Quarter 2: Week 6, Post B

"On the morning of her son's murder trial, Lacy picked a black skirt out of her closet, along with a black blouse and black stockings...she ripped three pairs of hose because her hands were shaking, and finally decided to go without. By the end of the day her shoes would rub blisters on her feet, and Lacy thought maybe this was a good thing; maybe she could concentrate instead on a pain that made perfect sense" (357).

I thought this quote interesting because it really shows Lacy's pain throughout the whole experience with her son Peter. After months of hurt and confusion, she must truly face the facts of the shooting and her son's part in it. I also thought there were intriguing connections between this particular quote, as Lacy dresses for the trial, and the poem "Bringing My Son to the Police Station to be Fingerprinted" that we read in class. In the poem, the mother is very focused on her clothing as she drives her son to the police station, just as Lacy spends time on her outfit before going to her son's murder trial. Both women seem to focus on their clothing, perhaps to ignore the other parts of their lives which they cannot control.

Quarter 2: Week 6, Post A

VOCAB:

mugwort (323): a weedy plant having aromatic leaves and small, green flower heads
militaristic (325): imbued with the glorification of the ideals of a professional military class

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "...she continued to tell this woman about Peter's fictional transition to college until the lie did not taste like licorice on her tongue; until she could nearly believe it herself" (345). This is an example of a simile. The author uses this type of figurative language to compare Lacy's lie to licorice.
2. "...striking quick as lightning, he grabbed her wrist..." (338). This is another example of figurative language. The author uses a simile to compare Patrick's quick reflexes to the speed of lightning.
3. "She touched a rainbow of silk handkerchiefs that melted over her fingers..." (344). This is an example of personification because the handkerchiefs do not actually melt over Lacy's fingers.

QUOTE:

"Her mother was on cloud nine, falling in love, while Josie had to sneak off to a graveyard to visit her boyfriend" (346). This quote shows Josie's slight resentment towards her mother over her new relationship with Patrick. Even though Josie likes Patrick and she is happy for her mom at her newfound love, she can't help but feeling that the situation is completely unfair in some ways. Her mother gets to experience the fun of falling in love for the first time in years, while Josie is mourning the death of her first love at the same time.

THEME:

The theme of the novel has started to focus on the right to judge other people, and who, if anyone, should get that right. It continues to focus on the consequences of being different in modern society as well.

Quarter 2: Week 5, Post B

"'...and what about those ten kids who died?'
Jordan knew better, but he still heard himself asking Peter a question. 'Why do you phrase it that way?'
'What way?'
'The ten kids who died. As if it was a natural progression.'
Peter's brow wrinkled. 'Because it was.'
'How?'
'It's like those explosives I guess. Once you light the fuse, either you destroy the bomb before it goes off...or the bomb destroys everything else.'
'But who struck the match Peter?'
Peter lifted his face. 'Who didn't?'" (252).

This quote really intrigues me. Peter clearly holds a very different view towards the shooting than most other people of the community. His comparison of himself to a bomb is especially interesting. Instead of seeing the shooting as a deliberate murder, Peter sees himself as a ticking bomb, as if it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. He also makes it clear that the blame should not be placed so hastily on him alone. Peter must think that the fault lies with everyone who has ever teased him because it was the relentless teasing that led him to the point of murder. I found Peter's opinion on the school shooting very curious and it twisted my thoughts on the book.

Quarter 2: Week 5, Post A

VOCAB:
elegy (217): a mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem
sanctum (241): a sacred or holy place

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "...a drop spilled off the brush to land on her thigh like a bead of blood" (236). This is an example of figurative language because it is a simile. The author uses the word "like" to compare the drop of red nail polish to a bead of blood.
2. "She smelled like autumn--like apple cider and slanting sun and the snap of the coming cold" (240). This sentence is a perfect example of figurative language, or, more specifically, a simile. A beautiful comparison is made between Josie's scent and other smells that Peter associates with the autumn season, such as apple cider.
3. "Alex remembered finding the girls in the kitchen, eating raw cookie dough instead of baking it, their bodies fluid as waves as they moved around each other" (245). This is another wonderful example of a simile in the novel. Picoult utilizes the word "as" to describe the comparison between the girls and waves because they are so graceful.

QUOTE:

"Josie's lips landed just on the edge of his, almost his cheek and not quite his mouth. 'I'm glad I wasn't stuck in here alone,' she said shyly, and he tasted the words, sweet as mint on her breath...He started to smile so wide that it hurt. It wasn't that he didn't like girls; it was that there was only one right one" (240). This quote reveals Peter's true feelings for Josie. For a long time Peter believed himself to be gay because he was constantly teased and called "homo". Now, however, he realizes he's never had feelings for other girls only because he is in love with Josie.

THEME:

The theme of this novel seems to focus on the emphasis put on popularity in high school and the extreme struggle one goes through to remain at the "top".

Quarter 2: Week 4, Post B

Dear Jodi Picoult,

Your novel continues to intrigue me as the plot deepens. You've already succeeded in shocking me with some of the crazy twists that have been revealed as Peter's case approaches and more flashbacks occur. The most recent years of Peter and Josie's relationship have been very revealing to their characters. Josie is, as I suspected, not the perfect it-girl she was made out to be. In fact, in some cases she was just as hurtful and rude to Peter as her other bullying cronies. Peter, on the other hand, never completely lost hope for his friendship with Josie to be renewed. He just cannot accept that she would move on to become "one of them" without ever looking back.

Although I feel sorry for Peter because of the bullying he was forced to endure throughout his childhood, I do not in any way excuse his murderous rampage. He lost my sympathy when he fired the first shot. Killing another human being is never the solution, no matter how impossible the problem. Peter was treated very unfairly, this cannot be denied. However, he is not the only kid who has ever been so harshly bullied. Imagine the world if every kid who has ever been hurt by his fellow classmates chose to shoot up his school--there would not be a single school intact across the nation. Bullying is, unfortunately, a fact of life students must face in high school, and more constructive ways of dealing with it must be found. Anyway, these are just some of my thoughts on Peter's current situation.

I can' t wait to continue reading your book--I'm completely hooked!

Thanks,
A-Rod :)

Quarter 2: Week 4, Post A

VOCAB:

allocation (207): a system of dividing expenses and incomes among the various branches or departments of a business.
striated (208): furrowed, striped, streaked.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "Josie felt everyone's eyes on her--a hail of arrows" (211). This is an example of a metaphor. It compares the eyes accusing eyes of Josie's classmates to arrows being thrown at her.
2. "She curled over her desk like a midnight rose, letting her hair fall over her face" (211). This example of figurative language is a simile. The author uses the word "like" to make a comparison between Josie and a rose, as she hides her face from the class.
3. "Josie tried to breath, but someone had driven a stake through her chest...her own father thought she'd come here to blackmail him" (221). This sentence is another example of a metaphor. Picoult uses the image of a stake being driven through her chest to express Josie's extreme shock and hurt.

QUOTE:

"She [Alex] wondered why she'd never done this before with Josie: sat her down in the bathroom and played with eye shadow, painted her toenails, curled her hair. They were memories that every other mother of a daughter seemed to have; only now was Alex realizing that it had been up to her to create them" (213). This quote shows Alex's realization that Josie has grown up and become a complete stranger to her--and she takes the blame for their seperation. Being a working mother, Alex often did not have extra time to spend getting to know her daughter. Now Alex discovers that it's too late.

THEME:

The theme seems to be shifting focus to include the ups and downs in parent-child relationships and the consequences of waking up as a parent to discover your child is not who you thought they were.

On The Waterfront

Anna Rodriguez

Mrs. Burgess

Enriched English 10

November 26, 2007

On the Waterfront

On the Waterfront, directed by Elia Kazan, is an action-filled and thought-provoking film. As the drama unfolds, the writers effectively build suspense as Joey Doyle’s death is investigated and tensions escalate within the mob. The action starts right in the first scene as Terry lures Joey Doyle to the roof to be killed by the mob members, and it does not stop until the screen goes black and the credits begin to roll. The film centers on Terry’s inner struggle--whether he should speak up against the mob, or keep his mouth shut, and in turn, hold on to his high-ranking status as part of the mob. With Edie’s urging, coupled with Father Barry’s advice and the murder of his brother Charley, Terry decides to speak out in court about the corruption that is occurring on the waterfront. In the film On the Waterfront, Kazan successfully depicts a riveting tale of one man’s struggle to take a stand against something he knows is unethical and wrong.

Some of the effective literary aspects in the film are the setting, theme, and symbolism. For example, many parts of the film are set on the rooftops of New York City. This is the where Terry comes to care for the pigeons, and just to think. The fact that Terry chooses this space to think and reflect shows that the roof, with its view of the entire city, serves as a getaway for him. He is able to, literally, be above all of the chaos in his life. It seems as if nothing can touch him there—he is free to think in peace. A second literary aspect that enhances the film is the theme. The central theme is focused on the struggle for good over evil, right over wrong. Terry, the protagonist, exemplifies this theme perfectly as he decides whether or not to stand up to his corrupt mob boss, Johnny Friendly. In the beginning of the film, Terry is a member of Johnny’s mob; he even participates in the set-up murder of Joey Doyle. The reason Joey is murdered is because he was about to “talk”, or share the truth about the mob with the Crime Commission. When Terry is later subpoenaed to do the same—share his account of what is really occurring on the docks—he at first refuses to talk, fearing the wrath of Johnny and the mob. This clearly demonstrates Terry’s belief that his own interests are above those of the other dock workers. He does not consider whether or not this is right or wrong, he only considers the fact that his life will be at risk if he testifies against Johnny. However, after meeting Joey’s sister Edie and confessing to Father Barry, Terry’s feelings change. Instead of keeping his mouth shut, he decides to expose the corruption on the docks at the hearing. The tide changes and Terry’s moral convictions lead him to do the right thing—good triumphs over evil. The final literary aspect that is used effectively in the film is symbolism. The main symbol utilized in the film is the hook that Terry carries as he slowly walks past of all of the dock workers and leads them in to work. The hook represents Terry’s “cross to bear”—the fact that he was the only one courageous enough to stand up against Johnny is both a blessing and a curse. He must now live with the wrath of Johnny and the other mob members upon his shoulders. The weight of his decision and its effects are signified by the hook. Kazan’s use of setting, theme, and symbolism enhance the film and make it much more exciting to watch.

The acting and lighting, two of the dramatic aspects of the film, were outstanding as well. Three of the actors who give quality performances are Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, and Eva Marie Saint. Marlon Brando portrays the protagonist, Terry Malloy and his image is perfectly aligned with his character’s personality. Brando’s slow drawl combined with his New York accent draw attention to the fact that Terry is not an educated man. Brando has a casual tone that makes him seem slow and somewhat dim-witted, which is true to his character, Terry. Brando also succeeds in portraying a man who has a good heart, but a “tough guy” exterior. Karl Malden is cast as Father Barry, the church pastor and motivator. He successfully portrays the fiery personality of Father Barry through his blazing eyes, enthused tone, and motivating speeches. Malden presents a passionate man with strong moral convictions in his performance as Father Barry. Eva Marie Saint plays Edie Doyle, Joey’s sister. Edie is a delicate woman in many ways, which Saint conveys through her composure and sometimes ignorance of the way things work on the docks. However, Edie is in many ways strong and smart as well. Saint presents a woman with a strong sense of right vs. wrong as she fights to discover the truth about her brother’s death. The use of lighting was exceptional as well. The scenes centered on the mob and the crimes they commit are dark and gloomy. This adds to the mysterious and clandestine nature of the mob’s work. However, the scenes involving Edie are filled with light. Eva Marie Saint’s hair is white-blonde, so she immediately brings light to the scenes. Edie represents everything that is “right” and “good” in the film, and the lighting certainly enhances this appearance. Both the acting and the lighting choices distinguish the film and enhance its overall effectiveness.

The cinematic aspects, such as high-angle shots, low-angle shots, and sound, are unrivaled in this film. An example of a high-angle shot is found in Terry and Edie’s discussion on the rooftops. Edie stands above Terry and we see him through her eyes in a high-angle shot. This gives the audience the sense that Edie is out of Terry’s league. In a different instance, a low-angle shot is used to signify the power of the mob. As Terry calls up to Joey Doyle from the street, we see some members of the mob standing on the roof. The low-angle shot gives them a powerful, somewhat mysterious feel. It is obvious that the mob is in control and Terry is not an important member yet. He is clearly at the bottom of the totem poll within the mob. The music, compliments of Leonard Bernstein, is excellent in this film. The score is thrilling; it enhances and compliments every scene. For example, the music is heart-pounding, loud, and climatic during the workers’ fight for work chips. The music adds to the chaotic feel of the battle that occurs within the workers. It also shows their desperation for work, because each day they go without a work chip is a day without pay. The cinematography and sound are a strong point in this film and add to its appeal.

Many comparisons can be drawn between On the Waterfront and Arthur Miller’s play, All My Sons. Terry Doyle and Joe Keller encounter similar experiences, but they react differently to their individual situations. Both Terry and Keller are faced with a moral decision—they know that something unethical and wrong is occurring, but they each fear for their jobs too much to stop it. However, Keller lets this fear completely overpower his sense of right and wrong and allows the cracked cylinders to be sent out. He even goes as far as to place the blame on Steve Deever in order to save himself. Terry Doyle, on the other hand, makes a different choice. He follows his moral convictions and stands up against the corrupt mob boss, Johnny Friendly. Thanks to his brave actions, the waterfront community is freed from the corruption of the mob. Terry and Keller, although faced with similar decisions, make very different choices. Terry makes the courageous decision to stand up against what he knows to be wrong. This resolution distinguishes him as the better man, as opposed to Keller, who passes the blame away to Deever in order to save himself.

I would recommend this film in a heartbeat—its thrilling plot combined with the excellent acting and outstanding cinematography make it a must-see film. This film allows one to get caught up in Terry’s struggle, lose oneself in the love story between Terry and Edie, or marvel at the excellent score. The plot is engaging, the acting is phenomenal, and the camerawork is of very high caliber. Terry’s moral dilemma that lies at the center of the film sparks good discussion and debate as well. Due to the compilation of the complex plot, superb acting, unique score, and quality of the cinematography, this film is engaging and thought-provoking—a classic.

Quarter 2: Week 3, Post B

" 'I never thought there was any problem,' she admitted. 'I didn't know Peter was upset. I didn't know he wanted to kill himself. I didn't know any of those things.' She began to cry. 'All those families out there, I don't know what to say to them. I wish I could tell them that I lost someone, too. I just lost him a long time ago.' Selena folded her arms around the smaller woman. 'It's not your fault,' she said, words she knew Lacy Houghton needed to hear" (176).

This quote demonstrates the author's attempt to gain sympathy from the reader for Lacy Houghton, Peter's mom. Lacy was as surprised as anyone else that her son committed such a heinous crime, and she is struggling and grieving just as much as the mothers who lost children in the shooting. To realize you don't know your own child anymore is terrifying. Lacy can't help but try to pinpoint the place where she went wrong--that one defining mistake she made in raising him that caused her son to turn into a killer. She blames herself for this tragedy. She is simply a caring, generous woman and mother who is faced with an unbearable situation. I feel terrible for Lacy, especially because so many of the victim's parents blame her for their children's deaths. She doesn't deserve the blame, as she was not the one holding the gun that day.

Quarter 2: Week 3, Post A

VOCAB:

vetted (124): to appraise, verify, check for accuracy, authenticity, validity.
pilfered (159): stolen in small quantities

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "...skin white as the belly of a fish..." (147). This is an example of figurative language because it is a simile comparing Peter's skin and the belly of a fish.
2. "...holding the truth between them, a stone that got heavier with every passing moment" (191). This is another example of figurative language, but a metaphor instead of a simile. It compares the truth to a stone, but doesn't use the words "like" or "as".
3. "He pressed the Copy button, watched the machine begin to birth a hundred identical babies" (205). This example of figurative language is personification. The copy machine possesses the human characteristic of giving birth, which in reality is impossible.

QUOTE:

"Just like that, a fault line opened up in Sterling--a ravine so deep and bleak that it would not be bridged for many years. There was already a difference in this town, between those who had lost children and those who still had them to worry about" (168). This quote begins to explore the change in Sterling in the aftermath of the shooting. The shooting is like a center point, around which there is a "before" and "after". In the "after", there are resentments between parents who lost children and those who got lucky. Friendships are tested as the citizens struggle to deal with their grief. No one understands why some were killed and some were not, and, in the days following the tragedy, this confusion separates the people of Sterling.

THEME:

The theme of this novel still seems to be focused on what it means to be different in our society.

Quarter 2: Week 2, Post B

Dear Jodi Picoult,

Well, I am continuing to love Nineteen Minutes as I read further in the book. The plot is getting more intense and I can already see many twists and controversies forming, especially within Peter's relationship with Josie. Their childhood friendship seems so cliché—two kids who grow up together and are best friends, until one of them (in this case Josie) is drawn in by the “popular” crowd and ditches their other “dorky” friend. My heart broke for Peter when he talked about how hurt and betrayed he felt when his only ally left his side. And although Josie clearly does not condone the bullying behaviors her so-called “friends” issue to Peter, she cannot find the courage to stand up for him anymore. One might think that, upon planning a murderous rampage through his school, Peter would try to get revenge on his back-stabbing friend. But instead, Josie’s is the only picture that he had circled but then gone back and crossed out, writing the words “LET LIVE” above it. Even though Peter might have felt vengeful and angry at Josie for deserting him back in middle school and never again acknowledging him in public, his lingering love and gratitude for her friendship long ago overcomes these feelings.

I am excited to keep reading and to continue watching the story unfold. I think Josie is definitely hiding something about her memory of those last few minutes with Peter and Matt in the locker room but I don’t know what it could be...hopefully more information will be revealed soon! I am eager to read more!

Sincerely,

A-Rod :)

Quarter 2: Week 2, Post A

VOCAB:
subversive (77): in opposition to a civil authority or government

vivisecting (69): cutting into or dissecting a living body

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "His words hit her, a solid slap" (64). This is an example of personification because the author is giving a human characteristic--the power to hit--to a non-human thing:words. Words can not actually hit, so this is an example of figurative language.
2. "...he was drawn like a moth to the light over his father's workbench" (86). This is an example of a simile because the author uses the word "like" to compare Peter to a moth.

3. "The reporter appeared again on the grainy screen, his hair blowing upward like a boat's sail in the light wind..." (95). This is an example of figurative language, or, more specifically, a simile. The author uses the word "like" to make a comparison between the reporter's hair and the sail on a boat.
QUOTE:

" I used to stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom to see what they were staring at. I wanted to know what made their heads turn, what it was about me that was so incredibly different. At first I couldn't tell. I mean, it was just me. Then one day, when I looked in the mirror, I understood. I looked into my own eyes and I hated myself, maybe as much as all of them did. That was the day I started to believe they might be right" (60). This quote reveals a sad truth about Peter, but I think it also speaks to bully victims in general. I know a lot of people at my school who would not think twice about making a rude comment or gesture to someone who's considered a "dork" or a "weirdo" at school; they wouldn't think twice about it, saying it's all in good fun. However, most of these people don't realize the effects their words and actions have on the kids they single out. It's incredibly sad to me that Peter, a teenager who has been continually bullied since kindergarten, can actually begin to believe the people who are bullying him. He actually starts to hate himself as much as they hate him, instead of recognizing that these people are simply insecure.

THEME:

I think an emerging theme in this novel is focused on what it means to be different in today's society and the extreme measures some go to just to fit in.

Quarter 2: Week 1, Post B

Dear Jodi Picoult,

Wow! Your book is already so good--it's so suspenseful; I can't stop reading it! I've read five of your other books in the past, including My Sister's Keeper, Second Glance, Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, and Vanishing Acts. I loved all of them, and so far I am loving this one as well! The plots in your books continually address controversial social issues, this one being a school shooting. The strange twists have already got me thinking and questioning, as they always do.

The topic of a school shooting is definitely relevant in our modern-day society. Due to Columbine and Virginia Tech, both tragic events that were talked over and debated all over the media for months, schools everywhere have begun to change their ways. Here at Edina High School we are now required to perform 5 lock-down drills each year, as a precaution against such an event occurring here. Similar security and precautionary measures have been taken in other school districts as well. I am very interested to read more of your book and hear about the lasting effects the school shooting will have on everyone involved.

Anways, so far the book is awesome; I didn't expect anything less. I can't wait to keep reading--Josie's relationships with Peter and Matt are especially intriguing. I'm also excited for the drama to unfold in the courtroom--I can always count on some unexpected twists to occur there! I'm eager to see how the story will continue!

Your fan,
A-Rod

Quarter 2: Week 1, Post A

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

VOCAB:

caliper (17): a measurement of thickness

prescience (22): knowledge of things or actions before they exist or happen; foresight

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

1. "She held her mother's admission as if it were a butterfly lighting on her hand by accident" (8). This is an example of figurative language because the author is comparing the mother's confession to a butterfly in flight.

2. "...the motions that would have fallen like shadows across her desk between Friday afternoon and this morning" (8). This is an example of figurative language--or, more specifically, a simlie--because the author compares the motions that Judge Alex must deal with that have gathered over the weekend to dark shadows. This shows that Alex is very busy and having to handle so many motions is a negative part of her job.

3. "...he made her head swim with seasons-his hair was all the colors of autumn; his eyes the bright blue of a winter sky; his smile as wide as any summer sun" (10). There are several examples of figurative language in this sentence as the author makes comparisons involving Josie's boyfriend Matt Royston. She compares him to the seasons--his hair is compared to fall, his eyes to winter, and his smile to summer.

QUOTE:

"When Patrick was lying in his bed alone and letting his mind sew a seam across the hem of his life, he did not remember the proven successes--only the potential failures. When he walked around the perimeter of a vandalized barn or found the stolen car stripped down and dumped in the woods or handed the tissue to the sobbing girl who'd been date-raped, Patrick couldn't help but feel that he was too late. He was a detective, but he didn't detect anything. It fell into his lap, already broken, every time" (12). Patrick's reflection on his job reveals a lot about his character. It shows a trait that is common in most people: the inability to appreciate one's successes, and only focusing on one's short-comings. Patrick changes lives everyday in his job as a detective. He protects people by solving crimes and catching the "bad guys". However, even with all of the good he has done, he only remembers the times when he was too late. In fact, he feels as if he is too late everytime because he never saves anyone before the event happens. He only fixes what has already been broken. He doesn't realize that it is just as important to be the person who picks up the pieces when everything falls apart.

THEME:

I think the emerging theme of this book focuses on the struggles people, especially high-schoolers face to "fit in" in our society.

Week 5, Post B

"I think about the woman I have become lately, about the life that I am now living, and about how much I always wanted to be this person and live this life, liberated from the farce of pretending to be anyone other than myself. I think of everything I endured before getting here and wonder if it was me--I mean this happy and balanced me, who is now dozing on the deck of a small Indonesian fishing boat--who pulled the other, younger, more confused and more struggling me forward during all those hard years" (330).

At the end of the memoir, Liz is reflecting on her journey to happiness and how she became the woman she is now. This new Liz is so much happier--more carefree, more passionate, more spiritually centered, and more self-confident. She realizes that although there were so many people who helped her along the way, (Giovanni, Luca Spaghetti, her guru, Richard from Texas, Ketut Liyer, Felipe, Wayan, and Tutti), the main administrator of her rescue was herself. She herself was the one who made the effort, took the time (a year!) to change and become happier. Without her own will to do so, she would never have reached the point she is at now, no matter how many people she had to help her along the journey. I think this is extremely true in everyday life--we cannot be forced to make changes. Only once we ourselves recognize that we need to change and make the decision to put forth the effort to do so can we finally be "rescued". Whether it be a rescue from a bad relationship, from alcohol or drugs, or from depression, nothing can be accomplished without one's own will to accomplish it.

Week 5, Post A

VOCAB:

feudal (236): pertaining to the political, military, and social system in the Middle Ages, based on the holding of lands in fief or fee and on the resulting relations between lord and vassal.
emissary (247): a representative sent on a mission or errand in order to negotiate.

APPEALS:

1. "The next day...I get hit by a bus" (253). This is an emotional appeal that is suspenseful and a definite cliff-hanger. It surprised me and left me anxious and eager to see what happens next.

2. "And from that meeting, everything that was meant to happen...happened" (255). This is an emotional appeal because it makes the reader eager to see what happens but also gives the reader a sense of calm because the author sounds like everything will work out in the end.

3. "I could not believe I was still up at 3:30 AM, and not to meditate, either! I was up in the middle of the night and wearing a dress and talking to an attractive man. How terribly radical" (268). This is both a logical and an emotional appeal. The fact that Liz is still out partying at 3:30 AM is a fact, therefore a logical appeal. It is also emotional because Liz is finally out having fun again and letting go, which is a big step for her!

QUOTE:

"I love this girl, Liss. Very beautiful. But not good character, this girl. She only want money. She chase other boy. She never tell truth...She stop loving me, go away with other boy. I am very sad. Broken in my heart. I pray and pray to my four spirit brothers, ask why she not anymore love me? Then one of my spirit brothers, he tell me the truth. He say, 'This is not your true match. Be patient.' So I be patient and then I find my wife. Beautiful woman, good woman. Always sweet for me. Never once we argue, have always harmony in household, always she smiling. Even when no money at home, always she smiling and saying how happy she is to see me" (279). Ketut, the medicine man, tells Liz exactly what she needs to hear: that if she is patient, she will find the right man--her soul mate. After her painful divorce she thought she would never love anyone, that no one would ever love her again. However, Ketut reassures her that she will find love again if she is patient. She shouldn't be discouraged. This gives Liz renewed hope and comforts her.

THEME:

I think the theme of this book is the struggle people go through in order to achieve a balanced, happy life. Some people never achieve this, as it is difficult and requires effort. However, once one reaches a balance between spirituality and the pleasures we find on Earth, the rewards are boundless.

Week 4, Post B

Dear Liz Gilbert,

Well, I am wrapping up the India portion of your book and I must say it was not as exciting as I would have hoped. I thoroughly enjoyed the Italy portion--your journey for happiness was fun to read about and there were so many funny experiences! I did enjoy parts of the India portion of the story--some of your reflections were so insightful and refreshing. However, the plot throughout these months was overall very slow and was not characterized by funny events like Italy. Instead, your chapters were centered mostly around the many long hours you spent in meditation and the powerful experiences you had. While these are definitely interesting experiences to hear about, reading about these similar occurrences over and over again started to feel very repetitive. Perhaps I didn't enjoy it as much because my religious beliefs are very different from yours--it's fun to learn about other perspectives but in the end I simply disagree with many of the beliefs expressed by you and your guru.

I am, however, really looking forward to the Indonesia portion of the book, as you have summarized that leg of the trip with the word "Love" in the title. That has always been one of my favorite part of books and movies-the love story (the other part being humor), so I have a feeling I'll enjoy reading it a lot more! I still love your book and your writing style, I just felt that the descriptions of your time in India became slightly repetitive and boring after awhile.

Can't wait to keep reading!

~A-Rod

Week 4, Post A

VOCAB:

seva (191): the Sanskrit term for the spiritual practice of selfless service
transcendence (194): a state of being or existence above and beyond the limits of material experience

APPEALS:

1. "It's over 100 degrees already at 10:00 AM, and most of these people have been flying all night in coach. Some of them walk into this Ashram looking like they jsut woke up in the trunk of a car-like they have no idea at all what they're doing here" (194). This is a logical appeal that refers to Liz's first time running a retreat for visitors to the Ashram at which she is living. It is logical because the temperature and time are clearly stated facts about the weather in India.

2. "Then she told me that my work detail had been changed. Due to a special request from mangement, I was no longer to be part of the floor-scrubbing team. They had a new position in mind for me at the Ashram. And the title of my new job was-if you will kindly dig this-'Key Hostess'" (191). This is an emotional appeal referring to the moment Liz hears of her new job at the Ashram. She had recently resolved to be less social and avoid monopolizing conversations, when she finds out her new job involves hosting people-a very socially oriented job! After this funny coincidence the reader is eager to hear more about the details of this new job.

3. "They're all afraid. They're all going into silence, deep into their own minds and souls. Even for an experienced meditator, nothing is more unknown than this territory. Anything can happen in there" (195). This is another emotional appeal as Liz is describing the intense fears of the people on her retreat about meditating. These fears make sense because one's mind and soul can definitely be scary places. I, the reader, agree with Liz on this point and it makes me think about how scared I would be to meditate for hours on end.

QUOTE:

"We search for happiness everywhere, but we are like Tolstoy's fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, begging for pennies from every passerby, unaware that his fortune was right under him the whole time. Your treasure-your perfection-is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the busy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart" (197). I love this quote because I think it describes such a beautiful belief-that everyone can reach a state of blissful perfection. It's very intriguing that Liz believes this can be achieved simply by forgetting about material goods and human wants. She believes that if one can reach the "silence of the heart" bliss can be reached. This is such a refreshing opinion about the purpose of human life, for so many of us seem to have forgotten that money, success, and power do not necessarily equate to happiness.

THEME:

At this moment, as the book is centered in India and on Liz's spiritual development, the theme seems to be more focused on letting go of the day to day wants, worries, and grievances of life and focusing instead on finding happiness within oneself.

Week 3, Post B

"One of the hardest things about this divorce was the fact that my ex-husband never forgave me for leaving, that it didn't matter how many bushels of apologies or explanations I laid at his feet, how much blame I assumed, or how many assets or acts of contrition I was willing to offer him in exchange for departing...I was unredeemable. And this unredeemed dark hole was still inside me. Even in the moments of happiness and excitement (especially in moments of happiness and excitement) I could never forget it for long. I am still hated by him. And that felt like it would never change, never release" (182).

This quote is so emotionally revealing and I love Liz's openess here, and throughout her entire story. She is so free with her feelings and seems to know herself so well; it's truly inspiring. I especially like this passage because I can relate to her feelings, although on a much lesser level. I obviously have no experience with the heartache involved in a divorce, or anything that serious. I do, however, know what it guilt feels like and how it feels to believe someone will never forgive you for something you've done. I am the kind of person who has an annoying need to please people and I tend to be sort of a perfectionist. I hate letting people down, even over the stupidest things. So, even though the guilt Liz Gilbert is feeling over her divorce in no way compares to the guilt I feel when I forget to call a friend back, her experiences still appeal to a universal affliction that we all suffer from: guilt.

Week 3, Post A

VOCAB:

pamphleteers (159): Writers of pamphlets or other short works taking a partisan stand on an issue
seditious (179): arising to action or rebellion
caustic (156): severely critical or sarcastic

APPEALS:

1. "I met an old lady once, almost one hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? And Who's in charge?'" (157). This is an emotional appeal in two ways. At first the reader is eager to hear the two questions. Once these are presented, the reader wants to hear the reasoning behind this generalization and is looking forward to the examples given by the author.

2. "This morning I overslept. Which is to say-sloth that I am, I dozed until the ungodly hour of 4:15 AM" (167). This is a logical appeal because the Elizabeth's oversleeping is factual, along with the time she eventually awoke.


3. "I decided I needed to stay here at the Ashram. This was totally not in my original plan" (170). This is an emotional appeal because it sparks curiousity and surprise in the reader. Elizabeth had maintained throughout the story that she was planning on spending six weeks at the Ashram and then traveling all over India to end the trip. With the deliverance of this change in the plan the reader is eager to hear how the rest of the time will go and leaves the reader wondering about what caused Elizabeth to change her mind.

QUOTE:

"The search for God is a reversal of the normal, mundane worldly order. In the search for God, you revert from what attracts you and swim toward that which is difficult. You abandon your comforting and familiar habits with the hope (the mere hope!) that something greater will be offered to you in return...Faith is the belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark" (175). I love this quote because I think it speaks very truthfully to the essence of faith and the strength required to maintain faith, not just in God but in anything. Elizabeth provides many thoughtful insights such as this throughout her memoir. Her deep self-analysis and her analysis of the world around her encourage me to rethink many ideas I would never have questioned before.

THEME:

I now think this book's focus is on balancing the pleasures of life and the spiritual side of life. Elizabeth's focus is on these two competing sides of life (earthly pleasures vs. divine spirituality) and the importance of the presence of both of them in life.

Week 2, Post B

Dear Elizabeth,

I am continuing to enjoy your book so much! I love your writing style--you're so funny and witty. You're also very open and honest about your feelings throughout your experience. It makes the book so much more fun to read when I feel like I'm experiencing everything along with you. Your many self-reflections help me understand your experiences better as well--you're very insightful and your reflections really make me think.

I also really admire your strong spiritual devoutness. You are so hard-core when it comes to yoga, meditation, and inner reflection! I don't think I would ever have the patience to sit still and just think for that long! And the Ashram schedule is so intense--3:00 AM to 9:00 PM, how do you do it? It must be hard to adjust to such a weird schedule; I doubt my body could ever get used to being awake in the early hours of the morning like that. You seem to be learning so much about yourself and it's so interesting to read about such a unique experience. I had never even heard of an Ashram before reading this so it was fun to hear about it!

I can't wait to continue reading and hear more about India..and soon Indonesia!

Sincerely,

A-Rod :)

Week 2, Post A

VOCAB:

mantravirya (123): A Sanskrit term meaning "the potency of the enlightened conciousness" in relation to yoga.

bindi (129): A small, colored ornamental dot worn in the middle of a Hindu woman's forehead.

APPEALS:

1. "The word Guru is composed of two Sanskrit syllables. The first means "darkness," the second means "light." Out of the darkness and into the light" (123). This is a logical appeal because the definition of the word "Guru" is a factual statement. The definition is intriguing and the reader is eager to hear more about Elizabeth's Guru.

2. "And the first time I saw her, it was as though she looked at me through her photograph- those dark eyes smoldering with intelligent compassion- and she said 'You called for me and now I'm here.So do you want to do this thing, or not?'" (125). This is an emotional appeal because the reader wants to hear the answer to the question that Elizabeth's Guru "asked" her the first time she saw her.

3. "They want you to come here [the Ashram] strong because Ashram life is rigorous. Not just physically, with days that begin at 3:00 AM and end at 9:00 PM, but also psycologically (128). This is a logical appeal because it states the factual schedule of life at an Indian Ashram. It is also somewhat emotional because it hints at the emotional and psycological change that Elizabeth will experience in the months ahead.

QUOTE:

"This is the first New Year's Eve I can ever remember in my life where I haven't known any of the people I was celebrating with. In all this dancing and singing, there is nobody for me to embrace at midnight. But I wouldn't say that anything about this night has been lonely. No, I would definitely not say that" (130). This reflection signifies a big step, emotionally for Elizabeth. Beginning in the last months of her marriage, through the stressful divorce process, and even occasionally in her months spent in Italy, Elizabeth had admitted to feeling very alone. Now, as she begins her stay in India and celebrates the New Year in a new way with the other Ashram pupils, she finally feels the lonliness lifting. Even though she doesn't know anyone she is singing and dancing with, she feels so happy and full of life that she no longer feels any lonliness.

THEME:

The theme seems to continue to focus on the same ideas as I read farther on. The journey to understanding of oneself and the meaning of one's life continues to be the focus as Elizabeth moves from the "pleasure" leg of the trip to the "spiritual" leg of the trip.

Week 1, Post B

Dear Elizabeth,

Your story is so enthralling thus far; I am enjoying it immensely. What with the struggles you faced in your marriage and the divorce process that followed, along with your rebound love affair with David--your life has been VERY chaotic lately! Your trip seemed to be the perfect way for you to clear your head and strive to find spiritual meaning in your life.

The months you spent in Italy seemed to be a time of healing for you, and a good way for you to take a step back and really anaylze your life and the conflicts you have faced. I can't imagine facing all that you did and being able to write about it so vividly for all the world to read. I think you are very brave for sharing your story, and I am certainly glad you chose to do so. Your book is funny and thought-provoking and I can't wait to read more--especially when you get to India and Indonesia!

My favorite part of the story thus far was when you made the decision to email David and end your on-again/off-again yo-yo of a relationship. It must have been really hard and it was definitely the right move, in my opinion. You were very strong and I think the rest of your trip will be much more enjoyable without that extra worry nagging at you.

I can't wait to read more!

A-Rod

Week 1, Post A

"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

VOCAB:

fallow (66)- characterized by inactivity.

equanimity (32)- mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium.

APPEALS:

1. "...because something was about to occur on that bathroom floor that would forever change the progression of my life..." (12). This is an emotional appeal because the reader wants to know what is about to happen. It definitely sounds important, and the life-changing event will likely shape the rest of the story.

2. "On September 9, 2001, I met with my husband face-to-face for the last time, not realizing that every future meeting would neccesitate lawyers between us, to mediate" (19). This piece of information is clearly factual, classifying it as a logical appeal. However, since the event Elizabeth is referring to involves her destroyed relationship with her ex-husband, it also contains emotional appeal.

3. "Two days later I woke up after a troubled night's sleep to find that hijacked airplanes were crashing into the two tallest buildings of my city, as everything invincible that stood together now became a smoldering avalanche of ruin" (19). This is an emotional appeal because the reader feels the sense of destruction and tragedy. I think Elizabeth uses these strong, loaded words to attempt to communicate to the reader the extreme devastation of the 9/11 tragedy.

QUOTE:

"I look at the Augusteum, and I think that perhaps my life has not actually been so chaotic, after all. It is merely this world that is chaotic, bringing changes to us all that nobody could have anticipated...one must always be prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation (75)." I think this quote is extremely significant because it represents Elizabeth's transformation as a woman and the beginning of her evolution. She is realizing that even through all of the craziness that has been her life for the past few months, she can, and will, adapt to the changes and maybe even become a better person for it.

THEME:

So far the book seems to focus on the different ways people strive to find meaning in their lives, and the journey of self-analysis one must take to find it.