So we have read a good amount of books this semester, and i'd have to say, probably never read that much in my life. The most enjoyable book to me was When The Emperor Was Divine. I have always been interested in history ever since I was inspired by my 7th grade history teacher, so books that relate to past events really get my attention, and keep my interested. This book actually shocked me for the most part, because it shed light upon a piece of history that I knew little to nothing about. Not only was I able to learn a little more about the history and a little more background on what went on in the U.S in that time period, but I was also able to see it first hand. You can always read up about a piece of history and see or get an idea of at least, what it may have been like. However, when you read something in the context of this book, hearing it from someone who experienced it first hand you can really get a feel of what it may have been like, by hearing peoples feelings, and the emotional/psychological effects that these sort of events may have on someone. My least favorite book that we read this semester was Push. I honestly don't have one hard particular reason why, its just a number of little things. I really didn't like reading what I was reading about. The book did have a good theme to it showing Precious' progression and motivation, as well as how far she came by the end. But there were just certain things I couldn't really stomach, such as the fact that she got pregnant by her father, and her abuse. There was just so many graphic scenarios in my head reading this book that I didn't really want to picture in my head, as well as the sadness from reading a book like this.

two or three things i know for sure

Dorothy is basically a hard core feminist. The interesting thing about this book is that you get to hear of a womens insecurities. Dorothy Allison put this book together well by being able to relate to any women gay or straight by shedding light up on the many hardships that women face, and there obligation to be sheltered and innocent. On page 54 she writes "Women talk about sex in such strange ways- carefully, obliquely, cautiously, almost shamefully." Males are more comfortable, and more likely to openly talk about sex, in most cases with pride, which is the complete opposite of how most women talk about it. She then goes on to say that "the art of flirting is the art of indirection." This is something that caught my attention right away in the book. If you really think about flirting, it in fact is an art of indirection.When you flirt, you try to relate, as well as propose your best behavior towards someone in a way that YOU think you can get that person to begin to have interest in you. You paint a picture of yourself and leave yourself vulnerable to someone and see if they take the bait, and spark a relationship. Dorothy thought herself immune to love and boys, due to her family passed with boys, this made her want women instead. Through her own eyes she can analyse women because she is one and tell a story with it. In the same passage she says (talking about flirting with another women) "Talk to me. Tell me who you are, what you want, what you never had, the story you've always been afraid to tell." She said that most women blush and squirm in reaction to this, and now and then a few gather up the courage to flirt back. I Think that her way of outright talking to a women and asking her these questions digs deep into a womens insecurities which is why she gets the response she gets.

The Shawl ending

Rosa was sent to florida for destroying her shop in New York. The concentration camp as well as the loss of her daughter had a huge and devastating effect on her, so bad she had to be put in a mental institution in Florida. Its pretty intriguing how Rosa still presumes that her niece Stella is evil.  I mean i know she was part of the reason for magdas death, but she was a little girl herself, Rosa had saved her life in the concentration camp, and Stella essentially pays for her living in florida. Rosa lives in two worlds one in which she functions in and one in which her daughter lives in . The loss of her country her family and her daughter caused serious emotional devastation for her which in return caused Rosa to lose herself.

When the emperor was divine ending

The ending of this book was pretty interesting. The beginning of the fathers confessions really capped off the ending of the book by giving the reader a sense of helplessness that was felt by most American-Japanese of the era. He was tired and hungry, so he used a false confession as a means to an end, by telling them exactly what they wanted to hear to determine his fate quicker, and get it over with either go home or accept punishment. There seems to be three parts to his confession. In the first part of the confession, the father starts to state just about everything that the American-Japenese (spies) were being accused of: "I poisoned your reserviors. I put insecticide in your food. I sent my peas and potatos to the market full of insecticide." ect. In the second part of the confession, he throws out as many roles of an everyday American he can possibly think of: "Who am I? You know who I am. Or you think you do. I'm your flourist. I'm your grocer. I'm your porter. I'm your waiter." etc.. Then in the final part of the confession, he starts to spit out all of the slang terms used to insult Asians: "I'm the one you call slits. I'm the one you call slopes. I'm the one you call yellowbelly. I'm The one you call a gook." and so on. At the very end  he said "And if they ask you someday what it was i most wanted to say, please tell them, if you would, it was this: I'm sorr. There. Thats it. I've said it. Now can I go? I found myself questioning alot about what was going on in this part (the ending) more so than any other part of the book, and still skeptical of what to make of it. In my opinion, he was simply laying all the cards out on the table for judgement. Again, he had seemingly given up hope and essentially just wanted fate to take its course.

When the emperor was divine

So I just got the book yesterday and began reading it. The book sort of dragged in the beginning but started to get my attention because of the events that were taking place. In chapter one we learn that the story begins in Berkeley, California in 1942. Signs begin to spring up all over town saying that any persons of Japanese decent must prepare to be located. It is interesting how were always taught and well informed about Hitler and the Nazi regime growing up, as well as the concentration camps. However, we barely hear of this event that happened in the US. Although these camps were no where near similar or as horrible as the concentration camps, the stories of these camps are still overlooked in our teachings of history. Its interesting that we are reading this book in class and starting to learn about a subject that for the most part (speaking for myself) is unspoken of. I'm interested to learn a little bit more about this time in history in the U.S. It's pretty coincidental that in my philosophy class, we began learning about the genocide and dehumanization that took place in the 90's. They had concentration camps as well similar to the ones in WWII! and this was in our time. Its interesting how these parts of history can be overlooked, and it amazes me how unaware I am.

Push: readers guide question

In this post I'm going to focus on a question from the readers guide of my book. Q: Push presents what one viewer called "one of the most disturbing portraits of motherhood ever published." (city paper November 1996). How would you explain or interpret Precious' mother Behavior?

Precious' mother was basically not a mother (in my opinion) She had abused her daughter all the time, giving her beatings for the slightest things, and throwing things at her. She insults her daughter every chance she can get calling her "fat ass," "lying whore," "You cant learn shit," even things such as "I should have aborted your ass." She hits her daughter every which way possible not only physically but verbally. When you have a mother thats doing this it can cause a child a great deal of harm, an inability to grow up to be a "normal" civilized human being. Along with the verbal and physical abuse, her mother sexually abused her as well. I think that she was more or less in a sense enslaved by her mother. Not only does her mother abuse her sexually but her father as well, and her mother blames that abuse on her. When I think of a mother I think of a warm hearted person who gives her unconditional love, and support to her child. When I read this I was reminded of the definition of a mother. (mŭTH'ər) n.

1. 1. A female person who is pregnant with or gives birth to a child.
   2. A female person whose egg unites with a sperm, resulting in the conception of a child.
   3. A woman who adopts a child.

Push

When I first started reading this book it kind of dragged. I wasn't really sure what I was in for, and was startled at the grammar but I started to put the picture together as I read on. This was one of those books that when you read the first couple chapters you start to get an idea of what might happen and what the overall moral of the story is. I'm not gonna lie certain parts of this book made my stomach do flips, but nonetheless this is whats keeping my attention (haven't finish it yet). In this blog I wanted to talk about the title "Push" and its significance. I think that it is a perfect title for the book, and my interpretation of it. (in my own opinion) The title signifies the struggle of Claireece Precious Jones to essentially learn and depart from her home life and poor role modeling that was instituted by her parents. Her father raped her frequently and got her pregnant, her mother used her to please her sexual desires, and abused her. In the beginning of the book it seems as though Precious' desire to learn wasn't there. But you can start to see her change, and eventually start to push herself not only to learn school wise, but to learn right from wrong something that she was not familiar with. "Miz Rain" is a determined teacher in the book who wants to see her succeed, and pushes her to do her best. The title "Push" signifies a push of precious' self to do better, and push from her determined teacher.