45
Posts: 3
Joined: 15 Mar 2012, 03:32
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by cocoaaa45 »

I vote 3 stars - good, recommend it.
User avatar
oliv101
Posts: 9
Joined: 01 Mar 2012, 22:07
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by oliv101 »

Great topic to discuss on, As its the most special day to any individual, one would love to have and deserve the most glowing and vibrant day through.
User avatar
Fran
Posts: 28072
Joined: 10 Aug 2009, 12:46
Favorite Author: David Mitchell
Favorite Book: Anna Karenina
Currently Reading: Hide and Seek
Bookshelf Size: 1208
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-fran.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
fav_author_id: 3104

Post by Fran »

oliv101 wrote:Great topic to discuss on, As its the most special day to any individual, one would love to have and deserve the most glowing and vibrant day through.
Clearly you didn't bother to read the book :roll:
We fade away, but vivid in our eyes
A world is born again that never dies.
- My Home by Clive James
User avatar
Dreamer27
Posts: 9
Joined: 01 Mar 2012, 05:29
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Dreamer27 »

I would say it is book for one time....easy to read and easy to forget.......I would rate of 2 stars -ok
User avatar
Carla Hurst-Chandler
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 8227
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 20:10
Favorite Author: Pirzig
Favorite Book: Zen and the Art...
Currently Reading: The Lost Landscape
Bookshelf Size: 124

Post by Carla Hurst-Chandler »

oliv101 wrote:Great topic to discuss on, As its the most special day to any individual, one would love to have and deserve the most glowing and vibrant day through.
(cleaing my throat)

You're bluffing. Next time actually read the book.
“The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
User avatar
allay
Posts: 5
Joined: 27 Mar 2012, 04:52
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by allay »

Amazing idea about wedding gift.
User avatar
kgntechnologies
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Mar 2012, 05:03
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by kgntechnologies »

It is a spine-electrifying synthetic story where a large The southern region element of Declares house contains one of the most dreadful, insane and indeed psychopathic feelings to problem any city. It is also a removing key - why did Robina Willets seemingly remove all five of her kids, and her affiliate, before stabbing herself to death? And, if you are in the go camping outside of knowing that 'justice .... just is not', then this will have you frothing at the lip place with righteous group rage.
User avatar
Carla Hurst-Chandler
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 8227
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 20:10
Favorite Author: Pirzig
Favorite Book: Zen and the Art...
Currently Reading: The Lost Landscape
Bookshelf Size: 124

Post by Carla Hurst-Chandler »

Liked the juxtaposition of Sarah (being offered as a slave as a Wedding Gift) and the fact that Clarissa being married meant she would become her husband's chattel as well.

The first half of the book flowed well and I enjoyed that for the most part it was dialog. The last seemed hurried and like the writer just wanted it finished.

3 out of 5 stars.
“The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.”
― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Post Reply

Return to “Book of the month”