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The Spirit of Sweetgrass

by Nicole Seitz

Published: 2007-03-06
Paperback : 304 pages

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Introduction

Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins is a 78-year-old sweetgrass basket weaver who sits on the side of Hwy. 17 in the company of her dead husband, Daddy Jim. Inspired by her Auntie Leona, Essie Mae finally discovers her calling in life and weaves powerful "love baskets," praying fervently over them to affect the lives of those who visit her roadside stand. When she's faced with losing her home and her stand and being put in a nursing home, Daddy Jim talks her into coming on up to Heaven to meet sweet Jesus-something she's always wanted to do. Once there, she reunites with Gullahs and African ancestors; but soon, her heavenly peace is disrupted, for she still has work to do. Now Essie Mae, who once felt powerless and invisible, must find the strength within her to keep her South Carolina family from falling apart.

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Excerpt

Prologue

This is what I remember about that night—my last night alive. After having me a fine meal of crispy cornbread and dipping it in buttermilk just like Daddy used to do, I headed on back to the bathroom. I turned on the water in the tub, not too hot, but good enough to get my blood moving. I wanted to feel the life tingling through my veins. ...

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Discussion Questions

1.Does Daddy Jim truly sit with Essie Mae and speak with her? What does EJ believe? How about Henrietta? Why do you think Daddy Jim visits Essie Mae at her roadside stand? Why doesn’t he come to the house on Rifle Range Road? If Daddy Jim truly loves Essie Mae, why do you think he won’t go to Sunnydale Farms?
2.Essie Mae feels she’s found her calling in life. What is her calling? Have you found your calling in life? If so, how did you realize it? If not, what may be standing in your way? Do you believe everyone has a calling?
3.Essie Mae is 78-years-old. Is she part of your generation, your mother’s, or your grandmother’s? What characteristics does she share with women of her generation?
4.Both Jeffrey Lowes and Jackson Hemmingway were cared for as children by Essie Mae. What do you think about nanny-child relationships? What does it say to you that a white family chooses a nanny who is African-American?
5.What do you think Essie Mae is most afraid of? How does she handle that fear? What do you think Henrietta is most afraid of? How does she handle her fears? Have you ever considered what you’re most afraid of? How might your fears impact your actions and your loved ones?
6.What does Essie Mae learn about Henrietta in the course of this book? What does she learn about herself?
7.When Essie Mae is in heaven she says, “It’s a wonder we understand each other a’tall down on Earth what with us only seeing little snippets of folks every now and again.” Does Essie Mae ever understand her daughter, Henrietta? Does Henrietta ever understand her mother? In any relationship, how important is it that we understand each other? What are some ways to foster better understanding?
8.In what ways is The Spirit of Sweetgrass a love story?
In this book, Essie Mae has a strong spiritual connection to places: Mount Pleasant, the lime-green house, her roadside stand, Africa, heaven. Do you have a spiritual connection to a place? Explain.
9.The themes of home and homeland are strong in The Spirit of Sweetgrass. Why is heritage and paying homage to homeland important? What is Essie Mae’s true homeland? What is yours?
10.The themes of life and death are threaded throughout this book. What are some instances of these events? How do these events affect the characters in the book? Essie Mae? Jeffrey? Henrietta?
11.Discuss the use of color in The Spirit of Sweetgrass. Are these colors symbolic in any way?
12.The notion of “Power” or being “powerful” fuels this story. What is Power, where does it come from, and who has it? Does Essie Mae have power in the beginning of the book? In the end? Is there power in Essie Mae’s “love baskets”?
13.Who or what is “the spirit of sweetgrass”?
14.Heaven is an important setting in this book. Describe what you imagine heaven is like. What do you hope it will be like? Do you have any fears about heaven? Do you believe there’s a connection between heaven and Earth?

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Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

About The Spirit of Sweetgrass

The Spirit of Sweetgrassis about Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins, a 78-year-old sweetgrass basket maker who sits on the side of Hwy. 17 in the company of her deceased husband, Daddy Jim. Inspired by her Auntie Leona, Essie Mae finally discovers her calling in life and weaves powerful "love baskets," praying fervently over them to affect the lives of those who visit her roadside stand. When she's faced with losing her home, her stand, and being put into a nursing home, Daddy Jim talks her into coming on up to Heaven to meet sweet Jesus, something she's always wanted to do. Once there, she reunites with Gullahs and African ancestors; but soon, her heavenly peace is disrupted. Now Essie Mae, who once felt powerless and invisible, must find the strength within her to keep her South Carolina family from falling apart.

The origin of The Spirit of Sweetgrass

When I was expecting my second child, I was struck with the idea forThe Spirit of Sweetgrasswhile driving home past the quaint roadside stands of Mount Pleasant sweetgrass basket makers. It came unexpectedly and with such force that I found a scrap of paper and begin writing while driving. (Do not attempt this at home.) After initial research I remember waking the next morning at 4:00 AM with the voice of my narrator, Essie Mae, coming through loud and clear.

A month after beginningThe Spirit of Sweetgrass, I went on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy and tried to settle in to what might be a very long couple of months. I was unable to write, but I reveled in the stories and loving care of a Lowcountry basket weaver who was taking care of me and my young daughter. Just two weeks later, my son was born, small but healthy. We both nearly lost our lives, and the circumstances of his birth left me awed and grateful for the blessings of a second chance at life and a healthy child. I soon found the voice of Essie Mae louder and more persistent than ever, and I'd wake in the middle of the night to put the story on paper--that of Heaven and family ties.

I had no idea the importance of this story until I began receiving feedback from readers. One woman came to me in tears and said Essie Mae reminded her so much of the sweet woman who raised her. Another said she finished my book one day and the next day, her mother passed away. She said she'd never been able to imagine heaven before reading The Spirit of Sweetgrass but could now imagine her mother in a better place. It's my amazing readers who give true meaning to this book. It's my hope that you'll be touched and inspired as I have been by Essie Mae's story. Enjoy.

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"The Spirit of Sweetgrass"by Barb F. (see profile) 02/15/09

I loved the character of Essie Mae. She makes and sells sweetgrass baskets along the highway while she talks to her husband who is no longer living. A good southern book.

"Needed further plot development and a good editor"by Amy A. (see profile) 04/08/08

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