POST #2

                             

If I were to be in the story of  "A Mercy", I think I would have been stronger. Not just, because I am a male, it's because I think I am just a strong person. At the same time, I cannot really say, because I have never been in a situation like that. Florens made some decisions that I do not agree with, like when She assaulted the foundling. That was very unnecessary. Florens just did some things that were very impulsive. I think that I would have have acted different in my current state of mind. If I were to have grown up like Florens did, being separated from my mother, I would have probably made the same decisions that she did. I would have been angry, but grateful at the same time for Jacob Vaark. Even though he was a slave owner, He was a very cool owner, who felt pity and sympathized for orphaned slaves. He was a good man that owned slaves ignorance is bliss. Even though, I was still their slave I would have been very grateful that I was with them.

They were very nice masters, Jacob Vaark and his wife. They did not treat their slave with much disrespect and animosity. It was probably very different for Florens' mother, whom Florens was separated from when she was about 8. Jacob Varrks wife was a very nice woman. When Jacob Vaark passed from the smallpox, I know it had to be devastating, I would have had great pity for her loss. When Rebbekka Vaark came down with the smallpox too, I would have been a little sad, because they were all like a little family honestly. I would have gone to get the blacksmith, the only one who could cure her smallpox with hesitation.

Another thing that I would have done differently I would not have broken the foundlings arm. An unfortunate mistake. I would have tried to find a different way to reprimand the boy. I honestly would have not tried to escape the jurisdiction of the Rebekka Vaark, because she was a very nice person who just like her husband felt pity for orphaned slaves. They were not usual slave masters. They did not beat their slaves for unnecessary purposes. They also bonded, because of the death of Jacob they were like a family.

Most slaves during that time had an ambition to escape and be free, the Vaarks’ were not like that so the slaves that they had loved them. Some of the slaves did not agree with Rebekka ‘s change of plans around the plantation. Some began plotting to escape.

Sorrow wants to take her baby and escape with Florens, as Rebekka is threatening to give her away. Before she leaves, Florens decides to write a message on the walls of her room with a nail. Sadly, she realizes that the blacksmith cannot read and that the house might burn down, meaning that her words will go unread. She regrets not being able to communicate with her mother who separated from her in order to care for her infant boy.

POST #1

                    The book that I am doing this blog on is "A Mercy", and the author is Toni Morrison. The book is about a Florens, a black slave that is 16 years old. The book opens with her and her family being separated from one another by a malicious master. Florens is saved by a good master named Jacob Vaark, her "minah mae" or mother chose to leave Florens with Jacob Vaark. She took her and her newborn with a wicked master, in order to give Florens a better chance.  Florens is then shipped to live on the plantation owned by her new master, and his wife Rebekka. Tensions builds up when Jacob Vaark contracts smallpox and dies. Shortley after the death of her husband, Rebekka also catches smallpox. She thens sends Florens to find the blacksmith, whom Florens is in love with. She brings the blacksmith back in time to save Rebekka. Florens and a little foundling of the blacksmith get into a scuffle and Florens is sent away. Florens begins to come to terms with her life, including past and present. The final chapter is about "minah mae", who explains why she did the things that she did in her life. She explains that above all, she just wanted her daughter to receive mercy.
       

                     I think that to convince a librarian to put this book on their shelves, it must be said that this book is amazing literature, created by an amazing writer. Toni Morrison is most known for her book "Beloved", "A Mercy" is kind of like a prelude to that. I would also remind the librarian that this book is fictional, but is based on historical events that occured quite commonly back during those dark times. It's just a historical fiction with an amazing story, it's a very good read for teenagers, who wish to be enlightened on how the world was during those times. The wording in this book is complex, it would be good read for any age. It is not a long book, but the themes are what make this book a work of art. One theme that I noticed in this book was "slavery and freedom", even though no slaves were freed, all of the slaves on Jacob Vaark's plantation felt free under his jurisdiction. This theme has always been popular and people find it interesting. It shows people what life was like back not so long ago. Not every plantation was controlled by malicious owners, and I think that this book captures that element of history. Slavery is just a very controversial topic that people like to explore, that is why I truly believe having this book in every library is essential.  In order to read this book, and fully get lost into it, you cant speed read this it is a slow book, with little action. This book enlightens the reader on a good portion of what went through a slaves mind during those times. This is just another reason to put this hardcover on the shelves.