Post A
My book is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It is about Precious Ramotswe. Precious has started her own private investigator business in Botswana. She is the only woman investigator in Botswana.
"She was a good detective, and a good woman. A good woman in a good country, one might say. She loved her country, Botswana, which is a place of peace, and she loved Africa, for all it's trials. I am not ashamed to be called an African patriot, said Mma Ramotswe. I love all the people whom God made, but I especially know how to love the people who live in this place. They are my people, my brothers and sisters. It is my duty to help them to solve the mysteries in their lives. That is what I am called to do (4)."
One cultural difference between Botswana and the United States is that the Botsawnians have a lot more pride in their culture and their country. Precious mentions several times this love of her country, it's soil, and it's people. That is much different than in the United States, where many people have no respect or pride for their own country. Perhaps this is because we do not share many common factors, such as race, religion, or customs. In Botswana, the people there are mostly black and can trace their family lineage back for generations, and all of them came from Botswana. They celebrate the same religion, and understand what is expected from them culturally.
Post B
Dear Mme Ramoswte,
you are a very kind woman. You treat every one of your clients with respect, and seem to actually care about their problems. I don't know if this is just the way of Botswana, that the people there have a greater respect toward others than in America, but I really respect the fact that you are so nice. Yet you still call other's out on their misdoings. You can see something bad occurring, and try to stop it, to help someone else. This happened when you were at Sunday school and your partner kept bringing out his "member" under the table. You told him what he was doing was wrong, and when he didn't stop, you told on him. You seem to have an innate sense of what is right or wrong, and this helps your skills as a detective.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Blog Numero Uno De The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
I chose this book bacause we have had this series sitting on a shelf in my house for six years now. My mom loves the series, has read every single one, and has always tried to get me to begin it. When I went camping three years ago with my dad, this book magically appeared in my pack along with the other books I had brought along. I purposely ignored this book as one of my rebellious acts against my mother. But when I saw it on the list of potential outside reading books, I decided to give it a try. I have come to appreaciate my mom's taste in literature, so hopefully the fact she loves these books so much means I will too.
I chose this book bacause we have had this series sitting on a shelf in my house for six years now. My mom loves the series, has read every single one, and has always tried to get me to begin it. When I went camping three years ago with my dad, this book magically appeared in my pack along with the other books I had brought along. I purposely ignored this book as one of my rebellious acts against my mother. But when I saw it on the list of potential outside reading books, I decided to give it a try. I have come to appreaciate my mom's taste in literature, so hopefully the fact she loves these books so much means I will too.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Out Stealing Horses week 7 post A
Wharfs (174):a structure built on the shore of or projecting into a harbor, stream, etc., so that vessels may be moored alongside to load or unload or to lie at rest
Quay (174): a landing place, esp. one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water
“…Everything just moved slowly around me like the spokes of a huge wheel to which I was strapped (180).” This is an example of simile because the wolrd around him was not really spinning, and he was not really strapped to a wheel.
“I wanted to see the avalanche of logs hit the water (182).” This is an exapmle of a metaphor becuase there was not really an avalanche of logs, and he makes a direct comparison.
“The disappointment tastes like ash in my mouth (194).” This is an example of personification because disappointment has no taste.
Quay (174): a landing place, esp. one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water
“…Everything just moved slowly around me like the spokes of a huge wheel to which I was strapped (180).” This is an example of simile because the wolrd around him was not really spinning, and he was not really strapped to a wheel.
“I wanted to see the avalanche of logs hit the water (182).” This is an exapmle of a metaphor becuase there was not really an avalanche of logs, and he makes a direct comparison.
“The disappointment tastes like ash in my mouth (194).” This is an example of personification because disappointment has no taste.
Out Stealing Horses week 6 post b
In this chapter, it is back to the present, and Lars is helping Trond with the timber they cut down. It is awkward between them, because neither expected to ever see the other again. It brings back the old pains they had as children, but it seems to help Lars to talk about what happened. This makes Trond uncomfortable, as he wasn't planning on revisiting these memories ever again.
Out Stealing Horses week 6 post A
Tetchy (169): irritable; touchy.
Musingly (166): absorbed in thought; meditative
“… and he has a rubber face, Lars, but there is nothing for me to laugh at (170).” This is a metaphor for Lars' face being made out of rubber.
“My mood takes me up and down, like in a lift, from attic to cellar in a couple of hours, (171)” This is an example of a simile becasue his moods are compared to an elevator.
"The sun is gone and the wind is rising (163)." This is an example of personification and maybe metaphor because the wind is not a living thing that can rise, and the sun is not literally gone, it's just not visable.
That is what I want, and I know I can do it, that I have it in me, the ability to be alone, and there is nothing to be afraid of (172).” This is an important quote because it shows how rattled Trond is in his old age and how he tries to comfort himself.
The theme of this novel is how the past never stays truly in the past, and things you try to forget come back to haunt you.
Musingly (166): absorbed in thought; meditative
“… and he has a rubber face, Lars, but there is nothing for me to laugh at (170).” This is a metaphor for Lars' face being made out of rubber.
“My mood takes me up and down, like in a lift, from attic to cellar in a couple of hours, (171)” This is an example of a simile becasue his moods are compared to an elevator.
"The sun is gone and the wind is rising (163)." This is an example of personification and maybe metaphor because the wind is not a living thing that can rise, and the sun is not literally gone, it's just not visable.
That is what I want, and I know I can do it, that I have it in me, the ability to be alone, and there is nothing to be afraid of (172).” This is an important quote because it shows how rattled Trond is in his old age and how he tries to comfort himself.
The theme of this novel is how the past never stays truly in the past, and things you try to forget come back to haunt you.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Out Stealing Horses week 5 post b
This chapter of Out Stealing Horses shows that Trond's father has not been truthful to Trond about many things. ONe of the things is that he and Jon's mother have been seeing eachother in secret, which is understandable that he would not tell Trond this, because if you are having an affair, you might not want to tell your son, but still. Also, Franz decides to tell Trond about his fathers involvemnet in World War II. He and Jon's mother and Trond's father work to aid the Allies, when Norway has been taken over by Germany. He aids a Jewish man by allowing him to stay in his barn, but the man is discovered, and while they are trying to smuggle him out, things go awry and the man gets shot, and Trond's father and Jon's mother are forced to flee to Sweden.
OUt Stealing Horses week 5 post a
Unassailable: (152) not open to attack or assault, as by military force or argument
Aplomb: (153) imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
“And she took hold of his jacket, and with a violent jerk hauled him like an unresisting sack out of the boat (160)." This is an example of simile becasue he is compared to a sack.
“On top of the slope behind them the motorcycle was chuntering away like an animal out of breath, and they pulled their machine guns from their shoulders, and my father shouted: Run like hell! (161)” This is also an example of imagery because the motorcycles are compared to an animal.
“A grey layer of cloud floats across the sky like a duvet (163).” This is also an example of imagry because the sky is compared to a duvet.
“‘why are you telling me these things when my father will not talk about them?” I said.
‘Because he asked me to,’ said Franz. ‘when the opportunity arose. And it did, now.’ (162)”
This is an important quote because it shows the strained relationship between Trond and his father.
The theme of this novel is that relationships are tricky.
Aplomb: (153) imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
“And she took hold of his jacket, and with a violent jerk hauled him like an unresisting sack out of the boat (160)." This is an example of simile becasue he is compared to a sack.
“On top of the slope behind them the motorcycle was chuntering away like an animal out of breath, and they pulled their machine guns from their shoulders, and my father shouted: Run like hell! (161)” This is also an example of imagery because the motorcycles are compared to an animal.
“A grey layer of cloud floats across the sky like a duvet (163).” This is also an example of imagry because the sky is compared to a duvet.
“‘why are you telling me these things when my father will not talk about them?” I said.
‘Because he asked me to,’ said Franz. ‘when the opportunity arose. And it did, now.’ (162)”
This is an important quote because it shows the strained relationship between Trond and his father.
The theme of this novel is that relationships are tricky.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)