Praisesong for the Widow By: Paule Marshall PowerPoint by: Carly Hood

Important Characters Avey Johnson- The main character of the book. She seeks to find more about herself and her childhood. Thomasina Moore- One of Avey’s friends who she went on the cruise with. She had a very strong personality. Clarice- The other friend Avey went on the cruise with. Much more and understanding than Thomasina.

An Inspiration When Avey began her Caribbean cruise with her two friends she never expected to go home early. One night after a troubling dream she packed all her bags to leave in the morning. When she woke and got ready to go her friend Thomasina questioned her leaving. Thomasina yelled at Avey and told her she was stupid for leaving, but she did anyways. She was seeking for something else in her life. A part of her she did not know she had.

After the Inspiration After Avey took off to set home she came across many things. Many parts of her life clear up. She finds things out about her history and embarks on a big adventure she never expected to come across.

During this Time The author Paule Marshall had two different cultures in her life. She had a Barbadian and also an American culture. She loved to know more about her Barbadian culture, but lived by both. Most of her experiences or tales were from her Barbadian lifestyle.

Themes In all of Paule Marshall’s books she has a theme of how African Americans live. She shows experiences of what they went through. In Praisesong for the Widow she tells what Avey goes through and how she finds out about herself. She has shown conflict in their lives and the things they did to overcome it.

Point of View Most of Paule’s point of view comes from her parents background and friends. She had many cultures in her life and had experiences from both. I think she agreed some with her American culture and other times with the Barbadian side of her. She shows her different experiences in her books and brings them out for you to understand.

Summary Avey Johnson was a average women. She had a lot on her mind at the time, but came across something’s that would help her. Memories from her past now made more sense. She also inherited things from her grandmother which also helped her find out what she sought for.

My Opinion My opinion of Praisesong for the Widow was pretty good. I thought it was overall an okay book that showed different ways she came across things. Although see was seeking to get home she had other experiences on the way. Avey also cut her cruise very short, so some of her experiences she went through probably made up for it.

Others to Enjoy If you think you would enjoy Paule as an author try reading a few of her other books. Brown Girl, Brownstones Soul Clap Hands and Sing Daughters Praisesong for the Widow