‘Tis by Frank McCourt. A Touchstone Book, 1999 Genre:Memoir
‘Tis is the second of Frank McCourt’s memoirs that he’s written. The first was Angela’s Ashes. The first book was about McCourt’s life as a child growing up in a poor family in Limerick, Ireland. ‘Tis, the story I read, is about him coming to America as a young man and trying to fit in and find something he enjoys. He goes through quite a few jobs before finding one that suited him best: a teacher. Along the way he meets many people that have an effect on his life, one of them being his wife, Ellen Frey.
“A remarkable book, often hilariously funny, occasionally painful, always lively…McCourt…possesses a singular genius that serves him uncommonly well: He can weave the stuff of his life-sad, disappointing, or grand-into glorious stories, as funny as any I know.” Says Jill Laurie Goodman, of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Since this is a memoir, the story is told in first person. McCourt’s story is really not all that funny, but as he writes he uses humor keeping his readers interested. Also at some points in the story he has a very serious tone making it seem quite sad and real.
‘Tis shows readers what life was like for not only an Irish immigrant but immigrants of all nationalities, during the 50’s. It shows the struggles and emotions of McCourt as he tries to find where he belongs in this new society: America.
"I drank my beer and wondered what kind of a country is this where cops keep telling you move on, where people put pigeon shit in your ham sandwich, where a girl who's engaged to a football player walks away from me because I'm not wearing a tie, where a nun will baptize Michael...what's left of him though he suffered in a concentration camp and deserves to be left in his Jewish condition bothering no one, where college students eat and drink to their hearts' content and moan about existentialism and the emptiness of everything, and cops tell you once again, Move on," (207).
I enjoyed reading ‘Tis and I am thinking about reading McCourt’s first memoir Angela’s Ashes. I really liked the way he wrote with such humor on such a serious topic. This book also gave me a better idea for what it was and probably still is like today, for immigrants in America.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
First Quarter ORB Review
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Grand Central Publishing, 2009. Genre: Fiction
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks is about 17 year old Ronnie who is sent from New York, by her mother, to spend the summer in North Carolina with her Father. Ronnie’s parents were divorced when she was younger and she hasn’t talked to her father ever since. She plans on spending her summer avoiding her father and talking to him the least she can. But somehow she finds herself falling for a boy that is not her type and reconnecting with her dad that she hasn’t talked to in four years. This story is about first loves and love between parent and child.
The publisher raves “The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels—first love, love between parents and children — that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.”
The story is told from four different points of view: Ronnie's, Steve's, Marcus', and Will's. Each person's stories comes together to tell the story of what happens to Ronnie that summer. The Last Song reminded me a lot of My Sister’s Keeper. Not that the topics are a little similar, but the way both are written. Picoult is known for her novels being told from different points of view and in Spark’s newest novel, he does the same. I enjoyed this because it is different than Sparks’ other pieces that I have read. Although this novel is similar to his other pieces because of his very descriptive writing, and his subject of love.
“Life, he realized, was much like a song. In the beginning there is a mystery, in the end there is conformation, but it’s in the middle where all emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile” (376)
I became interested in Sparks’ work after seeing the movie The Notebook. I read The Notebook within a few days and decided the novel was much better than the movie. Over the summer I found out that Sparks’ was working on a new book, so I had my dad preorder it for me. It came in the second week of September and I read the whole book within a week. I don’t enjoy reading that much, but there’s something about Sparks’ novels that doesn’t allow me to put them down.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks is about 17 year old Ronnie who is sent from New York, by her mother, to spend the summer in North Carolina with her Father. Ronnie’s parents were divorced when she was younger and she hasn’t talked to her father ever since. She plans on spending her summer avoiding her father and talking to him the least she can. But somehow she finds herself falling for a boy that is not her type and reconnecting with her dad that she hasn’t talked to in four years. This story is about first loves and love between parent and child.
The publisher raves “The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels—first love, love between parents and children — that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.”
The story is told from four different points of view: Ronnie's, Steve's, Marcus', and Will's. Each person's stories comes together to tell the story of what happens to Ronnie that summer. The Last Song reminded me a lot of My Sister’s Keeper. Not that the topics are a little similar, but the way both are written. Picoult is known for her novels being told from different points of view and in Spark’s newest novel, he does the same. I enjoyed this because it is different than Sparks’ other pieces that I have read. Although this novel is similar to his other pieces because of his very descriptive writing, and his subject of love.
“Life, he realized, was much like a song. In the beginning there is a mystery, in the end there is conformation, but it’s in the middle where all emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile” (376)
I became interested in Sparks’ work after seeing the movie The Notebook. I read The Notebook within a few days and decided the novel was much better than the movie. Over the summer I found out that Sparks’ was working on a new book, so I had my dad preorder it for me. It came in the second week of September and I read the whole book within a week. I don’t enjoy reading that much, but there’s something about Sparks’ novels that doesn’t allow me to put them down.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Value Essay
Lean on Me by Bill Withers
In this world of hustle and bustle; do we ever take the time to realize what we value? Not our shiny BMW sitting in the drive way, or our brand new iPod that holds a million songs, not the things that hold financial value. But the time we spend with loved ones, those warm summer days on the beach, the first snow fall of the winter. Aren’t these the things that we should value the most? In this day and age it seems as though it takes a death or a tragedy to make us realize what we truly value. And why is this? Do those material objects really have more value than those priceless moments? Are these really the things that matter most in life?
I run downstairs to retrieve the snowman chip and dip tray for mom. The doorbell rings, a sound that will be constant throughout the next hour or so. I run back up the stairs and to the door to welcome in my grandparents from the cold snowy night. I take their jackets and hang them in the coat closet. For the next hour people arrive, bringing gifts to stick under the glowing evergreen, they also bare crock pots and tins full of delicious food that we will feast on later in the evening.
Everyone has arrived and food is set out on the table, unlike most families we don’t have a giant turkey dinner but everyone brings a dish. There are meatballs in a crock pot, a big pan of ziti, a pan of kabushka, a large bowl of salad prepared by me and my mother, and a tray of chicken wings. Everyone grabs one of the holiday themed paper plates my mother has bought from the store. I wait in line until it is my turn to help myself to the delicious food. I take my plate, after I’ve served myself, and head into the family room to eat with my cousins and dad.
When finished eating I take my plate and my younger cousin’s plate into the kitchen. At this point my mom is already beginning to clean up. I offer to help with the dishes, only being nice, and of course she accepts my offer. I spend the next 20 minutes scraping the unfinished food off of people’s plates into the garbage disposal. As gross as this task is, I enjoy it because all the girls are in the kitchen talking and catching up, while the guys and the kids began gathering around the Christmas tree.
After my last plate is scraped I make way into the living room, where everyone is sitting around the tree waiting for their gift, the adults just as eager as the little ones, including myself. The next few hours are spent receiving and giving gifts, and enjoying one another’s time. I watch as each person opens their gift, looking for the fake-I really hate this gift-smile, or the genuine-thank you so much-smile.
Click! I pull the seatbelt over my chest and buckle in for the 40 minute drive to Greenfield. I take the bluish green iPod out of my soccer bag and put the white ear buds in my ear. I shuffle through my songs and find an upbeat song to get pumped up for the game. The notes flow through the wires into my ears, raising my adrenalin before the big game. I raise the volume until my mother yells at me to turn in down. I look out the window; it’s a cool, fall, Sunday afternoon. The foliage covers the valley with different shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, what a beautiful site. As my mind begins to wander off, my tunes bring me back to the thoughts of the big game. I began searching through my songs to find a new song to keep me in the zone, as we arrive at our destination.
This wonderful electronic that I am so lucky to possess is a 3rd generation, mint green, 8GB iPod. It can hold about 2,000 songs, 7,000 pictures, or 8 hours of video. My iPod is almost always with me. There’s nothing better than those soothing tunes when I’m upset or those happy jams when I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
Both spending Christmas Eve with family and my iPod mean a lot to me but I value both for different reasons. I value Christmas Eve because it’s the one time in the whole year where my entire family is all together. I love seeing how much my little cousins grow over the year, and how different (or similar) everyone looks. I love Christmas morning and getting all my presents from Santa, but I truly get more excited for the night before, when I get to spend time with my loved ones. I value my iPod because it does have financial value costing around $180. I also value my iPod because it no matter what mood I’m in I can always find a good song to match how I feel, which is important when I’m really upset or stressing out.
To compare these two totally different things might sound crazy to some people, but there is actually one thing that they both have in common: they are both always there for me. This Monday my 38 year old cousin passed. It was unexpected and it’s been very hard for everyone in my family, including myself. However, we are making it through this tough time because of each other. When one of us needs a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen we’ve been there to console and comfort. My iPod has also helped me get through this rough time because when I need to get it off my mind, or when I need some cheering up I can just turn it on and every care in the world seems to melt away. Without my family and my iPod, I don’t know how I’d make it through these tough times.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A New Friend
How I Live Now, Daisy
Briar Rose, Becca
The airport from How I Live Now
It was a hot July afternoon; Daisy sat watching planes take off and land, waiting for her plane to arrive. As she was watching the planes her mind was drifting off, back to when she was in England, but before the war took place. Back when she and Edmond had their secret love affair; back when everything seemed so right.
“Is this seat taken?” asked a petite young woman with bright red hair, carrying a large wooden box with a briar rose carved into it.
Somewhat startled, Daisy came back to real life and said, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Already sitting in the chair beside her she laughed and repeated herself, “Is this seat taken?” Daisy grinned and introduced herself, “I’m Daisy, and who are you?”
“I’m Becca, it’s nice to meet you,” she replied.
Becca had taken some documents out of the wooden box; Daisy broke the silence and said, “Where will you be heading today?”
Without looking up from her papers, Becca answered, “Poland…” she raised her head after a moment, “for business, I’m a reporter for a local paper.”
“Oh, what are you researching?” questioned Daisy. Before Becca could answer, an announcement was made that there would be no planes landing for the next three hours because of a big storm.
Becca answered, “Well I was going to say ‘it’s a long story’ but it looks like we have some time to spare.”
Before she started her story, Daisy and her new friend decided to go find somewhere in the airport that had coffee. They walked around for a good 15 minutes before finally coming to a Dunkin Donuts; they both ordered and had a seat at one of the small, round tables.
“So care to share this ‘long’ story?” Daisy asked.
“Sure,” Becca responded. “My grandmother recently passed away…”
“I’m so sorry!” Daisy interrupted.
“Thanks; but anyways, no one ever really knew anything about my Gemma’s past. Before she passed she told me to figure her history out. And all she’s left me with is her tale of Briar Rose and this box of pictures and papers. This is what is bringing me to Poland.”
“Oh, and you’re going to be writing an article on what you find out?” Daisy asked.
“Correct!” said Becca.
“Well, that wasn’t a long story at all!” Daisy laughed.
“That was the much shorter version,” she explained.
The women made small talk after that and finished their coffees, then walked back to their seats in the terminal.
On the way, Becca asked, “Well now that you know where I’m going and why; where are you going and why?”
“England, just to visit some old friends…” Daisy told her.
“Oh, well I hope you have fun!” Becca said.
“Yea, I can’t wait to see him…” she slipped.
“A him?” Becca caught on.
“Just a friend.” Daisy lied.
They returned to their seats and Becca showed Daisy the pictures and all the papers she had from Gemma. Daisy was giving Becca her thoughts on the pictures when another announcement was made, ‘The 3:30 flight to Poland has arrived, please board as soon as possible.’ Becca smiled and said
“That’s me!” she got her things together and quickly exchanged email addresses with Daisy and then headed off to catch her flight.
A couple months later, after Daisy returned from England, she received an email from an unknown address, she opened it and it was an article…Becca’s article. She found a lot of things out about her grandmother, and she seemed quite pleased with her findings. Daisy was very glad that Becca emailed her the article. She replied to it immediately, and they talk all the time. They have been very good friends since then.
Briar Rose, Becca
The airport from How I Live Now
It was a hot July afternoon; Daisy sat watching planes take off and land, waiting for her plane to arrive. As she was watching the planes her mind was drifting off, back to when she was in England, but before the war took place. Back when she and Edmond had their secret love affair; back when everything seemed so right.
“Is this seat taken?” asked a petite young woman with bright red hair, carrying a large wooden box with a briar rose carved into it.
Somewhat startled, Daisy came back to real life and said, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Already sitting in the chair beside her she laughed and repeated herself, “Is this seat taken?” Daisy grinned and introduced herself, “I’m Daisy, and who are you?”
“I’m Becca, it’s nice to meet you,” she replied.
Becca had taken some documents out of the wooden box; Daisy broke the silence and said, “Where will you be heading today?”
Without looking up from her papers, Becca answered, “Poland…” she raised her head after a moment, “for business, I’m a reporter for a local paper.”
“Oh, what are you researching?” questioned Daisy. Before Becca could answer, an announcement was made that there would be no planes landing for the next three hours because of a big storm.
Becca answered, “Well I was going to say ‘it’s a long story’ but it looks like we have some time to spare.”
Before she started her story, Daisy and her new friend decided to go find somewhere in the airport that had coffee. They walked around for a good 15 minutes before finally coming to a Dunkin Donuts; they both ordered and had a seat at one of the small, round tables.
“So care to share this ‘long’ story?” Daisy asked.
“Sure,” Becca responded. “My grandmother recently passed away…”
“I’m so sorry!” Daisy interrupted.
“Thanks; but anyways, no one ever really knew anything about my Gemma’s past. Before she passed she told me to figure her history out. And all she’s left me with is her tale of Briar Rose and this box of pictures and papers. This is what is bringing me to Poland.”
“Oh, and you’re going to be writing an article on what you find out?” Daisy asked.
“Correct!” said Becca.
“Well, that wasn’t a long story at all!” Daisy laughed.
“That was the much shorter version,” she explained.
The women made small talk after that and finished their coffees, then walked back to their seats in the terminal.
On the way, Becca asked, “Well now that you know where I’m going and why; where are you going and why?”
“England, just to visit some old friends…” Daisy told her.
“Oh, well I hope you have fun!” Becca said.
“Yea, I can’t wait to see him…” she slipped.
“A him?” Becca caught on.
“Just a friend.” Daisy lied.
They returned to their seats and Becca showed Daisy the pictures and all the papers she had from Gemma. Daisy was giving Becca her thoughts on the pictures when another announcement was made, ‘The 3:30 flight to Poland has arrived, please board as soon as possible.’ Becca smiled and said
“That’s me!” she got her things together and quickly exchanged email addresses with Daisy and then headed off to catch her flight.
A couple months later, after Daisy returned from England, she received an email from an unknown address, she opened it and it was an article…Becca’s article. She found a lot of things out about her grandmother, and she seemed quite pleased with her findings. Daisy was very glad that Becca emailed her the article. She replied to it immediately, and they talk all the time. They have been very good friends since then.
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