Saturday, May 12, 2012

"A Small, Good Thing" - Raymond Carver

I enjoyed reading Raymond Carver's "A Small, Good Thing" because of many the many small, good things he builds up the story with. The way Carver writes seems to add a great importance to each storyline and sequence in the story. One detail I noticed is that each entailed plot seemed to set up the next and the next after that, a very good way of suspense and hook. Carver also emphasized a lot of repetition of certain lines and scenery evoke a deeper importance. Moreover, one of the literary devices I came across Carver's writing was more of senses and imagery. I could picture Ann, Howard, the patients, and the doctors very well to fine detail. Carver also presented some similes, one particular that I remember was Ann's aptitude compared with the men. Overall, I enjoyed the stories plot, although tragic, the ending speaks the truth about going on with life, even if it's in small, good fractions.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Inspiration

This photograph of the beach, I love to go to, reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's short story, "The Handsomest Drowned Man." The way the picture is depicted, almost shows as if something or someone was dragged, maybe someone handsome? I don't know. Relative in other of his short stories though, the beach is a very fascinating aspect of life and death as well. It contains this aura that connects all kinds of life forms, it's a place of beginnings, yet a place of endings too.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Rhinoceric Berenger

If I can remember an instance when I acted like a Rhinoceros and commuted with the crowd, I'd say it would be most of my elementary and adolescent years. As a kid growing up, everyone in one point of their life has been situated and confronted peer-pressure. Some of my peer-pressure experiences that I can remember dealt with having the next big thing, whether it was new shoes, trading cards, toys, cool pencils, etc. I had to have it all. And to keep up, I had to follow the crowd to keep up, even if it meant becoming a rhinoceros.

However, the times I felt closest to my inner-self was when I would become a Berenger. Some of the instances where my inner Berenger escaped, were the instances that helped me most disconnect and dissociate from other rhinoceroses. One particular situation where I stood as a Berenger was in choosing my elective classes in high school. Most of the students and friends' I knew would take easy classes for their advantage in order to get a easy grade. In this circumstance though, I would deny to have followed the crowd. I took classes that interested me the most, challenging, out of the norm classes which I have no regret on taking because they have expanded my personal growth and made me very proud and happy to take.