For class the other day we read two short stories that had to do with coming of age. While I enjoyed reading the stories, I did noticed that they were very different from the other stories and novels we have read in the class this semester. Out of the two stories, I think I enjoyed reading The Nothingness Forest the most because it was so different. I loved that the author took on the task of writing from the perspective of a young child (or actually an infant) and then a dog. I thought that this was very interesting and definitely different from anything I have ever read or heard of before. I also enjoyed reading this story more because I understood it better. I loved the "moral" or "lesson" that came from the story and the writing was just very beautiful.
I did not like the story The Gifts of War very much because I was confused by it. Until we talked about what was going on in the story during our class time, I was unsure of some aspects of the story. I got confused when they started referring to "she" in the scenes in the store and found myself unsure of what exactly was going on with the woman and other characters. I think now that we have talked about what actually happened and about the main character (the mother and wife), if I were to go back and re-read the story, I would understand it a lot more and get more out of it.
Overall, I thought the two short stories were a good way to end the semester. They both took on a interesting view of coming of age and left us (the class) with a broader view of what coming of age is.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha: 220-end
I have now finished reading Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and I have really enjoyed reading this novel. While I enjoyed reading this book, looking at it as a whole, it is truly a sad story. Throughout the course of the novel, I, as a reader, have really noticed the change (or coming of age) in Paddy. In the beginning of the novel the book focuses on Paddy and his friends. The book tends to jump all over the place with different stories and events in Paddy's life and, for the most part, there is no rhyme or reason for the stories. As a reader, it seems like there is no plot in the novel, at the start of the book. However, as the novel continues and the fights between Paddy's parents escalate, Paddy begins to mature. As a result, the book becomes more focused and "mature" and flows a lot better than it did in the beginning. The language in the novel even becomes more structured, complex, and "grown up." With the fights escalating between Ma and Da, Paddy becomes more aware of his family life and, like any child, wants to help the situation get better because he does love both of his parents. This is a very sad fact because Paddy is ultimately unable to help his parents.
At the end of the novel, after Paddy's parents have split up and Da has moved out of the house and out of the family's picture, Paddy takes on the role of "man of the house." Although the readers are not shown this, we are told this simple but realistic fact. When Da comes back at the end of the novel, I could see the distance between Paddy and his father. I feel that this distance came from Paddy's coming of age, growing up, and his father's leaving (not just one but all combined).
Although I could comment a lot more on this novel, I just want to state that I really enjoyed reading it. Though similar in structure to Ceremony I enjoyed and understood this novel a lot more and I enjoyed reading it. It was not nearly as painful and it was a great read! I would recommend this book to someone any day!
At the end of the novel, after Paddy's parents have split up and Da has moved out of the house and out of the family's picture, Paddy takes on the role of "man of the house." Although the readers are not shown this, we are told this simple but realistic fact. When Da comes back at the end of the novel, I could see the distance between Paddy and his father. I feel that this distance came from Paddy's coming of age, growing up, and his father's leaving (not just one but all combined).
Although I could comment a lot more on this novel, I just want to state that I really enjoyed reading it. Though similar in structure to Ceremony I enjoyed and understood this novel a lot more and I enjoyed reading it. It was not nearly as painful and it was a great read! I would recommend this book to someone any day!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha: 115-220
As I have continued to read I have noticed the character of Paddy to be developing more and more. With each story that he shares with us, the readers, we are able to more clearly see into his life and place in the family. Paddy shares stories of him and Sinbad as well as of his friends. We are able to see a lot of what Paddy does in his free time and how he feels about things. Contrary to some of my classmates belief that Paddy is abusive and violent, I feel that he is just a young child growing up...he's a typical or "normal" 10 year old boy from my point of view. Paddy's relationship with his brother Sinbad seems to be like any other brother-to-brother relationship. The two fight and have their differences but we, as the readers, are able to see a side of Paddy and Sinbad together where they actually show that they love each other (like all siblings do deep down inside).
As I have read further I am noticing the fighting between Ma and Da to be increasing. As a result, the character of Paddy is being affected by it despite the fact that he is not fully aware of what is going on. We, the readers, are unsure of what the fighting is about and are somewhat "in the dark" as to what is actually going on between Ma and Da because we are getting a child's (Paddy's) point of view. In other words, because we are seeing this fighting develop and grow through the stories of Paddy through a child's eyes we cannot be completely clear as to what is happening.
On page 191 (in my book) I have started to see another side of Paddy...or I am starting to see him "come of age." At this point, Paddy is starting to understand the fighting and become more aware of the way that his Da treats his Ma. In this section, just a few pages or paragraphs earlier, Paddy witnesses his Da slapping his Ma across the face. Paddy is startled and shocked and begins to want to protect his Ma. For me, this allowed me to see that Paddy is starting to grow up and "come of age." As a result, I am curious to read further and see how he develops and starts to "grow up" more with other situations that I feel are going to arise between Ma and Pa.
As I have read further I am noticing the fighting between Ma and Da to be increasing. As a result, the character of Paddy is being affected by it despite the fact that he is not fully aware of what is going on. We, the readers, are unsure of what the fighting is about and are somewhat "in the dark" as to what is actually going on between Ma and Da because we are getting a child's (Paddy's) point of view. In other words, because we are seeing this fighting develop and grow through the stories of Paddy through a child's eyes we cannot be completely clear as to what is happening.
On page 191 (in my book) I have started to see another side of Paddy...or I am starting to see him "come of age." At this point, Paddy is starting to understand the fighting and become more aware of the way that his Da treats his Ma. In this section, just a few pages or paragraphs earlier, Paddy witnesses his Da slapping his Ma across the face. Paddy is startled and shocked and begins to want to protect his Ma. For me, this allowed me to see that Paddy is starting to grow up and "come of age." As a result, I am curious to read further and see how he develops and starts to "grow up" more with other situations that I feel are going to arise between Ma and Pa.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Paddy Clarke Ha, Ha, Ha: 1-115
I started reading Paddy Clarke Ha, Ha , Ha by Roddy Doyle just a few days ago and I am really enjoying it. Prior to reading this book for class I heard about it in high school (it was one of the books we could choose to read over the summer in my honors English class junior or senior year). I didn't really know what it was about so I picked it up with little hopes, expectations, or feelings towards it. As I read a few pages, I noticed that the structure of the novel is very similar to that of the novel we just finished reading, Ceremony. The reason I feel that the structures are similar is because neither this book or Ceremony were broken down into chapters. Thoughts, scenes, and events happen "randomly" or are not written down in the book as chronological events. Contrary to Ceremony, however, I am able to better follow the events and happenings in this book even though they are quite "random."
In the 100+ pages that I have read so far I feel that I have come to know the main character and narrator pretty well. Patrick (or Paddy Clarke) is a young boy of about 10 years old who is growing up in a small town in Ireland. As a young child, Paddy seems to be very curious and this often gets him and his friends in trouble. His younger brother, Sinbad, often leads Paddy to get into trouble and the two do not seem to get along all that way (like most young brothers though). For the most part, Paddy seems like a normal every day boy just growing up. Everything that I have read so far seems to just be events that have happened in his life so far and little things he has experienced as a young boy.
Something that I have noticed to be developing so far is that Paddy's parents seem to have some quarrels. I am not sure if this is going to amount to more as I read further, but I have noticed that both "Ma" and "Da" do not get along all too well. Paddy tells a story to the readers about a small or "quiet" should I say fight that his parents had. He explains that it happened on an afternoon where the family had gone out for a drive. This story was explained, by Paddy, the narrator, through his own eyes as a child and this really helps the author to understand his character more. To be put in the main character and narrators shoes really helps to give a deeper more meaningful perspective to the book and situations that occur.
I hope to continue to enjoy this book as much as I have so far!
In the 100+ pages that I have read so far I feel that I have come to know the main character and narrator pretty well. Patrick (or Paddy Clarke) is a young boy of about 10 years old who is growing up in a small town in Ireland. As a young child, Paddy seems to be very curious and this often gets him and his friends in trouble. His younger brother, Sinbad, often leads Paddy to get into trouble and the two do not seem to get along all that way (like most young brothers though). For the most part, Paddy seems like a normal every day boy just growing up. Everything that I have read so far seems to just be events that have happened in his life so far and little things he has experienced as a young boy.
Something that I have noticed to be developing so far is that Paddy's parents seem to have some quarrels. I am not sure if this is going to amount to more as I read further, but I have noticed that both "Ma" and "Da" do not get along all too well. Paddy tells a story to the readers about a small or "quiet" should I say fight that his parents had. He explains that it happened on an afternoon where the family had gone out for a drive. This story was explained, by Paddy, the narrator, through his own eyes as a child and this really helps the author to understand his character more. To be put in the main character and narrators shoes really helps to give a deeper more meaningful perspective to the book and situations that occur.
I hope to continue to enjoy this book as much as I have so far!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Ceremony: 191-end
Although I have now finished the book I still feel a bit unsure of how to look at it and realize what I think I about it as a whole. I feel that I have been able to connect with the character of Tayo and understand his pain and struggle as an "outcast." His life seems extremely sad and lonely all because he is an Indian. On the bottom of page 194 on to the top of page 195, frogs are mentioned in order to show just how different the Indians are from the American people (or the white people). It says, "...people always told us not to kill frogs because the frogs would get angry and send so much rain there would be floods. The Science teacher laughed loudly..." This one quote shows that the Indians (Tayo's beliefs) are extremely different from that of the Americans only creating an even larger racial/cultural gap between them. This makes life in America for the Indian people very difficult.
As I read further, I was able to come to some conclusions and understand more of what happened to the character of Tayo while at war. At this point, felt that Tayo was really an outsider, although he was fighting for the United States. A specific quote mentions him being an Indian and stating that he is "too much trouble, and they would let him go," because he is injured. This part hurt me to read and I actually understood (or I think I did) what was going on and what time the event was taking place.
As I approached the end of the novel, things started to cheer up for Tayo and in turn made the book seem a little happier. When Tayo starts to have a relationship with Montano (also called Ts'eh) and they begin to fall in love, I felt happy for Tayo. I felt that because Tayo was able to relate to Ts'eh because she was an Indian and they genuinely seemed to care for each other. I loved when it said, "When he cried now, it was because she loved him so much." I felt that Tayo had changed because of Ts'eh and that his life was little bit brighter with her in it.
In all honestly I hated the end of the book. It was really hard to read because it seemed to cruel and I was kind of lost as to why it all was happening. The end of the book was full of death and I would have liked to have known more about where Tayo was...I got the feeling that he was a lot happier and that he was back living with his Auntie and Grandmother and Robert. I felt that Tayo had finally come to realize who he was. I thought it was interesting for the Grandmother to point out the idea of hearing a similar story with the death of Pinkie...she said she heard the story before but with different names allowing the readers to see that history seems to repeat but with different people in the Indian group. (At least this is the way that I took in all of this...I just hope I am semi-right.)
I realized I did have some questions as I read and they were: Who is the girl at the hunters? (I sort of was able to answer this later on in reading.) Is Tayo better when he says, "When he had lain in bed vomiting and crying."?
As I read further, I was able to come to some conclusions and understand more of what happened to the character of Tayo while at war. At this point, felt that Tayo was really an outsider, although he was fighting for the United States. A specific quote mentions him being an Indian and stating that he is "too much trouble, and they would let him go," because he is injured. This part hurt me to read and I actually understood (or I think I did) what was going on and what time the event was taking place.
As I approached the end of the novel, things started to cheer up for Tayo and in turn made the book seem a little happier. When Tayo starts to have a relationship with Montano (also called Ts'eh) and they begin to fall in love, I felt happy for Tayo. I felt that because Tayo was able to relate to Ts'eh because she was an Indian and they genuinely seemed to care for each other. I loved when it said, "When he cried now, it was because she loved him so much." I felt that Tayo had changed because of Ts'eh and that his life was little bit brighter with her in it.
In all honestly I hated the end of the book. It was really hard to read because it seemed to cruel and I was kind of lost as to why it all was happening. The end of the book was full of death and I would have liked to have known more about where Tayo was...I got the feeling that he was a lot happier and that he was back living with his Auntie and Grandmother and Robert. I felt that Tayo had finally come to realize who he was. I thought it was interesting for the Grandmother to point out the idea of hearing a similar story with the death of Pinkie...she said she heard the story before but with different names allowing the readers to see that history seems to repeat but with different people in the Indian group. (At least this is the way that I took in all of this...I just hope I am semi-right.)
I realized I did have some questions as I read and they were: Who is the girl at the hunters? (I sort of was able to answer this later on in reading.) Is Tayo better when he says, "When he had lain in bed vomiting and crying."?
Ceremony: Pages 121-190
I am not sure what I think of this book at this point in my reading. At times I feel very clear and sure of what is going on buy then all of the sudden I become extremely lost. I find myself having a hard time understanding what is going on, where the characters are, and what point in time it is. I had a great deal of trouble with understanding who Betonie was and then about the story that was told with Descheeny and the ceremonies. At this point in the book I got very confused as to what exactly was happening and the significance of this in the book. I feel as if I may have lost something due to my confusion. However, in the following "scene" with Harvey, Leroy, and Helen Jean, I felt "back on track" with the book. Although I understood this part of the book in the car (as Harvey, Leroy, etc. are drunk) and then at the bar, I was still a bit confused as to when this all was happening.
I seem to be drawn into the scenes in the book, but then get confused as I try to figure out when things are taking place. I find myself, however, continuing to read through the pages in hopes that the pieces will come together later on and that I will then be able to understand.
AS I have been reading, I have noticed a theme of invisibility. Specifically, on page 123, I took notes as I read. On this page, it says, "They sent me to this place after the war. It was white. Everything in that place was white. Except for me. I was invisible." This is said by Tayo when talking to the medicine man. I feel that this statement made really shows how Tayo feels in the world. He is constantly feeling like an outcast and wants to be or sees himself as invisible to everyone else. In the hospital, at his "home" with this Auntie and everywhere in between, Tayo feels lost and confused.
Overall, I feel this theme, along with others such as drought, confusion, and loneliness, seem to be carried throughout the book. I feel bad for the character of Tayo and hope that as I read further and reflect n the book that I will be able to come away with a better understanding of the life of an Indian in America and the struggles that it involves.
I seem to be drawn into the scenes in the book, but then get confused as I try to figure out when things are taking place. I find myself, however, continuing to read through the pages in hopes that the pieces will come together later on and that I will then be able to understand.
AS I have been reading, I have noticed a theme of invisibility. Specifically, on page 123, I took notes as I read. On this page, it says, "They sent me to this place after the war. It was white. Everything in that place was white. Except for me. I was invisible." This is said by Tayo when talking to the medicine man. I feel that this statement made really shows how Tayo feels in the world. He is constantly feeling like an outcast and wants to be or sees himself as invisible to everyone else. In the hospital, at his "home" with this Auntie and everywhere in between, Tayo feels lost and confused.
Overall, I feel this theme, along with others such as drought, confusion, and loneliness, seem to be carried throughout the book. I feel bad for the character of Tayo and hope that as I read further and reflect n the book that I will be able to come away with a better understanding of the life of an Indian in America and the struggles that it involves.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ceremony: Pages 5-120
In all honesty, when I first picked up this book and started to read it I was extremely confused. I really had no idea who the character of Tayo was or what was going on. Because the book seems to go back and forth between dreams I found myself getting lost in the beginning few pages. I found it difficult to keep up with what was going on, but after a while I started to get a sense of what was happening and who the characters were.
As I have been reading, there are some specific things that I have taken note of. One thing I noticed a lot of was the talk of drought. It is a very apparent image throughout this first half of the book. The author included a lot of talk of drought and how it effects the people and the animals alike. Tayo and Harley look for water, Tayo talks about the drought during his childhood, and he also mentions having to possibly sell the cattle for a very cheap price because they may die soon from the drought. The animals are all bony and sickly because there is not water for them to drink or water to help the grass grow for them to eat.
Another image I noticed a lot through my reading so far is the image of the deer head. I am not exactly sure what it means just yet in relation to the book and the message the author is trying to get across to to readers though. Tayo talks about the deer head from when he was a child and he seems to think of this image and be comforted by it while in agony.
I feel really bad for the character of Tayo but I am not exactly sure what is wrong with him. I noticed that he seems to get sick and vomit as soon as he feels rejected or uncomfortable. For example, just as he is starting to feel well again, he tells his uncle, Robert, that he thinks he is feeling up to helping him on the ranch. Tayo feels that Robert does not want him to help and that Auntie and everyone just want him to leave. As soon as this happens, Tayo falls back into his sickness again. This is only one example, of the many times that he does get sick after feeling lost, confused, or rejected.
I think that this is an interesting book, although it does confuse me at times. I feel that the author purposely confuses the reader with switching scenes so often so that the readers are able to feel how confused Tayo is with who he is and where he belongs. I may be wrong, but this is the first thought that came to my mind when I realized how lost I was when first reading. I hope that I am able to understand this book to the fullest and gain an idea for what it is like to be caught in between two cultures (Indian and American).
**My question is: How old is Tayo? This is something I am not totally sure of at this point.**
As I have been reading, there are some specific things that I have taken note of. One thing I noticed a lot of was the talk of drought. It is a very apparent image throughout this first half of the book. The author included a lot of talk of drought and how it effects the people and the animals alike. Tayo and Harley look for water, Tayo talks about the drought during his childhood, and he also mentions having to possibly sell the cattle for a very cheap price because they may die soon from the drought. The animals are all bony and sickly because there is not water for them to drink or water to help the grass grow for them to eat.
Another image I noticed a lot through my reading so far is the image of the deer head. I am not exactly sure what it means just yet in relation to the book and the message the author is trying to get across to to readers though. Tayo talks about the deer head from when he was a child and he seems to think of this image and be comforted by it while in agony.
I feel really bad for the character of Tayo but I am not exactly sure what is wrong with him. I noticed that he seems to get sick and vomit as soon as he feels rejected or uncomfortable. For example, just as he is starting to feel well again, he tells his uncle, Robert, that he thinks he is feeling up to helping him on the ranch. Tayo feels that Robert does not want him to help and that Auntie and everyone just want him to leave. As soon as this happens, Tayo falls back into his sickness again. This is only one example, of the many times that he does get sick after feeling lost, confused, or rejected.
I think that this is an interesting book, although it does confuse me at times. I feel that the author purposely confuses the reader with switching scenes so often so that the readers are able to feel how confused Tayo is with who he is and where he belongs. I may be wrong, but this is the first thought that came to my mind when I realized how lost I was when first reading. I hope that I am able to understand this book to the fullest and gain an idea for what it is like to be caught in between two cultures (Indian and American).
**My question is: How old is Tayo? This is something I am not totally sure of at this point.**
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