This has been probably the most entertaining class and best vacation from the mess of Commerce classes I have been so used to. Let’s face it, there’s nothing to laugh about in Accounting, jokes about debits and credits just don’t have the same appeal.
First, I’m going to take some time to defend the Wikipedia project. I do agree to some extent, that is has been a pain in the behind. But at the same time, I found it quite enjoyable. I actually do feel like I’m accomplishing something, doing something good for the world. Call me lame, fine. It could also be because I’m the type to not be satisfied until I have completed something fully. So how determined I am to get FA, but those darn Commerce projects just keep getting in my way. Careful, now is when you will realize how lame I really am. I think, to be completely utterly honest, after I finish this project, hopefully getting to FA, I will probably check back on the page from time to time. And every time I see that tiny little star on the top right corner, I will smile. Though I can say for sure, I probably won’t make any other edits because it is starting to get a tad bit annoying.
As interesting as it’s been, I have to say I think I’ve had enough of dictator novels. I am beginning to get mixed up between the novels as to what happened where, it’s all becoming a jumble of violence, sickness, opposition, control, and betrayals. Speaking of betrayals, The Feast of the Goat. I’m about 50 pages from finishing, it’s definitely intriguing but I think it’s one of those books that lose its flavour after the first read. The suspense just disappears once you find out what happens. Last comment about the book and its vulgarity: double yuck and shame on Trujillo and Cabral.
I’ve enjoyed the ride that is this class. It’s been fun. Remember way back when, when we had a dictator election. Oh good times. Thanks Jon. And thanks to all the cynics in the class, it wouldn’t have been the same without you.
Oh, and I still <3 Bolívar. (Though I’m beginning to dislike the book, darn Wikipedia.)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The mystery unfolds in The Feast of the Goat
I have to admit, when I first started reading this book, I really was not all too interested in it. It didn’t quite capture my attention. But that has changed quite a bit. Now I find myself reading more and more because I want to get to the next chapter that continues each story. Oh how tempted I always am to read one full story/perspective first. When we were discussing in class how “cinematic” the novel is, I began to imagine it as a play. Because quite often in a play there are stories told from different perspectives and when each scene ends, the audience is left hanging about what would happen next, but it somehow all comes together in the end. It is definitely a really creative way to write a book, and the weirdest thing is that are sort of flashbacks within flashbacks. Kinda confusing actually.
I’m not quite done the book yet, but when we discussed in class about the ending about Urania being about sex, I wasn’t surprised, I had a feeling. This book is so full of hidden secrets. In a way, it’s really different from The President, where everyone wrote letters to him telling him what was going on. But in this case, everyone seems to be hiding something. The assassins are hiding their secret assassination plot; Urania is hiding her reason for leaving from her family; the reason why Senator Cabral was dismissed is hidden from him.
One part that I found quite interesting, even though it’s before the second half begins, is on page 160. Urania thinks to herself, “You could have gone into therapy, seen a psychologist, an analyst… But you never wanted to be cured. On the contrary, you don’t consider it a disease but a character trait, like you intelligence, your solitude, your passion for doing good work.” I think when I first read it I was shocked that she would intentionally choose not to see a psychologist about her “issue”. But reading over, it just seems strange, to consider something that is like a disease to not be a disease, but a character trait. It seems so... twisted. I’m not sure that’s the word I’m looking for. But it is interesting how in a way she chose to continually be haunted by the past, to dwell on the past, always reading about the Trujillo era; instead of letting go. I suppose it is a part of the book though, the fact that though she doesn’t want to go back, she eventually does anyways, finding herself pulled back. But with that quote, it’s more like she is letting herself be pulled back because obviously she’s a strong woman, rejecting marriage proposals. Am I starting to go in circles now? Maybe… I think I’ll stop.
Oh last thing, it is strange that at the beginning, I was reading to get to the part where Trujillo is killed, but then now after I read it, it doesn’t even seem like the most important part of the story. I want to know more about Urania and her dirty little secret.
I’m not quite done the book yet, but when we discussed in class about the ending about Urania being about sex, I wasn’t surprised, I had a feeling. This book is so full of hidden secrets. In a way, it’s really different from The President, where everyone wrote letters to him telling him what was going on. But in this case, everyone seems to be hiding something. The assassins are hiding their secret assassination plot; Urania is hiding her reason for leaving from her family; the reason why Senator Cabral was dismissed is hidden from him.
One part that I found quite interesting, even though it’s before the second half begins, is on page 160. Urania thinks to herself, “You could have gone into therapy, seen a psychologist, an analyst… But you never wanted to be cured. On the contrary, you don’t consider it a disease but a character trait, like you intelligence, your solitude, your passion for doing good work.” I think when I first read it I was shocked that she would intentionally choose not to see a psychologist about her “issue”. But reading over, it just seems strange, to consider something that is like a disease to not be a disease, but a character trait. It seems so... twisted. I’m not sure that’s the word I’m looking for. But it is interesting how in a way she chose to continually be haunted by the past, to dwell on the past, always reading about the Trujillo era; instead of letting go. I suppose it is a part of the book though, the fact that though she doesn’t want to go back, she eventually does anyways, finding herself pulled back. But with that quote, it’s more like she is letting herself be pulled back because obviously she’s a strong woman, rejecting marriage proposals. Am I starting to go in circles now? Maybe… I think I’ll stop.
Oh last thing, it is strange that at the beginning, I was reading to get to the part where Trujillo is killed, but then now after I read it, it doesn’t even seem like the most important part of the story. I want to know more about Urania and her dirty little secret.
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