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.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)