Sula (first half)

"As Reverend Deal moved into his sermon, the hands of the women unfolded like pairs of raven's wings and flew high above their hats in the air. They did not hear all of what he said; they heard the one word, or phrase, or inflection that was for them the connection between the event and themselves."
I really like this line because it reminded me of a negative and positive way i've always thought people have dealt with the idea of church. I've been going to church since before I can even remember and since i've grown i've been able to make the decision as to whether or not I want to go, as opposed to my dad making me, and I still choose to attend. However I've had many many conversations with people who either don't believe in the church and over again I hear the argument 'just take what you need from the sermon and learn from it.' or things along those lines in which you just choose the part of religion you want to follow and ignore the rest. Anyone who has been a Christian or even gone to church for an extended period of time knows that this is a common mistake amongst believers, they do what fits into their lives and ignore the parts that make it hard. This passage reminds me of that idea. On the positive side it reminds me of people who do get the whole picture and know once they decide to practice this it's all or nothing and how sometimes in a sermon there is one line, as in literature, that stands out to you and really touches you the most.

"Nel sat on the red-velvet sofa listening to her mother but remembering the smell and the tight, tight hug of the woman in the yellow who rubbed burned matches over her eyes"

I really related to this line because it reminds me so much of me. I remember growing up once a week changing my mind about the group I wanted to fit in with. Half my friends were in bands and one week i'd think 'yeah! I want to be in a band, I love music' and then the next week i'd hang out with my girlfriends and my girliest side would come out and i'd think I only ever want to wear dresses ever again and smell pretty too! It's funny when you're young the images create in your mind of types of people based on they way they dress and how they carry themselves. I thought I could only be one or the other, a hip band mate or a pretty little girl. It just really made me laugh thinking about that awkward time! It also reminded me of "When I was growing up" because of the good image she has in her head about blond white girls and the way this girl inspires to be as womanly as her grandmother not knowing the downfalls of it yet.