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.