I love the language in this book. The author uses such a wide range of vocabulary within the descriptions, but it doesn't seem like she's forcing it. Rather, it brings a fluidity to the language, which I find fits the tone perfectly. The tone is brought about by the setting of 1920's to 1930's (during the Great Depression) in the U.S. where during that time, glamor was of the utmost and beauty was useful. It gives a tone of a beautifully fluid surface, with some slight tension underneath, which is like the Brewsters. They're suffering due to the Depression, but still live behind a glamorous mask.
Unfortunately, the supposed surprises don't turn out to be much of a surprise for me, as when they had found the body. I had already guessed they would have found it due to the overly obvious foreshadowing. It took out some of the suspense that would have made the twists and turns much more enjoyable.
However, perhaps that is the style of mystery novel writing during the 90's. (I just looked at the copyright date which was 1999). Perhaps obvious foreshadowing was the popular way to write and was what people enjoyed during that time.
Overall, I liked the book. I thought it had a great plot that was intricate, but simple enough. I like books where there isn't just one problem and one way to solve it, and this book was not one of those. My only problem was the obviousness in the writing. But I still enjoyed reading it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Odyseey (16-24)
I like how supposedly glorious it is when Odysseus comes back without the disguise, as himself. I found it slightly funny as well.
I never realized how much power the suitors have. Odysseus is acting as though they are an army of his enemy, not just men beneath him. I thought he could kick them out whenever he wanted, or whenever he returned, because isn't that what Penelope and his people were waiting for? Isn't that why Penelope never married? It doesn't make sense for it to be so hard to return where people want you, for Odysseus's situation, at least.
I like Amphinomus. Though the suitors are looked on as terrible and manipulative, I didn't absolutely hate him, and favor him among the suiters. He just seems like a cool suitor.
Odysseus's plan is clever (disguising himself) but he's not so great at getting passed the suitors, because he keeps getting beat up on the way.
See? Even Odysseus likes Amphinomus, shown when Odysseus warns him to leave because Penelope's husband will be back.
I can't believe Penelope doesn't recognize her husband! You'd think she would, because they were married. It reminds me of this movie where this mother was like, I can recognize any child or grandchild of mine. Then, her daughter-in-law cheats on her husband, but tells the mother that the baby is her son's baby (her real grandchild), and the mother says, Yes, this is my grandchild, he looks just like his father.
But she was wrong.
Anyway, thinking about Penelope, and what a lump she is, it makes me so frustrated that she doesn't know and that Odysseus doesn't tell her because I know, as the reader. And I thought, it might be really cool if the author didn't even share with the reader that Odysseus was the beggar.
Yes I know that Athena loves disguises and is good at them herself, but why is she encouraging this disguise for so long? Odysseus should just tell Penelope and make the suitors leave.
Why does Penelope still want to remarry a suitor even when she has just heard that her husband will be back in a month? Hasn't she been waiting long enough for him? And now she's ready to give up?
With the eagles and talons and doves and bloody walls, I keep thinking of the 10 plagues, and how the suitors were warned, but they refuse to listen.
Why did Odysseus still feel the need to shoot someone with an arrow? And then commence his slaughter of the suitors? WHEN Penelope said she would marry the man that could string the bow and shoot through the axes? Wouldn't she just have married him and all the suitors went home? Because I thought it was a great twist to the story, and Odysseus could have spared himself the murders.
First he orders Eurycleia to be quite ("Keep your joy in your heart, woman") though she had been the one to raise him, and that is no way to speak to her, then he says "It is not decent to boast over slain men." First of all, he was the one that killed them, which was unnecessary, second, he boasts about the disturbing deeds he's done. For example, blinding a cyclopes, which was also unnecessary.
Isn't that kind of unreasonable- killing the "disgraceful" women of the house? It's Penelope's fault for giving them free run of the house and for letting the suitors stay, and isn't the women's fault for mingling with them.
Ok, Odysseus and Telemachus are sadistic and heartless and inhumane and psychotic. They seem almost worse than the suitors, maybe they are worse, shown after what they did to the servant women and Melanthius. Then Odysseus has the house fumigated, as if it were just some common thing, and that what had just happened was insignificant.
Does Odysseus find it funny, when he tricks people with his disguises? Even his own father, who has been grieving his son's absence for all these years?
Athena could have totally put a stop to the violence that Odysseus caused when he killed all of the suitors, and her ability to do so is shown when she stops a fight between the parents and Odysseus.
I never realized how much power the suitors have. Odysseus is acting as though they are an army of his enemy, not just men beneath him. I thought he could kick them out whenever he wanted, or whenever he returned, because isn't that what Penelope and his people were waiting for? Isn't that why Penelope never married? It doesn't make sense for it to be so hard to return where people want you, for Odysseus's situation, at least.
I like Amphinomus. Though the suitors are looked on as terrible and manipulative, I didn't absolutely hate him, and favor him among the suiters. He just seems like a cool suitor.
Odysseus's plan is clever (disguising himself) but he's not so great at getting passed the suitors, because he keeps getting beat up on the way.
See? Even Odysseus likes Amphinomus, shown when Odysseus warns him to leave because Penelope's husband will be back.
I can't believe Penelope doesn't recognize her husband! You'd think she would, because they were married. It reminds me of this movie where this mother was like, I can recognize any child or grandchild of mine. Then, her daughter-in-law cheats on her husband, but tells the mother that the baby is her son's baby (her real grandchild), and the mother says, Yes, this is my grandchild, he looks just like his father.
But she was wrong.
Anyway, thinking about Penelope, and what a lump she is, it makes me so frustrated that she doesn't know and that Odysseus doesn't tell her because I know, as the reader. And I thought, it might be really cool if the author didn't even share with the reader that Odysseus was the beggar.
Yes I know that Athena loves disguises and is good at them herself, but why is she encouraging this disguise for so long? Odysseus should just tell Penelope and make the suitors leave.
Why does Penelope still want to remarry a suitor even when she has just heard that her husband will be back in a month? Hasn't she been waiting long enough for him? And now she's ready to give up?
With the eagles and talons and doves and bloody walls, I keep thinking of the 10 plagues, and how the suitors were warned, but they refuse to listen.
Why did Odysseus still feel the need to shoot someone with an arrow? And then commence his slaughter of the suitors? WHEN Penelope said she would marry the man that could string the bow and shoot through the axes? Wouldn't she just have married him and all the suitors went home? Because I thought it was a great twist to the story, and Odysseus could have spared himself the murders.
First he orders Eurycleia to be quite ("Keep your joy in your heart, woman") though she had been the one to raise him, and that is no way to speak to her, then he says "It is not decent to boast over slain men." First of all, he was the one that killed them, which was unnecessary, second, he boasts about the disturbing deeds he's done. For example, blinding a cyclopes, which was also unnecessary.
Isn't that kind of unreasonable- killing the "disgraceful" women of the house? It's Penelope's fault for giving them free run of the house and for letting the suitors stay, and isn't the women's fault for mingling with them.
Ok, Odysseus and Telemachus are sadistic and heartless and inhumane and psychotic. They seem almost worse than the suitors, maybe they are worse, shown after what they did to the servant women and Melanthius. Then Odysseus has the house fumigated, as if it were just some common thing, and that what had just happened was insignificant.
Does Odysseus find it funny, when he tricks people with his disguises? Even his own father, who has been grieving his son's absence for all these years?
Athena could have totally put a stop to the violence that Odysseus caused when he killed all of the suitors, and her ability to do so is shown when she stops a fight between the parents and Odysseus.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Odyssey (15)
Pre.S. Just found out what that movie was, the cartoon movie with the ship and the sirens and the end of the earth. Actually, it isn't a Disney movie, and it's Sinbad. We should watch that.
How is "'ee" a pun on Telemachus's name?
The way I'm thinking of Telemachus is as one of those princes in the stories, but he's not that smart, and actually quite stupid, and he needs to be told what to do, as Athena needed to tell him what to do in a dream.
Now with all of these people related to the sacking of Troy and the Trojan Horse, I keep picturing certain characters (Menelous, Helen) as those from the movie Troy. We NEED to watch that movie!
There aren't many straightforward explanations of as to how people got where they are. Or perhaps it will be explained later, like how the way Odysseus blinded Poisdeon's son was explained at the end of his tale. Because it wasn't explained exactly how Telemachus was with Peisistratos.
When Odysseus tells Eumaeus that he'll leave in the morning in hopes that Eumaeus will ask him to stay longer (because Eumaeus is a nice man), I thought, Odysseus is so manipulative! He tricked Eumaeus by being a brown noser. Just adds to my feeling for Odysseus that he is self-centered and still in his own world.
How is "'ee" a pun on Telemachus's name?
The way I'm thinking of Telemachus is as one of those princes in the stories, but he's not that smart, and actually quite stupid, and he needs to be told what to do, as Athena needed to tell him what to do in a dream.
Now with all of these people related to the sacking of Troy and the Trojan Horse, I keep picturing certain characters (Menelous, Helen) as those from the movie Troy. We NEED to watch that movie!
There aren't many straightforward explanations of as to how people got where they are. Or perhaps it will be explained later, like how the way Odysseus blinded Poisdeon's son was explained at the end of his tale. Because it wasn't explained exactly how Telemachus was with Peisistratos.
When Odysseus tells Eumaeus that he'll leave in the morning in hopes that Eumaeus will ask him to stay longer (because Eumaeus is a nice man), I thought, Odysseus is so manipulative! He tricked Eumaeus by being a brown noser. Just adds to my feeling for Odysseus that he is self-centered and still in his own world.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Odyssey (13-14)
I find it funny how the people refuse to help the sinking ship because it was part of a prophecy. Then I thought about how they acted that way because the gods had so much power over them (because the gods actually had real powers) and how there are so many people who would follow what their religion or leader of religion tells them to do because their religion has such a strong hold on them, that it can make them do anything it wants, even if the act is dangerous or immoral, etc.
I'm confused as to why Athena still feels the need to disguise herself, and then act that way towards Odysseus. Why can't she just come out as Athena and say what she has to say? Well I guess that would make her too humanly then...to be simple minded with simple thoughts.
Eumaeus seems like a really kind person. He reminds me of one of those old people that live in almost the middle of nowhere, or in some weird place, and when a new person in the city/town is travelling and everyone is "too busy" or just too full of themselves to help the new person, that old person will always do so, and be extremely hospitable. It's in movies and stuff.
I'm surprised that the people of Ithaca (including Penelope and Telemachus) still believe that Odysseus is alive, even after 20 years. They take to it such an extreme, that I think they're still assuming Odysseus as king of Ithaca (that's what the was, right?) Perhaps if they weren't such an important family, then it wouldn't matter as much, but since they are, don't they need to crown a new king? Unless Penelope is the ruler, but I'm not sure if women were allowed to rule during that time. You'd think because they're so important and they're leaving such an important position empty, they would do something about it. Perhaps go find Odysseus if they really wanted.
I don't understand the point of Odysseus dressing up as a poor homeless person. Just so we could hear what Eumaeus had to say about it?
I'm confused as to why Athena still feels the need to disguise herself, and then act that way towards Odysseus. Why can't she just come out as Athena and say what she has to say? Well I guess that would make her too humanly then...to be simple minded with simple thoughts.
Eumaeus seems like a really kind person. He reminds me of one of those old people that live in almost the middle of nowhere, or in some weird place, and when a new person in the city/town is travelling and everyone is "too busy" or just too full of themselves to help the new person, that old person will always do so, and be extremely hospitable. It's in movies and stuff.
I'm surprised that the people of Ithaca (including Penelope and Telemachus) still believe that Odysseus is alive, even after 20 years. They take to it such an extreme, that I think they're still assuming Odysseus as king of Ithaca (that's what the was, right?) Perhaps if they weren't such an important family, then it wouldn't matter as much, but since they are, don't they need to crown a new king? Unless Penelope is the ruler, but I'm not sure if women were allowed to rule during that time. You'd think because they're so important and they're leaving such an important position empty, they would do something about it. Perhaps go find Odysseus if they really wanted.
I don't understand the point of Odysseus dressing up as a poor homeless person. Just so we could hear what Eumaeus had to say about it?
Monday, January 7, 2008
Odyssey (12)
I'm kinda surprised at how super nice Circe is, because she's got to be at least a little angry that Odysseus is leaving, yet she's giving him hints and directions that Odysseus might not have survived without them.
But I really like her tiny outburst against the men on page 138.
I remember the Sirens! They were in a movie, probably a couple movies I've seen actually, but the only one I can really think of is a Disney movie where they are sailing to the end of the earth (which is supposedly flat I think). I forget the name of the movie, but I think there was something where they were on a ship and there were sounds and the men wanted to jump off the ship into the ocean. Omg, why can I not remember that movie?! I think it was a pretty good one too. I know it's somewhere in some cartoon movie, pobably Disney. We should totally watch it.
It also reminds me of the 4th Harry Potter movie, with the golden egg, how when Harry opens it underwater, it's like a really pretty voice, because it's the voice of mermaids or soemthing.
Scylla reminds me of the Cracken (sp?) from Pirates of the Carribbean.
What happened on the Sun Island is just like Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. They weren't supposed to eat the cow/apple, but they did it anyway, and everyone felt the wrath of Zeus/God.
Yet, Odysseus does not die. But then again, he did not want to kill the cattle. But still, I don't know if he deserved to live while all of his men died. Well why did all of his men have to die? It seems like it was just for the glory of Odysseus.
That's funny. How it ends up back at where he started.
But I really like her tiny outburst against the men on page 138.
I remember the Sirens! They were in a movie, probably a couple movies I've seen actually, but the only one I can really think of is a Disney movie where they are sailing to the end of the earth (which is supposedly flat I think). I forget the name of the movie, but I think there was something where they were on a ship and there were sounds and the men wanted to jump off the ship into the ocean. Omg, why can I not remember that movie?! I think it was a pretty good one too. I know it's somewhere in some cartoon movie, pobably Disney. We should totally watch it.
It also reminds me of the 4th Harry Potter movie, with the golden egg, how when Harry opens it underwater, it's like a really pretty voice, because it's the voice of mermaids or soemthing.
Scylla reminds me of the Cracken (sp?) from Pirates of the Carribbean.
What happened on the Sun Island is just like Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. They weren't supposed to eat the cow/apple, but they did it anyway, and everyone felt the wrath of Zeus/God.
Yet, Odysseus does not die. But then again, he did not want to kill the cattle. But still, I don't know if he deserved to live while all of his men died. Well why did all of his men have to die? It seems like it was just for the glory of Odysseus.
That's funny. How it ends up back at where he started.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Odyssey (11)
I just looked up the definition of "odyssey" and it said something like a series of adventures, which I'm assuming is what the book the Odyssey will turn out to be, as it already has. And at first, I was kinda mad that all of the adventures were being told by someone, it is not the actual book (how ironic his name is Odysseus), but it after I read the definition I thought of the movie Big Fish, which is a series of adventures of a man's father, but which were all being told as in the past. So I began to picture the book in that way, which totally changed it for me. Just a something for you to ponder... (Big Fish is a really good movie, btw)
Elpenor is a fool...why did he sleep on Circe's roof?
Troy is a good movie (Agamemnon). We should definitely watch Troy in class.
It must be a tough way to find out that your mother died, and then that YOU caused her death. Bummer for Odysseus, and I just found that it added to the certain self-centeredness of Odysseus.
I'm confused about Otos and Ephialtes. They explained how big they were (but in cubits, so that wasn't so great for me) and then how they wanted to start a civil war. Why? Why did they need to start a civil war against half their family (immortals)?
Ajax- the second death that Odysseus directly caused. Just adding to the self-centeredness.
I like Heracles. He seems wise. Added to the character created by the Disney movie, which is what I'm picturing.
Why do certain people have to still doing things or suffer after they are dead? It almost seems pointless.
Elpenor is a fool...why did he sleep on Circe's roof?
Troy is a good movie (Agamemnon). We should definitely watch Troy in class.
It must be a tough way to find out that your mother died, and then that YOU caused her death. Bummer for Odysseus, and I just found that it added to the certain self-centeredness of Odysseus.
I'm confused about Otos and Ephialtes. They explained how big they were (but in cubits, so that wasn't so great for me) and then how they wanted to start a civil war. Why? Why did they need to start a civil war against half their family (immortals)?
Ajax- the second death that Odysseus directly caused. Just adding to the self-centeredness.
I like Heracles. He seems wise. Added to the character created by the Disney movie, which is what I'm picturing.
Why do certain people have to still doing things or suffer after they are dead? It almost seems pointless.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Odyssey (10)
Why did Aiolis feel it was necessary/normal to marry his children together? Does he realize he is creating a family of pure incest?
I'm reading what Odysseus is saying as if the author had written it, and I'm expecting it to be well written and articulate with great descriptions, but I realize that it's just Odysseus, and when a person is telling a story, usually it's not the same as if an author had written the story himself.
Why was Laistrygonian Antiphates's daughter not a giant like him and his wife? And why did Odysseus and his men instantly hate his wife? Just because she was super tall?
I think Odysseus slightly deserved to have boulders thrown at him, because of the way he acted, prejudiced against them and completely unfriendly. He could have possibly saved himself the deaths that were of the dinner of the Laistrygonians if they hadn't acted that way.
How did Odysseus know it was Hermes disguised as the young boy? I thought he was disguised for a reason.
Why Odysseus renouned as "special" or something, as said by Circe? Because of what he did with the giants and cyclopes?
If she was going to act like that, then why didn't Odysseus just tell her who he was in the first place to save him the trouble?
I'm reading what Odysseus is saying as if the author had written it, and I'm expecting it to be well written and articulate with great descriptions, but I realize that it's just Odysseus, and when a person is telling a story, usually it's not the same as if an author had written the story himself.
Why was Laistrygonian Antiphates's daughter not a giant like him and his wife? And why did Odysseus and his men instantly hate his wife? Just because she was super tall?
I think Odysseus slightly deserved to have boulders thrown at him, because of the way he acted, prejudiced against them and completely unfriendly. He could have possibly saved himself the deaths that were of the dinner of the Laistrygonians if they hadn't acted that way.
How did Odysseus know it was Hermes disguised as the young boy? I thought he was disguised for a reason.
Why Odysseus renouned as "special" or something, as said by Circe? Because of what he did with the giants and cyclopes?
If she was going to act like that, then why didn't Odysseus just tell her who he was in the first place to save him the trouble?
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