I am currently reading the book, If I Stay, by Gayle Forman. I'm getting to the end (right now on page 200), and I have a prediction to share. I think that Mia will choose to stay.
Mia is a high school girl whose life was dramatically changed when she and her family got in a deadly car crash. Everyone in her family (parents and brother) ended up dead... except for her. Mia is in critical condition, but she can still live. Now she has to face a life altering decision-- will she choose to stay in this world with no family, or die like her family did? My prediction, like said above, is that her decision will be to stay.
The reason I have this prediction is because even though Mia lost her immediate family, she still has great people and great things out for her if she chooses to stay. For one, she has loving grandparents. Mia always brings up flashbacks about fun memories with her grandparents, and they have been in the hospital many times, supporting Mia since the crash. Also, she has her boyfriend, Adam. Mia and her boyfriend have a very good relationship, as shown on page 199. Mia narrates, "Even as I was falling in love--full throttle, intense, can't-erase-that-goofy-smile love-- I didn't really register what was happening. When I was with Adam... It just felt normal and right..." As you can see from this quote, choosing to die would mean missing out on this great relationship for Mia. Lastly, something that this world has for Mia that would cause her to want to stay is Mia's amazing cello playing. She has so much potential. Mia said on page 200, "... I just had this sudden flash-- a vision of me lugging a cello through New York City. And it was like I knew..." Leaving this world would demolish her opportunities for the future. And considering Mia's skill, there are many great opportunities. For these reasons, and more, I believe Mia will choose to stay.
Loosing the people you are closest with would be so hard and devastating. I can't imagine. This could be why Mia is so torn of what she should do-- she lost the people she has the closest relationship with, but still has many opportunities and relationships on this earth that would go away if she chooses to die. I'm hoping and predicting that she will stay, but I will have to finish the book to find out.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
"Coming Clean" by Kimberly Rae Miller Text-To-Society Connection
For the past couple of weeks, I have been reading the memoir, Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller. This memoir discusses a topic that is actually very serious: hoarding. The book is about a female named Kim and her life growing up with a father (and later on mother) who struggle with hoarding, and how Kim deals with finding peace in the situation later on in her life. In case if you are not aware, hoarding can be described as a mental illness that causes a person to keep many things (papers, boxes, and other items). This may not seem like a huge deal, but it really is-- the book mentions that Kim (main character) was living in filth. That is not healthy in many ways to grow up living with trash surrounding you. If you would like to know more on the subject of hoarding, the following link is a great place to reference for more information: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp1313051
A possible central idea/ realization I have had from this memoir is that the base of many struggles and hardships is the wanting of normality. In this case, Kim's main struggle was that her parents are hoarders. This causes her to not be able to have anyone over (friends, maintenance, etc.-- this is a huge problem in itself!) and other issues, like bad sanitation, relationship struggles, and more. Kim mentions many times throughout the book that she just wanted to be normal. Normal meaning that her house would be clean like everyone else's, eliminating all of the other problems that arose because of living in trash. For example, page 108 talks about how much Kim liked her first year of college, because she wasn't dealing with her struggles (well, actually living in her struggles) and therefore felt normal. It states, "For the first time in my life, I felt normal. My freshman year was like a movie montage. I'd never been so happy." This supports the fact that the root of Kim's problem was wanting normality.
This central idea can also be connected to others and their problems with hoarding. In the video from this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj2Jag8lPB0, a woman named Jan struggles with hoarding. Her home is so overflowed with filth that she has to get ready for the day in a health club, and hasn't used her kitchen in 4-6 years. Jan says, "I am not living anywhere near what would be considered, quote, normal". This relates to my realization that the bases of many problems is the wanting of normality, because Jan's problem is, as she said, is not "what would be considered, quote, normal". If she lived in a normal house and didn't have an obsession to keep so much stuff (a normal person wouldn't have this obsession), then her struggle would disappear.
This central idea can also be connected to other people's struggles that don't involve hoarding. For example, a young girl named Ashlyn has a rare disease which causes her to not feel pain. This may seem good, since most people don't want to feel pain, however it is the opposite. Since she can't feel pain, it makes her extremely vulnerable to disease and injuries-- she doesn't feel the "warning signs" that can help prevent a disease if felt. Ashlyn and her family created a camp for families with kids who have the same disease as her. Her parent's were emotional when talking about how amazing the camp was, being surrounded by people whose normal lives are just like theirs. Ashlyn's mom said, "...to actually be in a room in presence of someone who knows what we've been through-- I mean, know your daily life, your daily struggles, and know you're not alone anymore. I mean, it was just amazing." This shows that the bases of Ashyln's problem is that she wants to have normal health and be normal (by not having this disease), because of how great of a time they had being around people who understand, and knowing that they weren't alone. Their normal was someone else's normal, which made them happy and gave them comfort. Therefore, the central idea that the bases of many people's struggles is the wanting of normality can also apply to Ashlyn and her situation. The interview of Ashyln and her parents is in the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6iOUW523BE.
As you can see, the realization I had that the root of many problems is the wanting of normality is true for many people's situations, like Kim's, Jan's, and Ashlyn's (explained above).
A possible central idea/ realization I have had from this memoir is that the base of many struggles and hardships is the wanting of normality. In this case, Kim's main struggle was that her parents are hoarders. This causes her to not be able to have anyone over (friends, maintenance, etc.-- this is a huge problem in itself!) and other issues, like bad sanitation, relationship struggles, and more. Kim mentions many times throughout the book that she just wanted to be normal. Normal meaning that her house would be clean like everyone else's, eliminating all of the other problems that arose because of living in trash. For example, page 108 talks about how much Kim liked her first year of college, because she wasn't dealing with her struggles (well, actually living in her struggles) and therefore felt normal. It states, "For the first time in my life, I felt normal. My freshman year was like a movie montage. I'd never been so happy." This supports the fact that the root of Kim's problem was wanting normality.
This central idea can also be connected to others and their problems with hoarding. In the video from this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj2Jag8lPB0, a woman named Jan struggles with hoarding. Her home is so overflowed with filth that she has to get ready for the day in a health club, and hasn't used her kitchen in 4-6 years. Jan says, "I am not living anywhere near what would be considered, quote, normal". This relates to my realization that the bases of many problems is the wanting of normality, because Jan's problem is, as she said, is not "what would be considered, quote, normal". If she lived in a normal house and didn't have an obsession to keep so much stuff (a normal person wouldn't have this obsession), then her struggle would disappear.
This central idea can also be connected to other people's struggles that don't involve hoarding. For example, a young girl named Ashlyn has a rare disease which causes her to not feel pain. This may seem good, since most people don't want to feel pain, however it is the opposite. Since she can't feel pain, it makes her extremely vulnerable to disease and injuries-- she doesn't feel the "warning signs" that can help prevent a disease if felt. Ashlyn and her family created a camp for families with kids who have the same disease as her. Her parent's were emotional when talking about how amazing the camp was, being surrounded by people whose normal lives are just like theirs. Ashlyn's mom said, "...to actually be in a room in presence of someone who knows what we've been through-- I mean, know your daily life, your daily struggles, and know you're not alone anymore. I mean, it was just amazing." This shows that the bases of Ashyln's problem is that she wants to have normal health and be normal (by not having this disease), because of how great of a time they had being around people who understand, and knowing that they weren't alone. Their normal was someone else's normal, which made them happy and gave them comfort. Therefore, the central idea that the bases of many people's struggles is the wanting of normality can also apply to Ashlyn and her situation. The interview of Ashyln and her parents is in the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6iOUW523BE.
As you can see, the realization I had that the root of many problems is the wanting of normality is true for many people's situations, like Kim's, Jan's, and Ashlyn's (explained above).
Sunday, October 19, 2014
First Impression/ Thoughts so Far for the book The Color of Water by James McBride
When I first started reading this book, my initial reaction was that it would just be another boring memoir. However, now I know that is not the case. The book, The Color of Water by James McBride is a memoir about a black man's experience living with a white mother during the time of racial segregation, and it's full of interesting and important stories. I am currently on chapter 17 of this book, and I am already greatly impacted by this memoir.
One way that I am impacted is through the white mother's point of view. She often talks about her life at home as a child, and how her father is just a plain mean man who can be abusive. I've heard of child abuse and not getting along with parents before, but I never really thought deeply about how sad it is and how the child is really affected by it, from childhood to the rest of their life. By reading the mother's account of her being treated like this, it has struck me how bad this issue is. For example, page 62 talks about her father and how he treats her and her siblings. It says, "Sometimes the scolding made you feel worse than the hitting. 'You're stupid. You're nothing but a fool. A sinner. You're unredeemed before God,' he'd say." I can't imagine hearing someone tell me this, and also rather have physical abuse from someone versus verbal and emotional abuse (in this situation). My self esteem and confidence level would be in the negatives, and it is awful for a child to grow up feeling that. There is no love, and love is what one needs. See, before reading about this woman's experience with abuse as a child, I would never had thought this deeply about it. Now that I have read about it, it has impacted me and my thinking as well as emotions towards the subject.
Another way that I am impacted is through the black son's point of view in this memoir. I am obviously impacted in the way that I now know more about the awful secrets of not being white during the time of racial segregation. I've only heard about what it was like from sources like textbooks, not by actually hearing it from someone who lived during that time period who was an African American. Since I heard it from a black man's point of view who lived then, I am even more appalled by what they had to go through. However, I am also impacted from this man's writings in the memoir about his step-dad's death. I have never had someone in my immediate family (mom, dad, siblings) pass away, so I wouldn't know the pain and ways to deal with it. Reading about how James (the black man who wrote about it) felt and dealt with the situation gives me so much sympathy and sadness towards people who have lost an immediate family member they were very close to. I can't imagine what I would do, but reading about what James did impacts me greatly because I am seeing, in great detail, how this situation affects someone. Page 138-139 says, "...I spent as much time away from home as possible. I quit church... I was the first kid on my block to smoke cigarettes and reefer. I joined a soul band... We played Kool and Gang songs for hours, smoking weed, drinking Old English 800 malt liquor..." This quote really helps me understand how easy it is to go from having a nice life to an awful life. It saddens me when I hear more about how James twisted his life in a bad way because of his step-dad's death. I have only heard about depression and emotional pain from a death, not as much of what James did to deal with the situation. Both are super bad, but since my eyes were opened up to other ways people deal with struggles, I am greatly impacted in knowing this.
As you can see, this memoir is full of importance. I recommend reading it. I haven't even finished it yet, and I am already impacted by it, as shown above.
One way that I am impacted is through the white mother's point of view. She often talks about her life at home as a child, and how her father is just a plain mean man who can be abusive. I've heard of child abuse and not getting along with parents before, but I never really thought deeply about how sad it is and how the child is really affected by it, from childhood to the rest of their life. By reading the mother's account of her being treated like this, it has struck me how bad this issue is. For example, page 62 talks about her father and how he treats her and her siblings. It says, "Sometimes the scolding made you feel worse than the hitting. 'You're stupid. You're nothing but a fool. A sinner. You're unredeemed before God,' he'd say." I can't imagine hearing someone tell me this, and also rather have physical abuse from someone versus verbal and emotional abuse (in this situation). My self esteem and confidence level would be in the negatives, and it is awful for a child to grow up feeling that. There is no love, and love is what one needs. See, before reading about this woman's experience with abuse as a child, I would never had thought this deeply about it. Now that I have read about it, it has impacted me and my thinking as well as emotions towards the subject.
Another way that I am impacted is through the black son's point of view in this memoir. I am obviously impacted in the way that I now know more about the awful secrets of not being white during the time of racial segregation. I've only heard about what it was like from sources like textbooks, not by actually hearing it from someone who lived during that time period who was an African American. Since I heard it from a black man's point of view who lived then, I am even more appalled by what they had to go through. However, I am also impacted from this man's writings in the memoir about his step-dad's death. I have never had someone in my immediate family (mom, dad, siblings) pass away, so I wouldn't know the pain and ways to deal with it. Reading about how James (the black man who wrote about it) felt and dealt with the situation gives me so much sympathy and sadness towards people who have lost an immediate family member they were very close to. I can't imagine what I would do, but reading about what James did impacts me greatly because I am seeing, in great detail, how this situation affects someone. Page 138-139 says, "...I spent as much time away from home as possible. I quit church... I was the first kid on my block to smoke cigarettes and reefer. I joined a soul band... We played Kool and Gang songs for hours, smoking weed, drinking Old English 800 malt liquor..." This quote really helps me understand how easy it is to go from having a nice life to an awful life. It saddens me when I hear more about how James twisted his life in a bad way because of his step-dad's death. I have only heard about depression and emotional pain from a death, not as much of what James did to deal with the situation. Both are super bad, but since my eyes were opened up to other ways people deal with struggles, I am greatly impacted in knowing this.
As you can see, this memoir is full of importance. I recommend reading it. I haven't even finished it yet, and I am already impacted by it, as shown above.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
"If I Stay" Possible Theme Statement (up to page 150)
As you may know, I am currently reading the book If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Right now I am at page 150, and am already starting to see some possible theme statements coming up. The most supported possible theme statement (so far in this book) is: tragedy may make one's relationship with those around them closer and stronger. This theme statement is supported by a couple of examples from the text.
First, the relationship between Adam (Mia's boyfriend) and Kim (Mia's best friend) has gotten so much closer because of the tragedy that Mia and her whole family has been in a car accident, causing Mia to be in a coma, her brother in critical condition, and her parents dead. Page 116 says, "The funny thing was, I never really bought into Kim's notion that they were somehow bound together through me-- until just now when I saw her half carrying him down the hospital corridor." This line is what Mia is narrating while she is in a coma. What I take from this quote is that Adam and Kim were always mutual-- they only associated with each other because Mia was there, a connection between the two of them. Now that Mia is in a coma from a life- threatening accident, the two people Mia is closest to (other than family) need each other (because of Mia), as Mia states, "...half carrying him down the hospital corridor." So, Mia is still their connection, but their relationship has still gotten closer. Later in the book, Adam and Kim's relationship continues to become stronger because of this accident. For example, they both work together to find a way to get into the ICU to see Mia. Just things like this make their relationship stronger, and it's all because of a tragedy.
Also, Willow (who is a family friend of Mia's family) and Adam's relationship becomes closer because of what happened to Mia. Page 150 states, "Adam swivels around and hugs Willow with such force that her feet lift up off the ground. Willow to the rescue." Two people who don't know each other too well-- Adam and Willow-- are bound together by this tragedy that has happened. They try to help each other out. This also supports the theme statement that tragedy may make one's relationship with those around them closer and stronger, because Adam and Willow immediately embrace because of this accident.
The theme statement, tragedy may make one's relationship with those around them closer and stronger, is very well supported by the text. There may be more theme statements that come up throughout the rest of the book.
First, the relationship between Adam (Mia's boyfriend) and Kim (Mia's best friend) has gotten so much closer because of the tragedy that Mia and her whole family has been in a car accident, causing Mia to be in a coma, her brother in critical condition, and her parents dead. Page 116 says, "The funny thing was, I never really bought into Kim's notion that they were somehow bound together through me-- until just now when I saw her half carrying him down the hospital corridor." This line is what Mia is narrating while she is in a coma. What I take from this quote is that Adam and Kim were always mutual-- they only associated with each other because Mia was there, a connection between the two of them. Now that Mia is in a coma from a life- threatening accident, the two people Mia is closest to (other than family) need each other (because of Mia), as Mia states, "...half carrying him down the hospital corridor." So, Mia is still their connection, but their relationship has still gotten closer. Later in the book, Adam and Kim's relationship continues to become stronger because of this accident. For example, they both work together to find a way to get into the ICU to see Mia. Just things like this make their relationship stronger, and it's all because of a tragedy.
Also, Willow (who is a family friend of Mia's family) and Adam's relationship becomes closer because of what happened to Mia. Page 150 states, "Adam swivels around and hugs Willow with such force that her feet lift up off the ground. Willow to the rescue." Two people who don't know each other too well-- Adam and Willow-- are bound together by this tragedy that has happened. They try to help each other out. This also supports the theme statement that tragedy may make one's relationship with those around them closer and stronger, because Adam and Willow immediately embrace because of this accident.
The theme statement, tragedy may make one's relationship with those around them closer and stronger, is very well supported by the text. There may be more theme statements that come up throughout the rest of the book.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
If I Stay by Gayle Forman Important Line That Describes Conflict
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, is a fiction novel about a girl-- Mia-- who gets in a tragic car accident and looses her family because of it. Currently in the novel she is in a coma, however, she can still think and see as if she were awake and normal. So far, the most important line in this novel is when Mia realizes that it's up to her whether she lives or dies. She is thinking, "I decide. I know this now. And it terrifies me more than anything else that has happened today" (Forman 88). This line perfectly displays the main conflict in the story, which is person vs. self. Mia has to decide if she wants to wake up from her coma and live or just give up and die.
As the reader, I never completely contemplated how Mia was feeling about everything that had happened. I don't think she quite knew either. Think about it... just a normal day for one second, and then the next second your parents have died, your brother is dying, and you don't even know exactly how you are. There was confusion that Mia was having right after the text. She thought at first it was a dream, it just didn't seem real to her. That's why I wasn't exactly sure how she was feeling about the whole scene. Did she really know what was going on as well as the outcome of it?
Therefore, when the line on page 88 was said, I knew, and Mia knew, exactly what was happening. It really clicked with her what was going on and what she had to do about it... decide. This is the scary truth of what Mia has to do-- decide if she will end her life or not. In conclusion, when Mia realizes that she has to decide whether she will live or die, it is an extremely important part of the text. It is the point where Mia understands everything that has happened and the possible outcomes of it. Also, it shows the conflict (person vs self). Lastly, it gives a preview of what will happen in the rest of the story (Mia will decide).
As the reader, I never completely contemplated how Mia was feeling about everything that had happened. I don't think she quite knew either. Think about it... just a normal day for one second, and then the next second your parents have died, your brother is dying, and you don't even know exactly how you are. There was confusion that Mia was having right after the text. She thought at first it was a dream, it just didn't seem real to her. That's why I wasn't exactly sure how she was feeling about the whole scene. Did she really know what was going on as well as the outcome of it?
Therefore, when the line on page 88 was said, I knew, and Mia knew, exactly what was happening. It really clicked with her what was going on and what she had to do about it... decide. This is the scary truth of what Mia has to do-- decide if she will end her life or not. In conclusion, when Mia realizes that she has to decide whether she will live or die, it is an extremely important part of the text. It is the point where Mia understands everything that has happened and the possible outcomes of it. Also, it shows the conflict (person vs self). Lastly, it gives a preview of what will happen in the rest of the story (Mia will decide).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)