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Conclusion

Conclusion

I think one of the best things about taking this course was the flexibility. I allowed myself to be challenged and most importantly, I read so many novels. Personally, I have long grown distant to reading, ever since English in high school. I will say some weeks got difficult but having read the number of texts I have contracted for, I feel so accomplished. The biggest hardship for me was finishing a lengthy novel within less than a week as I also work almost full-time from Friday to Sundays. As well, I will admit that I am a slow reader. 

In particular, I surprised myself on some days as I began to immerse myself in works that I would never have thought of reading before. I am thankful that I allowed myself to be challenged and be open to reading new styles of writing. Some books I unexpectedly enjoyed are: “Combray,” Mad Toy, Agostino, The Time of the Doves, and Money to Burn.

I quite liked the overall structure of this course. That is, watching the lecture beforehand and coming to class for the discussion of the books. I thought this allowed us to be much more productive and utilize our time wisely. Furthermore, I also found it extremely thoughtful how the topics for Monday and Wednesday classes for compulsory texts varied in what was discussed. This incentivized more people to attend both.
 Another aspect I liked was responses to each other’s blog posts. Although this was mandatory, I found that this sparked more discussion and even if there were no replies to comments, it sparked more ideas. I truly loved seeing what other people took away from the novel and the different perspectives that arose from reading the same text.

Something I thought was difficult at the beginning of the course was figuring out the structure for each of the weeks. However, once I found a routine that worked for me, I found myself relying on the schedule I set for myself and following it to be successful.

For some weeks, I was anxious about the short quiz even though I completed all the work. This was mainly for the texts that I read but did not fully comprehend. Even though I had read the full book, watched the videos, and taken notes, I was afraid that I may have lost a super important detail that would be tested on the quiz. I also was worried that I may have misunderstood what was going on. Yet, I understand the purpose of the quizzes, I just hope there was a way to make it less-anxiety inducing. 

Overall, I loved the structure of this class! Yes, it is a lot of work, but so worth it. Thank you to everyone! I enjoyed listening and discussing the different texts with you all!

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Debré

Debré – Custody and Social Roles

I actually quite liked this novel and I think it has a lot of things to unpack! For some reason, it was one of the reads that really got me comfy (I’m talking about a cup of tea, snuggled into bed, the whole combo). Gradually over the course, I think I made time to read the (almost) weekly books whenever I had the chance to. However, for this novel, I actually ended up reading little by little before bed every night. So, I guess that is why I found it to be such a nice read.

Anyways, one of the things that stood out to me the most is the dynamic between the narrator, her son, and ex-husband. With the custody battle, personally, I feel like females tend to be more at a disadvantage? Not sure if that’s the most accurate word. Naturally, our society puts so much weight onto mother’s shoulders. Something I recall from another class is how when fathers take care of their children, they are seen as dedicated to their careers AND their family. On the other hand, when women take care of their children, it is almost always seen as expected and a sacrifice that is made without any “special” recognition. 

A quote that I would like to highlight is “incest had never occurred to me. It’s such a rich crime, the basis of so many things, in mythology, in psychoanalysis, in literature, it’s the foundation, the order of the world, of families, of civilization, the great taboo. It’s got quite a ring to it, incest. A real man’s crime” (21). I am unsure if I am taking it too far but my question for this week would be: What does the author mean by “a rich crime”? Is it the idea that only people who have it all consider partaking in this crime? Especially since they are the ones that have nothing to lose?

Another part I would like to talk about is “she says she’s always like this at first, then it gets better, “once the relationship’s more stable”” (140). In one of the relationship courses I am in, we covered the concept of disillusionment this week, sort of perfect timing if you ask me. Anyways, it embodies destiny beliefs where people think certain things such as if you get married, our conflict will be resolved. Overall, these are some of the thoughts that I had while reading and what I was reminded of.

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Luiselli

Luiselli – So It’s a Story, Not Reality?

To start, this is definitely one of the novels that I struggled with the most this term. It had a completely different and unique take on literature. Normally, I like to write my blog post before I watch the lecture or conversation video, as a way to showcase my own perspectives when it is still fresh after reading. However, I had to watch the lecture video because I genuinely could not understand what was going on in the book. To my surprise, my confusion was somewhat justified as I learned that the book consists of fragments that fail to tell a coherent story.

I think this is the beauty of this book. While I was reading, I was led between different storylines and felt like it contrasted my normal reads. Usually, each sentence from the novels I read serves a purpose and results in a finale. It has a beginning, middle, and an end. Yet, it was interesting how this story almost seems like it is a work in progress, as her husband reads and questions if what she has written is reality. So, although Faces in the Crowd got me questioning my understanding, I am trying to appreciate Luiselli’s style of writing.

On page 39, the narrator’s husband reads some of her written work and asks her “Did you use to sleep with women?” He then “asks how much is fiction and how much is fact” (50). This is something I was trying to figure out as a reader. Yes, I read the entirety of the novel. However, I felt like I was reading without comprehending. By the end, I was left questioning what I just read.

“I began to die in Manhattan, in the summer of 1928. Of course, no one except me noticed my deaths—people are too busy with their own lives to take note of other people’s little deaths” (61). This quote reminded me of how everyone has their internal struggles and some people are really good at hiding their feelings. I believe this novel has a lot to unpack, I just do not know where or how to start.

A question I had while reading was: What is the meaning of objects and furniture? Specifically, this thought hit me when “Owen listed the objects in a room he was renting in Harlem: writing desk, pictures, plant, magazines, a piano” (22). I could not help but notice there was something going on in the background. After the lecture video, I realized that there are connections between incidents and objects. For example, the red coat. Hence, this is something that I would like to ask everyone. Additionally, what did everyone think about the novel having multiple stories? How did you approach the novel?

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Piglia

Piglia – Hold On, There’s Way Too Many Characters

I probably already mentioned this before but keeping track of all the characters is one of my absolute weaknesses while reading. To be honest, I started off pretty good for this specific text. I made notes of each new character and jotted a bit about who they are so I could refer back to it. However, by the end of the book, I definitely lost track of witnesses, other characters who had connections to the gang members, and more.

Aside from this, it is safe to say I quite enjoyed Money to Burn and it reminded me of Mad Toy, a previous text we read in this course. The action and suspense in this book is something that I am naturally drawn to when choosing what to read. However, I definitely found the more sexual parts to be a little uncomfortable and maybe even disturbing? I think one reason for this is because it is out of the ordinary.

One of the first quotes that stood out to me shows how everyone has a dream they can live out only if they have money. For example, “with 100,000 dollars he could open his bar in New York. A place where he could live out his retirement in peace” (13). As well, “they could split the cash and carry on leading their lives as normal. The fortune would accrue to their children” (19). It was interesting to see how everyone has their own motivations for crime. Furthermore, I was surprised by how innocent their dreams are. What they want to do with the money seems very pure to me.

Another part of the book that I would like to highlight is “Money is just the same as drugs: what’s fundamental is its possession, knowing it’s there, touching it, checking it’s still in the cupboard, there in its bag slung among the clothes, checking there’s still a half-kilo of the stuff, a hundred grand’s worth, being content with that” (30). In a way, this foreshadows or connects to the novel’s ending. Afterall, nobody truly possesses the stolen money at the end, rather the bills are burnt and “looked like butterflies of light, flaming notes” (157).

Overall, I believe Money to Burn is super rich and dense, encapsulating many things to unpack. Although I did not directly state this in my blog post, I recognize there is significance in how the criminals decided to burn the money they stole. Personally, I feel like this shows some sort of connection beyond the obvious monetary value.

So, in relation, my question is: How easy do you think it was for the criminals to burn something they stole? If you were in their position, would you have been able to make the same decision? What would you have used the money for?

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Duras

Duras – I’m Sorry What?!

To be honest, I think this is one of the books so far that I actually did not particularly enjoy reading. I just could not get over the fact that the age gap between the two characters was 12 years. There was a lingering discomfort and I really could not get myself to immerse myself into the plot as much as other books have. 

Something I found ironic is how the text describes “she’s become just something you write without difficulty, cursive writing” (29). While cursive may be easier once learned, I genuinely think it is more difficult than standard letters.

Another potentially significant theme I noticed was photographs and beauty. This is supported by “I don’t know who took the photo with the despair” (31). We can also refer to page 95 for more references to photos. Additionally, on page 33, I thought that “she asks him what he is” was such a peculiar, strange, and even inappropriate way to ask someone’s ethnicity?

“She says, I’d rather you didn’t love me. But if you do, I’d like you to do as you usually do with women” (37). This part of the book made me wonder if she does not want to be treated differently just because she is younger. Perhaps, his hesitancy is also because of their age gap?

Furthermore, they have different races, social class, and age. “Chinese is a language that’s shouted the way I always imagine desert languages are, it’s a language that’s incredibly foreign” (41). This emphasizes how different the two really are. In a way, I guess their relationship is considered unacceptable in the society they live in.

The difference is also emphasized by “he says he went to study at a business school in Paris, he tells the truth at last, says he didn’t do any work and his father stopped his allowance, sent him his return ticket, and he had to leave” (49-50). It seems like his family has the means to send their kid abroad. This reminded me of sending the eldest son to study accounting and inherit the family business-type trope.

I would like to leave off with two quotes that stood out to me: 

  • “Never a hello, a good evening, a happy New Year. Never a thank you. Never any talk. Never any need to talk. Everything always silent, distant” (54). 
  • “I think I’m beginning to see my life. I think I can already say, I have a vague desire to die” (103).

Question: What importance does the man’s wealth have in their relationship? Is this why the girl is staying interested? After all, “she listened, watching for anything to do with his wealth, for indications as to how many millions he had” (34).

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Lispector

The Hour of the Star – I Applaud His Courage

Now that I have finished this novel, I noticed that it starts with “all the world began with a yes” (3) and the last word is also “yes” (77). Overall, I thought this book was interesting in that the author also seems to be a character himself. He knows his goal for writing is to “write a story with a beginning, middle, “grand finale” followed by silence and falling rain” (5). Something I found unique is his way of writing, where he sets super low expectations saying “so don’t expect stars in what’s coming: nothing will twinkle” (8). I thought it was great how raw he is, instead of trying to set a false impression and lure readers in. Another part of the novel that supports this is “I read nothing for fear of polluting the simplicity of my language with luxuries” (14). He does not try to accessorize himself in “gold” and is not afraid to show who he truly is.  Following this, his whole intro feels like  “mit-bap-kkal-gi” which is a korean phrase for “laying the floor” or “setting the stage” in preparation for disappointment. My thoughts are confirmed on page 9, “because I’m scared” and “I still haven’t worked up the nerve to write it” (13). 

“This book is silence. This book is a question” (8). I began to ponder what he means by this and would love to know other people’s thoughts. Further, I was inspired by his confidence “to abandon the old already comfortable feelings” (11).

On another note, I felt like my inner thoughts were read so loud and clear when he said “but let’s get back to today. Because, as we know, today is today. You’re not understanding me and I darkly hear you laughing at me with the quick and rasping laugh of the old” (12). Also, at the start, I think he makes this “northeastern girl” super mysterious and I could not help but continuously be curious about who she is.

Something about the way he writes captivated me. Yes, I definitely got lost in all his words but some quotes were extremely powerful. For example, “for at the hour of death a person becomes a shining movie star, it’s everyone’s moment of glory and it’s when as in choral chanting you hear the whooshing shrieks” (20). I found that there’s a strange beauty to this book. My thoughts were a little all over the place for this book and I think that might be seen throughout this blog post. Hopefully, my ideas are still conveyed and can be understood.

Question: What do you think the title of this text entails? What does “star” mean?
(I sort of understood it as everyone is a star at their own thing or like a star on stage that takes effort to shine.)

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Rodoreda

The Time of the Doves – A Turn of Events

To be honest, I am not quite sure what to think of The Time of the Doves. On one hand, I found it to be quite a long read and it was hard to pinpoint what was happening in some parts because I would lose focus. Yet, I still think it was an interesting read. There were several moments that stood out to me, which I will outline in this blog post.

To start, Quimet seems to assert his male dominance when he “said if I wanted to be his wife I had to start by liking everything he liked” (22). Personally, this was the biggest red flag to me because what do you mean “you’ve [simply] got to like it” (25)? The way he would violently shake Natalia’s head was alarming and I was surprised by the fact that she did not consider leaving the relationship. However, I felt like there was a big shift in how Natalia is treated when she is pregnant. Suddenly, she is treated extremely well to the point where she is expected to not work at all. 

Another thing I noticed was there was a big focus on boy versus girl, whether it was children or the adults in the text. For example, “Quimet said now we were even because I’d had the kids and he’d had a worm fifteen yards long” (78). Also, “he laughed at me, because you could see I looked funny with a belly that wasn’t mine” (58). I thought it was interesting to see how she separates herself from her own body part. In a way, saying that it belongs to her child, rather than to her.

I think I was in a sort of daze until Quimet died. I then got shocked that Natalia wanted to kill her children and then leave the world with them. In my reading note, I highlighted the quote “Quimet was dead. I wanted things to be like they’d always been: he was in the war and when it was over he’d come home” (138). I made a comment on how I did not think Quimet treated her that well but she still misses his presence.

Furthermore, on page 155, the shop owner provides Natalia a new “chance” by giving her a job, allowing her to feel a sliver of hope. This is supported by “it was hard for me to get back on my feet again, but slowly I returned to life after living in the pit of death” (158). I found depth in how the grocer knew, he had a gut feeling that she was going through a difficult time. In particular, “how he hadn’t married me to wash his clothes but to have a family” (167). This was the complete opposite of her relationship with Quimet. Here, I believe they started to learn what it means to be a family.

Question: Why are the children referred to as “the boy” and “the girl” instead of being called by their names?

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Moravia

Agostino – My New #1 (Almost?)

To start, I think there is so much to unpack in Agostino. I enjoyed how Moravia framed the story as it was easy for me to follow the protagonist’s experience. It was so good that I finished it all in one sitting and actually think it is potentially my favourite out of all that we have read so far. One of the things that made this novel so compelling is how descriptive each sentence is and the amount of detail that is intertwined. Not only is it descriptive, but it also showcases each character’s emotions very well.

In my opinion, I felt that Agostino was more mature and adult-like up until the point when he meets Berto, one of the boys from the loose gang. This is because he is closely stuck to his mother during the summer vacation. Another reason for this thought is “playing cops and robbers” was the first time I got a sense that Agostino was truly a child (17). In a way, Berto unlocked the childness in Agostino. Yet, their relationship actually represents the development into adulthood? Something about this scenario (wanting to hang out with friends) felt more fitting than being with his mother and her young lover. He even goes to the lengths of  “beg[ging] for acceptance” (18). I found Agostino’s desire to find belonging a little strange.

My initial thoughts on Agostino’s relationship with Berto soon crumbled when I realized the quick turnaround in his character. This is exemplified in “the boy tricked him by suddenly stubbing out the lit cigarette on the back of Agostino’s hand” (21).

Another thing that stood out to me is the class differences and how the different beaches represent these distinctions. For example, Speranza beach “belongs” to Agostino and Vespucci is where the gang stayed. Potentially, Agostino visiting Berto and the others demonstrates the realities of life. Before, he was used to living a luxurious, almost perfect lifestyle.

In one moment, Agostino is walking naked, “feeling a vague, desperate desire to cross the river and disappear down the shore, leaving behind the boys, Saro, his mother, and his former life” (63). From this, I got a sense that he is dreaming of purity because he is completely bare. To create a new life, possibly enter adulthood without being in the confusing in-between.

Honestly, Chapter 3 left me slightly confused. I could not fully wrap my head around why Agostino is trying so hard to embody a new life and be deceiving. I noticed another shift when Agostino begins to refer to his mother as “the mother” (87). Overall, the part where Agostino starts distancing himself is something that would be interesting to discuss.

Here is my question: How does Agostino’s childhood differ from a typical child’s experiences? Why does Agostino pretend to be living a life that he is not?

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Bombal

The Shrouded Woman – Life After Death

To begin, I actually had a hard time reading this week’s literature. I felt lost and thought that Proust was somewhat more of an easier read. I am unsure if this is because it was written in a different perspective, something I am not used to or because I struggle to keep track of each character. Another reason may be that it is also quite unfamiliar since there is no big narrative plot, which is what my normal reads have. Despite being confused for one third of the work, I quite enjoyed the way in which Bombal unfolds Ana Maria’s life after death. I was fascinated at the author’s idea to continue the protagonist’s story even after her passing.

Something that stood out to me was Bombal’s use of language and how descriptive each sentence is. As an example, the rain is described to be “falling and sliding like tears down the windowpanes; falling and expanding the lagoons to the far end of the horizon, falling” (159). The use of language in The Shrouded Woman was beautiful. As a reader, I could truly imagine and visualize the story unfolding. While I initially thought it was hard to understand, going back multiple times helped me find pleasure in reading. Another part I was stuck on was where the woman shares “you found me cold because you never succeeded in making me share your passion; because I had no desire beyond the taste of dark wild flower in your kisses” (165). 

I would also like to discuss where “I never knew. I only know that the period following your departure was the most disordered and tragic in my entire life” (167). This reminded me of when a couple begins dating. For some reason, it made me think about how some people hope that their partner continues to live their life even when they start a relationship together rather than giving up on their individual hobbies.

To end off, here is my question for this week: Are there things we can’t find out until we’re dead? This is inspired by a quote that got me thinking, “must we die in order to know certain things?” (176). In my perspective, there are times when we do not realize how much we love someone or want something until we no longer see them. I would love to hear what others thought about the book and any other perspectives there might be.

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Arlt

A Whole Day of Arlt

I genuinely spent almost the entirety of yesterday reading Mad Toy by Roberto Arlt. To my surprise, I actually fairly enjoyed this piece of literature. However, one thing I struggled with was the number of characters that were introduced in the first couple pages. It normally takes me a lot of time to remember character names. Therefore, I kept getting myself confused with all the different names and I quite literally had to write myself a character map.

The first chapter reminded me of children playing in a treehouse. In a way, it felt as though the robberies were simply a part of a child’s imaginative journey. Another thought that occurred to me was how novels may have been used to represent people’s socioeconomic status. From my personal understanding, Silvio’s mother tells him that Lila must borrow books from the library. To gain knowledge, one must either read or go to work. I related this to how Silvio’s family is challenging their social class and attempting to escape it.

Following this, another part that stood out to me was when Silvio started working for the owner of Don Gaetano’s bookstore, which I found slightly ironic because his first robbery took place at a school library. In particular, when Silvio visits the River Plate Market with Don Gaetano, it seemed like he was being mocked. This is just a personal opinion, but I believe this is partly because of how the foods were described. 

Additionally, Silvio was told that his new job would provide him a room and that he would be living like a prince. In reality, Silvio is expected to have brought a mattress to sleep on, despite not being told anything. This made me recall the working experiences of immigrants, something I learned about last term in one of my courses. Individuals would move to a different country after being promised a whole new life. They would arrive with hopes of earning a lot of money, which they planned to send to their family back home. However, they experienced precarious working conditions and their labour was taken advantage of. Also, when employers provided housing, it was often to surveil the workers. This connects to the lecture video as I discovered that the novel depicts how Argentina was transformed through mass migration. To this respect, the conversation video discussed the idea of disillusionment, which piqued my interests.

While I have so much more to write about, I would like to end off with a quote I enjoyed reading: “Now I was navigating the darkness, leaping over fences, trembling with the surge of feeling that raced through me.” (94)

In my perspective, this quote encapsulates Silvio’s betrayal and his attempt to make a name for himself. He goes from jumping fences when committing robberies to “leaping over fences” after betraying Rengo. How do you think this portrays the shift in Silvio’s life? What other meanings does it have?

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