Q4 Week 7 Posts A/B

Post A
For this post I thought I would comment on the family and the differences noticed there. A significant quote that I found is, "guests are speaking in Bengali, hollering, arguing, talking on top of one another, the sound of their laughter filling the already crowded rooms...These people, these honorary aunts and uncles of a dozen different surnames, have seen Gogol grow, have surrounded him at his wedding, his father's funeral. He promises to keep in touch with them now that his mother is leaving, not to forget them" (286). Throughout the book there were many different aspects that went along with family and this is one off those. I just thought it was interesting how Gogol has this huge extended family with all these honorary positions with people that aren't truly even related to him. It makes me kind of think of those people as being almost a support group for the first generation of people that went to America such as Ashima. That would also explain why Ashima keeps the diary with the numbers of every person she's met. Also in this way Gogol would have these ties to these people back to India so he could connect with these people and his heritage. This idea of honorary titles seemed unique to me and there are even similarities as well such as godparents.

Post B
Because this is the last post I thought I would comment on what I thought of the book as a whole and the ending as well. Specifically with the ending I saw a strong theme emerge and there's a quote that accompanies it, "as the hours of the evening pass he will grow distracted, anxious to return to his room, to be alone, to read the book he had once forsaken, has abandoned until now. Until moments ago it was destined to disappear from his life altogether, but he has salvaged it by chance, as his father was pulled from a crushed train forty years ago" (291). This really reminded me of All Quiet On The Western Front and the theme of chance. Gogol hasn't even looked at this book that his father gave him decades ago and when their about to throw it out he sees it. Before when he was younger and close minded he hated the thing but because he's grown up now he's sees the importance of it and his name. In general though I thought that the ending was kind of vague and that it left a lot of things open to a sequel possibly. As a whole though I really enjoyed the book because I was able to make a lot of personal connections to it and I would recommend it to anybody who's interested because it's definitley worth reading.

Q4 Week 6 Posts A/B

Post A
As the book is coming an end the cultural differences are harder and harder to find because of Gogol's increased independence and his breaking away from tradition. But one thing I did notice was a social change. (Talking about Gogol and Moushumi) "They entertain together on occasion, throwing the sorts of parties that their parents never had, mixing martinis in a stainless-steel shaker for a few of the architects at Gogol's work or Moushumi's graduate student friends at NYU. They play bossa nova and serve bread and salami and cheese" (228). I just thought this was interesting because compared to Ashima (Gogol's mom) Gogol himself holds these small parties with not a lot of preparation. He serves very simple food with alcohol. If Ashima was in this exact same moment, she would spend weeks beforehand preparing food and telling hundreds of friends to come. Even more importantly Ashima kept a diary with all the people she ever met in her life and she would invite those people over whereas Gogol and Moushimi just invited a couple friends. So for Ashima it would be this huge public event but for Gogol it's a more private intimate event.

Post B
As I've been reading I've really seen the book start looping around and almost completing the circle. So on that note I thought I would talk about what I've thought so far. Gogol developed so much throughout the book and the thing I find interesting is that he seems to be going back to his origins as the book is coming to an end. By far the most interesting development in Gogol's life has to be Moushumi. Personally she seems really annoying to me for example, "She is depressed by the pair of teen aged Bangladeshi busboys who wear tapestry waistcoats and black trousers, serving them warm bread with silver tongs. It annoys her that the waiter, perfectly attentive, looks neither of them in the eye as he describes the menu, speaking instead to the bottle of mineral water positioned between them. She knows it's too late to change their plans now. But even after they place their order, a part of her has a nagging urge, feels life standing up leaving" (251). Moushumi just seems really spoiled to me. Gogol is madly in love with her and it seems like she doesn't really even care even though their married. She chose this restaurant and now she wants to leave. Throughout the book there are numerous occasions like this that arise with Moushumi. Things even go as far as her having an affair while Gogol is loyal to her and going to work etc.. Ashima even says that she feels guilty for matching Gogol up with her. So I just thought that was interesting when it came to Gogol's life.

Q4 Week 5 Posts A/B

Post A
In this section of the book I think the most significant difference I saw occurred during Gogol's wedding. Gogol himself is now an adult and he gets married. There was a quote that directly related to the wedding, "There is an hour-long watered-down Hindu ceremony on a platform covered with sheets. Gogol and Moushumi sit cross-legged, first opposite each other, then side by side. The guests sit facing them in folding metal chairs, the accordion wall between two windowless banquet rooms, with dropped ceilings, has been opened up to expand the space. A video camera and hand-held white lights hover above their faces. Shenai music plays on a boom box. Nothing has been rehearsed or explained to them beforehand. A cluster of mashis and meshos surround them, telling them continually what to do, when to speak or stand or throw flowers at a small brass urn. The priest is a friend of Moushumi's parents, an anesthesiologist who happens to be a Brahmin. Offerings are made to pictures of their grandparents and his father, rice poured into a pyre that they are forbidden by the management of the hotel to ignite." (222). I thought this quote was really important because it had many differences in it. First off obviously there is the huge cultural/traditional difference with the way the wedding took place. Also this showed the different class distinctions for example with the priest who is a Brahmin. Lastly this also touches on the point of arranged marriages. With this aspect there are many pros as well as cons as well.

Post B
For this week's post I thought I would comment on a quote that I found interesting and it also connects with post A! The quote is, "she is surprised to hear certain things about his life: that all his parents' friends are Bengali, that they had had an arranged marriage, that his mother cooks Indian food every day, that she wars saris and a bindi. Really? she says, not fully believing him. But you're so different. I would never have thought that. He doesn't feel insulted, but he is aware that a line has been drawn all the same. To him the terms of his parents' marriage are something at once unthinkable and unremarkable; nearly all their friends and relatives had been married in the same way. But their lives bear no resemblance to that of Gerald and Lydia: expensive pieces of jewelery presented on Lydia's birthday, flowers brought home for not reason at all, the two of them kissing openly, going for walks through the city, or to dinner, just as Gogol and Maxine do. Seeing the two of them curled up on the sofa in the evenings, Gerald's head resting on Lydia's shoulder, Gogol is reminded that in all his life he has never witnessed a single moment of physical affection between his parents" (138). I had to go back and find this quote because I had forgotten about it but in my mind at least it's really important. It shows the huge differences between countries and how that correlates to actual people. In the same sense something that seems normal to some people is totally foreign and awkward to others. Along with these differences bring conflict and trouble when different people come together. Even through this conflict though people are usually successful.

Q4 Week 4 Posts A/B

Post A
The book seems to be turning more towards Gogol and his point of view compared to the beginning when it was Ashima's point of view. Gogol who is much older now is getting a lot more independent not only from his parents but from his Indian background as well. There is a specific quote that sticks out to me. The quote is, "At forty-eight she has come to experience the solitude that her husband and son and daughter already know, and which they claim not to mind. It's not such a big deal, her children tell her. Everyone should live on their own at some point. But Ashima feels too old to learn such a skill" (166). It seems like Ashima's views and values conflict with those of the rest of her family. She seems almost lost with nothing to do with her family being gone. So instead of everyday preparing food and doing all these traditional activities she has to look upon these new experiences. She even goes out to buy some things and feel self conscious when she asks the clerk how much a specific item is because she thinks he won't understand her. But the clerk just calmingly tells her and it's the end of it. In my mind this quote and really even a theme seems to summarize the path that Gogol is taking. He is venturing farther and farther away from classic tradition and experiencing life with his own eyes.

Post B
For this post I want to continue the discussion I did last week with my post B. Last week I talked about Gogol and how he's venturing away from things. I talked about this with post A this week as well but there's a major event that is a huge shock and it changes everything. SPOILER ALERT
In the book Gogol seems to be departing from his parents but then a really big event happens. What happens is that Gogol's father goes to the hospital because he's having some random pains in his body. He tells Ashima that everything is okay and then later on she gets a call telling her that her husband is dead because of a heart attack. When I read this I was literally shocked because it seemed like out of the blue. But at the same time it seemed symbolic too. Gogol was getting too far away literally and figuratively and I think that an event of this size really brought him back and reminded him of his background. Because prior to his father's death he didn't visit his parents for holidays or anything instead spending all of his time with his girlfriend Maxine. But then this event happened and instead of going away with her because she said it would help him forget, he decided to return home and spend time mourning etc.. So this event seemed like a marker event and it seemed really symbolic.

Q4 Week 3 Posts A/B

Post A
In this section there was a main difference when it came to customs and traditions and that was the conflict over parties and having guests over. There was a specific quote and it was, "His own mother would never have served so few dishes to a guest. She would have kept her eyes trained on Maxine's plate, insisting she have seconds and then thirds. The table would have been lined with a row of serving bowls so that people could help themselves" (133). I thought this quote was interesting because the distinction and conflict of customs is evident. I think this speaks specifically of hospitality and different ways of living between India and America. Also whereas one is relaxed the other is more concentrated and planned way before hand. Then getting back to the hospitality point, we can see that the host is much more concerned with the food and the well being of their guests when it comes to India. Everything is clearly laid out when it comes to the food and everybody is welcome to help themselves. So all in all I thought this difference was interesting.

Post B
For this post I thought I would talk about Gogol who is the main character in this book. First starting out he has a traditional Indian life even though he is living in America. He goes to Indian parties with his parents and even visits India on a regular basis to see his relatives. Then as he is growing older he starts to question things and he especially is concerned with his name. We later find out he legally changes his name to Nikhil which is technically his first name. Anyway the point is he starts drifting further and further away from his parents and their Indian lifestyles which is his past as well. Throughout the changes that occur we see Gogol and the decisions that he makes that directly conflict with Indian tradition. Through each event that he experiences he always remembers his parents and India. But he wants to be more "American" and on numerous occasions he says things like his dorm room is his real home compared to his parents who say that they still know that India is home even though they don't live there. The reason I bring this up is because Gogol started out as a traditional Indian and it was interesting and kind of upsetting to see him going farther and farther from his roots. It makes me question the things he has to deal with and his surroundings. In the end though I still believe he knows what is real and what is an illusion whether it be literal or figurative.

Q4 Week 2 Posts A/B

Post A
There weren't as many differences this time around but there were still some. I thought I would choose a specific difference I saw. There is a quote about Sonia who is Gogol's sister. "Her formally shoulder-length hair has been chopped asymmetrically by one of her friends. Ashima lives in fear that Sonia will color a streak of it blond, as Sonia has threatened on more than one occasion to do, and that she will have additional holes pierced in her earlobes at the mall" (107). Normally hair really isn't that big of a issue when it comes to changing it whether it be cutting it or streaking it etc... but in Indian society cutting one's hair is like a sin. Then to go a step farther and even color it etc.. is just beyond thought. So Sonia cutting her hair and then threatening to color it along with the earrings is just torture to Ashima who has grown up in India learning these traditions that directly conflict with the culture shes seeing in America.

Post B
For this post I thought I would comment on a quote I found interesting and the quote is, "Gogol makes the mistake of referring to New Haven as home. Sorry, I left it at home, he says when his father asks is he remembered to buy the Yale decal his parents want to paste to the rear window of their car. Ashima is outraged by the remark dwelling on it all day. Only three months, and listen to you, she says, telling him that after twenty years in America, she still cannot bring herself to refer to Pemberton Road as home" (108). I thought it was interesting on how Ashima and Ashoke still refer to India as home compared to Gogol who was born in America and has only been in college for three months. So whereas he refers to college as home, Ashima refers to India as home even though she lives in America. I think that there is a gap that doesn't get bridged because of Gogol not really getting any influential time in India and not seeing his roots and where he comes from. I don't know exactly how to word it but there is definitely a theme hidden in this quote and it shows how growing up in a different place than your real home affects you whether it be in a positive or negative way.

World Issues Post

I'm going to look at the Kashmir conflict which is going on between India and Pakistan.

Some Articles:

"The Political Economy of the Kashmir Conflict" Sirs
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-3680&artno=0000188029&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=kashmir%20conflict&title=The%20Political%20Economy%20of%20the%20Kashmir%20Conflict&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

"Why Peace Won't Come to Kashmir" Current History Magazine, Sirs
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-3680&artno=0000133560&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=kashmir%20conflict&title=Why%20Peace%20Won%27t%20Come%20to%20Kashmir&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

"Flashpoint Kashmir: Special Report" BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/355280.stm

Q4 Outside Reading Posts A/B

Post A

Because this book is centered on this Bengali family newly arrived from Calcutta India you see these differences that contrast with the people around them. Right away on the first page it talks about how Ashima one of the main characters is in her apartment and she's not wearing any shoes. A lot of different people from Asia have this tradition almost of taking off your shoes and even your socks when your at home and this varies in a sense. Another difference appears when it comes time to name their newly born baby. The man in the hospital asks for a name but they tell him that they are waiting for a letter from their grandmother. He replies and says that they could name the baby after his father or an ancestor or even somebody they admire. But to the Gangulis this seems odd because to them a name is sacred and it can't be shared or be somebody else's.
Lastly one of the most evident differences is the ceremony they preform for Gogol their son. "By February, when Gogol is six months old, Ashima and Ashoke know enough people to entertain on a proper scale. The occasion:Gogol's annaprasan, his rice ceremony. There is no baptism for Bengali babies, no ritualistic naming in the eyes of God. Instead, the first formal ceremony of their lives centers around the consumption of solid food" (38).

Post B

So far in general I'm really liking the book and I think it has to do with the fact that I can relate to it on a personal level. There are a lot of cultural aspects in this book especially that I can connect to my life such as the food they eat and even the way they think in a sense. While I was reading I came upon a quote that I found really interesting; "Unlike her parents, and her other relatives, her grandmother had not admonished Ashima not to eat beef or wear skirts or cut off her hair or forget her family the moment she landed in Boston. Her grandmother had not been fearful of such signs of betrayal; she was the only person to predict, rightly, that Ashima would never change" (37). To me this is a really powerful quote and I was really able to connect with it and also the author in the sense of her background and the way she writes.
Ashoke who is one of the main characters also stood out. He seems really cold and unresponsive when it comes to emotions and this is vastly different to his wife Ashima. Not only that but it seems that he doesn't really even care which isn't true. I think it could have to do with his past because he came to America because he was on a train with a man who told him of traveling but the train crashed and almost killed him. So it could be the shock that he experienced and still does that affects him negatively when it comes to his emotions.

Quarter 4 Outside Reading

The book I chose for this quarter is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. I thought it would be a good book to read because of the background of not only the author but the characters in the book as well. Specifically I think reading their transition from India to America and then their day to day activities will make this book a great read. Also I read the first chapter and that got me instantly hooked so I just knew I had to go out and get it for this quarter's reading.

Q3 Week 7 Posts A/B

Vocab
Arduous (449) - characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion

Delirium (360) - craze: state of violent mental agitation

Figurative Language
1) "It was Tick who'd made the request to hire that hopeless, bedraggled boy, but it was his mother, no doubt, who'd whispered in his ear when his instincts had argued against doing so" (200). This is a form of description and i's showing what type of character Tick has through her actions.

2) "His father wasn't too bad a driver when he was sober, but of course he wouldn't be sober until their money ran out" (341). This also describes Max who is Mile's father and the things he constantly does with the figurative language.

3) "Janine was still shaking when she got back in behind the wheel. What she needed to do was to catch up with her daughter and make this right, by force if necessary, set it all right, somehow, some way, she didn't yet know how, but by the time she pulled out onto Empire Avenue again her daughter had disappeared[...]" (421). This shows foreshadowing and also it's a type of description. This was one of the more important events in the book and this quote really exemplified that.

Quote
"Maybe, like children, we assume ourselves to be of central importance, and we're not. Maybe the inequities that consume us here on earth aren't really the issue" (200). I don't really know how to word it but I thought this quote was interesting. It kind of explains how some people act and that maybe it's all for nothing. But nonetheless I thought it was interesting.

Theme
The theme really seemed to be to stick to something even if it's really hard. There were many themes in this book but this one really stood out. Whether it was working at the Empire Grill or Mile's being polite to his dad. This theme seemed to emerge throughout.

Post B
For this last post I thought I would just talk about what I thought overall of the book. The book was really eloquently written with the description and the interactions between the characters. The characters always interacted just like you would with a friend or with somebody you didn't particularly like. With this type of writing it made the book a lot more "real". Also the prologue talked about C.B Whiting which was really straight forward and so I thought the book would be about him. But in actuality it went into the story of Miles Roby and his events happen 20 + years after Whitings. So this kind of caught me off guard at first but it was interesting. Then in the actual story there were a ton of different events and actions that happened and it was kind of hard to keep track of. The ending too wasn't really an ending to me. But the epilogue was really straight forward and seemed to tie up all the loose ends and it even went back to C.B Whiting and what happened concerning his problem.

Q3 Week 6 Posts A/B

Vocab
Nuptial (111) - bridal: of or relating to a wedding

Fibroid (124) - A non-cancerous (benign) tumor

Figurative Language
1)"What Miles was imagining right now was their daughter watching them, their heads bent forward toward the center of the table so they could lower their voices and still yell at each other" (110). This is an example of imagery because you can just picture them in this diner sitting and talking to each other.
2) "She wiped the corner of one eye with the strap of her leotard and fathered her defiance again" (112). This is an example of imagery as well. Because connecting to the last point they are sitting in this diner talking and you can just picture her with a leotard on.
3) "Sure, he said, leaning over to snatch the pack, then deftly peeling off its slender ribbon, thumbing up its flip top, discarding the foil and removing two cigarettes" (124).This is just another quick example of imagery because you can picture Max in the diner with this mini thing going on.

Quote
"You mean how we managed to make such a mess of everything? Janine made a face at him. Hell, no, Miles. That part's easy[...]" (113). I thought this quote was interesting because compared to her ex-husband Miles who is this calm collected guy, Janine is always full of energy and she is always straight forward whenever she has a conversation with somebody. So I thought this comparison was interesting.

Theme
The emerging theme just like last week seems to be letting things go and moving on with your life. Miles in this section has a very important conversation with his ex-wife and I think this is really the braking away point for him.

Post B
For this week's post B I thought I would comment on a quote I found interesting. The quote is, "If Mrs. Whiting lives that long, you'll be sixty-five when you inherit the grill. That's if she gives it to you. And that's not even the worst part, Miles. You claim you're sticking it out for Tick, but do you know what that kid's going to be if you aren't careful? She'll be the next manager of the Empire Grill" (119). I thought this quote was really interesting because a little before this David who is Mile's brother tells them that their mom's wish for Miles to get out of Empire Falls and she died trying to fulfill that goal. He goes on to say that Miles left but now he's back for no reason. Miles then says he came back for Tick's sake and to help her out. But the interesting thing is he came back for Tick but he's gotten himself and possibly Tick stuck in this cycle of working for Mrs. Whiting and never really gain anything. So even though he doesn't really like Janine he is making his life more miserable to make Tick's life better.

Q3 Week 5 Posts A/B

Vocab
Exodus (100) - A journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment

Altruistic (103) - Showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Figurative Language
1) "No. Shut up and listen, Jimmy," Miles Said, feeling his fury rise in his throat-the taste was anger, after all, not fear-and the blood pounding in his cheeks. "You... didn't... know... her. Say it for me, so I know you understand" (98). This is an example of the descriptive type of language that's used. It really shows what he's feeling physically and emotionally.

2) "At least not tonight, in this restaurant that would one day be his, sharing a booth with his daughter, whose destiny would not be tied to Empire Falls-not if he had anything to say about it" (103). This also relates to the last one and can even be considered foreshadowing. It possibly relates to an event that's going to happen.

3) "His daughter's grasp of adult situations often staggered him. In this instance, she understood completely what the endorsement of a fool was worth" (103). This is an example of imagery. It shows what kind of person Tick is and also how through this example her actions are affected.

Quote
"Walt Comeau, the lawyer had correctly predicted, would rent his own house and move in with Janine. Is hat what you want? For the man who stole your wife to live with her in your house, sleeping in your bed, all of it rent-free" (111). I just thought this quote was interesting, It would be an interesting thing to actually think about and ponder.

Theme
There really wasn't an evident theme in this part. But a theme could be to not hold things for too long whether their grudges or whatever.

Post B
For this post I thought I would talk about an interesting quote that really personifies Miles. The actual quote is, "In truth, there was embarrassingly little to quibble over, and even if he'd felt like it, he couldn't be small with Janine without being small with Tick. Not an option" (111). I thought this really showed what kind of person Miles is. Even though he's divorced Janine he still really cares about Tick. This is really evident because he pretty much is giving up everything for her. Janine gets the house and the good car while Miles still has to pay the rent and his car is old and run day with rust all over it. The important thing though is that even though he's getting the short end of the stick he really doesn't mind because he knows his daughter is getting all those good things. Specifically in this quote he even gives up everything he has to his ex-wife for Tick's sake. Even before this he says to his lawyer to "give her whatever she wants' and that truly shows what kind of person and father he is.

Q3 Wee 4 Posts A/B

Vocab
Emulation (79) - ambition to equal or excel

Fastidious (88) - giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness

Figurative Language
1) "Until Martha's Vineyard she'd seriously considered doing so, but now she was pretty sure she couldn't. After being with a boy who actually liked her, she was willing to be friendless, at least for now. What saddened her the most was the cost of this new knowledge. Could it be that getting the taste of affection, so sweet and new, from somebody who wasn't your father or mother, meant that she'd have to forgo other companionship entirely" (80). This is an example of foreshadowing because it hints to an event that happened in the past. But the reason this is important is because that past event might spark something happening in the future.

2)"Miles was in no hurry to have him give in, either, since the old man was a careless, resentful worker. In his opinion any dish that came out of the Hobbart was clean by definition, no matter if it was stained yellow with egg yokes" (88). This is an example of imagery/description. It shows the character of the character being defined here.

3) "The old man was nimble, Miles had to admit, both of foot and conversation. Miles had given up trying to corner him long ago" (88). This also connects to the previous example. This also gives the reader a sense of how the character is and how he acts.

Quote
"I don't think helping me paint is a good idea, Dad," Miles Said.
"Last month you fell off a barstool. I don't want you falling off any ladders."
"That's different," his father explained. "I was drunk."
"Right," Miles said. "As I'm sure you'll be when you fall off the ladder" (86). I just thought this quote was a good example of the author's writing style. Also I thought it was funny so I decided to choose it.

Theme
An emerging theme seems to be just being a regular human being and having flaws. There are a lot of characters in the book and they all have their experiences and things going on in their lives. So the theme just seems to be that even though we're all different, we all have flaws and we should just live life and enjoy it.

Post B
For this post I thought I would talk about an interesting quote I came across. The quote is, "In any other man his age a desire to paint the church might have represented nothing more than longing to spend some time with his neglected son, but Miles doubted this was the case with Max, who'd never given much evidence of enjoying the company of either of his sons, though he did appreciate anyone who'd spring for a donut so he could put the price of the donut toward a pack of cigarettes. No, the only conclusion that Miles could come to was that old age generally played havoc with personality. I thought this was a really interesting quote because it's an interesting example of the way the author writes and even a theme possibly. It kind of shows what type of father Miles has. He says that he wants to do the job for the money compared to somebody who would want to do it to spend time with their son. Also the last sentence in that quote is interesting because I could agree and disagree with it at the same time. On one hand I agree some people change with age in a negative way but that isn't a blanket statement in my mind.

Q3 Week 3 Posts A/B

Vocab
Harlequin (54) - a clown or buffoon

Insinuating (62) - calculated to please or gain favor

Figurative Language
1) "When it came to what he was holding close to his vest, he'd just hang on to it, tight as grim death, and deny it was there, no matter how hard you tried to pry it out of him" (69). This is a really good description and it's a type of figurative language. Also this connects to the theme as well.

2) "And then that would leave just Miles in love with her-and not really her, either, but the woman she was before she wore out, the woman he still believed her to be, against the testimony of his own eyes" (70). This is also a type of description and even imagery. This is also talking about Mile's character.

3) "Was it Mile's imagination, or did Minty glance quickly into the Motor Vehicles office and then away again, as if he'd been told not to" (58). This is an example of foreshadowing. Later on you find out that this actually leads to an event happening.

Quote
"Most teachers, Tick has learned, feel no great compulsion to confront trouble [...]" (76).
I just thought this was an interesting quote because while it's true there are also many counterexamples to this. Also the theme connects to a later point in this quote.

Theme
The quote above goes along to talk about fear. The theme connects to this because the quote talks about fear and how many people just put their fears deep instead of them and don't think about them. This was a really important theme in this part of the book so I thought I'd talk about it.

Post B
For this post I thought I would talk about an emerging character, Tick. She is the daughter of Miles and there are more and more events involving her and the way she thinks etc... She seems to be an average high school student. She goes to school and has problems dealing with the weight of her backpack for one example. Also she broke up with her boyfriend causing her to lose that relationship and become an outsider at school because she had no more clique. Also her parents are divorced but for her sake they are living 3 blocks away from each other just for her even though they really don't like each other. Through a couple of events you find out that she is on the intelligent side and even witty at times. This leads her to lose friends and be an outsider as Miles (her father) states numerous times. Not only that but she's quiet at times and really doesn't talk that much about anything really even though she is smart. So there are all these different sides to her and I find that really interesting to read. She is an all around interesting person and I hope to see where this goes.

Q3 Week 2 Posts A/B

Vocab
Cyst (21) - a deep lesion that is filled with pus or other contents
Philanthropy (23) - voluntary promotion of human welfare

Figurative Language
1) "David nodded the way you do when you've been given an inadequate explanation and decide to accept it anyway" (35).This is an example of the descriptive element. It shows physical imagery and allows you to picture the scene.

2) "However, he had to admit it would be entirely in character for the old woman to ensure the restaurant at the time of transfer would be worth as little as possible" (38). This also has to do with the first example. But instead of it being physical imagery it is more mental imagery because it shows the type of person she is.

3) "[...] if its residents were to remain at all hopeful about the future, needed the grill to survive, even if it didn't thrive" (37). This is an example of foreshadowing. There is all this change going on in Empire Falls and a lot of it is negative but there is still this hope.

Quote
"The truth was that he thought her a heartbreakingly beautiful girl, and often tried to explain that it was her intelligence, her wit, that was keeping her from being popular with boys" (39). I thought this was interesting because he is talking about his daughter (Tick). She is a really crafty and witty character for example instead of saying fat she says not skinny and that pertains to this quote.

Theme
So far there isn't a theme that really pops out at you., But a theme could be to be persistent because even though all these companies are failing, the Empire Grill is coming back and now their even earning a profit.

Post B
For this post I thought I would talk about Charles Beaumont Whiting who is also known as simply C.B. He is the first character you meet and there's all these different experiences and emotions you feel along with him immediately. First he is made to come back to Empire Falls to take over the family business. He's hesitant because he doesn't want to leave his artistic side. He even says he's leaving his "true side" behind. But then later on he says he is glad he came and he is happy with the new work. So this change kind of caught me off guard but it added to the depth so it was interesting. Also C.B. talks about his emotional side. He talks about how all the men in his family marry women that ultimately lead to bad endings but they stay dedicated to each other and this is very true for C.B. He meets this women who he ends up marrying but she transforms him from this powerful business man to this docile creature. Not only that but eventually she leads him to kill himself. So there is this huge journey with him in the first few chapters and I'm really liking his character.

Q3 Week 1 Posts A/B

Vocab
Mantra (19) - Sacred syllable or word, or set of words through the repetition and reflection of which one attains perfection

Idiosyncrasies (15) - A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

Figurative Language
1) "Was the dead mouse a coincidence? C.B couldn't decide. The animal had a bullet hole in it's neck, which could mean any number of things" (9)[...]. This is an example of foreshadowing. I don't know what happens but this quote seems like a metaphor.

2) "[...] For a brief time, in college, his friends had called him Beaumont, and in Mexico he'd been Beau. More recently, his business acquaintances mostly referred to him as C.B, but they did so reverentially and would never have presumed to address him as Charlie" (15). This is also an example of foreshadowing. This goes along with my Post B but it kind of addresses what's going to happen.

3) "[..] Yet he continued to kneel there, the river's current burbling a coded message he felt he was on the verge of comprehending" [...]. This is a metaphor and it's talking about how C.B is so close to figuring out this "enemy" and everything he needs is in front of him but he can't figure it out.

Quote
"And last Spring when his father had suggested that he run not only the shirt factory but also the textile mill, instead of feeling trapped by the inevitability of the rest of his life, he found himself almost happy to be coming more completely into his birthright" (8). I thought this quote was significant because earlier C.B. talks about how he's sad because he had to leave Mexico. He even says his "true self" was left there. But now with his quote he is the complete opposite.

Theme
The theme seems to be that C.B at first was hesitant but now he's changing and liking where he is. So a theme could be that when your daily routine changes it's hard at first but you start to generally get used to it and that new routine becomes the norm.

Post B
For this post I thought I would comment on a quote that really struck me. The quote is, "Yes, dear. An excellent idea," Charles Beaumont Whiting agreed and in that fateful moment became Charlie Whiting. Later in life, he was fond of remarking, rather ruefully, that he always had the last word in all differences of opinion with his wife, and that-two words, actually-was, "Yes, dear." Had he known how many times he would repeat that phrase to this woman, how it would become the mantra of their marriage, he might well have recollected the river's invitation and committed himself to its current then and there and followed the moose downstream, thereby saving himself a great deal of misery and the price of the handgun he would purchase thirty years later for the purpose of ending his life" (18). This is just one example of how elegantly this book was written. I was reading this and the top part made me laugh and then I got down to the bottom half and my emotions changed in an instant. You know when that happens that you have a good book in front of you. Not only that but the fluency just seems perfect even as the mood changed throughout. The foreshadowing was also added in which was interesting and I can't wait to read more.

Telemachus: I Stand Alone

Telemachus literally means "far-away fighter" and he is just that. I found Telemachus to be a really unique figure in The Odyssey. First starting out Telemachus just seemed to be this young guy. Throughout he was just shy and kept away from defending his mother and let the suitors just do what they wanted. It seemed as if all that mattered to him was really gone whether it was his mom and her getting married off or his dad and him being dead. But when things seemed to be at their lowest for Telemachus along came Athena. In a second he seemed to be a changed person.

I was instantly hooked because of the transformation that happened to Telemachus. He went from this shy young man to this powerful guy who took charge of his household and even trekked out to sea to find his father. It was almost as if he grew up in a second after Athena’s help and this change was evident when he gave his speech to the suitors. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens to Telemachus now.

The song that I think best represents Telemachus is I Stand Alone by Godsmack. It’s a song that I really like and the lyrics in my mind go really well with Telemachus’ journey. First off the chorus really defines where Telemachus is now with his journey: Feeling your sting down inside of me/I'm not dying for it/I stand alone/Everything that I believe is fading/I stand alone/Inside/I stand alone. He has all these negative experiences with the suitors but now those things don’t affect him and he’s focused on finding his dad because he truly is losing everything that matters to him. Also even though you could argue Telemachus isn’t alone because of Athena, he really is. She is just a guide but all the changes are up to him whether it was traveling out in the first place or talking to the kings and dealing with his emotions. I think this verse is a prime example of this: Help me decide if my fire will burn out/Before you can breathe/Breathe into me/I stand alone/Inside/I stand alone. These are just a couple of examples but throughout the song there are many more that all relate to Telemachus in one way or another.