Oscar Wao-The Ending

I have to say, out of all the books we have read; this one is by far my favorite. I really enjoyed reading about these characters. I like that we get to really see into each of their lives as it unfolds. I also liked the fact that we got a glimpse of their past and how they started out. It was interesting to read how they all ended up.

So we find out in the end the narrator is Yunior. I had a hunch it would turn out to be him. I kind of liked the fact that the narrator wasn’t revealed to the end. It lets the reader guess along the way. It definitely makes you want to keep reading to see if you are correct in the end.

Poor Oscar. I feel so terrible for him. All he wanted to do was share his heart with someone. This family was definitely cursed in the love department. Love brought nothing but trouble for this family. I wanted so badly for it to work out for Oscar but in the end he dies, and for what? Love. I guess it is fitting to his character. Over all though, I enjoyed the book a lot.

Add a comment October 19, 2009

Oscar Wao Post # 11

The more I read this book the more I enjoy it. I can’t wait to find out who the narrator has been all this time and if it is one main narrator or a combination of narrators throughout. One theme I keep seeing played out is the role of women. The women of this book always seem to get the short hand of the stick in Dominican culture and the men seem to have it made. In the scene where we are introduced to Abelard, he talks about how scared he is to let his daughter Jacqueline been seen for fear that Trujillo will notice her beauty and want to rob her of her innocence. It is a sad world when the women of the world don’t have a say in their own bodies and encounters. Since Trujillo is so powerful he can get any women he wants so if he wanted Jacqueline he would make it happen and Abelard knows this and can’t bare the thought of his poor little girl being subjected to that. I can’t imagine living in The DR during this time as a female thinking I could be violated at any moment just because the leader feels like it. Another part that made me upset was finding out that Abelard has a mistress, Lydia. The author talks so nonchalantly about him cheating on his wife as if that is ok to do. I couldn’t believe that. Its not enough that these men have to beat their woman and control their lives in every aspect but they are being unfaithful as well?

Add a comment October 16, 2009

Post # 10 Oscar Wao

Kelly Dermody

Post # 10

Oscar Wao

I really enjoyed reading this section of the book. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to keep reading page after page to find out what was going to happen next. I cannot believe the scene where Beli is beaten so badly by the secret police. She was almost killed, and the even sadder part is, her baby was. I felt so bad for Beli. She loved that baby so much and was so excited to have it, and it was unfairly taken away from her. It wasn’t her fault the Gangster got her pregnant. She didn’t know he was married. She ended up paying a large price for loving the Gangster, a price the Gangster should have paid, not Beli. I understand how the Gangster wife would be upset. I would be upset too if I learned my husband was fooling around with some young girl and got her pregnant. But she should have taken it out on Dioniois.

The more I read of this book, the more I seem to enjoy it. I can’t wait to see how it all pans out in the end. It seems weird that we are not hearing more about Oscar however. His name is in the title of the book after all. I am interested to find out what happens to him in the end as well. I think reading the section about Beli was my favorite. I have to admit that in the beginning I disliked her, but after gaining more insight into her past I have grow to like her character a lot.

Add a comment October 14, 2009

Oscar Wao pg. 50-118

I really liked reading the second part of this book. I liked that it gave an in-depth insight into Lola in her point of view. She is the first character we see that is able to narrate her own story line. It was interesting to get inside her head and see her point of view on things, especially her mother. I also liked the fact that we got to see what Beli was like as a young girl. It was very interesting how the author chose to do Beli in reverse. For most of his characters, he starts out with their past, their childhood and how they grow up and then bring them into the present time, but for Beli he did just the opposite. We are introduced to her as an adult and then later we get to see how her childhood was like. I thought it was interesting to find out just how similar Beli and her daughter Lola really are. Beli was a lot like Lola is now. They are both tough Dominican girls who don’t take crap from anyone, not even their mother. Lola treats Beli the way that Beli treated La Inca..Karma? Fuku?

Add a comment October 8, 2009

Oscar Wao

After reading the first 50 pages of Oscar Wao we can’t take too much out of the story yet since it is only just beginning. So far I like the story and how it is unraveling. I like that the author chooses to start the story off with Oscar in his childhood. It gives the reader a little insight into the character and how his story begins. I also thought it was interesting how the author reveals so much so soon in the story. It’s like he wants us to know what is going to happen in the future and is slowly preparing the reader for what is to come. The author already gives away that Oscar will die in the story and that his mother gets cancer. So dar I like the story and I’m very interested in what is to come further into the book.

Add a comment October 6, 2009

Tenenbaum Wrap Up

For my Sunday blog wrap up I think I just want to elaborate a little more on the Tenenbaum’s and their complete disconnect from another and then dysfunctional lives they now lead. One specific thing I wanted to elaborate more on was the disconnection of Margot from the rest of the family. As we discussed in class, Margot always seems to be hidden in the corner of the room, present but definitely keeping her distance from the rest of the Tenenbaums. I think this definitely has to do with how she grew up. With a father always sharing the fact that she was his adopted daughter when he introduced his family, I think that really set the tone for how Margot felt towards all of her family members. That would make any child feel different from the rest of the family and is probably the reason why she stays so guarded from everyone in her life. She carried over this trait into her marriage as well. She just stays cooped up in the bathroom all day barely saying two words to her husband. It just goes to show that how you grow up and how you interact with your family follows you into adulthood and effects your future relationships as well.

Another thing I wanted to touch upon was the relationship between Margot and Richie. The fact that they had feelings for each other made me feel very uneasy in the beginning but now after I think about it, because Margot never really felt apart of the Tenebaum family maybe she feels it is okay to have feelings for her step brother. After all, Richie was the one she felt most comfortable with. He was the only one she really interacted with in that house. Because the fact that Margot was adopted was so heavily emphasized maybe the two of them truly don’t feel it is wrong to love each other because no one really considers Margot part of the family.

Add a comment September 27, 2009

The Royal Tenenbaums

One quote that I picked out that I thought was interesting was when Margot was talking to her mom int he bath tub about her brother coming to stay with her. She says, “why was he allowed to do that?” What does that mean?

Each of the Tenenbaums all seem to have  weird little qwirks about them. They all seem to have their own issues going on.

One part i thought was really cute was when they were ready to go to sleep the dad decided to sleep in the room with his two sons so they could all be together and then the little one comes down from the bunk bed to sleep next to his father ont he floor. That right there gave me the first real sense of family in the movie.

Add a comment September 23, 2009

End of Book

I just finished the ending of the book and not to my surprise; I was incorrect in my prediction for how this whole story was going to turn out. It was such an unhappy ending. You would think with all these characters and the lives they had that just once their little dream of a family would come true in the end. I really disliked how it all paned out. I cannot believe Clare took of with Rebecca. How could she do that to the boys, Especially Jonathan? She knew how much Rebecca meant to him. I felt so bad for him. Bobby as well but he is a very nonchalant person and bounces back from disappointment. I guess it was good that Erich ended up moving in with Jonathan. At least he has him to be with. But what a shame that Clare had to ruin it all for everyone. I mean I understand that she is the mother and was doing what she thought was best but to not even consider how Jonathan would feel is so wrong. She made those boys apart of Rebecca’s life and just ripped her out. I truly feel sorry for Clare. She is a very selfish person who will probably never be truly happy in life. She will always be the person who wishes for something other than what they have.

Add a comment September 21, 2009

My Prediction for Part 3

Every time I try to figure out what will happen next in the novel, I get thrown for a loop with these characters. I never know what is coming, or who will do what. I am going to try and make a prediction for part three, the ending of the book; even though it will most likely be wrong but here it goes…

My prediction for part three is that Clare will decide to leave the boys and take off with the baby in search of something more. I feel like this is going to happen because of how Clare reacted in the car on the way back home. She did a complete 180 on her plans and future with the boys and decides she no longer wants anything to do with either of them and just wants to take off and raise the baby by herself. So I think she is going to pull a Jonathan and run away from her “family.” I don’t however think she will get very far. I think she will try to start a new life but quickly realize where her heart is and where she needs to be. I think she will need some coaxing from Jonathan and Bobby, mostly Jonathan as well. I think they will get her to realize they are a family and they only have each other in this world and that this is as good as its going to get for the three of them. Because Clare is so wishy-washy she will change her mind once again and decide how in love she is with these two guys and go back to their original plan of getting a house outside the city and raising their child together as one whole dysfunctional family.

I doubt this is how the story will go down since I have not made a correct prediction thus far, but I guess I will just have to read on and see how this all pans out in the end.

Add a comment September 17, 2009

Post # 3 (Pg 202-255)

In the book we see a lot of reoccurring themes and images throughout the sections of the story. One idea that we discussed in our group on Monday’s class was the idea that the characters all seem to be searching for love and belonging in their lives, but at the same time, every time they come close to finding that love they somehow block it off and do something to jeopardize it. All three characters all want to start this unconventional family that seems to work for them all. Just when you think things are going well and everyone is happy, someone does something decides to “check out” of the relationship/family.

In Jonathan’s case, we see him start a sort of relationship with Erich. He enjoys his company but refuses to let him into his home life. Jon blocks Erich out from ever really allowing him to get close. Its like he is trying to move on from Bobby and Clare but something always stops him. He can’t seem to get away from his feelings towards his two friends. For example when Erich comes to the apartment for the first time and they are all dancing on the roof having a good time. It feels like everything is going to work out and everyone is finally happy, then Jon ups and leaves.

Then we have Clare, sometimes it seems like Clare is really onboard with this whole new family they have created and sharing a life with these two guys, but at other times she can’t stand the sight of Bobby and thinks about packing up and raising their baby by herself. She has such a spilt personality. One minute she can’t wait to make love to Bobby, and the next she can’t wait to escape him. Ever since Clare and Bobby are reunited with Jon, she flip flops her thinking. For example, when Alice, Clare, Bobby, and Jon are all out back consoling Alice while she is crying, it is like they are a family again. They are all there together. But that’s when the thoughts of leaving Bobby and raising the baby by herself start to enter Clare’s mind.

I just think it is funny how they all want something more out of life and want a family to belong to but at one point or another someone whether it be Jon or Clare jeopardizes their happiness with thoughts of abandoning their relationship. It’s like they don’t know how to find happiness and once they do it scares them away.

Add a comment September 15, 2009