DECEMBER’S BOOK OF THE MONTH:
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” by Ernest J. Gaines Today’s guidance, for so many individuals, comes from a variety of current publications. Aspects such as Self-Help books, relationship guides, social media and even fads, are influencing the movement of people’s ideas. Aside from the purposeful religious literature, rarely do you hear of people seeking aspects of yesterday for a positive perspective. When I thought of how I wanted to end the literary reviews for the year, I channeled the young lady in me and reflected on “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”. It travels beyond the stories of a mere slave to provide a voyage of deep insight of perseverance and ultimate survival in a variety of historical periods that could have rendered her demise. At 110 years old, the fictional character, “Miss Jane Pittman”, who had been married but was not acknowledged as such, is assisted in giving a display of her life. Although assisted by a schoolteacher, Miss Pittman opens the window to her life to let the air of clarity flow through. I remember being in Elementary school when we were charged with reading the various books associated with the story. It lacked importance or reliability at that time. I had yet to experience the hot-air balloon rides associated with growing into adulthood and becoming a parent/professional. As I look at life now, where we are as a society, the lessons that need to be learned by generations that do not comprehend the strength of education, abstinence of negativity and monetary strongholds, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” is so imperative for us to dive into.
How often do you find yourself seeking clarification and wondering what the next chapter will bring or whether you will be able to handle the next occurrence? Jane’s story of freedom while still captured in physical and mental oppression is insightful in the fact that the freedom of slaves occurred and there was still no place for her to reside, traveling to her desired destination was not feasible, she was granted loved but it was lost, she cared for everyone and took decades for the love to be reciprocated enough for her to put down her walls of apprehension. An aspect of the book discussed her life during the American Reconstruction period but her ENTIRE life was a constant construction site. Where do you find yourself, today? Are you rebuilding, search for a new destination, entrapped in a situation or relationship that requires you to grow greater than what seeks to decrease your existence? If so, I recommend taking away your age and merely seeking pure guidance in the form of the pages and stories within “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”. I have had to look into it, myself, and find the continued strength to be bigger than the smallest annoyances and inconsistencies of matters that life throws. THIS read is worth it….. YOU ARE WORTH IT.