Questions to discuss during the book club meetings will be posted below:
1. What role do the bees play in these few chapters?
In these few chapters the bees represent Lily and the African Americans and how they are always caged into small areas. The bees also represent the minorities of Lily and the African Americans. They also show that the African Americans and Lily do not know how to escape from secluded areas. The bees also appear to Lily one night as a symbol of hope. We belive that when the bees had just came the first night there was a turn over in life meaning to Lily that it was time to go and time to start over. the bees also symbolize escapism, for example the time when Lily told the bees they can go now and they just crawled around the rim of the jar they wanted to escape they just didnt know how, so that shows that now was Lilys turn to learn how to escape. 2. What kind of character is T-Ray (Terrence Ray (T. Ray) Owens), what makes him what he is
In a way the meaning of Ray ("wise protector") may show a foreshadow of T. Ray becoming dynamic character. We think that he is one of the characters that is a bad influence in the book. He is not showing affection or love towards Lily because he is afraid that she will reject him in the long run. T-Ray is a static character so far, he has not indicated any signs of changing how he acts. We think he is also there to represent an average man in that town, especially in the treatment towards women and African Americans.
3. What kind of character is Lily, why does she do the same actions as she does?
Lily means "blossoming flower" and this does not describe her character to the fullest. She dosent have any freedom to actually blossom and is being kept up in such a limit of freedom that she just thinks that the way she lives is the way she is ment to live. Lilys name meaning a flower has something to do with the bees because the bees help the flowers blossom and she is in this case being helped to blossom and find out the true meaning of her life. Lily is one of those characters who is afraid o rejection and so is T-Ray both of them had went through a serious loss of their loved one early on in their life's there for they are scared of the rejection and they are also afraid of providing each other love, both of them want they love but they just dont know how to show that emotion. In all Lily is a dynamic character. We have already seen signs of her growth. Lily probably lies because she doesn't know how to trust people, let alone with the truth about her life; and because she is afraid that people will judge her for killing her mom.
4. Do you think that the relationship between Lily and her father is as rough as it is because of the death of her mother, if so why do you think this, and if not then what might be their reason for such a harsh relationship? We think that, no its not because of the death of her mother its just that he doesnt know how to play the role of a father. But on the other hand it kind of is because the death of their mother they are both bringing blame on themselves. So in all we think that the death created some tension between the two, but not all of it. I think that most of the tension is caused by their different views on things like equality and educational development. Another factor is most likely the cruel way T-Ray treats Lily.
5. Do they actually love each other? Both Characters do love each other or aleast they once did but with all the friction of their relationship they had both become afraid to love one another because they are scared to love and they just dont remember that emotion after the loss of their loved one.
Chapters 4-5 Discussion:
*1. How can change in a person's life help them?
Change is may times good but on the other hand change can also be bad. In Lilys and T-Rays situation change could be very good. But now that Liy has changed her life style and not just by a little but she has changed it by allot she can get good change to the improvment of her life. Many times change causes a person to forget and forgive the facts that had happened before and we think that this i what is going to happen to Lily. If she is placed in a good enviornment then she can get the love and respect that she needs and is she recives that she might stop blaming herself for the death of her mother and actually live a normal life that a child is ment to have. It should no hurt to be a kid but in her situation it hurts.
2. What is the purpose of having a character like May in the book? Is it to show how today's society views discrimination?
We think that may is ment to be in this story because she is the type of character that brings the equallity she dosent care is people are colored or if people are white she treats every one the same, she treats them they way she belives people are to be treated and also the way that she would want to be treated. May sees that every one has the ability to be good and every one knows the diffrence bettween good and bad. In all May is in the book to bring the equallity.
3. Have racism and sexism been eradicated in America? Has it been eradicated in the world?
Sexism obviously exsists it is not as shown in our world today but it is well our there. For example there are many jobs that woman are not ment to do because they arnt "strong enough". But really sexism is every where people have different views of how genders and races are ment to be placed in the world so until people all have the same view on every individual there will be sexism. *4. Why does Lily think that her mother had been to the bee farm? Has Deborah been there?
~level one. Its just a feeling she just wants to think that her mom was there so she continues to think that. 5. Does Rosaleen think of Lily as her daughter? Was that why she was jealous of Lily and August's developing relationship?
Rosaleen is very over protective over Lily, and she shows a lot of love towards her but now that Lily is around other woman who really care for her, Rosaleen is starting to get very over protective and also jelous. But the one thing that Rosaleen is still keeping in mind is that it is better to share Lily then to just lose her compleatly.
*6. How is the new environment affecting Lily and Rosaleen?
Lily is finally feeling the emotion of love, and protection. She is in a good place where every one cares about her and is trying to help her. Both Lily and rosaleen feel that they are now equal and they are thinking that they are living in a dream land where every thing is great.
Chapter 6-8 Discussion: 1.) Are some things better left unknown? Rosaleen doesn’t necessarily want Lily to find out about her mother because she thinks that the truth will hurt her. Is it always better to know the truth?
-I think that it is better to know the truth and be in pain than to be left in the dark. If a person knows the truth, they can eventually come to accept it and move on with their lives. This gives the person room to grow and try to change that truth if they don't like it. If a person doesn't know the truth, they can't grow properly. Becca (Bex)
I think that the truth has the power to completely and fully change a person. Lily has been living her life with the understanding that her mother loved her and she killed her. Its in the foundation of who she is. she admires her mother to the point of worship and if she finds out that her mother left her, her whole life could collapse before her. Everything she knew altered, everything she understood changed forever, and yet she needs to know - she has to. Even if she finds out her mother did leave them she can start over. Her whole life wont be built on a lie anymore and whenever something is destroyed, all the pieces are still there they're just broken. Lily probably will be hurt for a while but she'll recover and she'll be able to move forward. -Erin
2.) How can past events prevent a person from moving forward? Why is it important to let go of things that are in the past?
Past events can haunt a person. They can mentally harm someone to the point that they go crazy. However, that is only if they hang on to the past. If they accept the past, then they can move on with their lives. This is the only way that people can grow. -Bex
When people dwell on the past they forget about the future. They concentrate on what they did wrong and refuse to learn from their mistakes. The past is over and theres nothing a person can do about it. People are suppost to learn from experiences and grow as a person through what they endure, but if they refuse to accept whats happened and acknowledge that there is nothing that they can do then they get stuck in a rut. Past events affect a person but it is the way that we react that defines who we are. -Erin
3.) What kind of power does the truth hold?
- The truth is very powerful. It can destroy things, and it can make them flourish. I think that the truth is so important because there isn't very much truth in the world, and so when a person does encounter truth they feel that it is important.-Bex
The truth has the power to heal and break, mend and destroy, help people move forward but it can also make themstumble and fall. The truth is very powerful. -Erin
4.) Whenever a situation gets too overwhelming?
–Lily gives up. She refuses to acknowledge her past and is only considered with her new life. She thinks that if she wishes hard enough the skeletons left from her old life will vanish, but the problem is that they won’t. Why is it important to face challenges and not avoid fears? (When a person faces their fears they are able to overcome them and move on with their life. -Erin)
-I agree with what is in the parenthesis. -Bex
5.) What happens when people hide from reality? Why is it inevitable that Lily has to wake up from what Rosaleen calls her “dream world?”
- When people hide from reality, their problems just get worse and worse. Eventually they will come back to haunt a person. Lily needs to "wake up" because either way Lily needs to face her problems. If she doesn't "wake up" soon, she will be wrenched awake.-Bex
Lily is escaping from her life. She needs a break to think about and process the things happening around her. Right now she pressed the pause key on life. Her problems are still there and she cant hide from them forever. She cant bury the past because it is a part of who she is. She has to wake up from her "dream world" because if she doesnt her whole life will be a lie. -Erin
-Erin
Chapters 8-10:
"If I told you right now that I never wondered about that dream, never closed my eyes and pictured her with roach legs, never wondered why she came to me like that, with her worst nature exposed, I would be up to my old habit of lying. A roach is a creature no one can love, but you cannot kill it."
For the reading section chapters 8-10 we discussed the previous questions took a look at symbols and also talked about things that were confusing us.
I think that in this whole book May is the most interesting, but also confusing character. She lost her sister April and it was like the world became her new sister. Everything the world suffered so did she. I think that she represents what happens when people refuse to let go off things that happen in the past. Whenever she becomes aware of the problems in the world and around her she falls to pieces and she trusts in her sisters and the wailing wall to put her
back together. She has to let go of the pain because when she doesnt it brings her to tears and she becomes irrational. A person has to be aware of the things around them but then they have to let them go, they cant let the troubles way them down because that weight alone is enough to crush someone. In the end it did crush May, she couldnt take it anymore and so she ended her life. People have to have someone or something that they can lean on for support. You cant do everything by yourself. Lily tried, for months she tried to do it by herself, but in the end she had to tell May and May helped her to get through her problems.
Lily is teetering on the edge of a cliff. She has to wake up from her "dream world." Shes trying to ignore the skeletons in her past, but things are just getting worse. If she doesnt face her fears then she'll never be able to accept it and move on. She doesnt have to submit to T Ray or go back and live with him but she has to try to figure things out and without talking to him she wont be able to sort things through. She has to understand the situation and decide what to do next.
-Erin (Recorder)
Discussion Questions Chapters 11-12: 1.)"You've been halfway living your life for too long. May was saying that when it's time to die, go ahead and die, and when its time to live, live. Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out, like your not afraid" (Kidd 211). What is the significance of June marrying Neil? June is breaking chains and doing what she enjoys. Every one starts to discover that live is worth living with out regrets.
2.)How are things getting worse for Lily even though she's still in her "dream world?" "Sometimes I didn't feel like getting out of bed... I just didn't care" (Kidd 215).
Lily understands that nothing will ever be resolved with T-Ray, so pretty much a healthy relationship will never be formed because of their past. As Lily knows this she
3.)"'Remembering is everything.' Still, the whole idea wrapped me in sadness. I hated remembering" (Kidd 228). Why is it important to remember the past but not dwell on it?
you wont remember yourself in the past
you need to remember a little but not dwell on it as much as the present things going on
4.)Why is it so hard to face the truth? For Lily? For everyone?
MOON SHINING OVER ME:
THIS IS MEANING THAT SHE IS GUIDING AND PROTECTION THAT TTHAT IS THE MOTHERS JOB.
TRUTH AND SECRETS
1. OVERALL WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THIS BOOK IS TEACHING US:
ABOUT LOVE AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, LEADERSHIP, IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE FORGIVNESS THEIR HAS TO BE LOVE.
2. DID TRAY FORGIVE LILY;
HE WANTS TO FORGIVE BUT HIS PRIDE AND DIGNITY ISNT LETTING HIM FORGIVE, BUT HE UNDERSTAANDS THAT HE NEEDS TO FORGIVE AND HE HAS HOLE INSIDE OF HIM THE SAME OF LILY. is he scaared of forgiving because he will forget........
he isnt forgiving them because he didnt want to forgive himself...
MARRAGE ISNT EASY; NOT JUST TO LOVE BUT TO PERSIST IN LOVE. THERE WAS LOVE THEIR BUT IT WASNT ENOUGH, TRAY STOPED TRYING AFTER THE MOTHER WAS KILLED, TRAY ALSO HAS SECRETS AND HE HAS LIVED WITH THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME KEEPING THEM INSIDE HIMSLEF. tray has nobody, every one else has someone to come to, he has the impreesion of this strong man and dosent want to ruin his rep. hes not willing to trry and make friends because he knows that something will go wrong and everything will be bad again, he dosent trust.
3. Human love is not always perfect. thazts is y we need persistance and forgivness. if you spend to
did then you cant take the time to let in new events into life.
hhoney; it preserves it helps protect you, and it ties into the forgivness role, honey in this situation has tied people toghteter and honey and the bees are the knots in the bow.
4. When may died the dream world ended an lily saw some more of the bad parts in life
mary is a symbol of self and life, belive in yourself and have confidence, mary is inside of you and it has to do with wraping in chains if you have all these chains breaking inside of you then she has a emotions inside locked up.
heart beat is life if you hacve the abitlty to live then live if you have the abillity to love love but if you have a life you need to love. tray cant love so he isnt really living then rite now.
Questions to discuss during the book club meetings will be posted below:
1. What role do the bees play in these few chapters?
In these few chapters the bees represent Lily and the African Americans and how they are always caged into small areas. The bees also represent the minorities of Lily and the African Americans. They also show that the African Americans and Lily do not know how to escape from secluded areas. The bees also appear to Lily one night as a symbol of hope. We belive that when the bees had just came the first night there was a turn over in life meaning to Lily that it was time to go and time to start over. the bees also symbolize escapism, for example the time when Lily told the bees they can go now and they just crawled around the rim of the jar they wanted to escape they just didnt know how, so that shows that now was Lilys turn to learn how to escape.
2. What kind of character is T-Ray (Terrence Ray (T. Ray) Owens), what makes him what he is
In a way the meaning of Ray ("wise protector") may show a foreshadow of T. Ray becoming dynamic character. We think that he is one of the characters that is a bad influence in the book. He is not showing affection or love towards Lily because he is afraid that she will reject him in the long run. T-Ray is a static character so far, he has not indicated any signs of changing how he acts. We think he is also there to represent an average man in that town, especially in the treatment towards women and African Americans.
3. What kind of character is Lily, why does she do the same actions as she does?
Lily means "blossoming flower" and this does not describe her character to the fullest. She dosent have any freedom to actually blossom and is being kept up in such a limit of freedom that she just thinks that the way she lives is the way she is ment to live. Lilys name meaning a flower has something to do with the bees because the bees help the flowers blossom and she is in this case being helped to blossom and find out the true meaning of her life. Lily is one of those characters who is afraid o rejection and so is T-Ray both of them had went through a serious loss of their loved one early on in their life's there for they are scared of the rejection and they are also afraid of providing each other love, both of them want they love but they just dont know how to show that emotion. In all Lily is a dynamic character. We have already seen signs of her growth. Lily probably lies because she doesn't know how to trust people, let alone with the truth about her life; and because she is afraid that people will judge her for killing her mom.
4. Do you think that the relationship between Lily and her father is as rough as it is because of the death of her mother, if so why do you think this, and if not then what might be their reason for such a harsh relationship?
We think that, no its not because of the death of her mother its just that he doesnt know how to play the role of a father. But on the other hand it kind of is because the death of their mother they are both bringing blame on themselves. So in all we think that the death created some tension between the two, but not all of it. I think that most of the tension is caused by their different views on things like equality and educational development. Another factor is most likely the cruel way T-Ray treats Lily.
5. Do they actually love each other?
Both Characters do love each other or aleast they once did but with all the friction of their relationship they had both become afraid to love one another because they are scared to love and they just dont remember that emotion after the loss of their loved one.
Chapters 4-5 Discussion:
*1. How can change in a person's life help them?Change is may times good but on the other hand change can also be bad. In Lilys and T-Rays situation change could be very good. But now that Liy has changed her life style and not just by a little but she has changed it by allot she can get good change to the improvment of her life. Many times change causes a person to forget and forgive the facts that had happened before and we think that this i what is going to happen to Lily. If she is placed in a good enviornment then she can get the love and respect that she needs and is she recives that she might stop blaming herself for the death of her mother and actually live a normal life that a child is ment to have. It should no hurt to be a kid but in her situation it hurts.
2. What is the purpose of having a character like May in the book? Is it to show how today's society views discrimination?
We think that may is ment to be in this story because she is the type of character that brings the equallity she dosent care is people are colored or if people are white she treats every one the same, she treats them they way she belives people are to be treated and also the way that she would want to be treated. May sees that every one has the ability to be good and every one knows the diffrence bettween good and bad. In all May is in the book to bring the equallity.
3. Have racism and sexism been eradicated in America? Has it been eradicated in the world?
Sexism obviously exsists it is not as shown in our world today but it is well our there. For example there are many jobs that woman are not ment to do because they arnt "strong enough". But really sexism is every where people have different views of how genders and races are ment to be placed in the world so until people all have the same view on every individual there will be sexism.
*4. Why does Lily think that her mother had been to the bee farm? Has Deborah been there?
~level one. Its just a feeling she just wants to think that her mom was there so she continues to think that.
5. Does Rosaleen think of Lily as her daughter? Was that why she was jealous of Lily and August's developing relationship?
Rosaleen is very over protective over Lily, and she shows a lot of love towards her but now that Lily is around other woman who really care for her, Rosaleen is starting to get very over protective and also jelous. But the one thing that Rosaleen is still keeping in mind is that it is better to share Lily then to just lose her compleatly.
*6. How is the new environment affecting Lily and Rosaleen?
Lily is finally feeling the emotion of love, and protection. She is in a good place where every one cares about her and is trying to help her. Both Lily and rosaleen feel that they are now equal and they are thinking that they are living in a dream land where every thing is great.
Chapter 6-8 Discussion:
1.) Are some things better left unknown? Rosaleen doesn’t necessarily want Lily to find out about her mother because she thinks that the truth will hurt her. Is it always better to know the truth?
- I think that it is better to know the truth and be in pain than to be left in the dark. If a person knows the truth, they can eventually come to accept it and move on with their lives. This gives the person room to grow and try to change that truth if they don't like it. If a person doesn't know the truth, they can't grow properly. Becca (Bex)
I think that the truth has the power to completely and fully change a person. Lily has been living her life with the understanding that her mother loved her and she killed her. Its in the foundation of who she is. she admires her mother to the point of worship and if she finds out that her mother left her, her whole life could collapse before her. Everything she knew altered, everything she understood changed forever, and yet she needs to know - she has to. Even if she finds out her mother did leave them she can start over. Her whole life wont be built on a lie anymore and whenever something is destroyed, all the pieces are still there they're just broken. Lily probably will be hurt for a while but she'll recover and she'll be able to move forward. -Erin
2.) How can past events prevent a person from moving forward? Why is it important to let go of things that are in the past?
Past events can haunt a person. They can mentally harm someone to the point that they go crazy. However, that is only if they hang on to the past. If they accept the past, then they can move on with their lives. This is the only way that people can grow. -Bex
When people dwell on the past they forget about the future. They concentrate on what they did wrong and refuse to learn from their mistakes. The past is over and theres nothing a person can do about it. People are suppost to learn from experiences and grow as a person through what they endure, but if they refuse to accept whats happened and acknowledge that there is nothing that they can do then they get stuck in a rut. Past events affect a person but it is the way that we react that defines who we are. -Erin
3.) What kind of power does the truth hold?
- The truth is very powerful. It can destroy things, and it can make them flourish. I think that the truth is so important because there isn't very much truth in the world, and so when a person does encounter truth they feel that it is important.-Bex
The truth has the power to heal and break, mend and destroy, help people move forward but it can also make themstumble and fall. The truth is very powerful. -Erin
4.) Whenever a situation gets too overwhelming?
–Lily gives up. She refuses to acknowledge her past and is only considered with her new life. She thinks that if she wishes hard enough the skeletons left from her old life will vanish, but the problem is that they won’t. Why is it important to face challenges and not avoid fears? (When a person faces their fears they are able to overcome them and move on with their life. -Erin)
-I agree with what is in the parenthesis. -Bex
5.) What happens when people hide from reality? Why is it inevitable that Lily has to wake up from what Rosaleen calls her “dream world?”
- When people hide from reality, their problems just get worse and worse. Eventually they will come back to haunt a person. Lily needs to "wake up" because either way Lily needs to face her problems. If she doesn't "wake up" soon, she will be wrenched awake.-Bex
Lily is escaping from her life. She needs a break to think about and process the things happening around her. Right now she pressed the pause key on life. Her problems are still there and she cant hide from them forever. She cant bury the past because it is a part of who she is. She has to wake up from her "dream world" because if she doesnt her whole life will be a lie. -Erin
-Erin
Chapters 8-10:"If I told you right now that I never wondered about that dream, never closed my eyes and pictured her with roach legs, never wondered why she came to me like that, with her worst nature exposed, I would be up to my old habit of lying. A roach is a creature no one can love, but you cannot kill it."
For the reading section chapters 8-10 we discussed the previous questions took a look at symbols and also talked about things that were confusing us.
I think that in this whole book May is the most interesting, but also confusing character. She lost her sister April and it was like the world became her new sister. Everything the world suffered so did she. I think that she represents what happens when people refuse to let go off things that happen in the past. Whenever she becomes aware of the problems in the world and around her she falls to pieces and she trusts in her sisters and the wailing wall to put her
back together. She has to let go of the pain because when she doesnt it brings her to tears and she becomes irrational. A person has to be aware of the things around them but then they have to let them go, they cant let the troubles way them down because that weight alone is enough to crush someone. In the end it did crush May, she couldnt take it anymore and so she ended her life. People have to have someone or something that they can lean on for support. You cant do everything by yourself. Lily tried, for months she tried to do it by herself, but in the end she had to tell May and May helped her to get through her problems.
Lily is teetering on the edge of a cliff. She has to wake up from her "dream world." Shes trying to ignore the skeletons in her past, but things are just getting worse. If she doesnt face her fears then she'll never be able to accept it and move on. She doesnt have to submit to T Ray or go back and live with him but she has to try to figure things out and without talking to him she wont be able to sort things through. She has to understand the situation and decide what to do next.
-Erin (Recorder)
Discussion Questions Chapters 11-12:
1.)"You've been halfway living your life for too long. May was saying that when it's time to die, go ahead and die, and when its time to live, live. Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out, like your not afraid" (Kidd 211). What is the significance of June marrying Neil?
June is breaking chains and doing what she enjoys. Every one starts to discover that live is worth living with out regrets.
2.)How are things getting worse for Lily even though she's still in her "dream world?" "Sometimes I didn't feel like getting out of bed... I just didn't care" (Kidd 215).
- Lily understands that nothing will ever be resolved with T-Ray, so pretty much a healthy relationship will never be formed because of their past. As Lily knows this she
3.)"'Remembering is everything.' Still, the whole idea wrapped me in sadness. I hated remembering" (Kidd 228). Why is it important to remember the past but not dwell on it?- you wont remember yourself in the past
- you need to remember a little but not dwell on it as much as the present things going on
4.)Why is it so hard to face the truth? For Lily? For everyone?MOON SHINING OVER ME:
THIS IS MEANING THAT SHE IS GUIDING AND PROTECTION THAT TTHAT IS THE MOTHERS JOB.
TRUTH AND SECRETS
1. OVERALL WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THIS BOOK IS TEACHING US:
ABOUT LOVE AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, LEADERSHIP, IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE FORGIVNESS THEIR HAS TO BE LOVE.
2. DID TRAY FORGIVE LILY;
HE WANTS TO FORGIVE BUT HIS PRIDE AND DIGNITY ISNT LETTING HIM FORGIVE, BUT HE UNDERSTAANDS THAT HE NEEDS TO FORGIVE AND HE HAS HOLE INSIDE OF HIM THE SAME OF LILY. is he scaared of forgiving because he will forget........
he isnt forgiving them because he didnt want to forgive himself...
MARRAGE ISNT EASY; NOT JUST TO LOVE BUT TO PERSIST IN LOVE. THERE WAS LOVE THEIR BUT IT WASNT ENOUGH, TRAY STOPED TRYING AFTER THE MOTHER WAS KILLED, TRAY ALSO HAS SECRETS AND HE HAS LIVED WITH THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME KEEPING THEM INSIDE HIMSLEF. tray has nobody, every one else has someone to come to, he has the impreesion of this strong man and dosent want to ruin his rep. hes not willing to trry and make friends because he knows that something will go wrong and everything will be bad again, he dosent trust.
3. Human love is not always perfect. thazts is y we need persistance and forgivness. if you spend to
did then you cant take the time to let in new events into life.
hhoney; it preserves it helps protect you, and it ties into the forgivness role, honey in this situation has tied people toghteter and honey and the bees are the knots in the bow.
4. When may died the dream world ended an lily saw some more of the bad parts in life
mary is a symbol of self and life, belive in yourself and have confidence, mary is inside of you and it has to do with wraping in chains if you have all these chains breaking inside of you then she has a emotions inside locked up.
heart beat is life if you hacve the abitlty to live then live if you have the abillity to love love but if you have a life you need to love. tray cant love so he isnt really living then rite now.