Let's see if I can do this again. Like I have said in the past, I fully do not understand our readings until a huge discussion comes about in class about the meaning of it all. I guess I will try and give it a go.
My first impression of To After That was...well it's very dry. Honestly I like books that have a clear story in them. A narrator, or character, that illustrates their life in such a way that it draws you in. Reading about a woman who has just printed off a ninety seven page paper and puts on a sweatshirt is not very interesting, but alas I read on.
As I read on, the book seems to be a prequel to the true book called "After That". "To After That" seems like it is indicating to another book. Still seems dry to me. Even though Gladman has taken time to add such describing words to her life, I really do not follow it. Telling us how she adds to her book and what she thinks is good and bad, does not seem like a good story to me.
I read on, and it is more like reading someone's journal. Writing bits and pieces of conversations and what is going on in her head. That is fine, I do that often (like now). I guess I will have to see what the class thinks.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
People in Hell want Water...of all things...
I picked this long short story just because of the title "People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water". Of all things, that is what those people want? I would have guessed salvation, absolution, heck there's even a movie called "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" (hey if you're going down there, might as well be a bit comfortable right?). It just set off something in my head, it's funny. Just a drink of water...who would have thought?
I have to say, my track record has not been the best with some of these responses. This is mainly because most of the time, when I get an assignment to read something, I read just to read. I don't really look far into it and try to figure things out. I read to find a point. It isn't until I come to class and discuss these poems and stories with my fellow students then I get a better picture of what the author is trying to portray or the point they are trying to make. The "underlying message" if you will. Even though I'm not doing very well (it started with Blood Dazzler I tell ya) I guess I will give this a shot.
So it starts with the story talking about this man, who apparently is a farmer, and lives with his family. He has five sons, a wife, horses, fields, etc. His sons all have different personalities, each of them have their own paths (which is the way I find most siblings to be like...they really aren't the exact same). Then the story starts talking about a different family, their problems, they live on a farm, etc.
What I am really getting from this story is that farm life is hell. I mean you're living in an area where you are probably about five miles away from your neighbors, getting places is a hassle, and living with your family (and sometimes others) can be tough. This does take place in 1908 as it says in the beginning. Would that drink of water be something refreshing in life? Something different happening than what farm life is day by day? That's what I'm thinking anyways. That may not be it, but I guess I will see when class comes.
I have to say, my track record has not been the best with some of these responses. This is mainly because most of the time, when I get an assignment to read something, I read just to read. I don't really look far into it and try to figure things out. I read to find a point. It isn't until I come to class and discuss these poems and stories with my fellow students then I get a better picture of what the author is trying to portray or the point they are trying to make. The "underlying message" if you will. Even though I'm not doing very well (it started with Blood Dazzler I tell ya) I guess I will give this a shot.
So it starts with the story talking about this man, who apparently is a farmer, and lives with his family. He has five sons, a wife, horses, fields, etc. His sons all have different personalities, each of them have their own paths (which is the way I find most siblings to be like...they really aren't the exact same). Then the story starts talking about a different family, their problems, they live on a farm, etc.
What I am really getting from this story is that farm life is hell. I mean you're living in an area where you are probably about five miles away from your neighbors, getting places is a hassle, and living with your family (and sometimes others) can be tough. This does take place in 1908 as it says in the beginning. Would that drink of water be something refreshing in life? Something different happening than what farm life is day by day? That's what I'm thinking anyways. That may not be it, but I guess I will see when class comes.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Blood Dazzler
The Blood Dazzler, a book of poems either by Patricia Smith or put together by Patricia Smith. I have to say that the poems I have read in this book, I do not enjoy. This is a bit odd for me because I always seem to find one way or another to enjoy reading or analyzing poetry. This book, however, has found a way to break my pattern. The wording is beautiful, the subjects are pretty ordinary, and for some reason I just cannot get through to them. It is possible that I am distracted from these works, but I do not know for sure.
For instance: the poem looking for bodies (even with me being distracted) stands out to me the most. The poem is about finding a body in a household (or that is what I think it is about, but I could be wrong). There are so many details about how to properly enter the room, look at the scene to see if some sort of theory can be made, and then catching the scent of death and finding what use to be a human being. The last stanza especially "guide the gold of her into your arms blessing the droop and blown skin marveling at the way her soul rides slickly on the outside of everything how it ripples the water how it so deftly damns your hands"..it is so poetic and disturbing, but I am just not into it.
Overall the book was okay. Maybe I would personally have better luck with other poems in trying to decipher them and share with the class. I will admit, though, Patricia Smith did know what she was doing in putting all of the poems together (whether she had written them all or not). The all flow in some sort of order as if telling a story in separate chapters. I did enjoy that.
For instance: the poem looking for bodies (even with me being distracted) stands out to me the most. The poem is about finding a body in a household (or that is what I think it is about, but I could be wrong). There are so many details about how to properly enter the room, look at the scene to see if some sort of theory can be made, and then catching the scent of death and finding what use to be a human being. The last stanza especially "guide the gold of her into your arms blessing the droop and blown skin marveling at the way her soul rides slickly on the outside of everything how it ripples the water how it so deftly damns your hands"..it is so poetic and disturbing, but I am just not into it.
Overall the book was okay. Maybe I would personally have better luck with other poems in trying to decipher them and share with the class. I will admit, though, Patricia Smith did know what she was doing in putting all of the poems together (whether she had written them all or not). The all flow in some sort of order as if telling a story in separate chapters. I did enjoy that.
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