Friday, March 18, 2011
"The Curse" by Andre Dubus
I had a close friend who lead a troubled life. She was married to a man who could not appreciate the dedication of her to their family. One aftenoon she and her daughter arrived at my home. The daughter was bouncing around the house with a cute brown puppy. It had been a birthday present and turned terrribly wrong. My friend's abusive husband had the puppy locked in the garage and it chewed all the wires in his motorcycle. I listened horrified by the story of this cute little puppy becoming a the center of this evil mans anger. My guest packed up thier things, said their goodbyes and headed to the door. In just a second I looked down seeing this wide eyed puppy. I picked up the puppy and headed out the door to see my friend with her window down pleding with me to take the puppy. Chelse has been a faithful compainon for over ten years
Blue Winds Dancing, Tom Whitecloud p.313
The mist of the air passed in front of the motorcycle. A cool chill pressed over my skin and the hair rose in the goose bumps of my arm. I tugged at the jacket zipper of my leather coat. I passed the curve in the next turn and the mist rose from the valley. The roar of motorcycle rang on the walls of the mountain. My heart filled with the vibration of the excitement of the ride.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"Luck"
Mark Twain
An experience I recently had where I felt I was lucky happened was on a rainy Monday morning. I was headed back to my vehicle after calling on a customer and looked on the ground. A wet folded five dollar bill was on the ground. It was early in the morning and no one was in the parking lot. I picked this dollar bill up and placed it on the dash of my vehicle. During the morning the heat from the vehicle dried the dollar bill I had almost made the decison on where my found five dollar bill would provide me lunch when the air rushed into my window and the found five dollar bill was wisked out of the passenger side window into the busy highway. I learned just how quick ones luck can turn.
An experience I recently had where I felt I was lucky happened was on a rainy Monday morning. I was headed back to my vehicle after calling on a customer and looked on the ground. A wet folded five dollar bill was on the ground. It was early in the morning and no one was in the parking lot. I picked this dollar bill up and placed it on the dash of my vehicle. During the morning the heat from the vehicle dried the dollar bill I had almost made the decison on where my found five dollar bill would provide me lunch when the air rushed into my window and the found five dollar bill was wisked out of the passenger side window into the busy highway. I learned just how quick ones luck can turn.
"A Jury of Her Peers"
Susan Glaspell
The two marriages are similar in a couple of ways. First the women in the stories are isolated from their husbands, not physically but mentally. The love between husbands and wives are not always perfect but these two examples are not any where close. The differences in the women is most noted how they display their emotions. The similarities in the men could be noted by the willingness to provide for women they are unemotionally attracted. The differences would be that one of the men lived when the second perished.
The two marriages are similar in a couple of ways. First the women in the stories are isolated from their husbands, not physically but mentally. The love between husbands and wives are not always perfect but these two examples are not any where close. The differences in the women is most noted how they display their emotions. The similarities in the men could be noted by the willingness to provide for women they are unemotionally attracted. The differences would be that one of the men lived when the second perished.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Cathedral
Raymond Carver p. 180
Even the small things in life can be the most profound. In my day to day activites I come in contact with many different kinds of people. This day was like many of the rest. I arrived at an accounts garage. Soon I noticed a man in dark glasses walking with a cane crossing the street behind my car. I watched the man walk across the parking lot to the opposite end of the building. I knew that this man had to be turned around so being the "happy to help" kind of person I am I walked up to this man offered my arm and lead him into the building. I listened in a little on the conversation the owner and this man were having, This man I just helped across the parking lot was running for city concil. Funny wasn't it how I was not sure this guy could make it the door will be making decisons for our entire city.
Even the small things in life can be the most profound. In my day to day activites I come in contact with many different kinds of people. This day was like many of the rest. I arrived at an accounts garage. Soon I noticed a man in dark glasses walking with a cane crossing the street behind my car. I watched the man walk across the parking lot to the opposite end of the building. I knew that this man had to be turned around so being the "happy to help" kind of person I am I walked up to this man offered my arm and lead him into the building. I listened in a little on the conversation the owner and this man were having, This man I just helped across the parking lot was running for city concil. Funny wasn't it how I was not sure this guy could make it the door will be making decisons for our entire city.
Neighbors
Raymond Carver
I see minimalism as the bare bones in a writing style. Enough to keep your interest but without the clutter. The story line seems to flow smoothly and I can follow along with ease. Everyone enjoys diufferent styles in literature I guess it would be a mix for me. My imagination can be carried way with detail but my mind can enjoy the rest in a simplistic view of Raymond Carver's minimalistic style demonstrated in Neighbors.
The examples are endless in this piece, Neighbors. One that overall stood out to me was how when Bill entered the Miller's home he would almost go into another enchanting land. He would look into drawers taking pill bottles that was not again mentioned and trying on both Jim and Harriet's clothing just to return across the hall back into his life. This must have been exciting to some point for him because on page 138 after Bill left the Miller's feeding Kitty, Arlene asked him what took him so long he replied"Nothing. Playing with Kitty" he said, and went over to her and touched her breasts. "Let's go to bed, honey," he said. Then later on Bill cut some of his break short to be able to leave work a few minutes early only to suprise Arlene with something on his mind.
Another overall theme that caught my attention was how most of the descriptive text was used with describing the Miller's home. It was as if that was where the action was taking place so he devoted the labor of describing the items at he Miller's home. On page 138 he describes...." opening the cupboards and naming the canned goods, the cereals, the packaged foods, the cocktail and wine glasses,the china,the pots and pans." It was almost like he was taking inventory of the kitchen. We were not exposed to any details of Bill and Arlene's home.
By the way, what happened to Kitty. I am not certain that the Miller's returned before Kitty famished. Remember these were the responsible neighbors it may be weeks before they return, poor Kitty. The ending allowed the reader many ways to end the story.
I see minimalism as the bare bones in a writing style. Enough to keep your interest but without the clutter. The story line seems to flow smoothly and I can follow along with ease. Everyone enjoys diufferent styles in literature I guess it would be a mix for me. My imagination can be carried way with detail but my mind can enjoy the rest in a simplistic view of Raymond Carver's minimalistic style demonstrated in Neighbors.
The examples are endless in this piece, Neighbors. One that overall stood out to me was how when Bill entered the Miller's home he would almost go into another enchanting land. He would look into drawers taking pill bottles that was not again mentioned and trying on both Jim and Harriet's clothing just to return across the hall back into his life. This must have been exciting to some point for him because on page 138 after Bill left the Miller's feeding Kitty, Arlene asked him what took him so long he replied"Nothing. Playing with Kitty" he said, and went over to her and touched her breasts. "Let's go to bed, honey," he said. Then later on Bill cut some of his break short to be able to leave work a few minutes early only to suprise Arlene with something on his mind.
Another overall theme that caught my attention was how most of the descriptive text was used with describing the Miller's home. It was as if that was where the action was taking place so he devoted the labor of describing the items at he Miller's home. On page 138 he describes...." opening the cupboards and naming the canned goods, the cereals, the packaged foods, the cocktail and wine glasses,the china,the pots and pans." It was almost like he was taking inventory of the kitchen. We were not exposed to any details of Bill and Arlene's home.
By the way, what happened to Kitty. I am not certain that the Miller's returned before Kitty famished. Remember these were the responsible neighbors it may be weeks before they return, poor Kitty. The ending allowed the reader many ways to end the story.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
Imperviousness
1- not able to be penetrated as by water, light,etc; impermeable
2- not able to be influenced by or not receptive to; impervious to argument
Pg 92.
"It was as if she demanded more than ever he recognition of her dignity as last Grierson; as if it had wanted that touch of earthiness to reaffirm her imperviousness."
Definition.com
Imperviousness
1- not able to be penetrated as by water, light,etc; impermeable
2- not able to be influenced by or not receptive to; impervious to argument
Pg 92.
"It was as if she demanded more than ever he recognition of her dignity as last Grierson; as if it had wanted that touch of earthiness to reaffirm her imperviousness."
Definition.com
While reading A Rose for Emily, I experienced a wide range of emotions. The character of Miss Emily is a strong will woman whose imperviousness of the locals demonstrated directly to government officials.
This story demonstrates the imperviousness in the character of Miss Emily from the beginning how the house is kept isolated from the entire world. Sunlight had not be on many of the furnishings for many years. The impervious nature of the relationship Miss Emily has with Homer. After death Miss Emily would not separate from her love even after death. To understand the definition of imperviousness brings home the clear picture of the darkness in her soul.
I think Faulkner successfully creates the tone of the story with the colorfulness in vocabulary.
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