The Rabbi's Cat

I really enjoyed reading the story “The Rabbi’s Cat”. It was so interesting and really kept my attention throughout the entire book. There is a big difference between this book being a comic instead of a novel. The kitty in the book changed so much throughout the book. The artist was able to really focus the reader’s attention on the cat and how he was being portrayed. This is a great way to show how important the cat is and what he is going through. Also with the cat the change of font really makes the story able to follow and interesting. The cursive is just what the cat is thinking while the print is what people actually said. I think that the pictures were displayed wonderfully throughout the entire book. Now this is a biased opinion because you only hear how kitty reacts to everyone and how he feels. It’s not as clear what is really happening.  He is such a different character. He goes about without a care in the world and does exactly as he pleases. He makes for a good narrator.

Not only did I find kitty interesting but I also found the Rabi to be a very interesting character. He is a great example of someone who is very traditional but yet is comfortable with his surroundings he lets loose a little. Kitty and him made a very interesting duo throughout the book and really went well together and balanced each other out. 

This book was a lot like the movie “Ca Twiste a Popenguine”. In this movie it also incorporated their native language Wolof a little bit throughout, but they mainly spoke French. In “The Rabbi’s Cat” they must know all know French but hardly anyone speaks it.  I thought it was very interesting that no one speaks their native language but yet most know it. It would make sense for everyone to speak it I think, however they believe that it is sacred and only should be used at certain times.  

Nervous Conditions

The story we are reading "Nervous Conditions" is an interesting one. It discusses a lot of different problems in it. Everything from education to gender roles to tradition. It's so interesting to see how things go throughout the story. The society they live in is so different than ours is here today.

The main character who I could mostly relate to is Tambu. She is such an interesting person. I value the fact that she got to finally go away to school and that she is liking it so much. She is very open to the idea of change and adapting greatly. I myself am the same way. I'm always up for change I like the fact that the story can be viewed as an autobiography from the writer herself. All the young girl wants is to make something of herself and not be like everyone else in her family. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to do it. She's such a unique person. Especially after she doesn't even care that her brother is dead. I get that some people experience things a little differently and handle it differently but its so interesting that this is how she deals with it. I personally myself experience things this way. I tend to not let things bother me and try to hide it as much as I can. I can't wait to read more and see where this character continues to go.

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Stories

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

The stories we had to read this week by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o were much harder to read than most of the stories we had to read. One I found particularly interesting was “Wedding at the Cross”. The whole time reading this I felt so bad for the single mother. She wasn’t single, but really she was because her husband didn’t do anything for her. I was so happy with the ending that she finally stood up to him and wouldn’t marry him. This story reminded me a lot of my life in a way. I used to be engaged to someone who went away to the military and when he came ended up being a completely different person. I was the one who called it off in the end because I wasn’t going to marry this new person. I think that is why I enjoyed the story so much, it reminded me of myself. I also found it interesting that they kept referring to the husband as having died and being another man. That part of him and the person he used to be did die. That person no longer exists.

Another story we had to read “Minutes of Glory” also was a page turner. This one was the most confusing by far. Yet again the ending is what made the story. I felt like the women Beatrice was lowering herself and being just like the rich people in the story. By buying the clothes and wanting people to pay attention to her she was giving in to them and not being true to herself. The people she once hated she had become. This is so typical in today’s world.  Everyone says they hate certain types of people and groups, but yet given the opportunity they would become them too. I found it interesting that her love interest in the story didn’t have a name. When reading I thought she wouldn’t have a name either because she could represent everyone else in the world. Whether we like to think that way or not it is true. A lot of people would give up anything to be that rich person who wears the nice clothes no matter if they say they would or not. The only thing is she acted on who she wanted to be like. Good for her to be able to do that. She knew the consequences when she did it and was willing to except her punishment. No one may agree with what she did is right but it’s what most people I think would do if given the chance. Because of that little charade she is now happier and more content. Good for her.

Both stories were very interesting to read!

Nadine Gordimer

We have read some interesting but yet disturbing stories this past week by Nadine Gordimer. She is a great African writer and made the stories we had to read for the week some of the most interesting yet. She allowed you to look at racism in a different light and see it from different perspectives.

The most disturbing one yet was “Six Feet of Country”. I don’t understand how anyone could care so little about someone who had just died. The white owner of the farm had no respect for the young black man who had just died. He didn’t care anything about him or even try to help get his body back. This story really bothered me. I don’t understand how anyone could just not care about someone like that. He treated everyone on the farm like he was better than them, including his wife. She was on the same level as the people who worked in the farm. How insulting to women! I saw it as being very racial and discriminating against women. Women are meant to work and not get any recognition for it, along with the black workers.  This really relates to the “white people” just being the boss and telling others what to do. They have their own way of thinking and think it is the right way. I don’t understand how people can think and act this way.

In the second story “Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants” it is about a young white woman who decides to trust someone who in the end turns out to be bad for her. I can relate to this story completely. It is hard to know who to trust and who is actually just looking out for you. As a women myself I understand how it can be hard to speak up at times, but in this womens situation she was just downright blinded by the guy who kept taking advantage of her. Sadly there are women out there today who would react the same way she did. Throughout the whole story she was actually being protected and watched over by the black man. This just goes to show you race doesn’t matter.

I never really learned about Apartheid in school. So I’m glad we got to discuss it in class. It made me realize just how big of an impact it has on society. People can be so mean to one another and not care about the actual person. It’s scary to see people who act this way. Makes me feel so sad for them too that they could be like this. It definitely opened my eyes up. 

Chinua Achebe

All three of the stories by Chinua Achebe, ("Girls at War", "The Madman" and "An Image of Africa" were all surprising very interesting to read and kept my attention. I most enjoyed the one title "Girls at War". It seemed so scary to me to have think that a women would have to do sell herself or other stolen goods just to get money for her family. Not to mention all in the same time having to worry about not getting killed. I partically enjoyed the ending where you find out that the good woman dies by trying to help someone and the bad man lives. Life is unfair this way. It happens everyday. There is a famous quote that says "only the good die young", in this story that proves true. It gets your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked. I could see this playing into a good movie some day. Also the fact that Africa is actually this way is just frightening. I never would have imagioned a place being like this. It made me realize even more how grateful I am to live in the country that I do. By the end of  the story I felt bad for the women even though she was kind of given a bad reputation. She was only trying to defend for herself and survive the world. As I think about this now I can't see myself ever having to stoop to that but in all reality I don't know how I would be in that situation.

Also in the story "The Madman" this also proves that the good doesn't always win over the bad. Granite no one dies but in the end the actual good person is labeled as crazy while the true crazy person is believed to be the normal good one. This also spiked my interest. It's scary to think about how someone completely sane and just your average person could be labeled crazy and the whole city start to believe it too. I can't even imagion having that happen to me. That would be so scary. I wouldn't even know what to do with myself. Especially if there is no way that you can prove the truth that you are sane. Society today is a lot like this. For one little thing you do that is considered out of the normal you can be labeled. People are so judgemental these days that they are quick to label you.

Both of these stories were scary to read and actually think that they could happen. This made both however very interesting to read.

Felix Mnthali

The short story " Stranglehold of Enlish Lit" by Felix Mnthali was a different one to read. It helped a lot that the professor read it a lot to us in class and we got to discuss it a little bit before being told to read it by ourselves. Overall it was a good poem to read but definitely not one of my favorites, although I am not a fan of poetry in general.

I found it a little humorous that Felix Mnthali was making fun of Jane Austen. I personally have never read any of her books but I know the premise of what they are about. All the same typical problems occur in each book, a girl wants to meet a boy and get married. The problems her characters have to go through are nothing compared to what really happens in Africa. They are filled with tons of romance as well. When reading this poem I really understood Felix’s frustration with her and the way books are read in Africa. He is mad that the stories children read aren’t what really happens in Africa. It shouldn’t be all about love it should be more about the work that goes into life and the hardships that they face. It isn’t fair that students should have to read something that doesn’t relate to their own native region. He is very frustrated with the writings in Africa and wants them to change.  I think in the poem he gives a very strong voice to this and is almost yelling at the audience to listen to him. I found this very effective when reading it.

When reading this I thought it was a lot like the short story we read “Gentleman of the Jungle” in the fact that the main character doesn’t want to give in to the government’s rules. Felix feels the same way. He doesn’t want to give in to what everyone else is teaching but there is only so much that you can do. Its hard being in this position when you think you know what’s right but no one else will listen or change for you. Both are faced with so many obstacles and they just want to change.

I agree completely with Felix. I don't feel as though students should have to read books that don't even deal with their culture or way of life. It is beneficial for them to know what else is going on in the world and to get a different perspective, but when it comes to certain things they need to know whats going on in their own world and in their own language. 

Like Water For Chocolate- The Book

The novel "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquirel I thought was such a good book to read. I recommend it to anyone who likes a good romance story. The recipes throughout the novel were very good! It made me want to go out and make them. Without them it would have been a completely different story. The fact that the emotion you have when cooking affects what others think when they eat your food is very interesting. I know some people really do believe in this. The magical realism in it was great. It really sucked you into the story and made you believe in the food. Throughout the whole story I really felt like Tita should have ended up with John. He treated her good and would do anything for her. It made me very mad that Pedro married her sister. I don't think that was very appropriate of him to do. Also, the men in the story were not given very many lines. I found that interesting because it made it more about the women then the men, which I liked.

The whole title "Like Water for Chocolate" I found was very interesting. I took it as another way though then what we discussed in class. I agree that Pedro is the chocolate and Tita is the water, she definitely has her moments when she is boiling over but then all is calm again. But also the story talked about how you can use milk to mix in the chocolate instead. I found this to be Rosaura since he marries her and everything is still okay, but he doesn't get the same reaction as when he is mixed with Tita (the boiling water). Also chocolate is believed by some to make you go crazy in love. It is known as an aphrodisiac to some. Which makes is why Tita goes crazy for Pedro all the time. All in all the book title is perfect and it goes along great with recipes.

Zorro Reader Response

The Zorro graphic novel I thought was so interesting! Before reading this I had never read or watched anything about Zorro. But this graphic novel it actually one that is interesting. It was so much better to read than a novel. I got so wrapped up in the story it was such an easy read. The fact that Zorro goes through so much to become Zorro is inspiring. After everything happening with his mother it really takes a toll on him. He sees her get murdered and everything, I'm not sure I would be able to overcome something like that. The fact that they used Spanish throughout the no were saying anything. It made it feel more like I was actually in the novel. I could picture everything that was going on so much better. Being that I know some Spanish it was really neat to understand what they were saying.

The graphics are so emotional and they don't even have to say a lot or show a lot in them. The way the artist shows the boxes by making them smaller, bigger, or separate and its own thing really gets the idea of how you are supposed to read the story across. It shows the reader what is most important while reading. The graphic that touched me emotionally was the rape scene. Even though they actually didn't show anything but a bed and legs hanging over, that picture spoke more words than any other picture would have. It left it all up to the reader to decide what was going to happen. The fact that it didn't say anything left so much more of an impact. You knew what was  going to happen and could only imagine what was going on. That is one of the most powerful and emotional pictures I have ever seen. Especially for not even having that much going on in the actual picture.

Feelings on Borges

I will admit that starting out I did not care for Borges at all. His first story that we had to read  "The Garden of Forking Paths" both did not interest me. It was very hard to follow. In "The Garden of Forking Paths" I really like the meaning from it as well with the whole which path should you follow, but I thought it went on for too long. The story could have been summarized in a short paragraph instead of pages.


Now with that being said there are two of his stories that I did end up liking. "Emma Zunz" and "The Gospel According to Mark". The one about Emma Zunz was very interesting. It felt like a thriller to me the whole time. I was kept on my toes wondering what was going to happen next. I really understand after discussing this in class just how important that last sentence was about the two different worlds. It made me like the story even more. Here Emma told his whole story about how her father died and so she went and found the killer and killed him herself. Then she goes and tells the police a completely different story. And for the rest of her life people will think of her (ones who know the made up story) as a helpless person who killed someone by protecting herself. While the whole time she is going along in a different universe living the truth. It's very interesting to think what certain people know about you and perceive you to be like. No telling how many different realities you are living in.

"The Gospel According to Mark" was also one that was very worth reading. A few parts of it were difficult to understand, like the young girl coming into his bedroom late at night. But the overall story in general I enjoyed. It related a lot to the bible. Especially when they were talking the flood and everything. The ending was a real shocker that I should have guessed coming. All throughout the story the man teaches them the world of God. It really relates to him being "Jesus", especially the ending when they pull out the boards in the shape of a cross.

My View on Márquez

Márquez wrote two very interesting short stories. The first entitled "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" I think many people could relate too. I felt horrible for the angel because everyone kept treating him so badly. He was the one who didn't fit in and wasn't taken care of. I feel like this relates to a lot of people. They are the odd one out and everyone just ignores them. They don't pay any attention at all that he is even an angel. They treat him like he is worth nothing. I don't think this is right. The people who he lives with build this great big house and then make him live out in the back. People are like this today. They are willing to build big houses for themselves but not do anything for anyone else. The story really got me frustrated and made me feel so bad for the angel. Then he gets sick and there is no one to even take care of him. I don't think anyone should have to go through something like that alone.

 

In the second story "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" I thought was very funny. It reminded me of the movie "Weekend at Bernie's". They take something as sad as someone dying and change it into a comedy. The whole story is built up with the people of the village taking the mans body and gossiping about it all over town. They become so involved with the body they begin to imagine his life. Then they just throw it off a cliff. What a way to end a story. They spent so much time working on him and then just dispose of him like its nothing. I really thought that it was a good way to describe how some people are today. They build something up in their mind so great that they start to believe that's the truth. The whole town started believing the stories about Esteban. I thought it was rather comical and interesting how they spoke about him.

Both stories are very similar. Both could clearly never happen for starters. They are too fictional. Both goes into detail about a man who is treated great and then despised by the people in their city. It hooks you in and makes you feel bad for both of the men. It just goes to show you how people really can act.

The wake,the park & Axolotls

The story we had to read about the family who takes over the whole funeral I could really relate too. I felt like I was part of the family. There have been times before when my family has gone and taken over something. Not to the extreme that this family took over but still something significant. I know what it is like to have something that you want to do and have be taken from you. Society is a lot like this today in many aspects. People always act like this and want to take over and become in charge, even when it is not their right to do so. It's how a lot of society is being brought up. They are control freaks. Not only that they are taking something that is important and defacing the value of how important it is. This story really represented the realism.

In The Continuity of Parks it was so hard to follow at first. But once I reread it I really understood where the author was going at. I got almost so wrapped up in the story that I thought I was the one in the chair for a brief moment. Cortazar does a great job at changing the entire story up. To do something this great and have it done correctly takes a lot of skill. I enjoyed reading this story. It really goes to show you how magical realism can trick your mind. Stories like this need to be written more often.

In the last book we read, Axolotis, it really showed magical realism. Cortazar takes you into a place and uses the fish as an example to show you people change. He does this in great detail up until the last paragraph where the narrator becomes one. It was so interesting to show how the guy related to them. The way he described everything really makes you seem that you are in the story and it's not just talking about the fish like creatures.

Popol Vuh: The Dawn of Life

The Popol Vuh was a very interesting story to read. It is the Mayan version of the Bible. It talked about how the God’s wanted to make people who would worship them and obey their preaching’s, which goes completely different from the Christian Bible that says Adam and Eve were made to bring other humans into this world. It’s not the actual way that I think the God’s (actually I only believe there is one God) made people but it was an interesting take. Growing up in a Christian household I have always believed that there is one God and the he did his best work the first time. He didn’t need to create different prototypes and keep attempting to get the humans right. They either weren’t smart enough didn’t have a soul or couldn’t function properly like the God’s wanted them too. It was very creative but yet different in the way that they made them out of wood and mud and other materials. It was a very good story to read for this fact, showed great imagination. I don’t really agree with the fact that they wanted humans just so they had someone to worship them. They sound very self centered around themselves. That shouldn’t be the purpose for creating life. But with that being said it does make sense. Different parts of the Popol Vuh did follow along with parts of the Bible and sounded the same. It gives me a different perspective on how things could be. It’s good to not be so one sided on things. I enjoy reading about other cultures and religions and find it very interesting.