Yay! This is my final blog post, and I’m feeling bittersweet. I really enjoyed this class, and I think our classroom discussions sparked many meaningful conversations that were different from my usual classes. In my other classes, we typically just attend, listen, do our work, and leave. With this class, I’m very glad I had the opportunity to discuss our thoughts about the books with different people.
A. So.. What Have I Learned?
What I’ve learned from this course, reconnecting with what Dr. Beasley-Murray mentioned at the beginning, is “do we believe books need to have meaning?” Now, my answer is: no. While most of the books we read do have meaning, I now believe that books can also be experimental. They can explore different perspectives, timelines, and stretch the boundaries of traditional literature. This was particularly evident in “Faces in the Crowd” by Luiselli, with its unique timelines of pluperfect, perfect, present, and future.
B. What I Enjoyed, and did not Enjoy
I enjoyed our weekly discussions and the in-person lectures. Typically, I come to class with about 70% understanding of the book, and the lectures help fill in the remaining 30%. These discussions make me think about the book in new ways and consider different approaches to reading the novel. For instance, in the Time of the Doves, many of our discussions focused on the relationship between Quimet and Natalia. However, Dr. Beasley-Murray encouraged us to view Natalia independently, focusing on her character beyond her relationship. This approach was insightful and prompted me to rethink how I should really start understanding characters individually when reading, rather than who they are in relation to their relationships.
My favorite book was definitely the Book of Chameleons. I appreciated its straightforward narrative and the beautiful exploration of themes like identity and transformation through characters like Jose. I also enjoyed the themes of companionship between Felix and Angela, which was a refreshing contrast to the relationships in other books like Agostina, Time of the Doves, and Hour of the Star. The dynamic between Felix and Angela, as well as Felix’s connection with the Gecko, were highlights for me. They were just fun! On the other hand, my least favorite book was Faces in the Crowd. I found the narrative confusing and felt that many relationships, such as those involving the young woman and her friends Dakota and Salvadore, were inadequately explained. Yet, perhaps the intent was to leave some elements unexplained. Even so, I’m not obligated to enjoy it.
C. A Theme that Resonated: Motherhood
A theme that resonated with me was motherhood. This theme was prominent in Proust’s discussion of Marcel’s childhood and his deep attachment to his mother. Even though his mother wanted him to be independent, she ended up sleeping in the same bed with him because she loved her child and he would always be her little baby. The Shrouded Woman delves into Ana María’s surrogate mother-daughter bond with her maid and nanny, Zoila, stemming from the absence of her own mother, who was preoccupied with the duties expected of upper-middle-class women of that era. This narrative showed us the influence of other maternal figures when a biological mother is absent during the time-period, which is illustrated with Ana María’s difficulty with doing her own hair without Zoila. Black Shack Alley showcased the strength and determination of M’man Tine, a symbol of maternal resilience and sacrifice. She provided opportunities to Jose by working in the fields. Jose did become successful in the end, however, M’man Tine sadly passed away when he was still young. And of course, we saw the resilience of motherhood in Time of the Doves and Faces of the Crowd. How Natalia persevered during a civil war and poverty and managed to raise two strong children who lived happy lives; and how in Faces of the Crowd the mother hinted at signs of possibly post-partum depression (?) after having her second child, and seeing the contrast of her life as a young woman in large spaces to a mother who feels suffocated in the small spaces of her home. Tying this back to part A of my blog, I appreciated the opportunity to view the mother as a distinct individual in her younger years, rather than solely through the lens of her role as a mother to her children.
This recurrent theme definitely made me very thankful and appreciative to my own mother 🙂
D. Did I Fulfill My Contract?
Lastly, one of my goals was to adhere to my contract — to read 11 books and achieve an A+ — which I accomplished. I also dedicated a lot of effort to my blogs, aiming to truly earn my grade rather than just meeting the minimum requirements. Another goal was to express my own interpretations of the books, embracing diverse perspectives. This class encouraged us to consider different viewpoints, such as in our discussions on Agostino, where we initially judged Agostina’s unusual relationship with his mother but came to understand it as part of his transition from childhood to adulthood.
I’m so glad I took this course, and I would definitely recommend it as a literature requirement to anyone. It was enjoyable, and I now have a few books like Agostina and Book of Chameleons that I plan to reread. Plus, I have a wonderful blog to reflect back on! Thanks so much for a great semester to Dr. Beasley-Murray and our TAs, Daniel and Tesi!
E. Question for Discussion
Q: What’s a guilty-pleasure book recommendation you have?