Just finishing the book and looking back, Sonny has grown a lot since the very beginning. The amazing
amount of freedom led him to make some choices that anyone would have done, there wasn’t one good role
model around him either they all kept to themselves while all interacting with Sonny at the same time. He
wouldn’t be the same without the time with each and every person at the flowers. Sonny sees himself as an
adult and doesn’t question himself as much as used to even if he’s making the wrong decision. He doesn’t
feel guilt as much as he did before, the eyes in Cloyd’s study don’t scare him anymore. I would
disagree to anyone who says Cloyd is the root cause of this all, it’s the fact that he has little to no connection
with his other family and little to no one on one time with his mother that made him what he was. The twins
gave us a good contrast of what Sonny was and the immature teenager that he could have been and Cindy
taught him a lot about relationships sorta.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Week three work. post 2
The hardest part about this book and critical theory is trying to avoid reader’s response, there are much
more interesting theories and I’m pretty sure everyone else is doing that one too. On the other hand from
what I’ve learned in class some things in the text are left purposely ambiguous to either keep the story
relevant or encourage discussion. Something that’s very difficult about the text are the Spanish parts, I sort
of feel like I’m missing some thing if I don’t understand what most of what the twins are saying, to me that
don’t really exist at all. Without them the story would be more or less the same since every character
spends time with sonny on their own and almost never with anyone else in the apartment besides Cloyd and
Bud or Nica and Mr.Josep. in all honesty I love the ambiguity…I just wish for a more interesting book.
more interesting theories and I’m pretty sure everyone else is doing that one too. On the other hand from
what I’ve learned in class some things in the text are left purposely ambiguous to either keep the story
relevant or encourage discussion. Something that’s very difficult about the text are the Spanish parts, I sort
of feel like I’m missing some thing if I don’t understand what most of what the twins are saying, to me that
don’t really exist at all. Without them the story would be more or less the same since every character
spends time with sonny on their own and almost never with anyone else in the apartment besides Cloyd and
Bud or Nica and Mr.Josep. in all honesty I love the ambiguity…I just wish for a more interesting book.
Week three work. post 1
Unlike the books I had to read last semester, this novel is very easy to read. Its loose and un formal style
really makes it flow and I find myself doing a weeks worth of reading in an afternoon since a lot of it is just
un important to the whole plot and character’s growth in general. Every passage with sonny talking about
what he sees in his head really doesn’t make too much sense or maybe it would feel more important if he
didn’t talk about it so often. When you pick out these parts this book is very short, already close to finishing
and nothing makes me want to keep reading besides the fact that I have to write a short essay on it. This
novel has also made me realized how much I’ve grown as a reader since high school where I spent two
years never having to read any sort of short story or novel because the teacher always had it on CD or
something. I hope that next time I can cut the text into short segments that I can easily read during the week
than to just put it all off and read eighty pages on Sunday night. Without question the reading is the easiest
part of this course, I’m my opinion the hardest part is this blog, I would have a much easier time just
writing a paper each week and turning it in. without due dates I always do things the day before, it’s a nasty
habit, but I feel like I do better under the pressure of deadlines.
really makes it flow and I find myself doing a weeks worth of reading in an afternoon since a lot of it is just
un important to the whole plot and character’s growth in general. Every passage with sonny talking about
what he sees in his head really doesn’t make too much sense or maybe it would feel more important if he
didn’t talk about it so often. When you pick out these parts this book is very short, already close to finishing
and nothing makes me want to keep reading besides the fact that I have to write a short essay on it. This
novel has also made me realized how much I’ve grown as a reader since high school where I spent two
years never having to read any sort of short story or novel because the teacher always had it on CD or
something. I hope that next time I can cut the text into short segments that I can easily read during the week
than to just put it all off and read eighty pages on Sunday night. Without question the reading is the easiest
part of this course, I’m my opinion the hardest part is this blog, I would have a much easier time just
writing a paper each week and turning it in. without due dates I always do things the day before, it’s a nasty
habit, but I feel like I do better under the pressure of deadlines.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Week two.post 1
By far my favorite scene in the book thus far starts around page seventy-three, Sonny tries to run to his
room right when he comes home from Cindy’s somewhat tipsy and awkwardly speaking to his mother. I
have been in similar situations, We try not to be rude in these situations but its hard not to be. I also feel like
I leave my mother in the dark almost as much as Sonny does, speaking to her with my eyes to the ground as
she drills my on question after question about things I want, things I like or just what I’ve done. Another
thing that I can relate to is his attempts to distract her either with the tv or the phone, all these little things
make their whole short exchange of words so much more believable. This passage says a lot about Sonny
and Silvia’s relationship, she really tries to get to know him at this moment and also is struggling with her
new stay at home lifestyle. The scene impacts the novel because of what happened before with Sonny,
naïve and impulsively kissing Cindy even though she is a married woman even though she did put him up to
it. Later in the novel there are a few more of these moments, but this one sticks in my head the most. These
Sonny and Silvia moments not only let us learn more about her but also about Cloyd since Sonny doesn’t
really say much to him while at the same time be as respectful as he can and do what he asks because he
doesn‘t really mind. Both him and his mother have issues with Cloyd but only share these with each
other. It’s good to see how much Sonny will actually share since most of the things we learn about him are
all from his thoughts. Sonny is a very bright and very observant boy, but he really doesn’t voice out his
opinions too often. Just like the jobs Sonny does around the house, his and Silvia’s talks really move the
story forward the three core characters learn more about each other.
room right when he comes home from Cindy’s somewhat tipsy and awkwardly speaking to his mother. I
have been in similar situations, We try not to be rude in these situations but its hard not to be. I also feel like
I leave my mother in the dark almost as much as Sonny does, speaking to her with my eyes to the ground as
she drills my on question after question about things I want, things I like or just what I’ve done. Another
thing that I can relate to is his attempts to distract her either with the tv or the phone, all these little things
make their whole short exchange of words so much more believable. This passage says a lot about Sonny
and Silvia’s relationship, she really tries to get to know him at this moment and also is struggling with her
new stay at home lifestyle. The scene impacts the novel because of what happened before with Sonny,
naïve and impulsively kissing Cindy even though she is a married woman even though she did put him up to
it. Later in the novel there are a few more of these moments, but this one sticks in my head the most. These
Sonny and Silvia moments not only let us learn more about her but also about Cloyd since Sonny doesn’t
really say much to him while at the same time be as respectful as he can and do what he asks because he
doesn‘t really mind. Both him and his mother have issues with Cloyd but only share these with each
other. It’s good to see how much Sonny will actually share since most of the things we learn about him are
all from his thoughts. Sonny is a very bright and very observant boy, but he really doesn’t voice out his
opinions too often. Just like the jobs Sonny does around the house, his and Silvia’s talks really move the
story forward the three core characters learn more about each other.
Week one. post 3
If I had to predict what will happen next…I’m predicting pretty much a hundred pages of what I’ve already
been reading. Sonny has been living in los flores for a while already and he’s just been living the same day
more or less for quite a while, he’s met almost all of the residents. In sonny’s eyes all of these people are
sad in some way or another.
I predict him wanting to ditch the jobs Cloyd gives him more often and to act out, maybe steal more from
houses than just money on the floor, he seems like a semi impulsive person. Also I feel like he will
eventually be asked where he goes every night, still not sure why he hasn’t been asked about that yet.
been reading. Sonny has been living in los flores for a while already and he’s just been living the same day
more or less for quite a while, he’s met almost all of the residents. In sonny’s eyes all of these people are
sad in some way or another.
I predict him wanting to ditch the jobs Cloyd gives him more often and to act out, maybe steal more from
houses than just money on the floor, he seems like a semi impulsive person. Also I feel like he will
eventually be asked where he goes every night, still not sure why he hasn’t been asked about that yet.
Week one work. post 2
My mother never cared about her appearance as much as Sonny’s mother. I bet it would be nice to have a
mother who care so much about looks and be the envy of most people their age even if they do less around
the house. As I read further and further into the book however She’s beginning to change, watching tv and
goes out very little. I wish I got to learn more about her before she started living with Cloyd.
mother who care so much about looks and be the envy of most people their age even if they do less around
the house. As I read further and further into the book however She’s beginning to change, watching tv and
goes out very little. I wish I got to learn more about her before she started living with Cloyd.
Week one work. post 1
I’ve read a good chunk of this book so far and one thing I find interesting is how un interesting the main
character is. Sonny is no different than any typical teenager if he didn’t have this freedom to go where he
pleases almost whenever he wants. The book itself is a very easy read but the even after the first one
hundred pages I’ve yet to care about the protagonist, he’s just a cliché child with a stepfather. Although I
might just be bitter towards this novel because the first person perspective and troubled teen reminds me of
one of my all time favorite book The Catcher in the Rye.
Holden Caulfield just had a charm and edge that Sonny is lacking. The book itself is written with fragments
run on sentences and it just feels lazy to me. If I wanted to read about a teenager complaining I would just
read one of my sister’s old journals. Perhaps this all just because Sonny lives in a very modern world while
Holden runs around in 1949. Both books were made to sound as if a teen wrote it I guess.
What makes this coming of age story stand out? I’m going to finish this book and hopefully Sonny grows on
me and makes this book stand out from anything that I’ve read prior.
character is. Sonny is no different than any typical teenager if he didn’t have this freedom to go where he
pleases almost whenever he wants. The book itself is a very easy read but the even after the first one
hundred pages I’ve yet to care about the protagonist, he’s just a cliché child with a stepfather. Although I
might just be bitter towards this novel because the first person perspective and troubled teen reminds me of
one of my all time favorite book The Catcher in the Rye.
Holden Caulfield just had a charm and edge that Sonny is lacking. The book itself is written with fragments
run on sentences and it just feels lazy to me. If I wanted to read about a teenager complaining I would just
read one of my sister’s old journals. Perhaps this all just because Sonny lives in a very modern world while
Holden runs around in 1949. Both books were made to sound as if a teen wrote it I guess.
What makes this coming of age story stand out? I’m going to finish this book and hopefully Sonny grows on
me and makes this book stand out from anything that I’ve read prior.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)