Thank goodness for this book. I am loving it. The connection between the mother and James. The heartbreaking yet can't stop reading stories and trials. I can't get enough of it. I love all of it.
One thing becoming more and more evident is the mother and son's stories are very much different. We continue to see his story as the book goes on and learn more and more about his present life while we also see how the mother lived in her past. She grew up well, he isn't.
We also see the religious side of the family as a whole. In chapter six, the first sentence reads "Mommy loved God." Continiuing to read, we find that religion was quite important in their house hold. They learn the stories and tell them to family members. They go to church. And we see that the mother is always reminding them to go to church. I find that very important in a household.
As the book goes on we learn more and more about the family and venture to see how they live differently than the others in their environment. As the book goes on, I look forward to learning and reading about new things with the family. It seems that although my lifestyle is none like theirs', I still find myself connecting with the characters and getting into the book. I think that makes me enjoy the book even more than I already do.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Color of Water 1
When I got the book, I was hoping it would be better than On Writing. I was pleased. This book being a black man's tribute to his white mother had me thinking I might not get that into it. But I was wrong. I find myself wanting to read more and more. Although many stories are sad, they're also moving and inspirational. As we read about how much this son loved and looked up to his mother, we might learn a little ourselves on how we should be more grateful for the lives that we have.
The connection between the man and his mother is like no other. We read about many moments and memories they spent together, but mostly hard times and discrimination. Being in the time of the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination and hatred was at its worst.
Some moments you love to read about. For instance, he explains how everyday, as a child, he would get off the bus and his mom would be waiting for him everytime. She would walk him back home and share their day's events and have mother son time. He mentions how with having 12 children in the house, it's hard to have one on one time with mom, especially since she's a single mom who works all the time. We dive into how these instances make their reltionship closer than that of the other children in the family. We also see how he would stay up at night to wait for her and have deep conversations that consisted of his repeated "Where?" or "Why?". The mother would always be happy to answer but never fail to ask "Why so many questions?"
Yes, many moments were sweet and treasured, but those of harshness and troubles outweighed those of kindness. We learn from him that being a black child with a white mother definitely meant he was unlike all other children. He talks about how she walks around, although she is the only white woman of many, many blacks. He states that he is worried about her safety and that she doesn't think too much about it. The fact that he cares this much about his mother gives me an idea on how their relationship affects him. He loves her and thinks she is some kind of woman to live in an all black community and deal with being called a "nigger lover" or "look at that white b****". He had a great respect and love for his mother and it is obvious through his experiences and memories.
The connection between the man and his mother is like no other. We read about many moments and memories they spent together, but mostly hard times and discrimination. Being in the time of the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination and hatred was at its worst.
Some moments you love to read about. For instance, he explains how everyday, as a child, he would get off the bus and his mom would be waiting for him everytime. She would walk him back home and share their day's events and have mother son time. He mentions how with having 12 children in the house, it's hard to have one on one time with mom, especially since she's a single mom who works all the time. We dive into how these instances make their reltionship closer than that of the other children in the family. We also see how he would stay up at night to wait for her and have deep conversations that consisted of his repeated "Where?" or "Why?". The mother would always be happy to answer but never fail to ask "Why so many questions?"
Yes, many moments were sweet and treasured, but those of harshness and troubles outweighed those of kindness. We learn from him that being a black child with a white mother definitely meant he was unlike all other children. He talks about how she walks around, although she is the only white woman of many, many blacks. He states that he is worried about her safety and that she doesn't think too much about it. The fact that he cares this much about his mother gives me an idea on how their relationship affects him. He loves her and thinks she is some kind of woman to live in an all black community and deal with being called a "nigger lover" or "look at that white b****". He had a great respect and love for his mother and it is obvious through his experiences and memories.
Monday, February 7, 2011
On Writing: Final Blog
Well, the reading is done. On Writing is complete. Stephen King has made a final impact on me. He has taught me about not only writing, but the art of it and his reasons behind his carreer. From his stories as youth to his critical opinions as an adult, King succeeds in taking us on a literature journey.
By begginning the book with his stories and past memories, Stephen King got me hooked on reading it. I loved reading about how he got started writing and his school times. I think the reason I favored this part of the book is in some way or another, I related to him. I felt that where he came from and how he was writing was quite understandable. He tells a story about how he got rejected many times as a youth AND an adult. I think including your failures along with your successes is important for any writer to do.
He had a certain spazz to his stories and I think that spazz was his humor. Sad or forgetful, King always made me laugh. Apart from his crued language, his simple jokes and sayings put a little of his personality on each individual story. He used a lot of parallelism in his writing as well: "Miss Hisler asking why I wanted to waste my talent, why I wanted to waste my time, why I wanted to write junk." Although this isn't funny, it still adds to the meaning of the sentence.
So enough about the first half of the book, what about the second half? Well I wish the first half would have kept going. I don't know why, I just found the second half of the book unenjoyable. He talked about the actual parts and ways of writing. Sure he still had some humor and funny moments but not enough to get into. I do like how he put his opinion on the use of some literary devices, though. I think that adds to the fact that he knows what he is talking about. (but of course i didnt agree with him on a lot of things).
We learn from King that writing is not just a physical act of writing words that come to your mind that happen to make up a story. Yet, we learn that writing is an art, a lifestyle, a means of expressing your thoughts and opinions in YOUR own way. We learn that, like King, writing has a personal side to it. All writers have certain reasons for their writing. There are tons of reasons writers choose this as a carreer for the rest of their lives. For King, it's to do what he loves best. I found that King was like no other writer. He had some high and low points but all in all, I'm glad I read the book. I think King hopes to make an impact on people so that we will remember his uniqueness and use of words and phrases. He uses many metaphors, comparisons, and imagery to help us connect to his purpose. I know they helped me. I don't think I will become a writer but I do know that I have a greater respect for the art, itself. As said in the title, we must always remember that writing isn't just an action, but a craft.
By begginning the book with his stories and past memories, Stephen King got me hooked on reading it. I loved reading about how he got started writing and his school times. I think the reason I favored this part of the book is in some way or another, I related to him. I felt that where he came from and how he was writing was quite understandable. He tells a story about how he got rejected many times as a youth AND an adult. I think including your failures along with your successes is important for any writer to do.
He had a certain spazz to his stories and I think that spazz was his humor. Sad or forgetful, King always made me laugh. Apart from his crued language, his simple jokes and sayings put a little of his personality on each individual story. He used a lot of parallelism in his writing as well: "Miss Hisler asking why I wanted to waste my talent, why I wanted to waste my time, why I wanted to write junk." Although this isn't funny, it still adds to the meaning of the sentence.
So enough about the first half of the book, what about the second half? Well I wish the first half would have kept going. I don't know why, I just found the second half of the book unenjoyable. He talked about the actual parts and ways of writing. Sure he still had some humor and funny moments but not enough to get into. I do like how he put his opinion on the use of some literary devices, though. I think that adds to the fact that he knows what he is talking about. (but of course i didnt agree with him on a lot of things).
We learn from King that writing is not just a physical act of writing words that come to your mind that happen to make up a story. Yet, we learn that writing is an art, a lifestyle, a means of expressing your thoughts and opinions in YOUR own way. We learn that, like King, writing has a personal side to it. All writers have certain reasons for their writing. There are tons of reasons writers choose this as a carreer for the rest of their lives. For King, it's to do what he loves best. I found that King was like no other writer. He had some high and low points but all in all, I'm glad I read the book. I think King hopes to make an impact on people so that we will remember his uniqueness and use of words and phrases. He uses many metaphors, comparisons, and imagery to help us connect to his purpose. I know they helped me. I don't think I will become a writer but I do know that I have a greater respect for the art, itself. As said in the title, we must always remember that writing isn't just an action, but a craft.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
On Writing 3
Finally, it's done. After reading the words of the last page, it hit me that I don't have to read this book anymore. Don't get me wrong, the book was interesting.....at first. Then I kind of got bored. The last half is about writing styles and tools that he agrees or disagrees with. Many I was with him, many I was not. For instance, he writes about symbolism and why one should use it. I agree with him in that if a writer chooses to use it, he or she must know how to use it and the point they are trying to make. So know what you're talking about.
I'm guessing the reason why I wasn't too fond of the ending is I just got bored. Many of the things he said was a repetition but some of it was interesting, I must say. He talked about how maybe the reason many people don't like to read and or write is they don't find the joy in it. He talks about how you must find that connection, that bridge between the author and yourself. The human minds connect although there are different opinions and outlooks. He mentions that if you are writing a book that you must give it time to marinate. After completeing it, don't touch, look at, or even be around it or you will be tempted to review and possibly change things that don't need changing. But I don't think it takes 6 weeks, as he said, for it to go unlooked at. At least 4 but you should get an amount suitable for you. It is YOUR book!
So basically, I'm glad I read it. I learned a lot not only about the aret of writing but about Stephen King, himself. His humor, honesty, bluntness, and more. I find that if you read and learn something about somethings that was not the point of the book, it makes your read unique. And this, my firend, was some type of unique.
I'm guessing the reason why I wasn't too fond of the ending is I just got bored. Many of the things he said was a repetition but some of it was interesting, I must say. He talked about how maybe the reason many people don't like to read and or write is they don't find the joy in it. He talks about how you must find that connection, that bridge between the author and yourself. The human minds connect although there are different opinions and outlooks. He mentions that if you are writing a book that you must give it time to marinate. After completeing it, don't touch, look at, or even be around it or you will be tempted to review and possibly change things that don't need changing. But I don't think it takes 6 weeks, as he said, for it to go unlooked at. At least 4 but you should get an amount suitable for you. It is YOUR book!
So basically, I'm glad I read it. I learned a lot not only about the aret of writing but about Stephen King, himself. His humor, honesty, bluntness, and more. I find that if you read and learn something about somethings that was not the point of the book, it makes your read unique. And this, my firend, was some type of unique.
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