Push, Precious – Are You Ready?

Over a decade ago I along with a group of my neighbors had a book club discussion that centered on the book Push.  Our responses to the work of the poet, Sapphire was intense.  We were raw, apologetic, stunned, disgusted and in awe.  Struck by the audacity of the story, by the beauty of the character Precious, embarrased by our failure to be as human as we like to pretend we are when dealing with those who show extreme behavior that we can’t deal with emotionally but intellectually recognize.  Years later I would open Brownstone Books and start an in-store book club.  We read Push and 5 years after my first reading circle experience with this book it was de ja vu all over again.  This month I’m hosting/participating in a teen book club group and they have chosen Push.  I’m happy they are reading this book not just before the movie releases but also in a circle with a social worker and 4-6 adult women mentors/voulnteers.  There’s so much to discuss in those 4 chapters.  So much to turn away from and to turn to that no one should have to go it alone.  There’s therapy in the pages.  Which is good since you’ll all need a little bit after readin.  Always nervous about what the silver screen does with sentimental nuanced works but I’ll be ther on the 6th along with the girls to figure it all out.

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