Together We Read

What did you think of the author’s characterization of Hattie? Of her choices?

I think it is very strong and honest. I find myself completely entranced with her.

I did not think much of her as a person or actress. I felt like these were the roles that were offered back then and the role was accepted. Yea , she could have refused but she may have thought if it as a @ stepping stone!” I can understand that and the other point of view. The one which supports “ simply refuse!”

I found it inspiring and very interesting. It was a relatable character and made me want to meet her if I was able to go back in time. Since I did not know much about her. I wanted to research more.

I felt she was characterized well, not perfect, a woman of intelligence and talent living in an unjust world. She believed she deserved better but accepted that she would not.

I think it supported what I had always thought of the actress … strong and determined in her art in the face of discrimination and rejection. I loved this portrayal.

As someone who did not know who Hattie was, I went into it thinking it was a fictional character. As other names came up, I was like, wait, wasn't that a real person? So, I looked her up. I was floored that I had heard some of these names but not others. Anyway, I loved that so much detail was put into the character of Hattie. It made for an emotional roller-coaster. It felt like reading an autobiography the was the author wrote from the Hattie perspective. But I honestly hated that she wrote from the Hattie perspective. Just the knowledge that Hattie was a real person but the author had never actually met her made the Hattie perspective hard for me. However, if Hattie had only been fictional then I would have loved the Hattie perspective.

Until I read this book, I don’t think I considered her at all. I don’t even think I knew she’d won an Oscar, or that she was the first black woman to do so. Now, I desperately want Mo’Nique to be able to do a biographical film about Ms McDaniel because she lived such a rich, full life. I learned so much about the real history of those times, and there is so much that only got mentioned which would be amazing to see on screen.

I think she did a great job portraying Hattie. A couple other characters dialog had me questioning if that’s really how it would have gone, but I never felt I wasn’t hearing Hattie. I think a lot of time and effort was put in to make the story as authentic as possible, and you can tell.