Reading Discussion Questions for my new, up-coming novel, IF YOU LOVE ME, COME

A READING GROUP GUIDE
IF YOU LOVE ME, COME

Claudia Moss

This guide is a compilation of suggested questions intended to enhance your group’s discussion and enjoyment of Claudia Moss’ If You Love Me, Come


Discussion Questions


1. Explain 2 possible interpretations for the title, If You Love Me, Come.

2. Is “Free” really free?

3. How are the other characters victims to their own mental bondage?

4. Does love play different parts in the story?

5. Was each character brought low to rise to higher levels of consciousness?

6. Do Free and J.T. have the makings of a “forever love” after their separation?

7. What is your concept of a “forever love”?


8. Which character(s) was in love with the concept of being in love?

9. Is it appropriate to surrender one’s all to love in your honest estimation? Do you surrender all in your romantic relationships?

10. How was each major character flawed?


11. Was Pinky a responsible mother? What did you admire about her? What did you least admire about her?

12. Who was ultimately responsible for Short Dog’s death?


13. Is Javan capable of raising a female child alone or with a mate?

14. Why do you think Pinky chose the men who fathered her children?


15. Was Pinky’s father a good parent?

16. Do you think Pastoria’s teary altar scene was sincere?

17. Did you question Sharmayne’s true sexuality? Or did you think she was hurt and acting out against being with another man?


18. Was her “coming out” similar to one that you know of?

19. Was Free’s response genuine to Sharmayne’s “coming out”?


20. What did you think about the frame structure of the novel?

21. Was Miz Too-Sweet’s voice easy to read? Believable?


22. Whose voice did you enjoy the most? The least?

23. Describe the credibility of the first book club meeting. Was it believable?


24. What are your opinions of the novels discussed?

25. Did you like Free and J.T. as a couple? Sharmayne and Nzinga? Pastoria and Booker? Pastoria and Earl? Rhonda and Trevor? Pinky and the Artist?


26. Were the two separate worlds in the novel bridgeable?

27. What did you think of Sherrie Ann?


28. How was Miz Too-Sweet’s special gift used in the novel?

29. When did you first realize you had a Reading Jones?

30. What do you think the future holds for Sharmayne and Nzinga? Will their love withstand the test of time and an ex-husband?

31. What could Victor Naylor have done to save his marriage?


32. Can love survive a difference in social class? What has been your experience?

33. What are your thoughts on the outreach program Free and her group brought to Techwood residents?

34. Have you ever lived in the projects or knew someone who did? Was the portrayal accurate?


35. Do you know the history behind Nzinga’s name? Did it suit her?

36. What did you think of Miz Too-Sweet’s treasure trove of stories?


37. Did Rhonda finally find her niche in the biography-writing component of her Techwood workshop?

38. Was the ending of the story satisfying?


39. Would you read another book by the author?

40. Select a quote from one of the characters and discuss it in conjunction with the novel’s theme of trusting the power of love.

A Kiss Speaks It Own Language...

Yes, it's yet true. I'm enamored with The Kiss. Perhaps instead of me courting the subject, it has mysteriously chosen me.


My darling nephews recently discovered themselves before my camera's lens engaged in the art of kissing with their precious Significant Other. Mister Calvin is the elder, the gentleman in the red shirt. His Lady Love was daintily arrayed in white, from her pretty, white, summer, off-the-shoulder dress to her attention-grabbing, white, buckled heels. My sister Glenda, at whose house we were passing a delightful Sunday, dubbed her The Princess and my nephew The Frog. She's a hoot, that sister of mine! The moment it was out of her mouth, everyone who had viewed the Disney classic howled with laughter. They did (as my Grandma Moss would've said) "put one in the mind of" Visiting Royalty and her darlin' Froggy Prince, minus the green in Ellenwood!


Calvin was the first invited to smooch his Princess, and of course he began playfully, irking the Princess to distraction and the display of pouty lips while waiting for him to get serious. O but when he did, their kiss ignited volcanic temperatures hotter than the early September afternoon!


Calvin's Baby Brother, Acy, is another movie altogether. He's dressed in the black shirt that matches the black scarf on his braids. Much more conservative, his kiss blossomed on his Precious Poo's forehead (or did Aunt Glenda instruct them to illustrate the Forehead Kiss?). From the language of Acy's kiss, my camera reflected sacred, private and precious. They had known one another as friends for many years before they became kissing close, and it shows in her softened demeanor, emotionally pouting lips, her gentle embrace about his back and his stalwart stance and those malleable lips against her forehead. Tis true, a kiss speaks its own language.



Yet the most precious of the precious of kisses was delivered by my great-niece, Zarin, whose chubby little hands latched onto her Cousin Nazir's 17-month-old shoulders and greeted him with a baby kiss at Nazir's new sister's baby shower. Uh huh! Her little kiss said, "Hello, Cousin! I love you, and I haven't seen you since we traveled to Montgomery together in my Grandma's truck! Whatcha up to?"



Es cierto! Even babies kiss. And why shouldn't they? We adults kiss their little rounded cheeks whenever we are blessed to have a baby in our Presence. My sister frequently reminds me to kiss the soles of a baby's foot, so I don't bump their little jaws with my lipstick! Sure, she's right, but babies are just so entirely, incredibly cute!



Don't forget to spice up your life with a tender or dainty or precious or fiery kiss today! I hear it makes life sweeter! BESOS!!!!

ELLE M'EMBRASSA

Elle M'embrassa....


She kissed me
And the softness of her
Lips
Whisked
My cares away.
Suspended in silence,
I heard my heart say
"Elle m'embrassa."



The sensation closed my eyes
Animated my feet
Delivered me inside
A melody
Of an island song
She sang so sweetly.
"Elle a chanté pour moi seul."


Promise of romance danced
on the wind
palpable like the undisputed scent
of fall
on September's breath.
Her touch
caressed
my hollowness,
undressed
my hesitation to love again.
Behold,
She was CPR to my Soul.
"Alors je l'ai embrassée en arrière."


Her heat steeped my skin,
rendered me weak.
Sheen glossed,
I bowed to passion
while
Strands of our locs
entwined against
the others'
cheek, desire painted in
scarlet petals round about our feet. Please.
Repeat repeat repeat
Her kiss
sent a jetsam of memories
coursing wherever old love flows.
"Son baiser me perce l'âme."


TheGoldenGoddess
August 29, 2010

SOUL MATE: A Poem

SOUL MATE



You say with certainty
I'm your Soul's
Mate
That every time I come around
The ground
Shakes
Your heart quakes
Contracts and aches
To communicate
I'm THE ONE.


Wouldn't I know
If that were so?


Why would you recognize me
While I experience
Zilch connection
Battery uncharged
A puzzle piece dislodged?


And how do you propose to remedy
Your perplexity?


You've reigned in my curiosity
As I've never once been here
Before.


It's a mystery, Sweetie.
And I'm not a bore
But are you saying if
I open this door
Meet you half way
Your kiss
Will light the passage
No need to
REGISTER or
SIGN-IN
To a cache of lifetimes
When we were lovers and best friends
How in our last incarnation
I had to make you
Love me
And now you must
Make me
Love you
Again?


Friend~~
Where does this end?


No, I'm not afraid.
I simply have no recollection
Of agreeing to this ruse
With your imagination
On the loose.


If I could only muster
A spark in this lackluster
Heart of mine,
I could start to wrap my brain
Around
Strangers falling in love through
Time.


Have you lost your mind?


Sweetheart, don't play with me.
I'm not THE ONE.
No, I don't run
So, hell, come on! This might even be fun.


Moistened lips
Pucker
Soft press
Senses lisp
Something trembles
An abrupt pause
Tasting nectar
Sweet
Charming
Tangy
Like the first day of
Summer.


How could this be?
For a second,
I wonder,
Ponder.


You're
Caressing the small of my back
Savoring my mouth
With mini smooches then delicate gulps
Thick honey
Oozing my chin
Til my knees go slack and I
Lack
Clarity.


I waiver, too unhinged to dismiss
Yet you persistently kiss
Tongue rekindling
Bliss
Lubricating my joints and cell memory.
You
Wading into me
The waters of my Soul churning
Yearning
I-I-I know somewhere in this burning


I AM your QUEEN
And you are
THE ONE.





TheGoldenGoddess
August 21, 2010

A Poem: "Space for Lease"

"Space for Lease"



Hung a sign on the lush lawn
Of my smile
Yesterday
Its sole intent to invite
You in---
In the event you bustled
By the sparkles in my windows' eyes
Mistaking them for
Evening streetlamps
As Day disrobed for Night
Outside my doors.



I'm no longer under
Renovation
Disguised
As a high rise
Lofty and cold
Talk about old...



An Open House,
Every part of me
Aired,
Awoke and aware
With no inclination
To close off conceal or spare
These rooms
Day's surprises.



Ven aca, por favor.
You're not only welcome,
Mi Amor,
You were requested
Sent
From the Cosmos
To relish the double occupancy of our Souls.



I've scrutinized you
Sidestepped you
Since my foundation was
Poured
Just recently opened to
Your desire to slip, slide and skate
All of my square feet and slick hardwood,
Lure
Me to the balcony floor
Where summer's breezes and I tease
You
Just to listen to your breath hitch and wheeze
Both of us pleased
To be.



No fine print
Designed to make you vent
the Terms of Conditions that went
Unseen
Simply meant to demean
Once our contract is spent
Nothing lasts forever
Least of all rent
So
To be exact
This space is yours,
A lease with the option to own
A space you can call home
That is
If you accept Love's loan.



TheGoldenGoddess
El 18 de agosto, 2010

Kissing Kathy

In the midst of a bustling kitchen, with stories and laughter floating on the picnic-scented kitchen air, she gazed into her eyes while her soft lips drifted down to meet the back of a protective hand clutched tightly in her own. Even as I watched as inconspicuously as I could, I knew, at that moment, the indoors' picnic dissipated and Kissing Kathy may as well have been painted and framed for a private showing.

O the beauty of lovers in love...

TheGoldenGoddess
August 16, 2010

Love and The Kiss in its Many Manifestations...

One day, as a fiction writer, I shall stretch and cast my word-ravenous net and capture voices that are unlike any I've ever culled. These voices will tell the story of what it is to love from a totally different perspective...one of men discovering what it is to love and be loved while facing the joys and triumphs of loving their families. Yes, I know there are any number of very capable gay writers who have already done so and who are currently doing so, but my novel will be one that only this particular author can tell.

I met this handsome, loving, good-natured couple at my beloved friend's church, which holds services in the Rich Auditorium in the Woodruff Arts Center. They enthusiastically consented to being photographed and the adoration and love they felt for one another wooed my heart and my camera's eye. Though seemingly as opposite as night from day, they were delicately, beautifully one...


The beauty of Rumi's poetry flutters a veil of lace guaranteed to keep lovers perrenially save in the sacred place of the soul.


"The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,
They're in each other all along."

"Music Master"
Rumi