Maus Part 2 (Extra)

After reading Maus 1 and Maus 2 I was able to see many similarities and differences between the two. First of all, one difference that I noticed was that Maus 2 seemed to break down the story line a lot more. However, the story line does seem to go in the same direction as the first. Another difference that I noticed in Maus 2 as opposed to Maus 1 is that it seemed to be a lot more detailed and therefore I enjoyed Maus 2 more. The details that Spegielman is able to really describe well in Maus 2 is when he starts explaining the torture that they went through. I found that Maus 1 was a difficult story to accept because of the storyline its only the beginning of the story, making Maus 2 even harder to accept because of the details of the tragic events that really took place. Although Maus 2 was a difficult story to read and accept because of the tragic events that are described, I really enjoyed reading it and definitely liked it better than Maus 1 because Spegielman provides more details.

Maus

I found the way that Spiegelman attempts to describe and try to be able to have the reader's relate to the experiences of the Holocaust and a troubled relationship to be very affective. The book is able to depict the Holocaust through an actual survivor and thus makes it easy for people to feel connected and able to experience little parts of what survivors went through. Because of this I really enjoyed reading the novel because it was very well written and was told through the eyes of a survivor, which makes the book more personal. Not only that but because the Holocaust is an actual event, the book reveals so many emotions not only for the characters of the book but also for readers. I also thought that the way the book was written, with animals representing people, such as Jews represented by mice, Germans represented by cats and so on to be a very clever way to go about writing this novel. Instead of the traditional Jews and Germans Spiegelman uses a different approach with cats and mice, being a very effective and interesting comparison.

Slaughterhouse 5

I thought that this novel wasn't necessarily one of my favorites,but I did find it to be interesting and made me think. To me the most interesting part of this novel was the phrase "so its goes". The phrase is referring to the Tralfamadorian's idea that although a person may be dead in a particular moment, he or she is alive in all the other moments of his or her life. This phrase was repeated throughout the entire story. However, I found a lot of other parts of this novel that had to do with the Tralfamadorians to be very interesting. For example, the Tralfamadorians believe that all moments repeat themselves and that all moments of time have already happened. Because of this they have the idea that their fate is already decided and so therefore, they accept it and don't believe that they have any power or chance to change their fate. They also believe that here on earth people think of time as a linear progression, which to them is a mistake and not the right way to look at things. I found the ideas of the Tralfamadorians to be very interesting and unique and especially made me think about their idea that our fate is already chosen for us.

Waiting for Gadot

I found Beckett's Waiting for Gadot to be a very interesting and crazy play to read. However, the main issue I found to be so different and interesting was the relationship between Estragon and Vladimir. They seem to be so close but yet in a weird way. For example, Vladimir seems to understand and see that Estragon is very dependent on him and really needs him even though he seems to play it off like he doesn't need Estragon. This is made very clear when Vladamir states that Estragon would be "nothing more than a little heap of bones". This line really caught my attention because it seemed so funny for two individuals to be so close yet make remarks like that towards each other. Also, Vladimir and Estragon always talk about leaving each other or parting, but they never do. Another interesting part about these two individual's relationship was the way in which one repeat what the other one said. For example, when the two characters switch lines in the dialogue, with each asking the other, "It hurts?" and responding, "Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts!" Maybe this way of switching lines and showing repetition is symbolizing the repetitiveness in Vladimir and Estragon's lives in general.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

I really enjoyed reading "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and I also found it to send out an interesting message. I found that throughout the whole story Janie has set out on an adventure to find true love, but not only true love and happiness but also her own independence. When she was married to Logan, she experienced neither love or independence. Jody showed her love and happiness at one point in time but denied her her own independence. And finally with Tea Cake Janie experiences the love and happiness she has been searching for also becomes secure in her own independence. Although it seems funny that in the end she ends up shooting Tea Cake and ultimately ends up alone, she does not feel alone. Janie feels Tea Cake's presence around her because when she was with Tea Cake she truly feels happy and in love and even though Tea Cake is gone she still feels that and therefore, is content being alone, and although she is alone, Janie doesn't actually feel alone.

"As I Lay Dying" (Extra)

After finishing reading "As I Lay Dying" I came to find that Addie's coffin symbolizes a lot. For starters, the coffin itself seems to stand for the burden it has on the family. All of the crazy circumstances that took place and horrible luck all led back to the fact that this family is trying to get this coffin to Jefferson to bury their mother and wife but if it wasn't for the fact that they were trying to do this, all these disasters wouldn't happen. Therefore leading back to Addie's coffin, the Budren family has to get this coffin underground if they have any chance of getting back to a normal life. Not only this but all the disasters that took place throughout the story lead back to the coffin as well. For example, laying Addie in it upside down, drilling holes in their mothers face, Cash breaking his leg trying, the fire, the mule's dying. All of these disasters are simply because they are trying to bury this coffin. I also believe that Addie's coffin brings out all the problems associated with this family. Darl's issues, Dewey Dell and her abortion, Jewel having a different father, Anse laziness, Cash's leg, Addie's affair, all of these problems come out and are realized because of the death of Addie.

"As I Lay Dieing"

After reading the first part of William Faulkner "As I Lay Dieing" I really started to like the way each chapter was told by a certain character. I really enjoyed getting the insight views and thoughts of each character and not only this but outsiders views on certain characters as well. It really helped me to understand and relate to the characters, which made the reading more personal and more exciting to read. One particular part that really stuck out to me in the first section of this book was the fact that the oldest son of Addie, Cash, who is preparing Addie's coffin not only while she is sick and dieing, but yet right outside of her very own window of the room she is laying in "dieing". I find this part to be very interesting and even though I can't seem to put a finger on what could be the reasoning behind building one's coffin while they are alive and right outside there window is, I am anxious for an explanation. As if it isn't enough that somebody is dieing they have to be reminded everyday by their son building a box that will be where one lays when dead and buried into the ground. I found this part to not only be disturbing, but simply cruel.