I do not like the way this story was written. You seem to be lost most of the time from the beginning. My first thoughts were. In that time where women just blind idiots? Could they not do anything by themselves? Where they so fragile that they had to be looked after? This was the first part of the story.
From the line half way down the page on 1136 it says “she came to me and, putting her hands over my eyes, gently drew my head back upon her shoulder, saying tremulously, “Don’t love it so well, Clark, or it may be taken away from you.” From this point on I could understand her timidness and reservation. It seems that she loved it so much at one time that she couldn’t get enough. But then she fell in love and moved to where these things where not as common to people like her husband who had no money for such frivolous things. She had to love them in her mind and memories.
Paul’s Case is a likable story, however kind of dull. You can tell that the author like the music and art world and likes to add it to her stories.
This is how I felt reading the beginning of the story:
Seems that the theme in this story is still going on today in schools. The teachers talk about not judging a book by its cover, but what they actually do is just that. Maybe they should get to the root of why he does some of the things that he does. If they just took the time to get to know him they would see what they think is inappropriate he see’s as common place.
But then it kind of lost me, it didn’t matter how many times I read it, it just didn’t make since. But it was apparent that Paul loved the music and the art and wanted to live in that world. I don’t think that steal was the best way to go about it but what can you say. Then killing himself that seemed kind of odd just for stealing. Maybe that’s just me. Like I said it lost me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Zora Hurston "How it feels to be colored me" & Six
I really think that we need to stop reading and writing and in general talking about the stupidity of our great nation, when they decided to treat black people as slaves. I think that it is time for America to move on. I don’t agree with the way people of color where treated back then and I would have been the first person to stand for someone of color. That being said I am tired of that time in America being used as a crutch for the black people of today. I think that it is completely ridiculous for a black person of today to use slavery as a means to win an argument or to start an argument. It happened in the past it has been rectified now lets move on. I also do not think that it should be taught in schools now. I don’t think we should have to read it or learn that it happened and hears why:
I feel bad when I read stuff like “How it feels to be colored me”. I had to sit threw the segregation part of history and watch video’s of what when done to people as they tried to protect their children who had been moved to an all white school. You know what I was doing while I watched that film? CRYING!!! I wish that I could go back and fix it, but I can’t. My children also felt bad when they have to read about it in school. I understand that it is a part of our history. However, it’s over with.
I also don’t think that a black child in school should have to sit threw watching or reading some of the things that where done to people of their race just because the color of their skin. Some of them feel bad after it, and some of them turn angry and expect that they are owed something. Let’s just let it be.
As for the story "The Gilded Six-Bits" she was a very talented writer. If you remember, people of color had no traditional schooling. I am sure this story has been cleaned up a little for reprinting in this book but it still does not detract from her talents as a writer.
I feel bad when I read stuff like “How it feels to be colored me”. I had to sit threw the segregation part of history and watch video’s of what when done to people as they tried to protect their children who had been moved to an all white school. You know what I was doing while I watched that film? CRYING!!! I wish that I could go back and fix it, but I can’t. My children also felt bad when they have to read about it in school. I understand that it is a part of our history. However, it’s over with.
I also don’t think that a black child in school should have to sit threw watching or reading some of the things that where done to people of their race just because the color of their skin. Some of them feel bad after it, and some of them turn angry and expect that they are owed something. Let’s just let it be.
As for the story "The Gilded Six-Bits" she was a very talented writer. If you remember, people of color had no traditional schooling. I am sure this story has been cleaned up a little for reprinting in this book but it still does not detract from her talents as a writer.
Robert Frost
I really don’t like poetry, but I am sitting here reading “Home Burial” by Robert Frost and I’m thinking. Doesn’t it seem like a bunch of drama? It seems so Gone with the Wind to me. I mean who really acts like that. So I am thinking…. Hmm maybe that is why I don’t like poetry? I do know that I am not one of those people who like to deal with drama; I like to say what I need to say and move on.
However, I will say it is one of the better poems that I have read. I could actually read it and understand what the author was saying. I liked the fact that he wrote simply, he seemed to be writing for all to read. In most of the poems that I have read so far it seems that the author goes out of his way to use words that the common person would not understand. Maybe that had something to do with the way society was back then. I am not really sure.
I also really like the Fire and Ice poem; however the last two lines lose me. What does that mean? I also like Nothing Gold Can Stay. But while I am reading this one I think. May be the reason I don’t like poetry, is because I have to STOP and Think?
The rest of his poems had that craziness to them that made no since to me. I could read them over and over and still couldn’t get the meaning. Guess that means I’m simple minded. Who knows? Something else I wanted to mention was the fact that this man, a valedictorian, a farmer, went to Dartmouth. Maybe it wasn’t then what it is NOW but that’s impressive. Not only that but he took off a year and then went back to Harvard. Most things that you read today say’s that when a father dies the son has to pick up the slack. His dad died when he was eleven so his mother must have been rich or cared a lot for education.
I also don’t understand the meaning of poetry. Isn’t it supposed to rhyme? You know, like Doctor Seuss. : ) I love that guy.
However, I will say it is one of the better poems that I have read. I could actually read it and understand what the author was saying. I liked the fact that he wrote simply, he seemed to be writing for all to read. In most of the poems that I have read so far it seems that the author goes out of his way to use words that the common person would not understand. Maybe that had something to do with the way society was back then. I am not really sure.
I also really like the Fire and Ice poem; however the last two lines lose me. What does that mean? I also like Nothing Gold Can Stay. But while I am reading this one I think. May be the reason I don’t like poetry, is because I have to STOP and Think?
The rest of his poems had that craziness to them that made no since to me. I could read them over and over and still couldn’t get the meaning. Guess that means I’m simple minded. Who knows? Something else I wanted to mention was the fact that this man, a valedictorian, a farmer, went to Dartmouth. Maybe it wasn’t then what it is NOW but that’s impressive. Not only that but he took off a year and then went back to Harvard. Most things that you read today say’s that when a father dies the son has to pick up the slack. His dad died when he was eleven so his mother must have been rich or cared a lot for education.
I also don’t understand the meaning of poetry. Isn’t it supposed to rhyme? You know, like Doctor Seuss. : ) I love that guy.
The Literature of the Twentieth Century (1900 - 1945)
After reading The Literature of the Twentieth Century (1900 to 1945) it is amazing to me that after all this time and everything that has been written The Wizard of Oz has still remained a true classic. That is one and I’m sure there are a couple more but everyone including children can say”I love that Story/movie”. Everyone has heard of it. I don’t like a whole that of things that where written back then but I guess American had to start somewhere. This stuff just doesn’t appeal to me and it is hard for me to do good work if I don’t have anything that I want to say about it.
Now on the other hand, on page 982 & 983 they started talking about the reform movement. Anyone who is a woman should have plenty to say on this subject. I am glad to say that it was about time that women could start thinking about better ways to earning money. Better that they could marry for love and not have to think about their position in society or marry for money so that their parents could stay wealth. Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. I’m glad that women could think of themselves as a commodity to be bargained or traded, and start thinking of themselves as a person who could make decisions just like any man.
After reading this section I was thinking about how much the world then compares to the world now. Why do we always have to fight about something to have a right to do it? Why do people have to put their two cents in if it really doesn’t affect them? If there is something that you truly believe in why can’t you just do it? I think that some people feel that it is there right to open their mouths about anything, just to argue about it. For example: If you don’t like a book that was written, don’t read it. If you don’t like a painting, don’t look at it. And if you have to make a comment just do it and go on about your business. There is no reason what so ever for there to be a petition and legal battles just to have it taken out of circulation. It is just not needed. (I was speaking about the crap about The Adventures of Huck Finn)
SORRY TO GET ON MY SOAP BOX!!!!!!
Now on the other hand, on page 982 & 983 they started talking about the reform movement. Anyone who is a woman should have plenty to say on this subject. I am glad to say that it was about time that women could start thinking about better ways to earning money. Better that they could marry for love and not have to think about their position in society or marry for money so that their parents could stay wealth. Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. I’m glad that women could think of themselves as a commodity to be bargained or traded, and start thinking of themselves as a person who could make decisions just like any man.
After reading this section I was thinking about how much the world then compares to the world now. Why do we always have to fight about something to have a right to do it? Why do people have to put their two cents in if it really doesn’t affect them? If there is something that you truly believe in why can’t you just do it? I think that some people feel that it is there right to open their mouths about anything, just to argue about it. For example: If you don’t like a book that was written, don’t read it. If you don’t like a painting, don’t look at it. And if you have to make a comment just do it and go on about your business. There is no reason what so ever for there to be a petition and legal battles just to have it taken out of circulation. It is just not needed. (I was speaking about the crap about The Adventures of Huck Finn)
SORRY TO GET ON MY SOAP BOX!!!!!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
"Tennessee's Partner" Harte
I am going to reiterate as I have done before the words written in this blog ARE MY OPNIONS AND ONLY MY OPNIONS. I am not a scholar of Literature and nor do I claim to be. If I offend anyone then please don’t read my posts.
I did not like this story. How anyone could read this is beyond me. It made absolutely no since and the words even though they may be used in the right text, truly didn’t seem to be. This story reminded me of one of those people that you meet who try to make themselves seem really smart by adding as many twenty dollars words as they have in their vocabulary. It seems to me that this author did just that or sat with a dictionary on his desk and looked for bigger and more complicated words than what he used in his everyday vocabulary. I could not get to the meat of the story without having to read and reread. That to me does not make a good story. The only thing I can tell you was that Tennessee lived with his partner. His partner had a wife. Tennessee said something to her and she ran off, he tried to bring her back but she fell in love with someone else. Tennessee was stricken by grief for having run his partners wife off and not being able to bring her back that he robbed someone. Then there was a trial, but they had already made their minds up that he was guilty. He was hung (I think, that was not made clear). His partner took his body. The partner’s health began to decline. Then he died and they met in death. This was a very badly written story and not one that I liked ready.
I did not like this story. How anyone could read this is beyond me. It made absolutely no since and the words even though they may be used in the right text, truly didn’t seem to be. This story reminded me of one of those people that you meet who try to make themselves seem really smart by adding as many twenty dollars words as they have in their vocabulary. It seems to me that this author did just that or sat with a dictionary on his desk and looked for bigger and more complicated words than what he used in his everyday vocabulary. I could not get to the meat of the story without having to read and reread. That to me does not make a good story. The only thing I can tell you was that Tennessee lived with his partner. His partner had a wife. Tennessee said something to her and she ran off, he tried to bring her back but she fell in love with someone else. Tennessee was stricken by grief for having run his partners wife off and not being able to bring her back that he robbed someone. Then there was a trial, but they had already made their minds up that he was guilty. He was hung (I think, that was not made clear). His partner took his body. The partner’s health began to decline. Then he died and they met in death. This was a very badly written story and not one that I liked ready.
"Editha" Howells
The story “Editha” by William Dean Howells was a good story. After I read it though the biggest emotion I felt was anger. How dare Editha use George’s love for her to make him do something he didn’t feel was right. He didn’t really want to go to war, and even though she did not give him the letter before he had decided to do it he could still tell in the way she acted. But the letter itself that really made me angry and I’m sure that is what his mother felt two. She said she wanted him to be free, I think she meant that she wanted him to make his own decision, but she really did not want that at all. It was like she was saying: do this, go to war or we can never be married. What a bunch of crap. I really liked the way Mr. Howell wrote the part when George came to Editha’s house after being named Captain. I felt like George was in hysteria, asking himself “what have I done”, but portraying to everyone else how glad he was of the honor. I believe in the story he was really conflicted. Wanting to be the hero Editha wanted and wanting to do what was ingrained in him from his family and what he felt was right. His mother was my favorite character, truly a wise woman. I liked the way she put Editha in her place. She was right Editha did not deserve to wear black she did not deserve to mourn George she was the reason he had gone in the first place (If this was something that George had decided to do on his own and not been pushed into it, that would be a different story). I really wish that before he went to war he would have confided in his mother first instead of waiting until after. All in all I think it was a well written story and the language wasn’t very hard to follow like in the other stories.
"Huck Finn" Twain
I had a really hard time reading this story, Not only because the dialect was hard to read and understand, but because of the way the "N" word was used so often. Because of experiences when I was growing up that word, when used makes me angry. So every time I read it I wanted to close the book and stop reading......
I am not sure that this is a story that I would let my kids read. I didn’t like the way the children talked about being robbers and murdering people as if it was nothing more than taking out the trash. The little adventures in the book where funny but the thing that seemed to ring true for me was that no one was what they seemed to be and that everyone was only out for money. Huck however, wanted away from it and didn’t want Jim to be a slave.
For his age and his education Huck seemed to be very intelligent and thought things out very well. This helped him in all his escapes and his adventures. And in the end Huck may say he doesn’t want to be civilized but he really does. All he really wants is a safe place to call home and people who care about him.
I am not sure that this is a story that I would let my kids read. I didn’t like the way the children talked about being robbers and murdering people as if it was nothing more than taking out the trash. The little adventures in the book where funny but the thing that seemed to ring true for me was that no one was what they seemed to be and that everyone was only out for money. Huck however, wanted away from it and didn’t want Jim to be a slave.
For his age and his education Huck seemed to be very intelligent and thought things out very well. This helped him in all his escapes and his adventures. And in the end Huck may say he doesn’t want to be civilized but he really does. All he really wants is a safe place to call home and people who care about him.
"White Heron" Jewett
I would say the same for this story “White Heron” as I said about the story before it. I guess that the newer generation has been tainted by some truly awesome writer’s. It also doesn’t help trying to read these stories when our language has changed so much. But here I will compare the two authors. In my opinion Freeman is a better writer. In Jewett’s story I kind of got lost between the hopping frog and the ending. At first it seemed as though she didn’t want him to find the bird. Then suddenly she went to wanting to climb the tree to see the ocean and with an afterthought thrown in there she would see if she could spot the heron. But I thought she already knew where the next was? I also believe that Freeman was a little more educated then Jewett, just from reading there stories. All in All if I had not read the books that I have read and this was the only book there was I would probable believe their where the best authors I had every read. Like I said, I believe we are Jaded. She did have a great moral to her story (where does your loyalty lye). What makes me decide if I like an author is if, at the end of the book I sit back and think. Whatever it maybe “how would I have handled that” or just “WOW”. Again these are just my opinions.
"New England Nun" Freeman
I feel like I just lost a year of my life. You can tell that the world has changed a lot from then. It has defiantly gotten a lot busier. I couldn’t imagine one of my days being that slow. I am one of those people that multi-tasks bad. I go crazy if I’m not busy. The story was so slow I was trying to stay focused to finish, but I could feel myself trying to pull away or trying to speed it up. These books or story’s are classics but I’m finding myself really having to struggle to type 300 words. The story itself seemed to be about a women who was waiting for a man (something I will never find myself doing) and because it was so long in coming she had grown comfortable with her life as it was and with her surroundings. I also believe she did not really want a big man coming into her life to have to pick up after. Nor did she seem to what to have to deal with his mother. She seemed to be a little obsessive with her home and her belongings, to have to pick up after someone else. Mr. Dagget, I’m sure would have wanted to have kids also, and I don’t believe this is something she would have been big on. So in Marrying Mr. Dagget she would be giving all this up. I don’t believe when he returned this was something she wanted to do anyway. I believe she was very happy when she realized he would only be marrying her for honor, this made it very easy for her to say no and continue to live her simple and comfortable live. All and all I think she made a very smart move. I do not think she was really in love with Joe, It just seem to be what was expected of them. These are just my thoughts on the story.
Emily Dickinson
After reading Emily Dickinson’s Intro on page 188 I was wondering. Did she never marry because she was gay? Is that what they meant by the love letters to her sister in law, Susan? This is probably why she isolated herself, why she only had a few people she connected with and why she was always in the garden away from everyone. My thoughts when I read it was either that or she had a disability. Also, I am so glad I did not live in that time. I mean I like the mannerisms and the sophistication of the time period, But I could never be the little women who tended to the home. It looks to me, from the readings that the men in her family where very well educated. Her grandfather was a founder of a college. Her father and brother where lawyers. I know that in this time period only males where educated, but it is surprising that this did not rub off on her (when your mother or father says, it’s spoke to; not speakern to). I just figured she would have picked more up since her family was a prominent one. Or maybe she just didn’t care that her poems had these flaws. Maybe it was enough that they where hers, and in that aspect she didn’t want a man’s correction, just (as the reading said) his approval. I wonder if she really wanted these Poems published. She only let four of them be published when she was alive. Maybe she did not want anyone to see these? Or maybe she just wasn’t confident in herself to let anyone see them. Who can say? I cannot comment on the poetry, not with any sort of intelligence. Poetry just sounds like gibberish to me, I guess maybe because I don’t understand the words? “I never lost as much but twice, and that was in the sod.” Page 189. I just don’t understand what that means. And for that, I suffer. : )
Introductions
Hi everyone, I enjoying reading very much. I read books like The In Death series by J.D. Robb, Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell, Cross series by James Patterson and so on. There a morbid trend there huh? =D (its what I do for a living) I do not so much like reading poetry or books like Romeo and Juliet because I get stuck on the language and it fustrates me. I know I am missing out because of that but.... I just cant get past it. I had a really hard time getting through Huck Finn for that reason. Anyway... hope this class goes well for everyone. GOOD LUCK.
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