Imagine yourself stepping into a strange magical world of parallel realities, fire demons, curses, and wizards and you will experience the startling journey taken by Sophie Hatter in Diane Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle. Jones spins the fantastical tale of a young woman who is taken away from her monotonous existence and thrust into a world a foreign world in which she must learn who she really is. In her day-to-day life, Sophie is the eldest of three daughters and is therefore out of luck. Because of her unfortunate position, she has no delusions about what her life will amount to for, as everyone knows, as the eldest of three “you are the one who will fail first, and worst, if the three of you set out to seek your fortune” (1). Because of this, Sophie accepts her family’s expectations that she will work as an apprentice in her late father’s hat shop while her sisters seek better fortunes for themselves.
Sophie settles in to her new duties until one fateful day. On that portentous day, the feared Witch of the Waste enters her shop and with a burst of misplaced jealousy and anger curses Sophie; no longer a plain young woman, Sophie becomes a plain old woman. Resigned to her fate—a fate that mirrors her expected lack of fortune—Sophie leaves her home town of Market Chipping in search of a new life. On her way she comes upon the feared Moving Castle that belongs to the mysterious Wizard Howl—a magical man accused of eating the heart’s of young and beautiful women. Instead of the cruel wizard she expected to find in Howl, she discovers a vain, shallow, and lazy man who uses his charm to capture the hearts of women before he dumps them. Together with Howl’s apprentice Michael, Calcifer the fire demon, and the magical castle, Sophie works to find all that has gone missing in the kingdoms around her: a prince, a wizard, and a heart, all while defeating the Witch of the Waste once and for all.
Jones creates a world that is magical and accessible to readers; a parallel world to our own. She sets this up in the beginning of her novel by disclaiming readers of the wonder found within the land of Ingary, a place “where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist” (1). In this magical place, fisherman can buy potions to ensure that they have a fair wind and a safe journey and the royal family keeps their own royal wizard. The world is put in contrast to our own and, in fact, Howl himself is from our own world; he is a man who has unlocked the secrets of magic, enabling him to travel between our two worlds.
Sophie herself is an engaging character who learns her own throughout the course of the book. At the beginning of the novel she is a quiet, unassuming figure who works dutifully in her family’s hat shop; she spends most of her time talking to the hats she created. Strangely, it is through her transformation into an old woman that she comes into her own; suddenly, she is unafraid to speak her mind and take action where she sees fit. Sophie also discovers her own magical power; “It brings life to things, such as that stick in your hand, which you have evidently talked to, to the extent that is has become what the layman would call a magic wand” (181). In fact, every inanimate object that Sophie talks to does her bidding—to a hat she says, “You have a heart of gold and someone in a high position will see it and fall in love with you,” when the hat is purchased by plain Jane Farrier the dashing Count of Catterack instantly falls in love with her (10). Sophie eventually realizes her own strength and self-worth, breaking her curse in the process.
Jones is able to create a world full of characters who have characteristics common to all people. Because of these carefully crafted elements of the story, readers are able to connect to the story in a way that pulls them into the text. The dynamic qualities of every aspect of the novel make it a treasure to read and uncover; for, in a parallel world where anything can and does happen, who wouldn’t want to be the average girl to put the heart back into a handsome Casanova, capturing his heart as your own in the process?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
CI 5442: Graphic Novel Response #2
Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus fascinated me. While I have had experience with Holocaust survival stories before, the use of the graphic novel format and the cleverly chosen personification of the mice, cats, and pigs as central characters within the story was an interesting addition to the story. Spiegelman was able to take a known story and make it new. I quickly read through the story and was highly engaged by the text and images.
I thought that Spiegelman’s presentation of the text was very well done. Spiegelman makes the story seem more believable and creditable by placing himself and his father in the text as they interact with one another through both the retelling of his father’s story and their relationships with each other in the present. By transitioning back and forth between the retelling of his father’s life during the years preceding and during the onset of WWII he is able to illustrate how surviving the war has shaped his father and to show the strains of those effects on both their lives. The opening images of Spiegelman crying home to his father about his friends was particularly interesting. He says, “Friends? Yours Friends? If you lock them together in a room with no food for a week….then you could see what is it, friends!” (6). Later in the text, Spiegelman tries to justify his father’s pack-rat tendencies by pointing out that the need to horde might be a result of his past experiences. I think this is an interesting point to note from his life and it helped to take the story farther—from just the story of his survival to the story of his life long after his trials ended.
I am glad that the story started before the beginning of the war with the relationship between Spiegelman’s mother and father. During the years that they were courting, the National Socialist Party was gaining power and taking control of Germany. It was interesting to read about the day-to-day life in Poland and the “rumors” they heard about the Germans. For them the Nazi’s were a piece of the background in Europe and they had no idea what consequences were about to come their way.
I thought Spiegelman Sr.’s account of life in Poland during the beginning years of the war was incredibly insightful. He really captured the complexity of the individuals around him. I thought it said a lot about human nature to note how people reacted during the war. Come people were willing to illegally harbor runaway Jews, others were more than willing to rat each other out—both Polish and Jewish citizens alike. I think people show their true colors in desperate situations and it was amazing to see how selfish or selfless people became within the book. Reading how people changed—for example, the maid who was once a part of the Spiegelman family—it made me think about how I would react to being put in the different situations presented in the book. I would like to think that I would be able to do the right thing, no matter what, but the story definitely makes you give it a serious thought.
I think the presentation of the book and the story within it can help make the tragedy of the Holocaust more engaging for anyone who reads it. I enjoyed puzzling out my own interpretation of why Spiegelman chose to use animals within the story. The illustrations add so much to the story. It’s amazing how the detailed illustrations are able to capture the emotions of the characters within the story; the black and white presentation adds to the tragic circumstances of the characters and makes their plight that much more serious. Through the images I was able to read the expressions of the character’s faces the same way I read both the dialogue and text boxes within the frames themselves. I doing this I was able to have a better understanding of how Spiegelman Sr.’s life in Poland. Overall, I love how the book is able to take a serious part of our past and present it in a way that is informative, engaging, and moving despite its use of illustrations.
I thought that Spiegelman’s presentation of the text was very well done. Spiegelman makes the story seem more believable and creditable by placing himself and his father in the text as they interact with one another through both the retelling of his father’s story and their relationships with each other in the present. By transitioning back and forth between the retelling of his father’s life during the years preceding and during the onset of WWII he is able to illustrate how surviving the war has shaped his father and to show the strains of those effects on both their lives. The opening images of Spiegelman crying home to his father about his friends was particularly interesting. He says, “Friends? Yours Friends? If you lock them together in a room with no food for a week….then you could see what is it, friends!” (6). Later in the text, Spiegelman tries to justify his father’s pack-rat tendencies by pointing out that the need to horde might be a result of his past experiences. I think this is an interesting point to note from his life and it helped to take the story farther—from just the story of his survival to the story of his life long after his trials ended.
I am glad that the story started before the beginning of the war with the relationship between Spiegelman’s mother and father. During the years that they were courting, the National Socialist Party was gaining power and taking control of Germany. It was interesting to read about the day-to-day life in Poland and the “rumors” they heard about the Germans. For them the Nazi’s were a piece of the background in Europe and they had no idea what consequences were about to come their way.
I thought Spiegelman Sr.’s account of life in Poland during the beginning years of the war was incredibly insightful. He really captured the complexity of the individuals around him. I thought it said a lot about human nature to note how people reacted during the war. Come people were willing to illegally harbor runaway Jews, others were more than willing to rat each other out—both Polish and Jewish citizens alike. I think people show their true colors in desperate situations and it was amazing to see how selfish or selfless people became within the book. Reading how people changed—for example, the maid who was once a part of the Spiegelman family—it made me think about how I would react to being put in the different situations presented in the book. I would like to think that I would be able to do the right thing, no matter what, but the story definitely makes you give it a serious thought.
I think the presentation of the book and the story within it can help make the tragedy of the Holocaust more engaging for anyone who reads it. I enjoyed puzzling out my own interpretation of why Spiegelman chose to use animals within the story. The illustrations add so much to the story. It’s amazing how the detailed illustrations are able to capture the emotions of the characters within the story; the black and white presentation adds to the tragic circumstances of the characters and makes their plight that much more serious. Through the images I was able to read the expressions of the character’s faces the same way I read both the dialogue and text boxes within the frames themselves. I doing this I was able to have a better understanding of how Spiegelman Sr.’s life in Poland. Overall, I love how the book is able to take a serious part of our past and present it in a way that is informative, engaging, and moving despite its use of illustrations.
CI 5442: Graphic Novel Response #1
I found Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel American Born Chinese to be an extremely quick, insightful, and entertaining book to read. I love that he was able to capture so much of the Chinese American experience and relate it in a new way. Yang was able to take the story of a young boy as he matures to adolescents and, without taking away from the uniqueness of Jin Wang’s experience, is able to connect or relate it to the experience of the average American student who only wants to fit in. I thought Yang did a brilliant job of illustrating this point at the end of the book when all three stories come together. At first I was a bit confused by the three different stories going on within the book but when they came together I found myself going back and reading the novel again with a different frame of mind. Reading the book this second time, opened my eyes up to the different connections between the stories and allowed me to examine how they fit together even more.
At the beginning at the book, the Monkey King is ridiculed by the gods, goddesses, demons, and spirits. His attempt to fit in is a complete failure and it leaves him anguishing in self-consciousness. The next story, of Jin Wang, tells the old woman at the herbalist that he wants to be a Transformer when he grows up. She tells him to be careful what he wishes for because, “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (29). This message stuck with me when I read the book through the first time; this message sets-up the entire story and offers a life lesson that all readers can take away from the book.
Okay, I have to comment on Chin-Kee—the epitome of negative Chinese stereotypes. I will admit that I found him to be part incredibly insensitive and offensive but also part hilarious. I think the extreme to which Yang made this character makes it hard not to laugh at to some degree. At the end, when the reader watches as Danny fights with Chin-Kee—who turns out to be the Monkey King and father of Danny/Jin’s former friend Wei-Chen—and the truth comes out, I found myself understanding Chin-Kee’s presence in the book as well as feeling a trifle sorry for my enjoyment in that character.
As a former high school student myself who tried to be somewhat invisible in school—to blend in enough that no one could take serious note of who I was—I commiserated with Jin/Danny as they struggled to find that piece of high school existence for themselves. Thinking of the transformer dream, I thought it was interesting to watch Jin try s hard to be normal, catch the attention of Amelia, and reject the aspects of his identity that made him different from his peers. He changes the food he eats, he changes his hairstyle, and he tries to behave as typical American teenagers do.
The final section of the book in which all the stories come together was great. My confusion disappeared and I thought it was really powerful to see how Jin’s actions affected his friend Wei-Chen. Even without the mystical element of the Monkey King and the spirits, Jin’s story reflects the ramifications of our actions and the butterfly effect they can have on the people around us. Jin takes his anger from Timmy’s ill-treatment of him out on his best friend who in turn takes that pain to heart and changes himself to completely reject what he grew up believing. In the end, Chin-Kee/Monkey King is able to put this into perspective for Jin and pull him out of his false identity—his transformation into Danny.
The illustrations within the book are also an amazing and imperative piece of the story. Yang brilliantly illustrates the text which, again, is just as important as the text itself. It is easy to read the words and read the illustration as well. The illustrations help readers to see what is going on inside of the characters’ minds and how they react to each situation they face. Each illustration adds an essential piece to the story and I loved being able to watch the characters as I read their stories.
At the beginning at the book, the Monkey King is ridiculed by the gods, goddesses, demons, and spirits. His attempt to fit in is a complete failure and it leaves him anguishing in self-consciousness. The next story, of Jin Wang, tells the old woman at the herbalist that he wants to be a Transformer when he grows up. She tells him to be careful what he wishes for because, “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (29). This message stuck with me when I read the book through the first time; this message sets-up the entire story and offers a life lesson that all readers can take away from the book.
Okay, I have to comment on Chin-Kee—the epitome of negative Chinese stereotypes. I will admit that I found him to be part incredibly insensitive and offensive but also part hilarious. I think the extreme to which Yang made this character makes it hard not to laugh at to some degree. At the end, when the reader watches as Danny fights with Chin-Kee—who turns out to be the Monkey King and father of Danny/Jin’s former friend Wei-Chen—and the truth comes out, I found myself understanding Chin-Kee’s presence in the book as well as feeling a trifle sorry for my enjoyment in that character.
As a former high school student myself who tried to be somewhat invisible in school—to blend in enough that no one could take serious note of who I was—I commiserated with Jin/Danny as they struggled to find that piece of high school existence for themselves. Thinking of the transformer dream, I thought it was interesting to watch Jin try s hard to be normal, catch the attention of Amelia, and reject the aspects of his identity that made him different from his peers. He changes the food he eats, he changes his hairstyle, and he tries to behave as typical American teenagers do.
The final section of the book in which all the stories come together was great. My confusion disappeared and I thought it was really powerful to see how Jin’s actions affected his friend Wei-Chen. Even without the mystical element of the Monkey King and the spirits, Jin’s story reflects the ramifications of our actions and the butterfly effect they can have on the people around us. Jin takes his anger from Timmy’s ill-treatment of him out on his best friend who in turn takes that pain to heart and changes himself to completely reject what he grew up believing. In the end, Chin-Kee/Monkey King is able to put this into perspective for Jin and pull him out of his false identity—his transformation into Danny.
The illustrations within the book are also an amazing and imperative piece of the story. Yang brilliantly illustrates the text which, again, is just as important as the text itself. It is easy to read the words and read the illustration as well. The illustrations help readers to see what is going on inside of the characters’ minds and how they react to each situation they face. Each illustration adds an essential piece to the story and I loved being able to watch the characters as I read their stories.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
CI 5442: Multicultural Response
Julie Anne Peters’ novel Luna completely blew me away! I was curious to see how she would broach such a controversial topic with both sensitivity and insight and she exceeded my expectations. The book not only allowed readers to see a transgender teenager for who she really was but also to sympathize with the difficulties such a young person would—and do—face. I thought the entire novel was well written and if it helped me to understand the trials of being a transgender individual, then I think it could help others do the same.
I thought Peters’ choice of narrator for Luna was the perfect fit. Regan is the sole confidant for Liam (aka, Luna). She does the best she can to protect her sister and works hard to ensure that she is safe both at home and out in public. The secret creates a very special bond between them. By using Regan as the narrator, Peters is not trying to understand the emotions of someone who feels they were given the wrong body; instead, she is presenting the struggles through the eyes of a caring and understanding relation. Another important aspect in creating this narrator is the ability to illustrate the effects Liam’s transgender beliefs on family and friends in a more explicit way.
Both Liam and Regan have their own struggles in life. Liam is living a lie and Regan is not even really living. Each of them is hiding who they really are and neither of them believes that they are worth much in the world. Liam is Luna’s “Boy role” (6) and Regan has an “invisibility shield” (25) that she employs. Regan notes, “We were both disembodied hollows” (25). The difference between them is that Liam is willing to put Luna out there and Regan is forcibly dragged out into the real world. Fortunately, both of them find someone who is able to coax them forward and help them with the transition from their hidden lives—Teri Lynn and Chris.
Teri Lynn is the inspiration and motivating force for Liam to become Luna permanently to all those around her. The pain this causes Luna and Regan is immense. Luna struggles with ridicule and disgust from those around her while Regan must deal with both the reactions of others and the strain those reactions place on her life as well as her sisters. She has to deal with the embarrassment and uncertainty of how others will treat her because of Luna. I thought it was great to see the excitement and transformation of Luna after finding and communicating with Teri Lynn. It only serves to emphasize the importance of community and belonging; once Luna has someone with whom she can belong, her life opens up and she is confident enough to announce herself to the world.
Chris was perhaps my favorite character in the novel--Luna and Regan were great but Chris was hilarious. He was sincere and charmingly clumsy. I was nervous that he would end up hurting Regan in some way, but I was relieved when he ended up being someone that Regan could trust and turn to. Although she doesn’t feel comfortable with him or talking to him about the tangled circumstances of her life, he teaches her to put down her invisibility shield and branch out. Together they are an awkward mess, but somehow they work things out. The two of them had me laughing out loud throughout the entire book and I could sympathize with their teenage behavior.
The most fascinating part of the story was the tenuous yet indestructible relationship between Luna and Regan. Regan both loves and loathes her brother in a typical teenage angst-filled passion. Regan claims, “It’s always about my brother. My brother was a black hole in my universe. He was sucking the life right out of me” (117). A short time later, she remembers that he saved her from being abducted by a stranger, “Liam’s so needy now, I thought, I’m forgetting all the times I needed him. He’s always been there for me. Always” (128). She feels used and then she feels it is her duty to protect Luna; she can’t bear to be around him and face the humiliation of coming out, and she can’t imagine him leaving her. In the end, both of them want to be accepted for who they are—idealized versions they see in each other. Luna tells Regan, “Don’t you know, you’re the girl I always wanted to be” (246) right before she leaves for Seattle. In doing this—striking out into the real world—Luna is opening up both of their worlds; “All at once the weight of the world dissolved and I felt myself expand, grow. The same way Luna must feel to be free, I realized. She’d freed us both” (248).
The book was entertaining, emotional, heartbreaking, hopeful, and enlightening all at the same time. Peters is able to take a difficult topic and make it accessible for readers. I knew very little about this topic and I have been in a difficult situation with a group of people who weren’t able to empathize with transgender individuals. I think this book is a great way to provide readers with insight into a different personal lifestyle and to help them sympathize with the characters. I also think this book would be a great resource for readers who are transgender themselves—just as Teri Lynn helped Luna be comfortable with who she was, I think this book could help others accept and respond confidently to their own feelings. I loved this book—couldn’t put it down—and I would recommend it to anyone.
I thought Peters’ choice of narrator for Luna was the perfect fit. Regan is the sole confidant for Liam (aka, Luna). She does the best she can to protect her sister and works hard to ensure that she is safe both at home and out in public. The secret creates a very special bond between them. By using Regan as the narrator, Peters is not trying to understand the emotions of someone who feels they were given the wrong body; instead, she is presenting the struggles through the eyes of a caring and understanding relation. Another important aspect in creating this narrator is the ability to illustrate the effects Liam’s transgender beliefs on family and friends in a more explicit way.
Both Liam and Regan have their own struggles in life. Liam is living a lie and Regan is not even really living. Each of them is hiding who they really are and neither of them believes that they are worth much in the world. Liam is Luna’s “Boy role” (6) and Regan has an “invisibility shield” (25) that she employs. Regan notes, “We were both disembodied hollows” (25). The difference between them is that Liam is willing to put Luna out there and Regan is forcibly dragged out into the real world. Fortunately, both of them find someone who is able to coax them forward and help them with the transition from their hidden lives—Teri Lynn and Chris.
Teri Lynn is the inspiration and motivating force for Liam to become Luna permanently to all those around her. The pain this causes Luna and Regan is immense. Luna struggles with ridicule and disgust from those around her while Regan must deal with both the reactions of others and the strain those reactions place on her life as well as her sisters. She has to deal with the embarrassment and uncertainty of how others will treat her because of Luna. I thought it was great to see the excitement and transformation of Luna after finding and communicating with Teri Lynn. It only serves to emphasize the importance of community and belonging; once Luna has someone with whom she can belong, her life opens up and she is confident enough to announce herself to the world.
Chris was perhaps my favorite character in the novel--Luna and Regan were great but Chris was hilarious. He was sincere and charmingly clumsy. I was nervous that he would end up hurting Regan in some way, but I was relieved when he ended up being someone that Regan could trust and turn to. Although she doesn’t feel comfortable with him or talking to him about the tangled circumstances of her life, he teaches her to put down her invisibility shield and branch out. Together they are an awkward mess, but somehow they work things out. The two of them had me laughing out loud throughout the entire book and I could sympathize with their teenage behavior.
The most fascinating part of the story was the tenuous yet indestructible relationship between Luna and Regan. Regan both loves and loathes her brother in a typical teenage angst-filled passion. Regan claims, “It’s always about my brother. My brother was a black hole in my universe. He was sucking the life right out of me” (117). A short time later, she remembers that he saved her from being abducted by a stranger, “Liam’s so needy now, I thought, I’m forgetting all the times I needed him. He’s always been there for me. Always” (128). She feels used and then she feels it is her duty to protect Luna; she can’t bear to be around him and face the humiliation of coming out, and she can’t imagine him leaving her. In the end, both of them want to be accepted for who they are—idealized versions they see in each other. Luna tells Regan, “Don’t you know, you’re the girl I always wanted to be” (246) right before she leaves for Seattle. In doing this—striking out into the real world—Luna is opening up both of their worlds; “All at once the weight of the world dissolved and I felt myself expand, grow. The same way Luna must feel to be free, I realized. She’d freed us both” (248).
The book was entertaining, emotional, heartbreaking, hopeful, and enlightening all at the same time. Peters is able to take a difficult topic and make it accessible for readers. I knew very little about this topic and I have been in a difficult situation with a group of people who weren’t able to empathize with transgender individuals. I think this book is a great way to provide readers with insight into a different personal lifestyle and to help them sympathize with the characters. I also think this book would be a great resource for readers who are transgender themselves—just as Teri Lynn helped Luna be comfortable with who she was, I think this book could help others accept and respond confidently to their own feelings. I loved this book—couldn’t put it down—and I would recommend it to anyone.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
CI 5442: Biography/Memoir Response #2
I was hesitant as to what I would encounter while reading Ishmael Beah’s memoir A Long Way Gone but despite the horrific and tragic circumstances of Beah’s life growing up within a war torn Sierra Leone, in the end he proves that it is possible to overcome the past and look to the future. The book takes readers through Beah’s experiences; we see evidence of his troubled yet happy life with his brother and friends, the terrifying travels of his band of boys, the initiation into the life of a boy soldier, the violent and conscious-less life of a soldier, the jerk back to boyhood, and the final struggle to leave all the past behind in order to reach a brighter future. These different existences combine into Beah’s present; “These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past” (20).
Throughout the book I followed the theme of family and belonging, as it played such an important part in the actions and events within the story. Beah is driven in the beginning of the book by his desire to find his family and creates a temporary family with his brother and his friends. When he is separated from them, the loneliness is difficult for him to bear but he soon joins another group of boys—boys who become his family and the members of his unit once he joins with the army forces. After he is pulled away from active duty, Beah is forced to adjust his family to meet his new circumstances. His past catches up with him and he laments his lack of true family; “I feel as if there is nothing left for me to live for….I have no family, it is just me. No one will be able to tell stories about my childhood” (167). He finds new family in Esther and is reunited with a long lost uncle who brings him into his makeshift family; suddenly, he has a new family and more stable existence and even though this existence is shattered again, Beah keeps moving forward in search of a more hopeful existence with families to come.
The hope that pushes Beah on during the longs months wandering the forest, the time spent as a soldier, and the months after his rehabilitation illustrate how it is that hope can be both inspiring and beautiful or driving and twisted. It is the hope in finding his family that inspires Beah to keep surviving in his never ending search for safety and news about his family, but it is also hope that motivates him to kill the rebels—the hope for successfully finding and meting out revenge. The different effects of hope mirror the ways in which it is used by Beah and the people around him. Beah uses hope to keep him moving forward while the army uses hope to twist the thoughts of their boy soldiers in looking to revenge the past. I was horrified at the seemingly easy task of the army to brainwash boys into fighting. When training the boys, they even cast the targets in ways that make the boys think only of what the rebels have cost them; “Over and over in our training he would say the same sentence: Visualize the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, your family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you” (112).
The hardest parts of the book for me to comprehend were the complete lawlessness of the soldiers. Based on the information within the book, it seems as though the rebel forces went from village to village terrorizing and murdering the people before forcing men and boys to join them. Later in the book, we see the army forces—with Beah—doing the same. Beah recounts how they entered a village occupied by rebels and killed all the rebels as well as anyone they saw. In the end they realize their mistake for killing every member of the village because there was no one to transport the supplies from the village to their base camp. It’s remarkable to think that given their circumstances and the intense need for revenge—on both sides of the fighting—that the soldiers on either side wouldn’t be able to see how they were perpetuating the violence done to innocent villagers, leading to more escapees being turned to one side or the other. It isn’t until long after his rehabilitation that Beah is able to see this for himself. He recounts the endless circumnavigation of the revenge cycle and the need for an end to such perpetuating violence and death.
Something that really stuck out to me in the book were the actions of the boys and the soldiers. Throughout the book Beah and his friends “high-five” one another for any success or happiness, as the story continues, so do the high-fives. Beah and his friends high-five when they find money to spend at a market to buy food, rebel soldiers high-five when they successfully destroy three villages in the course of several hours, and Beah and his unit high-five when they successfully take over a small village. The juvenile gesture that is used to illustrate a job well done and to create a sense of camaraderie is defiled by its use for such perverse actions. The high-fives administered by the soldiers only served to illustrate their youth or their view of the war as nothing more than a type of game. Every time a high-five appeared later in the text I would cringe from the context in which the celebratory mark was recognizing. The familiarity of the gesture brought its placement within the narrative that much more close to home for me. It was a relief toward the end of the book to see the high-five be once more associated boyhood as Mohamed is doing the “running man and singing ‘Here Comes the Hammer’” (170).
After his rehabilitation, I was amazed at Beah’s ability to regain a sense of clarity about his life and to come to terms with his past actions—at least to some degree. At first he is angry and defiant toward those trying to help him, but eventually he takes their words to heart when they say, “None of these things are your fault” (165). Once he internalizes this, he is able to see the past more clearly. His speech at the UN Economic and Social Council was incredibly intelligent and moving. It is in this speech that he tells how boys become seduced and forced to become soldiers due to, “starvation, the loss of our families, and the need to feel safe and be part of something when all else has broken down” (199). He later claims that his experiences have taught him the dangers of revenge and how it “will never come to an end” (199).
The end of the book was heartbreaking to me. After all Beah had been through, the war finds him again. He loses his uncle and is forced to flee Sierra Leone. It seems as though the world is set against him with every step he takes, but in the end I felt confident that he would rise to the challenge and find family again in better circumstances. I was pleased to read in his note at the end of the text that he was reunited with some of his friends and family and that he was able to start a new family with kind people in New York. I think Beah’s memoir is an eye-opening and stunning text everyone should read—it truly gets to the heart of what it means to be human.
Throughout the book I followed the theme of family and belonging, as it played such an important part in the actions and events within the story. Beah is driven in the beginning of the book by his desire to find his family and creates a temporary family with his brother and his friends. When he is separated from them, the loneliness is difficult for him to bear but he soon joins another group of boys—boys who become his family and the members of his unit once he joins with the army forces. After he is pulled away from active duty, Beah is forced to adjust his family to meet his new circumstances. His past catches up with him and he laments his lack of true family; “I feel as if there is nothing left for me to live for….I have no family, it is just me. No one will be able to tell stories about my childhood” (167). He finds new family in Esther and is reunited with a long lost uncle who brings him into his makeshift family; suddenly, he has a new family and more stable existence and even though this existence is shattered again, Beah keeps moving forward in search of a more hopeful existence with families to come.
The hope that pushes Beah on during the longs months wandering the forest, the time spent as a soldier, and the months after his rehabilitation illustrate how it is that hope can be both inspiring and beautiful or driving and twisted. It is the hope in finding his family that inspires Beah to keep surviving in his never ending search for safety and news about his family, but it is also hope that motivates him to kill the rebels—the hope for successfully finding and meting out revenge. The different effects of hope mirror the ways in which it is used by Beah and the people around him. Beah uses hope to keep him moving forward while the army uses hope to twist the thoughts of their boy soldiers in looking to revenge the past. I was horrified at the seemingly easy task of the army to brainwash boys into fighting. When training the boys, they even cast the targets in ways that make the boys think only of what the rebels have cost them; “Over and over in our training he would say the same sentence: Visualize the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, your family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you” (112).
The hardest parts of the book for me to comprehend were the complete lawlessness of the soldiers. Based on the information within the book, it seems as though the rebel forces went from village to village terrorizing and murdering the people before forcing men and boys to join them. Later in the book, we see the army forces—with Beah—doing the same. Beah recounts how they entered a village occupied by rebels and killed all the rebels as well as anyone they saw. In the end they realize their mistake for killing every member of the village because there was no one to transport the supplies from the village to their base camp. It’s remarkable to think that given their circumstances and the intense need for revenge—on both sides of the fighting—that the soldiers on either side wouldn’t be able to see how they were perpetuating the violence done to innocent villagers, leading to more escapees being turned to one side or the other. It isn’t until long after his rehabilitation that Beah is able to see this for himself. He recounts the endless circumnavigation of the revenge cycle and the need for an end to such perpetuating violence and death.
Something that really stuck out to me in the book were the actions of the boys and the soldiers. Throughout the book Beah and his friends “high-five” one another for any success or happiness, as the story continues, so do the high-fives. Beah and his friends high-five when they find money to spend at a market to buy food, rebel soldiers high-five when they successfully destroy three villages in the course of several hours, and Beah and his unit high-five when they successfully take over a small village. The juvenile gesture that is used to illustrate a job well done and to create a sense of camaraderie is defiled by its use for such perverse actions. The high-fives administered by the soldiers only served to illustrate their youth or their view of the war as nothing more than a type of game. Every time a high-five appeared later in the text I would cringe from the context in which the celebratory mark was recognizing. The familiarity of the gesture brought its placement within the narrative that much more close to home for me. It was a relief toward the end of the book to see the high-five be once more associated boyhood as Mohamed is doing the “running man and singing ‘Here Comes the Hammer’” (170).
After his rehabilitation, I was amazed at Beah’s ability to regain a sense of clarity about his life and to come to terms with his past actions—at least to some degree. At first he is angry and defiant toward those trying to help him, but eventually he takes their words to heart when they say, “None of these things are your fault” (165). Once he internalizes this, he is able to see the past more clearly. His speech at the UN Economic and Social Council was incredibly intelligent and moving. It is in this speech that he tells how boys become seduced and forced to become soldiers due to, “starvation, the loss of our families, and the need to feel safe and be part of something when all else has broken down” (199). He later claims that his experiences have taught him the dangers of revenge and how it “will never come to an end” (199).
The end of the book was heartbreaking to me. After all Beah had been through, the war finds him again. He loses his uncle and is forced to flee Sierra Leone. It seems as though the world is set against him with every step he takes, but in the end I felt confident that he would rise to the challenge and find family again in better circumstances. I was pleased to read in his note at the end of the text that he was reunited with some of his friends and family and that he was able to start a new family with kind people in New York. I think Beah’s memoir is an eye-opening and stunning text everyone should read—it truly gets to the heart of what it means to be human.
Friday, November 20, 2009
CI 5442: Biography/Memoir Response
Francisco Jiménez’s collection of vignettes from his autobiography, The Circuit, offered a heartfelt and eye-opening look into the harsh lives of migrant workers in southern California. I enjoyed being made aware of a new perspective of life within the United States and I can see where this text would be beneficial in helping to introduce readers to a lifestyle that is not often publicized. Within the text, I enjoyed the persistent force and drive of the Jiménez family as they worked together in their search for a better life.
The very first story within the text follows the small family as they make the treacherous journey from Mexico to the United States. Within the story Roberto mentions that, “Fito told me that people there sweep money off the streets” (3). This common misconception made by immigrants who are swept away by the promise of the “American Dream” is very common in literature that features immigrants from other countries who wish to make their fortune on the gold-lined streets of America. I thought this characterization of the family and their high hopes illustrated this point well. Even though Papa knows that this statement is false, he does tell his two sons, “But it’s true that life is better there” (3). It is a fact, not something up for discussion; it is only Mama who worries about the validity of such high expectations.
The reality of living in California is much different than what the family expects. Jiménez’s descriptions of the living conditions they were forced to endure, the vivid images invaded my mind. I tried to put myself in the same position as Jiménez and his family as they try to make a home in tents next to garbage dumps, garages with no windows or holes, living without running water, floors, or electricity much of the time. Before the birth of their third child, Mama “asked Papa to seal the base of the tent by piling extra dirt, about six inches high, all around it outside so that animals, especially snakes, could not crawl underneath during the night” (24). The dangerous conditions of their life in Tent City was difficult for me to comprehend based on my own experiences, nevertheless, the descriptive language of life among the tents makes the scene vividly real.
The Jiménez family has so little to live with from day-to-day that the few luxuries that they can accumulate become precious valuables to them. As soon as Jiménez mentioned his prized penny collection and notebook, I worried that something would happen to them. The pride with which held the objects and the obvious care he spent in protecting them set him up for some sort of disaster. I was heartbroken for him when he realized that his sister had taken his pennies and used them to buy gumballs and when the fire broke out, destroying his carefully collected assortment of words and pieces of knowledge written within the pages of his notebook, I was even more devastated for him. His mother reminds him, “We’re safe and we have each other, gracias a Dios,” but he still fills the pain of loss (93).
The two passages I enjoyed reading the most were “Learning the Game” and “Moving Still.” In the story “Learning the Game” Jiménez comes to learn the power of standing up for what is right. He sees Gabriel as he stands-up to the overseer who wants him to pull a plow like an animal—a degrading position he refuses to be pushed into. Seeing this gives Jiménez the foresight to stand-up against Carlos for Manuelito. He yells at Carlos, “You can push me around, but you can’t force me to play!” (78). Jiménez is given victory while Gabriel is fired for his obstinacy. I thought the parallel ideas reinforced the idea and even though Gabriel “lost” as Papa say, “Gabriel did what he had to do” (79).
In the chapter “Moving Still,” Jiménez and his family faces the dangers of the immigration officers. I thought it was particularly interesting that this frightening event happens on the verge of his recitation of the opening lines if the Declaration of Independence. The juxtaposition of his struggles to memorize the first few lines and the appearance of the immigration officers in his classroom emphasizes the exceptions to the rule—immigrants. This was a very moving chapter and only added to the struggle of the Jiménez family. I loved that these two chapters made me think about issues of immigration and the power/rights of the people.
Jiménez did a remarkable job in retelling his family’s stories and bringing to life all the people who influenced him during his life—from fellow workers and friends to the teachers who pushed him. The realism within his stories offers a new look at life for immigrants within the U.S. for those of us who take for granted the lives we have. I thought that this assortment of stories was well worth the read and provided me with new material and issues to ponder.
The very first story within the text follows the small family as they make the treacherous journey from Mexico to the United States. Within the story Roberto mentions that, “Fito told me that people there sweep money off the streets” (3). This common misconception made by immigrants who are swept away by the promise of the “American Dream” is very common in literature that features immigrants from other countries who wish to make their fortune on the gold-lined streets of America. I thought this characterization of the family and their high hopes illustrated this point well. Even though Papa knows that this statement is false, he does tell his two sons, “But it’s true that life is better there” (3). It is a fact, not something up for discussion; it is only Mama who worries about the validity of such high expectations.
The reality of living in California is much different than what the family expects. Jiménez’s descriptions of the living conditions they were forced to endure, the vivid images invaded my mind. I tried to put myself in the same position as Jiménez and his family as they try to make a home in tents next to garbage dumps, garages with no windows or holes, living without running water, floors, or electricity much of the time. Before the birth of their third child, Mama “asked Papa to seal the base of the tent by piling extra dirt, about six inches high, all around it outside so that animals, especially snakes, could not crawl underneath during the night” (24). The dangerous conditions of their life in Tent City was difficult for me to comprehend based on my own experiences, nevertheless, the descriptive language of life among the tents makes the scene vividly real.
The Jiménez family has so little to live with from day-to-day that the few luxuries that they can accumulate become precious valuables to them. As soon as Jiménez mentioned his prized penny collection and notebook, I worried that something would happen to them. The pride with which held the objects and the obvious care he spent in protecting them set him up for some sort of disaster. I was heartbroken for him when he realized that his sister had taken his pennies and used them to buy gumballs and when the fire broke out, destroying his carefully collected assortment of words and pieces of knowledge written within the pages of his notebook, I was even more devastated for him. His mother reminds him, “We’re safe and we have each other, gracias a Dios,” but he still fills the pain of loss (93).
The two passages I enjoyed reading the most were “Learning the Game” and “Moving Still.” In the story “Learning the Game” Jiménez comes to learn the power of standing up for what is right. He sees Gabriel as he stands-up to the overseer who wants him to pull a plow like an animal—a degrading position he refuses to be pushed into. Seeing this gives Jiménez the foresight to stand-up against Carlos for Manuelito. He yells at Carlos, “You can push me around, but you can’t force me to play!” (78). Jiménez is given victory while Gabriel is fired for his obstinacy. I thought the parallel ideas reinforced the idea and even though Gabriel “lost” as Papa say, “Gabriel did what he had to do” (79).
In the chapter “Moving Still,” Jiménez and his family faces the dangers of the immigration officers. I thought it was particularly interesting that this frightening event happens on the verge of his recitation of the opening lines if the Declaration of Independence. The juxtaposition of his struggles to memorize the first few lines and the appearance of the immigration officers in his classroom emphasizes the exceptions to the rule—immigrants. This was a very moving chapter and only added to the struggle of the Jiménez family. I loved that these two chapters made me think about issues of immigration and the power/rights of the people.
Jiménez did a remarkable job in retelling his family’s stories and bringing to life all the people who influenced him during his life—from fellow workers and friends to the teachers who pushed him. The realism within his stories offers a new look at life for immigrants within the U.S. for those of us who take for granted the lives we have. I thought that this assortment of stories was well worth the read and provided me with new material and issues to ponder.
Monday, November 16, 2009
CI 5442: Folklore Book Review
“Before Luke Skywalker, before Batman, before even King Arthur, there were the Greek heroes. Those guys knew how to fight!” (v). Thus begins Rick Riordan’s introduction to the latest edition of Roger Lancelyn Green’s Tales of the Greek Heroes. Riordan attributes his own success to his early encounter with Green’s text and, clearly, many thanks are due. Without Green’s comprehensive and all-encompassing presentation of some of the greatest myths and characters ever created, Riordan would perhaps have never given us Percy Jackson. Green recreates the famous mythology of the ancient Greeks in a new and refreshing way that makes the book impossible to put down.
The tales of the first Greek gods and heroes have been told many times before, but they have not been connected in such a grand narrative as put down by Green since their origin in Greek oral tradition. Green is able to seamlessly piece together every story with such ease that it is a wonder that it hasn’t been done before. One of the most difficult things about introducing children to Greek mythology is the disconnect—or seeming disconnect—between characters and stories. Combine this disconnect with the multitude of unfamiliar and similar names and it becomes a headache for all. Green not only provides illuminating insight into the personal history of each character, he also weaves their stories together in a way that is easy to follow and allows for time sufficient understanding and knowledge of each character.
As with many representations of mythology, Green works to create believable dialogue where none is certain. Green’s diction and dialogue is accessible and provides a more dynamic, narrative quality to the text. It is with this dialogue and careful writing that readers follow the gods from their creation and rise to power continuing on until the end of the Age of Heroes.
Something that Green does remarkably well is to adapt these stories and condense them without losing any of the magic which gives them life. Green admits that he has made some creative decisions and was forced to edit the depth in which each story is presented, but it does not detract from the text and the stories he is recounting to his audience.
A feature that is unique and delightful within the text is the inclusion of either a famous interpretation of the myths or an actual translation of the first recorded accounts of the myths by famous Greek writers at the beginning of each chapter. This grounds the myth as being something extremely valuable and provides validity of its ancient history. In doing this, Green provides readers with a glimpse of the lyrical quality that was either the oral tradition of the story first transcribed hundreds of years ago or the classic interpretations of those who were inspire by such famous tales. All in all Green’s interpretation of some of the most famous Greek myths is seamless in its ability to weave the various texts together “as that single whole which the Greeks believed it to be” (267). The stories educate and inspire all who read them and will remain with them long after the final pages have been turned for, “Once found, the magic web of old Greek myth and legend is ours by right—and ours for life” (270).
The tales of the first Greek gods and heroes have been told many times before, but they have not been connected in such a grand narrative as put down by Green since their origin in Greek oral tradition. Green is able to seamlessly piece together every story with such ease that it is a wonder that it hasn’t been done before. One of the most difficult things about introducing children to Greek mythology is the disconnect—or seeming disconnect—between characters and stories. Combine this disconnect with the multitude of unfamiliar and similar names and it becomes a headache for all. Green not only provides illuminating insight into the personal history of each character, he also weaves their stories together in a way that is easy to follow and allows for time sufficient understanding and knowledge of each character.
As with many representations of mythology, Green works to create believable dialogue where none is certain. Green’s diction and dialogue is accessible and provides a more dynamic, narrative quality to the text. It is with this dialogue and careful writing that readers follow the gods from their creation and rise to power continuing on until the end of the Age of Heroes.
Something that Green does remarkably well is to adapt these stories and condense them without losing any of the magic which gives them life. Green admits that he has made some creative decisions and was forced to edit the depth in which each story is presented, but it does not detract from the text and the stories he is recounting to his audience.
A feature that is unique and delightful within the text is the inclusion of either a famous interpretation of the myths or an actual translation of the first recorded accounts of the myths by famous Greek writers at the beginning of each chapter. This grounds the myth as being something extremely valuable and provides validity of its ancient history. In doing this, Green provides readers with a glimpse of the lyrical quality that was either the oral tradition of the story first transcribed hundreds of years ago or the classic interpretations of those who were inspire by such famous tales. All in all Green’s interpretation of some of the most famous Greek myths is seamless in its ability to weave the various texts together “as that single whole which the Greeks believed it to be” (267). The stories educate and inspire all who read them and will remain with them long after the final pages have been turned for, “Once found, the magic web of old Greek myth and legend is ours by right—and ours for life” (270).
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