In the second short story I was able to relate one of my life experioences to one of the thinngs that happen to Wes when the Chef drove up to the house and told him that he needed to move out in a month, " I heared Chef say to WesGod knows he was sorry but he was going to have to aske us to leave at the end of the month"
I can relate to this in a way because ever since I have lived in Bogota I have always lived off rent and once me and my family were finally confurtable in this perfect house the owners had told us that we had to move out because his sister was moving back to Bogota. We had only lived there for 8 months when we were planing to live there for at least two years.
So this part of the short story reminded me of that time.
lunes, 10 de marzo de 2008
domingo, 9 de marzo de 2008
Story # 1 Peacock
In the short story called"Feathers" by Raymond Carver, I thought that the title was very interesting, but at the same time acquward because the Peacock does not have much to do with the main part of the story. The peacock only has a wierd impact on Fran and the narrator when they get to Buds house and the peacock pops out of the trees.
"Goddam, I said again, we stayed where we were in the front seat. The bird moved toward a little. Then it turned its head to the side and braced itself. It kept its bright, wild eye right on us. Its tail was raised and it was like a big fan folding in and out. There was every color in the rainbow shining from that tail."
I would have personaly givin the short story a different title, maybe something about the ugly baby, or about the unusual mold of Olla's old teeth. I definetly would have used a title using these different parts of the short story.
"Goddam, I said again, we stayed where we were in the front seat. The bird moved toward a little. Then it turned its head to the side and braced itself. It kept its bright, wild eye right on us. Its tail was raised and it was like a big fan folding in and out. There was every color in the rainbow shining from that tail."
I would have personaly givin the short story a different title, maybe something about the ugly baby, or about the unusual mold of Olla's old teeth. I definetly would have used a title using these different parts of the short story.
jueves, 6 de marzo de 2008
Section 31-40
" When you do something that you determine is to be done, never try to not be seen doing it, even if most people are likely to think something bad about it. If you are not doing it rightely avoid the act itself; If you are dong it rightely why do you fear those who will criticize you wrongly?"
I chose this quote from the text because I did not seem to understand it in the begining. When I read it over and over again I found it quite interesting to analize and reflect my life with it. I personally think that I can relate to the statement because if you put all your effort into doing something and you are completely sure you are right about it, there is no reason why you should fear those who will critisize you, corectly or incorectly.
I can relate to this because I tend to speak about things and then when I hear another point of view it sometimes makes me change my mind about that thing. So reading and understanding this quote made me realize that sometimes you just have to stick to your own ideas and no matter how much criticsm there is about my opinions and who is the one who is doing the to criticsm.
I chose this quote from the text because I did not seem to understand it in the begining. When I read it over and over again I found it quite interesting to analize and reflect my life with it. I personally think that I can relate to the statement because if you put all your effort into doing something and you are completely sure you are right about it, there is no reason why you should fear those who will critisize you, corectly or incorectly.
I can relate to this because I tend to speak about things and then when I hear another point of view it sometimes makes me change my mind about that thing. So reading and understanding this quote made me realize that sometimes you just have to stick to your own ideas and no matter how much criticsm there is about my opinions and who is the one who is doing the to criticsm.
domingo, 2 de marzo de 2008
The End
In general I think that the whole book was interesting, but the only thing I was not crazy about was the ending. I enjoyed the way the author used many details when describing the different scenes and especially the beach scene. "When I went outside, the sun was up. Above the hills that separate Marengo from the sea, the sky was streaked with red. And the wind coming over the hills brought the smell of salt with it. It was going to be a beautful day."
I really thought there was going to be more of a climax in the ending, not just him basically giving up and then waiting for his death. I was disapointed with that kind of ending and it made me think much less of the whole book.
I really thought there was going to be more of a climax in the ending, not just him basically giving up and then waiting for his death. I was disapointed with that kind of ending and it made me think much less of the whole book.
Pg. 98- 107 Absurd
“Fumbling a little with my words and realizing how rediculous I sounded, I blurted out that it was because of the sun. People laughed.” I think that this quote is important because you can see how even he is realizing that something is not ok. That everything that is happening is because of the person he assasinated. Also that giving lame excuses like that is not going to get him anywhere
Pg. 82-97 Listen and Appreciate
After going through a rough time in court, it is clear to see that in this part of the book a simple thing you do not get to experience in prison can make days worthwhile living for. Even though your rights have been taken away the little things can take on a new importance.“As I was leaving the couthouse on my way back to the van, I recognized for a brief moment the smell and color of the summer evening. In the darkness of my mobile prison, I could make out one by one, as if from the depth of my exhaustion all the familiar sounds of a town I loved and at a certain time of day when I used to feel happy. The cries of a newpaper vendors in the already languid air, the last few birds in the square, the shouts of the sandwich sellers, the screech of the streetcars turning sharply through the upper town and that hum in the sky before night engulfs the port.” Here you can see how much he appreciates just a few seconds of sounds of everyday normal life before entering the van. This is something he is not able to experience in jail so when getting the opportunity to really listen, it is something he really end up appreciating.
Pg. 72-81 Memories
Once you are stuck in jail it is really hard to keep yourself busy at all times. Not only that but having to get used to the way of life, for example sleeping on a hard board or even going to the bathroom in a small bucket and when any guard can walk by and watch what you are doing.
But something that helps getting away from this way of life is using you good memories
“Apart from theses annoyances, I was not too unhappy. Once again the main problem was killing time. Eventually once I learned how to remember things I was not bored at all. Some times I would get to thinking about my room, and in my imagination I would start at one corner and circle the room, mentally noting everything there was on the way. At first it didn’t take long.”
But something that helps getting away from this way of life is using you good memories
“Apart from theses annoyances, I was not too unhappy. Once again the main problem was killing time. Eventually once I learned how to remember things I was not bored at all. Some times I would get to thinking about my room, and in my imagination I would start at one corner and circle the room, mentally noting everything there was on the way. At first it didn’t take long.”
Pg 63- 71 Consicuences
When commiting a crime, some people find it really hard to realize they have done it but in the other hand there are people that do not realise they have commited a crime at all.
" I looked at him and saw a tall, fine-featured man with deep-set blue eyes, a long grey moustache, and lots of thick almost white hair. He stuck me as being very reasonable and overall, quite plesant, despite a nervouse tic which made his mouth twitch now and then. On my way out I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time I remembered that I had killed a man. The next day a lawyer came to see me at the prison."
Here you can see that he does not show much intrest, emotion or concern to the fact that he killed a man. It is hard to imagine that a person can just forget that they took someones life away. That is not something you can just forget about from one day to another. When you kill some one you have to be aware of the consequences that a person faces and will get for doing such a horrible act. He did not seem to do that in the begining and he just went on as if it were some kind of a game.
" I looked at him and saw a tall, fine-featured man with deep-set blue eyes, a long grey moustache, and lots of thick almost white hair. He stuck me as being very reasonable and overall, quite plesant, despite a nervouse tic which made his mouth twitch now and then. On my way out I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time I remembered that I had killed a man. The next day a lawyer came to see me at the prison."
Here you can see that he does not show much intrest, emotion or concern to the fact that he killed a man. It is hard to imagine that a person can just forget that they took someones life away. That is not something you can just forget about from one day to another. When you kill some one you have to be aware of the consequences that a person faces and will get for doing such a horrible act. He did not seem to do that in the begining and he just went on as if it were some kind of a game.
sábado, 1 de marzo de 2008
Pg 47-59 The Beach
In the last chapter of the first part I thought that having the descriptions of the scenery on the beach really had a lot of meaning because up until now the most meaningful moments of his life have been on the beach. An example of this is when he is meeting Marie for the first time after not seeing her for a long time. This scene took place on the beach.
But this time it was an important part of his life as well as it was also a bad part of his life at the same time. His life is completely switched from being a regular life, to one where there is pain and happiness, to a life that there was no more freedom.
But this time it was an important part of his life as well as it was also a bad part of his life at the same time. His life is completely switched from being a regular life, to one where there is pain and happiness, to a life that there was no more freedom.
Pg 41-46 Boring
I personally thought that this chapter was boring because nothing really important happens and it describes different events that happen in the main characters life.
The chapter has a sequence of events that really did not lead anywhere or have much of a climax in them.
The only part that I found that was impressive was about the lady in the restaurant and what happened to her in the sequence of events. I never found the real connection to the story and it seems to be just this random lady going through a random day.
"I had already started eating when a strange little woman came in and asked me if she could sit at my table. Of course she could. Her gestures were jerky and she had bright eyes in a little face like an apple. She took off her jacket, sat down, and studies the menu feverishly."
The chapter has a sequence of events that really did not lead anywhere or have much of a climax in them.
The only part that I found that was impressive was about the lady in the restaurant and what happened to her in the sequence of events. I never found the real connection to the story and it seems to be just this random lady going through a random day.
"I had already started eating when a strange little woman came in and asked me if she could sit at my table. Of course she could. Her gestures were jerky and she had bright eyes in a little face like an apple. She took off her jacket, sat down, and studies the menu feverishly."
Pg 34-39 Appreciation
Salamano seems to spend most of his time with his dog but, it is ironic how Salamano does not appreciate his dog when he has him, but when he seems to lose him he finally shows that he cares. It is like when you have something we do not really tend to appreciate it until we lose it, and then its too late as it is gone forever.
"From a distance I noticed old Salamano standing on the door step. He looked flustered. When he got closer, I saw that her did not have his dog. He was looking all over the place, turning around, pearing into the darkness of the entry way, muttering incoherently, and then he started searching the street again with his little red eyes."
I am sure that losing his dog was hard on him but sometime when things are not appreciated time flies by and once it is gone it is too late. Also by losing his dog, he begins to lose his routine, his daily plans can become all mixed up and confused.
"From a distance I noticed old Salamano standing on the door step. He looked flustered. When he got closer, I saw that her did not have his dog. He was looking all over the place, turning around, pearing into the darkness of the entry way, muttering incoherently, and then he started searching the street again with his little red eyes."
I am sure that losing his dog was hard on him but sometime when things are not appreciated time flies by and once it is gone it is too late. Also by losing his dog, he begins to lose his routine, his daily plans can become all mixed up and confused.
Pg. 25-33 Monotonus
What I thought was the most interesting part of this Chapter was Salamano, who has a dog. He walks the dog every day, at the same exact time, in the same exact way. "They havent changed their route in eight years. You can see them in the Rue de Lyon, the dog pulling the man along until old Salamano stumbles. Then he beats the dog and swears at it. The dog cowers and trails behind. Then it is the old man who pulls the dog. Once the dog has forgotten, it starts dragging its master along again and again and gets beaten and sworn at." If I was the old man I would change my routine because things that are very monotonus make me bored, are not exciting and what never changes is boring, atleast for me.
If I would take out my dog for a walk, I would do so at different times, change my daily routine each day, and take a new route for our walks. Maybe in this way the dog will realize when its ok for him to pull on the leash and when it is not ok to do so. Perhaps instead of only taking him out to walk, I would just teach him some new tricks here and there and then his life will be less monotonus and boring, and the combination of walks and tricks will be more interesting for the two of us.
If I would take out my dog for a walk, I would do so at different times, change my daily routine each day, and take a new route for our walks. Maybe in this way the dog will realize when its ok for him to pull on the leash and when it is not ok to do so. Perhaps instead of only taking him out to walk, I would just teach him some new tricks here and there and then his life will be less monotonus and boring, and the combination of walks and tricks will be more interesting for the two of us.
Pg 19-24
After Mammans death, he got back to his normal daily life, and it is always hard to get back to your every day routine after losing some one special. Not having what to do, who to speak with, or any way of spending your time, when you basically cannot really find anything to do and you are not able to keep yourself entertained by anything, you start thinking about that person you miss so much. You really can not admit that they are gone even though its the last thing you want to think about.
For example "After lunch I was a little bored and I wandered around the apartment. It was just the right size When Mamman was here. Now its too big for me and I ve had to move the dining room table into my bedroom. I live in just one room now with some saggy straw chairs, a wardrobe whose mirror has gone yellow, a dressing table and a brass bed."
Its kind of like Murphies Law, when you least want something to happen to you, it is then when the probabilities of that thing happening goes up so high that they reach the fact that it ends up happening. Even though Meusald does not admit the fact that he misses Mamman, the book in a way is giving us small hints that deep inside he really does miss her in his own way.
For example "After lunch I was a little bored and I wandered around the apartment. It was just the right size When Mamman was here. Now its too big for me and I ve had to move the dining room table into my bedroom. I live in just one room now with some saggy straw chairs, a wardrobe whose mirror has gone yellow, a dressing table and a brass bed."
Its kind of like Murphies Law, when you least want something to happen to you, it is then when the probabilities of that thing happening goes up so high that they reach the fact that it ends up happening. Even though Meusald does not admit the fact that he misses Mamman, the book in a way is giving us small hints that deep inside he really does miss her in his own way.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)