I think one of the things I like most about this book is the description of Jacob as an old man. As a society we act very condescendingly towards old men, and I think the fact that we read so much about him when he was young helps us from feeling that way about him. I also think the way he describes the aging process is very interesting. At the beginning of Chapter One, he starts by saying "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other" (5). Then he talks about how your view of your age changes throughout your life, until finally it just doesn't really matter anymore.
When he talks about his meals and about how much he misses eating real food, its almost depressing. He's a ninety-year-old man. He's had a full, long life, and he still have enough energy and teeth to really want a good steak or something. Shouldn't he be able to have that? Really, who are all of these people to tell him what he can or can't eat? I'm kind of disappointed in his children for putting him in this dump. I know they have lives and can't be taking care of their father all of the time, but I wish they could've at least done something about this... maybe put him in a better home?
That's why I really like Rosemary. On page 105, when Jacob complains about no one ever asking him what he wants, she actually listens to him and asks him simple questions instead of just writing him off as a cranky old man and doing things her way. How do you guys feel? Did these descriptions give you a newfound appreciation for old farts?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Beating of the Bull
I was horrified by August's brutal treatment of Rosie, but more so by Jacob's failure to prevent his cruelty. When August runs off to smash Rosie with the bull hook, Jacob stares gaping at him. As he later says, "I don't know if the elephant is smart enough to connect me to her punishment and wonder why I didn't do anything ot stop it, but I am and I do" (171). Jacob should be upset with himself. As the show's veterinarian he has to protect the animals and his failure to do so reflects poorly on his character. Do you agree that Jacob's failure to protect the elephant he supposedly "loves" is a failure or was he just not in a position to stop August from acting?
For me, Jacob did redeem himself through his treatment of Camel. Not only did he go to the old man when he was in need, but he went out of his way to help him and his jake leg. He hands over his father's pocket watch to the doctor in order to pay for the examination. This shows how caring a person Jacob is. He sacrifices one of his prized possessions (I'm inferring here, as it's not said but it is his dead father's gift to him) in order to save a man he hardly knows and who he knows has an incurable problem. So what really irked me was the doctor's condescending tone. At one point Jacob notes, "By the time we reach the battered cars of the Flying Squadron, his face is pinched in disgust" (189). Under normal circumstances, the doctor's rudeness would bother me, but because an old man finds out he is temporarily paralyzed and Jacob sacrificed an heirloom for the appointment, his impolite behavior annoys me to the extreme. Do you agree or did you find the doctor's response natural as Camel did bring his paralysis upon himself?
For me, Jacob did redeem himself through his treatment of Camel. Not only did he go to the old man when he was in need, but he went out of his way to help him and his jake leg. He hands over his father's pocket watch to the doctor in order to pay for the examination. This shows how caring a person Jacob is. He sacrifices one of his prized possessions (I'm inferring here, as it's not said but it is his dead father's gift to him) in order to save a man he hardly knows and who he knows has an incurable problem. So what really irked me was the doctor's condescending tone. At one point Jacob notes, "By the time we reach the battered cars of the Flying Squadron, his face is pinched in disgust" (189). Under normal circumstances, the doctor's rudeness would bother me, but because an old man finds out he is temporarily paralyzed and Jacob sacrificed an heirloom for the appointment, his impolite behavior annoys me to the extreme. Do you agree or did you find the doctor's response natural as Camel did bring his paralysis upon himself?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Marlena and August need a divorce
Marlena and August are a terrible match. I don´t understand why they´re together in the first place. Marlena has such a caring, generous personality, while August seems to be bipolar. I´ve been reading ahead so I´m not sure if you´ve read it, but August treats the animals brutally while Marlena seems to communicate with them. There´s a difference between opposites attract and complete-totally opposing personalities attract. One passage showed how different they were. When Uncle Al rejects members of the new circus, Marlena shows sympathy. She declares, "I can´t eat with those poor souls out there" (120). August says that it´s actually a kindness to let them starve through some illogical argument. Do you agree that they are poorly matched or is there a reason that Marlena is with him?
Now on to Rosie the elephant. Oddly enough, I went to the circus on Monday and I saw an elephant. For that reason, I find it impossible for Rosie to be stupid. This might sound ridiculous, but at the circus I was looking at the elephant and it looked back at me and it seemed so...wise and ancient. It felt kind of like the elephant knew something I didn´t and that it was a superior being. So when I read that Rosie "ain´t done a damned thing since but eat" (127) I decided it was not because she was dumb, but because she was smarter than the human who tried to manipulate her. Although we haven´t gotten to the part in the book for which it is named, I´m wondering if the mention in the title means that the book is about wisdom. Just as Jacob sees beyond the elephant´s stubborness and finds wisdom, maybe he will have a similar revelation in his life.
Now on to Rosie the elephant. Oddly enough, I went to the circus on Monday and I saw an elephant. For that reason, I find it impossible for Rosie to be stupid. This might sound ridiculous, but at the circus I was looking at the elephant and it looked back at me and it seemed so...wise and ancient. It felt kind of like the elephant knew something I didn´t and that it was a superior being. So when I read that Rosie "ain´t done a damned thing since but eat" (127) I decided it was not because she was dumb, but because she was smarter than the human who tried to manipulate her. Although we haven´t gotten to the part in the book for which it is named, I´m wondering if the mention in the title means that the book is about wisdom. Just as Jacob sees beyond the elephant´s stubborness and finds wisdom, maybe he will have a similar revelation in his life.
Oh the Elderly
First off, I love the elderly Jacob. He has such a vibrant personality, which I`m happy to see in contrast to the way old people are normally portrayed as senile and decrepit. He´s....spunky. My favorite part in this section was when he shoved his food and they decided to put him on anti-depressants. When he hears the doctor talking about this he shouts, "I´m not deaf, you know! Just old!" (68). For me, that passage showed his spunk. I hate to think that doctors think that the elderly are invalids and Jacob proves them wrong with this outburst.
Another section that I found interesting was the description of Uncle Al. When I picture him, I think of a vulture, a vulture with a pot belly and a ringmaster suit that is. He has such a scavenger personality. The way that he created his circus demonstrates this. He is described as "sopping up the remains" of failing circuses and "he grew fat off their carcasses" (77). It was bizarre to think of his circus growing like a patchwork quilt. It´s not just the way that he acquired the circus that´s vulturelike, also his interactions with the workers. He takes advantage of his workers by dragging them this way and that to add to his circus. Did you have a similar reaction to Uncle Al? He´s quite the character.
Another section that I found interesting was the description of Uncle Al. When I picture him, I think of a vulture, a vulture with a pot belly and a ringmaster suit that is. He has such a scavenger personality. The way that he created his circus demonstrates this. He is described as "sopping up the remains" of failing circuses and "he grew fat off their carcasses" (77). It was bizarre to think of his circus growing like a patchwork quilt. It´s not just the way that he acquired the circus that´s vulturelike, also his interactions with the workers. He takes advantage of his workers by dragging them this way and that to add to his circus. Did you have a similar reaction to Uncle Al? He´s quite the character.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Water for Elephants
Once again, Christmas isn´t celebrated and this is my only chance to access a computer, so... Water for Elephants it is.
First off, I loved how the book started out with a vivid memory. While it is bizarre, I can tell that the book is descriptive, which means that I´ll like reading it. The passage that stood out to me was, "She lifted the stake high in the air and brought it down, splitting his head like a watermelon. His pate opened, his ezes grew wide, and his mouth froze into an O" (4). Not only was this passage described well (I particularly enjoyed the watermelon part. I actually pictured juice flowing from his skull; gory but well-worded), but it was interesting because we don`t know who Marlena is, yet we already know so much about her. For instance, later when the narrator sees her for the first time, she is talking to the man that she will later kill. The scene described prior to this made me pay special attention to her interactions with him. Do you feel the same way? Also, based on what we have read, do you think Marlena´s act was just or not?
I also found the segregation of the performers and the workmen interesting. I feel like this will be a major part of the book later, perhaps with Marlena and Jacob´s relationship. I noticed how the men, like Camel, act different around the performers and the workers. Camel is gruff and casual with Jacob, but sucks up to the ringmaster. Uncle Al seems to have no respect for his workers, although he should as his show would not go on without them.
First off, I loved how the book started out with a vivid memory. While it is bizarre, I can tell that the book is descriptive, which means that I´ll like reading it. The passage that stood out to me was, "She lifted the stake high in the air and brought it down, splitting his head like a watermelon. His pate opened, his ezes grew wide, and his mouth froze into an O" (4). Not only was this passage described well (I particularly enjoyed the watermelon part. I actually pictured juice flowing from his skull; gory but well-worded), but it was interesting because we don`t know who Marlena is, yet we already know so much about her. For instance, later when the narrator sees her for the first time, she is talking to the man that she will later kill. The scene described prior to this made me pay special attention to her interactions with him. Do you feel the same way? Also, based on what we have read, do you think Marlena´s act was just or not?
I also found the segregation of the performers and the workmen interesting. I feel like this will be a major part of the book later, perhaps with Marlena and Jacob´s relationship. I noticed how the men, like Camel, act different around the performers and the workers. Camel is gruff and casual with Jacob, but sucks up to the ringmaster. Uncle Al seems to have no respect for his workers, although he should as his show would not go on without them.
Wayan´s House and the Coconut Baby
So first off, I know it´s strange I´m writing on Christmas, but in Germany they celebrate Christmas Eve not Christmas so today´s not really a holiday (just an explanation for why on earth I´d do homework on Christmas). Anyway, in this section, I was astonished by Wayan. In a previous post, I mentioned how her sassiness made her one of my favorite characters in the memoir, but after reading about her manipulative nature, she no longer is. I realize that it´s a part of her culture to utilize Westerners, but it alarmed me none the less. Though Felipe tells Liz, "This is her survival tactic, just accept that (320)," I was not sympathetic. Were you?
The section I loved the most in this chapter was the description of the blessing for the baby. In particular, I loved that, "The mother held an effigy of the baby--a coconut swaddled to look like an infant" (316). It was used to trick demons into attacking the coconut, rather than the baby when it first stepped onto the ground. Additionally, I thought that the description of how the Balinese idolize their babies relates to American culture. While we do not consider babies actual gods, we revere them and think of them as the most pure, wholesome creatures. I was happy to see a connection between the two different cultures. Did you enjoy this section as well?
Finally, what was your opinion on the book in general. While I did not like the author´s personality, I enjoyed reading about the different cultures and finding ways to connect them to our own. I also found the writing witty and relatable. Do you agree/disagree?
The section I loved the most in this chapter was the description of the blessing for the baby. In particular, I loved that, "The mother held an effigy of the baby--a coconut swaddled to look like an infant" (316). It was used to trick demons into attacking the coconut, rather than the baby when it first stepped onto the ground. Additionally, I thought that the description of how the Balinese idolize their babies relates to American culture. While we do not consider babies actual gods, we revere them and think of them as the most pure, wholesome creatures. I was happy to see a connection between the two different cultures. Did you enjoy this section as well?
Finally, what was your opinion on the book in general. While I did not like the author´s personality, I enjoyed reading about the different cultures and finding ways to connect them to our own. I also found the writing witty and relatable. Do you agree/disagree?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Next Book
Could we read Water for Elephants next? Ms. Kindel recommended it, and it sounds interesting.
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