SSRJ #4: Carver

SSRJ #4: Carver

            When I was reading “Popular Mechanics” by Raymond Carver, the one thing that was going through my head was the sadness of family problems. Then I thought more about the title and realized how perfect it was for this story. Every relationship and marriages have issues. Which would be consider popular and the issues are the mechanics. That’s how I was looking at it. The conflict here was emotional and intense. Even though we didn’t know the depths and the reason for the argument but it ended in a tragedy.

            The conflict between the couple did set the tone. It begun right when the women snatched the baby’s picture and took the man only minutes to realize he wasn’t leaving without the child. I believe this is where the tone was picking up. He headed down stairs and that’s when all chaos breaks loose. Carver didn’t need to explain much for us to feel the tension. Even though we didn’t know names or much about the setting it was enough for the reader to understand the pain of each parent. What was hard for me to grasp was the pain they were putting their baby through. I’m not a mother but I can’t imagine losing my baby because I caused the death. I’m not sure how I would have handled this conflict. How do you think you have managed this issue?

Hemingway: Extra Credit

Coming home at the end of the war was tough for Kerbs. He came home late, after all the heroes welcomes, and he was shunned. He felt he had served his country and no one seemed to care about his sacrifices. This would be a very difficult way to return to your life. You have faced great fears, uncertainty and death and even the people closest to you don’t seem to understand.  

I have been in a situation where I left Texas in the middle of my senior year to come to California and when I returned back home things have changed. My friends have all moved away for college. All my family was back in California. When I was reading I was feeling Kerbs emptiness. By remembering this experience I can understand a little better why Kerbs was acting the way he was. I had nowhere to turn to. I felt I had to start all over. Krebs felt like no one cared and that was the way I felt. I was lost. What I had to remember and what Kerbs could have learned was that I had a loving family no matter how I felt and where I was. I could see this issue still coming up with present day soldiers. Even though times are different now and we welcome our soldier’s home, I am sure there are still some situations like this. It is unfortunate to think about anyone being treated this way by the very citizens they were trying to protect. This would be where my sister could relate exactly to Kerbs. She has a story very similar.

SSRJ #3: Colette

SSRJ #3: Colette

When I first started to read this story I thought to myself, “I could use a romantic story right now”. Then the more I read I realized that this story wasn’t as romantic as I was hoping. After the first couple paragraphs, I felt I was thrown a curve ball. I was a little uncomfortable but more so disturbed. I started to literally picture a monstrous hand with claws and covered with ware wolf hair. I know that is exaggerating some but that was the picture I imagined. I think she was making a big deal about “the hand” which had me thinking irrational thoughts her husband’s hand.

I believe Colette was trying to make a point to tell us, we may not know people as well as we think. There is always another side of us that we hide. Maybe not intentionally but we do. I believe this is true. You would be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t. In this case the hand is the symbol. It’s the main object. It is used to describe a different side of her husband. Something that she has never noticed or has never paid close attention. There are probably reasons why his hand acted in an animal like way and put fear in the wife. My thought was, he could have been dreaming or it had something to do with his previous wife. But the neat part was even though she has never witness “the hand” she overcame her fears of it and kissed it. Do you believe the hand represented another side of him she never knew about?

SSRJ #2 Oates

 SSRJ #2: Oates

            Reading “Three Girls” made me feel like a teenager again. I thought about the time my sister and I were at this restaurant we thought we saw George Strait. But, it wasn’t. We had gotten all excited. I do have a recent experience that is similar to the story.  Long story short, this summer I was coaching AAU basketball and we had a tournament in L.A. Well, after one of our games we were outside having a team meeting and some of the girls thought they saw Dwight Howard. If you don’t know who that is, he plays for the NBA. After we went looking around, we found out it was him. We were the only one who knew and were able to take pictures with him. It was a cool experience.  I think the narrator writing in first-person made me feel as if I was there with her.

            The story being told in first-person helps draw attention to the reader and paint that picture. You’re able to see the plot clearer. To me I felt I was sitting in the same book store the girls were at. I think Oates wanted us to feel the suspense of following Marilyn Monroe. Wondering if we were ever going to be seen by her or catch a glimpse of what she was looking for. Did you ever feel you were part of the story? I sure did. I believe Oates did a wonderful job by making the reader understand the night life of New York and what part they were at. She explained the plot well. If I were to walk by the Strand Bookstore I would probably recognize it. I can’t really give an interpretation of the last sentence. What did u think it meant?

SSRJ#1: Chopin

        At first this story made my heartache. I was having sympathy for Mrs. Mallard. I couldn’t imagine the news of hearing my husband had been killed, regardless of how our relationship was. I haven’t had anyone close to me die so I’m not sure how the grieving process is but I have seen the pain and hurt people have felt when they have lost a dear one. This piece of work made me think about reality and how anything can happen. While reading, the protagonist stood out the most, Mrs. Mallard. Watching her behavior change over a short period of time made me wonder if she even loved her husband or was her marriage that horrible.

There are a few elements that can be used to describe this short story. I believe Chopin wanted us to focus on the protagonist. From the beginning of the story, Mrs. Mallard previously had heart problems before she was told about the death of her husband. I think Chopin wanted the readers not to be surprised at the end, when Mrs. Mallard died of a heart disease. The author describes a short grieving period until the moment Mrs. Mallard starts to say “free, free, free!” Again, the focus point from this statement on was the awkwardness of her behavior. It’s not normal for people to feel relieved when a spouse has been killed. It led me to asking questions to myself. How bad can a marriage be to have the emotions Mrs. Mallard had? Was it a marriage she was forced into? Then when she realizes her husband is alive she has a heart attack. It made me think; is it better to be dead then to live and be married to a man that causes pain and heartache?

Fellow Class Mates

Hello!
     My name is Jennifer McNamara. This is my first semester at Sierra College. I was previously going to William Jessup University and was part of the athletic program. I played volleyball and basketball there and decided to change my major, which they didn't offer. Hence the reason I am here! My goal I am working towards is to become a Personal Trainer in fitness and nutrition. The honest reason for me taking this course is because I have been putting it off for too long. So, I decided to try something new and take it online to see if  I will enjoy it more than a class room setting. I have been attending college for the last few years on and off due to traveling and moving. I moved from Texas after I graduated high school and have moved up and down the coast of California. I am very happy where I resign now. I do enjoy to read a good book now and then but I mostly enjoy reading my daily devotionals and Bible. I plan to work my butt off in this course so be ready for me to ask some of you questions!
      Jennifer