"Recitatif" by Toni Morrison

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9718XxkF2E

                The story “Recitatif” was written by Toni Morrison. She made this story interesting, on the black and white problem. Also, this story was confusing for me too. I do not really understand the purpose of this story. It is interesting because it is different than other stories in the book.

                I wondered if Twyla was white. Or black? Because this story was not clear, and I also do not know what color Roberta is either. It seems that Twyla is white and Roberta is black. I wanted to know why does Twyla’s mother dance all the night. What kind of sickness does Roberta’s mother have? I do not understand why both of them are put in orphan while their mothers still visit them? Why would orphan kids never wash their hair? Do they (St. Bonaventure) not have enough hot water provided?

                Why do the orphans call the caretaker Big Bozo instead of her real name, Mrs. Itkins? I wonder what the term “Big Bozo” means. I wonder what is so special about the orchard to Twyla. When she mentioned that the cooker, Maggie, at St. Bonaventure had a parenthesis legs, I immediately knew that was a bowlegs because I researched a lot on it in my high school on my own time. She also said that Maggie is mute, and said that she wore really stupid hat, this made me wonder if she is not just a mute, but not high-functioning?

                I wonder why does 8 years old girls, Twyla and Roberta, already is learning Civics already at that age while most of us are learning it in our high school years. At age of 8 I wouldn’t put on wet socks even though they are pretty, I hate the feeling of wet socks. How can Roberta deal with that? I wonder what exactly is wrong with Twyla’s mother. I know that she is not all there in the head but what exactly?

                I thought it was horrible that Twyla’s mother did not bring any picnic food to share with Twyla. I will never do that to my kids, I will make sure they have food. I wonder why not Roberta acted the same when she saw Twyla again after many years. I wonder what made her change from sweet girl to snobby young woman, then married and kind of nice woman, then she is against Twyla, then she is apologetic? I now wonder what happened to Roberta’s mind because she kept sprouting weird things that Twyla did not remember.

                I wonder if the protesting is about segregation of black and white kids. At the beginning, Twyla says that her mother is Mary and she dances all the night, now near the end of the story, Twyla says that Maggie is her mother and she dances all the night. This is confusing, why did she say that? I wonder what does the word “Recitatif” mean. I looked it up and it said that it mean the tone or rhythm peculiar to any language.

                This story is interesting because it is not clear what kind of races those two are, and it is also confusing because they keep talking about weird things. Like getting the race of the cooker wrong, and changing who is mother of Twyla and who dances all the night. This was an extremely

long story.

Zelzah: A Tale From Long Ago by Norma Fox Mazer

Once again, there are problem with the video, just search for the play button.

The story called “Zelzah: A Tale From Long Ago” is really extremely long, and it was written by Norma Fox Mazer. It is lovely story about sisters and Zelzah’s transition to America’s life from Jewish life. It was well written and easy to read kind of story. I would like to see what other stories Norma have wrote.

I thought the name Zelzah was pretty name, and I thought that the meaning of that name is cool. Shade-in-the-Heat seems to be nice meaning to be given to someone. Also I wondered why the mother named Anna that name, and its meaning does not match her, because she is not graceful. Other daughter’s name Shulamith does not match her name meaning too, she is not peaceful; she is fiery girl who wants everything to be fair to her. She does not like having her territory to be crossed. Ruth is not all there in her head, and the mother’s name is Adah, and it means ornament. In actual reality, she is poor. I think it is funny because none of their name matches to their personality or life.

I think that it is sad that the mother was poor and this made her name her kids with these meaning in hope that it will make her kids future better. But it seems that it doesn’t work. She wished that Shulamith would be peaceful, and be a comfort to people. She wanted Zelzah to be someone that people will go to feel a relief from problems. I feel bad that all the girls have to share one bed because that’s all they could afford.

The house they live in has only one room and everything is in one room. That shows how poor they are. I wish that Jewish people has more money so they could be better off instead of being poor and barely have enough of anything. I know this because my family is poor and we have some money and it is not always great, and now I look at Jewish, they are worse off than we are. This made me wish they had little more money so that they could have some more stuff to have. 

I wonder what attract Ruth so much about a stick, a bug, and a crushed leaf. This looks like to me that she has autism because they have a fascination with some objects. I thought that it was odd that Aunt Hannah would marry off his son, Jake, to Zelzah while they are cousins. That is a incest to this day, I would understand if they were second cousins or farther but they are first cousins. I wonder how cheap is the boat fare was back in then compared to today’s boat fare.  I wonder was Zelzah’s tear is of joy or sadness? It looks like a joy because she made to America. 

It looked like that Zelzah was overwhelmed by everything in America and Aunt Hannah’s house. They are not poor compared to Jewish village. Once again, I felt bad for her because she was so grateful that she has better bed, she kept saying that her aunt is too kind. When Zelzah said that her cousins Jake and Ephraim is beautiful and handsome, this made me think that at Zelzah’s old home there is many  not handsome men available.

I can feel that Zelzah really missed her families because she kept crying into her shawl, and said that the house is so quiet compared to her home. She kept waking up to listen for noises usually made at her old home. She said that her heart is full of terror and loneliness, and that it lessens when Jake shares with her in bed. It seems that Zelzah needs someone in her bed to keep her terror and loneliness away.

I wondered why did Jake secretly marry with Grace, who was Ephraim’s girlfriend while he was supposed to marry Zelzah? It is horrible that he cheated on Zelzah. I think it was wonderful that Zelzah became more confident in herself and got job in New York City. I thought it was weird that Zelzah still doesn’t mind to be wife for Jake even though he cheated on her. I thought it was wonderful that Shulamith came to America and stayed with Zelzah. But her temper is still there and she still rages at everything.

I think it’s wonderful that Aaron married Shulamith even though she got a temper. Other thing I thought was wonderful is that they got many things done fast, like marrying, having kids, going to college, and have jobs. It looks like they are adapting to America life pretty well. I wonder why doesn’t Zelzah want to get married and have children. Is it because what happened with Jake?

The story was very good and I really liked it because it is actually a story, not really short one. It is long and just right for me. I thought it was well written story, and I would like to see if Norma has written other stories. I loved to see what those name mean in Jewish. It gave me more inspiration to name my kids with cool names, like mine.

"Little Saigon," by David St. John

       

(For some reason the format is messed up so click the black space below the video to play it. You might have to move around your mouse to find the play button.)

        The story called the “Little Saigon” was written by David St. John and it is of poem. An extremely long poem and it was easy to read through it. I hate reading or writing any poems, but this one was not bead because it is easy on my mind and eyes.

This poem seems to be a sad poem because the girl, Ngoc Be, was sad that her father died. And that they want to leave their land to America. The girl was raped by the captain of the pirate boat repeatedly, and that her mom was not seen for long time. And that she and her sister are hated in their neighbor in America. Later, she found out from her Aunt Kahnh that her mother is dead. That she drowned right after she left on boat to America. So, it is a sad poem.

I want to know why the white peacock stands for their mother. Why not other animals? I wonder why they wanted to move to America. Is their old home not satisfactory? I wonder if the girls and mother is French. Because Ngoc Be said that her mother chatted in French with the nun. This makes me wonder what exactly their heritage is. Why did mother and children get separated on the boat? Why not stay together? I want to know how Aunt Kahnh found out the mother’s death.

I hated that the captain of the pirate boat raped Ngoc Be several times because that is horrible for anyone to experience it. I am glad that he got taken away by sailors. I felt bad for her because she had to suffer through it and was very happy that she got to shower and wash all the filth off her. I want to know how old is these girls? I know that Mai Chi is really young, but what about Ngoc Be? I wonder why their cousin is ashamed of them. What exactly did they do that made the cousin be ashamed about them? When Ngoc Be mentioned that Mai Chi resembles her father so much, does this mean they are half-sisters?

I looked up the word spangly, gilt and emblem because I do not know that means. Spangly mean clothes that is covered in beads or jewels. Gilt means something that is covered in thin gold. Emblem means something that is a symbol. Now that’s other vocabularies I have learned.

I felt odd that at beginning Ngoc Be had that dream about white peacock, and in the end Mai Chi says she dreamt about white peacock. I felt strange because they did not tell each other that they had that dream until Ngoc Be showed her painting to Mai Chi on white peacock, and now Mai Chi says she dreamed about it. It is odd because they had the same dream. That is amazing when people have same dream about same object.

In all, this poem was pretty good. It is long poem, which seems unusual to me because poems usually are short. It is depressing and good poem about Ngoc Be and Mai Chi’s experience from their old home to America. If I were not read this poem for a while, I would read it again because it is good.

"On the Rainy River" by Tim O'Brien, "The Setting Sun and the Rolling World" by Charles Mungoshi

      "On the Rainy River" is written by Tim O'Brien. This story was very easy to read, and you could speed through it without stuttering. It was that easy to read. I could feel the author’s pain in this story. I was amazed that he went through all of that and would write it down for everyone to read.
     I wondered why in the past once the people get a draft, they have to go to the war. I wonder why they have to force men to go to the wars when they do not want to join. Why not let them make their own decision if they want to risk their lives or not for their countries. Forcing them to go to the war violates their rights to choose what they want to do. America supposed to be a dream country for everyone but this seems not because of the forcing. It seems that the government of America is corrupted in that way. We actually are under their control, we aren’t really free like they said we are.
    I wonder what made the author to write his experience in the story. Is it because he wanted to lift some of his guilty burden off his shoulders by telling us what happened? I wonder how did the old man in the story knew what happened to Tim without asking? Is it because the old man has run into many young men who did not want to go to war? I want to know why the old man would help Tim to make decision by taking him to the edge of Canada water.
    When the old man said that he wondered why the heck Tim smells so much like pig, and that he wondered if Tim loved on eating pork or something, this made me laugh. Somehow that phrase was funny to me. Don’t ask me how.
    If I was in Tim’s shoes, I would have gone to the war because I would have no guts to escape from the draft. I would just give myself up and go battle the enemies. Tim impressed me with his guts, and that he was barely an adult. He was only 21 years old when that happened. I bet that I would cry and break down, then accept the fact that I am going to the war. Good thing that I am female, and if I was in his time I would be only housewife. Sadly, at the end he changed his mind on escaping, he decided to go to war because he couldn’t face the exile from his people. I agreed with his statement on him being coward because he gave into going to the war.
    Now, I know why the story is called “On the Rainy River.” How I figured it out? Because Tim and the old man is in the boat floating on the Rainy River. That is the river’s name, and the change of his mind occurred on this river. That’s why the title of the story is called “On the Rainy River.” I really felt his pain, and it was good story. Very detailed in not boring way, and gave me the insight to his feelings. Overall, I wouldn’t have what he done in the beginning, I would be the one who immediately give in and go to the war.








    “The Setting Sun and the Rolling World” was written by Charles Mungoshi. This story was not making any sense to me, it was hard understanding what the characters were talking about. I felt that they should be less vague on what they were talking about. I think they should explain and elaborate more, and then I would understand it better.
    I want to know what these characters, Old Musoni and Nhamo were talking about? When I read the story, nothing came up in my mind on what they were referring to. Only thing came up on my mind is that Nhamo is leaving home for something. I wonder what about the Nhamo leaving home makes Old Musoni so attached to him, not wanting him to leave home? Is it because Nhamo is going on a dangerous journey? Or is he going to a place that he possibly will die? I get this impression from the story.
    When Old Musoni wished that the rain would come, this made me think that his land is full of drought, that the land is very, very dry. That it is not reliable to use to get food from. Also Nhamo mentioned that the land was overworked and nothing could grow from the land to Old Musoni, this proves my theory of the land. I wondered why didn’t Nhamo just go ahead tell his father what he said in his mind instead of just saying that he will be ok and that Old Musoni shouldn’t worry. Why don’t he be blunt? I am sure the truth is more better than covering up what he wants to say.
     Same thing with Old Musoni not saying what he said in his mind either to Nhamo. Old Musoni gave a good reason to not say what he said in his mind. He said that he was tired of this and that they have been going at this for two months, but Nhamo gave no good reason to cover up what he wanted to say.
     In all, the story wasn’t satisfying for me at all. I felt that I didn’t get much from the story, all I got was an impression. The impression was that Nhamo is leaving home for something and that it might be dangerous for him. That’s all I got from the story. I wish that I could catch Charles Mungoshi and ask him what he really meant in the story.

Quiz on the "English is Androcentric."

                After reading this amazing article called the “English is Androcentric,” I realized that it was so true on use of language. I started to analyze everything that is being written or said. I kept finding that we refer out writing and speaking references on males. The images above are related to the topics in my blog.

                What does the word ‘androcentric’ in the title means? It mean when people speak or write, they usually will focus on men, and doesn’t include women. Such as when you write you usually will refer to the unknown person as a ‘he’ instead of ‘she.’ The words ‘he’ and ‘men’ are used to explain everyone, and all of the gender races while there are females. Even though there are many terms to the women than men but these terms to the women is mostly belittling while the terms to men are more flattering.

                The English is built by men because in back then the men have the power while females don’t. The females were not educated so they had no saying in making of the English. The men say that anything using women terms is not important, while men terms are. A man called Mr. Wilson declared that it is abnormal if the women came before men. The Act of Parliament passed the law that ‘he’ is used to represent both sexes. Therefore, the English language was made by men because the people are under authority of men.

                Not only the women are underrepresented in English, the races beside white are underrepresented. This is called racial bias in the language. When you look up in dictionary on white and black, there are more damaging definitions on black instead of white. The word black usually describe something that is evil.

                Sadly, people don’t really notice the sexist and racial biases in the language. Only the time that people notice is when it applies or influences them. Before I have learned about sexist and racial biases, I did not notice this problem. I am thankful because this article is an eye-opener.

                There is a debate on thoughts and languages, how it affects out thinking skills. Such as some linguists and psychologists believe that thought is controlled by language while others thinks that language is controlled by thought, or both is totally separate or linked, or that the both is the same.

                Many people wonder if language could affect our thinking. The answer is yes, the language could affect our thinking somewhat. Every language has some basic concepts, this is called conceptual primes. Conceptual primes mean basic, important thoughts. For example, we have a basic concept on how the direction works by using up and down, or near and far.

                There are many linguists believe in thought and language being interdependent. Both of it can be separate but most of the time language assists the thought. This helps us to understand the language correctly. We usually think to ourselves to help our thoughts and explain it to people clearly.

                The speakers manipulate people by using oratory or rhetoric methods. There are many ways to convince the audience, the terms that speakers uses to attract the audience makes the speakers seem more valid. These methods speakers uses are: repetition of words, metaphor, simile, very emotive language, and rhetorical questions. There are more methods other than these listed above.

                People may ask what does euphemism means. Euphemism is when people use words or expressions to talk about horrible subjects without actually talking about it. For example, the word ‘RIP’ is horrible so people use other words that don’t sound horrible to replace the word ‘RIP.’ The replacement of ‘RIP’ is ‘the old woman passed away,’ this is the euphemism.

The "Dawn", wrote by Tim Wynne-Jones

The story called the “Dawn” is written by Tim Wynne-Jones. This story was cute but heartbreaking at the same time. It was cute from beginning then at the end of the story was sad. This story revolves around a boy named Barnsey, but his real name is Matthew. He met a girl named Dawn, that’s why the story is called the “Dawn.”

                I want to know what kind of store that Barnsey’s parents own. I wonder why he is so against someone weird. There is nothing wrong with people being weird, it’s not people’s fault that they are weird. I am weird girl, and I love being one. I wonder why the mother kept buying Barnsey a lot of junks even though she is strict with food at the most of time. It seems that the mother was worried about Barnsey going on the trip without her. Why would the mother let her son go alone on the trip at age of thirteen? If it was up to me, I wouldn’t let my kid go until they are at least 15 years old. It’s dangerous to let young teenagers wander alone in this unsafe world.

When Dawn looked at the ingredient of the chips, and saying that it was full of chemical, it made me think that she is from area that eats healthy food. Why would Barnsey’s mother send him away to grandma without letting him know that she is divorcing his dad? If my mom did that to me, I will be totally devastated and might hate my mom for it. I thought it was wonderful of Dawn writing a note and put in her cd then hid it in Barnsey’s backpack.

                I found two things that I could relate in this story. First one is that when I was seventeen years old, I went on train trip alone through nine states. I went on trip to go to Youth Leadership Camp, YLC. The only way to go was on train, and my parents did not want me to fly because it cost more than train trip. I remember that it was wonderful experience of going through many states and learning how to get by on my own in two days.

                The second one is that Dawn is a vegetarian, and I could relate to it because I am a vegetarian. I have been a vegetarian for almost three years. When the date of December 16^th arrives, then it will be three year anniversary of being a vegetarian. I only eat seafood, nothing else. I never really liked eating meat in my entire life because I hated the texture, taste, and look of the meat. They feel gross when I eat them, and I keep finding tendons, bones, vein, and unidentifiable things in the meat. I just find it gross eating meat, that’s why I am a vegetarian.

                The story was okay, there was something that I could relate to. I liked the part where Dawn put the note in the cd. I liked it when Dawn speaks with her British accent. Her accent makes the story sounds interesting, and livelier.

"Bad Influence," by Judith Ortiz Cofer

       

        The story inside the “Leaving Home” I read is called the “Bad Influence,” and it was written by Judith Ortiz Cofer. I thought this story was hilarious. There were many phrases that made me laugh. I think this story was the best one so far from the book. I was so into this story that I have read through fast from page 63 to 90! The length of this story was just right for me, it is not too short or too long.

I wondered why it was so bad if Rita hung out with guys. Is it in their culture that girls have to go with a guys that her parents chosen for her? I wanted to know what exactly is wrong with Ramon the rooster. Papa says that the rooster can’t tell the difference between day and night. Is Ramon is not normal functionally rooster? Or he is just like that?

I agreed with Rita’s statement on how could the sick girl be so sad when she has a wonderful view of the beach? Maybe the girl was abused by her mother’s boyfriend? Since Rita’s grandma says that she felt the evil aura from the girl’s mother’s boyfriend. This is what I would assume about the girl. Also there might be evidence of abuse because the grandma says that she saw bruise on girl’s arm.

I wonder what does it feels like sensing evil spirits, souls, and things related to it. It’d be horrible to be aware of evil spirits, souls, and other things all the time. For sure, I would rather to be normal human being with only 4 senses.

I thought it was wonderful of Rita being friends with the sick girl. The sick girl’s name is Angela, and she is an anorexic. It was wonderful of Papa to help with Angela, getting her mother to throw out the boyfriend out of the house. Ever since that, Angela have been gaining little bit of weight and looks better. This further confirms that Angela was abused.

Ever since the book is really hilarious, and truly enjoyable to read I would like to know if the author wrote more stories. I went online to see if she wrote more books, and it turns out that she does. I’d like to check out some of her books someday. It’s the best one so far in the “Leaving Home.”