Blog 6

For this week, we were assigned Autobiography of Red. I'll be honest from the start, I have never really been able to get into any sort of science fiction novel- it's just not a genre that I particularly enjoy... So when I was reading the back of the book and a couple of reviews online about it, I didn't really have a motivational mindset going into it. I didn't quite make it through the entire book, but a good chunk of it. The beginning was somewhat hard to get through- a lot of lists and information about Geryon and his life. And what was the deal with the Apendix A, B, and C stuff? Either I had no clue what was going on or something, but I didn't really see why this needed to be done within the book. I also have a really hard time getting into a book when it's written in poetry form. I've read a few other books like this, but everytime I just seem to either get confused with what is going on, or I get frustrated with it and stop reading.
I did create somewhat of a connection with the main character Geryon- I did feel for him in the fact that he was being abused by his brother and his feeble mother didn't really do anything about it. Geryon is kind of a camera freak and hides behind that to cover what he's really feeling--- I think what he doesn't realize is that he needs to learn to love himself first before he can truly know what love from another feels like.

Blog 5

This week we were assigned The Book of Salt by Monique Truong for reading. From just reading the back of the book and noting what time era this story took place in, I thought I was going to dread reading this. However, after the first couple of pages, I new that this author has a very unique way of writing and the story just seemed to flow so well that it eventually made it worthwhile reading. In the beginning of the novel, the main character, Bihn, is introduced and he begins telling the story of his living situation in Paris, currently with GertrudeStein and Miss Toklas. Some of the descriptions and mannerisms of these two women are pretty funny and I can about imagine how it must have been to live with them. I was somewhat confused on how these women treated Bihn and how they acted toward him- at some times in the novel it seems as though they appreciate and cherish everything he does for them as far a cooking and telling his story; but then at other points, it seems as though, consciously or unconsciously, they either undermind or criticize something he does or says.
Throughout his time in Paris, we find out a lot of information about Bihn's past. We find out why, exactly, he had been exiled from Vietnam and other reasons for why his life seems to be full of confusion, pain, and longing. Bihn is the youngest of 4 sons born into a family with an extremely abusive father and a mother who can't stand up to her husband (in a very subservient position). Later, after growing up some, Bihn comes to the realization of his sexuality- he is gay- and from what I gathered, being gay in Vietnam is more of a "disease" than it is in the United States- Bihn was pretty much kicked out of his family and his home. In the beginning of the book, we find out that he still has somewhat of contact with one of his brothers- a letter that Bihn wrote in a drunken stupor one night sharing his new life with his brother. And then we find out that even though Bihn had left and left a mark of shame on the family, his brother still cares deeply for him and just wants him to return home to Vietnam.
Overall, I think the author, Truong, did an excellent job detailing and outlining love, loss, exile, hope, and faith intertwined throughout the novel. She brought many, one of which should be sufficient for a novel, themes and issues together making a great story.

Blog 4

For this week we had to read the novel, Blu's Hanging by Lois-Ann Yamanaka. This was a very interesting novel, but I thouroughly enjoyed it. The author depicts life in Hawaii for a Japanese family. The story begins with the main narrator, Ivah. She describes her family: she has a brother, Blu, a sister, Maisie, her father, Poppy, and a few pets. There is no mother present; the story begins with her already passed away. The family is in a very low income bracket and they have to deal with a number of harships throughout the novel. I knew right away that this was going to be a good book, just for the simple fact that my heart was wrenched within the first chapter for this family. Poor little Maisie is delusional- she doesn't really know where her mommy went and since her death, she has only said 5 words. Because their father has to work so much, Ivah has to take on the role of mother even though she's only a child herself. She has to do the cooking, the cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc. And, even when their father is home, he is too depressed to do anything but sit in his rocker and drink hemp tea. A couple of chapters later, we find out that Maisie has gotten in trouble at school for wetting her pants on a daily basis. Her teacher is a 'haole'- what the novel refers to for white people. Apparently these white teachers are arrogant and mean and when the children do not do exactly as they are asked, some rude remark is made about their ethnicity or culture. Eventually Maisie's teacher requests for a conference with Poppy, but because he has to work, he sends Ivah in his place. Ivah ends up giving the teacher the what-for which I found pretty hilarious. I have never in my life heard a child talk to a teacher that way, but Ivah loves her sister and I can see why she spoke in the manner she did. Thank goodness Maisie was referred to Special Ed because her new teacher, Miss Ito is wonderful. As a future educator, I admired the way that Miss Ito took special care to provide an appropriate and individualized education. She taught Maisie to read and speak without fear. She made sure that the education was provided at Maisie's specific level and helped her to succeed in ways that her previous teacher never thought she would.
The other aspect of the novel that I found unique was all of the odd jobs that the kids did for the neighbors to provide extra money for the family. Ivah does her ironing and then all three of them eventually get a job helping another woman with her dogs. Some of the depictions throughout the novel were really intense and at times, intimidating. The poverty that these children have to endure as far as living conditions- they all sleep together, their father works all the time so there is no parent figure to provide stability, they have to take care of and eventually bury 7-8 dogs that have been living in cages full of urine and feces for months upon end. What?! These kids should be raking leaves or walking dogs, or folding laundry- but their life isn't so easy.
There were also some serious sexual issues raised throughout the novel. Especially when Blu starts "dating" Blendaline. Blu ends up finding her having sex with her uncle with whom they live. Blendaline has 3 other sisters and we end up finding out that their uncle is sexually abusing them all. And on top of that, some of them think that it's ok... Ivah forbids Blu from seeing Blendaline anymore, which is for the best.
The idea of spirituality also plays a big part in the story. In the beginning of the novel Ivah talks about all of the rules that she has learned from her mother, those she has kept, and those she has broken. Then she moves into describing the funeral and all of the precautions taken after to make sure she made it to Heaven. Leaving the porch light on and making sure she had a heavy blanket in case she got cold waiting. And then when Auny Betty decides to get greedy and take the futons and blankets for her own children because "they have more use for them"... I found this scene humorous as well. Auny Betty got what was coming to her. And also when Maisie's first teacher scolded Maisie for wetting her self and ruining all her panties- the next day the teacher's underwear were strewn all over the school- I suppose an act of their mother to protect her children from shame and ridicule.

Blog 3

For this week, we were assigned the novel Drown by Junot Diaz. I absolutely loved reading this novel. I have taken Spanish courses since my freshman year in high school and through my junior year here at USD (received my minor in Spanish education). So, when I started reading the novel and figured out the the author intertwined a varitey of Spanish vocabulary and slang words, I was excited! I love reading novels that can provide a perspective from someone in a different culture/SES status/ethnicity/etc. because it provides a genuine outlook from that person/culture's viewpoint. The book starts out by introducting the 2 main characters that we, as readers, follow through the entire novel. Yunior and Rafa are brothers living with their Mama and Papi. After a while, we find out that originally, their father had left for the States and for the longest time, kept a lie going that he was going to return home soon to them and their Mama. We find out that when he is around, he is rather violent and always has something to complain about. He also is cheating on his wife with the "Puerto Rican woman". What blew me away by this aspect of the story was that he actually took his kids with him when he visited his mistress- like it was no big deal at all. We also meet a character names Ysreal in the first section of the novel. Meeting this character made me really sad. Finding out what had happened to him when he was only a child and then all of the ridicule and fun-making he has to go through with the local kids is absolutely unnerving. Rafa and Yunior end up picking on him and eventually tearing the maks that he wears off of his face- they got what they wanted (to see his disfigurement), but they'll have to live with what they did for the rest of their lives.
After this, we move through the novel and travel with the family to their Tio and Tia's house. This was also an interesting section, with the very different atmosphere in that home as well as the scene where Yunior gets carsick and how his father responds. Apparently, the smell of the new upholstery in his dad's Volkswagon makes Yunior sick and at least 3 times now, he has thrown up all over the car and his father has been the one to clean it up. So I can just imagine how scared Yunior must have been to take a ride with his family to visit his aunt and uncle. I also thought it humorous that Yunior's mother offered the equivalent of Tums to a saint before the road trip :) What a pleasant offering. Once we arrive at the aunt and uncles house, we see again how violent and awkward Yunior and Rafa's father can make things. Everyone is getting food, dancing, laughing and having a good time. Then when Yunior tries to get more food, his father yells at him, telling him that he is not allowed to eat anymore. His mother tries to intervene, but his father won't have it.
In the next section we get to meet Yunior's "girlfriend" Aurora. Not many of Yunior's friends are a fan of her, but that can be expected when you end up finding out that she's a crackhead. This section of the novel was very interesting to read- seeing how in different cultures and different environments can provoke different intimate relationship interactions. Yunior seemed to treat his girlfriend like crap, yet at the same time, he wanted nothing more than to be with her. She seems to just take the verbal abuse, but at the same time, doesn't seem to see Yunior on an exclusive level- she does what she wants, when she wants, but comes back to him when she wants sex or a pack of smokes. I also enjoyed that the author took an entire chapter to discuss and explore different relationships with different girls: "How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie". Just to see how there are different labels for girls and relationships seems odd, maybe a little different to me- and the fact that apparently, these girls have no qualms with the labels or how relationships run- different culture, different world.

Blog 2

This past week, I've been reading the novel Slave Moth. As far as I can recall, I haven't ever read a novel written in narrative verse like that, but it was a very interesting and intricate tale. The main character, Varl, possess so much voice, identity, and education, yet stays enslaved and fights a quiet battle for freedom. Throughout each chapter, Moss introduces new characters and new situations that make us as readers think about slavery maybe in a different light. Being an English major, I've been required to read several books/articles about slavery and slave issues to encompass the "multicultural" aspect of the course requirements or what have you. But, out of all of the books or articles that I've had to read, Slave Moth has been the best by far. Just with the way that it's written, it seems so personalized and genuine. I especially enjoyed the scene where Miss Lusa (the young white girl) asks Varl to cover her with mud so she can know what it's like to be black. Varl seemed persistant in telling Lusa that even though she would be covered with a mud skin, it would not at all help her to know what it is like to be black. Miss Lusa seemed so naive and ignorant to the facts of life- not that she should know a wealth of information being as young as she is, but it really made me think about something. People back then had absolutely no idea what it was like to be a slave. Not that we (white people) know anymore now than then, but sometimes just thinking about it makes me ashamed of our country allowing something that awful to happen. Obviously the views of black people that Miss Lusa had most likely derived from her parents- educated in a way that should have provided better ideals and views of humans as a whole, but apparently didn't. Although slavery has long since been prohibited and abolished through the Constitution, the effects made on the African American race are unending and still apparent. With this most recent election of President Obama, some of my shame felt for our country has faded. I believe that this is a milestone for out country and that having him as our leader hopefully will change people's views on ethnicity, race, and discrimination.

I also wanted to comment on the piece by Mark Mossman- The One-Legged Wonder and Other Names. When I was reading this piece, it reminded me of my childhood, especially in the opening paragraphs. I too was born with some physical differences (only three fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot) and I can identify with the author on the difficulties of growing up being different. The author's situation was a little more extreme and obviously a little more apparent, but being different is being different- there is no way to express the feelings of hurt, disappointment, and fear that are in your heart when you know that you are not, and will never be physically the same as everyone else you know. When I was younger, people would ask me questions like, "How do you write?" "Is it hard for you to do things like use scissors?" and the most infamous and ridiculous question I've ever heard, "Will you ever grow your other fingers back later?" (This question asked by an adult, not a child) I've become accustomed to answering these kinds of questions and dealing with the dulled pain of being different. Then, when my younger brother was born, he too had some physical differences- same feet as mine, however, he only has one finger on each hand. Bless his heart, he can do more than most his age- his "handicap" has not hindered him in any way, shape, or form and I am beyond proud of him. Throughout the article, Mossman mentions several times when he used his body and the "non-category" that he had been placed into as an identity and a definition of himself. Funny how we let other people around us put us into categories and groups just by how we look. Not that this is a new phenomena, but at the same time that the idea of slavery makes me ashamed of the choices made in our country at that time, I get a similar feeling of disappointment in people who continually try to place people in categories and limit them in their abilities because of physical differences. All of the labeling and joke making definitely wears on a person after awhile, and I can only be thankful to my parents for being excellent pillars of support and love to bring me to the place I am today and for building a strong internal character to persevere.

Blog 1

Since this blog encompasses two weeks of readings, there is a lot to discuss. Out of the first set of readings, I really enjoyed going through the Choi article, "Nobody Simply Vanishes: The Politics of Disappearance". The article begins with a discussion of essentialism which I found to be very interesting. It made me think about some of the topics that we have been discussing in my IDEA class this semester. We're studying the ecology of human development and we just finished up talking about the human genome, gene expression, and a number of other related issues. We read a few articles by Robert Sapolsky in which he explored the above issues and dictated them in a way that a non-biologist could understand. There was the nature/nuture argument which stemmed out into gene-environment interactions and how different expressions can create different people. The article by Choi reminded me a lot of some of the same issues. In the article, the author notes that, "on one hand, persons are linked to identities they do not choose or participate in developing; on the other hand, they are categorically separated by inherent propensities and other traits. In this sense, barriers are erected that affect negatively both personal initiative and interaction among individuals and groups," (Choi, 1). This, to me, related so much to the idea that genes are the sole output for phenotypical expression- that environment has nothing to do with any of the expression of traits and identities of people. The idea that people look, act, feel, etc. they way that they are/do because of specific genes ONLY, and that they can't do anything about the expression. To me, it just relates to how Choi explains essentialism- tying people to specific identities and categories through something that they can't do anything about.

From the second set of readings, I enjoyed Geeta Kothari's, "If You Are What You Eat, Then What Am I?". The story was humorous, and at the same time brought to the surface several issues that are very real in today's world concerning race, ethnicity, etc. I was able to relate to this story because I used to have a close friend that was originally from India and her family partook in a lot of the traditional food customs in their home in United States. I would be invited for dinner sometimes and had the opportunity to eat some of their traditional foods. It was always quite the experience, but it was very interesting to see how her parents so genuinely idealized and connected to their culture and tradition. Although at times, my friend had some of the same feelings that the main character had in the story- she wanted to eat and drink normal food and beverage- when I say "normal" meaning American. My friend's parents, like those in the story, sometimes took offense when she asked why they had to eat the things they did and why they couldn't eat things that other families could. Overall, it was just very interesting how Kothari took a look at culture and ethnicity through a humorous story about tuna :)