Red Reviewed

I thought that Red was an excellent book to end our course with. I think that starting out with Hine's Rise and Fall of the American Teen set the stage for the different impressions of the teen years that our various novels dealt with. Ending with essays as raw and honest as the ones presented in Red were an excellent way to come full circle. I can understand why the novel has gotten the acclaim it has. At a time in their lives when young women long to be understood, Red touched on many topics that are painfully relatable to them. Even though many of the topics related to eating disorders and addiction were a bit more extreme than an average teen's problems, most of us know at least one or two teens who are struggling with those and similar problems. When I was reading the essays, I was inspired by the bravery of the young women writing, knowing that they were not only exposing themselves to countless strangers who would read the book, but even more painfully, to those who were closest to them -- family and friends. I'm glad that non-fiction books like this one are the most widely read genre in America. I think there is so much to be learned from them. Although most of us can relate to an incident or two in Sherman Alexie's novel, an essay format is much more powerful to most reading it. Maybe it's not as entertaining, but more therapeutic! Like some of my classmates, I too felt that there was a sameness to some of the stories. I wished it hadn't been so similarly edited. I think it would be interesting to read some of the posts on the young author's of the book Facebook pages.

I think if I were writing the next American teen novel, I'd probably want to include the challenges that seem to be most prevalent today as opposed to when I was a teen. In the years since I was a teenager some things have stayed the same, like teen pregnancy, the temptation of alcohol and drugs, and the universal struggle to fit in. One of the things that has changed in my view, is the intensity and methods of bullying. I think the novel that I'd like to write would deal with bullying, but not just from the victim's perspective, but the bully too. I think it would be an interesting study to learn what makes the bully tick, much like Rowdy from Alexie's novel. We all know what extreme bullying can result in for the victim, but I wonder if by beginning to understand the psyche of the bully we might be able to prevent some of the violence. I would set the novel in the suburbs and have the characters be very relatable, with all the concerns and problems of typical 14 year olds. I would present the characters, even the bully, with all their sides, not just the stereotypical one-dimensional "bad" bully, "good" victim. I loved that Alexie's setting was a southwestern Indian reservation. It wasn't the typical ghetto or San Fernando Valley location. My hope is that the novel would show that the bully character is often a victim too of one form or another of parental abuse. Thankfully, my kids' school has zero tolerance for bullying, but who's to say that one day they might encounter a grown-up bully, and I'd like them to be aware of just what might have made them that way. It's not that my novel will prevent anyone from becoming a bully or being the victim of one, but if it can lead to a better understanding of the conflict, then we're one step closer to solving it.

Loved the ATDOAPTI

What I wasn't expecting from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian was that I would love it so much. I thought maybe it would be another typical coming-of-age book with gross humor and some preachy moral, but instead it had an authentically "teen" voice but with the wisdom of an old soul, and I got the feeling that the author truly experienced the events portrayed. What I loved best was the fact that Junior, for all of his physical shortcomings and disadvantages, never felt sorry for himself. As a reader, I wanted to cry at times, but his reactions to tragedies, great and small showed his true character. With at least one parent an alcoholic, and his entire clan living in deep poverty, the love generated in that small family was so pure and genuine, and broke just about every stereotype of a dysfunctional family. Junior's tolerance of abuse by other children, and even his best friend Rowdy show his capacity to love. I thought the illustrations added so much to the story, showing how he and his friends and family would like to be portrayed, and how they actually were. Another aspect of Junior I really found charming was his humility. Obviously he was very bright and athletic, but never felt compelled to brag. I was happy that the white students at Reardon became so accepting of him. I found the acceptance of the minority by the majority, and the minorities struggle with his own race to be a novel take on racism. I would expect the follow-up novel to ATDOAPTI to show trials and tribulations, which we would expect, but Junior always dealing with the world from his own unique perspective.

Looking Back on Hine

I was wondering early on in the semester just why we were reading 'The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager" in a literature course. From my perspective, the book seemed more like a sociology text in that it dealt with teens throughout history and their changing roles in society. But as we began to cover more teen-themed novels, I felt as though Hine's book was an excellent way to set the stage for the study of the adolescent literature, especially since we covered material dating from the 18th century to the present day and since the "teen" has been interpreted and dealt with differently throughout the course of time. Throughout my adult life I've had a persistent fear of teenagers. Maybe because I was such a difficult one! Looking back now, it's hard to believe that wild and disagreeable creature was really me. If that's what I turned into, then what's going to happen to my soon-to-be-teen kids? And I wonder if I can navigate them through it? What I liked so much about the book were the interesting facts that dealt with the ever-changing perception of teens through history, such as the formation of the high school and why it came about. I guess, like anything that defies a concrete definition, there is a lot of room for interpretation as Hine shows. The study of the "American teen" is also interesting and portrays this group to be unique, unlike any other in the world, and discusses the factors that make it so. I liked the notion that the teen years, "have become defined not as an interlude but rather as something central to life, a period of preparation and self-definition, a period of indulgence and unfocused energy. This definition alone suggests ambivalence, and Hine throughout illustrates this fact. After taking this course I feel a little bit better prepared for the near future with my own two kids. I don't know if this knowledge will make it any easier, but at least I will have a fuller understanding of just what my kids are going through and maybe I'll be able to help them through this uncertain time in their lives.

Betsey Brown Thoughts

I would agree with the short review on the cover of Shange's book that calls the novel "exuberantly engaging!" I liked most of the novel very much. I feel that Shange has a knack for bringing characters and situations to life, so much so that at times I could almost smell Miss Carrie's cooking or Jane's exotic perfume. I think her descriptive language is so vivid and rich that it would be a rewarding undertaking for a filmmaker to bring this work to the big screen. I loved the characters, especially Miss Carrie and Vida who represent opposite ends of the black class spectrum during the late 1950's. The setting of the late 1950's is an interesting choice, since it is before the civil rights movement that the history books correspond to. There are many moments in the book where tension, or a gathering of momentum builds that helps to set the stage for the historic developments of the 1960's. What I didn't like about the book (page 90 to be exact) was the abrupt shift from the Regina/Roscoe romance to the topic of bussing. I kept wondering if maybe the book was missing a few pages that would have explained the transition. After that, each time the suggestion of racism or cultural differences was mentioned, it was almost as if Shange felt obligated to weave historical events into the story to give it merit. I think her storytelling was good enough that she didn't need to do that. Another troublesome aspect for me was the relationship between Jane and Greer. Their marriage did not seem at all realistic. Given the pressures of a large family and the difficult social climate, the two of them seemed to be on a never-ending honeymoon, at least until Jane left to 'find herself." Who has the luxury of doing that in real life? I'm guessing Shange doesn't have a house full of kids, because if she did, Jane and Greer would never have been carrying on the way they did -- sex before dinner, sex till the sun came up. In real life they'd probably be passed out in front of the t.v. by 9:00.

Research Paper Revised

After tossing a few ideas around for the research paper, I think I've finally settled on researching various black perspectives, past and present on Huckleberry Finn. I don't recall my own reaction, with respect to the issue of racial injustice the first time I read the novel. But this time I was wondering how my black classmates were viewing the work, in light of the fact that it's still required reading in most schools. I became interested in race relations when I lived in Los Angeles in the 1990's. At that time the Rodney King riots were happening very close to my home. This very tumultuous time in Los Angeles and in my life will forever be etched in my mind. I got to witness first-hand the tangible effects of racism. After reading the critical essays at the end of the novel, I realized that this was a topic that interested me. After reading Toni Morrison's piece and learning that James Baldwin, another author that I like, had also commented on the racial issues raised by the book, I thought I was bound to find some interesting perspectives, especially by writers, who can appreciate great writing, despite the overt discrimination. The books I have chosen: Satire or Evasion, James Baldwin's Another Country, and Black, White, and Huckleberry Finn will hopefully support my thesis that although offensive throughout, the novel and Twain deserve to be viewed as anti-slavery and anti-racist by various esteemed black authors to be a legitimate American classic. I may find the contrary to also be true. I'm anxious to see how these various authors feel about the novel, since I have great respect for them.

Evolution of the Teen

When thinking about possible topics for the upcoming essay, I was most intrigued by the perception of teenagers throughout the short history of the United States. It seems little attention was paid to the transition time between childhood and adulthood during the early years of our country. It was viewed, rather, as a time when children were able to make a more significant contribution to the labor force or as an additional hand to help with farm work.

I am interested to discover just what changes were happening in our American society that led to more insightful perceptions of the teenager, as well as uncovering other forces that were forging this new awareness, including significant events and people. Although the evolution of the teen is probably far from over, it is interesting to see the effects of these different perceptions on teens, as we are able to examine its effects as time passes. It's almost if society is the petri dish that is turning out variations on the teen. As always, history is a very good teacher, and a lot can be learned by looking back.

Charlotte goes to Hollywood

I think updating Charlotte Temple for the twenty-first century would be a great project for any writer. After all, several of Jane Austin's novels have been introduced to a new generation on film. I know how difficult it was to even find Charlotte Temple in print, and if Rowson's work can be passed on in an updated novel, then her work truly lives on; not just for a select group of American lit students.

I imagine Charlotte as an ambitious junior high school student who has a natural talent for acting. Charlotte, an only child lives with her parents in a conservative small town with good mid-Western values. Charlotte is beautiful and talented; and often dreams of leaving her sometimes-dreary life behind. Her parents overprotectiveness, however, often crushes her dreams of going to Hollywood. Praised in her drama class and the community theater, Charlotte's dream only continues to grow, and one day an opportunity to hold that dream comes her way. Overhearing a classmate at lunch one day telling a friend that she's heading to Los Angeles to follow her musician boyfriend, Charlotte senses that this is her opportunity and rushes to make her plan.

After a weeks' worth of travel, Charlotte and her accomplice Rachel arrive in Los Angeles. During that long and exhausting week Charlotte became intrigued by Rachel and her lack of inhibition. Although they were both only 17, Rachel loved vodka, cigarettes and older men. Charlotte had only recently been alone with a boy for the first time; and it was only to go over the script for "Footloose" at the local community theater. Once they arrived in Los Angeles, the vultures on Melrose Avenue descended. It was as if the two girls had tattoos on their foreheads saying, "We're new in town, take advantage of us!!" It wasn't long before a charismatic Beverly Hills talent agent noticed Charlotte and promised her the career of her dreams, along with a shopping trip and dinner at a very sophisticated restaurant. Well as you can guess, Charlotte accepted his offers and believed every word he said, just as she did with the people back home in her little mid-Western town. Only back home there wasn't a price for believing. But here in Los Angeles, Charlotte believed him when he said that if she had a drink or two she'd have more fun. Well, Rachel sure seemed to, so why not? But after a drink or two, a snort or two didn't seem unreasonable, so Charlotte was initiated into her new life.

As time passed, Charlotte realized that the promises were empty ones, only now she needed a drink to start her day because it made the pain of all the disappointments go away. She'd had a casting call or two, but no call backs. She hadn't seen or spoken to her family for over 6 months, and worst of all, the man who promised her the world was long gone, and he didn't even know he was going to be a father. Maybe that would have made a difference. Rachel had met another musician and they had left for Vancouver a few months back. She often thought that no one deserved to be so lonely in this beautiful place where the sun was always shining.

After losing her night job stocking the drug store's shelves, Charlotte spent what little she had on alcohol and whatever else she could find t0 numb the pain. People walking by the corner where she sat, looked at her with disgust. She was still so young, in the last days of her pregnancy, and drunk. Charlotte couldn't even remember anymore why she came to this place to begin with.

Someone had called for help on their cell phone after hearing about the accident. The girl couldn't have been any more than 15 or so when she walked right out into traffic. The paramedic's only hope now was to save the baby, since the young woman without any i.d. was already gone.

When Charlotte's father got the call from the L.A.P.D. early one winter morning, he prayed that she'd been found. When he arrived in the city later that night and was handed his new granddaughter by the officer, he realized a piece of Charlotte lived on.

Research Paper Revised

When thinking about possible topics for the research paper, I originally thought that it would be interesting to learn what social changes were happening in America that led to the formation of the modern-day "American" teen. I began to wonder why the American teen was considered different from any other teen in the world. In other words, what makes the American teen wholly unique? Are they different? I remember in the last decade when China was opening up to new modern and western ideas, the companies that marketed to American kids were doing incredibly well in China. All that teens value here -- Coke, rock music, McDonalds and brand-name jeans was in hot demand there. Although it's a fascinating topic, I may change my research project to cover our current book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I read Tom Sawyer many years ago, and I don't remember being struck by the racist content.

Huck Finn Criticism

I felt that the selected literary criticisms of Huckleberry Finn were an excellent mix from a diverse group of writers. Two of the most interesting were Victor Doyno's insights into Twain's creative process and T.S. Eliot's assessment of the classic work. In Doyno's piece it becomes apparent that Twain's writing process was painstaking and deliberate. Because the novel is told in first-person by Huck using language that was spoken by an unsophisticated southern boy during that period of time, we as readers tend to think that it was a casual, spontaneous process without a lot of revision or anguish. What Doyno is able to do in his research is debunk that idea. Every word is carefully chosen to accurately paint the characters' as Twain envisions them. What's amazing to me is that he is able to do so through the len's of a 14 year-old boy. Doyno's piece shows the chronological events that led to the creation and development of Huck which reveals a great deal about Twain's creative process.

I also loved the T.S. Eliot insights into the novel. Although Eliot, a writer approaches his criticism from a literary point of view, his psychological insights into Huck's psyche give readers a fuller understanding of his character. After I read his piece, I felt I had a better understanding and more sensitivity toward Huck and Jim.

It was also interesting to contrast Eliot's piece with Toni Morrison's. At times it was hard to believe that they were discussing the same piece of literature because their opinions were so opposed.

Critiquing Charlotte

I didn't really care for Charlotte Temple. I can appreciate the setting in that period of time, because it's always interesting to contrast the past with the present. I felt that the story was overly dramatic, whatever could go wrong, did, and to the most extreme degree. Although I realize one of the purposes of the story was to instruct young women of the dangers of pre-marital sex, I feel that it could have accomplished this by less terrifying means. The lesson here is: if you have sex before marriage, you will not only ruin your life, but those around you, those who put you in that condition, and then you'll die! I also felt the story could stand on its own without the preachy input of the author. If her story wasn't making the point, then Rowlandson's commentary would have been necessary. But because the story was so black and white and the consequences so clear cut, the commentary was too much and redundant. I also felt the characters were not well developed and were one-dimensional. Bad was really bad, good was good and there was little crossover. I think in order to make a successful argument, the characters and the situations have to be relatable to the reader. When both are so "unbelievable" the message is not taken seriously. Would that type of story/lesson work today? Well, teen pregnancy and teenage rebellion are so commonplace that I don't think it would stand a chance, even in an updated form. I think the audience in Rowlandson's day were very different than they are now. Prior to Charlotte Temple, most literature was religious in nature, so readers were probably thrilled to be getting something "new."

I felt that Charlotte Temple was a bit entertaining and mostly instructive. As most lessons are learned the "hard way," Charlotte's was no exception. In an earlier British literature course we studied the religious allegories that were used to teach Christian values by way of a tale. In Charlotte Temple the lesson was to teach sound moral judgment to young men and women of the day. Although in over-dramatized form, the young men in the story suffered almost as much as the wayward Charlotte and her friend Miss La Rue. As we discussed in class, the moral, subservient women were rewarded and revered; the rebellious ones were doomed to a life of shame and ruin. When describing the virtuous parents of Charlotte as they begin their lives together, ". . .many years of uninterrupted felicity. Plenty, and her handmaid, Prudence, presided at their board, Hospitality stood at their gate, Peace smiled . . ." Well, know these two characters are not being set up for ruin, even when their wanton daughter goes astray. Even in their grieving, they are ethical and not bent on revenge.