Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard Carwardine

Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard Carwardine delves into great detail regarding Abraham Lincoln’s early political career and the campaign that led him to become the 16th president of the United States. Carwardine provides many insights into Lincoln’s political and career path from law to serving on the Illinois state legislature, to Congressman and then U.S House of Representatives, and finally as the 16th president of the United States. To add, Lincoln’s spiritual and moral beliefs are described as the justification for his passing of the Emancipation Proclamation and abolition of slavery. Carwardine quotes Lincoln on his view toward slavery as stating, “I am naturally antislavery” and “If slavery is wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel” (p.21).

Carwardine and others speculate that Lincoln was very in sync with public opinion and changed the purpose of the war with regard to what the public was ready to embrace. In this case, he held off on making emancipation a necessary tactic to winning the war until the people within the union were in agreement that this was the key to winning the war (pgs. 191-192). It would seem that Lincoln only used the abolition of slavery as a way of weakening the South in order to win the war, although by analyzing his views on the practice of slavery and his own moral philosophy it is also likely that emancipation was always one of Lincoln’s goals and not just a last resort to winning the war.

• From what you have read of Lincoln’s life, his political career, and his moral stance, do you think the abolition of slavery was one of his ultimate goals while in office?

Carwardine states, “Many Americans thus drew from Lincoln’s assassination what Henry Ward Beecher described as ‘a new impulse of patriotism’” and it was thought that Lincoln’s death was perhaps something that was meant to be (pg. 320-321).

• Do you agree with the opinion that Lincoln’s death increased patriotism and led to a renewed energy and successful political reconstruction and passing of amendments after the war, or do you think the country would have been better off had Lincoln lived and served his second term in office?
  
  
  

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees is an emotional and tender story of Lily Owens and her quest to find happiness, truth, and the power to forgive herself. Lily’s quest starts out in Sylvan, South Carolina where she lives with her emotionally abusive Father and the motherly housekeeper, Rosaleen. Lily carries around the guilt of having shot and killed her Mother by accident when she was four years old and all she has to remember her by is a picture of a black Virgin Mary inscribed with the words Tiburon, South Carolina.

After Rosaleen gets arrested and beaten by a group of white men, Lily manages to help Rosaleen escape and they run away together to Tiburon, South Carolina. Their journey takes them to the doorstep of August, May, and June Boatwright who happen to be the owners and producers of Black Madonna Honey. The sisters take in Lily and Rosaleen and with their help Lily goes through a journey of the soul. She experiences loss, sorrow, tragedy, and joy and through this finally finds inner peace.

While reading the book I could not wait to get to the end because I wanted to find out the truth about Lily’s Mother and what would become of Lily and Rosaleen. I was very happy that Lily finally faced her Father and was able to stay with August and June, but was somewhat saddened and disappointed about what was revealed of her Mother.

• How did you feel about the way the story ended? Were you satisfied with the ending? Disappointed? Pleased?

At the end of the book Lily confronts her Father and requests that she stay in Tiburon. Her Father relents and allows her to stay even though he wanted to take her home. Before he drives away Lily asks him for the truth about how her Mother was killed and he confirms that she did kill her Mother, although it was not her fault.

• Do you think T. Ray allowed Lily to stay in Tiburon because, as Lily speculates, he truly did care about her?
• Do you believe he told the truth about Deborah’s death or do you feel he did have something to do with it.