Book Club Post- Maus

'Maus' by Art Spiegelman-

In the book club we are currently reading the first of the two Maus books, this one is called "My Father Bleeds History" by Art Spiegelman. They are the true story of Spiegelmans father, Vladek, and his time through Auschwitz and the Ghetto's. The book is all done as a comic where the officers are pigs, Nazi's are cats, and the Jew's and civilians are mice. Although it is a comic, the book is still an intense, very real, true story of a Holocaust survivor. The pictures are done witout color and to me are never very happy or lighthearted. It is done through clips times of Vladek telling Art his story in the 1970's or so and clips from during the war. The book gives you a much more real retell of the war and makes you feel as though you are very close to Vladek and could have been with him the whole way. While reading I began noticing a connection between how Vladek becomes... almost like a hoarder and saves everything and is a little crazy and during the war the sense of desperation he and everyone else around him had.

During the book I realized the characters did so many impulsive, crazy things that were horrible an at first i was confused at why they would act like that. Towards the beginning- middle of the book I began to realize that it was because they were so desperate that sometimes, they really had no other choice. On page 109 Tosha kills three children that she loves and then takes her own life to avoid being gassed. She felt as though she had no other way out and had no control over anything, and her only option was to kill them all. People keep having to do crazy things, all because in a world turned so upside down there was just nothing else to do. Also, on page 114 Vladek has to pay his own cousin to save their lives. That war changed the way people though and how relationships worked. Today, saving a loved one is something you just do it's not something done as a job. I think that anyone going through and who lived in a world like this can never be left untouched. I know Spiegelman also encountered horrors, but I believe even if he hadn't just living around people in that state of mind would leave you with affects. For Spiegelman I began noticing that he was incredibly stingy and could never get rid of or buy anything. For example, Mala says that he put her on a $50 a month budget, and thats his own WIFE! Also, Mala says that in restaurants he would bring home toilet paper just so he didn't have to buy it. I think this comes from how life was in the war.

 In the war everyone was so desperate just to have essential things such as food or toilet paper. Because Vladek witnessed and went through all this, it has left him with the fear that maybe it could happen again or just the state of mind that he still must act the same way. I began to think that maybe he is  thinking about how desperate people were for anything and everything and how impulsively they acted and because he still hasn't and never really will be able to move on, he is still living in that mindset.

Blogging off a Song- Bohemian Raphsody by Queen

Bohemian Raphsody by Queen - Stuck in a Small Box, All Alone

As a kid, I never listened to very much 'pop' music or anything that was fairly new. I mostly listened to what my parents listened to, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, etc. Queen has always been one of my favorite bands, and their song Bohemian Raphsody was one of my favorite songs. When I was younger, and probably still now, this song confused me. In one verse Mercury, the singer, would be singing about one thing and in the second verse he is singing about having killed someone, and I was never able to put it all together to really mean something. For this blog on a song, I chose Bohemian Raphsody because I knew it would be challeging to piece together, but I've always been under the impression that once I understood how I interpret it it would have a very powerful meaning.

I've read and reread the lyrics again and again and I believe that the song is about a person who is in this big scary world and feels completely lost and alone. I'm not exactly sure if it is meant to have a message, but I think that it may be that everyone is important and people must look for that in everyone.  The whole song gives off a general feeling of worthlessness where the speaker feels as though they are treated like nothing and people walk all over them. He is showing his anger and how much it hurts, which leaves me with the idea that everyone must be treated as equally special and important. For example, Mercury sings," So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye! So you think you can love me and leave me to die!" towards the end of the song. He then sings "Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here." I believe that this means he has been mistreated and suddenly is brought down to feeling worthless, and I believe the feeling of being trapped comes from the fact that he sees nowhere to go and starts yelling that he just has to get out, but doesn't seem to have anywhere he can go. Also, the line, "Bismillah! No! We will not let you go!" shows me that he feels stuck and held back by all the 'demons' around him. Bismillah means in the name of God, and the way this line is yelled conveys distress and anger.

In addition, the musical affects of this song actually show a lot of the feeling that is going on. For example, at the end of the first verse Mercury's voice fades out while singing 'doesn't really matter... me' putting no stress on the importance of his own opinion. Also, I think that it comes off as though no one is listening to him and there is just no point in trying. Later in the song, while singing an electric guitar comes on and he starts yelling and escalating the volume at which he sings for the lines "I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all!" and then for ,"So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye! So you think you can love me and leave me to die! Oh baby -- can't do this to me, baby!" Which makes me think he is getting incredibly angry and frustrated as the song progresses. Unlinke when reading a book, when listening to a song it's not just the text that helps me figure out the message and mood, but I also use the music and volume and things like that.

When I hear this song it really has an impact on me. I think that there are very few people who have never at least been in a situation where they feel trapped and alone, or like everyone is against them. I loved trying to get into this song just because there are so many things that feel random and strange yet when you put it all together make sense. In conclusion, I think that Bohemian Raphsody is about the idea of feeling alone and trapped, and how upsetting and confusing that is for people.

The History of Love: Waiting for Life to Start

The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss: Waiting for Life to Start

I am currently reading the book "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss. The book follows the trail of a manuscript called "The History of Love." It is narrated by the man who wrote the book, and a young girl named Alma Singer. The author, Leo Gursky, is a Yiddish man who wrote the book in Yiddish and it was about a past girlfriend and he didn't intend for his book to be published or read. After having about 1,000 copies published in Spain the book dissapeared. It was found and read by Alma's father who then died of cancer and he never told anyone about the book. Years later a copy comes back into Alma's hands and the book begins to tie them all together. The book studies the relationships people have with one another whether it's love, loss, friendship, or they are family. In it almost every main character seems to feel like there is something missing in their lives and they are looking for something. i think that in this they are waiting to find that something, and be able to start or restart their lives.

Since Alma's father died she lives with her brother 'Bird' and her mother Charlotte in Brooklyn, and although they don't know it, near Leo Gursky. I have gotten the impression that Alma was really close to her dad and was torn when he passed away, even though she was only six. It was the same way with Alma's mother who often doesn't leave her bed and although it's been five years is still heartbroken and practically refuses to talk to other men, especially if she really likes them. I think that she is scared to lose another loved one and is waiting for her heart to heal and to move on. I think this is something she really, really wants to do, but has no idea how to do it. She is waiting for someone to come along and show her that she can go on. Also, I think that Alma is waiting to have a family again. She often seems to be really alone and it brings her down. She wants her mother to heal and for them to be a family so that she too can move on and they can be happy together. Until then I don't think Alma kind find the strength to move on and so she is waiting for her mother.

Leo Gursky is waiting for a new life to come through love. I think that he wants his life to begin, see's no way to make it really start for him, and yet is scared of death. He is running in circles away from death, yet not taking a moment to stop and live the last few years of his life. Leo and his friend Bruno have specials signals like tapping the radiator so that they hear the noise in each others apartments that are one floor apart, to make sure that neither of them are dead. Neither of them do very much and usually stay inside. They are both so afraid of death that they do not take a moment to live. Also, Leo always remembers his past love and when he does walk around the city, love is almost all he thinks of. Although he won't admit it at all, I think he is searching for someone to love. He waits to find someone to love, because i believe he thinks that it will fill him with a will to live and give him something to live for. For example, he had a son with a girlfriend who never knew him, although he always kept tabs on that son, until his son died. For a while after his son died he became antisocial and it hurt him. Leo relies on needing someone to love.

In conclusion, in "The History of Love" I think that most of the main characters, Alma Singer, Charlotte Singer, and Leo Gursky, and some other characters are simply waiting for their lives to truly begin, or begin again.

Nonfiction Post: "Sugar Wars"

"Sugar Wars": Mayor Bloombergs 'Ban on Soda'

Majerol, Veronica. "Sugar Wars." Upfront 17 Sept. 2012, 145 : 6-7
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1040714528/13BA6098859103DF35C/2?accountid=14875 

For this blog post I read the article 'Sugar Wars' by Veronica Majerol from the magazine Upfront. The article is about how in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg is taking action against the always rising obesity rates. He proposes that by no longer allowing private restaurants or places serving people food, like McDonalds, they no longer can serve sodas that are more than 16 ounces. Places like grocery stores would not have to follow this law. In the US, one in three adults in obese. In New York City, one in two adults are obese. Fast food chains now offer a 42 ounce soda. 42 ounces is about a liter and a half. They make the prices only slightly higher than those of the smaller drinks, which incentivises the costumer to just buy the larger one. Then they figure that because they have it, they may as well drink it, which plays a huge role in whats causing obesity.

I think that in the article the author supports Bloomberg's ban and is passionate about ending the obesity epidemic. I believe that throughout the article they were trying to make me, the reader, agree with them, and I definitely do agree with Majerol. She used many techniques and craft moves in her writing to convince the reader of what she believes. "The proposed ban is intended to help fight obesity, which has reached nationwide epidemic proportions. According to health agencies, more than one third of Americans are obese; in New York City, more than half of adults are either overweight or obese. High consumption of sugary drinks is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and long-term weight gain" says Majerol. Whether you agree or disagree with Bloombergs proposal, these facts are shocking! Majerol uses these statistics because it is apparent that they will be heard by both sides of the argument, and because they prove her point, they may convince many to feel the same way. The way she states facts plainly like this leaves no room for argument or opposition, which really proves her point.

In my opinion, I think that Bloomberg definitely should go through with the ban on sugary drinks. Basically these fast food restaurants are tricking the public. They know many people think it is smarter to buy what you can get more from, for the same or a similar price and the large size is so accessible. When companies add 50 cents to a drink thats much larger than the last size down, they're not trying to give you a great deal, they're trying to get money. When everyone uses the same logic, all those extra 50 cents add up, it can be a large amount of money. They are not concerned about your health, and are aware it will hurt you. I don't think people consider obesity dangerous, because the effects cannot necessarily be seen directly, yet they're HUGE. If these drinks are banned then they are no longer acessible and Americans aren't going to want to go to 'all the trouble' of finding a drink as big. Instead they'll just go for the smaller size, just because it's whats there. This way, even the people who do not car enough to make healthy choices, wind up being forced into making them.

Friendship, Lies and All

Friendship, Lies and All: Home for the Holidays, Heather Vogel-Frederick

         I'm currently reading Home for the Holidays, by Heather Vogel- Frederick. It is the fifth book in the Mother Daughter Book Club series. I think that what I really love about this book is how relataeble it is, particurally through friendships. Most books show friends that are absolutely perfect together, and always help each other, and when they're together nothing goes wrong. This is something I really dislike about realistic fiction books, because generally friendships aren't like that, and like everything there is a lot of stuff that goes wrong. I think that to read a book that I cannot relate with, really makes it a lot harder to enjoy because everything tend to mean a little less to you. In Home for the Holidays the girls are incredible friends to each other, but they still lie to each other, and have their issues.

          

          While Megan and Becca's families are on the Caribbean cruise, Becca lies to Megan. On page 236, Megan tells Becca that she really, really likes the captains son Phillipe. Later, Becca goes on a 'walk' with Phillipe because shes possibly jealous even though she claims shes not. For a few days towards the end of the cruise Megan won't talk to Becca because of how hurt she is, but by the end she realizes that her friendship with Becca is more important and that they can work through anything. Although their problems do end up a little easier and faster than they might in real life, I've read so many books where the main girl has her one best friend that has never, ever done anything wrong, which really isn't realistic. Also, while at Jess's aunt and uncles house, Jess has a broken leg and Emma befriends her mean cousin and without realizing they begin to disclude Jess. When Jess confronts Emma, Emma tells her that she wasn't trying to and although she is mad Jess trusts Emma and they forgive each other. This is another example of a relationship in a book where friendships aren't perfect, and thats a big thing that I love about these books.

          Seeing how the girls get happy endings with their friends, they still do fight with their friends. when I read a book where all friendships are perfect, despite whatever other problems the main characters have, it makes me feel like I cannot relate to the book, because it feels a little fake. One of the most important qualities in a book, is when you can really get inside of it, and if it feels... wrong, that's pretty hard. I think that when I see best friends getting through struggles together it makes me want to read more, and get deeper into the book.

          In conclusion, I really like the aspect of the book where it seems like there are more problems than just basic ones, and also ones that happen between best friends. This makes the book feel a lot more realistic and relatable.

Societys Skinny Little Scars

Society's Skinny Little Scars- Stick Figure, by Lori Gottlieb

The book Stick Figure, is Lori Gottlieb's memoir from her childhood, and how when she was eleven years old she was diagnosed with anorexia. I know that it definitely comes from the people around her, mainly her mother, her friend Julie's mother, and the media, specifically magazines. She comes from a family that is not very loving and her parents are definitely not supportive and tend to only notice her when she does something wrong. I think that her relationships with the people around her are what cause her Anorexia, and it's less about her personally.

For example, her mother is always putting her food on other peoples plates, claiming she's not hungry, and whether or not shes Anorexic, she definitely has eating issues, but her mother also is always yelling at her that she "better eat her potato salad" and things like that. her mother pressuring her into eating, I think really inclines Lori to eat less. She always gets really angry when her parents make comments like this because she feels that when her mother is being hypocritical it's not fair. The angrier and angrier Lori seems to get, the less and less she seems to eat. Also, I think her family is influencing her eating disorder because I believe that although those coments made by her mother make her angry, I do think that she craves having any sort of attention from her parents. Like on page 52 when she screams "f**k you?" to her parents because shes angry, it's triggered by the fact that she knows they will listen. I think that because her parents kind of neglect her, she knows that if she does something wrong, she will finally receive the attention she is craving.

 In additions, I think that like anything, the kids around us and the media around us, shape who we are and definitely cause many eating disorders in young girls. For example, Kate starts talking about having 'thunder thighs', which makes Lori look at her own thighs and begin to think that she must have them. Also, she is always asking herself whether she has as good of a 'body' as the women she see's in her mothers magazines that she steals. Who somebody is a product of the environment around them, and in this case, Lori becomes who she thinks people are pressuring her to be. She see's whats surrounding her, and wants to be like it, or as good as it. Whether or not I agree with being like that, I know I understand it, and that it cannot be helped and therefore does not making Loris Anorexia something she causes for herself. I think that this all derives from the pressure to be society's form of perfect, which is hardly ever even achievable, because you never really can be perfect to everyone. When girls see those Women in magazines they assume that is perfect, and do not want to be 'scars' ruining the perfection.

Also, I think that even though she has a very extreme eating disorder, Lori is a very relatable girl. Partly, because she is writing about her own experiences, but also because the style in which she writes is as if it was her writing about it when she was a girl. The voice she writes it through is completely un byast and even though today she has overcome her Anorexia and know that that is a bad mindset, in the book she still writes it through the lens where she completely agrees with all the crazy things she says. As a girl, many of her insecurities, and problems through craving attention are things that I relate to. Having older sibilings, who it sometimes really can seem like your parents love and appreciate more is really hard, and I know Lori understands that because of her brother David. All of this makes the book a lot easier to read, because I understand all of her mindsets and problems.

In conclusion, I think that Lori's Anorexia is not something she can help, and is simply a product of the way others treat her, and the society is around her. She just feels the pressure to be perfect, like so many other girls her age.

The Lorax: The Future is in Our Hands

The Lorax, By Dr. Seuss: The Future is in Our Hands

In class, we just read the picture book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It is the story of the Once-Ler and the Lorax. In it,  the Lorax speaks for the animals and plants of a forest. Then the Once-ler comes and begins hacking down trees, driving all the animals away and creating pollution and smog just because he is greedy and wants money. I think that in this book, which I believe is definitely based on Global Warming and rich, greedy corporation owners, also shows an incredible relationship between children and adults. I think it shows this through the Once-ler and the one child he trusts with the future of the world.

At the end of the book, after the Once-ler is done telling his story to a small boy, he hands him something. He gives him the last Truffula Tree seed of them all, this basically means that he trusts this yound boy with the future of the environment and an entire species, which is obviously a HUGE burden. One thing that I really noticed, is that of all people, the Once-ler chooses to trust a child. I believe that this signifies how many rich, greedy adults have really done a lot to mess up our world, and therefore our futures. Also, how at this point the only people who can change this are the people of the future and the ones who have to turn around the messes that have been created for them, the children. In addition, i think that the Once-ler knows that if he gives it to another grown up like him, and gives them the power that he got when he started controlling the Truffula Trees, adults who have seen so much of the world will make the same mistakes he did, whereas, an innocent child will not know how to do wrong and will not be tempted by wrongs and know to do the right thing.

Also, I think that the roles three adults play in the book back up my opinion. First of all, a character only shown once, is the man who comes and buys the Thneed, is important. He is just a passer-by who see's the Thneed and decides even though it really shows no purpose he will by it. So many people in our counrty who have money, do not think of things that might need it and are greedy and simply buy things for pleasure. Also, I think that the Lorax, being really the only good character, shows how there are only a few people doing good in our world and putting themselves second to the good of others. Lastly, I think that the Once-ler being an adult supports the adults being the ones who aren't thinking about the good of others, and trying for nothing but to become wealthy.

In conclusion, I think that in the book The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss the way that the Once-ler is an adult and the person he trusts the future with is a child, shows in a big way a message Dr. Seuss way trying to portray about kids being the ones to save the future.