The Namesake-Week 7 Post B (aka last blog ever)

It has been a long journey through the beginning to the end of "The Namesake." The Ganguli's went from an almost culture shock to pretty much becoming apart of the culture. Along with the many culture changes, Ashima and Ashoke have also gone through the raising of their two offspring, Gogol and Sonia Ganguli. I think that through these experiences a theme of finding where you belong, who you are, and what makes you... you,  is present.  Gogol tries to find his way in America, resisting something that will always be apart of him, his family's background and culture, Ashima tries to find her way in America and a place to belong, longing for her home country, and Sonia is too trying to find her way while Ashoke is the least weary about the country. He finds an equanimity in America, not indifferent to either culture or to what the rest of his family is going through. He just does what he can to help them through. 

I thought that this book was beautifully and also expertly written. Jhumpa Lahiri has great poise and a very elegant style of writing, making the reader feel as though they are going through all of this with the Ganguli's themselves. There is also a level of understanding and recognition with what Gogol is going through. Most of us can relate to a time when we were trying to find who we were, fighting the influence of others, so we can only feel sympathy for Gogol because of our knowledge of how rough these times can be. 

What this novel was mostly about though was Gogol's first-generation upbringing in a society very much unlike his heritage. It shows his struggles as he grows up with the pressure of the expectations our parents bestow onto us. Also the importance of the names we are given and the slow and painful journey to defining ourselves. 

The Namesake-Week 7 Post A (aka second to last blog ever)

It has been a long journey from the beginning of "The Namesake" until its very end.  From before Gogol was born until the time he is a grown man, we see the never ending cultural differences and changes throughout the novel. As Gogol moves out of his awkward teenage stages, he grows into a young man living in the halls of Yale university. A major cultural occurrence/change that happens is Gogol changing his name legally from "Gogol" to "Nikhil." Although a simple name change may not seem truly significant, but in Gogol's case, it is very much so. After many years, feeling as though he has been suffering with his birth-given name, he decides to have it taken care of. At first his parents are somewhat shocked at the fact that he wants to change his name, but at the same time they feel that it is his own decision to make. Their equanimity on the situation is not a likely response from a family where tradition is taken very seriously. This further proves their acceptance and ease into American culture. As the novel continued, the obvious cultural differences faded and became more obvious that they began to adapt to American culture, quite a lot. Other examples of differences in culture are when the Ganguli's went back to Calcutta for the umpteenth time. While they were there Gogol felt very out of place there, and did not like it at all. In Calcutta he had to share one bedroom and one dresser with his four person family. Also, he had to share a whole house with a pretty good portion of his extended family, and moved from house to house throughout the duration of the trip. Whereas in his house on Pemberton road, MA , he had a bedroom, dresser, and stayed in one place. Gogol is really becoming an all american boy, except with the background of a Bengali. 

The Namesake-Week 6 Post B

The Namesake is still keeping me pretty entertained. What I have been thinking a lot about is that in just a few pages Gogol goes from being five to ten. I don't know if I like this yet. For one it means that I am missing a lot of details of Gogol's life and what happens in between that time. On the other hand, I like that we don't have to go through all the details in his childhood so we can move on to more exciting things perhaps. So I see both a positive and negative to this writing choice. What I do for sure like though is Jhumpa Lahiri's writing style. It is quite elegant and pleasing to read, and is not frustrating to read like a few authors I know (i.e. Cormack McCarthy). The major theme that is present in this novel is finding one's place in society and in a culture. Here it is Gogol that is going through the struggle to find his own place and culture or to whether to follow Bengali traditions. So far, he has not enjoyed the Bengali scene that much, he is a very independent boy. Instead of going to Bengali language and culture classes, he would rather be at his drawing classes at the library. I wouldn't necessarily say that Gogol is trying to fight the Bengali culture, but just more that it doesn't interest him as much as his personal hobbies. I know more is to come out of this culture theme as I read on, so I will continue on with The Namesake and comment more later!

-Grace

The Namesake-Week 6 Post A

Gogol's journey as an American born Bengali continues on with many cultural changes and differences. First of all, it is very prominent now that Gogol is an American child pushing his Bengali background away. First of all, Gogol finally has his "pet" name become official, and his parents don't want to press the issue with the school so they let it slide, but that isn't all that they let slide. A major cultural change that occurs is when Ashima and Ashoke decide to let Gogol celebrate the "American Holidays." When Easter rolls around they hide the eggs around the house for Gogol to find, when christmas comes Gogol receives heaps of presents, and when the 31st of October comes Gogol dresses up and goes trick-or-treating. It does not bother the Ganguli's as much to allow this, but when Gogol comes home from a field trip at the cemetery his mother is less than pleased to see that they traced the names on the grave. She tries to explain to him that the way they bury American's is much different than how they do in Calcutta. In calcutta the bodies are wrapped in sheets and flowers and then burned, but never buried. Gogol thinks a lot about this and is curious and imagines that when he dies there will be no engraved stone recognizing his life. Despite his mother telling him not to keep those pictures of the graves, he feels a special connection and hides them behind his dresser.  Ashoke and Ashima make some cultural changes bringing them closer to American culture, not necessarily farther form their Bengali culture, but just changes in general, mostly materialistic ones. Ashoke switches from his daily suit and tie attire and buys pre-made clothes that are more casual, and also begins to use ball point pens instead of his fountain pens. Although these are simple changes, they are still changes and count towards some of their change from Bengali to American culture. 

The Namesake-week 5 Post B

With Ashima pregnant again, tensions in their household are tight. Ashima's day consists of lying in bed all day with a pink plastic trash can next to their bed, and I forgot to mention in their brand new two-story house in the suburbs, but anyways it has become Ashima's daily schedule to lie there. Ashoke and Gogol are left to fend for themselves for dinner and to go places together, and dinner seems to consist of the same meal every night, and Ashoke doesn't even cook it like Ashima does for Gogol. With Ashima's presence not there, Gogol becomes un-easy and begins to loose his appetite for his father's dinners, and having much energy. Gogol begins to lie in his bed just like his mother, and too pukes in the pink trash can. This shows how strong their relationship is and how close they are to one another, but Gogol struggles with this when he is entered into the school system.  Mentioned in my previous post, Gogol and his parents go through a name dispute. His parents, who believe it is right for him to have the "good" name Nikhil, is not working for Gogol. He does not like that he has to have a "good" name, which in a way shows that he is becoming more Americanized, but his principal also does not understand the concept of the "good" name. So the two of them decide to keep it to Gogol, but his parents aren't aware of this decision.. 

Until next time, 

grace

The Namesake-week 5 Post A

Gogol is growing up fast in the novel, but despite his upbringing in America, he still has the characteristics of a Bengali. When Gogol is entered into the school system, his parents insist that he has a "good" name as they call it. By good name, they mean a name that people can call him in the world outside of home. The name decided upon is Nikhil, but Gogol is not fond of his new name. When they bring him in for his first day of kindergarten, they try to explain to his teacher that Nikhil is his "good" name and that is what he is to be called at school, but Gogol doesn't respond to the teacher when he is called this. He doesn't fell like himself and he likes being called Gogol for it reminds him of his parents. When Ashima and Ashoke leave, the principal and Gogol secretly decide to keep his name as Gogol, not knowing the cultural importance of the "good" name. This is where you can tell that Bengal tradition is much different than that of Americans, because even after en explanation, the American teacher did not understand the importance of Gogol having another name. 

The Namesake-Week 4 Post B

Continuing on with "The Namesake," I find myself becoming more and more interested. Like I have noted almost every single blog. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing is so eloquent and beautiful. I feel like I am experiencing everything she is right along her side. I feel both sad and happy for Ashima now. First, I feel sad for her because she is so homesick and her grandmother is dying and all she wants is for her family to see Gogol and watch him grow with her. On the contrary, I am happy for her too because of various reasons. First of all, Ashima seems to be becoming more and more comfortable with Cambridge, and she is getting around the town and not staying inside all day. Second, Ashima and Ashoke have been meeting other Indian couples in the neighborhood and have become good acquaintances with them, at least good enough to have them serve as the honorary family for Gogol's ceremony. Thirdly, Ashima and the family are headed over back to India for winter break to see their families. And Lastly, I finally find that Ashoke cares for his wife, and worries about her quite frequently. He has really stepped up to the plate since last section. I am very proud of him. 

Can't wait to continue.

-grace

The Namesake-Week 4 Post A

The cultural experience the reader gets from "The Namesake" continues to grow. The first months after Ashima and Ashoke bring their baby boy, Gogol, home the culture just begins to bloom in front of your very eyes. Gogol, being a newborn baby, comes with a lot of Bengali traditions. At the time when Gogol is able to eat solid foods, a ceremony is held to celebrate his first meal, and the many to come. This ritual would be the equivalent to a baptism, except that it is viewed as coming into the life of God. In the ritual Gogol is put in to  ceremonious garb and is covered in coal and a hat that his mother made for him from tin foil and paper. Then, a plate of many traditional foods are placed in front of the baby where he eats his first grain of rice. Second, they place dirt, a pen, and money in front of him, in hopes that he will choose one. Each object symbolizes and tells the future of the young baby. If he grabs the money he will be a wealthy man, if he grabs the pen he will be a businessman, and if he reaches for the dirt, he is destined to be a farmer. The reader also witnesses cultural changes, but the other way around. Ashima, left alone with her new born child and nothing to do begins to find errands to run to occupy her time. Many of the things that she would normally be able to find in India aren't in America, so she finds substitutes for many cooking items. She also even begins to feel more connected with Cambridge when she leaves her shopping bags on the train, and by the next day were returned to her. She felt that this gave her more of a connection to where she is now.  

The Namesake-Week 3 Post B

The baby has been born! Baby Gogol has arrived, and Ashima stays recovering in the hospital for now. The novel is now being shown through the voice of Ashoke. I would say that Ashoke is really sort of an awkward person. I don't think he really knows what to do with a new baby, let alone a wife. This whole arranged marriage thing really just comes off as an awkward situation to me. I feel that Ashima doesn't mind it so much, but I get this constant vibe that Ashoke doesn't want to be apart of it, because by being a part of an arranged marriage, he is being a part of his traditional Indian culture, and that I think is what bothers him the most. I find it sort of rude really. Why can't the man accept that that is where he comes from and that he is always going to be a part of it. You can't help where you come from. Really I just feel bad for Ashima because she has this awkward husband and now she has a baby from her awkward husband, and I can just feel that it is all just going to be very awkward when they get home. So what I'm trying to say is: Dear Ashoke, get over yourself please and act like you love your wife or something because it's annoying when you treat her like you are stuck with her just to remind you of your culture. Thank you.

-Grace

The Namesake-Week 1 Post A

More culture is shown threw the novel when the narrator talks about the importance of a nickname. Nicknames in Indian culture are the name you are always called by. It is really a pet name sort of, but the nicknames are chosen with love. When a baby is born the parents may try out more than enough nicknames, until finally one will stick. As for real names, they are never used in public. They are only used in times of intimacy and addressing one on an envelope. The nickname however is a reminder that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time, and a reminder of love. Ashima's parents never address by her full name, but by her nickname "Monu." Here in America we do have nicknames and pet names, but I would say that about 80% of the time we are addressed by our full name, only being addressed by your nickname by your friends and sometimes parents. I think it is really interesting and cool that probably all indians have a nickname, and I love that they say it is a reminder that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time, becuase I know when people call me by my nickname I instantly lighten up a little bit. 

Research Topic

The topic I'm choosing to research is the issue in Tibet about Mount Everest, and other political issues.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/20/nepal.torch.oly/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/mteverest.tibet/index.html

http://www.cnn.om/2008/WORLD/asispcf/04/19/india.tibet.ap/index.html

http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307-0-2362&artno=0000273933&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Official%3A%2016%20Dead%20in%20Tibet%20Riots&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307-0-2362&artno=0000259164&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Tibetan%20Human%20Rights%20Get%20U%2ES%2E%20Congressional%20Attention&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307-0-2362&artno=0000274954&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Protests%20Mar%20China%27s%20Grand%20Plans%20for%20Olympic%20Torch%20Relay&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

The Namesake-Week 2 Post B

"The Namesake" gets very interesting when the point of view goes from Ashima to Ashoke, but still in the third person. The narrator goes back to when Ashoke was a young college student, and constantly reading. Ashoke's parents always said, "Your going to die reading a book,"and this is very interesting because he really almost does. When Ashoke's grandfather is ill, he asks Ashoke to come spend time with him (mostly because he had a huge collection of books he knows Ashoke would love). So Ashoke boards the train out of Calcutta and on the way to where his grandfather resides. On the way Ashoke stays up all night reading his favorite piece of literature by the famous Russian writer, Gogol, which plays a role in the novel later, but while he is lying in his cabin reading he is thrown across the country side in seconds from a horrible train crash. Ashoke is terrified for his life, and is lost within the rubble. When search and rescue come, they almost miss him, leaving him there to die, but after raising his hand out of the rubble they take notice of him and get him out. After the train wreck he was left in bandages, lying in bed for months unable to move, but once he is healed he announces to his parents that he is going to attend MIT. A huge shock and disappointment hits the family, but he carries on to America anyways. That is the story of how Ashoke almost died reading a book like his mother said, and Ashoke will continue to have nightmares of that day for many years after. All very intriguing.

- Grace

The Namesake-Week 2 Post A

In the next section of "The Namesake,"there is not a lot of cultural differences that are presented, but you will see acts of rebellion against the indian culture from the husband, Ashoke. Ashoke is a well educated man who attends college in India, but then he is also accepted to MIT in America. What he fails to do is tell his parents he is doing this until he is accepted and ready to leave. Now in Indian culture, most families stay pretty close to one another, and if they do want to live further away from their family they usually have to get permission from the parents first, but not Ashoke. Even though his mother didn't eat for three days after hearing his news and his father and brothers cried, Ashoke still goes to America with seems like not a lot of guilt on his mind. This is very rebellious in their culture, but Ashoke really wants to be apart of the 1960's American culture that he finds in Cambridge, MA. Another small, but qualified piece of rebellion one may notice, is when Ashoke first comes to Ashima's house and he wears laced-up work shoes, very unlike the slippers you would find in India. Ashoke's acts against being part of his culture I think plays a large role in the novel, and I'm sure he has more acts of rebellion to come. 

The Namesake- Week 1 Post B

Within just the first 20 pages of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, "The Namesake," I have already been drawn into the intrigue of a different culture and a woman's time living in a completely different country than hers. Mostly it is just discussion about how Ashima Ganguli, the woman, met her husband, Ashoke Ganguli, and her time living with him in Cambridge where he attends school and she stays at home with her big pregnant belly. It is how they got to that point that I find interesting because there marriage was arranged by their parents back in Calcutta. The book is told in the third person so you kind of get to read the feelings of each character. One thing that I don't really like, and is kind of odd, but it does is the time period of which it takes place in. It takes place in mostly the nineteen sixties, but men and woman in that time already kind of had the roles of the woman staying at home, and the men going to work. I think it would be more interesting to see a modern day arranged marriage than one that took place back then, because I feel it was more common then. Although her story is still interesting. 

The Namesake- Week 1 Post A

I would first like to say that these cultural blogs won't be to difficult because the culture in this novel is really apparent, and quite different than our culture here in America.  "The Namesake" is about a Indian woman living in America who recently gave birth to her first son. Within the first few sentences you can already tell that this woman, Ashima Ganguli, is not from here. She is combining a bowl of Rice Krispies, Planters Peanuts, onion, salt, lemon juice, green chili pepper, and wishing for mustard oil to add to the concoction. A common snack found on the streets of Calcutta, where she was born and raised. Her desire to eat this is mostly due to her pregnancy, which is due any day. It is this pregnancy that continues to tell more about her culture. Her husband, Ashoke Ganguli, does not appear to be readily at her side to bring her to the delivery room, but tends to keep his distance most of the time, and is even a little awkward between the two. This awkwardness most likely comes form the fact that they are an arranged marriage, as most are from where they come from. Ashoke and Ashima got married just within two weeks of meeting each other. I think that they both care for each other, and love each other, but Ashoke seems to have school at the top of his priorities. Ashima doesn't bother with that, because it is courtesy of the wife to not disturb the husband. She mostly stays at home all day waiting for him to come home for the dinner she prepares him. It is a very stereotypical "man goes to work all day while the woman cleans the house" type of relationship plus a different culture marriage. The difference between the stereotype of men in women in a marriage is that Ashoke doesn't seem to much of anything for his wife. He wasn't even sure if he should get his wife flowers after she gave birth, and it never even crossed his mind. Also, when the wife was in the hospital for a few days in labor Ashoke went home and stayed there until the hospital informed him of when the baby was being born. A lot of times you'll see the husband stay with his wife, and even go into the delivery room.  These are only a few observances found so far throughout. 

"THE NAMESAKE" (Quarter 4 Outside Reading choice)

I chose a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri who is an Indian writer, called "The Namesake." The central reason for choosing this book is it's critical acclaim, and also the recommendation from peers.  The novel is about an immigrant Indian woman's experience in America, and the challenges she faces, especially with her son, Gogol. "The Namesake" has won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for literature, and has more recently been made into a motion picture. The story seems very intriguing, and offers a lesson in culture, which I think makes it a good read. I Can't wait to get started.

-Grace :)

Outside Reading Week 7 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien, 

As I reach the end of your novel I become more interested. Especially because they're is even more story telling now, and is becoming much more intense story telling. The stories told are such a stretch and seem so unreal, but there is an air about them that truly makes you believe they really happened, and I'm convinced that they did.  

One story in particular that  I found really controversial for the time, and super intriguing was the one about the young girl who came to Vietnam because her boyfriend shipped her in. It seems sort of borderline controversial because having a woman on the battle field was probably looked down upon by most, but the men in their unit didn't have a problem with it. In fact, they all seemed to fall in love with her, but she seemed to fall in love with the war. She learned how to help soldier when they were wounded, learn to work and M-85, and began going on ambushes with the "greenies" without others knowing at first. They say that she became obsessed with the war and ambushes because she felt completely herself when she was out there. Eventually, they began to see less and less of her. Until she would be gone for days. One late night her and the 6 "greenies" return to their tent, and the other soldiers were, of course, very curious, and her boyfriend upset about what she was doing. So finally, the peer into the tent and find a jaguars head on a pole and Mary anne, the girl ,with a necklace of human tongues around her neck while she chanted and lied there with the rest of the crew. From then on she was a completely different person, and she and her boyfriend broken off. Later on, she was never to be seen of again, but assumed to be alive and out in the forest. 

Now this is a very odd story, and very hard to believe, but with the passion for writing Mr. O'Brien shows, something makes you believe that he is telling the truth. That is what I truly like about his novel. Is that despite what we may think of the war, and what we may find to be true or not, I can't help but believe and feel what he says. I think it is that element that gave him an award from his book and critics acclaim. It was a very well written, easy to comprehend, and intriguing novel, and to be honest, I'm not one for war stories, but this has changed my view of what they really are about. 

Outside Reading Week 7 Post A

VOCAB-

bivouacked: a military encampment made with tents or improvised shelters, usually without shelter or protection from enemy fire. n. 

viaduct: a bridge for carrying a road, railroad, etc., over a valley or the like, consisting of a number of short spans. 

Figurative Language-

1) "[...] most of the lawns were scorched dry like October corn"(146). An example of a simile to describe the effect the summer takes on grass when it's dry out, causing it to look similar to the corn seen during the October month. 

2) " The pair of mud hens floated like wooden decoys[...]"(147). Another simile to explain what the hens on the lake appeared to be. 

3) "Her eyes were as fluffy and airy- light as cotton candy"(151).  This is an example of personification, and it's personification because one's eyes cant be cotton candy, but they can appear to seem like cotton candy, but can't physically be cotton candy. 

Quote-

" There was a slight tear at the lobe of one ear, a sprinkling of blood on the forearm. He wore a gold ring on the third finger of his right hand. His chest was sunken and poorly muscled--  scholar maybe"(128).  I really like this quote because it shows Tim O'Brien's attention to detail. Also, I find it interesting that Mr. O'Brien thinks he may be a scholar because of his appearance, yet his appearance seems to be pretty dissembled and  hard to make out exactly what he looked like before the bombing, but I suppose if you killed a man you would be able to figure out a lot about him. 

Theme-

 The new major theme appears to be odd phenomenon in the event of a war. 

Week 6 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien,

I continue to enjoy your book as I endeavor further into it. Your recollection is impeccable and your writing makes me feel as though I was in the war right by your side. One excerpt from your novel that I really enjoy was your description of the thoughts soldiers develop while at war  along with what they, and you, witnessed. One story I will never ever forget you mentioning is the one of the baby water buffalo. It really brought me to tears thinking about how they tortured that innocent baby animal, and I actually feel very strongly about this. I know this is  a time of sorrow and many, many horrible things happened to you and your men, but I just can;t understand why you would continue with it and let a man torture that innocent animal. I honestly wouldn't care then if his best friend just died. It was really sick and twisted, and the soldier certainly didn't get any pleasure out of it, and if you ask me he just shot another weight onto his shoulders. 

Along with that story I also mentioned I liked the description of the war that you present, especially the one on pages 80-82. I feel like you execute the emotions perfectly. I bet any one soldier who was in the war can, but you wrote just wrote it down. Though they are all very complex feelings I can understand, or at least begin to, why you felt those things.  Well done.

Sincerely,

Grace

Week 6 Post A

VOCAB-

 ambiguity: doubtfulness or uncertainty 0f meaning or intention.

trite: lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of a constant use or excessive repetition. 

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-

1)" In a true war story, if there's a moral at all, it's like the thread that makes the cloth"(77). Here a simile is used to compare the truth in war to the thread that makes cloth. He's saying that you need to tell the truth to be able to tell a war story.

2) " [...]Like a killer forest fire, like  cancer under a microscope[...]"(81). Another simile used to describe what war looks like. He obviously feels it is a morbid looking time because it's like "cancer" and "forest fires."

3) "Though it's odd, you're never more alive than when you're almost dead"(81). This quote feels like a part of figurative language just because of its thought and logic. Like your physical well being is not very lively when you're close to death, but the idea of almost reaching death creates a lively feeling. 

QUOTE-

" War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is also a mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead."(80).  This is only an excerpt from a longer description of war, but in entirety the description is as well put as it can be. I think hoe the author describes the war is exactly how I would expect it to feel, and he captures every emotion. 

THEME-

Knowing and reflection upon how war effects one. 

Week 5 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien,

I have read the next three chapters in "The Things They Carried," and I would just like to say I enjoyed them, mostly because they were war stories, but that was the whole point. I liked you telling the reader the truth about war stories and how the "normal" sounding ones were probably made up and the "crazy" ones were probably the ones that actually happened. 

One of the stories you told I thought was really weird and sort of depressing, but you tell it in a very un-depressing manner.  You said, "Sharp gray eyes, lean and narrow-waisted, and when he died it was almost beautiful, they way the sun light came around him and lifted him up and sucked him high into a tree full of moss and vines and white blossoms"(70).  This seems like one of those stories that is "crazy," but actually happened, which I think is what freaks me out the most. The idea of someone being blown up into a tree while playing with a grenade sounds perfectly "crazy" to me, but I believe it actually happened. Also, how you describe his death as "beautiful," I find a little weird, but at the same time I can picture it perfectly and how you thought it was beautiful. 

That was just one of my favorite war stories told in those chapters. Although  I also like hearing about your companions back on the war grounds because I'm a firm believer in friends and having people you would kill yourself for, or in one case, kill them in their favor. Like the two soldiers who hated each other at first, but then became really good friends, and made a pact to kill the other if they were ever amputated. Of course one of the men has his leg blown off, but doesn't want to be killed so his friend promises to not kill him. It is partly morbid, but also heartwarming. 

Sincerely, 

Grace

Week 5 Post A

Vocab-

 gook: a native of the Southeast Asia to the south pacific, esp. when a member of an enemy military force. 

 swank: dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance;style. 

Figurative Language-

1) "Rat pours his heart out"(68), is a metaphor used to describe this man's passion for what he was doing. You can't literally pour your heart out, but it is a common phrase to describe letting your feelings out. 

2) "A deep pinkish red spilled out on the river[...]"(71). This quote may be considered some sort of personification because in the context he is talking about the color of the sky reflecting onto the river's water. So the sky is not literally poured into the river, but the author uses this term to describe what it looked like. 

3)  One of the soldiers is telling O'Brien of these men that hid in the mountains and began hearing noises like a radio, and the soldier says that it' s like "[...] like the mountains are tuned into Radio ------- Hanoi"(73)., but the mountains can't play music from a radio themselves so he uses personification to describe what it was like. 

Quote-

" In any war story, but especially a true one, it's difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seems to happen becomes its own happening and has to be told that way"(71). I really like this quote because he makes an interesting point. It has a real genuine feel to it, and it makes me feel like i'll never know what the war is really like no matter how many stories i hear. It's a "you had to be there" kind of thing, and he makes that apparent to the reader here, and at the same time it makes the book that much more interesting.

Theme-

Not knowing what the war  was really like, and never knowing what it was really like. Also, companionship in the army and how it was so unique.  

Week 4 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien, 

 I'm in the middle of your chapter of confession, "On the Rainy River." I find your confession actually fairly odd, I was expecting something a little more dramatic. I mean, yours is pretty dramatic, but I expecting you committed like the mother of all things that one could do. It's interesting that you are so ashamed of attempting to run away from the war. If you were my son I would understand or at least try to, and as a parent I probably wouldn't try and stop you. But I do understand your thoughts of thinking that people might think that of you. 

One thing in particular I took to the bank from reading this chapter is: to thank those you might not have a chance to thank ever again. Just like with you and the old man from the lodge you stay at. I know what you're talking about when you want to thank those people that didn't even know they helped you out, and I think sometimes those are the most important people to thank. It's just a funny little thing that I think people don't recognize that much, that is: those people who we don't take much notice of or don't even know, and are sometimes know the most about us or help us in an unexpected way. 

Week 4 Post A

Censure: strong or vehement expression of disapproval. 

acquiescence: agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance. 

Figurative Language-

1) "Even after a hot bath, scrubbing hard, the stink was always there--like old bacon, or sausage, a dense greasy pig-stink that soaked deep into my skin and hair"(43). Although it is, in a way, a description, it can be considered a simile because it is comparing something using like. He is saying his skin and hair smell like pig bacon. 

2) "I sometimes felt the fear spreading inside me like weeds"(44). Obviously, this would be a simile because he is describing a non human-like thing using the word "like." And weeds can't literally grow inside him, but it can feel as though there is. 

3) [...] just take off and run like hell" Yet another simile. You can't run like "hell" it's not possible, but it is an expression used commonly to describe doing something like there's no tomorrow. And what makes this is a simile is that it too uses the word "like."

Quote-

"If you support a war, if you think it's worth the price, that's fine, but you have to put your own precious fluids on the line. You have to head for the front and hook up with an infantry unit and help spill the blood. And you have to along your wife, or your kids, or your lover. A law I thought"(42).  This quote overall just really speaks to me, mostly I think because it makes sense. It makes so much sense to just send those to war who believe it is the right thing to do. Why would you make people who don't believe in war, go to war and lose their wife, kids, or lover? It's beyond the point of unfairness. They didn't ask for that. 

Theme-

Feelings of remorse and shame have seem to arise from this section of the novel. 

Week 3 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien, 

I haven't gotten much further into your novel, but I can tell you it hasn't gotten much happier. That's for sure. The whole blowing up the puppy portion of this chapter was less than satisfying. That was one of the most scarring things I've ever read, but I have this sneaking suspicion that you weren't kidding. And if you made that up yourself that's sick. 

Other than that, I think the book is great. I almost feel like I'm there with the soldiers out on the battle fields, and I too am trying to figure my life out while I'm there. At least that's what I feel like the other men are trying to accomplish; what their life's purpose is or trying to figure out why they are there. Something that I noted was that the men are losing their emotion towards a lot of things, like the deaths of other soldiers and just other people in general. 

Also, the whole situation with Lt. Cross and Margaret. I don't really get why he loves her so much. He doesn't really have a lot of great things to say about her, but nevertheless he still loves her, and it's annoying knowing that Margaret doesn't love him like that, I'm not sure why she wouldn't, but he still loves her anyway. I guess that goes to show that you can't help who you fall in love with. I think that is another emerging theme in this novel. Mainly with Cross and Margaret, but I have a feeling it happens along with the other soldiers too. 

Until next time,

Grace

Week 3 Post A

Vocab: 

Encyst: to enclose or become enclosed in a cyst. (20)

plodding: to walk heavily; to trudge. (15) 

Figurative Language:

1) "... and then he soars into a tree."(32) Here I think O'Brien is trying to describe how this soldier loved being in the trees, and when he was shot he saw him soaring into the trees. This example can be looked at literally or figuratively. The soldiers can be soaring into the tree, as in his spirit, and that would be personification because humans can't soar into trees by free will. On the literal side, you can actual visualize the soldier being blown to bits and his body parts flying in the trees, which I'm afraid to admit might be the real meaning. 

2) "You'd feel the boredom dripping inside you like a leaky faucet"(34) This figurative language because it is a simile. It's describing how their boredom would get to them, and they would convince themselves they were getting sick. 

3) "All that peace, man, it felt so good it hurt. I want to hurt it back." (35) Here's personification because you can't actually hurt peace physically. At least I think this is personification, otherwise I'm not sure what to call it. 

Quote: 

"Or Ted Lavendar adopting an orphan puppy-- feeding it from a plastic spoon and carrying it in its rucksack until the day Azar strapped it to a Claymore antipersonnel mine and squeezed the firing device"(36).  This quote may be found significant because it shows that blowing a puppy up wasn't a really big deal and the death a puppy wouldn't matter because their own men were dying everyday. They, or at least Azar, found it fun and entertaining. I guess their boredom lead them to this. Personally, I don't think this quote should've even been added into the book beacuse it's so depressing. 

Theme:

Trying to figure out life's purpose. 

Week 2 Post B

Dear Mr. O'Brien, 

As I dive further into your novel the more intrigued I am becoming. I really enjoy hearing about how war changed the soldiers, and how life begins to develop a different meaning. The death of fellow soldiers become a natural phenomenon, and also a joke. But the joking is how they deal with it; which is also interesting to hear about, because they all deal with the deaths a little bit differently. Like Kiowa talks about the death of Lavendar in amazement, while Lt. Cross cries by himself in a fox whole blaming it on himself. Your styling of writing i what really makes one understand the emotion on the battle field. Your writing is very casual which reflects to the events in the novel. Like how death is now a casual event or so it comes off.  

One question I have is are you apart of this unit? I can't tell if you, Tim O'brien, is writing of your real experiences, or if you are writing from  the perspective of a  retired soldier, and you have drawn personal experiences into his character. Basically, what I am asking is: Is this a true story/ autobiography? I look forward to continuing the journey though the Vietnam war that isn't about the history or tactics, but of the lives of the soldiers. 

Week 2 Post A

mortared: A machine in which materials are ground and blended or crushed. (15)

Volition: a choice or decision made by the will. (15) 

Figurative Language:

1)"They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere, they carried it, the humidity, the monsoons, the stink of fungus and decay, all of it, they carried gravity"(15).  This excerpt is figurative language because they can't physically carry these things because they aren't tangible. It is said they are carrying these things to know what sort of mental things they had to carry. 

2)"Like cement"(17). this isn't a very descriptive quote but in context it makes sense that it is a simile because he is talking about what a soldier looked like when he was shot. 

3) "Zapped while Zipping"(17). Here's a term the soldiers use a lot to describe someone who was shot while taking a leak. I'm not sure if this is technically figurative language, but I like to think it is because it's sort of like an onomatopoeia because of the "zapped." I'm not exactly sure why, but I feel it is just very figurative. 

Quote: 

"... the resources were stunning--sparklers for fourth of July, colored eggs for Easter--it was the great American war chest--the fruits of science, the smokestacks, and the canneries, the arsenals at Hartford, the Minnesota forests, the machine shops, the vast fields of corn and wheat"(16) I thought this was a very interesting quote. Mostly because he mentioned Minnesota, but besides that I think that it also carries some significance. Here he is mentioning all the things the supply planes would drop to them, and how for war these are pretty luxurious

things to have dropped down to you. Also, all of the things that were dropped to them reminded him of America and his longing for America. At least that's how I interpret it. 

Theme: 

A theme of accepting death is emerging because it's better than being embarrassed. The soldiers would rather die then try and escape death and thought to be a "sissy"

Outside Reading Sucks-Week 1 Post B

Dear Mr. Tim O'Brien, 

I have only read the first 9 pages of your book, but I am thoroughly enjoying it already, and looking forward to reading more. From reading those nine pages you have already struck a chord with me and made me feel a bit of what the soldiers felt during that time.  I can tell it is going to be a very touching novel that I will learn a lot from. You especially have a talent for setting the mood and tone of a book. 

What I really liked so far was how you list of all the things they carried, and not just a list of the objects they brought (toilet paper, gum, ammunition, pot, etc.), but also the emotional baggage they marched  with too.  

Also, the character Jim Cross is someone I can relate to easily because he is a mind-wanderer. He marches through battle fields giving orders, but isn't even really focusing on what is happening, rather he is daydreaming about things in far off lands. He is an intriguing character and I have a feeling he is probably the main character of this novel.  Well, I can't say much more until I read more. 

Sincerely, 

Gracie

Outside Reading Sucks- Week 1 Post A

Vocabulary:

topography: the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district, or locality. 

bandoliers: A belt fitted with small pockets or loops for carrying cartridges and worn across the chest by soldiers. 

phantom: an appearance or illusion without material substance, as a dream image, mirage, or optical illusion. 

Figurative Language: 

1.  "... goes ass over teakettle"(6) a term used to described a body flipping and turning, and is figurative language because it is imagery and a form of personification (giving a human like characteristic to a  non-human like thing). 

2. " the eyes chilly"(8).  Another form of personification or something that describes what the eye looks like, but the eye can't actually be chilly, and it is also imagery.  But it is figurative because an eye can't actually be chilly. 

3. " Suns and waves and gentle winds, all love and lightness"(9). Here someone is describing how their love for someone feels and it feels like the "sun and waves and winds," which is personification because he is giving an attribution of a personal nature to abstract notions. 

Quote:

" He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men" (5). This is a very interesting quote because something physical the soldier is carrying is listed but then followed by something that isn't physically carried, but weighs more than the object that has an actual mass. This quote is sort of a set up for the mood and feelings of the rest of the book, because you understand his physical pain, but you feel the weight on his shoulders for the responsibility of other lives even more because it has so much more importance than a strobe light, and this is basically what the men carried : tangible and intangible things. 

Theme:

The idea that you can carry both tangible and intangible things. 

Poseidon's background music

Poseidon doesn't interest me or inspire me as much as just stand out to me. The fact that he has a grudge against Odysseus is brought up regularly or at least every so often throughout the poem, and that grabs my attention because of its repetitiveness. Also, the fact that he is one of the only things holding Odysseus back form getting home. 

What really sticks out is Poseidon's persistence to make Odysseus' life as difficult as possible. Not only that but the fact that he is mad because Odysseus stabbed his Cyclops son, Prometheus, in the eye; which is just kind of funny. Especially because it upset Poseidon that much, but it is admirable that he will go against the others (gods) to get revenge for his son's loss. 

The song I chose that I thought best describes Poseidon is "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty and The heartbreakers. The title sort of speaks for itself because Poseidon basically "won't back down." But more specifically Tom Petty says "gonna stand my ground, and I won't back down." That is exactly what Poseidon does, except I guess he literally doesn't stand his ground being God of the Seas...He also says "Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out," that's Poseidon basically telling Odysseus there is no easy way out. This song is pretty self explanatory. 

What lead me to ultimately choosing this song was that I saw Tom Petty playing this at the half-time show at the Super Bowl, and I thought to myself "hey, that sounds kind of like something Poseidon would listen to."

Week 7 Post B

Dear Stephen Colbert, 

I have finished off your outstandingly entertaining book of thoughts and opinions. I will admit, I think that many authors who decide to publish a book on their thoughts and opinions on America's issues put me to sleep. But you have managed to make me laugh out loud in public while reading your work. I must say, it takes a lot of humor to make one actually laugh out loud while reading. And for doing so, I say hats off. 

While reading your book I have come to realize that it is a book that one must be open to, and for certain not be serious about. You have to take a very light-hearted approach to read with enjoyment. For I have caught myself going into the book with a serious attitude, which lead me to take you seriously, and then I began to want to have a debate with you on the topic. Then I realized that I can't really believe that you really believe in what you are saying. One has to realize that you most likely, and hopefully, say these things with the intent of making one laugh. 

You ended the book off nicely, although, you added the speech you made at a White house banquet and I wasn't amused. Overall, you did a good job of keeping me interested in your book and something I would recommend to another, allowing that their personality is fitting. Some may take it too seriously. Well done.

Sincerely,

Grace

Week 7 Post A

Vocabulary-

Nucleotides:  Any of various compounds consisting of nucleoside with a phosphate group and forming the basic constituent of DNA and RNA.

 tantalizing: having or exhibiting something that provokes or arouses expectation, interest, or desire. 

Figurative Language: 

1) "I can only assume that an ape became mayor of San Francisco"(209). Here is a metaphor used to describe the mayor of San Francisco to carry the characteristics of an ape. Such as, lack of intelligence.

2) "I'll wait while your heads explode"(210). Here is figurative language, and is a common phrase to describe the action of amazement, to one, happening. 

3) "A baboon with my heart would be unstoppable"(193). Colbert uses more figurative language to point out that he has much determination, and a baboon would even pick up this determination if it received Steven Colbert's heart. 

Quote:

"--my book isn't a monologue; it's a dialogue--a dialogue between me and my opinions, and you've been welcome to eavesdrop on us"(213). This is an short, but significant quote beacuse it basically sums up the whole entire theme and point of the book. 

Theme: To conclude, the overall theme would be that it is a collection of thoughts and opinions Mr. Colbert was so kind to share with us.