How push became precious november 6, 2009 the gritty realism of the film precious is even more intense in the novel push, upon which the film is based. Discussion of themes and motifs in sapphire s push. Push movie tiein editionprecious push movie tiein edition by sapphire author on oct202009 paperback. Number of bids and bid amounts may be slightly out of date. Precious jones, an illiterate sixteenyearold, has up until now been invis. In the kid, bestselling author sapphire tells the electrifying story of abdul jones, the son of push s unforgettable heroine, precious. Claireece precious jones is the main character of the story, and she also narrates the tale. With this much anticipated first novel, told from the point of view of an illiterate, brutalized harlem teenager, sapphire american dreams, a writer affiliated with the nuyorican poets, charts the p.
Push rips you from your safe little cozy life and drops you into a concrete jungle that forces you to feel and experience life alongside precious whose life, when we meet her, has been truly destroyed. Push by sapphire page 2 of 50 goodreads share book. Its one of the most difficult books ive ever read, and thats saying a lot for just 200 pages. Jun 11, 1996 this book is packed with a heavy message that sapphire drives home superbly. Push by sapphire and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Push is the 1996 debut novel of american author sapphire. Push by sapphire is the story of 16yearold claireece precious jones, who goes by the nickname precious. New york public library books for the teen age winner. Sep 08, 2011 sapphires first book became the oscarwinning film precious but, she says, her new novel is so dark that hollywood is unlikely to call. Salingers catcher in the rye and mix it up with the. Push, her novel, won the bookofthemonth club stephen crane award for first fiction, the black caucus of the american library associations first novelist. Sapphire s first book became the oscarwinning film precious but, she says, her new novel is so dark that hollywood is unlikely to call.
With this much anticipated first novel, told from the point of view of an illiterate, brutalized harlem teenager, sapphire american dreams, a writer affiliated with. Aug 19, 2011 the kid is the sequel to sapphire s 1996 novel push, about a girl called precious who is routinely sexually abused by both her mother and father. Push, her novel, won the book ofthemonth club stephen crane award for first fiction, the black caucus of the american library associations first novelist award, and, in great britain, the mind book of the year award. When her debut novel push came out 15 years ago, readers were. What do you get if you borrow the notion of an idiosyncratic teenage narrator from j. The book was published in 1996 by vintage publishing and has since sold hundreds of thousands of copies. When she discovered it was based on a book, she thought of me. Push by sapphire, 9780679766759, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of push by sapphire. Push, now known as the book that inspired last years muchrenowned hit film precious, is the firstperson account of the teenage life of claireece precious jones, a harlem teenager who as of writing this account has given birth to two children, a boy and a girl, both products of her rape at the hands of her biological father. This character is indicative of everything wrong in the main characters life. Push, her novel, won the book ofthemonth clubs stephen crane award for first fiction, the black caucus of more about sapphire. This study guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of push.
Based on the novel push by sapphire, or simply precious, is a 2009 american drama film, directed and coproduced by lee daniels. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on push by sapphire author. A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and of the. The main characters of this fiction, young adult story are claireece precious jones, blue rain. Precious states that she was held back the second time in. Thirteen years after its release, it was made into precious. The story gives detailed accounts of the physical, sexual and mental abuse precious faces from her father, mother, and the strangers she encounters on a daily basis. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Jul 31, 2011 fifteen years after the heralded publication of her first novel, push the basis for the 2009 film precious sapphire has written a new novel, the kid, which traces the. Analysis and discussion of characters in sapphire s push. Several months ago i was approached by a coworker and asked if i had read sapphire s push.
For precious jones, 16 and pregnant with her fathers child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous, determined teacher bullies, cajoles, and inspires. Based on the novel by sapphire, directed by lee daniels and written by damien paul grand. In 2011, sapphire published a followup to push with the novel the kid, which. Some, like precious jones, are able to make it out of their private hell by tapping into their inner strength and by. The first edition of this novel was published in june 11th 1996, and was written by sapphire. Sapphire tells michele norris that she began the book in 1993, just as she. When the novel push was first published in 1996, the author, sapphire, immediately began receiving requests to translate the book to film. Sapphire wrote the novel push renamed precious in a fractured. At what points in her life is precious enjoined to push. This book is packed with a heavy message that sapphire drives home superbly. Push rips you from your safe little cozy life and drops you into a.
What is the significance of the novels title, push. Sapphire herself appears briefly in the film as a daycare worker. She finally agreed to do so after seeing director lee. The character claireece precious jones narrates her gripping, disturbing life story in the novel push. Sapphires first book became the oscarwinning film precious but, she. Push, told almost entirely in the first person, is brutally frank. Push is a searing, honest and courageous look at the conditions many young girls suffer. An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, push recounts a young black streetgirls horrendous and redemptive journey through a harlem inferno. This novel is far from vapid, taking its audience through the mind of a rape. Push by sapphire push is the story of claireece precious jones and her heartbreaking account of her life for two years.
I mean seriously in push by sapphire its one bad thing after another, with maybe a handful of good things that happen. In 2009 she was the recipient of a fellow award in literature from united states artists. Dec 29, 2012 me reading the first part of the book push. I made myself read it because i know there are women in this world who suffer fates as bad asor worse thanthat of precious jones. She had seen a trailer of for the upcoming movie and knew she just had to see it. A novel by sapphire and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Winner of the 1996 mind book of the year award, push was later made into the film precious. Based on the novel push by sapphire, a film that won two academy awards and was directed by lee daniels. How push became precious the gritty realism of the film precious is even more intense in the novel push, upon which the film is based. An electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, push recounts a young black streetgirls horrendous and redemptive journey through a. Fletcher, adapted from the 1996 novel push by sapphire. Sapphire s writing was the subject of an academic symposium at arizona state university in 2007. For precious jones, 16 and pregnant with her fathers child, miraculous hope appears and the world begins to open up for her when a courageous.
How to get rid of muscle knots in your neck, traps, shoulders, and back duration. This lesson will focus on the summary and important quotes from the novel push. Push is an emotionally powerful, disturbing novel written from the perspective of a. Jun 03, 2008 an electrifying first novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances, and its brutal honesty, push recounts a young black streetgirls horrendous and redemptive journey through a harlem inferno. The american fiction writer and poet sapphire was born ramona lofton in 1950. See each listing for international shipping options and costs. For precious, as she is called, hope appears when a courageous teacher, a young. Based on the novel by sapphire, directed by lee daniels and written by damien paul grand jury prize and audience award winner at the 2009 sundance film. I read the book for my feminist book club, and i was one of the few who actually finished itthe others were too put off the brutal reality of precious life. Push, her novel, won the bookofthemonth club stephen crane award for first fiction, the black caucus of the american library associations first novelist award, and, in great britain, the.
Push, her novel, won the book ofthemonth club stephen crane award for first fiction, the black caucus of the american library associations first novelist award, and, in great britain, the mind book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 177 pages and is available in paperback format. Study guide for push precious push also known as precious in its film version study guide contains a biography of sapphire, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary. Push by sapphire is the story of an impoverished, traumatized, illiterate seventeen year old africanamerican girl named precious jones who overcomes so many obstacles in trying to turn her horrid life around. Sapphire is the author of american dreams, a collection of poetry which was cited by publishers weekly as, one of the strongest debut collections of the nineties.
Precious is the title character and is sixteen when the novel begins. A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and of the soul, the kid brings us deep into the interior life of abdul jones. A selfportrait of a black teenage girl, big, fat, unloved, with a father who rapes her and a jealous mother who screams abuse. What is meant by this word, and how does precious respond to the.
Push precious symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. In the kid, bestselling author sapphire tells the electrifying story of abdul jones, the son of pushs unforgettable heroine, precious. The first edition of the novel was published in june 11th 1996, and was written by sapphire. And yet, this remarkable book by sapphire is an uplifting revelation that will fascinate and surprise you. Sapphire has 19 books on goodreads with 94756 ratings. This character is devoted to helping troubled young women within the education system. The book was published in 1996 by vintage publishing and. Sapphire wrote the novel push renamed precious in a fractured ghetto patois that grew out of the authors experiences as a remedial reading teacher. Her first novel, push, was published in 1996 and a little over a decade later became the academy award winning film precious. Push is an emotionally powerful, disturbing novel written from the perspective of a young and poor black woman whose life. This character leaves the narrative for a period of time due to remorse for past misdeeds. Pdf push by sapphire book free download 177 pages free download or read online push pdf epub book. Why do you think sapphire has chosen to end the story where she does. Sapphire is the author of american dreams, a collection of poetry that was cited by publishers weekly as one of the strongest debut collections of the nineties.