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.