Dear Will,
When you first mentioned your new business I was really happy for you but after a while of reading I changed my mind. It seems like the business has really changed you and not in a very good way. Chapter six started out with you talking about how money can set people free. Your exact words were, "It could, for a start, set you free and make a place for you in the world. In that new country, it began to be my understanding that getting what you wanted was largely a matter of claiming what you wanted" (110). I said before (in the blog below) that I think in the future, your opinion on money will make bad things happen. I think that you'll try become greedy like Featherstone and Claire will leave you because of it. You've actually started to become a little bit snobby and selfish. You talked a lot about how you send for things such as silk and nice cloth to send to a tailor to get nice dress clothes for yourself. It doesn't seem like you need dress clothes to run your business so I don't really understand why you went through all that trouble. When you were talking about riding through towns on your nice horse you said, "Together, we looked so fine that day I wished I could sit on a porch and watch us ride by" (111). Honestly, I don't think you could be anymore cocky.
Although you have been acting odd, I still really like this book. I think it's cute how you and Claire love each other so much and I've also noticed that your writing is a lot more sophisticated than when you were a boy. You write like everything in your life is about business.
I can't wait to keep reading and find out what happened to Claire!
-Anna
December 18, 2007
Post A
Vocab
Cairn (111)-a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.
Roiled (113)-To displease or disturb.
Figurative Language
(Back to all similes!)
1) The first simile of this post is when Will said, "...trust and risk layered one atop the other in thin strata like cards in a deck" (110). This is a simile because he described something using the word like.
2) When Will was talking about a squirrel he said, "...one hind foot remained attached as it leaped into the air with the webs of skin between the legs stretced like wings for gliding and the bright chips of black glass set in its head for eyes looking toward the fireplace as if it had had enough of life and was ready to blaze away into the next world" (118-119). I wrote this whole sentence because it gives two examples of similes. (Look above for how they are a simile).
3) Then on the next page it said "And then I palmed the black nose, big as my spread hand, its texture like sand"(119). The author really likes to use similes and once again in this sentence there were two.
Quote
"In that new country, it began to be my understanding that getting what you wanted was largely a matter of claiming what you wanted" (110). I predict that this quote and what Will believes at this point in the book will cause him a lot of trouble. Money seems to be a big part of his life at the moment and I think he needs to realize that there's more to life than being rich.
Theme
Money can't fix everything.
Cairn (111)-a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.
Roiled (113)-To displease or disturb.
Figurative Language
(Back to all similes!)
1) The first simile of this post is when Will said, "...trust and risk layered one atop the other in thin strata like cards in a deck" (110). This is a simile because he described something using the word like.
2) When Will was talking about a squirrel he said, "...one hind foot remained attached as it leaped into the air with the webs of skin between the legs stretced like wings for gliding and the bright chips of black glass set in its head for eyes looking toward the fireplace as if it had had enough of life and was ready to blaze away into the next world" (118-119). I wrote this whole sentence because it gives two examples of similes. (Look above for how they are a simile).
3) Then on the next page it said "And then I palmed the black nose, big as my spread hand, its texture like sand"(119). The author really likes to use similes and once again in this sentence there were two.
Quote
"In that new country, it began to be my understanding that getting what you wanted was largely a matter of claiming what you wanted" (110). I predict that this quote and what Will believes at this point in the book will cause him a lot of trouble. Money seems to be a big part of his life at the moment and I think he needs to realize that there's more to life than being rich.
Theme
Money can't fix everything.
December 11, 2007
Post B
In the section I read this week Bear brought up a lot of good points and said a lot of wise things. I first noticed it when he asked these questions:
"If you knew that tomorrow afternoon the sun would flame up and consume all the world, would you spend the time between now and then praisiing beauty of creation or would you sit in a darkened room cursing God with your last breath?" (86).
"If tomorrow you came down with an illness that you knew would certainly kill you, how many differed things would you feel? Would relief be at all prominent among them?" (86).
When Will opened his mouth to answer one of these questions Bear said, "It's a mistake to answer too quickly"(86). I thought this was kind of interesting because I came up with my own opinion to these questions really quickly... I think they're really simple and easy to answer. I mean I'm sure I'd freak out at first but I'd rather spend the rest of my life (no matter how long or short) enjoying it and getting the best out of it.
Another thing Bear said was that speaking and understanding English were separate matters. I took this quote to mean two different things. The first is pretty obvious: you can say something in another language but that doesn't mean you know what it means. The second is that Bear doesn't understand white men. Before at the dance Bear hosted there was one dance where the Indians made fun of the white men. Will said that he remembered times when white men talked about the Indians and how they were much more superior than the Indians. Will found this kind of funny because at the dance the imitations looked rediculous but he had to admit that they were true. Anyways, I think the quote can also mean that Bear did not understand why white men liked to start wars and do a bunch of other things I don't really want to mention. He thought that their ways were rediculous while the white men thought the same about the Indians.
"If you knew that tomorrow afternoon the sun would flame up and consume all the world, would you spend the time between now and then praisiing beauty of creation or would you sit in a darkened room cursing God with your last breath?" (86).
"If tomorrow you came down with an illness that you knew would certainly kill you, how many differed things would you feel? Would relief be at all prominent among them?" (86).
When Will opened his mouth to answer one of these questions Bear said, "It's a mistake to answer too quickly"(86). I thought this was kind of interesting because I came up with my own opinion to these questions really quickly... I think they're really simple and easy to answer. I mean I'm sure I'd freak out at first but I'd rather spend the rest of my life (no matter how long or short) enjoying it and getting the best out of it.
Another thing Bear said was that speaking and understanding English were separate matters. I took this quote to mean two different things. The first is pretty obvious: you can say something in another language but that doesn't mean you know what it means. The second is that Bear doesn't understand white men. Before at the dance Bear hosted there was one dance where the Indians made fun of the white men. Will said that he remembered times when white men talked about the Indians and how they were much more superior than the Indians. Will found this kind of funny because at the dance the imitations looked rediculous but he had to admit that they were true. Anyways, I think the quote can also mean that Bear did not understand why white men liked to start wars and do a bunch of other things I don't really want to mention. He thought that their ways were rediculous while the white men thought the same about the Indians.
Post A
Vocab
Persimmon (84)- Any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros.
Transient (99)- Lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary.
Figurative Language
1) "Howling wind" (84) is an example of personification because it gave the wind a human characteristic.
2) "But now the exact art of it was lost, like knapping flint into knife blades sharp enough to shave the hair on your arms" (85). This is a simile because it describes the art using the word like.
3) Another simile is "It stuck the eye blurred, as if seen through water" (99). Once again, this describes the blurry eye using the work as.
Quote
Bear said, "I'm offering to stand as your father" (94). This is important because now Will has someone to call family and he's not alone anymore. Although Bear hasn't done anything very fatherly yet, I think he will impact Will and his decisions a lot throughout the book.
Theme
Don't judge people based on where they come from.
Persimmon (84)- Any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros.
Transient (99)- Lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary.
Figurative Language
1) "Howling wind" (84) is an example of personification because it gave the wind a human characteristic.
2) "But now the exact art of it was lost, like knapping flint into knife blades sharp enough to shave the hair on your arms" (85). This is a simile because it describes the art using the word like.
3) Another simile is "It stuck the eye blurred, as if seen through water" (99). Once again, this describes the blurry eye using the work as.
Quote
Bear said, "I'm offering to stand as your father" (94). This is important because now Will has someone to call family and he's not alone anymore. Although Bear hasn't done anything very fatherly yet, I think he will impact Will and his decisions a lot throughout the book.
Theme
Don't judge people based on where they come from.
December 5, 2007
Post B
Dear Will,
I've noticed that you're very slow at catching on to things. When you arrived at Featherstone's house and you found your horse there you said, "He had his head down grazing on new grass, and I stood amazed, wondering how he had found his way here before me" (61). Then you noticed that your coat was on the back of Bear's chair and you still didn't make the connection that Featherstone had been there. I also thought it was weird how when you arrived, no one said anything. You just sat down.
I'm beginning to understand why you talked about Bear so much in the beginning now. He brings you food, tells you stories, and is really nice to you, unlike Featherstone. One of his stories was about Bear's friend, Sir, and how he had been gutted by a boar. You said, "Bear cupped the wet pink-and-blue ropes in his palms, spilled them back inside, and stitched the bleeding belly back together..." (80). First of all, I cannot believe he did that. I would never able to do that. Second, I can't believe he lived! He was left out in the woods for days before Bear noticed that he was still alive. Where did he get food?
Anyways, I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
I've noticed that you're very slow at catching on to things. When you arrived at Featherstone's house and you found your horse there you said, "He had his head down grazing on new grass, and I stood amazed, wondering how he had found his way here before me" (61). Then you noticed that your coat was on the back of Bear's chair and you still didn't make the connection that Featherstone had been there. I also thought it was weird how when you arrived, no one said anything. You just sat down.
I'm beginning to understand why you talked about Bear so much in the beginning now. He brings you food, tells you stories, and is really nice to you, unlike Featherstone. One of his stories was about Bear's friend, Sir, and how he had been gutted by a boar. You said, "Bear cupped the wet pink-and-blue ropes in his palms, spilled them back inside, and stitched the bleeding belly back together..." (80). First of all, I cannot believe he did that. I would never able to do that. Second, I can't believe he lived! He was left out in the woods for days before Bear noticed that he was still alive. Where did he get food?
Anyways, I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
Post A
Vocab
Bray (62)- any similar loud, harsh sound.
Anomalies (64)- an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.
Figurative Language
1) "In one corner a tall pile of cured deerhides lay atop another like a deck of cards swollen from being left out in the rain" (65). Sorry to keep giving examples of similes but there are tons of them in this book. This is a simile because it describes the deerhides by using the word like.
2) "... no matter how bitter the night, touching his shoulder was like palming a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven" (83). This is another simile because it uses the word like to describe something.
3) "When I dropped a nickel into the slot of a kinetoscope viewer and wound the crank until the bell rang and put the sound tubes like a stethescope to my ears and then bent to the eyepieces" (7). This is a third simile because once again, it uses the word like to describe something.
Quote
Will is talking about the new calender when he says, "But in my mind, those were beginning to mean nothing, and it was just the four seasons and the thirteen moons wheeling across the night sky that marked real time" (83). This quote is important for two reasons. One, it became the title of the book and two, it shows how Will is adapting to his new life and even starting to act like the people around him.
Theme
For every cloud, there's a silver lining.
Bray (62)- any similar loud, harsh sound.
Anomalies (64)- an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.
Figurative Language
1) "In one corner a tall pile of cured deerhides lay atop another like a deck of cards swollen from being left out in the rain" (65). Sorry to keep giving examples of similes but there are tons of them in this book. This is a simile because it describes the deerhides by using the word like.
2) "... no matter how bitter the night, touching his shoulder was like palming a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven" (83). This is another simile because it uses the word like to describe something.
3) "When I dropped a nickel into the slot of a kinetoscope viewer and wound the crank until the bell rang and put the sound tubes like a stethescope to my ears and then bent to the eyepieces" (7). This is a third simile because once again, it uses the word like to describe something.
Quote
Will is talking about the new calender when he says, "But in my mind, those were beginning to mean nothing, and it was just the four seasons and the thirteen moons wheeling across the night sky that marked real time" (83). This quote is important for two reasons. One, it became the title of the book and two, it shows how Will is adapting to his new life and even starting to act like the people around him.
Theme
For every cloud, there's a silver lining.
November 29, 2007
November 28, 2007
Post B
Dear Will Cooper,
Wow, I can't believe your aunt and uncle made you leave at such a young age. So far, it sounds like your trip hasn't been going very well. Now that you've met Featherstone, I'm pretty sure you'll be okay. In Part One of Thirteen Moons you said that he was like a father to you. I think it will be really interesting to see how your relationship progresses because so far it seems like he's not interested in talking to you. Especially now sinc you've taken almost all of his money from gamble.
Another thing you said in Part One is that you wanted to kill Featherstone and it's driving me crazy. What happened?
I've heard that this book is really sad too and I'm a bit nervous to keep reading. It's not that I hate sad stories but it's just hard to believe that it gets worse than being force out of your house and have to travel all alone by horseback to someplace you've never even been. Anyways, I hope it gets better and I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
Wow, I can't believe your aunt and uncle made you leave at such a young age. So far, it sounds like your trip hasn't been going very well. Now that you've met Featherstone, I'm pretty sure you'll be okay. In Part One of Thirteen Moons you said that he was like a father to you. I think it will be really interesting to see how your relationship progresses because so far it seems like he's not interested in talking to you. Especially now sinc you've taken almost all of his money from gamble.
Another thing you said in Part One is that you wanted to kill Featherstone and it's driving me crazy. What happened?
I've heard that this book is really sad too and I'm a bit nervous to keep reading. It's not that I hate sad stories but it's just hard to believe that it gets worse than being force out of your house and have to travel all alone by horseback to someplace you've never even been. Anyways, I hope it gets better and I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
Post A
Vocab
Valiantly (37)- boldly courageous
Skein (38)- A length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil.
Figurative Language
1) "The boy I'm speaking of was a version of me, an early incomplete draft" (28). This is an example of a metaphor because it doesn't use like or as.
2) "It hit the ground edge first and buried itself like an axehead in soft wood" (38). This is a simile. because it uses the word like to describe something.
3) "... looking confused in its expression like a dog justly chastised for bad behavior" (39). This is another simile.
Quote
"The one-legged man looked at me and bobbed his head toward the table and said, That there's Featherstone" (47). This quote is important because in Part one of Thirteen Moons, Will talked about Featherstone a lot so this introduction seems like it changed his life.
Theme
Try to make the best out of everything.
Valiantly (37)- boldly courageous
Skein (38)- A length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil.
Figurative Language
1) "The boy I'm speaking of was a version of me, an early incomplete draft" (28). This is an example of a metaphor because it doesn't use like or as.
2) "It hit the ground edge first and buried itself like an axehead in soft wood" (38). This is a simile. because it uses the word like to describe something.
3) "... looking confused in its expression like a dog justly chastised for bad behavior" (39). This is another simile.
Quote
"The one-legged man looked at me and bobbed his head toward the table and said, That there's Featherstone" (47). This quote is important because in Part one of Thirteen Moons, Will talked about Featherstone a lot so this introduction seems like it changed his life.
Theme
Try to make the best out of everything.
November 27, 2007
On the Waterfront Paper- Extra Credit
When I think of On the Waterfront, three words come to mind: intense, brilliant, and remarkable. On the Waterfront is definitely one of the best black and white filmed movies I have ever seen. The literary, dramatic, and cinematic aspects were all outstanding. It even taught a great lesson: follow your conscience and do what you know is right. The only problem I had with it was that one character, Edie Doyle, was very annoying. Fortunately, it didn’t spoil the movie and other than that, everything was perfect.
At the beginning of On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy had no idea where he fit in. He knew that what he had done was wrong but at times, he was pressured into it. One day while he was working his brother, Charley, said to him, “Johnny wants a favor. Don’t think about it, do it. Come on, join the congregation.” The viewer can tell by the look on Terry’s face that he’s still unsure about what to do. Throughout the movie, the camera followed Terry so the viewer could see what he was going through. Fortunately, by the end of the film, he learned to follow his conscience and do what was right.
Edie Doyle was another main character from On that Waterfront. She was stubborn, loud, and the most annoying person in the entire movie. At the beginning of the film when she found Joey dead on the street she yelled, “who killed Joey?” as if the person responsible for his death was about to step up and confess.
Although I found one of the characters to annoying, I thought the casting and acting was perfect. Eva Marie Saint’s character was unpleasant, but she did do a pretty good job on pulling it off. She even looked the part. Her big brown eyes, high cheek bones, and blonde hair stood out everywhere she went. Edie was a very caring person and this is exactly how I pictured her to look like. Marlon Brando (Terry) also played his role well. He was buff and his slurred way of speaking made him seem inarticulate and uneducated. Karl Malden (Father Berry) was also another actor that really stood out to me. Similar to Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando, his appearance and voice fit his character. To me, everything he said was believable. For instance, whenever he said that he wanted to solve the case, it looked like he really meant it.
The lighting was also a great aspect of the film. In the suspenseful scenes, it was usually very dark. For instance, when Terry and Edie were running away from the truck in the alley, it was almost completely dark. Another great example is when Terry and Edie were dancing at the wedding reception. The lights were dim and slow music was playing, making it romantic for the both of them. The lights in the film weren’t always dim though. In the last scene, where Terry finally defeats the mob, it’s bright out making his accomplishment even more exciting.
Similar to the casting and acting, the cinematic aspects of the film were very well done. A great example is the scene where Terry is beaten up by the mob. Father Berry and a few union members tell Terry that the only way to make the mob powerless is to walk back on his own and work. When he finally gets up, the music starts playing. At this point, the music is soft and slow. The duration of the shots are very quick, switching between a number of different views. The first shows a close up flat angle of Terry’s face. The next clip is an example of firehosing from Terry’s perspective. The shot is blurry and you can tell he’s stumbling because the camera is moving in all different directions. Then comes another flat angle; this time of his feet. The next shows the faces of the workers, again from Terry’s point of view. By now, the music has gotten louder and sounds triumphant. Another quick shot, this time a high angle, of the workers pushing their way past Johnny to work. And finally, the last shot is of the workers’ backs walking through the doors to a new beginning, making it a perfect ending.
When I first heard we were going to be watching On the Waterfront, I was a bit surprised. I had no idea how it was supposed to relate to All My Sons. Fortunately, after a few minutes, I began to see a number of similarities and differences. The first is that both Terry and Joe had to make hard decisions that would cost them their lives. Terry couldn’t decide because if he told, he might have been killed. Joe on the other hand would’ve had to spend the rest of his life in jail. Both characters also did bad things for the people that were close to them. Terry did it for Charley and Johnny, who he said took him to ball games when he was younger, while Joe did it for his family. A third similarity I found was that they both claimed to think that their actions wouldn’t hurt anyone. Terry said that he thought they were just going to “lean on ‘em a little bit,” not throw him off the building and since Joe thought the plane parts would never be used, he sold them. Unfortunately, in both cases, people ended up dead all because they didn’t think twice. If only they had listened to their conscience and stood up for what they though was right before hand, everything would’ve been alright.
With similarities, usually comes to differences. To me, the biggest difference I noticed had to do with the American dream. In All My Sons, the American dream was everything to Joe. He had a wife, kids, a business, and a house. Then this world came crashing down when he found out his business had to be shut down. The only way, in his mind to get money was to do it illegally, so he did. On the Waterfront though, hardly even touched the American dream. The closest a character was to reaching the dream was Pop Doyle who had a wife, a daughter and an apartment. His biggest wish he said was that Edie would go to school and become a teacher. Other than that, the workers weren’t paid very much--sometimes not even paid at all--and most of them just looked after themselves.
Overall, I thought On the Waterfront was a great movie. It had a few flaws, but what movie doesn’t? One character was annoying, but it certainly didn’t ruin the whole movie. The plot, the actors, the editing, and the camera angles were all perfect. I think Elia Kazan did an amazing job on this movie and I would recommend it to anyone that doesn’t mind black and white films.
At the beginning of On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy had no idea where he fit in. He knew that what he had done was wrong but at times, he was pressured into it. One day while he was working his brother, Charley, said to him, “Johnny wants a favor. Don’t think about it, do it. Come on, join the congregation.” The viewer can tell by the look on Terry’s face that he’s still unsure about what to do. Throughout the movie, the camera followed Terry so the viewer could see what he was going through. Fortunately, by the end of the film, he learned to follow his conscience and do what was right.
Edie Doyle was another main character from On that Waterfront. She was stubborn, loud, and the most annoying person in the entire movie. At the beginning of the film when she found Joey dead on the street she yelled, “who killed Joey?” as if the person responsible for his death was about to step up and confess.
Although I found one of the characters to annoying, I thought the casting and acting was perfect. Eva Marie Saint’s character was unpleasant, but she did do a pretty good job on pulling it off. She even looked the part. Her big brown eyes, high cheek bones, and blonde hair stood out everywhere she went. Edie was a very caring person and this is exactly how I pictured her to look like. Marlon Brando (Terry) also played his role well. He was buff and his slurred way of speaking made him seem inarticulate and uneducated. Karl Malden (Father Berry) was also another actor that really stood out to me. Similar to Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando, his appearance and voice fit his character. To me, everything he said was believable. For instance, whenever he said that he wanted to solve the case, it looked like he really meant it.
The lighting was also a great aspect of the film. In the suspenseful scenes, it was usually very dark. For instance, when Terry and Edie were running away from the truck in the alley, it was almost completely dark. Another great example is when Terry and Edie were dancing at the wedding reception. The lights were dim and slow music was playing, making it romantic for the both of them. The lights in the film weren’t always dim though. In the last scene, where Terry finally defeats the mob, it’s bright out making his accomplishment even more exciting.
Similar to the casting and acting, the cinematic aspects of the film were very well done. A great example is the scene where Terry is beaten up by the mob. Father Berry and a few union members tell Terry that the only way to make the mob powerless is to walk back on his own and work. When he finally gets up, the music starts playing. At this point, the music is soft and slow. The duration of the shots are very quick, switching between a number of different views. The first shows a close up flat angle of Terry’s face. The next clip is an example of firehosing from Terry’s perspective. The shot is blurry and you can tell he’s stumbling because the camera is moving in all different directions. Then comes another flat angle; this time of his feet. The next shows the faces of the workers, again from Terry’s point of view. By now, the music has gotten louder and sounds triumphant. Another quick shot, this time a high angle, of the workers pushing their way past Johnny to work. And finally, the last shot is of the workers’ backs walking through the doors to a new beginning, making it a perfect ending.
When I first heard we were going to be watching On the Waterfront, I was a bit surprised. I had no idea how it was supposed to relate to All My Sons. Fortunately, after a few minutes, I began to see a number of similarities and differences. The first is that both Terry and Joe had to make hard decisions that would cost them their lives. Terry couldn’t decide because if he told, he might have been killed. Joe on the other hand would’ve had to spend the rest of his life in jail. Both characters also did bad things for the people that were close to them. Terry did it for Charley and Johnny, who he said took him to ball games when he was younger, while Joe did it for his family. A third similarity I found was that they both claimed to think that their actions wouldn’t hurt anyone. Terry said that he thought they were just going to “lean on ‘em a little bit,” not throw him off the building and since Joe thought the plane parts would never be used, he sold them. Unfortunately, in both cases, people ended up dead all because they didn’t think twice. If only they had listened to their conscience and stood up for what they though was right before hand, everything would’ve been alright.
With similarities, usually comes to differences. To me, the biggest difference I noticed had to do with the American dream. In All My Sons, the American dream was everything to Joe. He had a wife, kids, a business, and a house. Then this world came crashing down when he found out his business had to be shut down. The only way, in his mind to get money was to do it illegally, so he did. On the Waterfront though, hardly even touched the American dream. The closest a character was to reaching the dream was Pop Doyle who had a wife, a daughter and an apartment. His biggest wish he said was that Edie would go to school and become a teacher. Other than that, the workers weren’t paid very much--sometimes not even paid at all--and most of them just looked after themselves.
Overall, I thought On the Waterfront was a great movie. It had a few flaws, but what movie doesn’t? One character was annoying, but it certainly didn’t ruin the whole movie. The plot, the actors, the editing, and the camera angles were all perfect. I think Elia Kazan did an amazing job on this movie and I would recommend it to anyone that doesn’t mind black and white films.
November 19, 2007
Post B
Dear Will,
First, I have a few quotes that I'd just like to comment on. At the end of one chapter you said, "And as far as I know, the only whiteman to do so was me"(20). Before you said this, you were talking about how Featherstone had only bled because of a little girl. This made me a little bit confused because one, I didn't expect you to say that and two, I didn't know you were a whiteman. This was explained though when, in the next chapter, you said that you had been kind of forced to live on the Indian reservation and you were not actually born there. In the second quote you were referring to your writing. You said, "Out of habit I still fill the volumes" (22). This quote reminded me of myself when I was little except I wasn't as successful as you were with your writing. What I mean is that when I was about 6, I tried to keep a journal... The first day I got it I wrote in it and said that I would write in it everyday. It never happened. That was the first and last time I ever wrote in it. Anyways, the last thing I wanted to quote you on was also another ending to another chapter. You said, "Nevertheless, let us begin. But not with senator, colonel, or chief. With a bound boy"(23). These three sentences really tied together part one and two. They also made me want to keep reading. It seemed like a lot of stuff you said in part one was unfinished. Now that you've said this, I know you'll go back to everything that really happened.
Also, I just have to say that I'm starting to like you a lot more. In my last letter, I talked a lot about how you were really stubborn and need to relax. Now, I don't know if I'm just used to you or if you're personality is growing on me...
I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
First, I have a few quotes that I'd just like to comment on. At the end of one chapter you said, "And as far as I know, the only whiteman to do so was me"(20). Before you said this, you were talking about how Featherstone had only bled because of a little girl. This made me a little bit confused because one, I didn't expect you to say that and two, I didn't know you were a whiteman. This was explained though when, in the next chapter, you said that you had been kind of forced to live on the Indian reservation and you were not actually born there. In the second quote you were referring to your writing. You said, "Out of habit I still fill the volumes" (22). This quote reminded me of myself when I was little except I wasn't as successful as you were with your writing. What I mean is that when I was about 6, I tried to keep a journal... The first day I got it I wrote in it and said that I would write in it everyday. It never happened. That was the first and last time I ever wrote in it. Anyways, the last thing I wanted to quote you on was also another ending to another chapter. You said, "Nevertheless, let us begin. But not with senator, colonel, or chief. With a bound boy"(23). These three sentences really tied together part one and two. They also made me want to keep reading. It seemed like a lot of stuff you said in part one was unfinished. Now that you've said this, I know you'll go back to everything that really happened.
Also, I just have to say that I'm starting to like you a lot more. In my last letter, I talked a lot about how you were really stubborn and need to relax. Now, I don't know if I'm just used to you or if you're personality is growing on me...
I can't wait to keep reading!
-Anna
Post A
Vocab
Laurels (18)- Any of various similar trees or shrubs.
Bivouacked (19)- To rest or assemble in such an area; encamp.
Figurative Language
1) "The boys grabbed at themselves in various places and howled as high-pitched as coon dogs..."(19). This is a simile because it describes what the boys sounded like by using the word as.
2) "He looked as if he had fought at King's Mountain in the Revolution and still attired himself in the old style..." (30). This is also another simile because Will is describing what his guest looks like by using the word as.
3) "The trigger guard was worked in scrolling, and the thumbpiece to the hammer seemed as big to me as a dogwood leaf" (34). This is a third simile that I found in Thirteen Moons. Once again, it's a simile because it uses the word as to describe his father's gun.
Quote
"Nevertheless, let us begin. But not with senator, colonel, or chief. With a bound boy" (23). This is a really powerful quote because it basically starts the story. Thirteen Moons started out with an old man talking about his life and all the people he has met. After he says this quote, he starts reflecting on specific events and he starts from when he is 12 years old.
Theme
Another theme I have noticed so far in Thirteen Moons is that life brings many suprises and sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
Laurels (18)- Any of various similar trees or shrubs.
Bivouacked (19)- To rest or assemble in such an area; encamp.
Figurative Language
1) "The boys grabbed at themselves in various places and howled as high-pitched as coon dogs..."(19). This is a simile because it describes what the boys sounded like by using the word as.
2) "He looked as if he had fought at King's Mountain in the Revolution and still attired himself in the old style..." (30). This is also another simile because Will is describing what his guest looks like by using the word as.
3) "The trigger guard was worked in scrolling, and the thumbpiece to the hammer seemed as big to me as a dogwood leaf" (34). This is a third simile that I found in Thirteen Moons. Once again, it's a simile because it uses the word as to describe his father's gun.
Quote
"Nevertheless, let us begin. But not with senator, colonel, or chief. With a bound boy" (23). This is a really powerful quote because it basically starts the story. Thirteen Moons started out with an old man talking about his life and all the people he has met. After he says this quote, he starts reflecting on specific events and he starts from when he is 12 years old.
Theme
Another theme I have noticed so far in Thirteen Moons is that life brings many suprises and sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
November 13, 2007
Post B
Dear Will Cooper,
I have just started your book and I have to say, I'm a little bit confused. Who's Claire? I understand that you and her were a couple "back then" but what happened? Did she die? Also, I didn't understand the whole phone conversation. May said, "Who is she, Colonel? Claire?"(11). This is the one question that threw me off. Was May just being nice and pretending that someone was there? Did the phone really ring or was it just that you were missing Claire and imagining her speaking to you?
In Thirteen Moons, May also said that they had made a movie about you. You weren't interested in it which I can understand because it's basically a rerun of your life, but aren't you even a little curious about it? I know that if someone made a movie about me, I'd be thrilled about it!
You also talk a lot about age. At first, nothing seemed to fit in the book because I didn't know how old you were but now it's a little more clear. You said that one time a boy asked you when you were born. After he did the math, you said that he seemed really suprised that you were still alive. Also, when you talked about Bear (who is he by the way?), you went on and on about his age too. Does it really matter? Everyone has to be old someday, it's natural. Just, why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? You're alive, right? So use it to your advantage and do something with your life instead of sitting around worrying about the new phone that was installed! I really hope you show more enthusiasum as I keep reading. I'm going to be really disappointed if you keep being so stubborn about everything.
-Anna
I have just started your book and I have to say, I'm a little bit confused. Who's Claire? I understand that you and her were a couple "back then" but what happened? Did she die? Also, I didn't understand the whole phone conversation. May said, "Who is she, Colonel? Claire?"(11). This is the one question that threw me off. Was May just being nice and pretending that someone was there? Did the phone really ring or was it just that you were missing Claire and imagining her speaking to you?
In Thirteen Moons, May also said that they had made a movie about you. You weren't interested in it which I can understand because it's basically a rerun of your life, but aren't you even a little curious about it? I know that if someone made a movie about me, I'd be thrilled about it!
You also talk a lot about age. At first, nothing seemed to fit in the book because I didn't know how old you were but now it's a little more clear. You said that one time a boy asked you when you were born. After he did the math, you said that he seemed really suprised that you were still alive. Also, when you talked about Bear (who is he by the way?), you went on and on about his age too. Does it really matter? Everyone has to be old someday, it's natural. Just, why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? You're alive, right? So use it to your advantage and do something with your life instead of sitting around worrying about the new phone that was installed! I really hope you show more enthusiasum as I keep reading. I'm going to be really disappointed if you keep being so stubborn about everything.
-Anna
Post A
Vocab
camphor (9)- An aromatic crystalline compound, C10H16O, obtained naturally from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree or synthesized and used as an insect repellent, in the manufacture of film, plastics, lacquers, and explosives, and in medicine chiefly in external preparations to relieve mild pain and itching.
palmettos (14)- Any of several small, mostly tropical palms having fan-shaped leaves, especially one of the genus Sabal, such as S. palmetto of the southeast United States. Also called sabal.
Figurative Language
1) "I sit silent with pen and paper, rendering the language into Sequoyah's syllabary, the characters forming under my hand like hen- scratch hieroglyphs" (3). This is a simile because it uses the word like to describe something.
2) "The night has become electrified" (4) is an example of imagery because it gives the reader a mental image of the setting.
3) "The telephone rested silent on the wall for days" (10) is an example of personification because it "rested" on the walls which is a human trait.
Quote
When May says, "Who is she, Colonel? Claire?" Will responds by saying, "Someone I lost a long time ago" (11). This quote is significant because this person, Claire, obviously affected Will's life and she stayed with him for forever. I think that later in the book, he will mention Claire more and tell what happened to her.
Theme
One emerging theme that I have noticed so far is that being old doesn't mean your life has ended, it just means that you have more experience in life.
camphor (9)- An aromatic crystalline compound, C10H16O, obtained naturally from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree or synthesized and used as an insect repellent, in the manufacture of film, plastics, lacquers, and explosives, and in medicine chiefly in external preparations to relieve mild pain and itching.
palmettos (14)- Any of several small, mostly tropical palms having fan-shaped leaves, especially one of the genus Sabal, such as S. palmetto of the southeast United States. Also called sabal.
Figurative Language
1) "I sit silent with pen and paper, rendering the language into Sequoyah's syllabary, the characters forming under my hand like hen- scratch hieroglyphs" (3). This is a simile because it uses the word like to describe something.
2) "The night has become electrified" (4) is an example of imagery because it gives the reader a mental image of the setting.
3) "The telephone rested silent on the wall for days" (10) is an example of personification because it "rested" on the walls which is a human trait.
Quote
When May says, "Who is she, Colonel? Claire?" Will responds by saying, "Someone I lost a long time ago" (11). This quote is significant because this person, Claire, obviously affected Will's life and she stayed with him for forever. I think that later in the book, he will mention Claire more and tell what happened to her.
Theme
One emerging theme that I have noticed so far is that being old doesn't mean your life has ended, it just means that you have more experience in life.
October 23, 2007
Final Post B
Dear Mary Karr,
I still haven't finished The Liars' Club but I'm really close! I just read about how your mom and dad got a divorce and you had to choose who to live with. I don't think I would ever be able to choose between my parents. Even if I was in your situation I think it would be hard. Especially since your mom needed you. I think it's really cool how you and your sister helped your mom after her mother died. I'm really sorry you didn't get to see your dad for such a long time though. That must have been really hard. It was really thoughtful of you to want to send him your prize from collecting green stamps! Your mom even thought so and I was glad that she fought with the lady working there about it. Doing that really showed how much she cared for you.
Since this is going to be the last time I will write to you, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed The Liars' Club. In the section that I just read though you talked about how you liked how it felt when you hurt your babysitters' baby. "...I reached down my free hand and pinched it on the thigh, pinched it with all my might, which amazingly enough, made it fall quiet lying under me" (234). This quote really disturbed me. The first time I read this sentence, I thought the baby had died from you pinching it so hard. I know that's not possible but then you went on to say, "... having hurt a baby was deep pleasure at such blatant meanness, the soft flesh giving way between my fingers like Play-Doh" (234). So far, I have read a lot of disturbing things that either you, your mother, your grandmother or anyone else in the book have done and I have got to say, I think this is definitely one of the cruelest things done. I'm really glad that right after you wrote those two lines, you said that you felt guilty and you promised to never do it again.
Anyways, I can't wait to finish The Liars' Club! I only have a few pages left!
-Anna
I still haven't finished The Liars' Club but I'm really close! I just read about how your mom and dad got a divorce and you had to choose who to live with. I don't think I would ever be able to choose between my parents. Even if I was in your situation I think it would be hard. Especially since your mom needed you. I think it's really cool how you and your sister helped your mom after her mother died. I'm really sorry you didn't get to see your dad for such a long time though. That must have been really hard. It was really thoughtful of you to want to send him your prize from collecting green stamps! Your mom even thought so and I was glad that she fought with the lady working there about it. Doing that really showed how much she cared for you.
Since this is going to be the last time I will write to you, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed The Liars' Club. In the section that I just read though you talked about how you liked how it felt when you hurt your babysitters' baby. "...I reached down my free hand and pinched it on the thigh, pinched it with all my might, which amazingly enough, made it fall quiet lying under me" (234). This quote really disturbed me. The first time I read this sentence, I thought the baby had died from you pinching it so hard. I know that's not possible but then you went on to say, "... having hurt a baby was deep pleasure at such blatant meanness, the soft flesh giving way between my fingers like Play-Doh" (234). So far, I have read a lot of disturbing things that either you, your mother, your grandmother or anyone else in the book have done and I have got to say, I think this is definitely one of the cruelest things done. I'm really glad that right after you wrote those two lines, you said that you felt guilty and you promised to never do it again.
Anyways, I can't wait to finish The Liars' Club! I only have a few pages left!
-Anna
Final Post A
Vocab.
Blatant (234): Offensively noisy or loud.
Existentialism (230): A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.
Appeals
1) When Karr talked about her mothers drinking and smoking problem she said, "...If anything, we found comfort in them, for they kept Mother safe in bed. The diet pills took those days from us" (229). Here, she is trying to make the reader understand that she would rather have her mother drink and smoke than take diet pills. This makes the reader feel really sorry for her so it is an emotional appeal.
2) "...because I almost couldn't bear to look at Mother. She'd become the picture of somebody nuts" (223). This quote also makes the reader feel bad for her so it is an emotional appeal.
3) After she and her sister chose to stay with her mother (to keep her safe) her father got into a car and drove away. Karr writes, "I finally stopped watching for glimpses of the truck to break through the dark spaces between trees and put my head down and ran hard down the dirt road. I kept running till the dust gave way to asphalt, even though that vehicle had long since disappeared" (194). This is another emotional appeal because it make the reader sad about what happened to her.
Quote
"They point-blank asked us who we wanted to live with. Mother was staying in Colorado; Daddy had to go back home" (192). This really influenced the authors life. She finally chose to stay with her mother just to keep her mother out of trouble but she had really wanted to go with her father. In The Liars' Club, she talked about all the times she thought about her father. One time she even tried to save up enough coupon things from the grocery store to win a prize so she could give it to her father on fathers day. When she found that there weren't any prizes left, it crushed her.
Theme
Sometimes the best things to do in bad situations aren't always the easiest.
Blatant (234): Offensively noisy or loud.
Existentialism (230): A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.
Appeals
1) When Karr talked about her mothers drinking and smoking problem she said, "...If anything, we found comfort in them, for they kept Mother safe in bed. The diet pills took those days from us" (229). Here, she is trying to make the reader understand that she would rather have her mother drink and smoke than take diet pills. This makes the reader feel really sorry for her so it is an emotional appeal.
2) "...because I almost couldn't bear to look at Mother. She'd become the picture of somebody nuts" (223). This quote also makes the reader feel bad for her so it is an emotional appeal.
3) After she and her sister chose to stay with her mother (to keep her safe) her father got into a car and drove away. Karr writes, "I finally stopped watching for glimpses of the truck to break through the dark spaces between trees and put my head down and ran hard down the dirt road. I kept running till the dust gave way to asphalt, even though that vehicle had long since disappeared" (194). This is another emotional appeal because it make the reader sad about what happened to her.
Quote
"They point-blank asked us who we wanted to live with. Mother was staying in Colorado; Daddy had to go back home" (192). This really influenced the authors life. She finally chose to stay with her mother just to keep her mother out of trouble but she had really wanted to go with her father. In The Liars' Club, she talked about all the times she thought about her father. One time she even tried to save up enough coupon things from the grocery store to win a prize so she could give it to her father on fathers day. When she found that there weren't any prizes left, it crushed her.
Theme
Sometimes the best things to do in bad situations aren't always the easiest.
October 16, 2007
Post B #4
Dear Mary Karr,
I know I've said this a lot in the recent letters that I have sent to you, but I cannot believe your mother tried to kill you again. I don't think I'd ever be able to get into a car with her ever again. She was being really selfish when did that. I can't believe she didn't even think twice about how you and your sister were in the back seat. That must have been really hard on the both of you.
It seems that you and Lecia didn't really get along when you were younger. She was always really sarcastic to you. It seems that every time she said something to you, it was mean. Once, when your mother and father got into a fight on your birthday, she turned to you and said, "Tape Ten Reel One Thousand: Happy Goddamn Birthday" (136). She always blamed things on you too. Whenever your mother got upset and cried she would always go out of her way just to make your mother happy. It didn't matter if you were okay or not, just as long as your mother was content, she was. I can kind of understand that little sisters aren't always going to be your best friend because I have a little sister. It's just the way your sister treated you seems to be a little bit extreme. I know I would never say that to my sister, especially on her birthday.
I hope that all your other birthdays turned out to be perfect! I'm more than half way done with your book and I can't wait to read the end!
- Anna
I know I've said this a lot in the recent letters that I have sent to you, but I cannot believe your mother tried to kill you again. I don't think I'd ever be able to get into a car with her ever again. She was being really selfish when did that. I can't believe she didn't even think twice about how you and your sister were in the back seat. That must have been really hard on the both of you.
It seems that you and Lecia didn't really get along when you were younger. She was always really sarcastic to you. It seems that every time she said something to you, it was mean. Once, when your mother and father got into a fight on your birthday, she turned to you and said, "Tape Ten Reel One Thousand: Happy Goddamn Birthday" (136). She always blamed things on you too. Whenever your mother got upset and cried she would always go out of her way just to make your mother happy. It didn't matter if you were okay or not, just as long as your mother was content, she was. I can kind of understand that little sisters aren't always going to be your best friend because I have a little sister. It's just the way your sister treated you seems to be a little bit extreme. I know I would never say that to my sister, especially on her birthday.
I hope that all your other birthdays turned out to be perfect! I'm more than half way done with your book and I can't wait to read the end!
- Anna
Post A #4
Vocab.
Omnipotence (116)- One having unlimited power or authority.
Staved (125)- To prevent in time; forestall.
Appeals
1) When Mary Karr tells the reader about how her parents got into a huge fight and her mother tried to kill her family on her birthday she says, "And that's it, that's what I remember about my birthday" (139). This is an emotional appeal because she makes the reader feel bad about how she had such a horrible birthday.
2) One example of a logical appeal is when Karr writes, "Grandma wound up leaving Mother a big pile of money" (140). This is a logical appeal because it is a fact.
3) Another example of a logical appeal is when she says, "My final report card for second grade shows my getting 'Satisfactory +' in both Conduct and Citizenship" (158). This is an example of a logical appeal because it is another fact.
Quote
"She's reaching over for the steering wheel, locking onto it with her knuckles tight. The car jumps to the side and skips up onto the sidewalk. She's trying to take us over the edge" (138). This quote is very significant because it showed that her mother didn't really care about anyone other than herself. It also explains how Mary almost died on her birthday.
Theme
A fourth theme I have noticed throughout the book is that you should always think before you act.
Omnipotence (116)- One having unlimited power or authority.
Staved (125)- To prevent in time; forestall.
Appeals
1) When Mary Karr tells the reader about how her parents got into a huge fight and her mother tried to kill her family on her birthday she says, "And that's it, that's what I remember about my birthday" (139). This is an emotional appeal because she makes the reader feel bad about how she had such a horrible birthday.
2) One example of a logical appeal is when Karr writes, "Grandma wound up leaving Mother a big pile of money" (140). This is a logical appeal because it is a fact.
3) Another example of a logical appeal is when she says, "My final report card for second grade shows my getting 'Satisfactory +' in both Conduct and Citizenship" (158). This is an example of a logical appeal because it is another fact.
Quote
"She's reaching over for the steering wheel, locking onto it with her knuckles tight. The car jumps to the side and skips up onto the sidewalk. She's trying to take us over the edge" (138). This quote is very significant because it showed that her mother didn't really care about anyone other than herself. It also explains how Mary almost died on her birthday.
Theme
A fourth theme I have noticed throughout the book is that you should always think before you act.
October 9, 2007
Post B #3
Dear Mary Karr,
I cannot believe what happened to your sister! What happened to her sounded really painful. I also can't believe that she would let people pop the blisters for a quarter. It doesn't sound like it's worth it to me.
It also sounds like your mother wasn't handling your grandmothers death very well either. In The Liars' Club you were talking about how your mother had asked you to go get her a drink. You wrote, "Then I walked as slowly and miserably as any mule through any cotton row in order to assemble that drink" (126). I really like this sentence! It shows the reader how much you cared about your mom and that you were looking out for her. A second aspect this quote showed was that you were very aggressive when you were younger. You always fought for what you thought was right.
Anyways, it's definitely not the smartest idea to get in the habit of drinking after something tragic happens to you. I didn't even think your mother and your grandmother were that close. There is one positive thing that has come out of your grandmother's death. Now that your grandmother's gone, your father seems to have come back. At the beginning of the book, I thought he left you, your mom and your sister forever. I'm glad he's back. It sounds like you guys have a lot of fun together!
-Anna
I cannot believe what happened to your sister! What happened to her sounded really painful. I also can't believe that she would let people pop the blisters for a quarter. It doesn't sound like it's worth it to me.
It also sounds like your mother wasn't handling your grandmothers death very well either. In The Liars' Club you were talking about how your mother had asked you to go get her a drink. You wrote, "Then I walked as slowly and miserably as any mule through any cotton row in order to assemble that drink" (126). I really like this sentence! It shows the reader how much you cared about your mom and that you were looking out for her. A second aspect this quote showed was that you were very aggressive when you were younger. You always fought for what you thought was right.
Anyways, it's definitely not the smartest idea to get in the habit of drinking after something tragic happens to you. I didn't even think your mother and your grandmother were that close. There is one positive thing that has come out of your grandmother's death. Now that your grandmother's gone, your father seems to have come back. At the beginning of the book, I thought he left you, your mom and your sister forever. I'm glad he's back. It sounds like you guys have a lot of fun together!
-Anna
October 7, 2007
Post A #3
Vocab
Oblong (88)- Deviating from a square, circular, or spherical form by being elongated in one direction.
Pious (104)- Having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
Appeals
1) When Karr is talking about the hurricane she says "Just before Carla came ashore at Leechfield, the storm stopped almost dead in place; then it made a sixty-degree turn" (98). Since this is a fact, it is a logical appeal.
2) When Karr's grandmother dies, Karr's mother starts drinking again. When Karr's mother asked her to get her a drink, Karr writes "Then I walked slowly and miserably as any mule through any cotton row in order to assemble that drink" (126). The author wants you to understand what she was feeling at that time in her life. This is an emotional appeal.
3) Karr's father was in a poker club. In the poker club he loved to lie and tell ridiculous stories. In one of his stories he started out by saying "' I'll tell you just exactly how my daddy died. He hung himself'" (119). When he said this, it made all the men in the room go quite. This is another example of an emotional appeal.
Quote
"I sat right there till Mother went in and found Grandma and started screaming" (96). This quote is important because when Karr's grandmother died, it changed her and her mothers lives. After the death, her mother started drinking again and since Karr's grandmother was gone, her father came back.
Theme
No matter what, your family will always love you.
Oblong (88)- Deviating from a square, circular, or spherical form by being elongated in one direction.
Pious (104)- Having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
Appeals
1) When Karr is talking about the hurricane she says "Just before Carla came ashore at Leechfield, the storm stopped almost dead in place; then it made a sixty-degree turn" (98). Since this is a fact, it is a logical appeal.
2) When Karr's grandmother dies, Karr's mother starts drinking again. When Karr's mother asked her to get her a drink, Karr writes "Then I walked slowly and miserably as any mule through any cotton row in order to assemble that drink" (126). The author wants you to understand what she was feeling at that time in her life. This is an emotional appeal.
3) Karr's father was in a poker club. In the poker club he loved to lie and tell ridiculous stories. In one of his stories he started out by saying "' I'll tell you just exactly how my daddy died. He hung himself'" (119). When he said this, it made all the men in the room go quite. This is another example of an emotional appeal.
Quote
"I sat right there till Mother went in and found Grandma and started screaming" (96). This quote is important because when Karr's grandmother died, it changed her and her mothers lives. After the death, her mother started drinking again and since Karr's grandmother was gone, her father came back.
Theme
No matter what, your family will always love you.
October 2, 2007
Post B #2
Dear Mary Karr,
It's me again and I just have a few more questions. The first question is why didn't you ask your mother about your half brother and half sister? Weren't you interested in them at all? I know you said that you kind of forgot about them after your grandmother first told you but why didn't you ask her then? Also, I was wondering if you've ever met them. It's been a long time and you talked about them quite a lot. I hope you wrote more about them in the book.
My other question is about the hurricane. Were you ever scared of it? When you mentioned the hurricane you only wrote about how your grandmother felt about it but never what you were thinking. Were you not concerned or were you too young to understand what was going on?
The third question is did you ever see or speak to your dad ever again? After you called him for the last time, you wrote "Then it's like you listen, expecting that faraway sound, and instead you get only the numb quiet of your own skull not knowing what to think of next" (87). That's all you wrote! I think you should've said more such as how you reacted, how it impacted you instead of just moving on to talk about the hurricane.
- Anna
It's me again and I just have a few more questions. The first question is why didn't you ask your mother about your half brother and half sister? Weren't you interested in them at all? I know you said that you kind of forgot about them after your grandmother first told you but why didn't you ask her then? Also, I was wondering if you've ever met them. It's been a long time and you talked about them quite a lot. I hope you wrote more about them in the book.
My other question is about the hurricane. Were you ever scared of it? When you mentioned the hurricane you only wrote about how your grandmother felt about it but never what you were thinking. Were you not concerned or were you too young to understand what was going on?
The third question is did you ever see or speak to your dad ever again? After you called him for the last time, you wrote "Then it's like you listen, expecting that faraway sound, and instead you get only the numb quiet of your own skull not knowing what to think of next" (87). That's all you wrote! I think you should've said more such as how you reacted, how it impacted you instead of just moving on to talk about the hurricane.
- Anna
Post A #2
Vocab
Quirt (73): A riding whip with a short handle and a lash of braided rawhide.
Roux (74): A cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, etc.
Appeals
"When a spiral got big enough-- once it took up a hundered miles of coastline and had winds of about a hundered and fifty miles per hour-- it was a hurricane" (81). This is a logical appeal because the author is just stating what a hurricane is. In other words, it's a fact.
"It's odd to me now how easily I let him leave our lives that fall at such an ugly time. Maybe he'd been slowly backpedaling out of the daddy business since Grandma came" (83). This shows how she wants the reader to sympathize with her. This is an emotional appeal.
"By mid-fall, the cancer had spread to Grandma's brain" (69). This is an emotional and a logical appeal. It is an emotional appeal because Karr again wants the reader to feel bad about her situation. This is also a logical appeal because it is a fact that her Grandmother had cancer and it spread to her brain.
Quote
When Mary's father left her and her family Mary and her sister tried to call him one last time. "Then it's like you listen, expecting that faraway sound, and instead you get only the numb quiet of your own skull not knowing what to think of next" (87). This obviously impacted her a great deal. She had already gone through so much and then her father just disappeared. Now that her father is gone, my prediction is that her sister will be the responsible one in the family and help raise Mary.
Theme
One theme that I have noticed in The Liars' Club is that no matter what happens in life, you have to keep going and try make the best of it. So far, Mary Karr has been through a lot of tough times. When her father left she explained that at the time she had no idea what to do but then she moved on.
Quirt (73): A riding whip with a short handle and a lash of braided rawhide.
Roux (74): A cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, etc.
Appeals
"When a spiral got big enough-- once it took up a hundered miles of coastline and had winds of about a hundered and fifty miles per hour-- it was a hurricane" (81). This is a logical appeal because the author is just stating what a hurricane is. In other words, it's a fact.
"It's odd to me now how easily I let him leave our lives that fall at such an ugly time. Maybe he'd been slowly backpedaling out of the daddy business since Grandma came" (83). This shows how she wants the reader to sympathize with her. This is an emotional appeal.
"By mid-fall, the cancer had spread to Grandma's brain" (69). This is an emotional and a logical appeal. It is an emotional appeal because Karr again wants the reader to feel bad about her situation. This is also a logical appeal because it is a fact that her Grandmother had cancer and it spread to her brain.
Quote
When Mary's father left her and her family Mary and her sister tried to call him one last time. "Then it's like you listen, expecting that faraway sound, and instead you get only the numb quiet of your own skull not knowing what to think of next" (87). This obviously impacted her a great deal. She had already gone through so much and then her father just disappeared. Now that her father is gone, my prediction is that her sister will be the responsible one in the family and help raise Mary.
Theme
One theme that I have noticed in The Liars' Club is that no matter what happens in life, you have to keep going and try make the best of it. So far, Mary Karr has been through a lot of tough times. When her father left she explained that at the time she had no idea what to do but then she moved on.
September 25, 2007
Post B
Dear Mary Karr,
I just started your memoir, The Liars Club and so far I love it! I think it’s amazing how you had such a complicated childhood and yet you grew up to write a book about it. I also think it’s amazing that you were even willing to share your childhood with others. I don’t think I’d ever be able to do that.
I do have one question though. I was wondering why the doctor was asking you to “show him the marks.” Later on you wrote that you knew there weren’t any marks to show, but why would he think there were any in the first place? Did a neighbor call the police on your parents for being so loud? What happened?
I thought it was really brave of you to stand up to your father. When he was beating you, you said, “Go on and hit me then, if it makes you feel like a man to beat on a little girl like me” (45). In all the other memoirs I’ve read, none of the narrators stood up for themselves like you did. When they wouldn’t do anything, it really annoyed me. I’m also glad you stood up for yourself because the one of the things I hated reading about was how your father would beat you.
Another question I have is how do you and your family get along now? In the introduction to The Liars Club, you said that you warned your mother and your sister about what you were going to write about. Did your mother apologize for all the things she’s done or did she not care? Also, what happened to your father? Do you two still keep in touch or has something happened that I haven’t read about yet?
Right now I’m only on the third chapter but I really look forward to reading more!
- Anna
I just started your memoir, The Liars Club and so far I love it! I think it’s amazing how you had such a complicated childhood and yet you grew up to write a book about it. I also think it’s amazing that you were even willing to share your childhood with others. I don’t think I’d ever be able to do that.
I do have one question though. I was wondering why the doctor was asking you to “show him the marks.” Later on you wrote that you knew there weren’t any marks to show, but why would he think there were any in the first place? Did a neighbor call the police on your parents for being so loud? What happened?
I thought it was really brave of you to stand up to your father. When he was beating you, you said, “Go on and hit me then, if it makes you feel like a man to beat on a little girl like me” (45). In all the other memoirs I’ve read, none of the narrators stood up for themselves like you did. When they wouldn’t do anything, it really annoyed me. I’m also glad you stood up for yourself because the one of the things I hated reading about was how your father would beat you.
Another question I have is how do you and your family get along now? In the introduction to The Liars Club, you said that you warned your mother and your sister about what you were going to write about. Did your mother apologize for all the things she’s done or did she not care? Also, what happened to your father? Do you two still keep in touch or has something happened that I haven’t read about yet?
Right now I’m only on the third chapter but I really look forward to reading more!
- Anna
September 24, 2007
Post A
The Liars Club by Mary Karr
Vocab
Metastasized (10): To be changed or transformed dangerously.
Succinct (47): Expressed in a few words.
Appeals
"I knew that neither of my parents was coming. Daddy was working the graveyard shift, and the sheriff said that his deputy had driven out to the plant to try and track him down. Mother had been taken Away-- he further told us-- for being Nervous." (6) This is an emotional appeal because she wants you to feel bad for her.
"In case you think I exaggerate Leechfield's overall nastiness, Business Week once voted it one of the ten ugliest towns on the planet." (34) This is an emotional appeal and a logical appeal. Karr wants us to feel bad for her because she had to grow up in a bad town. This is also a logical appeal because she is stating that Leechfield was voted one of the ten ugliest towns on the planet.
"My daddy had grown up with three loud brothers and a sister in a logging camp in the piney section of East Texas called The Big Thicket." (14) This is a logical appeal because it is a fact that her father grew up in East Texas.
Quote
In the first chapter of The Liars Club, Mary Karr starts telling the reader about her sharpest memory. She is at home with a doctor and there are policemen waiting outside. The doctor says, "'Show me the marks, come on, now. I won't hurt you '"(3). I think this quote will be important later on in the book because she does not go on to explain why he asked her "show him the marks." I predict Mary Karr will explain what he meant later on and it will lead into the story of why she wrote a memoir.
Theme
Mary Karr has made the best of her very difficult childhood by telling stories about it in The Liars Club.
Vocab
Metastasized (10): To be changed or transformed dangerously.
Succinct (47): Expressed in a few words.
Appeals
"I knew that neither of my parents was coming. Daddy was working the graveyard shift, and the sheriff said that his deputy had driven out to the plant to try and track him down. Mother had been taken Away-- he further told us-- for being Nervous." (6) This is an emotional appeal because she wants you to feel bad for her.
"In case you think I exaggerate Leechfield's overall nastiness, Business Week once voted it one of the ten ugliest towns on the planet." (34) This is an emotional appeal and a logical appeal. Karr wants us to feel bad for her because she had to grow up in a bad town. This is also a logical appeal because she is stating that Leechfield was voted one of the ten ugliest towns on the planet.
"My daddy had grown up with three loud brothers and a sister in a logging camp in the piney section of East Texas called The Big Thicket." (14) This is a logical appeal because it is a fact that her father grew up in East Texas.
Quote
In the first chapter of The Liars Club, Mary Karr starts telling the reader about her sharpest memory. She is at home with a doctor and there are policemen waiting outside. The doctor says, "'Show me the marks, come on, now. I won't hurt you '"(3). I think this quote will be important later on in the book because she does not go on to explain why he asked her "show him the marks." I predict Mary Karr will explain what he meant later on and it will lead into the story of why she wrote a memoir.
Theme
Mary Karr has made the best of her very difficult childhood by telling stories about it in The Liars Club.
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