Atwood

This book was very confusing to me and difficult to understand. It took me a lot longer then it probably would take someone who reads on a regular basis. I really have no interest in the style or the topic of the book. However I think the only one idea I saw that may be somewhat interesting to research would be "The Feminist Movement in the US". I really wasn't aware that such events really took place. I guess because I have never really been into subjects like this. I think, that researching this topic may help me understand the events that took place during that era. I am aiming towards somehow getting myself interested in this topic. I was really astonished when reading the book that women were treated that way. My ultimate goal is to gain more knowledge then what I started with. My question I think I am going to use is going to be
"When/how did women change the way they were treated" I am going to work on it more so it is a direct clear question.


The picture was taken from: http://www.momlogic.com/2009/08/how_feminism_hurt_our_love_lives.php

A link to check out!!

Mid-term check in

This class started off extremely rough for me. At first I really thought about maybe taking it another time. WHY? Well, I thought that if I didn’t do it now that I would be better later. Obviously, I realized that was a ridiculous decision. I felt that there would be no way that I could understand the Wars and that because it wasn’t something that interests me I wouldn’t be able to write about it. However, that now isn’t the case. Since I am not a big reader and I had no interest in the War I had to convince myself that it would be something I would take interest in. After the first couple reading assignments I became so interested in the topic Mrs. Cline had for me. (The class) The first couple essays were pretty tough for me to write. I was lost for words and couldn’t express anything. I felt an abundance of emotion and for me that was hard to focus on the analysis of the writing’s.  I thought to myself, Ok this is not about me and how I feel—rather it’s merely an assignment. The analysis part is far more different then the other types of writing I have done in the past. Usually you are required to just compare/contrast or relate to the story is some way. So this was different for me. I really felt at first that I would not be able to do—however I think I got the gist of it. During the second half of the semester I would like to improve how I analyze writing without putting a lot of “how I feel” in my writing. It’s difficult for me to set aside how the writing has affected me as a person. I really enjoy these types of books/stories and I plan to continue reading more. 

Sean Huze

In Sean Huze, “The Sand Storm” there was some extremely graphic material. At first, it seemed like it was going to be difficult to read and understand—but once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I have never read a play before so that was new to me. It was a little difficult at first to keep track of who was talking. The language is easy to interpret and flowed smoothly. It made my heart hurt for the families of these soldier’s. They weren’t getting mail, and really they were left in the dark as to what was going on. Most of the story disgusted me—it was scary to think that these men are simply just killing everyone and everything in sight. It was like they cared, but knew that they would have to kill. The play all together was very moving. There were certain parts that brought tears to my eyes. They talk about playing with the kids in the streets and talking to the surviving man after they just killed his whole family. He was grateful for the soldier and was pissed at his own leadership in his country. I was astonished when I read that. Who would have thought? I guess I had already made an assumption of what the war was like over there. I would love to see this play sometime.                

This picture was taken from:                                            http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2005/2-in-IRAQ/index.html

Here is a link for more information on the war                                                        

The Things They Carried

The story, “The Things They Carried” had an interesting message behind it. At first, it seemed very repetitive and I wasn’t sure right off the bat I made an assumption of what the story was going to be like. After reading the first couple pages, it got more and more interesting. Not knowing much about the war, I was able to easily understand the short story.At first it talks about “the things they carried” referring to the weapons and all the other items they needed to survive. Jimmy Cross who was suppose to be making sure the soldiers were in line and doing the right thing was too concerned with his love for Martha and his focus was only on her. Because of his negligence to his soldiers—Ted Lavender was killed. Jimmy Cross knew it was his fault; it would have never happened had he been not so worried about the love and obsession of Martha. The end of the story is where I think the writer wanted to get the point across to the reader. He talks about it was no longer going to be just the things they carried outside but it needed to be the things they carry inside. Jimmy Cross burned the letters and pictures of Martha, and planned to dispose of the “good luck” pebble that he carried. He stepped up to the plate and realized that he was the leader for his soldiers and he couldn’t let another death happen due to his lack of leadership. Another good point the writer got across was the weight of the war that all the 

men carried! 

The image was taken from: http://the-things-they-carred.tripod.com/

Here is a link to check out some quotes from Tim O'Brien

Poetry Of Witness

   First, I must say that some of the poems were extremely difficult for me to understand. I had to re-read and use a dictionary for some of the words. I would have to say that the poem "Photograph from September 11" really stood out to me. I  look back to 2001 and remember that day like it was yesterday. My friend had just picked me up and we were on our way to school. I can remember the sadness that filled the halls and the look that people had on their face as the TV’s blared with the sound of the divesting event. The poem was short and straight to the point. It was simple and easy to understand---yet it was so moving. As soon as I saw the title I thought to myself, this is something that occurred in my life time it should a good one.  The line, “They jumped from the burning floors” (Szymborska 1). Right away it brought sadness to my heart. It was like the whole day flashed in from of my eyes. So many innocent people lost their lives because of this. I couldn’t imagine witnessing such a horrible thing.

   "Song of Napalm" was  interesting--yet it sent chills down my spine. I don’t know a whole lot about the war so I had to do some research. In turn that helped me understand what exactly everything in the poem meant. The poem was written to his wife and he watched the bombs drop. He talked about how insane he was and the smell of the bodies. One line that stood out to me was, “And the girl runs only as far as the Napalm allows until her burning tendons and crackling muscles draw her up into that final position” (Weigl 1). Not only did that completely disgust me but it made me think of how wars really affect someone and their well-being. I could never imagine having to deal with something like this. I am coming to form opinions about these poems now that I understand them a little better.

The first photo was taken from: http://www.triple-tri.com/ttblog/index.php?m=200909

Second was taken from:http://www.puppetgov.com/2009/09/16/pictures-of-war-can-carry-more-moral-meaning-than-thousands-of-words/

Here is a site to check out!!

Works Cited :
Bruce Weigl, “Song of Napalm” from Archaeology of the Circle: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 1999 by Bruce Weigl. Reprinted with the permission of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.,www.groveatlantic.com. 


Wislawa Szymborska, “Photograph from September 11” from Monologue of a Dog. Copyright © 2005 by Wislawa Szymborska. Reprinted with permission of Harcourt, Inc. 

Sam Hamill

There are so many points that are rational in the article The Necessity to Speak written by Sam Hamill. I found it very interesting the perspective that he put things into. He really gives it to you cut and dry. I have always thought that poetry contained a lot of emotion and most often used to express emotion.  But after reading what Sam Hamill said “We are dead wrong”(Hamill 549). He explained why he thinks that—it makes sense. It’s important to speak—“to get out of hell” as Hamill would say--writing is one’s escape. Over the years I have been told and read from many authors what “good writers and readers” should consist of. It’s important to know what creative writing is being done for. What is the purpose? Who are you writing to? And where would something like this be read. It’s so easy when reading to get caught up in the “What and why’s?” Stay focused and everything else will fall into place. All those things Sam Hamill reiterates in the article. There are so many humans who just ignore and pretend not to have emotion. That is a strong statement Hamill made—it is not only true but sad. Why are people so cruel? One of my favorite parts of the whole article is when Hamill talked about how true poets are challenged with telling people what they already know and do not want to hear. When I hear that I think of how often that statement is used. It is used in several types of relationships in different aspects of someone’s life. He had so many great ways of explaining how deep poetry is and can be. He talked a lot about violence and how using the right “names” is so essential—and will make such a huge impact. His third way is very profound—“it beings with accepting responsibility for our own words and deeds.” If only the world was actually like that. Poetry is intense and can be looked at in many different ways. I am defiantly going to keep in mind what Sam Hamill wrote.

Work Cited:

Hamill, Sam. The Necessity to Speak. 6/17/2010. Print.    

This image was taken from: http://harwoodartcenter.org/ss/community-events/

Here is a link to check out more about Sam Hamill

Good readers and good writers

Nabokov believes that imagination, memory, dictionary, artistic sense and most of all a re-reader is what makes a good reader. After reading this, I totally agree with it. I really never put a whole lot of thought into reading. I believe the characteristics of a good reader would be to understand what you are reading, putting yourself behind the author and reading it more than once. I would have to say that when I am interested in something I am an excellent reader. However, since in college I would say that since I am not able to really pick and choose what I want to read--I take the material and try to enjoy it as much as I can. I will usually have to read things more than once to fully understand it

Here is a link to check out:
The picture was taken from the following web site:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://educhoices.org/cimages/multimages/1/free_books_online.jpg&imgrefurl=http://educhoices.org/articles/Online_Libraries_-_25_Places_to_Read_Free_Books_Online.html&h=300&w=400&sz=77&tbnid=UZ9kCbLFVMfSlM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bbooks&zoom=1&q=picture+of+books&hl=en&usg=__U0bNmsHDKLGkuJoGKuCaJIumKeg=&sa=X&ei=p7xBTfaNCpD6sAO37-i_Cg&ved=0CDwQ9QEwBQ