Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Returning to Earth-Week 3, Post B
Previously the story was being narrated by Donald with occasional interruptions from Cynthia. Now the story is being told by K, a nephew a Donald and Cynthia. It's interesting to read the memories K tells about Donald and Cynthia's family. I find that I learn a great deal more about them from K. This family seems now to be a little more unorthodox than I imagined. For example, we learn that K and Clare, Donald's daughter and K's cousin, were lovers when they were eighteen. This is a bit odd and I later learn that Clare broke up with K because she believed that K was only dating her to get to her mother, Cynthia (K's aunt). K admitted to wanting to be with Cynthia. This novel is about Donald's written history of his family and this new aspect to the novel is confusing me. K once mentions reading the history Donald has written, but then continues with his storytelling. I'm not sure what any of these stories really have to do with the main component of the novel. I am not far in the K portion of this novel so hopefully its purpose will make itself clear to me as I read on.
Returning to Earth-Week 3, Post A
Vocab:
-Deconstructionist (78): Of or concerned with the philosophical theory of literature known as deconstructionism; "deconstructionist criticism"
-Banality (79): Something that is trite, obvious, or predictable; a commonplace
Figurative Language:
"Each new woman is an undiscovered country..." (79) This passage represents a metaphor describing Cynthia's brother's view of women.
"'I know what he's going to do,' I said, nodding at Donald and chewing my corned beef sandwich as if mortality were a fiction." (81) This quote represents a metaphor describing K's feelings at the time he made this comment. I interpret this metaphor as stating that at this moment, K felt death was a completely untrue concept.
"'He didn't die but forever after scuttled like a crab when he tried to walk freely.'" (82) This statement represents a similie describing the physical state of K's grandfather who was injured in an iron mine in his early thirties.
Quote:
"I was in a different world. Everyone seemed poor but more vivid than my life in Chicago exept for my dad's Italian friends. At the time I actually wondered if Indians and Italians might be related." (85) I found this quote interesting because I finally realized how sheltered K's life actually was. He lived in a world where different cultures didn't mix. As a child, meeting the Indians who lived in the same area as Donald and Cynthia and their family was a real wake-up call for him. He learned that Italians and Indians have many similarities, making him question whether or not they were actually two cultures that were related.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be apparent in this portion of the novel is the theme of self-discovery. K seemed to be retelling stories from his past that described a time where he learned something new about himself.
-Deconstructionist (78): Of or concerned with the philosophical theory of literature known as deconstructionism; "deconstructionist criticism"
-Banality (79): Something that is trite, obvious, or predictable; a commonplace
Figurative Language:
"Each new woman is an undiscovered country..." (79) This passage represents a metaphor describing Cynthia's brother's view of women.
"'I know what he's going to do,' I said, nodding at Donald and chewing my corned beef sandwich as if mortality were a fiction." (81) This quote represents a metaphor describing K's feelings at the time he made this comment. I interpret this metaphor as stating that at this moment, K felt death was a completely untrue concept.
"'He didn't die but forever after scuttled like a crab when he tried to walk freely.'" (82) This statement represents a similie describing the physical state of K's grandfather who was injured in an iron mine in his early thirties.
Quote:
"I was in a different world. Everyone seemed poor but more vivid than my life in Chicago exept for my dad's Italian friends. At the time I actually wondered if Indians and Italians might be related." (85) I found this quote interesting because I finally realized how sheltered K's life actually was. He lived in a world where different cultures didn't mix. As a child, meeting the Indians who lived in the same area as Donald and Cynthia and their family was a real wake-up call for him. He learned that Italians and Indians have many similarities, making him question whether or not they were actually two cultures that were related.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be apparent in this portion of the novel is the theme of self-discovery. K seemed to be retelling stories from his past that described a time where he learned something new about himself.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Returning to Earth-Week 2, Post B
Dear Donald,
You are beginning to let your regrets have a severe influence on your outlook on your life. This is unhealthy and I would hope you get out of this slump and begin to embrace the life you have left. Clearly, reminiscing about your past to Cynthia will bring back memories that you would like to forget. Don't allow these memories to shape your view on the life you have led. You are a good person who has done some great things. We all make mistakes. We all committ acts we wish we could take back. But living in the past will only make you last couple of years miserable. You don't want that. Cynthia doesn't want that. Your children don't want that. Also, don't dwell on the regrets of what you haven't yet done in your life either. This is equally unhealthy. So you didn't get to see a real glacier, so what? There are some people in this world who never had the experience of finding their true love and making a family. Now is the time to reflect on all the wonderful achievements you've had in your life. My advice: spend your last years remembering the good times, and also realizing the great virtues you have acquired during your lifetime.
Sincerely,
Emily
You are beginning to let your regrets have a severe influence on your outlook on your life. This is unhealthy and I would hope you get out of this slump and begin to embrace the life you have left. Clearly, reminiscing about your past to Cynthia will bring back memories that you would like to forget. Don't allow these memories to shape your view on the life you have led. You are a good person who has done some great things. We all make mistakes. We all committ acts we wish we could take back. But living in the past will only make you last couple of years miserable. You don't want that. Cynthia doesn't want that. Your children don't want that. Also, don't dwell on the regrets of what you haven't yet done in your life either. This is equally unhealthy. So you didn't get to see a real glacier, so what? There are some people in this world who never had the experience of finding their true love and making a family. Now is the time to reflect on all the wonderful achievements you've had in your life. My advice: spend your last years remembering the good times, and also realizing the great virtues you have acquired during your lifetime.
Sincerely,
Emily
Returning to Earth-Week 2, Post A
Vocab:
-Germinal (50): Being in the earliest stage of development.
-Embezzled (51): to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.
Figurative Language:
"I took a pretty good haymaker to an ear, which made my head ring like a church bell." (55) This statement is a similie describing the immense pain Donald experience after being punched by a bouncer at a club.
"He [Donald] said his whole body felt like his foot did when he dropped a cement block on it, which he did a couple of times in his working life." (61-62) This statement is also a similie in which Donald's most severe seizure is being described.
"Floyd was no more than a character in one of those zombie movies I used to watch on television with Herald and Clare." (62) This statement is an example of a metaphor Donald is using to describe the state of his old classmate Floyd.
Quote:
"I kept thinking of a passage Cynthia read me once from a book where there was a Cheyenne Indian character named One Who Sees as a Bird who was an actual person in history. I don't have any faith in what they call reincarnation but if I was to return to earth in the form of another creature it would be nice if it was a bird, a raven to be exact. Once when I was night fishing in the fall with my dad on the Escanaba River down near Arnold he pointed up into the darkness at the big moon to where you could see birds like little pieces of black confetti flying south." (65) I like this passage and that's why I chose it to post on this blog. In the middle of typing it I discovered that it was the quote that represented the title and the picture on the front cover. There is a picture of a raven and the novel is called Returning to Earth. I would guess that Donald would choose to come back to earth as a bird because birds can travel the world and see other places much easier than people can. He often discusses how he regrets never seeing certain places that he is too weak to visit now in the story. Flying is second nature to a bird, so even a slightly injured one can sometimes find the will to fly. I think Donald aspires to have that ability.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be present in this portion of the novel is regret. The reader learns about many things Donald has done in the past that he regrets and also about things he wishes he had done when he was stronger.
-Germinal (50): Being in the earliest stage of development.
-Embezzled (51): to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.
Figurative Language:
"I took a pretty good haymaker to an ear, which made my head ring like a church bell." (55) This statement is a similie describing the immense pain Donald experience after being punched by a bouncer at a club.
"He [Donald] said his whole body felt like his foot did when he dropped a cement block on it, which he did a couple of times in his working life." (61-62) This statement is also a similie in which Donald's most severe seizure is being described.
"Floyd was no more than a character in one of those zombie movies I used to watch on television with Herald and Clare." (62) This statement is an example of a metaphor Donald is using to describe the state of his old classmate Floyd.
Quote:
"I kept thinking of a passage Cynthia read me once from a book where there was a Cheyenne Indian character named One Who Sees as a Bird who was an actual person in history. I don't have any faith in what they call reincarnation but if I was to return to earth in the form of another creature it would be nice if it was a bird, a raven to be exact. Once when I was night fishing in the fall with my dad on the Escanaba River down near Arnold he pointed up into the darkness at the big moon to where you could see birds like little pieces of black confetti flying south." (65) I like this passage and that's why I chose it to post on this blog. In the middle of typing it I discovered that it was the quote that represented the title and the picture on the front cover. There is a picture of a raven and the novel is called Returning to Earth. I would guess that Donald would choose to come back to earth as a bird because birds can travel the world and see other places much easier than people can. He often discusses how he regrets never seeing certain places that he is too weak to visit now in the story. Flying is second nature to a bird, so even a slightly injured one can sometimes find the will to fly. I think Donald aspires to have that ability.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be present in this portion of the novel is regret. The reader learns about many things Donald has done in the past that he regrets and also about things he wishes he had done when he was stronger.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Returning to Earth-Week 1, Post B
The protagonist in this novel is a middle-aged man named Donald who is dying from Lou Gehrig's disease. My first impression of him was that he possessed a rather cynical nature. As I have read on it seems that he is probably just quite realistic and his comments may come off as cynical when he is, in fact, simply relaying a harsh truth. The novel is about Donald's mission to inform his family of their past starting with the endeavors of his great-grandfather, Clarence. He feels that this is necessary because Donald doesn't want to die without his family knowing their history. I think this is wise of him. So far, his family has an interesting history and I believe it will be beneficial to his children to learn about it. Donald is too weak to write this history himself so he is dictating it to his wife Cynthia who often chimes in with her own thoughts which can be identified with brackets. Cynthia offers insight to the reader about the state of Donald at certain moments during his storytelling. This is where the effects of the disease reveal themselves. Reading about his state has been powerful and has filled me with deep empathy for people suffering from this horrible disease. I'm excited to continue this novel and anticipate an interesting storyline.
Returning to Earth-Week 1, Post A
Vocab:
-Venison (28)- The flesh of a deer or similar animal as used for food.
-Portaged (28)-The act of carrying; carriage.
Figurative Language:
"Donald seems asleep with his eyes open." (31) This statement is an example of imagery because it allows the reader to picture the state Donald appears to be in.
"Though he was a professor the man was as regular as a keg of nails." (34) This statement is an example of a similie describing an author Donald met once.
"Despite meeting the author I was lower than a duck's butt for a couple of months." (34) This statement is an example of a metaphor describing the melancholy state Donald found himself in for a substantial period of time.
Quote:
"He [Clarence, Donald's great-grandfather] Lost his heart for a while. I was thinking just now that I understand his feelings because I have lost my body, which has been mine for forty-five years." (26) I found this quote significant because the reader gains insight to Donald's feelings about his body and the changes it's going through. This disease truly does take over your body, forcing you to give up control. I loved his comparison between losing someone you love and losing control of your own body. I agree that they are similar losses.
Theme:
A theme that seems present in the novel so far is the theme of not letting a negative experience completely run every aspect of your life.
-Venison (28)- The flesh of a deer or similar animal as used for food.
-Portaged (28)-The act of carrying; carriage.
Figurative Language:
"Donald seems asleep with his eyes open." (31) This statement is an example of imagery because it allows the reader to picture the state Donald appears to be in.
"Though he was a professor the man was as regular as a keg of nails." (34) This statement is an example of a similie describing an author Donald met once.
"Despite meeting the author I was lower than a duck's butt for a couple of months." (34) This statement is an example of a metaphor describing the melancholy state Donald found himself in for a substantial period of time.
Quote:
"He [Clarence, Donald's great-grandfather] Lost his heart for a while. I was thinking just now that I understand his feelings because I have lost my body, which has been mine for forty-five years." (26) I found this quote significant because the reader gains insight to Donald's feelings about his body and the changes it's going through. This disease truly does take over your body, forcing you to give up control. I loved his comparison between losing someone you love and losing control of your own body. I agree that they are similar losses.
Theme:
A theme that seems present in the novel so far is the theme of not letting a negative experience completely run every aspect of your life.
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