"The Eye" and "The Savage Detectives" Blog

In the beginning of "The Eye" we learn of a a man named Mauricio Silva who is known as "The Eye". He does not like violence and tries to avoid it at all costs. Then the narrator says, "but violence, real violence, is unavoidable, at least for those of us who were born in Latin America"(page 106). This is a foreshadow into what is to come throughout the story. After reading this sentence I was wanting to find out what was to come and was a little terrified to know what it would be.

The story starts off by talking about where The Eye has gone and how him and the narrator have become friends. The eye ends up getting made fun of by others who call him a homosexual which in reality he turns out to be. He ends up leaving for Paris to be a photographer because, "Everyone likes to be photographed"(page 107). The Eye left an impression on the narrator, "and even when his face had disappeared or receded into the shadows, that essence lingered in my memory"(page 109) From this quote it is clear that the Eye had a lasting impression on who he came in contact with. Once The Eye left, the narrator wanted to see him again. He ends up traveling to Berlin and runs into The Eye on a park bench. He almost does not recognize him since he has changed so much. Although he had changed in appearance he was still the same man he has always been.

After he runs into the Eye we learn of the story about where the Eye has been and what he has seen. The story took place in India and was horrible. The Eye ended up taking pictures of prostitutes until the pimps realized he was a homosexual. After this they took him to the worst scene. He witnessed young boys being castrated. The Eye then says, "I took a photo of him. I knew I was damning myself for all eternity, but I did it."(page 115) This startled me. I couldn't believe The Eye would do something this drastic when these are young boys that he actually cares about. The story goes on to talk about The Eye taking the boys with him and away from the horrible things happening to them there. My favorite part of this story was, "Instead of calling him father, he had the boys call him The Eye,"(page 118). He used this name to keep out of trouble, but it also comes across as the name relating to him. The Eye is the one who now watches over the boys, he is their Eye. He is also living for the boys, without them he cannot seem to get through. Overall, the story was very interesting and there were a lot of great quotes and ideas that came from the whole story.

The next story "The Savage Detectives" relates a lot to "The Eye". Within the first few lines it is clear that this is yet another hard story to tell and deals with Latin Americans just like the last. These two guys are like the two in the last story. They become friends by chance and learn about each others lives. Jacobo Urenda says,"and then they vanish in a cloud of smoke, the way Belano vanished that night, without warning."(page 497). This reminded me of what happened to The Eye in the first story. They both disappear for an amount of time and they end up finding each other later on. The story goes on to talk about Belano and his obsession with taking pills. He is in very good health and takes pills on a regular basis. Urenda beings to travel and hopes to run into Belano again.

Later in the story Urenda meets a man, Linke, who had heard of Belano and even met him. He recalls his lack of wanting to drink, which is what stood out most to him. Urenda seems to be living through other people who have come across his long lost friend. Jacobo Urenda later photographs him and his friends along with driver. I found the quote, "The pain was worse than the certainty that the Italian was dead."(page 507). This was interesting to me. Urenda fell asleep and ends up having a horrible dream, which he wakes from covered in sweat. The story goes on with the guys traveling in the car. Belano then reappears. Urenda realizes he is still the same guy as before and he hasn't changed at all. He questions that maybe in fact he himself is the one that has changed.

Urenda begins to talk with Belano and introduces him to all of his friends. Overall, the stories are very similar. I enjoyed the first story more so than the second just because I was able to get into it more. Both stories were very interesting and brought up unique happenings.

"The Lazarus Project" last part blog

The last section of "The Lazarus Project" started off describing a brutal scene that Lazarus was having to witness. Lazarus was witnessing a man being brutally killed during the Pogrom, "Seryozhka stepped on his face with a boot, cracked Mr. Mandelbaum's skull."(page 241) . This shows how brutal the killing is that Lazarus is having to watch happen. Lazarus is to young to see something this terrible happen to someone. This killing shows how bad the pogrom really was and how they did not care for others.

The story goes on to talk about how Olga does not want to discuss what is happening in the house with the pogrom is there and the horrible effect it has on the family. In the next part of the story there is a very interesting part that comes about. Rora talks about when he saw, "a magic carpet flying across the river. It was a blue-and-white piece of UNPROFOR nylon, but still I could not stop seeing it as a magic carpet."(page 253). This is interesting because it can relate back to when Lazarus was a boy and imagined himself on a magic carpet. This carpet has a very significant meaning. The carpet can symbolizes the people who just want to get away from the world and the struggles they are having to life with. This is there escape from the world and everything around them.

Later on in the story, Brik discusses how he can't decide wether or not to say something while riding in the car with Seryozha. Brik ends up not doing anything even though he knew he should have. Further into the story, Brik does end up doing something. He ends up beating Seryozha up in the bathroom pretty bad. He says, "I felt his bones cracking under my knuckles, but I kept punching until his jaw was crushed, until my hand was finally and thoroughly broken."(page 264). This shows the drastic scene that happened in the bathroom. Brik goes on to say how he wished Mary would have scene what he did. He has reached his breaking point in this section. Brik needs to get out of the country and away from the horrible things that are happening. He wants to find something better and not have to worry anymore.

In the next section, Olga decides to not live in regret over Lazarus's death anymore. She decides she wants to help Isador. One of my favorite parts in the part was when Olga writes to her mother. She says, "You must forgive me for what I have done, but I chose life over death. God will take care of the dead. We have to take care of the living."(page 272) This shows that Olga is able to move on. Although she will not forget about Lazarus, she will be able to continue on in her life and help others who are in need. Olga will be able to help others who were like Lazarus.

In the end, it was interesting to find that Rora's story involving Miller and Rambo was just made up. From Rora having a troubled past it is easier to see that the whole story would be made up. By making the story up it makes parts of Rora's life easier to live with.

"The Lazarus Project" part 3 blog

Throughout "The Lazarus Project" by Aleksandar Hemon, there were many connections being made. This section starts off with an autopsy being performed and an informative list of all the wounds Lazarus received during his death. There are several descriptions made to what the man looked like all leading to him being Jewish. The assistant chief then goes on to say, "They are creatures of a different world"(page 88). He is referring to all Jews. After saying this remark, William P. Miller agrees with him. By the assistant chief and Miller making this comment they are reinforcing their hate and views on these characters.

The story then moves on to discuss the story of Olga. The story starts off by focusing on her thoughts and how she deals with the lose of her brother, Lazarus. Olga seems to write her mother frequently to show her emotions and struggles with her recent loss. She soon runs to the outhouse and finds the dictionary Lazarus used to read while being in there. Olga says, "The book is warm, as though Lazarus has just held it, his life still radiating out of it."(page 91) From this we can see how she still wants to be connected to her brother. Olga is struggling with her loss and needs to have something that her brother held dear to him. Since the dictionary is something her brother enjoyed so much she feels as if he is still a part of it. Soon after Olga says, "My little brother. All the lives he could have lived."(page 91) Olga is remembering all the times they had together and how she was such a huge part of his life. She was able to help him in school and knew that one day he would do great things with his life.

At the end of the section I found it shocking when Lazarus showed up at the door. When I first read this part I though Olga was having a dream and just wishing her brother was really there or that she was to the point where she could not except her brother really being gone. This part shows the emotional torment Olga is having to experience. She is realizing how hard it is going to be to live without her brother, who was so close to her.

When the story shifts back to the present we learn that Brik and Rora are taking a journey through Eastern Europe. While they were driving they passed, "a horse cart with a cage full of rabbits, the man holding the reins slouching like a refugee."(page 100). This shows how different certain areas can be. Even though we all live in a well developed area not all people are as fortunate as us. I also found it interesting when Brik is talking about Americans not believing stories when they hear them. However, those in other countries like Bosnia do not look at the reality of the story but enjoy the story while it is being told. People in these places probably try to believe the stories to escape how reality really is. They want to be free even if it is only for a few moments. These people want to forget about their hard days of work and know that somewhere out there times are not as hard.

Miller soon goes on to talk about the Jewish people in an impolite way. Once he is around them longer he tends to say more and more hateful things and look down upon them. All of his outlooks on these people and those in the poor communities is overwhelming. I would think once he has been around these people long enough he would change his out looks on them. Over all, I have found this reading very interesting so far and will enjoy seeing what happens in the later parts of the story.

"The Bridegroom" blog

I found the story, "The Bridegroom" by Ha Jin to be very interesting. Right off the bat we learn that Beina's father has passed away and it was his wish for his best friend to adopt her since him and his wife had no children. He starts off by being worried that Beina will never marry because she is already 23 and has never even had a boyfriend, but then out of the blue she is proposed to. The guys name is Huang Baowen and no one knows why he would ask Beina, considering she is just an ordinary plan girl and he is very attractive and smart.

Even after them being engaged he couldn't help but feel she might get hurt because the whole situation was to good to be true. They ended up being married just two months after he has proposed. I myself think this is way to soon to get married since they have only been together two months. He says, "I'd do almost anything to make Beina's marriage a succuess, because I believed that if it survived the first two years, it might last decades"(page 93). When he says this you can tell that he still has doubt in the whole situation. He wants to do whatever he can to make his adopted daughter happy and to stay happy. There were tons of girls in the office that liked Baowen and would do anything to be with him, which worried Beina's uncle.

Next thing we know Baowen ends up not coming home one night and Beina has no idea where he was. We soon find out that he has been charged, along with many others, in a crime of homosexuality. He says, "According to the detectives' account, it was a bizarre, emotional scene"(page 96). From the description it is clear that no one understands why Baowen would do this and Beina's father finds it very disturbing. Baowen says, "Whenever I'm with a woman my heart is as calm as a stone"(page 97), I found this quote interesting because it shows that when he is with women he doesn't feel anything but he doesn't know why this is.

In the next few pages we see that Beina's uncle finds out about the agreement to the marriage and how rumors spread throughout the office. Beina tells her uncle how she likes being married to him even if he is the way he is because she doesn't have to worry about him looking at other women. We come to find out that Baowen is transferred to a mental hospital instead of being in jail, from what Beina's uncle had done. Then after visiting Baowen at the mental institution and seeing what goes on he says, "My heart was full of pity for Baowen. He was such a fine young man that he ought to be able to love a woman, have a family, and enjoy a normal life"(page 107), this shows Beina's uncles acceptance of Baowen. He knows that he can't help who he is and wants him to be able to be fixed.

Beina continues to make visits to see Baowen in the mental hospital and takes him presents when she goes. Her uncle says, "He was happy to see Beina and even cuddled her in my presence."(page 109) this shows that hopefully the treatment is working some or at least he realizes what a good wife he has for understanding who he is. Soon enough Beina's uncle finds out there is no cure for homosexuality and is shocked. All this time he thought his son-in-law was getting treated so he would love his wife but in fact it isn't possible. "Homosexuality isn't an illness, so how can it have a cure?'(page 111) this shows that even though Beina's uncle wants Baowen to get rid of what he has there really is no way for that to happen. Just like Dr. Mai said there is not a cure for it. Homosexuality is something people just have and can not help how they feel.

"After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town" blog

After reading "After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town" by Ha Jin I felt that it related to many of the other stories we have talked about lately. The story dealt a lot with the clashing of cultures and relationships. In this story we come across both American and Chinese cultures in a some what humorous way that makes the story interesting. I found it interesting when the man at the restaurant had a problem with his meal, "The man looked unhappy but accepted the offer. Still he muttered, "American dogs.""(page 185). I found this quote interesting since he referred to the chinese workers as "American dogs". This seemed very hurtful and uncalled for.

In the next part of the story it was easy to tell that Mr. Shapiro was not nice to his Chinese workers but wanted the best for his customers. He is an American man who has all Chinese workers. I found it interesting when it talks about the American boss being lazy once the business actually became something. "At first Mr. Shapiro worked hard, often staying around until we closed at ten-thirty. But as the business was flourishing, he hung back more and stayed in his office for hours on end,"(page 189-190). This shows that once his business actually got going good he decided to become lazy and not do his job as well. Mr. Shapiro probably feels that he already has the money so he doens't need to work as hard. I feel this is very different from how his Chinese workers are and even those in China today. They all want to be successful at what they do at all times. Also, the part when MR. Shapiro takes some of the girl workers out on dates I found wrong. He is a lot older then the girls and they probably feel obligated to go since it is their boss and they do not want to be fired.

Throughout the next part we learn about the boss wanting to turn the restaurant into a buffet. All the workers except the manager, Peter, think it is a great idea. I liked when they referred to Mr. Shapiro as a "skinflint"(page 193) which means someone who tries to spend as little money as possible. When we find out that the employees are not allowed any discount on the food, I found it unreasonable. They are working for him as hard as they can and all he does is sit in his office and he can't even give them a discount on food.

The funniest part of the story to me was when Peter got a phone call from son of the president of Muji Teachers College who wanted to have his wedding feast at the restaurant. He said, "he wanted something exotic for their wedding dinner, so he picked Cowboy Chicken."(page 199). I think this would be the last place I would call exotic. I don't see who would want to have their wedding dinner at a fried chicken restaurant. This just shows a change in how our cultures work. Somethings we see as being not so great and amazing in their eyes.

The situation of the boss taking the younger girls on dates soon comes up again. Juju tells her co-workers that their boss has "gotten fresh with her the previous night"(page 206). She goes on to say, "He had grasped her wrist and called her "Honey""(page 206). which shows how uncomfortable the girl was with the older man. I feel in our society today this would have not been such a huge ordeal. When the guys are telling her she should report it to the police when clearly the boss didn't even do anything to serious and had also been drinking. This shows another difference in the American and Chinese culture. Although if was wrong of him to grab her wrist she should not feel the need to report it to the cops.

The section of the story when it talked about burning the leftover chicken also struck me as a little ridiculous. The leftovers should not just be burned but possibly given to those who are needy or even given away to the fellow workers. This method of burning the chicken is showing them being wasteful. There are many people in the world who are starving and here they are just burning perfectly good food that could go to those who need it. Americans are seen as being wasteful which in some aspects is very true. In the last part of the story I was able to see another time of the cultures clashing. When Mr. Shapiro thinks the workers' are going to bomb the restaurant this is a clear misunderstanding between the two cultures. The American boss misinterprets what is being done and should not fall to this type of conclusion.

"The Stones of Summer" blog

Today in class we watched a documentary about a man who loves to read and is searching for the author of his favorite book called, "The Stones of Summer", who apparently disappeared after writing his one novel.  Mark wants to find the author so he can ask him questions about his book.  The book is not well known, so he does not have many ways of being able to find the author.  "The Stones of Summer" was written in 1972, which makes it that much harder for Mark to find out about who the author is and what the book means.  Mark realizes the book only has one review, which makes his search even harder.

When Mark got the book he did not read it at first.  He would try to read "The Stones of Summer", and just couldn't get into the novel.  Later on he picked it up again and told himself he had to read it.  He read it over 6 weeks and found that he really enjoyed it and found it fascinating.  Since Mark felt so connected to the story, he decided he needed to find out more about the author and talk about his amazing writing.  He made it clear that the book brought back his childhood.  While growing up Mark loved to read and books themselves are what changed him as a person.  He admits that he does not remember much about his childhood, but could tell you everything about all the books he read.  Mark decided to go see his mom to find out more about his childhood.  After finding out more about his childhood, you can really tell books were a major part of it.  Marks mom even recalled him always carrying a book in his back pocket.

Mark describes how he loved the time spent in the libraries just looking at all the books, but how in today's society many people resort to the computer and internet.  He seems to be saying that everyone is missing out on the true reading experience.  As a child, Mark was happy when he walked 45 minutes to the nearest book store and would just sit on the floor looking at every book they had.  He was able to use his imagination through the books, instead of through video games like the kids today.  I find it amazing how the times have changed over the years.  I for one can say I did not become a fan of reading until I came to college.  I really enjoyed when he said that reading is the only thing that has kept him sane.  Reading is such a huge part of his life he doesn't know what he would do without it.

He starts talking about how his life is stressful with his job, and how he needs the time to just read a good book.  I also really liked when he talked about how the place becomes a book and the book becomes a place.  This shows that even when he is at work he can think of a situation in which it is part of a novel.  Reading has captured a huge part of his life and will always be there.  I find his love for reading really interesting, because he can take a bad day at work and make it a great one just from opening a book.  

Mark goes to visit John who wrote the only review for "The Stones of Summer".  I found it very interesting how much the two men had in common just from reading the same books.  Mark even comments on how he feels like he has known John for many years just from their interests in the same books.  I really enjoyed when John was saying that even if it is a great book that doesn't mean you have to like it.  I also enjoyed when Mark mentioned "The Catcher and the Rye", because I read this in high school.  I could relate to some of the great works he was mentioning.  I am interested to see how this documentary plays out and what Mark will find out about the mysterious book that no one seems to know anything about.

"The Same River Twice" final blog

In this last section of Chris Offutt's Memoir, he discusses where he has traveled to and finally becoming a father.  Offutt starts off hitch hiking and comes to a spot where he finds it takes a long time to get a ride.  Written on the metal sign is past hitch hikers who have waited for days before a ride picked them up.  He says, "facing the flip side of freedom-the numb despair of immobility."(page 154) he is saying how he feels sense it could take him forever to get a ride.  Offutt does not want to be stuck in one place waiting, he wants to move on with his life and keep going.  He finally receives a ride and is heading to Florida, where he gets a job at a park in the everglades.  

When Bucky picks him up to take him to his job at the everglades he tells Offutt, "you don't look too natural for a Naturalist."(page 155)  Looking at his appearance he makes the observation that he does not resemble a naturalist.  Once they arrive Bucky tells Offutt "Don't let the swamp in."(page 156) he is referring to all the mosquitoes that are flying around.  I really enjoyed when Offutt said, "I had voluntarily entered the most hostile environment known to man."(page 157).  On his own free will he has chosen a job that is in some aspects horrible.  He is being attacked by mosquitoes and learning about his new surroundings.  He says,"a hundred and fifty bites per day.  I soon developed something of an immunity."(page 158), he is having to get used to the new atmosphere even if it is less than expected.  

Offutt soon learns that the work at the everglades is not so great and rather dehumanizing.  He says, "We were de-evolved humans who'd chosen proximity to the foundations of our existence, living on neither land nor water, but in a foreign world of both."(page 160).  This is a great quote to show what he is having to live with at the job.  Living at the Flamingo shows the harsh nature of what they live with, the horrible food they have to eat, and the hard work put in everyday.  Although these are all struggles, Offutt makes great effort to continue on.  One of the great visual quotes I found in the reading was when Offutt says, "vulnerable and lonely, as if they'd been beached by tide rather than built by man."(page 162).  Here Offutt is telling of how the buildings look in Flamingo from the sea.  All the buildings seem to be run down and very old.  

Captain Jack soon goes with Offutt on his first boat outing.  After working together Captain Jack invites Offutt over for dinner saying his wife would be thrilled to have company.  We soon find out that they have lost their own son in war.  Offutt is asked to stay the night and after being given the talk about the Captains son he feels bad to be staying in his room.  He says,"I turned off the light and stood beside the bed for a long time...and slept on the floor"(page 166).  From this we can tell that Offutt feels bad for their loss and feels it is wrong to stay in the bed where their only son once was.  

Soon we hear of Jacob, the hurricane that heading for Flamingo.  Offutt has been tracking the hurricane and graphing where it is suppose to go.  He compares his graphing with the one at the ranger station.  He says, "Instead of finding my error, I discovered the ranger's mistake."(page 168) Offutt has found that the hurricane is heading straight for them and not hundreds of miles away like the rangers thought.  Once finding this news out the rangers quickly evacuate everyone from the island.  He goes on to talking about writing up his own will and giving everything to his brother.  Offutt is ready for death and is not afraid.  He soon realizes that he will not be faced with death because the hurricane is over.  He says, " disappointed to be stuck with life."(page 171) which shows that he was ready to go but now seems upset it did not happen.  

After this he quits at Flamingo and leaves with Dirt who also quit.  Dirt takes him to Florida city.  He asks for Offutt's drivers license since he knows people will be after him.  Once giving this to him he says, "I watched the proof of who I was drive into the street, turn a corner, and disappear."(page 174).  This shows Offutt's proof of existence in the world being taken away from him.  After this he ends up meeting Rita.  My favorite part of this section was when he said,"We held hands in that narrow space between the two worlds of past and present."(page 176).  He goes on to talk about how his family loved Rita and knew she would be good for him.  Offutt then says,"I had my goddess.  I had my temple.  The prairie spread in every direction."(page 177) this shows that he has what he wants in his life.  Offutt has a loving wife, a great house, and everything is turning out the way it should.

The baby is now finally ready to come into the world.  After being two weeks overdue, Offutt is worried about how the baby will turn out.  He knows the baby should be fine since Rita is in great health.  Offutt goes on to say, "Only war and birth erupt on their own,"(page 178) He knows the baby has to come at its own time but wants it to happen soon.  He is still worried about not being free but knows the life as a dad will be rewarding.  Rita finally has the babe and it turns out to be a boy just like they wanted.  Offutt says, "His birth was my rebirth."(page 185).  I feel he is trying to say that since he is now a new father he has a new beginning in life.  He wants to start fresh and make sure the baby has a great life.  In the end he says, "Nothing has changed except everything."(page 188) this goes back to what Rita had said earlier on about everything has changed.  He now realizes that his life will be completely different.  Overall I really enjoyed this book.  It has been my favorite read thus far.