Prompt One- the Double Bind

The first thing I noticed when I began this book was the strange detachment of the main character Laurel. She lives in a slow, dreamy fashion and seems to have trouble connecting to people. I attribute this to her brutal attack years ago-things like this never really leave a person.
Her older boyfriend seems nice enough, but I question his intentions- why is he with such a young, damaged woman? He seems to be a bit clueless as to the true fragility of Laurel's mental state.
I like her roommate, she seems to be a true friend. And Laurel's coworkers seem to bring out the true best in her.
One character that stuck out to me was Pamela Buchanan. She is truly Daisy and Tom's daughter! She is stuck up, truly unhappy, and alone. These negative feelings only make her treat others worse. Her decision to simply give up on her mentally ill brother both disgusted and upset me. What kind of sister is she? I suppose the stuck-up nature of her upbringing really affected her character and morals in the long run.

Amir's Atonement

Atonement is defined as "compensation for a wrong" by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. I believe that atonement for past mistakes is possible up to a point. Some sins never go away. These thoughts are just based on my personal moral code- doing something nice for someone you were rude to with might atone that particular "sin", but I don't think mass murderers can simply make their deeds disappear. Some things are forever. I think specifically in the Kite Runner, the guilt that Amir has been living with is much worse than any trials and tribulations he may have to go through to atone for his sin.
Amir seeks atonement for one particular sin. He watched his best friend, Hassan, get raped and does nothing about it. I would describe this a sin of weakness and disloyalty. In my opinion, he'd have to do something from the heart to help Hassan recover from this terrible loss of dignity. However, I think the event was more of a tragedy than bad conduct on Amir's part. He did not act in a terribly evil manner- it was how most people would react. That doesn't make it okay, but one cannot be too quick to judge him. Atonement is still necessary, though. This is just my opinion.

Mistakes

Obviously I've made many a mistake in my life. One that sticks out to me at the moment is one I've made recently. This entire year, I have been slacking off in my AP Physics class. Instead of putting out the effort to do well and to learn the material, I have been mostly goofing off all day.
I just found out that I could get 8 credits for doing well on the AP exam this year... Because I haven't really learned anything, that isn't really feasible. 8 college credits is about the equivalent of half a semester.
Because of my laziness, I'll be paying in college.

Independent Reading- MP4, The Double Bind

The Front Cover
• Title/Author/Awards
It's called the "Double Bind". Not really sure what that refers to, as of yet. And I've never heard of Chris Bohjalian.
• Picture/Words
Has a girl on a bicycle. I'm sure it has significance, but that has yet to be revealed.
• What do you think the book is about? Topic/Big Picture?
I think the book will be about the trials and tribulations of a young woman.
• Jot down 2 questions you have.
Will this book be good?
How will such a simple story become "suspenseful" and "harrowing"? (words taken from reviews)

The Back Cover
• Synopsis or Plot Preview? Laurel works in a Burlington, Vt., homeless shelter and is trying to overcome mental and physical scars incurred from a brutal assault some six years earlier. After being given a portfolio of photographs taken by a recently deceased resident of the shelter, Bobbie Crocker, she becomes obsessed with questions surrounding what appears to be a picture of herself shot on the day of her attack. Laurel's already fragile mental state begins to unravel as she follows Bobbie's life from his rich-kid childhood on Long Island to homelessness in Vermont.
• Review/Praise/Acclaim? Overall what is your impression. It looks like it's going to be really good!!!
• Does the back cover reveal anything about the story (time period, characters, setting, etc.)? If so, jot down some notes.

Inside the Book
• Copyright/Publication date? 2001
• Is there a dedication- no
• Table of Contents? Chapter Titles? #’s?
• Other titles listed by the author? Jot a few down. "Skeletons at the Feast"
• Open to a random page and read a few paragraphs. What is the author’s writing style? It's really flowing and descriptive.

OVERALL IMPRESSION
Based on your preview of the book, what do you think it may be about? What types of characters, issues, themes, etc… do you think you will encounter? What sort of background information (already known or researched) do you think you will need to understand the story? Write down 3 questions you hope to have answered by the end of the story.

I think this book will have strong themes of reality vs. fantasy. I think it will also seek to talk about the effects of mental illness. I don't think I'll have to know much background information- it takes place in modern day. I hope to have- who took the photos? Why is Laurel so "mentally fragile"? Will the mystery be solved?- resolved by the end of the book.

Picture Story

It was a beautiful landscape- a river, traveling idly through two canyon walls, rocks littering its sides. Lizards sunned themselves on the boulders, and black birds circled above. All of a sudden, a gunshot disrupted this peaceful scene. The lizards scrambled underneath the rocks, and the birds quickly flew in all directions.
A marine, tall and rugged with his uniform soaked in sweat sprinted around the bend of the canyon. A group of men, wearing turbans and toting Uzis could be seen in hot pursuit. The marine looked behind him and loudly cursed, accelerating his pace even more.
Pumping his arms wildly, Sergeant Jack Lyons sprinted away from the oncoming tribal forces. He leaped over the slippery boulders with the agility of a puma, and kept running. All of a sudden, a voice from above the camera bellowed, "CUT!!"
The marine stopped running, the group of men threw down their guns in frustration. "What is it now, Steven?" yelled 'Lyons', in a thick Irish brogue.
Steven could now be seen descending the steps to get to the makeshift 'canyon' set, and madly gesticulating to a camera man, perched high above the set. He turned to the 'Marine'.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Evan, that in this scene, Jack Lyons has to have an exaggerated LIMP from scene three? The battle between the second platoon and the rebels?"
The marine, now known as Evan, shrugged. "Sorry. Forgot."
"Well do it again, and this time I want to see you struggling. You don't just run like that after you've 'broken your toe'". Okay, positions."
Five minutes later, Sergeant Lyons was sprinting again, this time with an awkward gait.

Good People

I agree with the Edmund Burke quote. I think it is clear that when you look back through history at examples of "evil"- the Holocaust, Jim Crow Laws, ethnic cleansing, etc., it wasn't stopped by itself. It took strong people to take a stand and fight against evil. Apathy is very easy, and is the road that most people will take. I am continually amazed by those who have the strength to distinguish themselves by fighting.
Whenever I hear this quote, I wonder- in a situation with evil, would I be strong enough to do something? I'm not sure, but I hope so.
I definitely think these themes of good, evil, inaction, and action will be strong in The Kite Runner. It's a pretty inspiring book, with heavy themes.

Recipe for Afghanistan

Start with 1000 years of cultural heritage. Whisk lightly.
Combine a large amount of mountains and about 100000 square miles of desert.
Two decades of Soviet Invasion and struggle
Add a measure of the Taliban, and remove human rights from the mixture
8 years of American influence- beat for about 200 strokes.
Large amount of Islam, put on high heat
Finish off with a drop of hope

Spring Break

Spring break went by way too fast. As I sit here, on the first day back, I can't believe an entire week went by! Overall, the break was rather ordinary, but had a few highlights:
North Carolina
I went to Chapel Hill, NC, for my mom's conference from Sunday to Tuesday morning. The weather was nice, but it was a pretty boring trip that I was dragged on against my will. Not exactly an excellent start to break.


General Relaxation
For the rest of break, I simply relaxed at home with family and friends. We had a low-key Easter celebration yesterday, and I caught up on a lot of sleep.

New York Times on the Beat Generation

Here's an interesting article, written in 1952, about the culture of the time. It is titled "This Is the Beat Generation", and offers good insight into the attitudes of the youth. I see many of Kerouac's ideas reflected.

Kerouac on the Beat Generation

"But yet, but yet, woe, woe unto those who think that the Beat Generation means crime, delinquency, immorality, amorality ... woe unto those who attack it on the grounds that they simply don’t understand history and the yearning of human souls ... woe in fact unto those who those who make evil movies about the Beat Generation where innocent housewives are raped by beatniks! ... woe unto those who spit on the Beat Generation, the wind’ll blow it back."

Independent Reading - A Final Reflection

I have mixed feelings about On the Road. Honestly, it wasn't the type of book that I usually like. First off, it was pretty depressing. So many bad things happen, and reading them glossed over like nothing kind of annoyed me.
However, though it wasn't one of my favorites, I am glad I read it. I can see why critics lauded it as a book that defined a generation. I felt the restlessness of the Beat Generation in every page, and now really understand their ideals. I also understand the pitfalls of a life without responsibility.
One cannot deny that Jack Kerouac is a masterful author who created a timeless work. I did not LOVE On the Road, but I can certainly respect it.

Crazy Driving Connections

Independent Reading, Post #10
One thing that I definitely connected with in this chapter is Dean's reckless driving. I know a few people that drive (almost) as crazily as Dean!
"I began to flinch. Dean came up on lines of cars like the Angel of Terror. He almost rammed them along as he looked for an opening.... and always by a hair we made it back to our side as other lines filed by in the opposite direction and I shuddered." (Page 235)
Sal is terrified by his recklessness, which makes this scene one of the funnier ones in the book.

Cruelty Will Never Be "Cool"

Independent Reading, Post #5
In Chapter 2 of Part Three, Sal travels to San Francisco again and visits Dean. Dean lives in a nice house with his pregnant wife Camille and their daughter Amy. However, it is Dean's awful treatment and neglect of his family that moved and upset me.
Dean is not exactly a "family man"- he seems to be the true spirit of the Beat Generation epitomized in flesh and blood. He cannot bear to stay any one place more than a month, especially his home. This obviously upsets and hurts his marriage. He is a pathological liar to his wife- constantly making empty promises that he cannot keep in any way. Dean has sporadic obsessions with his mistress, Marylou, and will leave for days to be with her. The effect of this treatment on Camille is substantial.
"It was horrible to hear Camille sobbing so. We couldn't stand it and went out to buy beer and brought it back to the kitchen. Camille finally went to sleep or spent in the night staring blankly at the dark." (Page 184)
Perhaps, for me, the most moving/shocking thing about this entire passage is not Dean's treatment of his wife, but rather Sal's detached and uncaring way of describing it.


Etta James' song "Anything to Say You're Mine", which was popular when this book was written, reflects many of Camille's feelings.

Lyrics:

I'm so blue
'cause I'm worried over you
I, I sometimes wonder
why I never hear from you
You promised to write me
each and everyday
and I haven't heard from you
since you went away
I sit by my window pane
hoping for a letter
one that never came
My heart cries for just
one little line
anything to say you're mine

Predictions: Partially Correct

Independent Reading, Post #7
In my Post #6, I predicted that the group would splinter because of the problems of their hard-partying lifestyles. In short, I was partially correct.
Dean, Ed, and Carlo went their separate ways- in fact, the narrator doesn't see them for a full year!
However, they are reunited when Dean drives cross country with Ed to pick up Sal to go on another trip. I was extremely surprised when Sal agreed to go with them.

Advice for Dean, Ed, & Sal

Independent Reading, Post #13
In the beginning of Part Two, Sal recounts Dean's exploits of the past year. He rashly married his girlfriend in San Francisco, and had a baby girl with her. After all of this, he decides one day to randomly leave and go on a cross-country road trip with his friend Ed Dunkel. He blows all of his savings on a new car, and the two have no money for the trip. In order to fund it, Dunkel marries a girl in hopes that she will come with them and "foot the bill".
"By the time they got to Tucson she was broke. Dean and Ed gave her the slip in a hotel lobby and resumed with voyage alone, with the sailor, and without a qualm." (Page 111)
Now, this particular choice completely shocked me. Though the narrator seems to glorify and idolize Dean and his friends, and their carefree lives, this is just downright WRONG, immoral, irresponsible, and cruel. If I had to give Ed and Dean advice, I would tell them to go back to San Francisco, settle down, and start acting their ages. I would also tell Sal to find a better role model.
If they want to be careless "on the road", then they shouldn't try to build connections with other people, simply to let them down time and time again.

Capitalism Conquers All

When you search "Che Guevara" on Google, one of the first hits is The Che Store. Along with its famous $17.99 t-shirts, they sell books, hats, key chains, and necklaces, all emblazoned with Che's image. Poor Che. His legacy is being used to fund an American company.
There's a Che-themed flavor of Ben & Jerry's (Cherry Guevara), "El Che" Cola, Che Guevara bobbleheads, and even Che cologne ("For those that want to smell like a revolutionary"). It is odd that those who idolize him the most, and try to "spread his message", are making money off of him.
As his family has made no great public statement regarding the use of Guevara for monetary gain, they obviously don't care. I wonder if Che would be enraged by all of this. Perhaps this is what he wanted all along...


I recently stumbled across this ad. Proclaiming, "Kerouac wore khakis", Gap hopes to sell their overpriced pants to the masses. This is ironic: Kerouac's fictional self, Sal Paradise, spends most of On the Road in unwashed ragged clothes. One of his central ideals was a lack of materialism. He believed that connections to anything- people, and ESPECIALLY possessions, simply tied you down. He's probably rolling in his grave right now.

A Question of Style

Independent Reading, Post #11
Kerouac has a very interesting style. He isn't one for long sentences or flowery language- he usually just gets to the point. It's a strange, choppy way of writing that is very modern. His figurative language use is minimal, but he has a way with few words that is quietly eloquent. An example of a good description would be how he describes meeting his Mexican lover's family and her home.

"Her five brothers were singing melodious songs in Spanish. The stars bent over the little roof; smoke poked from the stovepipe chimney. I smelled mashed beans and chili. The old man growled." (Page 100)

When I first began reading, I found this manner of writing irritating, but the more I read, the more it grew on me.
After research, I discovered that he had a name for his style: Spontaneous Prose. Here's a quick explanation composed by Kerouac, revealing the essentials of this manner of writing.

Pivotal Quotation

Independent Reading, Post #14
This key quote happens in Chapter 10.
Sal Paradise hooks up with Rita Bettencourt, a waitress in Denver. They are in an apartment, lying in bed together, when Sal asks her what she wants out of life. She replies, "I don't know, just wait on tables and get along."
They lie for a bit longer, when the important quote happens...

"She turned away wearily. We lay on our backs, looking at the ceiling and wondering what God had wrought when He made life so sad." (page 58)

Though OTR seems to glorify the careless/carefree attitude of the Beat Generation, it shows its pitfalls. The author recognizes that a life without responsibilities is empty.
This is a major theme throughout the book. This sentiment is expressed in this quote in the specific scene. Sal has meaningless sex, lies on his back, and reflects that life is "sad". Sad, indeed.

Some Predictions...

Independent Reading, Post #6
I'm currently at the beginning of Chapter 10 in Part One. Sal, Tim, Babe, and their friends are just returning to Denver from their interesting excursion in the mountains. This trip, however, was like nothing they expected. They had many personal problems, and even got into public brawls. Their nonstop partying didn't make them happier- in fact, it caused most of the problems. Sal reflects on the morning they leave like this: "Everything seemed to be collapsing. As we were going out to the car Babe slipped and fell flat on her face...The sad ride back to Denver began." (page 56)
Dean and Carlo are nowhere to be found, and it is clear that Sal's beginning to become annoyed. I predict major problems in their friendship, along with problems with this group of friends in general. I think that they will split up partially or even splinter entirely. They cannot coexist peacefully in these sort of circumstances.

Confusing Passage in Colorado

Independent Reading, Post #2
I'm about confused about a passage in Chapter nine. Sal, Dean, and the gang go out partying in Colorado, as per usual. They go to a bar in an old mining town and a fight is started. It's unclear as to how the fight starts, however. Kerouac's language is extremely vague. ("Rawlins handed me his glass and knocked him down with one punch." page 55)
They go outside, and Sal wonders "what the Spirit of the Mountain" is thinking. As Kerouac isn't prone to flowery language, and is usually pretty literal, this statement took me off guard. Sal's visions of "ghosts of old miners" is very strange and lends an almost dreamlike quality to this passage.

Thesis for Che Theme

"Che's intelligence and vision made him an ideal leader for an all-too brutal military regime."

My Do Now

Write a haiku about Che in Peru.
Remember, a haiku is three lines: the first, five syllables, the second, seven, and the last five again.

What's in a Title?

Independent Reading, Post #18
I'd say On the Road is a pretty appropriate title for this book. The novel mainly discusses Kerouac's adventures on his many cross-country road trips. Though he spends a limited amount of time detailing his times spent in one place, it is clear that the author's most poignant experiences occur while "on the open road".
The title concisely communicates to a potential reader what the book is all about. However, if forced to pick a new one, I would call the book Spirit of the Youth. OTR is famous for communicating a lot about the Beat generation- a generation of youthful dreamers. The irresponsibility and carefree nature of the characters truly shows the spirit of the youth-something that would fully erupt in the generations to come.

Who Am I? - Che

(From the perspective of Che)

Who am I? I am Che Guevara, no longer Ernesto. Revolution is in my heart and the power of Marx flows in my veins. I am lucky enough and strong enough to stand up to the oppressors. I am the voice of the people.
What is my impact on the world around me? I change the world every day. My revolutions, though bloody in nature, will bring peace and happiness in the long run. Socialism's lessons are taught through gun and grenade. Someone has to take the burden of bringing war, and I gladly take it on. There must be chaos before tranquility, and I bring the chaos, but will work on instilling tranquility also.

Similarities Between On the Road & TMD

Independent Reading, Post #16
For my independent reading project, I have chosen to read Jack Kerouac's On the Road. I think it relates perfectly to Ernesto Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries.
On the Road is autobiographical, just like TMD. It details Kerouac's adventures as he embarks on several cross-country road trips with his friends. It was the defining work of the "Beat Generation" of the 1950s, and marked a change in American literature.
The two books share many common themes. One would be that of a quest for identity: Che finds his political and moral ideals, while Kerouac is searching for what it means to be a young American. The idea of being on a journey is very powerfully used in both of the books.
Though Guevara and Kerouac grew to be known for very different reasons, it is intriguing to watch them grow through their similar autobiographical novels. They started out in the same place: young, disillusioned men searching for something else.
For Che, that "something else" was his Marxist revolution. For Jack Kerouac, it was the cultural revolution that took place in 1960s America.

Introductory Post

Welcome to the Independent Reading phase of my blog! I'll begin mixing in posts about my independent reading assignment, along my usual do nows about Che.
I'm reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I'm excited to read it- it looks really good!
Hopefully I'll post at least once or twice a week, but I'll probably end up procrastinating... Hope I do well.

Chile

Political turmoil in land of Andes.

Che in Chile

I think that when Che met the asthmatic woman with the heart condition, it profoundly affected him. He said that he felt completely helpless as a doctor in that moment, and such a feeling of uselessness definitely influenced his political views. Che saw how the current system had basically ignored her, offering no aid.
He wanted to help that old woman, and others like her, in the future. I can see the development of his Marxist views through experiences such as this.

Memoir for America

Modern empire screams- it's better here!

Ideology of ... Myself?

I don't really think that I have a specific ideology. Like most people my age, I play life by ear and don't plan my actions based on a particular set of beliefs/ values. Obviously, I believe in all abstract morals that everyone does: honesty, kindness, trust, etc. However, I don't think that simply hoping to have good morals distinguishes me and my ideology. I don't really understand how anyone my age can be so sure and set in their beliefs. 

Maybe, in my quest to "discover who I am" as I grow up, I will find out the specifics of my personal ideology. Who knows?

Apples to Oranges?

I'm glad that Pakistan is being more accepting to the US's help in controlling their country. However, I can't help but wonder what our motivations are for helping. They clearly aren't totally altruistic, or we'd be aiding the government in unstable places such as Sudan or the Congo. Though our judgment may be clouded when it comes to getting involved in Pakistan's troubles, I can't say that we are like Che in Bolivia.
Che was trying to overthrow the current government in Bolivia to spur other communist revolutions in Latin America. He had little to no support even from the Bolivian Communist Party.
The US is trying to stabilize the current Pakistani government and wipe out rebels such as Che. I don't think we should get so involved in other countries' affairs, especially countries that could very likely turn around and betray us, but our efforts are moving Pakistan toward a more stable future.

Voice

"Okay, but this is this is how the typewriter interpreted those fleeting impulses raising my fingers to the keys, and those impulses have now died." 

This represents Che's tone. This tone is kind of melancholy or bitter- not exactly a happy way to begin a story. The reader gets the feeling that Che is dissatisfied with the story, or something else.

"But I'll leave you now, with myself, the man I used to be..." 

This also exhibits Guevara's tone. This tone is rather wistful and melancholy. It shows the reader that the book is somewhat of a coming-of-age or transformation story. Che seems to miss the innocence of youth, or the naivete he used to have.

Loneliness of Adventure

3. "There is nothing lonelier than adventure."(22)

"There is nothing lonelier than adventure," he said, stirring his tea slowly, adding another packet of Splenda. I didn't care to respond, only shooting him a quizzical look.
Taking a sip, he brushed the sugar off of the table. "People think they'll come back and everything will be exactly the same, but it's not. Journeys change people."
I rolled my eyes. He was getting philosophical again. It was so hard to drag my Grandfather back down to earth from the dreamworld he usually inhabited.
"That's all well and good, but I was just about to tell you that I'm leaving tomorrow at nine..."
The corners of his mouth turned up. "You're just like I was when I was your age. Stubborn. Rash."
"Thanks."
I looked up again, to see his rheumy eyes more watery than usual. "The army makes you strong. Tough, but strong." He paused, taking a sip of the steaming tea. "This is too strong."
I agreed, and we descended into our comfortable blanket of silence.
Minutes later, he broke it, looking across the table and into my eyes for the first time. "I'm proud of you."

Ideology of Che

Che Guevara is most known today because of his ideology- beliefs that he ended up giving up his life for. His strong faith in socialism and Marxism's ideals governed the course of his life; because of them he became the controversial revolutionary.
Guevara believed that all people are created equal, and deserve the exact same treatment in every part of life. People should work voluntarily to improve society and personal ownership is a sign of greed and oppression. Che wanted his life philosophy to be spread all over the third world, whether by peaceful means or no. Anything motivated by personal gain was strictly forbidden and a force of evil imperialism in his book. To Che, the individual was nothing. The only thing that mattered to him was the "common good"- an abstract idea that consumed him until his execution in the Bolivian jungle.
John Lennon's socialist anthem "Imagine" reflects a great portion of Che's ideology in the lyrics.

Preview to Motorcycle Diaries

The Front Cover • It’s by Che Guevara- not exactly the best character
• It’s a New York Times bestseller
o Must be well-written
o Or controversial
• Picture of Che Guevara on the front
• It’s a ‘journey’ story, kind of like On the Road
• Will this be good? Is Guevara a good writer?

The Back Cover
• Travelogue sort of story about Guevara’s journey across Latin America
• Lots of good reviews
• Takes place when Che was 23

Inside the Book
• Copywritten 2003
• No dedication
• Brief chronology of Guevara’s life and itinerary of Che’s journey
• No other titles.
• He writes very well- with a descriptive, educated sound

OVERALL IMPRESSION
I see this as a classic “coming of age” story, albeit set in Latin America. Throughout his travels in Latin America, Guevara will discover much about himself and his culture. I think it will be well-written and enjoyable, though I do not foresee myself agreeing with his ideology.
Glen Beck portrayed Guevara as a cold-blooded killer, a Hitler wannabe, even. The book seems to show Guevara as a tragic hero who died for the Latin American cause. I believe the true Che was somewhere in the middle- a man who meant well for his people, but employed brutal tactics, and fell into corruption the longer he was associated with the cause. I am eagerly anticipating beginning the Motorcycle Diaries- though Guevara's views are suspect in my opinion, they still should be interesting to read.

Book Previews

I know it sounds bad, but I really judge books by their covers. The cover can reveal a lot about the author's style. A example of a book cover that caught my attention early was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. The book didn't really end up to be my style, but I still enjoyed it.
Reviews on the front and back covers also affect my choice on whether to read a book. If a book is endorsed by something as reputable as the New York Times or Chicago Tribune I am more likely to consider reading it.
Finally, the synopsis on the back cover of a novel is very important to me. It is only through these summaries that one can get a first taste of what the story will be like.

Response to Glen Beck Video

I agree with Beck. Most people don’t know the facts about Che Guevara. He may have stood for ideals, but so did Stalin originally! Even Hitler stood for "high ideals" before he came into power. It doesn’t matter what you believe- the only thing that counts are your actions. Che Guevara’s brutal actions in his bloody communist revolutions don’t make him a hero, they make him a terrorist willing to sacrifice human life.
Beck’s sarcastic style gets across to the audience well.

First Post

Welcome to my blog for Mr. Yost's class. This is my first post.