Family Linen

I know we haven't finished the book, well at least some of us, but I am really enjoying the reading. Many times you get stories that are hard to read and I appreciate our professor giving us something to enjoy. How has eveyone readings been coming along? I am finding all kinds of ways to finish this book without the kids interrupting me. My own family linen with my siblings made me feel like Sybill sometimes, only difference is I don't need a shrink and I love children. Ha.

Chessnut and Gilman

Hello classmates and sorry for the delay. I had a great time reading both stories this week. I think the Chessnut story was sort of amusing. What I mean by this is, I got a kick out of reading this tale of witchcraft about a man whose hair and strength would strengthen in the summer and become weaker in the winter. Now I can believe the story about others picking the grapes and eating without permission, but this story was interesting enough that the couple listened without interrupting the negro man. People love to hear about stories that happened in the past and I believe the couple became somewhat excited during the story and purchased the plantation just to have a story to tell of their own. There are people from my generation who tell stories of this caliber that they have heard from generations after generations, but many I don't believe but they do. Sometimes the story is interesting enough to research. I did not take this story beyond what it really was and that was a great way to swindle someone into buying a plantation that became run-down and also reaping the benefits of employement.

The "Yellow Wallpaper was another story I enjoyed reading. Many times I see movies that portray these kinds of things. It made me think that the woman was Bette Davis because this is the kind of role she plays. I think John had had enough with his wife and he tried to lock her away for awhile. He thought for her and he nevered listened to what she had to say. His wife became to independent on him until the end of the story where she started figuring out what he was doing. What do you think?

Readings of James Henry and Edith Wharthon

It has been very hard for me comphehending reading material of this caliber. I enjoy reading and writing but when it becomes an assignment I get confused. It was easy for me to read Wharhon's story because of the way it was written. I understood what was going on and was able to identify the tension as well as elaborate on it. Many times you will find that me trying to dig deeper into something that many may not see. Many times my words get twisted up and I have no problem asking for help. I indeed find Wharthon story of some interests and enjoyable to read. It could have went on further then where it stopped because it was beginning to get interesting near the end. One thing that confused me was Mrs. Ansley mentioning that she had Barbara. Was this a child concieved by Mrs. Slade's husband or was she trying to upset her friend? I saw two women unhappy in their life regardless of their status in life. To hold that much anger and deceit between the two friends and continue a friendship without unhardening their hearts was horrible. Envy, lust, betrayal, and hate was among the few words that could be used to describe this story. There was not much I would change about the story but the fact that it should have been a longer story. There are some things that I would have changed about the story and that is the women daughters could have been elaborated on more and the life of the two friends. I wanted to know more about what their lives were like growing in these marriages.

James Henry story of "Turn of the Screw" gave me a headache. I really did not enjoy reading this story because it was confusing. I began getting the characters mixed up and some of the reading could have been edited. I must remember that there will be stories and text that do not interest me but I must apply myself to get through them, but this story was boring. The author could have deleted areas that would confuse most readers. I looked at the story and found that some of his sentences did not make sense and I had to re-read to get an ideal of what was going on. In order for me to comprehend, I read annotations and critical readings about the story as I went through. Many times annotations help me to understand what I am reading and how to find phrases and words to connect my sources together. Reading this story woke me up for what is in store for me. Actually it helps me to remove myself outside my comfort zone in reading. If I am to teach Literature I have to be ready for anything. I found that stories written in the 1800 are so rich in text that purchasing books on how to read literature is necessary. Maybe if Henry wrote it for more than scholarly readers, I could have enjoyed it more. Who knows, maybe one day I will become a scholar and others will find my stories boring.