Gathering Blossoms Under Fire- The Journals of Alice Walker, 1965-2000 by Alice Walker
Product Details
Web ID: 14147559Journal Entries Into One Book
Alice Walker shares her journal entries into one book. Those journal entries reveal her past lovers, behaviors that she believed were associated with bodily changes (ex: hormones), her various physical properties (ex: homes she bought), and her love of silence. She also talked about her spiritual understandings (ex: speaking to the Great Spirit), various tasks that are associated with her writing (ex: speaking engagements), and her dabble with recreational drugs. What I found interesting that, as a writer, she stated how certain environments could reduce her ability to create. Hence her continuing to find solace in nature—her monastery.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Raw and Honest, a Stunning Book
I was in touch for years with Valerie Boyd, who edited this book with her dear friend Alice Walker. Sadly, Valerie passed away in February, just before her many years long labor of love's publication date. Instead of a traditional review, I want to share some of the comments I made to Valerie while I was reading an advance copy of the book: ".......... I love that she sort of self- references THIS book or self-prophecies it in a way, talking about Anais Nin's journals at one point and wanting to describe things better and elaborate more, knowing that others may be reading it all someday, the someday has come, a magical moment sandwiched in between two time points, almost as if the Alice of today can somehow send back messages of hope and encouragement to her earlier self and say "hang in there, keep going........" a fabulous book ........ " "...... her experiences are indeed universal for the most part, excepting maybe just her experience with fame etc." "The reality is that she is famous, with whatever that implies in our strange world today.............. The book is so.fine Valerie, it was a bit how I imagined it would be, and a bit very different from my expectations of what I would.find there, yet breathtaking AS IT IS regardless of what people expect or.do.not expect to find there. My only wish was that it could be longer or complete even, yet I.know that is not.possible at this point..........tbe fact that I want to keep.going, to.read more, is testimony enough in a way....... we live in such a perceptually programmed world, and it is important that people.be JOLTED even.by what they find in Alice's viewpoint , she is not.only an elder, but strikingly a very old soul, someone who lives a completely.normal.life as we all do, with.all the ups and downs inherent in that, yet in another fashion, her work is something.like a lighthouse, a beacon from the FUTURE or.from a wiser sort of.inner world, that calls back.to the present.time, whispering reminders of who.we really are and what path can get us back.there...........that is what is in between the lines in all the work of hers, and especially in.the journals, but one who has resistance to that or.zero awareness of.it, will only see hot tubs and the therapist and steamy love affairs, they cannot sense the underneath that is there, at times so obviously." "Even the moody sarcastic type of entries are great and so endearing and funny.....I love the poor editor Kate Medina entry with her "you betcha" white peopleness thing and how at one point she wrote that Rebecca talks too.much and gets on her nerves..............real and endearing and laugh out loud funny really...... wonderful.....no one can accuse you of hagiography!!!" ---------- Obviously, I really loved the book and am.sorry Valerie did not have the chance to go.out.into the world and promote it alongside Alice, as they had planned.........I.am grateful I.got to.share my thoughts on the book with Valerie before she passed, and I hope my thoughts that I shared with her made up a type of review, for you, the potential reader.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
LIFE…
No judgement zone. Raw, Beautiful & Powerful. This is why I love Alice Walker as a writer. I love the fact that she chose to be transparent & honest by sharing some of her deepest thoughts & her life with us. I love that she shared with us, who she was & is as a Black woman. I could not put my phone down while reading this book. I preordered the book… I love it!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A moving, personal journey
Reading a journal is to enter into a life and the discoveries made along ones journey. Alice Walkers path multifaceted. It is revelatory, It’s contents are always built on the foundation of heart and soul. Coming of age in a time of revolution, her words paint a picture of time and place. Of upheaval and unrest, Of learning to cope and work thru a myriad of emotions; happiness, disappointment, elation and anger. There are the ups and downs of relationships; mother, daughter and ex-husband and her associations with fellow writers, actors, musicians and politicians. Alice her relationship with singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman and infatuation with Quincy Jones The entries on ‘The Color Purple’ share the development of the storyline, the characters and the intense involvement on the aspects of filming; the scenes, the soundtrack, each so essential in the mood of such a monumental work. This is an exquisite book. It is truly a snapshot in time. The entries are what Ms. Walker thought and felt on that given day. It was not intended to be shared. It is openly honest and candid. It is about learning and deciding on which of life’s lessons you will take with you, mentally, physically and spiritually. Above all else, it is the evolution of a brilliant and inspiring woman. Highly recommended! With thanks to NetGalley, Ms Walker and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com