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.
Friday, December 31, 2010
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.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Four Brothers, Wayan, and Tutti
I think that the whole idea of being surrounded by four invisible "brothers" your entire life is interesting. It's a strange idea to think that they arise from the extra birthing material, but the idea that someone has "four brothers with her in the world wherever she goes, and that they will always look after her" (251), is reassuring to me. Ever since reading it, I've wondered if that feeling you get, as if someone is following, isn't really a creepy thing. Maybe its just your four virtues in spirit form surrounding and protecting you.
Wayan and Tutti are definitely up there with Ketut on my list of favorite people in this memoir. I love how bold Wayan is. The society in Bali is so strict, and women are oppressed, but Wayan has taken control over her life. She divorced her husband, she runs her own business, and she's...not afraid to speak her mind. My favorite thing about Wayan is that no matter how much she suffers, she still tries to help people. She adopted Little Ketut and Big Ketut, the two orphans, even though she has no money. As Liz writes, "How a Balinese single mother facing evictoin found it in her heart to take in two extra homeless children is something that reaches far beyond any understanding I've ever had about the meaning of compassion"( 272).
But the best part in this section of the book, maybe in the entire memoir, was the description of Tutti and her small, blue tile. I can picture her crouched on the floor with her eyes scrunched, trying to imagine a life for herself. It was such a powerful image for me. I loved how she was described as "willing that little blue tile of hers to soften and expand around her and to grow--like one of Jack's magic beans--into an actual home
(274). I also loved how Tutti's name means "Everybody." Out of all the characters in the book, Tutti is my favorite, because she has such a powerful impact on people, despite being a child.
Wayan and Tutti are definitely up there with Ketut on my list of favorite people in this memoir. I love how bold Wayan is. The society in Bali is so strict, and women are oppressed, but Wayan has taken control over her life. She divorced her husband, she runs her own business, and she's...not afraid to speak her mind. My favorite thing about Wayan is that no matter how much she suffers, she still tries to help people. She adopted Little Ketut and Big Ketut, the two orphans, even though she has no money. As Liz writes, "How a Balinese single mother facing evictoin found it in her heart to take in two extra homeless children is something that reaches far beyond any understanding I've ever had about the meaning of compassion"( 272).
But the best part in this section of the book, maybe in the entire memoir, was the description of Tutti and her small, blue tile. I can picture her crouched on the floor with her eyes scrunched, trying to imagine a life for herself. It was such a powerful image for me. I loved how she was described as "willing that little blue tile of hers to soften and expand around her and to grow--like one of Jack's magic beans--into an actual home
(274). I also loved how Tutti's name means "Everybody." Out of all the characters in the book, Tutti is my favorite, because she has such a powerful impact on people, despite being a child.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Meeting Ketut (The Toothless Medicine Man)
Liz found her word! Earlier I wondered if she would. I thought that antevasin was the perfect word for her. She is on a constant quest to find out who she is, always ready to dive into unexplored territory. While defining the word, she writes, "He was a border-dweller. He lived in sight of both worlds, but looked toward the unknown" (204). In my opinion, that describes Liz perfectly. She is traveling the world because she wants to explore cultures and ideas that she isn't familiar with. She's in that in-between territory squished between knowing and searching. Do you agree that antevasin is an accurate word? What do you think your word would be/can you define your word yet? I have no idea what my word is. I don't think it's something that you can search for, I think that it has to find you, like it did for Liz.
Another section that I enjoyed was learning about Ketut Liger's life (AKA jolly, toothless medicine man). What I liked most about him was how comfortable he was with the uncertainty of certain aspects of his life, like his age. Ketut evaluates life emotionally, from the way he says that meditation must be joyous to bring joy to the soul, to the way he describes how old he is. I loved this quote: "I've also noticed that his estimation of his age changes by the day, based on how he feels" (239). To me this means that knowledgable isn't understanding everything about yourself, but knowing how you define yourself, or knowing how you want to define yourself. Do you agree?
Another section that I enjoyed was learning about Ketut Liger's life (AKA jolly, toothless medicine man). What I liked most about him was how comfortable he was with the uncertainty of certain aspects of his life, like his age. Ketut evaluates life emotionally, from the way he says that meditation must be joyous to bring joy to the soul, to the way he describes how old he is. I loved this quote: "I've also noticed that his estimation of his age changes by the day, based on how he feels" (239). To me this means that knowledgable isn't understanding everything about yourself, but knowing how you define yourself, or knowing how you want to define yourself. Do you agree?
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