Baptizing the Gun

Uwem Akpan's "Baptizing the Gun" offers a colorful depiction of Lagos; from people "carrying amulets, clubs, and locally made hunting rifles" through the streets to running over a corpse in the road, explained as a "ritual corpse," meaning "the ritualists cut off the parts they want and toss the remains on the road," the narrator, a catholic priest, is quickly introduced to the extreme circumstances that are considered everyday events in the little town in Niger. Along the way, the narrator meets a Lagostian, a man who remains unnamed throughout the story and is depicted as both untrustworthy and insignificant as far as the narrator is concerned. I can understand the narrator's lack of interest and fear of the Lagostian; I would be unwilling to trust a man in a foreign country who carried a "gun" around in his pocket and just hopped in my car without an invitation.
While Akpan's story was fairly interesting, it seemed to drag on and become a little ridiculous. In a matter of about 15 hours the narrator encountered such a long string of events that it seemed slightly unrealistic and caused me to lose interest after the first few adventures. However, I found the ending amusing since the narrators' fear revolved around the belief that the Lagostian had a gun in his pocket, however it was really just a handkerchief.

Vocabulary
Mallam (in Nigerian): a title for an educated man

Love and Honor and Pity and Pride and Compassion and Sacrifice

"Love and Honor and Pity and Pride and Compassion and Sacrifice" is the first chapter of Nam Le's novel, "The Boat." The author suffers from writers block throughout the chapter, struggling to think of what to write about that will be true and personal enough to be interesting, yet not so personal that the story is too revealing for his own personal life. Driven from a surprise visit from his father, Le decides to write about his fathers past and the differences between him and his father throughout their past. Le reveals a troubling relationship between the two, complicated by abandonment as a child to lack of communication until much later in Le's life, events that continue to pose problems in Le's current life. I think that Le's writers block and struggle to decide what to write about comes from the complications and uncertainty between him and his father. He seems unsure about his past, causing him to be unsure about his present and future as well. The chapter draws to a close when Le's father, "Ba," offers stories about his past, allowing Le to write about them, but then burns his writing without Le's permission. This seems to offer some closure to their relationship and struggles, possibly because his father believes that now that Le knows more about his father's past, they should just put the past behind them and focus on building a better relationship in the future.

Final Pages of The Lazarus Project

I was shocked by the last fifty pages of the Lazarus Project, particularly the final pages in which which Rora was murdered. I find it both clever and ironic that the novel both started and ended with a murder; the murder of Lazarus lead to an investigation which lead to the murder of Rora. In addition to this one event, the entire novel seems to be quite cyclical. The novel continued to go back and forth between the past and the present, however by the end of the novel the division between the two times seemed to diminish greatly. While the times were still divided by chapter, Hemon began to fuse the past into the present through Brik's dreams and thoughts. Also, the theme of dreams connected the two times of the novel, making it somewhat confusing as to what was actually happening and what was simply a figure of one's imagination.
Unfortunately, while I had enjoyed the novel so far, the conclusion didn't please me. As mentioned above, I liked that the novel came full circle with the two murders, however I didn't like that the Lazarus murder wasn't brought back into the novel as a conclusion. I wanted some sort of closure to that time period, and I feel as though Hemon only concluded the portion of the novel with Brik and Rora, rather than that of the initial Lazarus murder. Overall, however, I enjoyed the novel more than most of what we have read so far in the class.

The Lazarus Project

Aleksander Hemon's The Lazarus Project is written in two different time frames; one in the past, written about the murder of Lazarus Averbuch, and Eastern European Jewish immigrant, and the other, in the present, from the perspective of Brik, a writer from Chicago who hopes to ignite his career as a writer through his first novel about the Lazarus Project. This style of writing is interesting yet sometimes confusing to me; while I enjoy it because it keeps me interesting by jumping back and forth and always keeping me on my toes, it also is sometimes more challenging to keep up with because the two stories tend to jumble together in my mind. However, overall I enjoy the novel thus far. I particularly like the relationship between Brik and Rora; I feel as though Rora is the kind of character that everyone believes has a fantastic life and they aspire to be more like him, but in reality his life is much more complicated and far from perfect. I hope that as the story continues we learn more about the true identity of Rora. In addition, I like how Brik is constantly comparing Lazarus Averbuch to the biblical Lazarus. While I know very little about the biblical Lazarus, Briks' interpretation of the similarities between the two and their sisters seem to parallel. I am intrigued by the novel and enjoy it more than most other things we've read so far this semester.

Literary Festival Blog

I went to the readings at 356 with Leigh Anne Couch and Oindrila Mukherjee. Leigh Anne Couch, a graduate of UNCG, read five poems, three of which were selected from her new works. My personal favorite of her poems was "Learning to Use the Stick," which is written in an optimistic tone, encouraging the blind boy to "learn how to be blind." She says, "you're not alone" and "there's no use looking down," as words of encouragement, suggesting that the boy "open his eyes" to the world of the blind and learn how to make the best of it.
Following Leigh Anne Couch, Oindrila Mukherjee read the prologue of her newest novel, The House of Rain. Mukherjee, originally from India, read to us about her experience of travelling to England to attend Cambridge University. She used very intricate details to describe the sounds and colors throughout her encounters at the airport, on the plane, and after arriving in England. She expresses disappointment when describing her first moments in England because she had fantasized about it for so long and imagined it as the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, she arrived in England feeling alone and completely the same as before she had arrived, without new inspiration or feelings of a new life.
The readings at 356 were very interesting. I've never been to a reading before, and it was definitely a different experience to hear the readings by the author herself rather than reading the readings on my own.

After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town

After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town seems to ultimately center around the concept of American capitalism, particularly its negative aspects. While the article starts with the success of Cowboy Chicken, an American fried chicken restaurant that an American entrepreneur started in China, the success seems fleeting in comparison to all the trouble it soon causes. After a short time, Mr. Shapiro and Peter, the owner and manager, decide to expand the restaurant into a buffet, a classic American concept that seems so bizarre to the Chinese who are accustomed to much smaller availability of food. The Chinese quickly become obese, and after some time, many become ill after consuming such massive amounts of fried chicken and cheesecake, American foods that shock the stomachs of the Chinese. While this essay never blatantly critics the American way of capitalism, it seems to imply that capitalism will, if it hasn't already, destroy America, or any other country it consumes. Ha Jin clearly displays how the American way of buffets and fast food contribute to obesity and poor health in people, as well as the stress and forced nature of a capitalistic business. I'm interested to see if the appearance of McDonalds and other American dietary styles in countries overseas leads to as many health issues as it has in America, or if this is simply an American flaw.


Vocabulary:
Bandora - a musical instrument, similar to the guitar, played in the Renaissance era

Glengarry Glen Ross

David Mamet's play "Glengarry Glen Ross" perfectly depicts the American business. The entire play revolves around different forms of scheming and greed, all in hopes to achieve power and the alluring American Dream. Levene's misfortune throughout the play, mostly due to his own gullibility and novice nature when conducting business represents the amateurs in the business world, the ones who hope to reach the benefits of the American Dream, but unfortunately will. On the other hand, Roma depicts the greedy, always profitting businessman who is determined to get what he wants, no matter the consequences or how many others he may step on in the process. Williamson, the boss, represents the enemy in the corporation, the one who seemingly has all the power but is easily overridden by employees, such as Roma, who pay no regard to the rules of the company whatsoever. Overall, Mamet seems to have written the play to point out the multitude of problems associated with the American business system: while it supposedly brings profit, creates ease and organization, and leads to the beloved American Dream, Mamet seems to believe it is more trouble than it's worth. The never-ending plotting, scheming, and greed of corporations don't represent the American beliefs of freedom and prosperity, and Mamet ultimately seems to be attacking this flaw.

The Same River Twice - Chris Offutt

Chris Offutt's The Same River Twice is a memoir written by Offutt along the banks of the Iowa River. It switches back and forth between past memories of his youth and present day worries about becoming a father. I find this very interesting, especially how different the two times of Offutt's life seem to be. The stories of his youth are written with such passion and, at times, vulgarity, where as his present day writings are much more composed and filled with concern. Presently, he seems to worry about even the simplest aspects of being a father; he writes, "Nothing has ever quite roiled me like that diaper leaking around each chubby leg..." showing his true weaknesses and concerns, a side of him that seemed non-existant in his youth. I think this drastic difference really highlights the transformation Offutt has gone through from adolescence to a married man on the brinks of fatherhood.
While this difference seems so immense, one common aspect seems apparent throughout both chapters of Offutt's life: his love for nature. The majority of his stories from his youth take place in nature, and all his present day thoughts are recorded on the banks of the river, a place where he could escape from all his problems and just reflect on life. I think this really shows that, although people may change as they age, certain aspects of ones life will always remain the same.

River of Names - Dorothy Allison

Dorothy Allison's River of Names focuses on two young lovers reminiscing about their childhoods. The narrator, unfortunately, had a much more troubling childhood than her lover, Jesse, so retelling her childhood stories troubles her greatly. As a child, she was frequently beaten and raped by her stepfather. In addition, she witnessed many births and deaths within her family, causing her to have few true connections with her "family" because they came and went to so quickly within her life. Jesse, on the contrary, had a simple and pleasant childhood, filled with happy and typical memories. Oddly enough, Jesse finds the narrators life amusing and fascinating; her stories of death and disappearances of family members only make her laugh.
This story was particularly troubling to me because I can't begin to imagine how difficult the narrators life. It really made me appreciate my life and how lucky I am to have such good memories from my childhood and to have formed so many meaningful relationships with my family members.

Guest Blogger: Jon Lepage

"America"
America is free but not really free,
America is the land of oppurtunity with no sure oppurtunity
America is the American Dream with few sleepers
America is the America that you make it.

The Crying of Lot 49 - Chapter 6

Vocabulary:
Infanticide - a person who murders an infant
Sodden - expressionless, stupid, and dull, especially from drink

I feel like Pynchon shifted the focus of the novel in chapter six. In the previous five chapters, the main goal of the novel was to learn about the Tristero, the muted horn symbol, and W.A.S.T.E., however, in the sixth chapter, Pynchon focused more on Oedipa learning about herself. Her personal struggle and concern that everything in her life was being staged to fool her reminded me of The Truman Show. In that movie, every character's life revolves around the main character, Truman. He lives his entire life thinking that he is a normal citizen, but at the end of the movie realizes that in fact his life is all being set up to deceive him, very similar to Oedipa's concerns at the end of the novel.

Overall, I was not impressed by Pynchon's conclusion to The Crying of Lot 49. While I understand that Pynchon's point in ending the novel in this way was to show that Oedipa is now coming to peace with her own emotional turmoil, I was annoyed that Pynchon didn't announce who the bidder was, considering that would have concluded the entire purpose of the novel up until that point.

The Crying of Lot 49 - Chapter 4

Vocabulary

Philatelist - a collector of stamps
Marauders - someone who roves and raids in search of plunder

After reading chapter four of Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49, I feel like the focus of the novel has shifted slightly. In the previous three chapters, Oedipa Maas was mostly concerned with dealing with the affairs of the recently deceased Pierce Inverarity. However, the focus of the fourth chapter seemed to be more centered around discovering the meanings of the muted horn symbol and W.A.S.T.E. However, some themes of the novel thus far continue throughout chapter four, specifically her constant involvement with men. It seems as though everyone even remotely involved in the Pierce affair is a male, as well as other seemingly insignificant characters in the novel, such as the two men on the bench at the beginning of the chapter whose hands "alternately kept falling onto her thighs." Oedipa seems to attract men from all around, and she frequently attempts to use her allure to gain information to answer her multitude of questions. However, this chapter overall seemed to frustrate Oedipa. While she constantly questions people about the muted horn symbol, no one so far is willing to inform her of anything helpful. In fact, the mute in the horn seems to parallel the mute nature of the people who know the secrets of it, as well as the extreme secrecy of the situation. After reading chapter four, I'm a little concerned that Oedipa has bitten off more than she can chew with the Pierce case, and that some enormous secret about Pierce's life will soon be exposed.

Fences Act 1

August Wilson's Fences focuses on the life of an African-American man in the late 1950's. Scene 1 begins with Troy and Bono drinking at Troy's house and recapping about the previous week at work. This scene seems to foreshadow much to come, including Troy's mysterious relationship with a woman named Alberta, Troy's disgruntled attitude towards his son, Lyons, and his lack of support for his son Cory's football career. As act 1 continued, these relationships developed further. Troy seemed to be lying about his trip to Taylor's to watch the game, considering he couldn't even remember the final score, causing me to question whether he actually went to watch the game or to visit Alberta. In relation to his struggling relationship with his son, Lyons surprises Troy by paying him back on a recent loan, causing me to question why exactly Troy seemed to dislike Lyons so much since he seemed like an honorable young man. Also, Troy's failure to support his other son, Cory, continued throughout the Act as he forbids Cory from playing football in college, and even for the remainder of high school, demanding that instead Cory continue his work at the local A&P. As far as I can tell, Troy seems to take out most of his frustrations with his life on others. For instance, I think he is still annoyed that he was unable to fulfill his dream because he was too old to play baseball in the major leagues. Because of this, he resents his son Lyons for being able to pursue a career as a jazz musician, and he also resents his son Cory for receiving the chance to play football past high school. Also, I view this potential relationship with Alberta as an outlet for his frustrations and an excuse to escape the "fences" he's built between himself and his family.

VOCABULARY - Overall, there weren't any words I was unfamiliar with, however the dialect and style the author uses was sometimes hard for me to interpret.

The Glass Menagerie Scene 7 & The Catastrophe of Success

Vocabulary
Candelabrum - branched candle, ornamental, multiple lights
Menagerie - a collection of live animals for study or display

Scene seven of Tennessee William's "The Glass Menagerie" concluded the play on a somewhat bittersweet note. While the first six scenes of the play focused on both Tom and Laura's struggles, scene seven offered several moments of hope and potential happiness for the family. Laura reconnects with Jim, her so-called "gentleman caller," and miraculously opens up to him despite her inability to open up to anyone else other than her family. However, Laura returns to emotional turmoil when she learns that Jim is engaged, and her only chance at love is smothered immediately. Tom, on the other hand, concludes the play by abandoning the family in search of freedom and to "fill his father's shoes." While this act most likely causes stress to his mother and sister, he is finally setting out to gain the freedom he had always strived for. As he leaves the home he says, "Blow out your candles, Laura - and so, goodbye..." marking his embark to a new life without them.
In his short story, "The Catastrophe of Success," William expresses his anger and frustration of being famous. He hates people congratulating him on his play; he hates having people wait on him; he hates not doing anything on his own anymore. He says, "You should not have many people waiting on you, you should have to do most things for yourself." I completely agree with this statement; overall, I would say that I generally feel much better about myself when I do things for myself, feeling much more accomplished afterwards.

Sonny's Blues

Sonny's Blues is a short story that focuses on the struggles of the narrator's brother, Sonny, growing up in Harlem. The narrator spends the majority of the story reminiscing on several not so fond memories of his past with his brother after reading in the newspaper of his brother's recent arrest. The narrator recollects on the tension between him and his brother ever since their parents death, recalling the hateful letter he received from Sonny years before, as well as countless arguments and misfortunes in their life leading up to years without communication.
The story concludes with the narrator picturing a happier moment with his brother when he watched Sonny play piano with a friend at a local club. At that moment, the narrator realized and accepted Sonny's true talent in life of playing the piano. He bought Sonny a drink, and the two shared a moment of acknowledgement of each other's differences. This conclusion of the novel brought the story to a close in peace.
Overall, the theme of the story seemed to dwell on accepting others, no matter the circumstances and differences. While Sonny and his brother agreed on very little, they eventually were able to come to terms with their differences, bringing the story to a happier close, greatly contrasting the otherwise gloomy mood of the story of the brothers' lives.

Week 2 - Birches by Robert Frost

Vocabulary:
"...they are dragged to the withered bracken by the load..." - an area of weedy ferns
"...one by one he subdued his father's trees..." - conquered

Robert Frost's, "Birches,” is a poem written in blank verse in which the lines do not rhyme. Frost focuses on the bend of the branches of the birch trees around him, imagining that they are bent due to young boys swinging on them rather than the recent ice storm. While this initially seems to be the main focus of the poem, I would argue that it actually focuses more on Frost's recollection of his childhood when he himself was once "a swinger of birches,” and how he “dreams to going back to be.” Frost appears to be at a later stage in his life in which he is reminiscing on the good days of his childhood and truly appreciating those little moments of his life.
As the poem continues, the focus tends to shift to show Frost’s more recent feelings in life. He says he’d “like to get away from earth awhile, and then come back to it and begin over,” possibly implying he is nearing the end of his life and believes in the concept of death and rebirth. Several lines later, he mentions that he’d “like to go by climbing a birch tree, and climb black branches up a snow-white trunk toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more…” once again exposing his desire to end his life in a way that his childhood could be revisited. To conclude the poem, he states that climbing the birch was a journey that was “good both going and coming back,” possibly paralleling his life in that all portions of it were truly enjoyable.
This poem particularly hits home for me because my grandfather is currently nearing the end of his life, and everyday he seems to remember further and further back in his life, some days as far back as his childhood. I hope that he too believes that nearly all portions of his life were enjoyable.

Letter of Introduction

      In high school, I took AP english both junior and senior year. I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare, or really any literature written before the 20th century, which is why this class particularly appealed to me. I know that many people believe that older pieces of literature can be applied to life today, but personally, I usually fail to see many similarities. I feel like people, places, and life itself are constantly changing to the extent that old literature can't relate to the present day. I'm excited to read more recent works.
      The best novel I have ever read was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's slightly mysterious, written in 2005, and spins from the September 11th terrorist attack. I also really enjoy the Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews. As far as writing, I would hardly call myself a writer of any sort. I've always gotten by in English classes, but I've never been a star pupil by any means. I'm not a big fan of writing poetry, however in eighth grade my teacher told me that one of my poems was among the best she'd ever read. To be honest, I feel like that poem must have been written out of sheer luck. Nevertheless, I do what I need to and try to write to the best of my ability in order to achieve the desired grade.
       Quite frankly, I'm taking this class to fulfill the gen ed literature requirement. I was sort of dreading that  requirement due to my lack of stellar English abilities, however, this course seemed interesting since it focussed on more recent literature, as well as a variety of literature, from poems to novels to plays, so it seemed more interesting and diverse. I'm currently in the pre-professional health program, however I hope to change my major to Psychology. I love learning how to analyze people's behaviors and motivations, so this major seems much more appropriate for me than a major full of science and structure.


Came from North Carolina
Live in Holmes Hall
Excited for a new semester
Made a lot of new friends
So tired of dining hall food already
Obsessed with football
Never boring!

Yes, this is a terrible attempt at a poem. I had to resort to the good ol' acrostic. I'm sorry in advance.