A story that spoke to me was Messages by Andre Dubus. I felt like the story was so real and vivid and so full of imagery both visual and auditory, that it almost felt like I was watching a movie. In reality, I was not able to connect to the story on a personal level, like no previous memories came to mind or no person in particular came to mind when I read the story, nonetheless I really enjoyed it. Even after reading the story a few times I still have some questions, what gender was the narrator and does it really matter? Why did he/she want to answer the phone so badly, what were they going to tell Dave?
The short creative nonfiction story that spoke to me was "Very Narrow" by Anne Carson. What I loved so much about this story is how the narrator feels pressured to be a certain "kind of woman" to please her father. Ironically enough, her father ends up losing his mind and does not even know who she is at one point. I think the main theme of the story is personal identity. It isn't until the narrator falls in love that she realizes that she isn't even close to knowing her true self because she created a different person for her father. As a young woman, I relate to this issue of identity and finding yourself outside of what others want you to be.
A short non-fiction story that stood out to me from the book In Brief was “Dream Houses” written by Tenaya Darlington. I really enjoyed how this short story was about feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about the past. This feeling is relatable as one begins to picture the old house or town they used to live in and how as time changes so do we. Not only does it show this emotion, but it also emphasizes how sometimes people take for granted what they have right in front of them. This is shown as the narrator’s parents keep dreaming of that ideal house and as they think they found the perfect one, they start thinking of a better house. I also liked how the narrator began to reflect on the negative things of the house he grew up in to later end it with a detailed list of how that house is irreplaceable because of all the memories they made there as a family. This story really brought out the idea of how people, without putting much thought into it, think of getting better and bigger things where what they have is enough and maybe more precious to them that they may think.
The short story that stood out to me was "Missing" from Celine Geary. This short story about how a woman misses her grandparents. She doesn't say what happened to her grandparents but I assumed that they have passed away. She talks about some of her memories of her grandparents and how much they loved her. She uses a lot of imagery to illustrate what it was like to be with her grandparents. The sentence that stood out to me was "Oh. And I was okay. I miss that" because it reminded me how my grandparents made me feel. When I was with them I felt like everything was okay and all my problems would just work themselves out.
The short story non-fiction that spoke to me was "Stuck with Stranger" by Castle Freeman Jr. This story was very interesting because when someone this guy has an accident. He had some stranger help him, making sure he was okay. The author explained in very good details and used imagery on how the accident happened. It is relatable because when I was in a car accident with my mom a guy had stopped and asked if we were okay because he saw what happened, There are good people out there who have a kind heart to help others out. The author also mentions that you should always be thankful for having people like that come into your life when you really need the help. My favorite line from this non-fiction was "When helpers arrive, they give whether have, in their own way, in their own time" (Freeman, 213). I just enjoy helping people because you may never know when you may need the help and no one will help you out.
For In Brief, a story I enjoyed was "The Indian Dog" by N. Scott Momaday. The story is about a boy buying a dog, keeping it for a day until it runs away. I liked this story because when the boy wakes up and notices that the dog is gone, he knows that he wasn't meant to keep him. The boy knew that even though the dog ran away, he ran away to be where he is meant to be. The boy realizes an important lesson. "Caveat emptor" which translates to "let the buyer beware". The boy knew that everything has a purpose no matter if that purpose doesn't mean him. "It was a lesson worth many times five dollars"
One of the stories in In Brief that I really enjoyed was 107 Miles West of Fargo, by W. Scott Olsen. I liked this one more than others because I felt like there was a really good sense of creativity as opposed to being bogged down with such official information. The story basically just goes through different points in a road trip: one being where the car and the driver mesh together, where the driving becomes fun, and then the other when you are finally approaching your destination. The most interesting thing to me was all of the vivid imagery in something I hadn’t really noticed. It’s almost as if he defamiliarizes long distance trips. As someone who spends almost every weekend driving to LA, I really related to all of the imagery. I think that most audiences who are familiar with driving long distances frequently can definitely appreciate this work.
I really liked Dermot Healy's story from The Bend for Home. The author is writing a story about a woman who is pregnant and in labor. The doctor that is supposed to be delivering the baby ends up too drunk to do his job. A midwife named Mary Sheridan delivers the baby at the end. The author tells us that he thought that he was the baby who was born. He reveals that his mother wasn't even the mother who was pregnant; she was the midwife. I liked it because, although I'm not sure if it was supposed to be humorous, I was laughing. It's funny to picture a doctor so drunk he slept next to his patient while she was having contractions. --Rayna Gomez
One work of creative of non-fiction I enjoyed in "In Belief" was "Come Eat" by Patricia Hampl. This story was about a grandma's connection with her family through meals. Hampl talks about how the grandma takes pride in bringing her family together and feeding them until their full. That is why I liked "Come Eat', I can relate. My grandma still makes food whenever she has guests and the food is delicious. It is nothing like a home cooked meal that can bring a family conversation together. Overall, this short story was just an easy read and the imagery that Hampl describes just takes me back to my grandma's kitchen.
The work I found in In Brief that really stuck out to me was "Desire" by David Shields. He speaks about the concept of human desire and how our interest in something only lasts until it is finally ours. He talks about CDs, and how he would be jealous of all the other people that had that new CD, until he got his own copy and just a few days later, he'd have forgotten all about. He gives several examples of this fleeting lust for something specific and each one goes on to further prove his point that nothing is every truly desired, it is merely just coveted for a short time. This definitely defamiliarized the concept of having a desire for something, and it made me consider the things I currently desire in my own life, and contemplate which ones are fleeting and which ones might actually last past the next interesting thing that catches my eye.
I really enjoyed reading "Late Jult, 4:40 A.M", by Reg Saner, because of all the imagery contained within it. I don't know how to explain it, but the imagery in this piece was really soothing and comforting to me. Anytime between 1:00 Am and 6:00 AM is my favorite part of the day, I don't know why, I just find it really soothing and homely. Also the way the author talks about the sky and how it looked, seemed really majestic to me. The way he describes the noises he hears (sounds of cars going by) and the things he saw (such as diesel trucks, billboards, and headlights from cars in the distance) really put me at ease. So essentially what I'm trying to say is that the experience the author went through is basically what I desperately long for.
In the Creative Nonfiction from In Brief a short interesting story that connected to me is by Brady Udall called One Liar’s Beginnings. Now I am not a liar but, everyone has lied once in their life depending on the situation he or she is in. People do not like to admit or confess their wrong actions in life but sometimes doing so can relief the tension one carries or feeling of guilt. The person in this story admit he/she is a liar and begin to think it had to do with a childhood memory about her not admitting to her mother about the stolen candy. The author did a great job on using tone and visual imagery giving the readers almost an image from a movie clip or thinking back to ourselves when we first lied to get what we want as children. Some learn from the mistakes by being punished but the character in this story can’t seem to wonder why the mom believed her.
One of the stories in In Brief that I particularly enjoyed is Clip from a Winter Diary by Kelly Cunnane. I enjoyed this story because it exemplifies the endless tasks of a mother with multiple children in a unique manner. Although the story suggests that the continual duties that the mother takes on are tiresome, it is obvious that the mother understands that she must continually care for her children and does so with grace. I especially enjoyed the image of her children as a fence within which she moves, which portrays the mother as constantly being surrounded by her children, who are always with her, doing as she does, whatever it may be. As being a mother is one of my greatest aspirations in life, I love that the author beautifies motherhood through the images she uses to portray the daily tasks that are always at hand; this story ultimately empowered motherhood in my opinion.
My favorite work of non-fiction in "In Brief" had to be "Come Eat" written by Patricia Hampl. As soon as i started reading this story it took me right back to my favorite place to be. At home with my family around the table. I come from a West Indian or Caribbean background and family and food are two very big things in my culture. I was raised seeing my mom and grandma and aunts get down in the kitchen and its such a wonderful memory. -Alicia Martin
The short story from "In Brief" that spoke to me was "One Liar's Beginnings" by Brady Udall. Oh man, this story was really interesting because I was able to experience someone's "first time" doing something. In this case, it was a three year old boy's first lie. I think it's funny how that a little boy knew exactly what he was doing, but at the same time, didn't do it on purpose because it just came so naturally. The author stated that his first lie was the most memorable, out of all of his other "firsts", and it wasn't even that big of a lie! The lie was just him saying no to eating some red hots, but the fact that he got such a huge thrill from it was funny, and the way he described it made it seem as if he had an adrenaline rush was just the cherry on top. I relate because I enjoy lying, given that they are little white lies like the one the author shared, but the feeling is mutual. I'm an honest person, though, and I'll eventually tell the truth, maybe. I get a kick out of just lying a little bit and sharing the same feeling with a three year old boy is making me realize how silly it is to feel this way, but it just happens. Anyway, I enjoyed the story very much.
I liked the story “Accident, June 1948” because of the empathy Seamus Deane displays towards the police officers that attempted to take notes and get details about the accidental death of the boy in the story but were given the cold shoulder. The line which struck me the most was about how the officer’s “distress reached me, airborne, like a smell”. To hear empathy described as a sort of infection or a burden on the person feeling it, whereas empathy is often considered a good trait to have, is an interesting thought. But what I like most about the story is the very end, when the author’s friend shows a distaste for the police whereas he is taken back to the accident that he witnessed. Often, people will say or do things around others and trigger a memory of an event for them without them ever knowing. It’s interesting to me that a snide remark, such as the one his friend makes, can actually cause him to reflect on a past experience. - Michael Harp
I liked the story "Missing" by Celine Geary because she showed how impactful grandparents can be. It brought back memories of my own as a child being with my grandma. There is something about that connection between grandparents that is so much different than your own parents. I never saw my grandparents often because they lived in another country. Whenever my grandma would visit I just remember her taking me on walks in the morning during the spring time and just realizing how much she loved me. A couple years ago before she passed away she had't come to see me in a long time but she was starting to lose her memory. When I talked to her she didn't recognize who I was. That just broke my heart that she had forgotten. This story just made me reflect on my own grandparents and just the simple things that they did have made it memorable for me. It also made me realize how we are used to being afraid of what our parents would say if they found out about a mistake we make, but grandparents are willing to forgive you without any reproach. -Andrelle Garcia
The story that caught my interest the most was "Gulleywasher" by Jonathan Raban. This particularly caught my interest because it is about a drought and with our current water situation, I thought it was appropriate. It is a bunch of people in a bar, in the desert. Just like us, most of the people are not used to seeing any rain. It ends up pouring for hours and the people treat it as if it is gold. They never see rain so they appreciate it that much more when it actually comes. Everyone stares out the window watching the rain like it is a phenomenon. When really, it's actually just water.
A short non-fiction story that stood out to me from the book In Brief was "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt. I've read the entire memoir when I was in high school. Angela's Ashes is one of my all-time favorite books to ever exist. I remember feeling emotional and sympathy for Frank and his family. It spoke to me on a similar level because Frank's father was similar to my step-dad. Though my step-dad did foolish things or decided to be irresponsible to make my mother mad, he was always my dad at the end of the day, as weird as that sounds. Frank and Malachy would constantly search for their dad at different pubs because they didn't want him to waste their money. Instead of their father being responsible, Frank had to be the one to watch out for his own family. Frank says, "my heart is banging away in my chest and I don't know what to do because I know I'm raging inside like my mother by the fire and all I can think of doing is running in and giving him a good kick in the leg and running out again but I don't..." When we have irresponsible parents we have to take care of, we want to be angry, but in the end, those are our parents; sometimes we forgive them later.
The story that caught my attention was "Desire" by David Shields. This story talks about how a boy wants something just because someone else has it. He goes on great lengths just to have that item and for at the end him not likimg it that much and not wanting it anymore. We all have this mindset of putting what seems to be glamorous on a high pedestal. We want things that seem attractive at the moment but after a few moments or time that item loses that quality and we no longer want it anymore. We do this a lot in our everyday lives with a lot of things without even realizing it.
A short story that speaks to me in particular was "Missing" by Celine Geary. In her story, Geary illustrates the implicit void she feels having lost her grandfather who was instrumental in her personal development. Although, I am not one to have a close connection with my grandparents ( I never knew them), the novel's theme of overcoming loss reminds me of the family I myself have lost. Additionally, Geary highlights the faith and support that family provides, such encouragement mirrors that of my own friends and family.
A short story from In Brief that I really enjoyed was "The Host" by William Heyen. The genre of this short story is Science Fiction, and the reason that it first caught my attention is that it was about a New Guinea insect, and I only recently, in another class, learned a little about the place and people of New Guinea; so I was excited to see more. By the end of the story I really just appreciated the story itself, as well, because of the fact that a story about an insect could be written so intriguingly and beautifully. Heyen uses a great deal of visual imagery to tell the story of the life and creations of a New Guinea weevil exceptionally well.
The In Brief short story "email" by Janice Best really jumped out at my initially for its poor writing style. Words aren't properly capitalized and the story is not much of a story but an abrupt shifting of inner monologues. I am not sure if this was intended to have been "written" in a single instance or over a period of time like diary, but something struck me about the sudden shift of emotional revelations. Life is not a romantic comedy where the focus of the characters is always singular and unyielding. We humans are constantly changing our minds, shifting our focuses, and overall being incredibly indecisive. This story captures that in a way that feels very real. The writer is meant to appear to be young, likely college aged, hopeful about the future, yet scared of the unknown. It feels genuine in its writing and its honesty. The writing does not rely on eloquence or vivid imagery to encapsulate the reader, it is the relatability the strikes the chord.
A non-fiction short story that I enjoyed reading was "email" by Janice Best. This non-fiction story stood out to me, because it was not how I expected a non-fiction to look or sound like. The language and writing is very informal, not using proper capitalization and punctuation. I enjoyed the somewhat mini stories that the non-fiction included because they were charming and revealed a person's train of thought, which I thought was very interesting and kept my attention. This kind of non-fiction story makes me want to write a similar non-fiction literature, because I want to write without rigid boundaries and about things that happen in my life, not just about typical non-fiction boring topics.
The short story Messages by Andre Dubus really spoke to me. In it the author uses some amazing and complex imagery. The result is that the imagery helps not only the progression of the piece but it also helps the emotion. The way Dubus uses imagery allows the reader to place themselves in the charcters shoes and feel everything that's going on.
The short fiction from In Brief that caught my attention is "Missing" from Celine Geary because of how of an impact the grandparents made in the girl's life. Sometimes, there's just something special we end up sharing or having with our grandparents compared to our parents. While I don't remember seeing my grandpa as much when I was a child, I did appreciate the times he would visit my family and I, play with me, and have dinner with us. Every time he came over, he would always bring a large trash bag full of snacks, mainly chips, and I would run up to him with a smile and yell "Papa!" It also made me realize that he was trying to spend time with us as much as possible since he was in his late stages of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer, and there was a chance that he could pass away at any moment in time. In a way, this story reminded me how important and supportive grandparents are and that even if they're gone from your life, we will always remember and love them.
I liked "Good Workers" by John t. Price. At the end, it was clear the story was a social commentary on the American culture praising work, as if it makes up for everything you've done wrong. In most of the story, though, the reader (through the viewpoint of a little boy) observed handymen working hard. Due to the multiple kinds of imagery used, I felt as if I was in the story; that I was relearning why hard work is such a beautiful thing, which made the ending all too daunting. The little boy, now a young adult, idolizes hard work, as if it will make him a good person.
The short story that spoke to me was Desire by David Shields. He pretty much explains how us humans go out of our ways just to get what we want. He explains how him and his friends were hanging out but his friend had this unique belt only Boy Scouts can get. He wanted it so bad that he even considered being a Boy Scout leader just to get the belt. In the end he remembered that JCpenny also sold Boy Scout uniforms so he just ordered it from there. After his belt came in he literally just wore it once or twice and then forgot about it. The reason this story spoke to me is because I too am exactly like this. When I want something really bad I go out and buy it but once I have it I totally forget about it and just put it away until I throw it away. -Jazmin Reyes
The short story that spoke to me was "One-Liar-Beginnings" by Brady Udall. I was flipping through the book, trying to find a random short story to start on, when the first line of this one caught my eye. "Before all else, let me make a confession: I am a liar. For me,admitting to being a liar is the most difficult confession I could make; as a rule, liars don't like to admit to anything." That line just sort of stood out to me compared to all the others I had skimmed over while flipping through the book. I liked how he admitted that his first kiss, first steps, etc.- were not as monumental as the first lie he told. I was entertained and interested to know more. All because of that first line that caught my attention and made me go "Huh? You're admitting to be a liar? O.K. Let's see where you take this..."
I liked "The End of Summer," by Kimberly Gorall because I kind of understood how the girl felt in the story. The girl has to grow up and 'become a woman' and the boys get to do whatever they want, when they want. It seems so unfair when you are a child, when you see every other child as equal, to understand why a person is treated differently. I have experienced the unfairness of the double standard when I could not go out whenever like my brothers, or had to wear certain things, or had to be 'lady-like.' The title also has a double meaning, which I liked. -Iesha Clouden
All Over Again by Verlyn Klinkenborg was a very interesting medical type nonfiction regarding the articulation of words. The narrator had developed some obstruction in her vocal cords that had to be removed surgically, but for the time that she had the obstruction, she couldn't vocalize. Her recovery consisted of a lot of those tongue twister phrases (e.g. unique New York), but this ended up disassociating the idea of language and sound to her. A few years ago in eng 319, while we were going through the phonology portion I began to have that same sort of mental twist, where I would occasionally hear words as the phonetic sounds rather than the content. But besides the linguistic reference Verlyn made throughout the story, it was filled with classical music references, which is why I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The short story that sparked my interest was "Low Tide at Four" by Harriet Doerr because it gave me a real sense of nostalgia. The imagery used in the story made me feel as if I were actually sitting on the beach and observing those around me. When Hitler was alluded to, I felt a shock vibrate through my entire body. It occurred to me that the year 1939 was the year that the was of WWII ended. This simple moment with a family at the beach showed me the privilege they had of being an American living in California. When the Japanese married couple was introduced, I could imagine the sense of alienation they felt as they greeted others with their foreign gestures. I could imagine the fear, yet safety they felt as citizens/residents in the United States. I love how Doerr began and ended her story with the setting of 1939. It gave me an ill reminder of the evils that consumed the earth during that year.
The story that spoke to me was " Dream Houses" by Tenaya Darlington. The reason this story spoke to me is because it reminded me of the house I grew up in. It made me think back at my first 18 years of life and how that house held all my memories growing up. It was the place that everyone would go to for parties, celebrations, and holidays. It was the one place where the whole family would come together. But now we are all separated in our own little houses or apartments. We no longer have a place that we can all say is our family home.
I enjoyed the story "Garden of Envy" by Jamaica Kincaid since it was quite relatable. The story speaks of how gardeners plant the plants that are remarkable or special to them but also mentions how they only love those plants for a moment then move on to a different and new plant. It says that gardeners always plant what they admire, otherwise it would not be in their garden in the first place. I really liked the concept of this story because it mentions how gardeners admire each others work to the point where they envy some of the work that they see even though they love what they plant at that moment as well. It is similar to how we as people tend to compare ourselves to others or try to be like someone else due to this remarkable trait that they have. It reminded me of a quote I like and follow "Comparison is the thief of joy"-Theodore Roosevelt. We cannot have everything but we can always strive to improve, just in our own way.
I really enjoyed the story "Two Hearts" by Brian Doyle. The story focuses on a father of two twin boys born some months ago. A picture of happiness wouldn't you think? Sadly this isn't the case one of the boys has only half a heart, he can die at practically any time because of this. The father adores his son but expresses his hatred for the man who made his son weak in the first place he admits he's talked to him on more than once. But that he knows its because of god that he has his son in the first place. Don't get me wrong he's grateful that he has him and is able to be with him but I feel he doesn't know how to accept that life's bittersweet. When we think about a baby especially our own we would expect them to live far longer then us. Even though we know death will come when our time is up. We might choose to believe we have forever but that doesn't change anything. This story although kind of sad reminded me of how fragile life is but how beautiful it could be. That baby although sick gets to have a family and people who love him, maybe even change them for the better. He might not get to experience it for long but at least he gets to. Now I can not connect to this story on a personal level because I don't have a child of my own but it does have you appreciate the things we have in our lives. We don't know if we'll have another tomorrow but we can sure live and love as if we did. -Crystal Magana
One story that I enjoyed was, "Desire," by David Shields. The theme is wanting things that other people have, not solely because you want it. This story spoke to me because it is a diligent effort for me to save money and resist shopping sprees. When I give myself enough time I realize that I don't want the item as badly as I thought I did or if time has passed and I still want it then I will buy it. The concept of desire for materialistic things is something we can all relate to and it is my hope that I can remain humble and not indulge in desire.
A story that spoke to me was Messages by Andre Dubus. I felt like the story was so real and vivid and so full of imagery both visual and auditory, that it almost felt like I was watching a movie. In reality, I was not able to connect to the story on a personal level, like no previous memories came to mind or no person in particular came to mind when I read the story, nonetheless I really enjoyed it. Even after reading the story a few times I still have some questions, what gender was the narrator and does it really matter? Why did he/she want to answer the phone so badly, what were they going to tell Dave?
ReplyDeleteThe short creative nonfiction story that spoke to me was "Very Narrow" by Anne Carson. What I loved so much about this story is how the narrator feels pressured to be a certain "kind of woman" to please her father. Ironically enough, her father ends up losing his mind and does not even know who she is at one point. I think the main theme of the story is personal identity. It isn't until the narrator falls in love that she realizes that she isn't even close to knowing her true self because she created a different person for her father. As a young woman, I relate to this issue of identity and finding yourself outside of what others want you to be.
ReplyDelete-- Kinlynn Austin
A short non-fiction story that stood out to me from the book In Brief was “Dream Houses” written by Tenaya Darlington. I really enjoyed how this short story was about feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about the past. This feeling is relatable as one begins to picture the old house or town they used to live in and how as time changes so do we. Not only does it show this emotion, but it also emphasizes how sometimes people take for granted what they have right in front of them. This is shown as the narrator’s parents keep dreaming of that ideal house and as they think they found the perfect one, they start thinking of a better house. I also liked how the narrator began to reflect on the negative things of the house he grew up in to later end it with a detailed list of how that house is irreplaceable because of all the memories they made there as a family. This story really brought out the idea of how people, without putting much thought into it, think of getting better and bigger things where what they have is enough and maybe more precious to them that they may think.
ReplyDelete- Mariela Andrade
Well said
DeleteThe short story that stood out to me was "Missing" from Celine Geary. This short story about how a woman misses her grandparents. She doesn't say what happened to her grandparents but I assumed that they have passed away. She talks about some of her memories of her grandparents and how much they loved her. She uses a lot of imagery to illustrate what it was like to be with her grandparents. The sentence that stood out to me was "Oh. And I was okay. I miss that" because it reminded me how my grandparents made me feel. When I was with them I felt like everything was okay and all my problems would just work themselves out.
ReplyDeleteThe short story non-fiction that spoke to me was "Stuck with Stranger" by Castle Freeman Jr. This story was very interesting because when someone this guy has an accident. He had some stranger help him, making sure he was okay. The author explained in very good details and used imagery on how the accident happened. It is relatable because when I was in a car accident with my mom a guy had stopped and asked if we were okay because he saw what happened, There are good people out there who have a kind heart to help others out. The author also mentions that you should always be thankful for having people like that come into your life when you really need the help. My favorite line from this non-fiction was "When helpers arrive, they give whether have, in their own way, in their own time" (Freeman, 213). I just enjoy helping people because you may never know when you may need the help and no one will help you out.
ReplyDeleteFor In Brief, a story I enjoyed was "The Indian Dog" by N. Scott Momaday. The story is about a boy buying a dog, keeping it for a day until it runs away. I liked this story because when the boy wakes up and notices that the dog is gone, he knows that he wasn't meant to keep him. The boy knew that even though the dog ran away, he ran away to be where he is meant to be. The boy realizes an important lesson. "Caveat emptor" which translates to "let the buyer beware". The boy knew that everything has a purpose no matter if that purpose doesn't mean him. "It was a lesson worth many times five dollars"
ReplyDeleteOne of the stories in In Brief that I really enjoyed was 107 Miles West of Fargo, by W. Scott Olsen. I liked this one more than others because I felt like there was a really good sense of creativity as opposed to being bogged down with such official information. The story basically just goes through different points in a road trip: one being where the car and the driver mesh together, where the driving becomes fun, and then the other when you are finally approaching your destination. The most interesting thing to me was all of the vivid imagery in something I hadn’t really noticed. It’s almost as if he defamiliarizes long distance trips. As someone who spends almost every weekend driving to LA, I really related to all of the imagery. I think that most audiences who are familiar with driving long distances frequently can definitely appreciate this work.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Dermot Healy's story from The Bend for Home. The author is writing a story about a woman who is pregnant and in labor. The doctor that is supposed to be delivering the baby ends up too drunk to do his job. A midwife named Mary Sheridan delivers the baby at the end. The author tells us that he thought that he was the baby who was born. He reveals that his mother wasn't even the mother who was pregnant; she was the midwife. I liked it because, although I'm not sure if it was supposed to be humorous, I was laughing. It's funny to picture a doctor so drunk he slept next to his patient while she was having contractions.
ReplyDelete--Rayna Gomez
One work of creative of non-fiction I enjoyed in "In Belief" was "Come Eat" by Patricia Hampl. This story was about a grandma's connection with her family through meals. Hampl talks about how the grandma takes pride in bringing her family together and feeding them until their full. That is why I liked "Come Eat', I can relate. My grandma still makes food whenever she has guests and the food is delicious. It is nothing like a home cooked meal that can bring a family conversation together. Overall, this short story was just an easy read and the imagery that Hampl describes just takes me back to my grandma's kitchen.
ReplyDelete-Pablo Casas
The work I found in In Brief that really stuck out to me was "Desire" by David Shields. He speaks about the concept of human desire and how our interest in something only lasts until it is finally ours. He talks about CDs, and how he would be jealous of all the other people that had that new CD, until he got his own copy and just a few days later, he'd have forgotten all about. He gives several examples of this fleeting lust for something specific and each one goes on to further prove his point that nothing is every truly desired, it is merely just coveted for a short time. This definitely defamiliarized the concept of having a desire for something, and it made me consider the things I currently desire in my own life, and contemplate which ones are fleeting and which ones might actually last past the next interesting thing that catches my eye.
ReplyDelete-- Sarana McDaniel
I really enjoyed reading "Late Jult, 4:40 A.M", by Reg Saner, because of all the imagery contained within it. I don't know how to explain it, but the imagery in this piece was really soothing and comforting to me. Anytime between 1:00 Am and 6:00 AM is my favorite part of the day, I don't know why, I just find it really soothing and homely. Also the way the author talks about the sky and how it looked, seemed really majestic to me. The way he describes the noises he hears (sounds of cars going by) and the things he saw (such as diesel trucks, billboards, and headlights from cars in the distance) really put me at ease. So essentially what I'm trying to say is that the experience the author went through is basically what I desperately long for.
ReplyDelete- Jeff Ice
In the Creative Nonfiction from In Brief a short interesting story that connected to me is by Brady Udall called One Liar’s Beginnings. Now I am not a liar but, everyone has lied once in their life depending on the situation he or she is in. People do not like to admit or confess their wrong actions in life but sometimes doing so can relief the tension one carries or feeling of guilt. The person in this story admit he/she is a liar and begin to think it had to do with a childhood memory about her not admitting to her mother about the stolen candy. The author did a great job on using tone and visual imagery giving the readers almost an image from a movie clip or thinking back to ourselves when we first lied to get what we want as children. Some learn from the mistakes by being punished but the character in this story can’t seem to wonder why the mom believed her.
ReplyDeleteOne of the stories in In Brief that I particularly enjoyed is Clip from a Winter Diary by Kelly Cunnane. I enjoyed this story because it exemplifies the endless tasks of a mother with multiple children in a unique manner. Although the story suggests that the continual duties that the mother takes on are tiresome, it is obvious that the mother understands that she must continually care for her children and does so with grace. I especially enjoyed the image of her children as a fence within which she moves, which portrays the mother as constantly being surrounded by her children, who are always with her, doing as she does, whatever it may be. As being a mother is one of my greatest aspirations in life, I love that the author beautifies motherhood through the images she uses to portray the daily tasks that are always at hand; this story ultimately empowered motherhood in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite work of non-fiction in "In Brief" had to be "Come Eat" written by Patricia Hampl. As soon as i started reading this story it took me right back to my favorite place to be. At home with my family around the table. I come from a West Indian or Caribbean background and family and food are two very big things in my culture. I was raised seeing my mom and grandma and aunts get down in the kitchen and its such a wonderful memory.
ReplyDelete-Alicia Martin
The short story from "In Brief" that spoke to me was "One Liar's Beginnings" by Brady Udall. Oh man, this story was really interesting because I was able to experience someone's "first time" doing something. In this case, it was a three year old boy's first lie. I think it's funny how that a little boy knew exactly what he was doing, but at the same time, didn't do it on purpose because it just came so naturally. The author stated that his first lie was the most memorable, out of all of his other "firsts", and it wasn't even that big of a lie! The lie was just him saying no to eating some red hots, but the fact that he got such a huge thrill from it was funny, and the way he described it made it seem as if he had an adrenaline rush was just the cherry on top. I relate because I enjoy lying, given that they are little white lies like the one the author shared, but the feeling is mutual. I'm an honest person, though, and I'll eventually tell the truth, maybe. I get a kick out of just lying a little bit and sharing the same feeling with a three year old boy is making me realize how silly it is to feel this way, but it just happens. Anyway, I enjoyed the story very much.
ReplyDelete- Hugo Hernandez
I liked the story “Accident, June 1948” because of the empathy Seamus Deane displays towards the police officers that attempted to take notes and get details about the accidental death of the boy in the story but were given the cold shoulder. The line which struck me the most was about how the officer’s “distress reached me, airborne, like a smell”. To hear empathy described as a sort of infection or a burden on the person feeling it, whereas empathy is often considered a good trait to have, is an interesting thought. But what I like most about the story is the very end, when the author’s friend shows a distaste for the police whereas he is taken back to the accident that he witnessed. Often, people will say or do things around others and trigger a memory of an event for them without them ever knowing. It’s interesting to me that a snide remark, such as the one his friend makes, can actually cause him to reflect on a past experience.
ReplyDelete- Michael Harp
I liked the story "Missing" by Celine Geary because she showed how impactful grandparents can be. It brought back memories of my own as a child being with my grandma. There is something about that connection between grandparents that is so much different than your own parents. I never saw my grandparents often because they lived in another country. Whenever my grandma would visit I just remember her taking me on walks in the morning during the spring time and just realizing how much she loved me. A couple years ago before she passed away she had't come to see me in a long time but she was starting to lose her memory. When I talked to her she didn't recognize who I was. That just broke my heart that she had forgotten. This story just made me reflect on my own grandparents and just the simple things that they did have made it memorable for me. It also made me realize how we are used to being afraid of what our parents would say if they found out about a mistake we make, but grandparents are willing to forgive you without any reproach.
ReplyDelete-Andrelle Garcia
The story that caught my interest the most was "Gulleywasher" by Jonathan Raban. This particularly caught my interest because it is about a drought and with our current water situation, I thought it was appropriate. It is a bunch of people in a bar, in the desert. Just like us, most of the people are not used to seeing any rain. It ends up pouring for hours and the people treat it as if it is gold. They never see rain so they appreciate it that much more when it actually comes. Everyone stares out the window watching the rain like it is a phenomenon. When really, it's actually just water.
ReplyDeleteA short non-fiction story that stood out to me from the book In Brief was "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt. I've read the entire memoir when I was in high school. Angela's Ashes is one of my all-time favorite books to ever exist. I remember feeling emotional and sympathy for Frank and his family. It spoke to me on a similar level because Frank's father was similar to my step-dad. Though my step-dad did foolish things or decided to be irresponsible to make my mother mad, he was always my dad at the end of the day, as weird as that sounds. Frank and Malachy would constantly search for their dad at different pubs because they didn't want him to waste their money. Instead of their father being responsible, Frank had to be the one to watch out for his own family. Frank says, "my heart is banging away in my chest and I don't know what to do because I know I'm raging inside like my mother by the fire and all I can think of doing is running in and giving him a good kick in the leg and running out again but I don't..." When we have irresponsible parents we have to take care of, we want to be angry, but in the end, those are our parents; sometimes we forgive them later.
ReplyDeleteThe story that caught my attention was "Desire" by David Shields. This story talks about how a boy wants something just because someone else has it. He goes on great lengths just to have that item and for at the end him not likimg it that much and not wanting it anymore. We all have this mindset of putting what seems to be glamorous on a high pedestal. We want things that seem attractive at the moment but after a few moments or time that item loses that quality and we no longer want it anymore. We do this a lot in our everyday lives with a lot of things without even realizing it.
ReplyDelete-Armando Contreras
A short story that speaks to me in particular was "Missing" by Celine Geary. In her story, Geary illustrates the implicit void she feels having lost her grandfather who was instrumental in her personal development. Although, I am not one to have a close connection with my grandparents ( I never knew them), the novel's theme of overcoming loss reminds me of the family I myself have lost. Additionally, Geary highlights the faith and support that family provides, such encouragement mirrors that of my own friends and family.
ReplyDeleteA short story from In Brief that I really enjoyed was "The Host" by William Heyen. The genre of this short story is Science Fiction, and the reason that it first caught my attention is that it was about a New Guinea insect, and I only recently, in another class, learned a little about the place and people of New Guinea; so I was excited to see more. By the end of the story I really just appreciated the story itself, as well, because of the fact that a story about an insect could be written so intriguingly and beautifully. Heyen uses a great deal of visual imagery to tell the story of the life and creations of a New Guinea weevil exceptionally well.
ReplyDeleteThe In Brief short story "email" by Janice Best really jumped out at my initially for its poor writing style. Words aren't properly capitalized and the story is not much of a story but an abrupt shifting of inner monologues. I am not sure if this was intended to have been "written" in a single instance or over a period of time like diary, but something struck me about the sudden shift of emotional revelations. Life is not a romantic comedy where the focus of the characters is always singular and unyielding. We humans are constantly changing our minds, shifting our focuses, and overall being incredibly indecisive. This story captures that in a way that feels very real. The writer is meant to appear to be young, likely college aged, hopeful about the future, yet scared of the unknown. It feels genuine in its writing and its honesty. The writing does not rely on eloquence or vivid imagery to encapsulate the reader, it is the relatability the strikes the chord.
ReplyDeleteA non-fiction short story that I enjoyed reading was "email" by Janice Best. This non-fiction story stood out to me, because it was not how I expected a non-fiction to look or sound like. The language and writing is very informal, not using proper capitalization and punctuation. I enjoyed the somewhat mini stories that the non-fiction included because they were charming and revealed a person's train of thought, which I thought was very interesting and kept my attention. This kind of non-fiction story makes me want to write a similar non-fiction literature, because I want to write without rigid boundaries and about things that happen in my life, not just about typical non-fiction boring topics.
ReplyDeleteThe short story Messages by Andre Dubus really spoke to me. In it the author uses some amazing and complex imagery. The result is that the imagery helps not only the progression of the piece but it also helps the emotion. The way Dubus uses imagery allows the reader to place themselves in the charcters shoes and feel everything that's going on.
ReplyDelete-Ivori Holson
The short fiction from In Brief that caught my attention is "Missing" from Celine Geary because of how of an impact the grandparents made in the girl's life. Sometimes, there's just something special we end up sharing or having with our grandparents compared to our parents. While I don't remember seeing my grandpa as much when I was a child, I did appreciate the times he would visit my family and I, play with me, and have dinner with us. Every time he came over, he would always bring a large trash bag full of snacks, mainly chips, and I would run up to him with a smile and yell "Papa!" It also made me realize that he was trying to spend time with us as much as possible since he was in his late stages of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer, and there was a chance that he could pass away at any moment in time. In a way, this story reminded me how important and supportive grandparents are and that even if they're gone from your life, we will always remember and love them.
ReplyDelete--Ashley Green
I liked "Good Workers" by John t. Price. At the end, it was clear the story was a social commentary on the American culture praising work, as if it makes up for everything you've done wrong. In most of the story, though, the reader (through the viewpoint of a little boy) observed handymen working hard. Due to the multiple kinds of imagery used, I felt as if I was in the story; that I was relearning why hard work is such a beautiful thing, which made the ending all too daunting. The little boy, now a young adult, idolizes hard work, as if it will make him a good person.
ReplyDelete-Allie
The short story that spoke to me was Desire by David Shields. He pretty much explains how us humans go out of our ways just to get what we want. He explains how him and his friends were hanging out but his friend had this unique belt only Boy Scouts can get. He wanted it so bad that he even considered being a Boy Scout leader just to get the belt. In the end he remembered that JCpenny also sold Boy Scout uniforms so he just ordered it from there. After his belt came in he literally just wore it once or twice and then forgot about it. The reason this story spoke to me is because I too am exactly like this. When I want something really bad I go out and buy it but once I have it I totally forget about it and just put it away until I throw it away.
ReplyDelete-Jazmin Reyes
The short story that spoke to me was "One-Liar-Beginnings" by Brady Udall. I was flipping through the book, trying to find a random short story to start on, when the first line of this one caught my eye. "Before all else, let me make a confession: I am a liar. For me,admitting to being a liar is the most difficult confession I could make; as a rule, liars don't like to admit to anything." That line just sort of stood out to me compared to all the others I had skimmed over while flipping through the book. I liked how he admitted that his first kiss, first steps, etc.- were not as monumental as the first lie he told. I was entertained and interested to know more. All because of that first line that caught my attention and made me go "Huh? You're admitting to be a liar? O.K. Let's see where you take this..."
ReplyDelete-Kristin Galetano
I liked "The End of Summer," by Kimberly Gorall because I kind of understood how the girl felt in the story. The girl has to grow up and 'become a woman' and the boys get to do whatever they want, when they want. It seems so unfair when you are a child, when you see every other child as equal, to understand why a person is treated differently. I have experienced the unfairness of the double standard when I could not go out whenever like my brothers, or had to wear certain things, or had to be 'lady-like.' The title also has a double meaning, which I liked.
ReplyDelete-Iesha Clouden
All Over Again by Verlyn Klinkenborg was a very interesting medical type nonfiction regarding the articulation of words. The narrator had developed some obstruction in her vocal cords that had to be removed surgically, but for the time that she had the obstruction, she couldn't vocalize. Her recovery consisted of a lot of those tongue twister phrases (e.g. unique New York), but this ended up disassociating the idea of language and sound to her. A few years ago in eng 319, while we were going through the phonology portion I began to have that same sort of mental twist, where I would occasionally hear words as the phonetic sounds rather than the content. But besides the linguistic reference Verlyn made throughout the story, it was filled with classical music references, which is why I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
ReplyDeleteThe short story that sparked my interest was "Low Tide at Four" by Harriet Doerr because it gave me a real sense of nostalgia. The imagery used in the story made me feel as if I were actually sitting on the beach and observing those around me. When Hitler was alluded to, I felt a shock vibrate through my entire body. It occurred to me that the year 1939 was the year that the was of WWII ended. This simple moment with a family at the beach showed me the privilege they had of being an American living in California. When the Japanese married couple was introduced, I could imagine the sense of alienation they felt as they greeted others with their foreign gestures. I could imagine the fear, yet safety they felt as citizens/residents in the United States. I love how Doerr began and ended her story with the setting of 1939. It gave me an ill reminder of the evils that consumed the earth during that year.
ReplyDeleteThe story that spoke to me was " Dream Houses" by Tenaya Darlington. The reason this story spoke to me is because it reminded me of the house I grew up in. It made me think back at my first 18 years of life and how that house held all my memories growing up. It was the place that everyone would go to for parties, celebrations, and holidays. It was the one place where the whole family would come together. But now we are all separated in our own little houses or apartments. We no longer have a place that we can all say is our family home.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the story "Garden of Envy" by Jamaica Kincaid since it was quite relatable. The story speaks of how gardeners plant the plants that are remarkable or special to them but also mentions how they only love those plants for a moment then move on to a different and new plant. It says that gardeners always plant what they admire, otherwise it would not be in their garden in the first place. I really liked the concept of this story because it mentions how gardeners admire each others work to the point where they envy some of the work that they see even though they love what they plant at that moment as well. It is similar to how we as people tend to compare ourselves to others or try to be like someone else due to this remarkable trait that they have. It reminded me of a quote I like and follow "Comparison is the thief of joy"-Theodore Roosevelt. We cannot have everything but we can always strive to improve, just in our own way.
ReplyDelete-James Dy
I really enjoyed the story "Two Hearts" by Brian Doyle. The story focuses on a father of two twin boys born some months ago. A picture of happiness wouldn't you think? Sadly this isn't the case one of the boys has only half a heart, he can die at practically any time because of this. The father adores his son but expresses his hatred for the man who made his son weak in the first place he admits he's talked to him on more than once. But that he knows its because of god that he has his son in the first place. Don't get me wrong he's grateful that he has him and is able to be with him but I feel he doesn't know how to accept that life's bittersweet. When we think about a baby especially our own we would expect them to live far longer then us. Even though we know death will come when our time is up. We might choose to believe we have forever but that doesn't change anything. This story although kind of sad reminded me of how fragile life is but how beautiful it could be. That baby although sick gets to have a family and people who love him, maybe even change them for the better. He might not get to experience it for long but at least he gets to. Now I can not connect to this story on a personal level because I don't have a child of my own but it does have you appreciate the things we have in our lives. We don't know if we'll have another tomorrow but we can sure live and love as if we did.
ReplyDelete-Crystal Magana
One story that I enjoyed was, "Desire," by David Shields. The theme is wanting things that other people have, not solely because you want it. This story spoke to me because it is a diligent effort for me to save money and resist shopping sprees. When I give myself enough time I realize that I don't want the item as badly as I thought I did or if time has passed and I still want it then I will buy it. The concept of desire for materialistic things is something we can all relate to and it is my hope that I can remain humble and not indulge in desire.
ReplyDelete-Alee Gonzalez