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RMST 202 Conclusion

I can’t believe this is the very last post for this class. I have learned so much through this class and it has opened a new type of genre of books for me. I really enjoyed this class since it almost seemed like taking a break for myself to just sit and read and engage with the novel. I really enjoyed the system of this class I really liked the flexibility of it. In my first post, I thought the contract grading was a bit overwhelming. Looking back over the semester, having the consistency of weekly posts and one discussion was nice to manage. I think the most overwhelming part was signing the contract to commit to my goal for this class. I really enjoyed going when the class switched to in-person discussions it was interesting to hear everyone’s perspective. On zoom it was good too, but in-person made the conversation feel like it flowed better and after a year of zoom it was nice to have in-person discussions.

I think after reading a few of the other posts about “The Society of Reluctant Dreamers” I have found a new goal for this summer. However, after talking to my grandma about this class and she told me she read or heard of Bonjour Tristesse. It was quite cool having something different to bond over. Then she told me to read The Citadel by A.J Cronin so I may finish that first before starting another. I feel like the semester has flown by but also has felt super long. I reread my first introduction blog and it feels like ages ago when I wrote that. It’s going to feel weird not writing a blog post this upcoming week or having classes at all.

I have recommended this class to many of friends not only because they need a literature requirement. Also, because this class never really felt like you’re just completely everything for the credit. Along with, the exposure to various texts and vocabulary which has really helpful over the term. Overall, my favourite book was reading Bonjour Tristesse. I think since the main character reminded me of the Parent Trap twins it made it easier for me to understand the character further. I also got really got engaged with the drama between the characters within the novel.

Thank you so much to Professor Beasley-Murray, Jennifer, and Patricio for a great semester!

The question I pose to my classmates is, what was your favourite book over the term and why?

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My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

This week I decided to read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I thought it was an enjoyable read. I found the short chapters very motivating to keep engaged. I’m the type of the person to track my reading by setting time to finish a few chapters. For this book, it was easy to convince myself to read one more and made me believe I was a fast reader. I also thought the beginning of each chapter was intriguing since most started off with very short sentences. I must add in, I was very grateful for the character index at the beginning of the book to refer to if I ever get lost with names and forget everyone.

One thing that caught my eye is the opening of chapter 3. “I looked at my e-mail, at my regular mail, but not with any hope”. This made me question what period this book is set in. In comparison to the other books we’ve read, it’s been somewhat obvious due to war and other clues.  Another scene that caught my attention is when Lila says, “[a]dvice about my wedding dress. Please, don’t say no, because if you don’t come I’ll murder my sister-in-law and mother-in-law”. This made me think of the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress” because of the conflict between Lila and her mother-in-law. The show is all about finding the perfect wedding dress and how drama is part of the journey. The show also highlights how the bride’s support system influences her opinions about the dress.

“At a certain point school is over,” Elena replies. “Not for you,” Lila says, “you’re my brilliant friend, you have to be the best of all, boys and girls”. The lecture highlighted this statement as it refers to the title but also because “it should apply to Elena and not Lila” (Beasley-Murray, 2022). I pondered about the questions Professor asked within the video. This made me analyze their friendship. Their relationship seems filled with jealousy and toxicity. I think those traits were showcased when she said, “you have to be the best of all”. If one of my friends said that I would take it almost like they’re saying it in a passive-aggressive tone.

Now the reference to the title was mentioned within the class lecture but I’m curious as to why do you think some authors decide to say this closer to the end rather than a different part of the novel?  Along with, I’ve noticed in the past couple books that the title is only mentioned once within the whole book, why do you think that is?

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Soldiers of Salamis by Javier Cercas

I cannot believe this is the second to last book for this course. I’m surprised how fast this semester has flown by. I’m also excited that I can honestly answer someone if they ask, “when the last time you’ve read a book?” and I reply by saying one of these books. I decided to push myself at the beginning of term and complete this week’s book of “Soldiers of Salamis” by Javier Cercas. Considering this has been a hectic week, it has been nice to take the time to read this book. I watched the video lecture before reading this book and I was intrigued to read about Bolaño since we just read his book “Amulet” last week. I was interested to see how this narrative portrayed Bolaño. I was also expecting the “[t]here’s nobody over here!” scene was going to be mentioned way further within the book. I found myself wondering about this scene as to why the soldier did that and sparked it inside him to feel the need to protect him?

The video lecture also stated from the book, “not a novel” but a “true tale”. This reminded me of the very beginning of the semester when Professor Beasley-Murray said in the lecture video of January 24, “a novel-that-was-not-a-novel” which is something that stood out to me then so when I heard “not a novel” I made the immediate connection. However, once I referred to that phrase, it was elaborating on the structure of the plotline within the “Paris Peasant” by Louis Aragon. While this novel uses that phrase to explain that “[i]t’s a story with real events and characters. A true tale” (p. 192). This also made me think of “W, or the Memory of Childhood” by Georges Perec. They both a story mixed with the truth but had a twist of fiction. W, or the Memory of Childhood had an autobiography and the other fictional story of the island. Soldiers of Salamis was based on true events reminded me of the autobiography portion, especially the narrative tone.

I was also intrigued by the statement, “I’m lying” on the very first page. I thought it was a fascinating introduction that really caught the reader’s attention. It reminded me of the icebreaker activity called two truths and a lie.

The questions I pose to my fellow classmates is, did you recognize any connections between previous books we have read? Also, do you have a theory why the title is “Soldiers of Salamis”?

 

 

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Amulet by Roberto Bolaño

This week’s reading was on Amulet by Roberto Bolaño. I was intrigued by the very first words in this book, “[i]n our misery we wanted to scream for help, but there was no one there to come to our aid” (Pertonius). This seemed like a very dark start compared to the previous book’s we’ve analyzed. Along with the first page starting with “[t]his is going to be a horror story. A story of murder, detection and horror” (p.1). I expected something completely different when i read the word murder and horror. I really enjoyed this book’s narrator. She said after this statement, “[b]ut it won’t appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller” (p.1). Initially, I was quite confused by what that entailed, but as the story went on her personality lighten the mood. I immediately read the narrator, Auxilio Lacouture with a rambling, humourous tone. This statement made me think of that was “[a]h, it makes me laugh to think about it now. It makes me want to cry? I saw it all and yet I didn’t see a thing. Am I making any sense?” (p. 22) Another moment that caught my attention of Auxilio’s personality was when she was remembering meeting Arturo’s mother for the first time (p.39). Overall, I found it really interesting how the author captured a female ‘s narrative through this character.

Auxilio’s experience of being trapped in the bathroom is something unimaginable. While reading this statement I felt the sense of panic and overwhelmed by varying emotions that she must’ve been feeling alone.

“But, Hey, I said to myself, all I need now is for it to be cold and a beret to drop on my head, and then I heard a voice saying something like, All clear, Sir, and five seconds later, someone, maybe the son of a bitch who had spoken before, opened the door of the bathroom and came in” (27).

After watching the lecture and reading the lecture transcript, I gathered why Auxilio was in this position. I’m used to the previous books we’ve read having an introduction especially if based off true events. I also found it really fascinating to have the lecture video feature a guest speaker, Ryan Long. I was really intrigued by the fact he shared, this author tends to reference his other books then you can make further connections of the characters or plots as you reread his novels.

Since the class discussion about The Time of the Doves’ title, I have been trying to analyze the significance behind them. So, my question I pose to the class is, why do you think Bolaño chose amulet as the title of this book? Do you think there’s another title that would be better suited?

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The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes

This week’s reading on Carlos Fuentes’ The Old Gringo wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be almost something similar to an autobiography like last week’s read of W, or Memory of Childhood. Although, I was much happier reading something that wasn’t an autobiography. I found this story really intriguing because of the love triangle. Although, I initially found it confusing at first to understand the type of relationships. After watching Professor Murray’s lecture, it made sense of bond between the old gringo and Harriet was pretty much parental as Harriet buried him like she would’ve for her father.
The lecture also highlighted some questions, “what is the effect of this repetition? Why this insistent return to the same phrase? Does it function in different ways at different times”? I found the effect of repetition of the statement “[n]ow she sits alone and remembers” to make it stand out to the readers the significance and that Harriet continues to review the past. I think she continues to reflect on this trauma because she is the only one of three that is still alive. I liked how Professor Murray stated, “repressed trauma returns to haunt the present”. I think that statement can connect to a lot of the previous books that we’ve already read. The first book I thought of was Laforet’s Nada as the main character reflects on her life even on her death bed. The repetition of the statement “[t]he old gringo came to Mexico to die”, addresses one of the questions Professor asked. The use of repetition of this statement made me reflect that maybe this was used to foreshadow events to come. Even though death kept being mentioned for the gringo’s future, I thought there was going to be a twist for the reader. Overall, I thought this statement for me helped me visualize the scene and the tense atmosphere between the old gringo and General Tomas Arroyo.
The lecture video also explained that the old gringo is actually based on someone, Ambrose Bierce. I was totally surprised to learn this since I initially thought this was going to be an autobiography but then it wasn’t and now, I learned it was based on an actual person. The video also elaborated on Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary. I thought the definition of love was something that really stood out to me. “Love- A temporary insanity curable by marriage”.

The question I pose to the class is, why do you think Fuentes was inspired by Ambrose Bierce?

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W, or the Memory of Childhood by Georges Perec

This week’s read of Perec’s “W, or the Memory of Childhood” I found the most challenging so far to follow the story. Initially after reading the introduction, announcing there are two alternate texts I was intrigued. Despite my confusion with separating the two texts the change between italics helped me figure it out. Oddly enough, I also noticed that I am the type of person that mentally reads it in a different tone when it changes to italics.

One story was based on the fictional tale of W island while the other was an autobiography of the narrator’s childhood. I was more intrigued with the autobiography portion of this read. One part that stood out to me was when the narrator stated, “ I have no childhood memories” (pg.6). I felt sympathy for the narrator, no memories of his deceased parents would be challenging to recover from. On-Page 29,  it really hit me when the narrator said “I am comforted a little by knowing he possessed sensitivity and intelligence”. A common method for grief is to reflect and cherish the happy moments but I couldn’t imagine how to feel if I couldn’t remember any moments. Another part that stood out to me through the theme of memories is, “I don’t know where the break is in the threads that tie me to my childhood. Like everyone else, or almost everyone, I had a father and a mother, a potty, a cot, a rattle, and, later on, a bicycle which apparently I never mounted without screaming with terror at the mere thought that someone might try to raise or even remove the two small side-wheels which kept me stable. Like everyone else, I have forgotten everything about the earliest years of my existence” (pg.12). This quote made me think of my own childhood and how memories start to gap. I was fascinated by the concept of how something can seem so clear one moment but then the accuracy seems to fade as we remember. This then made me wonder is that what the narrator is trying to convey in the first part of the quote about the “break in the tie”.

There was a part of this read where it was a list of 26 things about his parents and family members. I found that section really interesting to read and especially this last sentence, “[t]heir memory is dead in writing; writing is the memory of their death and the assertion of my life” (pg. 42).

The questions I pose to the class, why do you think memories seem to fade over time? In this instance, do you think the narrator lost or chose to block out his childhood memories as a coping mechanism?

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The Time of the Doves by Mercé Rodoreda

This week I decided to read The Time of the Doves by Mercé Rodoreda. I really felt a difference engaging with the novel by having the paper copy rather than a PDF. I really enjoyed reading Rodoreda’s detail and uses of literary devices such as “cool as a cucumber”(pg.25) and “raining cats and dogs”(pg.67).

At the beginning of the book, I got a bit confused about the relationships that were happening with the narrator, Natalia. As well narrator repeats herself times like referencing her mother’s death and “little eyes like a monkey” (pg.16). This made me question if there was a deeper significance of the repeated statements. Her fiancé, Pere came across as a really controlling and toxic relationship. I really liked the description Rodoreda used in this novel. For example, “Pere had flamed up like a match when you blow on it” (pg.21) and that Natalia had ruined his life “into a little clot of mud” (pg. 21). It emphasized how toxic the relationship was. Then she broke things off with him and became closer with Quimet. I thought when this character came into the picture that his story would’ve been different. I thought it was going to be a happy ending with Quimet and Pere would be more involved and like a Twilight novel. However, I think that’s just me expecting that type of drama. The nickname Quimet had for Natalia stood out to me initially because of the title of the book but as I kept reading it really showcased Quimet’s character of manipulation and possessiveness of her.

I felt bad for Natalia as she endured the detrimental impacts of war. I felt heartbroken for her as I could not imagine having the thought to kill my family would be better than living like this. These were two quotes I thought really capture Natalia’s pain and sacrifice. “I looked at the people who didn’t notice me and thought how they didn’t know I was planning to kill my children, burning them up inside with hydrochloric acid” (pg. 147). This made me think of anyone who is suffering from depression and how this is so sad because we can’t see everyone’s pain. The other quote was, “Quimet didn’t see that I needed a little help myself instead of spending all my time helping others and no one cared how I felt and everyone kept asking me to do more like I was superhuman” (pg. 107). I read the introduction of this novel and it stated “[i]n a sense, The Time of the Doves is the story of most Spaniards during the 1930s and 1940s” (pg.8). I think these quotes truly captured how to imagine and sympathize with people’s experiences.

The question I pose to the class is what do you think the significance of “poor maria” (pg.24) and any other time Maria was said?

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Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan

After the class discussion on Thursday talking about the first page of Nada for most of the class I was curious to fully analyze the first page of Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan. I noticed how the main character, Cécile started off by “I have known boredom, regret, and occasionally remorse, but never sorrow” (Pg. 5). Looking back at that statement, I can recognize that the author may have been trying to foreshadow the events within the book.

The first introduction of Anne reminded me of the movie The Parent Trap. I think it’s due to the similarities that the mother was out of the picture and the dad’s latest girlfriend joined the trip away. Also noticed a similarity that both had schemes to get the couple the protagonist wanted together.

It was also clear how Anne saw herself as a mother figure for Cécile. An example that stood out was “[t]o look all decent you ought to put on six pounds. Your checks are hollow and every rib shows. Do go in and get yourself some bread and butter!” (pg. 22). She wasn’t the kindest mother figure but she made had her moments to ensure her dominance within the family’s dynamic.

I really enjoyed this book as the comparison between Anne and Elsa kept me engaged throughout the first part. I was hooked on the detail of appearances between these two as it captured what lured Cécile’s father closer to Anne. It was demonstrated through the impact of the sun on the two character’s skin. Elsa had a fair complexion with red hair and was covered in bright red sunburns. While Anne showed up with a flawless complexion and had an even tan. This kept me intrigued to continue reading even though I had a feeling once Anne came to the cabin of her intentions and once she said “Elsa Mackenbourg? He brought Elsa Mackenbourg here?” (pg. 15). I hope that Cécile’s father’s selfish traits were due to losing his wife as he continuously brings a new mistress home in front of his child. He was careless and oblivious with his actions towards others like abandoning Elsa and also to Cécile about marrying Anne. However, it made me realize a similarity between him and Cécile as Cécile manipulated her way to break apart her father and Anne without considering the consequences of her actions upon others either.

A question I pose to my classmates is, if you were to reread the beginning would there be any other clues now that you know the ending?

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Carmen Laforet’s Nada

I decided to go with this book to challenge myself and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed reading this week’s read of Laforet’s Nada. I was really intrigued by the title because I vaguely remembered that  “nada” means nothing in Spanish. Then I read the transcript confirming my thoughts stating, “[a]fter all, a narrative about her experience has cohered in some way, in the book that we are reading and that is now coming to its conclusion, a book that makes “nothing” its theme, that makes something out of nothing. Perhaps “nothing” (Nada) is precisely what she takes from her year in Barcelona” (Beasley-Murray, Pg. 2-3). I can sort of recognize this theme by the way the story began and ended with Andrea entering and leaving Barcelona. Which makes me wonder if that correlates together with the title? Another thing, I kept in my mind while reading was the possible significance of the highlighted statements on the digital version. At first, I thought it was going to be distracting but it was actually really helpful and a bit exciting if there were a lot of highlights on the page.

I was fascinated by how Laforet portrayed each character with great detail while also showcasing how the war impacted all of them and the house overall. Quotes such as “I was afraid to get into the bed that resembled a coffin” and “I never sleep, child, I’m always doing something in the house at night. I never, ever sleep” (pg. 9) really captured a visual of how the family is mourning. I also liked the narrator having inside thoughts “[i]s it possible, I thought, that I am the protagonist in a ridiculous scene like this?” (pg. 182). It was different compared to the other novels we have read. Also, I noticed memories seem to be a common theme within this novel as did the previous ones, which makes me wonder about how someone in the class asked if memories are going to be a similarity between all the novels.

I noticed that throughout the novel continued to reference such as “[i]t was like the end of a novel” (pg. 38) and “[t]hat’s how it happens in novels, in movies, but not in life…”(pg. 206). It wasn’t until I reread the transcript lecture I understood the reference Laforet was trying to convey. That made it truly click for me to gain a full perspective of Andrea’s character as this is how she views the life surrounding her like a story.

A question I pose to my fellow classmates is, something similar mentioned within the lecture, do you think there is a correlation between the title and how Andrea views her life as a story? What do you guys think of the title translating to “nothing”?

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The Shrouded Woman by María Luisa Bombal

I really enjoyed this week’s novel of The Shrouded Woman. I was looking forward to this week’s novel since it is the first one with a female author and I was intrigued if there was a noticeable difference between the previous books. One thing I noticed was a difference through the characters as the women were portrayed as more than just an object for the male gaze and actually showcased female characters with personalities.

I was really intrigued with the choice of the narrator being dead. It reminded me of a diary as it was a reflection of Ana María’s life. It revealed moments in her life that were happy, lonely, and regretful through a detailed perspective of each relationship which made it easy to engage with. A quote that really stood out to me was, “must we die in order to know certain things”? (pg. 176). It made me wonder about deeper aspects of death. Especially as Ana María had her siblings, her father, her first love, her husband, and her children visit her as she is deceased. I couldn’t imagine the feeling if she wanted to say something to them. It made me curious about the afterlife and the possibilities of what we may think or reflect. It also made me realize how short our connections can be and how we may fail to notice until it’s too late.

I found it interesting how the author captured Ana María’s relationships, especially her first love Ricardo. This quote also stood out to me, “I never knew. I only know that period following your departure was the most disordered and tragic in my entire life. Oh, the torture of first love, of the first disillusion! When one struggles with the past instead of forgetting it”! (pg. 167). This showcases how this first relationship truly affected her from ever moving on to having a successful relationship. Ricardo left her because he chose to pursue his career but she offered to move with him to remain together. This left me wondering was it a one-sided love and she was blinded by love to recognize it.

This was the type of novel I was expecting for this course and it went beyond my expectations. I am looking forward to this week’s discussion after skimming and noticing most of my classmate’s enjoyment of this read too! The question I pose to my classmates is since this is the first female author we’ve read so far, did you notice any differences in comparison to our last reads? Or do you think there was a purpose to make the main character a female?

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