This book is a true story about a girl named Evelyn Lau that kept a journal of her life and what she did in her 2 year experience as a young Chinese Canadian woman. She left home because she could no longer stand her parents’ oppression of her desires to write poetry. Her parents thought she needed to do something more with her life but she didn't. Her running away from home helped her to have a successful career as a young writer.
Her book starts off by starting on the first day after she ran away from home: March 22, 1988. Staying with friends at first, she attempts suicide on the day she is turned in to the authorities. Recovering at a mental hospital, Lau falls into Canada’s well-developed social safety net designed to rescue troubled teenagers.
For months, Lau tries to put distance between her old and new self as she self-destructively experiments with drugs and sex. Twice she goes to the United States only to turn herself in to be shipped back home to Vancouver. She frustrates social workers and her two psychiatrists, who are unable to prevent her descent into teenage prostitution and drug abuse.
Throughout the book I became aware of her extremely low self-esteem and her self-loathing, which her parents’ perfectionist behavior has instilled in her. She can't seem to be able to value herself, even as her budding career as a writer begins with awards and letters of acceptance for her poetry.
Despite her ability to keep up with her writing, Lau refuses to stop hurting herself. She becomes attached to unsuitable men such as Larry, a drug addict on a government-sponsored recovery program, which he abuses. To keep Lau, Larry provides her the potent pharmaceuticals without which she could not abide his presence.
In the end, Lau frees herself of Larry, lives on her own in a state-provided apartment, and readies herself for college. Her writing has sustained her through dark hours, and, at sixteen, she is only a short time away from turning the journals into a manuscript.
In my opinion I found that runaway does not have a real closure. The reader leaves Lau as she seems to have overcome the worst of her self-abusive behavior, yet her life is still a puzzle waiting to be sorted out completely.
Comaprison from two books:
-Both give story of teenagers struggling through life on their own trying to find themselves.
Both writers.
-In the end of both books you see that even though at first you thought they were going to be in trouble in the end they end up happy and have made it through a big turning stage in their lives.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Summary of White Olenader:
I found this book to be really good and entertaining. for my reasearch paper I plan tohave my thesis about life exoeriences as in White Oleander the sutcases symbolized the different adventures she had and the things she learned at each new place she stayed at.
Everything in this book was about life experiences, love, finding yourself and learning that you can always learn something new at each new place you live. The next book I read is Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid.
This book I found was very similar to White Oleander as their was many of the same concepts that I saw in White Oleander.
Summary: Of Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid to come.
Everything in this book was about life experiences, love, finding yourself and learning that you can always learn something new at each new place you live. The next book I read is Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid.
This book I found was very similar to White Oleander as their was many of the same concepts that I saw in White Oleander.
Summary: Of Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid to come.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Chapter 32- end-- White Oleander
Two years later, Astrid moves out of Rena's and is 20 years old and living with Paul in a run down flat in Berlin, Germany. Astrid has spent a lot of her time and effort into buying suitcases and making them into artwork detailing the journey she has taken from her mothers imprisonment to her life with Rena. One afternoon Paul brings home a newspaper article reporting Ingrid's release from prison after winning her appeals trial and soon after this Barry commits suicide. Astrid acknowledges the power that her mother still has over her and even reveals her secret dream of going back to California. She never fulfills this dream, knowing that too much has happened and she would never fit into the daughter mold her mother wants from her. She also realizes that if she returns to California, she must abandon Paul, leaving him much like she has been abandoned so many times before. She embraces the life she has lived, the past that has made her who she is and accepts her mother's love, but continues to live the life she leads.
Notes:
book about life, new experiences and how each foster home was a turning stone into finding out who she really was.
Also about love and loneliness and how everyone wants to be loved and have someone to turn to when they need someone.
Notes:
book about life, new experiences and how each foster home was a turning stone into finding out who she really was.
Also about love and loneliness and how everyone wants to be loved and have someone to turn to when they need someone.
Chapter 26-32- White Oleander
Meanwhile, Ingrid has begun to build up a following of fans and admirers from prison, who all believe she is innocent. Ingrid and her lawyer begin to build up a case to get Ingrid released from prison. However, their case depends on Astrid — if she testifies that Ingrid did not murder Barry, Ingrid could probably get out, but if she testifies the truth, Ingrid could not win her case. In the middle of all of this Yvonne has her baby and Astrid is the one that sits with her the whole time. She doesn't even look at the baby and just gives it away. Shortly after this Yvonne decides she wants to move out and get an apartment with her boyfriend. Rena gives her some money and wishes her the best and then she is gone and within a week their is a new girl in her place named Tasha.
Astrid realizes that she is in a position of power over her mother, and tells her that unless she answers some of her questions, she will testify against her. Astrid asks Ingrid about her father and Barry and then Annie, Ingrid is shattered to learn that Astrid remembers Annie at all, and tells Astrid that Annie was a babysitter who Ingrid left Astrid with for over a year, making Astrid realizes why she fears abandonment from her mother. Astrid lets Ingrid know how damaged she is because of what Ingrid did to her, even going as far as becoming completely Gothic, Astrid gives Ingrid a choice, to have her testify or to have her return to the person her mother knew her as. Astrid ends up not testifying in the case.
Notes: Niki leaves in September.
Mother said that when she gets out she will leave Astrid alone and let her live her life.
Chapter 23- 26
Summary: Astrid's final home is with Russian immigrant Rena Grushenka. She intentionally chooses Rena over better prospective foster parents because she is devastated by Claire's death, and does not want to become part of a nuclear family. Astrid is afraid it would be too easy to forget the pain she has gone through. At Rena's, she lives with two other teenage girls named Niki and a pregnant girl named Yvonne. Astrid becomes very close friends with Niki and Yvonne and has sex with Rena's boyfriend Sergei, one night after getting high on acid with Niki. After this happened she begins to have memories of a woman named Annie.
To make money they must go through people's trash early in the morning looking for clothes. They then stitch them up and then sell them to make more money.
One day Astrid goes to the comic store and she finds that Paul did leave her a package. She also has a new case worker named Mrs. Davis. At this time she has stopped writing her mom.
Notes: Her new life. new experienecs
Chapter 22-23- White Olenader
Summary: For this short period of time she is placed in MacLaren Children's Center (known as Mac), which is known as a final resort for foster kids without a placement. Astrid meets a boy named Paul Trout, and they bond through the shared experience of living in foster care.
Notes: Finally finds a friends she feels she can talk too. Paul wants to keep in touch so he tells her to leave letters at a comic place when she gets out and this way they can keep in touch.
New Character- Paul Trout- no family, her friend, artist.
Notes: Finally finds a friends she feels she can talk too. Paul wants to keep in touch so he tells her to leave letters at a comic place when she gets out and this way they can keep in touch.
New Character- Paul Trout- no family, her friend, artist.
Chapter 16-22- White Olenader
Summary: 4th Home--
Astrid is taken in by a former actress named Claire Richards, and her husband, Ron. Claire does everything she can to ensure Astrid's comfort. For once, Astrid is doing well in school and pursuing art. She is even enrolled in all honor courses and Astrid finally thinks she is loved and has a home where she can do well in. Astrid finally finishes the 10th grade and is very happy that she did. Claire bought her a necklace as a present and for most of the Summer Ron was gone. Astrid's favoutire place to go with Claire was to the museum as each painting had more and more meaning. Astrid continues corresponding with her mother in prison, but Astrid becomes increasingly bitter towards Ingrid. Claire also starts talking to Ingrid who in the end helps lead Claire to suicide. She keeps telling Claire she is right and he is having an affair. She Claire suspects that Ron is having an affair because Ron keeps making constant trips away from home and Astrid watches their fights worsen. Ingrid thinks that Astrid is too happy where she is and doesn't want to get replaced so she makes Cliare goes insane. Astrid felt like this was the family she never had and she didn't want to lost this. In April, Astrid finds that her mom is sending Claire letters about how she should just give up as it will be easier and that nobody loves her. Ron wants to make an effort so they go away to Oregon on a camping trip. They do everything together and Astrid can see that Claire is really happy. After New Years, Claire commits suicide by overdosing. By this point, Astrid is 17. At the end, Astrid finally finds out they only took her in so that she could keep Claire happy and distracted. She was a watcher as Ron already knew she was suicidal and thought that aStrid could make her change but she couldn't.
Note: Astrid is in grade 10 still. She is never good ebough for anything. She becomes a failer and realizes she will never be able to have a family.
New Character: Ron-Father
Claire- mother and actor.
-really want to adopt children.
look up: debussy: french composer
mughal:
Astrid is taken in by a former actress named Claire Richards, and her husband, Ron. Claire does everything she can to ensure Astrid's comfort. For once, Astrid is doing well in school and pursuing art. She is even enrolled in all honor courses and Astrid finally thinks she is loved and has a home where she can do well in. Astrid finally finishes the 10th grade and is very happy that she did. Claire bought her a necklace as a present and for most of the Summer Ron was gone. Astrid's favoutire place to go with Claire was to the museum as each painting had more and more meaning. Astrid continues corresponding with her mother in prison, but Astrid becomes increasingly bitter towards Ingrid. Claire also starts talking to Ingrid who in the end helps lead Claire to suicide. She keeps telling Claire she is right and he is having an affair. She Claire suspects that Ron is having an affair because Ron keeps making constant trips away from home and Astrid watches their fights worsen. Ingrid thinks that Astrid is too happy where she is and doesn't want to get replaced so she makes Cliare goes insane. Astrid felt like this was the family she never had and she didn't want to lost this. In April, Astrid finds that her mom is sending Claire letters about how she should just give up as it will be easier and that nobody loves her. Ron wants to make an effort so they go away to Oregon on a camping trip. They do everything together and Astrid can see that Claire is really happy. After New Years, Claire commits suicide by overdosing. By this point, Astrid is 17. At the end, Astrid finally finds out they only took her in so that she could keep Claire happy and distracted. She was a watcher as Ron already knew she was suicidal and thought that aStrid could make her change but she couldn't.
Note: Astrid is in grade 10 still. She is never good ebough for anything. She becomes a failer and realizes she will never be able to have a family.
New Character: Ron-Father
Claire- mother and actor.
-really want to adopt children.
look up: debussy: french composer
mughal:
Chapter 15-16- White Oleander
Summary:
3rd HOME!
Next, Astrid is sent to the home of a Hispanic woman named Amelia Ramos. Amelia is an interior designer, originally from Argentina, and lives in Hollywood, with a huge, elegant house. Amelia has a son who has contracted AIDS, but the girls do not see him much. The other foster girls in the house are all Latino. All the girls in Amelia's household, however, are treated the same in that they are fed dinner, but Amelia keeps a lock on her fridge so the girls starve in the mornings. They only get food at night so all through the day they have to find another way to get food. Usually whoever is on food duty at the end of the night sneaks food from the fridge so that the girls have something to eat. Astrid starves to the point that she stops menstruating. Also at lunch Astrid resorts to eating unfinished lunches from the garbage at school. Near the end of this chapter Astrid is assigned a new case worker named Joan Peeler who finds Astrid a new placement after she asks for one.
Notes: -At this home she learns to live for herself and find other ways to survive.
3rd HOME!
Next, Astrid is sent to the home of a Hispanic woman named Amelia Ramos. Amelia is an interior designer, originally from Argentina, and lives in Hollywood, with a huge, elegant house. Amelia has a son who has contracted AIDS, but the girls do not see him much. The other foster girls in the house are all Latino. All the girls in Amelia's household, however, are treated the same in that they are fed dinner, but Amelia keeps a lock on her fridge so the girls starve in the mornings. They only get food at night so all through the day they have to find another way to get food. Usually whoever is on food duty at the end of the night sneaks food from the fridge so that the girls have something to eat. Astrid starves to the point that she stops menstruating. Also at lunch Astrid resorts to eating unfinished lunches from the garbage at school. Near the end of this chapter Astrid is assigned a new case worker named Joan Peeler who finds Astrid a new placement after she asks for one.
Notes: -At this home she learns to live for herself and find other ways to survive.
Chapter 12-14-- White Oleander
Summary:
These chapters talk about Astrid's 2nd home where she lived with the Turlocks. Ed and Marvel are the parents and they have two small children. In their home, Astrid becomes an unpaid babysitter and servant. Astrid becomes friends with the Turlocks' next-door neighbor, a beautiful African-American woman named Olivia Johnstone. Astrid admires Olivia's beauty, wealth and self-gratifying lifestyle. Olivia is a prostitute by profession and is hated by the Turlock family. After becoming friends with Olivia, Astrid begins using drugs and performing oral sex on a boy in a park in exchange for some pot. Olivia teaches Astrid about all of the finer things in life. On her fifteenth birthday, Astrid goes for a walk, and is bitten by a pack of dogs, leaving scars on her arms and face. During the winter break, Astrid is expelled from the Turlock household after accidentally falling asleep at Olivia's house one night. She loses Olivia as she leaves and tells Astrid not to talk to her anymore.
Notes: Astrid wants to become a women. This is her second life.
look up: hedonistic: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
These chapters talk about Astrid's 2nd home where she lived with the Turlocks. Ed and Marvel are the parents and they have two small children. In their home, Astrid becomes an unpaid babysitter and servant. Astrid becomes friends with the Turlocks' next-door neighbor, a beautiful African-American woman named Olivia Johnstone. Astrid admires Olivia's beauty, wealth and self-gratifying lifestyle. Olivia is a prostitute by profession and is hated by the Turlock family. After becoming friends with Olivia, Astrid begins using drugs and performing oral sex on a boy in a park in exchange for some pot. Olivia teaches Astrid about all of the finer things in life. On her fifteenth birthday, Astrid goes for a walk, and is bitten by a pack of dogs, leaving scars on her arms and face. During the winter break, Astrid is expelled from the Turlock household after accidentally falling asleep at Olivia's house one night. She loses Olivia as she leaves and tells Astrid not to talk to her anymore.
Notes: Astrid wants to become a women. This is her second life.
look up: hedonistic: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Chapter 11--White Oleander
Summary:
Astrid thought her neighbor was a mystery. she wanted to get to know her more so when she wasn't around Astrid would creep at her mail. Her full name was Olivia Johnstone. Marvel found out she was talking to Olivia and got very upset. She refused her to even talk or look at her because she was a prostitute in Marvel's eyes. She then went away for a week and when she was gone a mail man came to drop off a package so Astrid ran over and told him that she could leave the package with her. When Olivia finally got back Astrid went over and made up a lie to why she had her package. Astrid made up an excuse that she had to go to the library to do some research and Marvel said she only had an hour cause at 5 her friends would be over as she had a Mary Kay party and needed help setting up, giving out food and cleaning up. She went over to Olivia's then and talked to her. Olivia said that people shouldn't be categorized because we are all the same and that is when Astrid completely started thinking that way too. When Olivia opened the package it was bread warmers. They talked alot for the rest of the day and whenever Astrid said she had to go to the library she would just sneak over to hang out with Olivia.
New Characters:
Neighbor-Olivia., her new friend that she feels she can talk too. She also gets along with her very well too.
Notes: none
Astrid thought her neighbor was a mystery. she wanted to get to know her more so when she wasn't around Astrid would creep at her mail. Her full name was Olivia Johnstone. Marvel found out she was talking to Olivia and got very upset. She refused her to even talk or look at her because she was a prostitute in Marvel's eyes. She then went away for a week and when she was gone a mail man came to drop off a package so Astrid ran over and told him that she could leave the package with her. When Olivia finally got back Astrid went over and made up a lie to why she had her package. Astrid made up an excuse that she had to go to the library to do some research and Marvel said she only had an hour cause at 5 her friends would be over as she had a Mary Kay party and needed help setting up, giving out food and cleaning up. She went over to Olivia's then and talked to her. Olivia said that people shouldn't be categorized because we are all the same and that is when Astrid completely started thinking that way too. When Olivia opened the package it was bread warmers. They talked alot for the rest of the day and whenever Astrid said she had to go to the library she would just sneak over to hang out with Olivia.
New Characters:
Neighbor-Olivia., her new friend that she feels she can talk too. She also gets along with her very well too.
Notes: none
Chapter 10--White Oleander
Summary:
NEW FOSTER HOME!(2nd home)
While Astrid is at this home she is treated like a servant. She has to clean the house, do the laundry and even massage Marvel's feet. During this she finally finishes her grade 9 year and passes. Ed never really stayed around much as he would sneak out to the bar with his friends to watch hockey game with his friends. Astrid's mom continues to write her letters talking about how she understands what Astrid is going through and she needs to endure all the pain for a reason. She finally could stop using her cane and could walk properly again. Marvel refused Astrid to talk to the next door neighbor named Olivia. This is because she was a "whore" as Marvel always seen men come in and out of her house. Even knowing this Astrid was interested in getting to know her. She got off the bus the next day and when she saw Olivia outside she called over to her and said, "I like your yard." Then she told her what her name was and she b\never said her name. She just told Astrid to go inside.
Notes:
-new home, new adventure.
-everyone seems to be just using her?
New Character:
Marvel-her new foster mom,
Justin-baby
Ed-Dad
Caitlyn-another toddler
NEW FOSTER HOME!(2nd home)
While Astrid is at this home she is treated like a servant. She has to clean the house, do the laundry and even massage Marvel's feet. During this she finally finishes her grade 9 year and passes. Ed never really stayed around much as he would sneak out to the bar with his friends to watch hockey game with his friends. Astrid's mom continues to write her letters talking about how she understands what Astrid is going through and she needs to endure all the pain for a reason. She finally could stop using her cane and could walk properly again. Marvel refused Astrid to talk to the next door neighbor named Olivia. This is because she was a "whore" as Marvel always seen men come in and out of her house. Even knowing this Astrid was interested in getting to know her. She got off the bus the next day and when she saw Olivia outside she called over to her and said, "I like your yard." Then she told her what her name was and she b\never said her name. She just told Astrid to go inside.
Notes:
-new home, new adventure.
-everyone seems to be just using her?
New Character:
Marvel-her new foster mom,
Justin-baby
Ed-Dad
Caitlyn-another toddler
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Chapter 9--White Oleander
Summary:
In Chapter 9, this is after Astrid was shot in the shoulder from Starr. In this whole chapter she is going in and out of conscience. In her dream she starts at the beginning of her life and goes through it. She remembers everything up to the moment she got shot and once this happens she finally wakes up. The first person she sees in Davey. As she was in the hospital she kept getting letters from her mother and they would be poems about how she would live. She stayed in the hospital as long as she could and finally when she could walk without using the cane she was released and put in a new placement.
Notes:
-Ingrid doesn't want Astrid happy.
-Book is about Astrid's life and how each new place is a new memory and that wherever she goes she learns a little more about herself each time.
In Chapter 9, this is after Astrid was shot in the shoulder from Starr. In this whole chapter she is going in and out of conscience. In her dream she starts at the beginning of her life and goes through it. She remembers everything up to the moment she got shot and once this happens she finally wakes up. The first person she sees in Davey. As she was in the hospital she kept getting letters from her mother and they would be poems about how she would live. She stayed in the hospital as long as she could and finally when she could walk without using the cane she was released and put in a new placement.
Notes:
-Ingrid doesn't want Astrid happy.
-Book is about Astrid's life and how each new place is a new memory and that wherever she goes she learns a little more about herself each time.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Chapter 8--White Oleander
Summary: One night when Ray was gone and Starr was watching the kids she started rambling on about how Ray was so in love with her and how he needs a new women. Starr had been sober for 18 months as she was an alcoholic before and now she was drunk. Carolee was about to sneak out the window that night when Starr came in and she called Carolee a whore and that she would do anything for free. This got the both of them in a huge fight and they both started fighting each other. Carolee then left and she said she was never coming back. Ray and Starr continued to make love in all the new houses he was building as they both just couldn't stop. Then soon after this Starr started yelling at the boys for leaving their lizards exhibit around and she broke it. Davey said he hated Starr so she picked him up and started hitting him. Davey needed to go to the hospital but no body could drive so she called Ray. Starr kept saying she didn't mean it and when they got to the merge Davey made up a lie on how he got hurt. Then it was Easter! A few days after this when everyone was going to bed you started to hear Ray and Starr fighting. This is because he didn't want to make love to her so he assumed it was because of Astrid. All of a sudden Starr came in and shot Astrid. Everything went dark and when she woke up all she heard was so many people talking. Ray and Starr and the other kids had fled but Davey was the one that saved her life. If he wouldn't have stayed and kept pressure on the wound she would have died. She then drove away from the house and Davey leaving everything behind her
Characters:
Starr- is an alcoholic.
Characters:
Starr- is an alcoholic.
Chapter 7--White Oleander
Summary:
It is November now and although Astrid's birthday is coming up she doesn't tell anyone and lets it pass like it doesn't matter. That night Astrid goes outside on the porch to talk to Ray like every night and he asks Astrid about her dad. She had always wanted to meet him and one day she had found a birth certificate in her mothers book. She knew his name and saw a picture of him but other then that she had never seen him. Starr comes out at this moment and asks Ray to go to the store. He asks if Astrid wants to come but Starr says she wants to talk to her alone. Starr then threatens to kick Starr out because she thinks she is going to ruin the only good thing she had which was Ray. Starr promises she would never do that because she likes being there and wouldn't ruin that. Starr never did call Child Services but from then on she stayed home 34/7 and watched Astrid's every move. Her mother told her not to go after Ray but Astrid didn't care because she wanted Ray. He finally came to pick her up from school one day and took her to show her around the house that he had just finished building. From there they end up making love as Astrid knows that ray could not resist her.
Look Up:
"advent" -the reappearance of Jesus as judge for
none
Notes:
-time is moving by fast in this book.
It is November now and although Astrid's birthday is coming up she doesn't tell anyone and lets it pass like it doesn't matter. That night Astrid goes outside on the porch to talk to Ray like every night and he asks Astrid about her dad. She had always wanted to meet him and one day she had found a birth certificate in her mothers book. She knew his name and saw a picture of him but other then that she had never seen him. Starr comes out at this moment and asks Ray to go to the store. He asks if Astrid wants to come but Starr says she wants to talk to her alone. Starr then threatens to kick Starr out because she thinks she is going to ruin the only good thing she had which was Ray. Starr promises she would never do that because she likes being there and wouldn't ruin that. Starr never did call Child Services but from then on she stayed home 34/7 and watched Astrid's every move. Her mother told her not to go after Ray but Astrid didn't care because she wanted Ray. He finally came to pick her up from school one day and took her to show her around the house that he had just finished building. From there they end up making love as Astrid knows that ray could not resist her.
Look Up:
"advent" -the reappearance of Jesus as judge for
the Last Judgment (pg.94)New Characters:
Site: http://dictionary.die.net/advent
none
Notes:
-time is moving by fast in this book.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Chapter 6: White Oleander
Summary:
Astrid was finally forced to go to church on Sunday. Carolee also had to go because she slept in and couldn'y get out of the house before her mom woke them both up and told them they had to go to church with her. Astrid actually enjoyed church and she was more and more agreeing with everything that Reverned Thomas said. While she was in church she had a flash back to when she called Barry to warn him what her mother was going to do and instead of telling him she just hung up. She was responsible and it was her own sin virus that she created. In July, although her mom did not want her to Astrid got baptized. Then the sotry goes to talk about how her mom wrote her a letter saying she didn't want her to be a christian and how you should never regret anything you do. Uncle Ray also agrees with how Ingrid feels about god in general.
After a while Astrid missed Carolee and wanted her to stay in one night or invite her out to come but she never did. Ingrid sent Astrid a summer reading list to read and so she went to the library the next day and got a few books out.
Finally Ray started to get busy at his carpenters job so instead of him being home, Starr was always there. Finally summer came and it was hotter then it had ever been. All summer Ray taught Astrid how to shot a gun. This is when Astrid first felt something towards ray. The way he watched her, it made her feel beautiful.
New/Continued Characters:
Starr- looked like she was going to a lounge and not church
Reverned Thomas- priest for the church(catholic)
Uncle Ray-teaching Astrid how to play chess.
Astrid was finally forced to go to church on Sunday. Carolee also had to go because she slept in and couldn'y get out of the house before her mom woke them both up and told them they had to go to church with her. Astrid actually enjoyed church and she was more and more agreeing with everything that Reverned Thomas said. While she was in church she had a flash back to when she called Barry to warn him what her mother was going to do and instead of telling him she just hung up. She was responsible and it was her own sin virus that she created. In July, although her mom did not want her to Astrid got baptized. Then the sotry goes to talk about how her mom wrote her a letter saying she didn't want her to be a christian and how you should never regret anything you do. Uncle Ray also agrees with how Ingrid feels about god in general.
After a while Astrid missed Carolee and wanted her to stay in one night or invite her out to come but she never did. Ingrid sent Astrid a summer reading list to read and so she went to the library the next day and got a few books out.
Finally Ray started to get busy at his carpenters job so instead of him being home, Starr was always there. Finally summer came and it was hotter then it had ever been. All summer Ray taught Astrid how to shot a gun. This is when Astrid first felt something towards ray. The way he watched her, it made her feel beautiful.
New/Continued Characters:
Starr- looked like she was going to a lounge and not church
Reverned Thomas- priest for the church(catholic)
Uncle Ray-teaching Astrid how to play chess.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Chapter 5: White Oleander
Summary:
In this chapter it talks about the first foster family that Astrid goes to live with. The mother is Starr and she has two children of her own, as well as two other foster children. While her case worker and Starr are discussing everything out, Astrid goes outside and meets the boys that also live there, although we only really hear about Davey. She is Starr's real mom and although she is she treats Davey like he is just another foster kid. Starr takes Astrid shopping and buys her some underwear, a bra, a new pink dress and pink shoes to match. As she is getting dressed Starr makes a comment how she is only 13 and Astrid drops everything. Between her mother's trial, all the sessions and questions, medication and case workers she had turned 13. She couldn't believe it.That Sunday, Astrid woke up to Carolee already dressed and that was because she didn't want to go to church so she snuck out the window like she always does at night to go out with friends and leaves. Astrid realizes she doesn't want to go to church either and fakes being sick. After Starr leaves for church Astrid has some time to just sit and talk to "Uncle Ray". CONNECTION: As Ray is talking about that he hasn't seen his real life in 3 years Astrid realizes that she may never get to see her mom again and someone may ask Ingrid in the future about her and she may act exactly like Ray( not care) and say she hasn't seen her in 3 years. It talks about how she finished grade 8 and she never really made any friends, she would just sit with Davey and study eachother on things. After awhile the case worker finally said she was ablt to visit her mom and Astrid was afraid she wouldn't want to see her. When she finally got to see her mother she was relieved that she she had missed her. She told Astrid she wanted them to keep in touch and not go through the case worker or she wouold never get her letters. After that they just sat and talked and Ingrid asked her how she was. She thought this was weird because her mom never used to want to know about her until now.
NOTES:
-only 13 when she is seperated from her mom and put in her first home.
-Starr takes in foster children because her own children were in foster care at one time due to her addictions.
New Characters Introduced:
Starr- former stripper, drug addict and alcoholic., mother of all the children.
Ray- still married, smokes weed in front of the kids, works as a carpenter making new house, just dating and living with Starr
Davey- loves outdoors, likes catching lizards, keeping them and studying them.
-Freckled boy, Starr's own child.
Carolee- smokes, a rebel, doesn't listen to her mom, keeps to herseld.
-has a boyfriend she is always gone with.
-HATES church.
-Starr's own child.
In this chapter it talks about the first foster family that Astrid goes to live with. The mother is Starr and she has two children of her own, as well as two other foster children. While her case worker and Starr are discussing everything out, Astrid goes outside and meets the boys that also live there, although we only really hear about Davey. She is Starr's real mom and although she is she treats Davey like he is just another foster kid. Starr takes Astrid shopping and buys her some underwear, a bra, a new pink dress and pink shoes to match. As she is getting dressed Starr makes a comment how she is only 13 and Astrid drops everything. Between her mother's trial, all the sessions and questions, medication and case workers she had turned 13. She couldn't believe it.That Sunday, Astrid woke up to Carolee already dressed and that was because she didn't want to go to church so she snuck out the window like she always does at night to go out with friends and leaves. Astrid realizes she doesn't want to go to church either and fakes being sick. After Starr leaves for church Astrid has some time to just sit and talk to "Uncle Ray". CONNECTION: As Ray is talking about that he hasn't seen his real life in 3 years Astrid realizes that she may never get to see her mom again and someone may ask Ingrid in the future about her and she may act exactly like Ray( not care) and say she hasn't seen her in 3 years. It talks about how she finished grade 8 and she never really made any friends, she would just sit with Davey and study eachother on things. After awhile the case worker finally said she was ablt to visit her mom and Astrid was afraid she wouldn't want to see her. When she finally got to see her mother she was relieved that she she had missed her. She told Astrid she wanted them to keep in touch and not go through the case worker or she wouold never get her letters. After that they just sat and talked and Ingrid asked her how she was. She thought this was weird because her mom never used to want to know about her until now.
NOTES:
-only 13 when she is seperated from her mom and put in her first home.
-Starr takes in foster children because her own children were in foster care at one time due to her addictions.
New Characters Introduced:
Starr- former stripper, drug addict and alcoholic., mother of all the children.
Ray- still married, smokes weed in front of the kids, works as a carpenter making new house, just dating and living with Starr
Davey- loves outdoors, likes catching lizards, keeping them and studying them.
-Freckled boy, Starr's own child.
Carolee- smokes, a rebel, doesn't listen to her mom, keeps to herseld.
-has a boyfriend she is always gone with.
-HATES church.
-Starr's own child.
Chapter 4: White Oleander
Chapter 4 Summary:
This chapter is fairly short and all it talks about is a dream that Astrid has about being underground. She is seperated from her mother and in it she talks about a daughter who is lost, a nobody. She goes on to talk about the day of her arrest and how she can remember it perfectly. Astrid had wanted to stay with Michael but she knew she couldn't as Michael could barely make a living for himself let alone her as well. She also remembered the day that CAS came to get her. They only gave her10 minutes to get everything she wanted and she only took a few books by her mom and a few other things that she knew she would want as a memory.
NOTES:
-Astrid feels more alone then she ever has. She has lost her mom, her best friend and the person she used to do everything with. She now has nothing itfeels like and she is upset for that.
This chapter is fairly short and all it talks about is a dream that Astrid has about being underground. She is seperated from her mother and in it she talks about a daughter who is lost, a nobody. She goes on to talk about the day of her arrest and how she can remember it perfectly. Astrid had wanted to stay with Michael but she knew she couldn't as Michael could barely make a living for himself let alone her as well. She also remembered the day that CAS came to get her. They only gave her10 minutes to get everything she wanted and she only took a few books by her mom and a few other things that she knew she would want as a memory.
NOTES:
-Astrid feels more alone then she ever has. She has lost her mom, her best friend and the person she used to do everything with. She now has nothing itfeels like and she is upset for that.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Chapter 3: White Oleander
Summary:
At the beginning Ingrid wouldn't leave her apartment at all unless she was going down to the pool to go swimming. After a few days passed of her just sitting in her dark room all day, something changed and she called her head boss (Marlene) and asked for her job back. It was shipping week and she knew they would need her desperately so he agreed to let her come back to work. She dropped Astrid off at school that morning to start grade 8 but Astrid didn't want to go. She was afraid that when she came home from school her mom wouldn't be there and she would be all alone.)
Astrid thought everything was over and everything was going to go back to normal but it didn't as her mom (Ingrid) began to follow Barry. Ingrid would shop at Barry's favourite market, browse at his favourite music store or go to book signings that were for his friends. Astrid thought it was all getting out of control but she didn't want to say anything to her mom. One night Ingrid finally found Barry at a party for Gracie Kelleher(one of his friends) and Barry grabbed her arm and asked if she was following him. He was furious at this point and told her to leave him alone.
That saturday Astrid and Ingrid sat in their car a block from Barry's house waiting for him to leave. He finally decided to go out and as he drove away she got out of the car and walked up to his house. She didn't want to break in but on the other hand she didn't want to stay in the car by herself either so she followed her mom up to his house. She knew where he kept his spare key so she found it and unlocked the door. Astrid went straight to his computer, turned it on and erased everything he had on the computer. She then took out a magnet and took it to all his back-up discs so they would be ruined too. Before Astrid left she went to his closet and took out his favourite brown shirt and ripped it to pieces with the pocket knife she had. In the buttonhole she put a white oleander.
That night Barry came to her house and Astrid seemed happy. With every angry thing he said to her she seemed to get happier and Astrid did not know why. Barry threatened to kill her and when she wouldn't open the door he went around to the window and broke it. After alittle bit of hesitation he stuck his hand in and began to unlatch the latch. That is when Ingrid ran at him and stabbed him in the hand with her pocket knife. Barry said that she will never get away with this and she opened the door and told her that he didn't know what she was capable of. After that night. Ingrid couldn't find him anywhere and he changed the locks on his doors.
She went to his house again that weekend and broke in again and this time through the window using a metal ruler. This time Astrid put a sprig of olenader in his milk, another in his oyster sauce, in his cottage cheese, in his toothbrush and she made an arrangement of white oleanders in a handblown vase on his coffee table and splattered them on his bed. (Note: Oleanders are poisonous flowers which means is she trying to kill him?) Astrid knew he had to be punished but she now knew her mom had crossed the line. All she saw in her mom now was darkness.
That night a police officer came to the door and my mom lied to him and pretended that she didn't do anything earlier that morning. She said that Barry was crazy as he was madly in love with her and she broke up with him a week ago and he had been stalking her ever since. She also said that her neighbours called the cops the other day when Barry broke her window(which they did) and that he was lying. The police officer believed her and after that he left. It was more like the other way around. It was the exact opposite as her story as SHE was Barry. The next time she saw Barry was at the market. He saw her and started to walk the other way but something must have changed his mind and he turned back and walked up to Ingrid. Barry asked if they could move on to the next step and just be friends. Ingrid agreed, they said there goodbyes and walked away.
The next day they drove down to Tijuana. She didn''t buy any food like they usually did and finally she came to what she had been looking for, a pharmacy. She said something in Spanish and the man behind the counter asked if she had arthritis. She said yes and asked if he had any DMSO. She got the biggest bottle they had (size of a vinegar bottle) and it cost her $80.00. Astrid tried to talk her out of it as that was 2 weeks worth of food, or 2 months worth of gas she was wasting. She couldn't talk her mom out of it though and she bought it. That night she began cooking strange food and the smell was horrible. I didn't say much to her as she looked like she was in her own world.
Astrid went down to Michael's that night to hang out with him and she asked him what DMSO was. He said that it was that people used it who had arthritis and that it was completely harmless. It is used to help absorb drugs through your skin(thats how the nicotine patch works.)
That night Astrid looked all over the apartment for the bottle of DMSO. Their apartment wasn't that big so she should have been able to find it but she didn't She asked her mom where it was when she got home and she just kept smiling, but her eyes told me everything. She wanted to kill Barry.
All night Astrid thought about what would happen and when she woke up the next morning she dialed Barry's number. A girl answered the phone and that is when Astrid realized that he had it coming and he deserved it. Also she didn' t know what she would tell him and she didn't want to hurt her mother. She didn't say a thing and he hung up the phone.
That night they sat on the roof together and watched the moon and that was the last time they would be together.
NOTES:
-Astrid vowed she would never fall in love as she didn't want to get hurt like her mom did.
-Ingrid is going insane, and may be mentally unstable.--needs help.
At the beginning Ingrid wouldn't leave her apartment at all unless she was going down to the pool to go swimming. After a few days passed of her just sitting in her dark room all day, something changed and she called her head boss (Marlene) and asked for her job back. It was shipping week and she knew they would need her desperately so he agreed to let her come back to work. She dropped Astrid off at school that morning to start grade 8 but Astrid didn't want to go. She was afraid that when she came home from school her mom wouldn't be there and she would be all alone.)
Astrid thought everything was over and everything was going to go back to normal but it didn't as her mom (Ingrid) began to follow Barry. Ingrid would shop at Barry's favourite market, browse at his favourite music store or go to book signings that were for his friends. Astrid thought it was all getting out of control but she didn't want to say anything to her mom. One night Ingrid finally found Barry at a party for Gracie Kelleher(one of his friends) and Barry grabbed her arm and asked if she was following him. He was furious at this point and told her to leave him alone.
That saturday Astrid and Ingrid sat in their car a block from Barry's house waiting for him to leave. He finally decided to go out and as he drove away she got out of the car and walked up to his house. She didn't want to break in but on the other hand she didn't want to stay in the car by herself either so she followed her mom up to his house. She knew where he kept his spare key so she found it and unlocked the door. Astrid went straight to his computer, turned it on and erased everything he had on the computer. She then took out a magnet and took it to all his back-up discs so they would be ruined too. Before Astrid left she went to his closet and took out his favourite brown shirt and ripped it to pieces with the pocket knife she had. In the buttonhole she put a white oleander.
That night Barry came to her house and Astrid seemed happy. With every angry thing he said to her she seemed to get happier and Astrid did not know why. Barry threatened to kill her and when she wouldn't open the door he went around to the window and broke it. After alittle bit of hesitation he stuck his hand in and began to unlatch the latch. That is when Ingrid ran at him and stabbed him in the hand with her pocket knife. Barry said that she will never get away with this and she opened the door and told her that he didn't know what she was capable of. After that night. Ingrid couldn't find him anywhere and he changed the locks on his doors.
She went to his house again that weekend and broke in again and this time through the window using a metal ruler. This time Astrid put a sprig of olenader in his milk, another in his oyster sauce, in his cottage cheese, in his toothbrush and she made an arrangement of white oleanders in a handblown vase on his coffee table and splattered them on his bed. (Note: Oleanders are poisonous flowers which means is she trying to kill him?) Astrid knew he had to be punished but she now knew her mom had crossed the line. All she saw in her mom now was darkness.
That night a police officer came to the door and my mom lied to him and pretended that she didn't do anything earlier that morning. She said that Barry was crazy as he was madly in love with her and she broke up with him a week ago and he had been stalking her ever since. She also said that her neighbours called the cops the other day when Barry broke her window(which they did) and that he was lying. The police officer believed her and after that he left. It was more like the other way around. It was the exact opposite as her story as SHE was Barry. The next time she saw Barry was at the market. He saw her and started to walk the other way but something must have changed his mind and he turned back and walked up to Ingrid. Barry asked if they could move on to the next step and just be friends. Ingrid agreed, they said there goodbyes and walked away.
The next day they drove down to Tijuana. She didn''t buy any food like they usually did and finally she came to what she had been looking for, a pharmacy. She said something in Spanish and the man behind the counter asked if she had arthritis. She said yes and asked if he had any DMSO. She got the biggest bottle they had (size of a vinegar bottle) and it cost her $80.00. Astrid tried to talk her out of it as that was 2 weeks worth of food, or 2 months worth of gas she was wasting. She couldn't talk her mom out of it though and she bought it. That night she began cooking strange food and the smell was horrible. I didn't say much to her as she looked like she was in her own world.
Astrid went down to Michael's that night to hang out with him and she asked him what DMSO was. He said that it was that people used it who had arthritis and that it was completely harmless. It is used to help absorb drugs through your skin(thats how the nicotine patch works.)
That night Astrid looked all over the apartment for the bottle of DMSO. Their apartment wasn't that big so she should have been able to find it but she didn't She asked her mom where it was when she got home and she just kept smiling, but her eyes told me everything. She wanted to kill Barry.
All night Astrid thought about what would happen and when she woke up the next morning she dialed Barry's number. A girl answered the phone and that is when Astrid realized that he had it coming and he deserved it. Also she didn' t know what she would tell him and she didn't want to hurt her mother. She didn't say a thing and he hung up the phone.
That night they sat on the roof together and watched the moon and that was the last time they would be together.
NOTES:
-Astrid vowed she would never fall in love as she didn't want to get hurt like her mom did.
-Ingrid is going insane, and may be mentally unstable.--needs help.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Chapter 2 -- White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Things I looked up:
White Oleander: A poisonous Eurasian evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) having fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers, whorled leaves, and long follicles containing numerous compose seeds. Also called rosebay.
Site: http://www.answers.com/topic/oleander
Haiku: A Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons.
Site: http://www.answers.com/topic/haiku
Characters so far in the book:
Ingrid: Beauty is everything to her and she says that without it you are nothing.
-Once she meets Barry she seems to be a lot happier and is writing poems a lot more.
Astrid: In chapter 2, it talks about how she hungered for Barry because he could be the one who feed them and holed them and made them feel real.
-Lived in Amsterdam when she was 7.
Barry: He is the writer of personal essays. In chapter 2 you meet Barry and you can tell right away he is rich as he owns a Lincoln. He also says that he can get whatever he wants and soon starts to follow Ingrid around. He also travels a lot as in the book he talks about when he traveled to the Orient, his trip to Bali and Bangkok, and when he went to the temples of Anghor Wat in the Cambodian jungle accompanied by Thai opium smugglers.
Describing Barry: Barry's physical goatishness, his need for dental work, his flabby physique, his squalid taste in clothes, the wretchedness of his English or his shameless cliches
Michael: He lives next door to Astrid and Ingrid.
Kit: Ingrid's boss at the art room.
Chapter 2 Summary: Ingrid comes home at 2 in the morning after the bars had closed. Right when she gets home she doesn't even talk to Astrid and just goes to bed. The next day when she is working at the magazine place Barry comes in and brings them an envelope for her and Astrid. He bought them tickets to go to Gamelan concert at the art museum. When they get to the concert there is 20 slim men playing a bunch of different instruments. After the concert, Barry asked if they both want to get something to eat but Ingrid says no and goes home with Astrid. Finally Ingrid gives in and decides to go on a date with Barry. Astrid, Ingrid and Barry go to the races and Barry tells Ingrid to pick a horse so she chooses 7. In the end her horse ended up winning and the $20.00 he bet on the horse turned into $100.00 and he gave that money to Ingrid. After the race they all go out for dinner and everyone eats except Ingrid who only gets a glass of wine. After this he invites both of them over for supper the next day ad Ingrid accepts. Astrid waited until the very last minute and then told her mom she wasn't feeling good but told her mom still to go. After Astrid made herself some supper she went over to Micheal's. He was watching a Lana Turner movie that she didn't like so she picked up the Chekhov book(her mom told her he was a horrible writer) and started to read it. Once Micheal had passed out she went down to the pool and swam in the pool hoping her mom would fall in love. All that week her mom did not mention one thing about her date with Barry or how it went.
In the Art Room the next day(where Ingrid works) she was working on some work when Barry called her work. The secretary said Barry was on the phone and her co-boss Kit thought the phone was for her. She was shocked when she heard that he had called for Ingrid but all she said to tell him was that she no longer worked there. Later that night Barry came knocking on the door saying he was in the neighborhood. Astrid was surprised when her mom let him come in. When he looked into the room he asked if they had just moved in because there was no furniture and they didn't say a thing. That was because they had lived there for over a year now. I think that this shows that they don't have a lot of money to spend as there apartment that they rent hardly has any furniture in it because they cannot afford it. In the morning when Astrid wakes up she finds that Barry had stayed the night.(Ingrid is breaking her rules.) After that night Astrid noticed that a lot of things changed. On Sunday Barry, Astrid and Ingrid all went to the Farmers market together and her mom who would only eat a carton of yogurt or a can of sardines and soda crackers as a meal was buying so much food. On the way home her and Barry held hands and sang to each other.
So many things Astrid never would have imagines happened. She started writing little "haiku" and slipped them in Barry's pockets. Her mom started to have passion. Ingrid and Barry would go out and once she would come back she would tell Astrid all about it. Gone were the references to Barry's physical goatishness, his need for dental work, his flabby physique, his squalid taste in clothes, the wretchedness of his English or his shameless cliches.
Astrid would sit in her bed and think about how she never told her mom she wanted a father. She had only questioned her once when she was in Kindergarten. This was because school had just started and her teacher had asked them about their fathers. So many people had dads that worked as lawyers, or drummers and few had died and when it came to Astrid she said she didn't know who her dad was. When she asked where her dad was her mom said she had no father. After that the subject was never brought up again.
Barry took them to a Dodger's game and bought them hats. They ate hot dogs as Barry tried to explain the rules of the game to us. It felt like we were a family and I just sat there and tried to pretend we were. The next week he took them to Catalina. Astrid got sick on the ferry but Barry was there the whole time holding a wet cloth to her head.
All of a sudden something happened. Barry said he would come at nine and never showed up, he went out of town on assignments for different magazines, canceled their dates. Astrid couldn't see how this could happen. They could go from taking them out on a lot of trips, how he could hold that cloth to her head, and talk about taking them to Bali and then forget their address completely.
Once afternoon, they stopped by his house unannounced. Ingrid went in by herself and Astrid stayed in the car and half an hour later she came back crying. She said that he had made love with her and then said he had a date. Astrid now understood why you should never break the rules. She understood now why her mom had held to them so hard because once you broke one of them they all began to break. Before they drove away a blond girl half Barry's age drove up, and she became his new love.
The next day at work Kit came up to Ingrid i the production room and smiled. She said she saw Barry last night at the "Virgins" with some cheap blond half his age. At lunchtime, her mother told Astrid to take everything she wanted from art supplies to stationary. That was because they were leaving and not coming back.
White Oleander: A poisonous Eurasian evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) having fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers, whorled leaves, and long follicles containing numerous compose seeds. Also called rosebay.
Site: http://www.answers.com/topic/oleander
Haiku: A Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons.
Site: http://www.answers.com/topic/haiku
Characters so far in the book:
Ingrid: Beauty is everything to her and she says that without it you are nothing.
-Once she meets Barry she seems to be a lot happier and is writing poems a lot more.
Astrid: In chapter 2, it talks about how she hungered for Barry because he could be the one who feed them and holed them and made them feel real.
-Lived in Amsterdam when she was 7.
Barry: He is the writer of personal essays. In chapter 2 you meet Barry and you can tell right away he is rich as he owns a Lincoln. He also says that he can get whatever he wants and soon starts to follow Ingrid around. He also travels a lot as in the book he talks about when he traveled to the Orient, his trip to Bali and Bangkok, and when he went to the temples of Anghor Wat in the Cambodian jungle accompanied by Thai opium smugglers.
Describing Barry: Barry's physical goatishness, his need for dental work, his flabby physique, his squalid taste in clothes, the wretchedness of his English or his shameless cliches
Michael: He lives next door to Astrid and Ingrid.
Kit: Ingrid's boss at the art room.
Chapter 2 Summary: Ingrid comes home at 2 in the morning after the bars had closed. Right when she gets home she doesn't even talk to Astrid and just goes to bed. The next day when she is working at the magazine place Barry comes in and brings them an envelope for her and Astrid. He bought them tickets to go to Gamelan concert at the art museum. When they get to the concert there is 20 slim men playing a bunch of different instruments. After the concert, Barry asked if they both want to get something to eat but Ingrid says no and goes home with Astrid. Finally Ingrid gives in and decides to go on a date with Barry. Astrid, Ingrid and Barry go to the races and Barry tells Ingrid to pick a horse so she chooses 7. In the end her horse ended up winning and the $20.00 he bet on the horse turned into $100.00 and he gave that money to Ingrid. After the race they all go out for dinner and everyone eats except Ingrid who only gets a glass of wine. After this he invites both of them over for supper the next day ad Ingrid accepts. Astrid waited until the very last minute and then told her mom she wasn't feeling good but told her mom still to go. After Astrid made herself some supper she went over to Micheal's. He was watching a Lana Turner movie that she didn't like so she picked up the Chekhov book(her mom told her he was a horrible writer) and started to read it. Once Micheal had passed out she went down to the pool and swam in the pool hoping her mom would fall in love. All that week her mom did not mention one thing about her date with Barry or how it went.
In the Art Room the next day(where Ingrid works) she was working on some work when Barry called her work. The secretary said Barry was on the phone and her co-boss Kit thought the phone was for her. She was shocked when she heard that he had called for Ingrid but all she said to tell him was that she no longer worked there. Later that night Barry came knocking on the door saying he was in the neighborhood. Astrid was surprised when her mom let him come in. When he looked into the room he asked if they had just moved in because there was no furniture and they didn't say a thing. That was because they had lived there for over a year now. I think that this shows that they don't have a lot of money to spend as there apartment that they rent hardly has any furniture in it because they cannot afford it. In the morning when Astrid wakes up she finds that Barry had stayed the night.(Ingrid is breaking her rules.) After that night Astrid noticed that a lot of things changed. On Sunday Barry, Astrid and Ingrid all went to the Farmers market together and her mom who would only eat a carton of yogurt or a can of sardines and soda crackers as a meal was buying so much food. On the way home her and Barry held hands and sang to each other.
So many things Astrid never would have imagines happened. She started writing little "haiku" and slipped them in Barry's pockets. Her mom started to have passion. Ingrid and Barry would go out and once she would come back she would tell Astrid all about it. Gone were the references to Barry's physical goatishness, his need for dental work, his flabby physique, his squalid taste in clothes, the wretchedness of his English or his shameless cliches.
Astrid would sit in her bed and think about how she never told her mom she wanted a father. She had only questioned her once when she was in Kindergarten. This was because school had just started and her teacher had asked them about their fathers. So many people had dads that worked as lawyers, or drummers and few had died and when it came to Astrid she said she didn't know who her dad was. When she asked where her dad was her mom said she had no father. After that the subject was never brought up again.
Barry took them to a Dodger's game and bought them hats. They ate hot dogs as Barry tried to explain the rules of the game to us. It felt like we were a family and I just sat there and tried to pretend we were. The next week he took them to Catalina. Astrid got sick on the ferry but Barry was there the whole time holding a wet cloth to her head.
All of a sudden something happened. Barry said he would come at nine and never showed up, he went out of town on assignments for different magazines, canceled their dates. Astrid couldn't see how this could happen. They could go from taking them out on a lot of trips, how he could hold that cloth to her head, and talk about taking them to Bali and then forget their address completely.
Once afternoon, they stopped by his house unannounced. Ingrid went in by herself and Astrid stayed in the car and half an hour later she came back crying. She said that he had made love with her and then said he had a date. Astrid now understood why you should never break the rules. She understood now why her mom had held to them so hard because once you broke one of them they all began to break. Before they drove away a blond girl half Barry's age drove up, and she became his new love.
The next day at work Kit came up to Ingrid i the production room and smiled. She said she saw Barry last night at the "Virgins" with some cheap blond half his age. At lunchtime, her mother told Astrid to take everything she wanted from art supplies to stationary. That was because they were leaving and not coming back.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Chapter 1 of White Oleander (pg 1-18)
I had originally planned on reading Diary of a Street Kid as my first book choice but after reviewing the books and learning more about them I became a lot more interested in White Oleander instead. In White Oleander by Janet Fitch it talks about a life of a mother and daughter. I got through the first chapter and in this is introduces me to Ingrid(mother) and Astrid(daughter). It also tells me more about where they are living which is in California. In this chapter it mainly talked focused on both the mother and daughter and what they did on a daily basis. The mother works at a magazine company for 8 an hour and always brings Astrid along. At work it always said Ingrid would just turn her music on and not listen to the discussion that was going on and to me it seemed like she did not want to be there as she wasn't really interacting or participating at all. Near the end of this chapter you kind of see how Astrid feels about everything in general. She feels that it is her fault her mom has to have a job that she doesn't like because of Astrid. If she didn't have a daughter then she wouldn't have to worry about electric bills or having to buy Astrid new shoes as hers were two sizes too small. It makes Astrid seem like she is upset and guilty because she is forcing her mom not to be happy as she needs to be provided with food and a place to live. I look forward to reading the next chapter and seeing what will happen next.
Looked up: more about "santa anas" - in this book the santa anas come up a lot and I briefly knew what they were but I looked them up in more detail so I would know more about them. The site I went to was on:
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/winds.html
Looked up: more about "santa anas" - in this book the santa anas come up a lot and I briefly knew what they were but I looked them up in more detail so I would know more about them. The site I went to was on:
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/winds.html
Thursday, February 4, 2010
ISP:
The books I have chosen to read for my independent study are Diary of a Street Kid and White Oleander.
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