What is the purpose of the blog?
This blog was created to assist you in your "free choice" book discussions, but it can develop into a forum to answer questions, exchange ideas, and extend classroom discussions.
I'm not too far into the book, but I can already tell that this is going to be an interesting read. Our theme for this unit is "Sense of place, sense of self" and the characters that have been introduced seem to be struggling with this aspect of their lives. In the introductory paragraph, the author Jeannette Walls talks about her reaction when seeing her mother live like a homeless person. She is embarassed about it and doesn't know how to proceed to help her mother. She also lets the reader know about her own struggles. "I'd tried to make a home for myself here, tried to turn the apartment into the sort of place where the person I wanted to be would live". What do you guys think about this quote? I thought it was really important because I think it sets up the whole book; maybe we'll find out why she doesn't have a sense of "home" where she lives. Have you ever had the feeling that you had to fit into the place that you live in?
I like that quote and believe you have picked out one of the ideas that is talked about in the novel. The main character is introduced as a well to do woman in the first chapter. This allows the reader to be drawn into the book as you try to put the life story together and figure out how and why she rose in society. It is ironic that she is not happy when she is well off but when she is with her disfuntional family she is home. I think she turned her back on who she really is but I have not gotten that far. I do think that all people at times feel like they dont belong in certain places and spend their lives trying to fit in or find a place where they fit in. While I still need to read further, I think this is one of the themes in the book.
One of the things I like about this book is how the writing level increases as the book progresses. As the narrator grows up the writing does too. I like the point of view that is offered at the beginning from a child's perspective. She does not understand what is happening oftentimes but you as the reader understand. The childlike descriptions are clear and simple yet create a great memoir. I am nearing the end and the events that the narrator goes through are becoming clearer to the reader. What do you guys think?
Re: Sarah A. Yep, you're correct with the development of the author's writing style. I'm glad we both decided to read this for our next book because it mirrors the advancement of "They Poured Fire" Authors. The little ticks in imagery, when the reader becomes aware of the higher level sensory images, is interesting to uncover. I feel like a detective sometimes.
Re: Kamil Kamil! You summarized perfectly what I had been thinking. Jeannette and her family move around so much I’m not so sure they have a sense of place but I do think that they have the whole sense of self part down. The problem arises around your quote when she tried to create a place that fits the sense of self that she wishes to be rather than the self that she is. It’s almost as if now (and then) society preaches that to live a comfortable life you have to have a “home.” But all too often I think that a home is characterized by the location, rather than the people. Just as the Walls family begins to head for West Virginia, the dad vows that he will not go, but everyone in the car begs him, ““We need you!” we shouted. You’re the head of the family! You’re the dad! Come on!”” Their sense of a home is their family, not where they have relocated.
Major Themes? So we already know that a home is their family. But I noticed that the children seem to forgive the parents even after everything they have done (or haven't done, for that matter). I remember one section when Jeanette falls out of the car. Her little brother attempts to tell Dad what happened, and it takes them AGES to figure out what actually happened. When the "green caboose" finally turns around to pick Jeanette up, not only is she bloody and hurt, but she also felt insignificant to the family. Dad DIDN'T SAY SORRY. He just tried to make her smile. Jeanette forgives him in an instant. I think the author is trying to show that the ability to forgive trumps the human nature of holding grudges. It takes a strong person to forgive someone over and over, I don't think I would've been able to do the same. What do you guys think? Is forgiveness an overarching theme?
Re: Kamil Yes I agree that forgiveness is a big theme. I do not know about you but I was so frustraighted at the parents and just wanted to reach through the pages and give them a piece of my mind. One minute you like the dad and then one minute you hate him. The children become the parents and continually forgive the parents. Even when the dad stole the money from their savings for New York. I even wanted to kill him, but jeanette manages to forgive him and her mother. She even feels guilt when they are homeless and she lives in an appartment. Do you think inner strength is another theme. Jeanette is not strong enough to stand against her dad but is so strong in other aspects of her life. Why does this happen?
I still love how the reader grows with the character. It is like they poured fire on us from the sky. The writing level grows with her age until she is an adult and reader doesnt even notice unless you go back to the beginning of the novel. I was able to really get attached to the characters and feel the feelings they felt in the novel. The author did a great job at kairos for many events such as the piggy bank. You feel so much hope at the girls getting away only to be devestated when their money is stolen. Did you guys find any other moments of Kiaros?
Re: Kamil and Sarah Themes, yes, forgiveness, yes! I was so angry how they kept on forgiving there dad! Half of the time, their mother's excuse for him was simply, "that's the way your father is." What kind of an excuse was that? People change, need to change, otherwise we never learn from our mistakes all end up destroying ourselves.
How did everyone feel about Maureen's whole situation. I never really got a grasp on her probably because she was so detached from the family. I would have liked to at least hear more about her in the end rather than she was just "thinking about visiting." To Sarah: Did you notice how the writer never introduces her boyfriend who became her first husband until she needs a place to live and moves in with him. To me that ment that she wasn't completely in love with him and all and kind of foreshadowed the divorce. Just thought i would add that cause I thought it was interesting.
Re: Liz Yes I noticed that a lot too when I read about her first husband. I was like oh well I guess they are together now, oh look now married. No description was ever made for him and I agree it was meant to foreshadow the divorce. I think she needed him because he was stable and could be a strong man that was missing in her life. She never loved him but needed him to contrast from her dad and harsh life. She needed to learn how to live a stable life before she knew who she really was.
Ok, I just have to say that although I do not always agree with every decision that the Wall's parents made as far as lifestyle choice goes, I really like the beginning where the kids had absolutely no idea how hard up for modern conveniences the family was. It was almost like as far as the world that was immediate to them like the dirt they walked barefoot on, the grapes that they picked right off the vine instead from a dingy grocery store and the comfort of a close familiar body next to you they understood more than anyone that used technology to advance through the hours of their days. I really liked that whole concept; however, I do need to add that such modern appliances such as showers and indooor plumbing (or plumbing at all for that matter)are sort of essential nowadays.
Re: Sarah I ment to respond to your blog earlier about how the level of writing progresses with the age of the main character. Although I understand for the most part why she does this, there is still a part of me that is just baffled and remains to believe she has an alterior motive that we just have yet to pin point. Tell me if you think of anything.
I'm not too far into the book, but I can already tell that this is going to be an interesting read. Our theme for this unit is "Sense of place, sense of self" and the characters that have been introduced seem to be struggling with this aspect of their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn the introductory paragraph, the author Jeannette Walls talks about her reaction when seeing her mother live like a homeless person. She is embarassed about it and doesn't know how to proceed to help her mother. She also lets the reader know about her own struggles. "I'd tried to make a home for myself here, tried to turn the apartment into the sort of place where the person I wanted to be would live".
What do you guys think about this quote? I thought it was really important because I think it sets up the whole book; maybe we'll find out why she doesn't have a sense of "home" where she lives. Have you ever had the feeling that you had to fit into the place that you live in?
RE: Kamil
ReplyDeleteI like that quote and believe you have picked out one of the ideas that is talked about in the novel. The main character is introduced as a well to do woman in the first chapter. This allows the reader to be drawn into the book as you try to put the life story together and figure out how and why she rose in society. It is ironic that she is not happy when she is well off but when she is with her disfuntional family she is home. I think she turned her back on who she really is but I have not gotten that far. I do think that all people at times feel like they dont belong in certain places and spend their lives trying to fit in or find a place where they fit in. While I still need to read further, I think this is one of the themes in the book.
One of the things I like about this book is how the writing level increases as the book progresses. As the narrator grows up the writing does too. I like the point of view that is offered at the beginning from a child's perspective. She does not understand what is happening oftentimes but you as the reader understand. The childlike descriptions are clear and simple yet create a great memoir. I am nearing the end and the events that the narrator goes through are becoming clearer to the reader. What do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteRe: Sarah A.
ReplyDeleteYep, you're correct with the development of the author's writing style. I'm glad we both decided to read this for our next book because it mirrors the advancement of "They Poured Fire" Authors. The little ticks in imagery, when the reader becomes aware of the higher level sensory images, is interesting to uncover. I feel like a detective sometimes.
Re: Kamil
ReplyDeleteKamil! You summarized perfectly what I had been thinking. Jeannette and her family move around so much I’m not so sure they have a sense of place but I do think that they have the whole sense of self part down.
The problem arises around your quote when she tried to create a place that fits the sense of self that she wishes to be rather than the self that she is. It’s almost as if now (and then) society preaches that to live a comfortable life you have to have a “home.” But all too often I think that a home is characterized by the location, rather than the people.
Just as the Walls family begins to head for West Virginia, the dad vows that he will not go, but everyone in the car begs him, ““We need you!” we shouted. You’re the head of the family! You’re the dad! Come on!”” Their sense of a home is their family, not where they have relocated.
Major Themes? So we already know that a home is their family. But I noticed that the children seem to forgive the parents even after everything they have done (or haven't done, for that matter). I remember one section when Jeanette falls out of the car. Her little brother attempts to tell Dad what happened, and it takes them AGES to figure out what actually happened. When the "green caboose" finally turns around to pick Jeanette up, not only is she bloody and hurt, but she also felt insignificant to the family. Dad DIDN'T SAY SORRY. He just tried to make her smile. Jeanette forgives him in an instant. I think the author is trying to show that the ability to forgive trumps the human nature of holding grudges. It takes a strong person to forgive someone over and over, I don't think I would've been able to do the same. What do you guys think? Is forgiveness an overarching theme?
ReplyDeleteRe: Kamil
ReplyDeleteYes I agree that forgiveness is a big theme. I do not know about you but I was so frustraighted at the parents and just wanted to reach through the pages and give them a piece of my mind. One minute you like the dad and then one minute you hate him. The children become the parents and continually forgive the parents. Even when the dad stole the money from their savings for New York. I even wanted to kill him, but jeanette manages to forgive him and her mother. She even feels guilt when they are homeless and she lives in an appartment. Do you think inner strength is another theme. Jeanette is not strong enough to stand against her dad but is so strong in other aspects of her life. Why does this happen?
I still love how the reader grows with the character. It is like they poured fire on us from the sky. The writing level grows with her age until she is an adult and reader doesnt even notice unless you go back to the beginning of the novel. I was able to really get attached to the characters and feel the feelings they felt in the novel. The author did a great job at kairos for many events such as the piggy bank. You feel so much hope at the girls getting away only to be devestated when their money is stolen. Did you guys find any other moments of Kiaros?
ReplyDeleteRe: Kamil and Sarah
ReplyDeleteThemes, yes, forgiveness, yes! I was so angry how they kept on forgiving there dad! Half of the time, their mother's excuse for him was simply, "that's the way your father is." What kind of an excuse was that? People change, need to change, otherwise we never learn from our mistakes all end up destroying ourselves.
How did everyone feel about Maureen's whole situation. I never really got a grasp on her probably because she was so detached from the family. I would have liked to at least hear more about her in the end rather than she was just "thinking about visiting."
ReplyDeleteTo Sarah: Did you notice how the writer never introduces her boyfriend who became her first husband until she needs a place to live and moves in with him. To me that ment that she wasn't completely in love with him and all and kind of foreshadowed the divorce. Just thought i would add that cause I thought it was interesting.
Re: Liz
ReplyDeleteYes I noticed that a lot too when I read about her first husband. I was like oh well I guess they are together now, oh look now married. No description was ever made for him and I agree it was meant to foreshadow the divorce. I think she needed him because he was stable and could be a strong man that was missing in her life. She never loved him but needed him to contrast from her dad and harsh life. She needed to learn how to live a stable life before she knew who she really was.
Ok, I just have to say that although I do not always agree with every decision that the Wall's parents made as far as lifestyle choice goes, I really like the beginning where the kids had absolutely no idea how hard up for modern conveniences the family was. It was almost like as far as the world that was immediate to them like the dirt they walked barefoot on, the grapes that they picked right off the vine instead from a dingy grocery store and the comfort of a close familiar body next to you they understood more than anyone that used technology to advance through the hours of their days. I really liked that whole concept; however, I do need to add that such modern appliances such as showers and indooor plumbing (or plumbing at all for that matter)are sort of essential nowadays.
ReplyDeleteRe: Sarah
ReplyDeleteI ment to respond to your blog earlier about how the level of writing progresses with the age of the main character. Although I understand for the most part why she does this, there is still a part of me that is just baffled and remains to believe she has an alterior motive that we just have yet to pin point. Tell me if you think of anything.