Summary
Starting from the point where I left off at last post, this chapter begins with snowfall. In my mind almost immediately, Death popped up. Snowfall is usually mentioned in literature as a sign of a lost, in most cases life or lives. I predict that there will be someone dead by the time I get to page 164.
It is still troubling for me to think about whose baby Melena is holding. The two people that were mentioned in the novel that could possibly be the father is between Frex and Turtle Heart. Turtle heart is a traveling glass blower, and to our surprise, he is not at all terrified of Elphaba, and is given the opportunity to stay with the family. The thing is that, Frex being gone for periods of time has produced an uproar with Malena and Turtle Heart, together having a secret affair.
Elphaba's little sister is named Nessarose, and just like herself, is born with defunct traits. She is born pink, which is sort of ironic if you look into the symbolism of the color and to how she is born. Most likely, pink would symbolize good health and anything of that nature, but she has no arms. Is she the one that is going to die? Are the shoes mentioned at the beginning in the prologue going to be hers?
Eventually, Elphaba is sent to Shiz University. In this part of the novel, there is a big time shift if we look at Elphaba's age and attitude. From the start, we can see that there will be conflict throughout the parts of the novel that includes any text about the university. This is shown by the ongoing arguments and fights between Elphaba and Galinda ( a girl who is forced to be roomates with Elphaba, and wants to be popular to an extent in society). This university has a fair amount of animals who are teachers, which I enjoy due to the fact that I am an anthro artist (thanks Mr. Doriean for suggesting this book!). These animals have their own segregation, in a sense where they are sometimes not wanted and "should go back into nature".
A Munchkinlander named Boq is introduced into this novel, where he has a crush on Galinda. His goal is to become good friends with Elphaba in order to get closer to Galinda. However, in the process, Doctor Dillamond is murdered by the head mistress of Crage hall of Shiz University. This was done in dedication to studies of similarities of animals and humans. It was known that she could be called the proof of discrimination of the animal people. In one of her poems, she states something about animals not being meant to be heard, but rather seen.
In conclusion, this death was not surprising because it was meant to be foreshadowed at the beginning of the chapters where snowfall was mentioned.
Quote
"One evening- the first evening of snow- Madame Morrible held a poetry soiree" ((Maguire 84).
Reaction
Well I did predict a death, but when I came back to copy this quote down, I had a reaction saying to myself, "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, why didn't i think of that?!". I missed the part about where Morrible was mentioned, and she was the one who actually did the killing, DUHHHHHHHHH.
I find this book very clever. There was one part about a poetry meeting group, where teachers were explained. They described an Ape, who taught history. It was ironic because the ape didn't go through it himself
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West [Pages 1-84]
Summary
After analyzing the book not by reading, but by looking at how the chapters and plot points are separated, I think that is is safe for me to assume that this novel is divided into different time periods, represented by milestones and parts of life of the characters. This novel is based off of the hit movie, The Wizard of Oz. I would have a much better sense of this novel if I actually have watched it.
The prologue of this story tells us of a scene of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion. The Wicked Witch overhears them gossiping about her from her castle, and notices Dorothy's sparkling shoes, being convinced that they were stolen from her sister. It ends with her wanting to swoop down and attack her for them, but couldn't because of the storm that was rampaging the lands. This prologue (I think) tells the readers of the "real" reason and point of view of the Wicked Witch from The Wizards of Oz.
We learn about the origin of the Witch, of where she came from, and why she ended up the way she did. The story begins in a town called Rush Margins, to a couple of Malena and Frex. Malena is pregnant with her first child, and Frex being a priest, travels and preaches in the towns he goes to. They begin in an argument, where Malena thinks that the baby is about to be born, and Frex is awaiting to leave to spread his preaches. Frex and Malena speaks of how Rush Margins is full of evil and temptation, and Frex concludes that it was the work of the Devil. He leaves and gets attacked my a lynch mob who were convinced of him being a bad preacher, and through the aid of her friends, Malena is evacuated into a Clock cart called The Clock of the Time Dragon . This was done in fear of her being attacked by the mob just like Frex. Malena delivers her child, and she has green skin, sharp teeth, and a vicious behavior, which she named Elphaba. She is most likely to grow up to become the wicked witch. The couple is horrified of Elphaba, believing that she was a punishment from God.
Quote
"Our Child may not have a small life" (Maguire 9).
Reaction
This quote is ironic in the sense of if the reader knows what is going on. I remembered this quote right away as I read about how Elphaba was born with her distinct traits. We as the readers, are foreshadowed right from the beginning, and we know right away that we are witnessing the story of how the Wicked Witch was created, and what has shaped her. In part two, which I read after picking out this quote, the readers can see the hardship that is placed upon her childhood, which we can assume that affects her future.
After analyzing the book not by reading, but by looking at how the chapters and plot points are separated, I think that is is safe for me to assume that this novel is divided into different time periods, represented by milestones and parts of life of the characters. This novel is based off of the hit movie, The Wizard of Oz. I would have a much better sense of this novel if I actually have watched it.
The prologue of this story tells us of a scene of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion. The Wicked Witch overhears them gossiping about her from her castle, and notices Dorothy's sparkling shoes, being convinced that they were stolen from her sister. It ends with her wanting to swoop down and attack her for them, but couldn't because of the storm that was rampaging the lands. This prologue (I think) tells the readers of the "real" reason and point of view of the Wicked Witch from The Wizards of Oz.
We learn about the origin of the Witch, of where she came from, and why she ended up the way she did. The story begins in a town called Rush Margins, to a couple of Malena and Frex. Malena is pregnant with her first child, and Frex being a priest, travels and preaches in the towns he goes to. They begin in an argument, where Malena thinks that the baby is about to be born, and Frex is awaiting to leave to spread his preaches. Frex and Malena speaks of how Rush Margins is full of evil and temptation, and Frex concludes that it was the work of the Devil. He leaves and gets attacked my a lynch mob who were convinced of him being a bad preacher, and through the aid of her friends, Malena is evacuated into a Clock cart called The Clock of the Time Dragon . This was done in fear of her being attacked by the mob just like Frex. Malena delivers her child, and she has green skin, sharp teeth, and a vicious behavior, which she named Elphaba. She is most likely to grow up to become the wicked witch. The couple is horrified of Elphaba, believing that she was a punishment from God.
Quote
"Our Child may not have a small life" (Maguire 9).
Reaction
This quote is ironic in the sense of if the reader knows what is going on. I remembered this quote right away as I read about how Elphaba was born with her distinct traits. We as the readers, are foreshadowed right from the beginning, and we know right away that we are witnessing the story of how the Wicked Witch was created, and what has shaped her. In part two, which I read after picking out this quote, the readers can see the hardship that is placed upon her childhood, which we can assume that affects her future.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bastards Out Of Carolina (Page 104-153)
Summary
Just as I expected, "Daddy Glen" continues on his personality transformation throughout chapters eight to eleven, but there were some key things that I just have to mention first. Bone is really growing up in these chapters. Her personality changes of course, but the best part about that is that the tone of the novel shifts along with her growth. The views of the novel is not so much more of an innocent eye view, but rather that everything is seen. Everyone of her thoughts are expressed straight on, being a dirty statement or assumption. Bone starts to grow up, not being so much of a child anymore, although she is still in the kingdom of childhood. The chapter begins with her getting beat by Glen, who as stated before, is changing for the worst. He has anger issues and whips Bone, later saying that it hurts him more than it hurts her. Every time she is getting beat, it is in the bathroom behind a locked door. Bone prays for Mama to come save her, and in one situation she did. Mama slaps Glen at that point where he opens the door, and is furious at him. The worst part about this is that later that night, Bone overhears Glen saying that she called him a Bastard (Mama hates that word along with "fool"), and said that she will never love him; but the reality is that it was because she was running in the house. We see that Glen doesn't really love Bone by the way he stares, looks, observes, and by the way he "loves" her. As the summer came, Bone is sent to Aunt Ruth, who is weak now. One thing that I really want to say is that Death brings out memories. Aunt Ruth, looking as if she is going to die, makes others bring up memories of how she was healthy, and brings up regrets.
Quote
"He loves you, Mama was always saying, and she meant it, but it seemed like Daddy Glen's hands were always reaching for me, trembling on the surface of my skin, as if something pulled him to me and pushed him away at the same time" (Allison 105).
Reaction
This quote being said at the beginning of the chapters, grabbed my attention right away. I've actually spent a few moments thinking to myself about it. Here's what I think the last part of the quote means though. I think that Glen was reaching to her as an attempt to loving her, but it is the fact that he really doesn't that's pushing her away. I found this quote very powerful, and told the me how the next few chapters were going to be like.
As stated in the summary, Bones begins to change. In my opinion, she was shaped by Glen's treatment towards her, and that it brought her to realization.
I found it utterly boring when the part about Bone getting into religion kicked in. I found it uninteresting to read, and I admit that I skimmed across some parts of that chapter.
Just as I expected, "Daddy Glen" continues on his personality transformation throughout chapters eight to eleven, but there were some key things that I just have to mention first. Bone is really growing up in these chapters. Her personality changes of course, but the best part about that is that the tone of the novel shifts along with her growth. The views of the novel is not so much more of an innocent eye view, but rather that everything is seen. Everyone of her thoughts are expressed straight on, being a dirty statement or assumption. Bone starts to grow up, not being so much of a child anymore, although she is still in the kingdom of childhood. The chapter begins with her getting beat by Glen, who as stated before, is changing for the worst. He has anger issues and whips Bone, later saying that it hurts him more than it hurts her. Every time she is getting beat, it is in the bathroom behind a locked door. Bone prays for Mama to come save her, and in one situation she did. Mama slaps Glen at that point where he opens the door, and is furious at him. The worst part about this is that later that night, Bone overhears Glen saying that she called him a Bastard (Mama hates that word along with "fool"), and said that she will never love him; but the reality is that it was because she was running in the house. We see that Glen doesn't really love Bone by the way he stares, looks, observes, and by the way he "loves" her. As the summer came, Bone is sent to Aunt Ruth, who is weak now. One thing that I really want to say is that Death brings out memories. Aunt Ruth, looking as if she is going to die, makes others bring up memories of how she was healthy, and brings up regrets.
Quote
"He loves you, Mama was always saying, and she meant it, but it seemed like Daddy Glen's hands were always reaching for me, trembling on the surface of my skin, as if something pulled him to me and pushed him away at the same time" (Allison 105).
Reaction
This quote being said at the beginning of the chapters, grabbed my attention right away. I've actually spent a few moments thinking to myself about it. Here's what I think the last part of the quote means though. I think that Glen was reaching to her as an attempt to loving her, but it is the fact that he really doesn't that's pushing her away. I found this quote very powerful, and told the me how the next few chapters were going to be like.
As stated in the summary, Bones begins to change. In my opinion, she was shaped by Glen's treatment towards her, and that it brought her to realization.
I found it utterly boring when the part about Bone getting into religion kicked in. I found it uninteresting to read, and I admit that I skimmed across some parts of that chapter.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Bastards Out Of Carolina (Page 52-103)
Summary:
Bone's mother marries Daddy Glen. He is a very sensitive man, and he makes her mother very happy. One thing he tries to do is to make Bone see that he loves her, and wants her to love him back. The issue with this is that Bone always sees when "his eyes loses color", indicating that the loving man her mother found is not there anymore. Theres something wrong with him from her point of view, but even she herself can not figure out what it is, thus making their relationship not too close. From the pages I read this week, a sudden shift takes place in Glen's personality. This was very surprising, but awkwardly very predictable. It is hard to explain, but it is one of those situation where a couple seems perfect together until an argument comes across, sometimes seen on drama shows. Well anyways, Glen starts to change for the worst, breaking apart from the family. He and mama are starting to argue more, and money is becoming an issue for them. Glen's short tempered personality is revealed a lot of times in these chapters, showing the true person he is. Although he seems bad, he always apologizes and is sympathetic after each incident.
Quote:
"Mama froze, one hand still lifted to reach toward the bread basket. Her face was like a photograph, black-and-white" (Allison 69).
Reaction:
This was the conflict that I was looking for when after they were married. I predicted that this would happen, just not in the way that I thought it would be like. This quote explained how Mama reacted when Glen yelled at her for the first time, and she did not expect it considering his sweet personality that won her. The family starts to fall after this in my opinion. Their relationship aren't close anymore after, Glen stops talking to the family, and Mama's nightmare of the kids having to starve came true. I don't think that their marriage is going to last much longer actually.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Bastards Out Of Carolina (Page 1-51)
Summary:
Bastards Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison is a novel about the life of a character named Ruth Anne, or "Bones" her family calls her. Her mother did not have a word in the choice of her name, and it was Bone's Aunt and Grandmother that picked out the name. This was after a car accident that left her mom asleep for three days. A name change could not proceed because the two of them had already signed the papers making it official. The nick name came from the fact that she was "no bigger than a knuckle bone", as her uncle says it. Bones in the first four chapters explains the formation of her family and the events that had happened to her in the creation of the family. She has a lot of aunts, and is usually considered different. We find out about how her first father dies, and how she is the only one with his black hair. As the story goes on, she tells us of her mother finally coming to her senses to trust men again, and finds a new husband. Her mother declares that the marriage was not only about her, but her two daughters: Bones and Reese as well; that she is now a wife, and that they both have a father.
Quote
"Other than the name, they got just about everything else wrong" (Allison 2).
Reaction
To be quite honest, this is the quote that actually made me choose this specific novel. As I get further into the book, I can see the deeper meaning into this quote, relating to how everyone else who assumed things about her being wrong. Even the advices and choices that people around her give and make are "wrong". I always keep this quote in mind as I read, making connections.
-This book has a ton of hidden sexual references implanted throughout.
-It was very confusing at first, and I regretted getting this book until I got to the 3rd chapter.
-This book has a great country theme.
Bastards Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison is a novel about the life of a character named Ruth Anne, or "Bones" her family calls her. Her mother did not have a word in the choice of her name, and it was Bone's Aunt and Grandmother that picked out the name. This was after a car accident that left her mom asleep for three days. A name change could not proceed because the two of them had already signed the papers making it official. The nick name came from the fact that she was "no bigger than a knuckle bone", as her uncle says it. Bones in the first four chapters explains the formation of her family and the events that had happened to her in the creation of the family. She has a lot of aunts, and is usually considered different. We find out about how her first father dies, and how she is the only one with his black hair. As the story goes on, she tells us of her mother finally coming to her senses to trust men again, and finds a new husband. Her mother declares that the marriage was not only about her, but her two daughters: Bones and Reese as well; that she is now a wife, and that they both have a father.
Quote
"Other than the name, they got just about everything else wrong" (Allison 2).
Reaction
To be quite honest, this is the quote that actually made me choose this specific novel. As I get further into the book, I can see the deeper meaning into this quote, relating to how everyone else who assumed things about her being wrong. Even the advices and choices that people around her give and make are "wrong". I always keep this quote in mind as I read, making connections.
-This book has a ton of hidden sexual references implanted throughout.
-It was very confusing at first, and I regretted getting this book until I got to the 3rd chapter.
-This book has a great country theme.
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