The Glass Castle #3

So I was reading "The Glass Castle" and I came upon a passage in which the author talks about her name. And I realized that I have spelled her name wrong on the last two posts!! It is Jeannette Walls, with 2 N's, not one. Her mother added that extra N because it made the name Jeanette sound fancier.

This book has a fabulous ending. Although it is quite sad, it is very fitting and describes the whole book and Jeannette's life extremely well. Jeannette Walls is an amazing storyteller, something she learned from her father. It was one of his brilliant traits. She tells everything with such great detail and feeling, that you are experiencing everything with her. You can feel her discomfort and happiness, hear her mother's laughter and her father's jokes, smell the garbage pit and taste the giant Sweettarts. "The Glass Castle" is an amazing story that gives you a view of life not normally written or thought about.

This book is very hard to write about. I am not sure how to describe their family without giving examples. The Walls are people you cannot simply pinpoint to some words. You have to experience with them, then you can begin to understand their ways of thinking and view of the world. And that is why you should read "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. (I can't wait to read the book about her mother, "Half Broke Horses"!)

The Glass Castle #2

I know I already posted about "The Glass Castle" this week, but I don't think I really did the book justice in the first post. I chose to read this book because my Mom recommended it to me. As I carry it around, lots of people have commented on what a great book it is, but how sad too. I agree that it is sad, but so far I also see lots of happiness, contentedness, in the simplicity of Jeanette's life.

This book is written in short chapters, most of them 2-3 pages long. Each chapter is a different story/incident that happened to Jeanette. In one chapter, when they are living in Phoenix, Jeanette's father decides he is sick of the city and wants to go back to the wilderness. So, he takes his kids- Lori, Brian, Jeanette, and Maureen- to the zoo. Jeanette felt horrible for all the animals in the zoo, she wanted to sneak in some night and let them all free. Her father led them to the cheetah's cage and this is what happened: "Dad squatted outside the fence opposite the cheetah. The animal came closer to the bars and studied him curiously. Dad kept looking at him...The cheetah looked back. Finally, he sat down. Dad stepped over the chain fence and knelt right next to the bars where the cheetah was sitting. The cheetah remained still, looking at Dad." And the next thing you know, the Walls family is petting the cheetah at the Phoenix zoo. The chapter ends with them leaving the zoo, people muttering mean things about them under their breath, but this is Jeanette's thought: "I could hear people around us whispering about the crazy drunk man and his dirty little urchin children, but who cared what they thought? None of them had ever had their hand licked by a cheetah."

I absolutley love this chapter. I think I am drawn to it because of the way Rex Walls connects with the animals and how Jeanette shrugs off other people's comments.  We all care about what other people think of us, but in the end, how many people have had their hand licked by a cheetah?

The Glass Castle

I have chosen the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls for my book talk. It is the autobiography of Jeanette Walls, telling the story of her odd, but extraordinary childhood.

Jeanette and her siblings, Lori, Brian, and Maureen, live with their parents in an assortment of places as they grow up. Often on the run, the family lives everywhere from the desert, to a small town, and even spend nights on the beach. They never become too attached to homes, things, or other people. I think this would be very hard, as they have nobody to turn to except for each other. At the same time, it would make memories, family, and dreams more important.

Her mother, Mary, is an artist, always painting and sculpting everything. She often changes her style, nothing ever looks the same. Lori, Jeanette's older sister, spends lots of time sketching and drawing with her mother. Jeanette's mother is very content with close to nothing. She doesn't believe in rules or much discipline, she thinks people have to get some things out of their system when they are young. I like this way of thinking, letting people learn from their mistakes, instead of punishing them.

Jeanette's father, Rex Walls, is a brilliant man. He teaches his children everything he thinks is important, from binary numbers to how to shoot a pistol, how to embrace life fearlessly and live it to the fullest. But when he is drunk, he changes into a dishonest and destructive person. He often makes rash decisions that seem grand at the time, but later pay the price.

One year, when the Walls don't have money to buy Christmas present, Rex takes Lori, Jeanette, and Brian out into the desert one by one. He shows them the stars, tells them that they are "one of the special treats for people like us who live out in the wilderness". Then he tells them to pick out a star to keep. They laugh about the kids who got nothing but cheap plastic toys for Christmas"Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten, you'll still have your stars."I really like this part of the story. It is one of the moments when Rex Walls is in a brilliant mood, and the things he says are so true. He is a wise man when he wants to be. If everyone lived in the fashion of the Walls, living simply, enjoying everything, realizing what really matters, this world would be a completely different place.

The Effects of Gamma-Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds vs. The Capulets

I think that Tillie's family and the Capulets are similar, but very different.

The biggest similarity between Tillie and Juliet is that they both are very independent, they have something that is important to them; Romeo and science. (okay, that sounds a little strange) Neither of their families' support their interests. Beatrice and Ruth don't care at all about science and Lord and Lady Capulet would be horrified to find that their daughter loves a Montague. Beatrice and Lady Capulet are also similar, because they both have an idea for the direction of their daughters' lives; marring Paris and cleaning the house.

A huge difference between Tillie's and Juliet's families is that Juliet has a father and Tillie doesn't. This gives Tillie more freedom, as she only has her mother to watch her every move (and occasionally Ruth), while Juliet has both her parents. Another obvious difference is the time periods, which influences Juliet's and Tillie's interests.

Overall, Juliet and Tillie have the same spirit of independence, but different families and lives.

The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Act 1

This play isn't quite what I thought it would be about. It is different from most books I've read, but there is some book it reminds me of....I just can't remember it!!
I relate to Tilly the best of all the characters. She likes school a lot and enjoys learning, which I do too. But, there is a lot about her that I can't relate, like when her mom doesn't want her to go to school.
When Beatrice talks (or rather yells) to Nanny, it reminds me of Junie B Jones. This is a strange connection, but I think it is because the font is all capitalized, has lots of exclamation points and is repetitive, which is how Junie talks a lot.
Overall, this play is....interesting. I feel like there is a deeper meaning, some fantastic analogy hidden under the crazy storyline, but I haven't found it yet.

Nurse

           Nurse seems to be a quiet, non-relevant, background character in the beginning of the play, but as the play continues, Shakespeare reveals her true nature and importance. She actually turns out to be one of the more prominent characters in the play. And while her actions don’t play a huge part in outcome of the story, she is still a crucial character.
           Nurse starts out as just Juliet’s aid. She is there to help Juliet with her everyday life, so it seems natural that she should want Juliet’s life to go well and for her to be happy. Shakespeare soon reveals that this is not just part of Nurse’s job, that she genuinely wants Juliet to be happy. It is as if Juliet is her own child, she wants the best for her in all situations. This is shown through Nurse’s reaction toward Romeo. Even though she doesn’t seem to like him that much, she knows Juliet loves him and is happy with him, so she keeps him a secret. Nurse could have easily told Lady Capulet about Romeo, but she chose not to- for the sake of Juliet’s happiness.
           Nurse comes to Juliet’s defense in Act III, when Capulet says something rude to Juliet. Nurse replies with “You are to blame, my Lord, to rate her so.” This shows that Nurse’s true loyalty is with Juliet, not simply with the Capulet family, and she loves her as she would a daughter. I also think that if Nurse hadn't defended Juliet against her parents, Juliet wouldn't have thought so much about her choice to drink the potion. She ended up drinking it anyway, but if Nurse hadn't made the comment, then she would have ended up drinking the potion with anger, not with a tinge of regret.
         

Romeo and Juliet Act I

 "Romeo and Juliet" is written much different than any book I've ever read. Sometimes I feel like I am translating the book! After the first page or so, I got used to the old English and reading is going quicker. But, I still can't imagine people casually talking like that! Some parts of the writing are like poetry, they are written beautifully, and other parts are almost like modern English.
It is strange how Capulet and Montague (the parents) don't argue or fight, they almost seem to want peace, but the rest of their families get along horribly! I guess it is a long history of arguing and nobody wants to mess with tradition! I also found it coincidental how Montague and Benvolio were talking about Romeo and his sadness, and then Romeo just walks up!
I like that it is in play form, it makes it slightly less confusing. I enjoy parts of Shakespeare's writing, other parts are just difficult to comprehend.

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Act 2

1. An example of irony is that Thoreau considers Bailey to be one of the most educated people he knows, even though Bailey can barely spell his own name! Henry taught Bailey to write his name, but then told him not to write it... Another example is that Henry feels more free in jail, he notices things he never noticed before, like the church bells. But at the same time, Henry prefers to teach outdoors instead of in a classroom.
2. I think the three most important characters in the play are Henry, Waldo, and Ellen. Honestly I have no idea who to cast for any of them. Henry would need to be someone who looks younger and acts passionately, in a calm and sometimes thunderous way. Waldo would be someone older than Henry, someone with an equal amount of passion, but calmer and more chosen in the way they speak. Ellen would have to be beautiful and younger, but at the same time a little bit separated from the rest of the people in the town. She would need to have an open mind, but also have her own way of looking at the world.
3. I don't think that Henry was successful in the end. He realized that his approach was a protest for himself, but not one that other people were part of. This is partially because he wasn't part of the rest of the world and because people didn't listen to him with much respect. When Aunt Louisa paid his tax, everything went down the drain.

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Act 1

"Don't just remember what I said. Remember what I'm talking about." If everybody just remembered what people said, only their exact words, people would be like robots. To remember what people are talking about is to remember their words, their actions, their expressions, and their emotions. This can change the entire meaning of the words. This relates to transcendentalism because, transcendentalism is believing that everything is interconnected with God, just like remembering what people say is part of remembering what people are talking about. It is a smaller part (remembering what people say / everyday events) of a bigger whole (remembering what people are talking about / God).

A Perfect Day for Bananafish

   Muriel reminds of Holden. They both have left their parents without talking to them. Although Muriel seems to be older than Holden, her Mother still frets over her during their phone call. Holden and Muriel both are calm about things. They don't seem to get worked up about much, they just live in the moment and don't think a lot about the future. Muriel seems annoyed with her Mother and Holden gets annoyed with people all the time.
    Sybil is quite a bit like Phoebe. Both girls are younger than the people they interact with in the stories. Sybil is inquisitive and not afraid to ask her questions. Phoebe is the same way. The difference between the girls is that Sybil listens to Seymour more that Phoebe listens to Holden. When Seymour asks Sybil to talk about something else, she does. When Holden says something that Phoebe doesn't like, she ignores him. Phoebe is more stubborn and strong-willed than Sybil, but that is partially because she is older.
   I think that Seymour is also like Holden. Both of them are lost in their lives. Holden doesn't know what to do, where to go, who to talk to. Seymour doesn't seem completely mentally stable, but is lost in his thoughts and other people's lives, which are entangled with his.

Catcher in the Rye Chapters 7-12

*If I had just been kicked out of school, I would go to the library. I would spend days there, just reading all the books I never have time to read. What I do next would depend on where I am. If I was in NYC, I would go to Central Park or go window shopping or visit the zoo. If I got kicked out of school right now, I would probably go downtown. The only problem with getting kicked out of school now is that I would run into somebody I know eventually. It would be fun to pretend to be someone else though...
*I don't think people are always ruining things for you. But, it all depends on your POV. If you look at a situation and think of all the horrible possibilities/outcomes, then people are always ruining things for you. But if you look at all the good things that happened, then people are always making life better.

*Jane is someone who Holden really feels connected too. I think that they really understand each other. From what I know about Holden; Jane, Allie, and Phoebe are the people that matter most to him. This is partially because these are the people Holden can act normal around. He doesn't always have to play the part of the "big, tough guy", he can let the little kid inside of himself show. The difference between Jane and Phoebe/Allie is that she is his age, so he can be the older part of himself too. So, I think the real reason that Holden likes Jane so much is because he can act like the smaller and bigger parts of himself.

Catcher in the Rye Chapters 1-6

*What does it mean to be unique?

To be a unique person is to be different, to stand out from other people, to view the world in a different way. Holden is unique from his peers in many ways. For one, he hates the movies. I don’t actually know what the other people in the story think about the movies, but from what I know about people, most everybody loves the movies. He also doesn’t really like going to the football games, so I think he prefers doing things rather than watching them. He also seems to be a person who is different on the inside than he portrays himself as. 

*How do we keep individuality in an adult world?

Individual people are different on the inside, but their differences, their individuality, doesn’t always shine through to the outside. By liking certain things, and disliking others, we keep ourselves different from other people. The way we dress, talk, what we eat, defines everyone as a person. This can sometimes be masked when people do things only because their peers are.

*How is Allie’s character similar to your favorite person?

It is hard to answer this question, as I can’t really pick a favorite person. I guess there are just too many people in my life that I really like. So, I will relate Allie to one of my favorite people. Allie is like my younger brother, Caleb. He’s smart, like Allie, but there are more similarities than just that. Caleb doesn’t play baseball, but he plays soccer. He mainly plays defense, so when nobody’s on his side of the field and he gets bored, he kind of dances (sometimes more like jumping than dancing). This reminds me of Allie’s baseball mitt with the poems on it, and how he reads them when he is bored on the field. Caleb also is a very kind person. As much as he can be my annoying little brother, he can also be genuinely kind, funny, the kind of person you always want around. Sometimes he does fall off his chair laughing.