Author Archives: tayedegb

About tayedegb

Hi everyone, I am a 2nd year transfer Pyschology student.

That’s all she wrote….

Hi everyone, welcome to my last blog of this semester. It was great to meet you all as well as read some of your blogs. Something very interesting and weird happened this week, so I was looking on Facebook marketplace for different houses because I am trying to relocate. I found this one room way off campus that had the option to sublet over the summer, and coincidentally it was a person in this same course! I just felt like I needed to share that lol.

Anyway back to the reflection for this term, I read 11 books!! It wasn’t easy I’ll tell you that. Some of the books were enjoyable and some were just miserable. But overall both the online lectures (which tbh I didn’t watch every single one) and the in-person classes were very fun to attend and participate in. Earlier in the term, Prof mentioned how all the books were connected and had very similar themes which I found over the term to be true. I felt like the biggest themes all term was identity and love. This class format is honestly the best I’ve ever experienced. The contract grading where you pick what grade you want, I absolutely loved. It took hard work and dedication as well as getting into a routine of writing my initial blog post of 400-500 words and then commenting on other classmates’ blogs.

At the start of the term, I’m pretty sure I mentioned that I wasn’t much of a reader and couldn’t decide if I was a “good’ or “bad” reader. But over this term, I’ve realized that I’m not that bad of a reader, I’m just a lazy reader and reading pieces of literature and novels isn’t just something that I was meant to do. Am I ever going to read this many books in such a short amount of time? No, actually maybe but probably not. I also mentioned in my first blog “My goal is to get above this obstacle, develop a passion for reading and novels that will last a lifetime, and build a strong bond with literature.” I didn’t fully build a strong bond with literature, but it’s a start.

I am taking another romance studies course this summer to complete my requirements for my degree, ah well. Although reading isn’t my most fun activity to do, however this class, the big guy Mr Jon, my fellow classmates, as well as the format of the class discussions made this class a lot easier and enjoyable for me.

Question For the Class

What did you think the biggest theme was?

FINALLY

1 Reply

After multiple months of reading every week, finally “Faces in the Crowd” by Valeria Luiselli was the last book read by me. This was a really complicated and rather difficult-to-follow book, probably one of the hardest if not the hardest book I read all year. I felt that I was not as engaged with the book as I had anticipated to be, wasn’t too interested in it just like a lot of my fellow classmates. Also, I kept re-reading lines just to be engaged. As I was reading the book there were times I didn’t even know who was narrating or if we were in New York or somewhere else. It did take me a few readings to get it in the end. It eventually became simpler to understand the plot when I discovered that the only way to tell who was narrating was to pay attention to who was being referred. In the book, a young mother and writer struggles to strike a balance between her responsibilities as a wife, mother, and writer. I enjoyed how the novel examined the idea of belonging. It was no longer hers to own. She lost herself and gave it to her family every time she chose to care for her children overwriting.

I felt like In order to explore themes of identity, loneliness, and the transient nature of interpersonal connections, Luiselli investigates structure and form in the novel. Her life in Mexico, her memories of New York, and her obsession with Owen’s life and poetry become entwined, forcing the reader to piece together the story from what sounds like a meandering, reflective, and sometimes contradicting conversation with a close friend. This wasn’t really easy for me to comprehend initially as I had difficulties reading this book. What makes Luiselli’s “Faces in the Crowd” unique is her strategic word choice. The poetry and accuracy perfectly convey the brief moments of beauty found in the routine aspects of daily existence.

A fascinating part of the novel is when the mother finds a postcard from a person she believes to be her husband’s mistress. She describes how her spouse supposedly departs for Philadelphia to spend time with his lover. However, it is revealed that he hasn’t departed, and the narrative turns. It is challenging for me as a reader to discern what is actually happening in the novel because of Luiselli’s use of narration in this instance, which blurs the border between fiction and reality. The blending of fictional and factual elements creates uncertainty and makes it harder for me to determine what the characters’ actual experiences were like. In addition, the young woman is obsessed with Gilberto Owen’s perspective in a third narration that takes place concurrently with the mother and woman’s.

Question for the class:

“Note: The NY subway was constructed in 1904, the year of Owen’s birth” page 36

What was the significance of noting this?

The book of Chameleons

1 Reply

I was asked to do another blog due to confusion on my last one, so here it is. “The Book of Chameleons” explores at identity and memory through a captivating blend of magical realism and fiction. With the help of a gecko that lived at Felix Ventura’s home, this was made possible. With sensations and thoughts similar to human beings, the gecko can comprehend human acts and interactions throughout its existence. I discussed Felix’s search for identity and self-discovery in depth in my previous post. The path that Félix takes to find himself is paved with ambiguity and doubt. Beneath the weight of history and the intricacies of memory, the truth he seeks is elusive. Félix struggles with issues of identity, belonging, and the nature of reality itself as he makes his way through the maze-like tunnels of his past.

Felix Ventura’s occupation, which was unique and fascinating in my opinion, was a component of who he was. By training, he is a herpetologist with a focus on chameleon research. His real source of income, meanwhile, comes from a covert enterprise in which he creates false identities for his customers by creating extensive family trees and biographies. Felix’s odd line of work demands that he be knowledgeable about the intricacies of human identification in addition to the art of forgery. Felix offers his clients the chance to rewrite their pasts and reimagine their futures by skillfully balancing fact and fiction in his work.

The Chameleon

Throughout the story, the chameleon frequently appears as a dramatic and complex symbol, standing in for a variety of concepts and topics. Given that it can change color and blend in with its surroundings, the chameleon plays a crucial role in the novel, reflecting the novel’s exploration of the fluidity of identity. Characters like Felix Ventura juggle the intricacies of post-colonial Angola by redefining themselves and adjusting to their situations, much like chameleons adapt to changing environments.

Concluding thoughts…

The aspect of the novel that particularly intrigued me was how it explored the issue of deceit, which is portrayed quite effectively when Felix is asked to help the Minister create a false family tree that connects him to a well-known historical figure. With regard to people manipulating their pasts in order to improve their social position or political power, this request from the Minister highlights the widespread prevalence of insincerity within the narrative.

Question for the Class

To what extent does narrative influence the way characters perceive themselves and their place in the world?

Money to Burn

1 Reply

Hello everyone, when I read Ricardo Piglia’s “Money to Burn” it was, in my opinion, a compelling story about mystery, deceit, and the complex dynamics of power. Likewise, I discovered that this novel always brought to mind Arlt’s Mad Toy, which we had read at the start of the term. The characters are from comparable socioeconomic origins, and the story is set in a similar location. The message the group was purposefully and unwittingly spreading by burning the money was one that I found very appealing.

The intriguing notion that earning money can become compulsive, similar to drug addiction, is examined in “Money to Burn” by Ricardo Piglia. The psychological and emotional significance that wealth possesses for people makes it all the more alluring than its actual practical utility. People are addicted to the power that comes with wealth, making them want it more and more. Money is like oxygen. You don’t notice it until you’re gasping for breath.

The actions of characters in the book, such as the group that deliberately burns money, serve as examples of this addictive aspect of money. Their acts highlight a deeper psychological desire (I’m a psyc major btw) to take charge of the money, even if it means destroying it. Renzi said they burned the money. After all, it was theirs because it represented power, and because they could. The novel suggests that the need for money is not just motivated by practical necessities but also by a deeper emotional need for control and power. This is evidenced by the fact that even the billionaires in the narrative have an insatiable appetite for more cash. This theme elucidates the intricate connection between money and human psychology, demonstrating how pursuing wealth may turn into an all-consuming fixation. I believe Piglia’s unique storytelling technique relates to the novel’s themes of justice and criminality. By including a variety of viewpoints, Piglia might help readers better comprehend what happened. This can even make people wonder: Is this the violent gang or the dishonest authorities who are really at fault in this situation? I sometimes can’t decide whether to express support for the gang or condemn their actions, especially in the last scene when Dorda describes how he killed the girl due to voices in his head. This felt strange to me since I couldn’t tell what was right or wrong, or maybe I was blurring the lines between good and evil. I find myself doing this a lot even with villains from movies, I find myself having sympathy for villains such as Bane from Batman, Thanos from The Avengers, etc

Question for the class;

Concerning my last couple of sentences, do you feel bad when you have sympathy for clearly bad people after hearing their side or way of thinking? Is this a “normal” way of thinking or should I…you know… get checked?

True Lover…

3 Replies

A moving and powerful book, “The Lover” explores the intricate issues of colonialism, love, desire, and social expectations. The story, which takes place in 1920s French colonial Vietnam, centers on an extramarital relationship between a wealthy Chinese man known only as “the Chinaman” and a young French girl known as “the girl.” It was a pleasure to read. I was engrossed in “The Lover” by Duras’s writing the entire time. Her depictions of the setting, which included Saigon, to each nuanced and multifaceted character. Since this book is different from anything I have ever read, I initially thought it was a little insane, and also I felt discomfort by their extreme age difference…felt pedo-ish.

As the girl meets the Chinaman, a powerful and fascinating man who radiates power and charm, her life dramatically changes. A passionate affair follows as the girl is drawn to the Chinaman, despite their differences in age, ethnicity, and social status. Their union would never be accepted by the girl’s family or society, therefore their relationship is marked by secrecy and taboo. The Chinese man’s father and the little girl’s family believed that the girl was with him solely for financial gain, but the guy soon became enamored with her and fell in love with her.

Poverty plays a major role in this story. The girl’s views, desires, and behaviors are influenced by the universal force of poverty. It highlights the glaring differences in status and riches and acts as a continual reminder of her underprivileged life within colonial Indochinese culture. Her lackluster upbringing leaves her with a strong desire to escape and live outside of her current circumstances. Her unlawful relationship with the wealthy Chinaman provides a brief window into a world where social constraints no longer determine her sense of fulfillment and self-worth. This yearning for emancipation is what propels her to seek comfort and connection in this relationship.

“Poverty didn’t lessen her dignity” struck me as a really powerful quote. It shows how strong and resilient her mother was in the face of financial difficulties. The mother does not allow poverty to erode her sense of self-respect or define her worth; instead, she chooses to live with pride and dignity despite their dire circumstances. This statement emphasizes her inner fortitude and will to endure hardships, demonstrating a dignity that surpasses worldly possessions. It implies that a person’s character, resiliency, and inner convictions are what truly define their dignity rather than their outward belongings or social standing.

Question for the Class:

How do the book’s characters handle the difficulties and limits brought on by poverty?

Hour of the Star. Macabea is not a star

3 Replies

The complex and mysterious novella “The Hour of the Star” by Clarice Lispector explores existentialism, identity, and the human predicament. The narrative centers on Macabéa, a young, nondescript woman from Rio de Janeiro’s slums. It’s the shortest novel I’ve read so far in this course, I think. It is said of Macabéa that she is a modest, quiet woman who lacks ambition, beauty, or intelligence. She is a typewriter by profession and leads an isolated life with no real goals or relationships. She endured hardships, but she never wavers in her belief in life’s goodness and youthful innocence. She is innocent and anxious-free in her mind. I felt she was a straightforward lady with an ephemeral personality when I read her. However, in contrast to what the narrator claimed, she was a person with dreams and desires of her own. I simply feel like Macabea is so pure and legitimate.

Macabéa’s life comes to an abrupt and terrible end in the pivotal scene of “The Hour of the Star,” as she is murdered by a car. The story abruptly ends with this incident, which acts as a painful punctuation stroke for Macabéa’s modest yet profoundly meaningful life. But Macabéa experiences a remarkable change in consciousness in the final minutes before her death. In the midst of the commotion and brutality of the catastrophe, she briefly gains consciousness and transcends. She seems to suddenly realize the significance of her own life when faced with mortality. In light of Macabéa’s character development, this discovery is important.

The quote that stood out to me from the book was “Macabéa was thin and very pale. Her eyes were the color of nothing. Her hair, the color of nothing.” Macabéa’s unpretentious demeanor and lack of social distinction are reflected in the stark simplicity with which her physical attributes are portrayed. Her pale complexion and thin hair indicate a life of deprivation and neglect, while her colorless eyes and hair represent her lack of personality and presence in the world. The way Lispector depicts Macabéa’s look highlights the novella’s recurring theme of existential insignificance by emphasizing her anonymity and obscurity. Macabéa may not appear particularly distinguished on the outside, but her inner existence is filled with confusion, longing, and a deep need for meaning and connection.

Questions for the class:

In what ways does Macabéa’s tale speak to more general concerns of life and the pursuit of meaning?

What is the significance of Macabéa’s sudden moment of clarity and transcendence before her death?

KP’s Reflection on Mercè Rodoreda, The Time of the Doves

2 Replies

Hello everyone, hope you all enjoyed your break!

Mercè Rodoreda’s book “The Time of the Doves” centers on the life of Natalia (a young woman), against the backdrop of Barcelona during and after the Spanish Civil War. It tells the story of the young woman who was originally engaged to Pere. Still, it also shows how her life changed when she accepted a man named Quimet’s invitation to dance at the Placa Del Diamant and was informed that she would marry him before the end of the year. In the hopes of having a better life, Natalia marries Quimet despite her family’s warnings about his character. Nevertheless, Quimet’s domineering behavior and his fixation with having kids quickly overwhelm their marriage and cause tension. In addition, when the Spanish Civil War started, Quimet joined the army, leaving Natalia to raise her two kids by herself. Quimet’s death, of course, put the already impoverished family in an even worse predicament, and Natalia and her kids reached a breaking point so much so that Natalia considered killing her kids and then taking her own life. Natalia’s life is turned upside down as the Civil War breaks out. She personally witnesses explosions and the death of loved ones, among other atrocities of war. While Quimet grows increasingly detached and focused on his own goals, Natalia fights to survive and defend her family throughout the battle. Natalia’s life does not go better after the war as she had anticipated. Instead, Quimet’s persistent infidelity and violent actions cause her to experience further suffering and destitution. Despite everything, Natalia was devastated by Quimet’s passing and grieved for him. This may illustrate the intricacy of love and the fact that we can love someone despite their hurting us. After that, Natalia meets Antoni, who seems to treat her much better, but she can’t help but think of Quimet. Even after her second marriage, Natalia’s love for Quimet would always remain complex.

A quote that stood out to me was “I wanted to free myself from him, and I felt my strength go out of me”. I felt like this was extremely powerful as it sends a message of how Natalia really felt. She is depicted as feeling helpless and exhausted in the face of her husband’s authority, which effectively captures the exhausting effect of her attempts to express independence. The intense resistance Natalia encounters in her pursuit of independence from an abusive relationship is symbolized by her evident desire for release and her sense of weakness. It portrays Natalia’s fight to escape her husband Quimet’s oppressive rule. Furthermore, it illustrates the depletion of an individual’s strength and agency caused by abusive relationships on an emotional and psychological level. The sensation of helplessness Natalia feels in the face of Quimet’s authority contrasts with her longing for freedom.

Question for the class:

Why do women find it hard to leave abusive relationships? And if a woman is involved in multiple abusive relationships…when does she have to take accountability for her choices of men?

Joseph Zobel, Black Shack Alley

2 Replies

The early 20th-century French Caribbean island of Martinique serves as the setting for Joseph Zobel’s book Black Shack Alley. The story revolves around José, a young child of mixed ethnic background, and his struggle to define himself in a world defined by racism, colonialism, and social injustice. The book tracks José’s early life and development during his upbringing. At first, reading about his early years was endearing since it described how he played with the other kids and the conversation was genuinely upbeat. Reading about the interactions between the kids and how they shared meals was energizing. I understood the value of education, particularly at the time when it came to the Black community.

The majority of Martinique’s black population lives in the segregated Black Shack Alley slum, where José was raised in poverty at the beginning of the book. José, who was raised by his grandmother M’man, struggles with understanding his dual racial identities. Because of his heritage of mixed race, he faces prejudice from both the white and mulatto populations, which further alienates him. When I reflect on Joseph Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley,” the concept of the individual seeking freedom from societal constraints strikes me.

Young José’s path captures the enigma that many people especially the marginalized face while attempting to find their own voice and affirmation in a society where the rules are designed to keep them out. Despite the adversity he faces, José harbors aspirations for a better life, longing to escape the cycle of poverty and oppression. Similar to Silvio from Mad Toy, they both try to break the ‘norm’ that was originally set for them. José becomes more conscious of the structural inequalities that support inequality in Martinique as he gets older. The striking contrast between the magnificent colonial mansions and the dilapidated huts of Black Shack Alley symbolizes the separation he sees between the wealthy white elite and the impoverished black masses. Zobel uses poetic words and vivid imagery to capture the vibrant culture and lush surroundings of Martinique throughout the entire story. He depicts a vibrantly nuanced picture of a nation in transition, attempting to move past the scars of its colonial history and toward a more just future. José’s quest ultimately amounts to self-realization and resiliency. He refuses to let society’s constraints define him despite the challenges he encounters. Rather than following the crowd, he forges his route, determined to make a better life for himself and his loved ones, and in the end, he finds a sense of purpose and belonging among the chaos of Black Shack Alley.

Question for the class: Would his upbringing have been easier and less adversity if he were entirely of black descent? Additionally, why does society instinctively impose restrictions on individuals based on their race?

The Shrouded Woman

3 Replies

I enjoyed reading this book because, for the most part, it was the first I’ve read about a main character who was deceased and essentially reflected on her life. This book’s interesting aspect, in my opinion, is that we don’t lose sight of our main character’s perspective even after their death. Given that I knew the main character was dead and was reflecting back on her life, I felt like I nearly read the novel in a different way. Surprisingly, Ana-Maria, who died of a sickness, she still has the ability to see her surroundings, hear, feel, and also think. She rests in her coffin and witnesses, for the final time, the individuals who had brought her joy and misery, giving her the opportunity to think about her marriages and the delusion of perfect love. The protagonist’s romantic life seems dramatic to me. She experiences three separate romantic relationships: one that begins with the beauty of a first love but ends tragically another that involves an unhappy marriage to her husband, and a third that starts with a lover but doesn’t have a satisfying conclusion. She always seems to be unsure of who she truly likes, which causes problems in every relationship. This is the reason I don’t share her viewpoint on love: in my opinion, true love is purified and doesn’t involve a third person. Conventions and expectations from society are depicted as complicating the protagonist’s marriage. Her marriage to her spouse is a symbol of the early 20th-century patriarchal standards. The couple’s marriage symbolizes the limitations placed on women’s roles, and the husband stands in for the stereotypical masculine figure. The main character struggles with the responsibilities that come with being married and longs for a life that is more rewarding and independent. It becomes clear as the story progresses that the protagonist’s emotional needs and romantic aspirations are frequently suppressed inside her marriage. She considers the constraints placed on her by societal norms, which makes her feel frustrated and long for her own independence.

I think this book is really creative, and I think it’s amazing how the author was able to convey such a complicated life in such a clear and simple way. The perceptions that one has after death are very different from those that exist throughout the period of recounting pre-death events and thinking back on previous ideas. Life, in my opinion, offers happy times in addition to its fair amount of difficulties, one just has to be able to withstand trials and tribulations.

Question for the class: “I have a wild longing for an independent life, a life of my own, a life that is not just a reflection of my husband’s and son’s existence.” …. Is this quote selfish?

Thoughts on Roberto Arlt, Mad Toy

5 Replies

In contrast to Proust’s “Combray,” which I found to be longer and more difficult to read, this week’s reading was Roberto Arlt’s “Mad Toy.” I connected more deeply with “Mad Toy.” I couldn’t help but consider the difficulties individuals, particularly those from the working class, experience on a daily basis. I had the impression that Silvio Astier, a young, disillusioned man living in Buenos Aires in the 1920s, was confessing while I read this novel. In his account of his experiences and observations, Silvio offers an unvarnished viewpoint on the social and economic divide, political corruption, and the chaotic character of metropolitan life. We are informed that Silvio surrounded himself with book lovers and grew up surrounded by books. He attempts to make it in the real world using concepts gleaned from literature. Silvio’s adolescence, during which he becomes enmeshed in a world of crime and rebellion. Silvio establishes a club with his friends, first for amusement, but soon the club members start committing thefts, which vary from taking books and reselling them to stealing lightbulbs. Along with other dejected young people, he creates a gang and takes part in small-time thefts and other crimes. The story captures the social instability and dissatisfaction that characterized that era in Argentina. Arlt addresses how societal expectations and financial hardships shape young people’s behavior and push them in the direction of anarchy and rebellion through Silvio’s character.

After their group split up, he stated that “life is made up of meetings and partings” which to me seems like a level of maturity and growth, Silvio attempts an alternative strategy to get out of poverty (I will discuss how I personally relate to this later in this post). He begins his job search. any kind of labor. As long as it was not against the law, he was cool with everything. Silvio’s mother begs him to begin working because things are getting worse for their family every day. Silvio used to work at a bookstore, and I thought it was unusual that he had to live with his bosses and work around the clock that is, until he tried to set the place on fire. Silvio had trouble landing a lasting job.

I stated earlier that I’ll mention how Silvio and his friend group split connects to me and is also a sign of growth. I have experienced having to split groups multiple times in my life. The first time was when I initially moved from Nigeria to Canada, I left all my childhood friends behind. Another time when I split up with a group was after graduating high school, all my friends got into different universities and chased different goals.

Question for the class…how hard do you think it is to break up from a friend group you grew up in? And how does it affect an individual mentally?

Thanks for reading!