Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversation

Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversation

Adult graphic novel
"The trouble began when my 6-year-old son, Z, became obsessed with
Michael Jackson."
If you're a parent you know that young children ask lots of
questions, some of which are not easy to answer. This was the case
for Mira Jacob, daughter of immigrant parents from India and author of
Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversations. At the start of the book Z is
wanting information on his hero such as "Who taught him how to dance?"
But as he processes events such as 9/11 and its aftermath and the
election of Donald Trump the questions are more urgent and personal.
"If the president doesn't like us does that mean the army doesn't like
us? What if they only like Daddy? Will he have to give us up?"
Jacob's talks with her son aren't the only ones in the book.
It's composed entirely of them. There are her interactions with her
own parents and brother, a teacher, the white Jewish man who becomes
her husband, her Trump supporter in-laws who want to steer away from
any uncomfortable discourse, and other people including some pretty
clueless whites.
This splendid method of story telling, put into a graphic novel
format, gives Good Talk an intimacy that is missing in so many other
antiracism books. The pictures, in addition to being amazing works of
art, add greatly to the message. It would be impossible for the
reader not to become engaged in and touched by the narrative.
But you don't have to take my word for this. Award winning
author Jacqueline Woodson describes the book as "A beautiful and eye
opening account of what it means to mother a brown boy and what it
means to live in this country post-9/11, as a person of color, as a
woman, as an artist..."
Here's how I suggest you read the book. Pick a time you won't
be interrupted. Shut the devices off. Curl up in your favorite
reading spot with your choice of snacks and beverages. You'll be in
for some for sure quality time.
On a purrrsonal note, speaking of quality time, I had the most
incredible Sunday. Eugene and I went on a road trip to the Big City
(Portland East as opposed to West Coast) which is my favorite city on
the globe and Eugene never drives to. Only he had a motorcycle to
give Adam. So we spent much of a day chilling and had lunch with our
younger two kids. We were all so happy to be together after what felt
like ages. It was a for real celebration. We also saw Adam's Asia
and got to play with the other family cats: Beans, Delilah, and
Archie. It was the dearest wish of my heart coming as a total out of
the blue surprise. If you have people you yearn to spend time with I
know you're totally feeling me. Thanks! (Jules)
I read the other cats' posts. Hoomans are feline Facebooks. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to all members, human and feline, of
our fabulous family.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway




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