1) Ask (3) questions from the chapter that you'd really like answered.
2)
Write a response, choosing a line and explaining it's significance to
you. Please remember: no plot re-cap! Share your analysis, make
connections to the world, ask questions, discuss imagery, and deepen
your thinking.
3) Don't forget to respond to someone else's post!
3) Don't forget to respond to someone else's post!
"She had to wipe the tears from her own face, but she got back in line and marched through the ceremony alone, and she sat through the graduation ceremony next to an empty seat. I walked home sobbing in my cap and gown and caught a Greyhound bus for New York the next day." pg. 158
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it illustrates the strength of Frances and Ruth's friendship, and also everything Ruth's upbringing deprived her of. I think Frances must have been an incredibly kind and strong person. Things would have been much easier for her if she ignored and hated Ruth like the rest of the white kids. But she chose to accept Ruth and was her best (and only) friend. She didn't even sit with anyone at her own graduation, and cried on that happy day for her friend's sake. It's terribly sad that after that day they never saw each other again.Ruth's parents' restrictions robbed her of her graduation and her friend. If Ruth had a better home life, she wouldn't have felt the need or desire to leave the South and first true friend such pain.
That is so true,not only her family but her religion. I feel like her family enforced the religions o much that she missed out alot of life's adventures. I feel like thats the reason why she moved into Christianity because she felt like she was loved and opened to try new things. She didn't feel bad, she felt great and thats maybe the reason why she would cry.
DeleteI agree with both of you this really shows her strengh becuase in the book she hasnt cried many times. Also if Frances hadnt been her friend i think ruth wouldnt have been able to learn an inportant thing in life such as friendship and love. Her family pushes her away, every time we check we can see that her family is the cause of all her pain.
DeleteAlso my 3 questions:
DeleteWould Frances have helped Ruth is she knew her friend was pregnant?
Did Ruth ever return home/see Frances again?
Is Frances still alive and know about this book?
"A few minutes later, Mameh followed him out and spoke and spoke to him-- they rarely spoke by then--and the next day he came over and gave me the money for my cap and gown."
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows the impact Mameh had on things, Even though she was cripped and couldn't do much, she was still able to help make Rith's dad change his mind. She was able to somehow talk him out of it and help Ruth. This is probably one of the reasons why Ruth felt so bad when she left to New Yorka and left her mother with her father which didn't love his own wife. It must have been hard for Mameh because she was crippled and didn't recive love when she needed it the most. Ruth appreciated her mother so much and now i can see why, no matter Ruth's mistakes she never held any grudges but loved and helped her daughter at all times, which meant alot to her. Why does Ruth feel so bad that she can;t go to the church? what happens to Ruth's relationship with her bestfriend? What does Ruth accomplish in New York City?
I agree with you that Mameh did have a positive impact on Ruth's life and was able to sway Tateh on the graduation issue. However, Mameh wasn't able to protect Sam and Ruth from their father's abuse or give them all the love they needed. Mameh did support Ruth at important times but I think because she was crippled and believed she had to be a good Jewish wife, couldn't keep herself or her kids safe.
Delete"Jesus gave Mommy hope. Jesus was Mommy's salvation. Jesus pressed her forward"(165).
ReplyDeleteShe looks for hope in Jesus because she can relate with Him to a deeper level. He was Jewish and then turn into Christian. Just like Ruth she turns to God to guide her when she is going through a lot. Most people turn to God for help when they are going through rough times and seem to have no one in their life.
1) Why do people turn to religion when they are hopeless?
2) Why hasn't James done the same and turn to religion?
3) How have we humans come to the thought that God can save us in difficult times?
I think people look to religion when they are going through a hard time because they have something to look up to and they believe if they pray to that person that they will be rewarded with good karma
Delete"we can't see each other anymore. Don't come by." (page 153)
ReplyDeleteThis really surprised me because earlier in the book she expressed how in love she was with Peter. Especially because she had her moms support I would've thought that she would stay with him. He's the only person that has truly made her happy. Maybe it is because she is scared of her dad or because she wants peter to be safe. I wonder if she did this for herself or peter.
I agree, I think she did it both for Peter and herself. She wants to be safe but she also wants Peter to be safe. But isn't she going to lose the only person who actually showed her any love and affection, which makes me wonder, why she would let him go?
DeleteI agree with you and Amy! I think that Ruth was scared of getting into a bigger trouble because she already got pregnant and he didn't offer any support. So, I guess that obviously she didn't want the same mistake to repeat again, and that's why she didn't want to see him anymore.
Delete"Oh yeah, he's getting married soon..."
ReplyDeletepage 154
Ruth over hears a conversation about marriage between two ladies talking about her boyfriend Pete. I think that it must be really hard to hear something like that because she loved him so much that she ended up getting pregnant of him, and he didn't offer any support to her that she had to make an abortion. That connects a lot to the real world now in days because many teen girls that gets pregnant don't have support from their partners. So they end up suffering and raising their kids on their own. I think that to Ruth it must have been really hard because the thought of him marrying another person even though his folks made him do it, makes her feel useless liek any other girl would feel.
My 3 questions are: Will Ruth get back to Pete? Will her father know she got pregnant? Does she move to NYC and suceed?
DeleteI agree with you a lot. I think that one characteristic that can be used to describe Ruth is definitely strong. However, with this strength comes her hiding off her feelings. In addition, it obviously hurt her when she found out that her boyfriend, whom didn't support her when she was pregnant with his child, is getting married with someone else. If it wasn't even for the two women, she wouldn't know this at ALL. I think what she experience is indeed something numerous girls across the world experience. Teen pregnancy is an extremely difficult thing to experience, especially if you love the father of your child, but he wants nothing to do with the baby. In conclusion, Ruth certainly cares about the fact he's getting married because a portion of her love with him has yet to die out.
DeleteI agree with you a lot. I think that one characteristic that can be used to describe Ruth is definitely strong. However, with this strength comes her hiding off her feelings. In addition, it obviously hurt her when she found out that her boyfriend, whom didn't support her when she was pregnant with his child, is getting married with someone else. If it wasn't even for the two women, she wouldn't know this at ALL. I think what she experience is indeed something numerous girls across the world experience. Teen pregnancy is an extremely difficult thing to experience, especially if you love the father of your child, but he wants nothing to do with the baby. In conclusion, Ruth certainly cares about the fact he's getting married because a portion of her love with him has yet to die out.
ReplyDelete"We can't see each other anymore. Don't come by." -Page 153
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me for numerous reasons. For starters, Ruth seems to be sending the reader mixed emotions, and it's quite confusing to be honest. At first she explains her love and affection for him, yet tells him to never come by again?! Also, her mother had given her full approval of Peter, and I'd think that she'd want to stay with him even more because of the fact that he has her mother's approval. Pleasing her mother has always been essential to Ruth, even though she never quite accomplished it in the way she had hoped. Thus, after finishing these two chapters the questions remaining for me are:
1.) Why didn't Ruth take Peter back since she still feels a great love for him?
2.) Why did Ruth's mother give Peter full approval and never once questioned him or his actions?
3.) By telling Peter not to come, is Ruth just concealing her feelings once again, and in a way hoping her words will only make him do the opposite?
I agree. I think that she is confused as to what she wants. She wants to marry Peter, yet she is scared. Because she just had an abortion, she is still recovering from the pain it caused, which really brought her back to reality. She is beginning to realize the pain that she and Peter will go through if they get married, and she doesn't want to risk that.
Delete“Weed kept me running from the truth, and the truth was my mother was falling apart.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote is very significant, because it shines a lot of light on James’ true fears. All his life, his mother has appeared as this strong figure, who is not afraid of anything. For example, when she is getting mugged, she fearlessly stands up to the person mugging her, and fights back. She argues with salesmen on their prices, or for selling her spoiled milk, and though James’ is always afraid for her, she always proves to be strong. Now, James has become the oldest. But also, his mother is falling apart, because of all the hard things going on in her life, such as her best friend and husband dying, and James is struggling to comprehend that his mother, who is the strongest, bravest person that he knows, has know fallen apart. He always seemed to look up to her, because she seemed invincible to him, because she always held back the bad parts of her life from him, but know she is falling apart, and he is struggling to accept that.
And my questions are
ReplyDelete1. What is the logical explanation as to why Ruth can no longer drive?
2. Why, even though she hated her father, and would do anything to rebel against him, would she be unable to enter a church?
3. Why can she suddenly no longer go without church?
"I had done some wrong things in my life, but i was still my parents' child." -page 158
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Ruth has had a very rough life and has a unique perspective about existence because of her experiences. The decisions that one makes over the course of their life affects their outlook on life and can genuinely change one's lifestyle; life is a like a very fragile piece of artwork, if you're not very cautious with what you're doing, you're realistically set up for failure. Over her life, Ruth has certainly had her fair share of important decisions to make which did make her as the person she is; someone with a reclusive and hidden nature. Various people have influenced ruth such as her father who was a character of a strict and disiplined nature which was forced upon ruth in numerous ways. In the end, despite ruth's differentiality whether it be small or significant, she is still descended from her parents which certainly says a lot about the world. Sometimes, the people who seem the most different from each other are in fact, similar or they share a sense of similarity.
My questions are:
1. What made ruth's parents to be who they are?
2. why can't ruth achieve even ground in terms of being like her father or trying to rebel?
- i'm having difficulty thinking of a third question but i bet i'll find one eventually.
You did a really nice job of stating your opinion and seeing something in Ruth and analyzing it. This also connects to James when he goes through his identity crisis.
DeleteI think you're right. Although she admits to bad decisions she's made in the past she takes responsibility for her children. Good analysis. I like the quote you picked too. Good job.
Delete"'No. Forget it. You're not marching into any gentile church.' He was dead set against it."
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because this argument Ruth has with her father about graduation really demonstrates their relationship, and the power of cultural and religious customs. I think Ruth actually wanted to go to the graduation just to defy her parents (especially her dad), and not just for the sake of it. Ruth wants to go because attending the graduation would be a symbolic victory over her dad. Also, because of all the horrible things that the dad did to her, I think Ruth would want to ignore her fathers rule without getting his permission. Although when Ruth tries to go in the church she becomes aware of the fact that she has not totally shed her fathers limited analysis of the Jewish faith or her worry of what her family might think about her. This really upset Ruth because this was the last time her family's expectation imposed her actions. Teenagers in general do stuff just for the sake of defying their parents, even if they agree with them. Teenagers do this because they are either mad at their parents or just don't want to accept that they are right.
Questions: What happens to Ruth in New York? Why couldn't Ruth go inside the church? If Peter said he loved Ruth, why did he get another girl pregnant?
I agree with you. Ruth definitely wanted to go to the graduation to defy her father, but also to be there for Frances. I never thought about Ruth not being able to enter the church because she still had her Jewish beliefs. Teenagers do do things just to be rebellious, I totally agree with you there. Your post also made me realize how much Ruth changed as an adult. As a child, she wouldn't go into the church, but as an adult, James claims that Ruth would get up every morning and get dressed nicely to go to church. He said that she would always come back a bit happier. It's interesting how much she changed.
Delete"Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart." (page 163).
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it reminded me of Holden. We've seen in this chapter and a few previous ones, that James turned to drugs and alcohol to solve his problems. After his stepdad died, Ruth had been disorganized and was falling apart. James ran from his problems by taking drugs and drinking all the time instead of dealing with his problems. He could have helped his mother in her time of need, but instead he ran. This reminded me of Holden because he kept getting further and further away from his problems rather than dealing with them. This made me think that it is common for most people to run away from their problems. It is so much easier to run from issues than it is to deal with them. Solving problems brings stress, brings out lots of emotion, and it is certainly difficult. So, it is no wonder James and Holden both ran from their problems instead of dealing with them. Although, this leads me to these questions:
Why would James not want to help his mother when she was clearly struggling; was this an act of selfishness? Did Ruth's way of raising her children lead James to be this way? James claims that he was involved in crime because it was his way of getting back at the world for what he suffered through, but why didn't he try to fix things for himself rather than seeking revenge?
I totally agree. I see this connection too and I was thinking of the same thing. I think not only these characters turned to drugs and alcohol to solve problems but in real life people take advantage of alcohol and drugs for the same reason-to run away from problems rather than facing them. I think James obviously saw that his mother was struggling but he was struggling himself. He was young and he didn't have anyone to look up to. He didn't know how to handle the situation and not becuase he didn't want to.
Delete"I made up my mind then that I was going to leave Suffolk for good. I was seventeen, in my last year of high school, and for the first time in my life I was starting to have opinions of my own."-page 154.
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because unlike today, Ruth was influenced by her family and religion that she had forgotten her own voice. Now a day, adults encourage young people to speak their minds and share their opinions but back then it was like that at all. It was like back during Ruth's time, the fewer you talk the further away you are from trouble. I was a little surprised how long it took Ruth to find her voice and begin to make decisions for herself rather than for others because of fear. This quote is sort of showing us the new point of view from Ruth as she was growing up and viewd the world differently.
“Rachel Deborah Shilsky could drive a car and pull a trailer behind it, but Ruth McBride Jordan had never touched a steering wheel before that day in 1973.” pg 168
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because it goes back to the start of the book. This stood out to me because at the beginning Ruth says that Rachel Deborah Shilsky is “dead.” This really proves how quick she forgot or wanted to forget who she was from her past. This also goes back to how she sees herself or how confused she is about her identity. Her pretending or purposely not being able to drive shows her insecurity about herself and who she wants to be.
1.Why did Ruth leave Suffolk if she did want to stay with her mom and sister?
2.Why does Ruth's father act the way he does?
3. What provoked him to be this way? Why wouldn't he help the women who let him come to America?
The quote you chose also interests me. I think it also shows how each chapter is mainly about James' mother, not him, even in the chapters that are from his perspective. It also shows how much someone can change themselves, especially if they want to change.
DeleteKatya
I totally agree with you. I think that Ruth's driving skills were not forgotten, I just believe she didn't want to remember them at all. She had a horrific childhood and early life and it would be too painful and pyschologically damaging for her to go back and remember it.
DeleteMy three questions are: why did she decide to drive again afterward but then stop without even giving it a try? Could she really forget her "old" life or she was just pretending? Can James really get away from alcohol and drugs?
ReplyDelete“I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore and walked back through the black neighborhood, into the store, and went upstairs and cried my heart out, because I still loved him.” Pg 154
ReplyDeleteThis quote really stood out to me because she is letting go of the only person who truly showed her love and affection. The fact that she actually cried means that she really cared about him and that she feels let down because Peter got another girl pregnant and now is marrying her. She probably feels as though she has been let down and maybe a little dumb for actually like falling for him. Also what surprised me was that she walked through the black neighborhood and didn’t care who looked at her, which shows that she actually cared about her relationship and her emotions for Peter were always sincere.
I agree with your opinion. I also think she's mad that their love wasn't accepted, because if it was she stated that they would have gotten married. That could have been her marrying Peter instead of the other girl he got pregnant. She probably wishes she could have changed things and she probably even wished to be black because that's the only way she could have been with Peter in the first place.
Delete"I turned away, but not before Frances saw my tears. She got out of line herself but I waved her away. Frances you go in. I said"
ReplyDeleteI found this quote extremely interesting. I found it interesting because it is a moment in the book, were someone actually feels sorrow for Ruth, and even though it might not be in her most dire moment it symbolizes that there's a shred of light in a tunnel of darkness. Frances was Ruth's only friend and was there in the time of her need. To Frances it didn't matter if Ruth was Jewish and couldn't step into a church, she still followed her friend through all her time in Suffolk. Though the metaphor about the shred of light and the tunnel of darkness represents this book. This is most likely what happens to James when he goes into a binge of drugs and alchohol, and this is what happened between the time of Dennis dying and Ruth marrying Hunter.
I think there is still the light at the end of the tunnel for James so far in the novel, but the light is running out for Ruth. Ruth has had so much pain in her life and she shows no sign of getting over it. The only way Ruth can get over her pain is if James helps her do it.
Deletethree questions:
ReplyDelete1. Why did Ruth not want to go to the graduation?
2. Why did it take Ruth 10 years to recover and open up after James' step-father died?
3.Did James' rebel against his mother because he wanted her to care or just to rebel?
Katya Bakal-Schlomann
ReplyDelete"Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart." (p.163)
This line stands out to me because it reminds me Ruth. Ruth ran away from her issues, and James is running away from the truth which is his problem. Ruth didn't know how to cope with her problems at home, so she just tried to distance herself as much as possible from her old life. Of course she can't ever completely avoid her old life, or run away from issues. You have to go through issues in order to get rid of them. Now James had real human friends, so why was it so hard for James to quit smoking marijuana? I think he couldn't quit because although he had real friends, they couldn't distract him from his real issues. Marijuana seemed like the easiest way out of facing his problems. The truth is like a problem, and problems are like fears, and the only way to overcome fears is too face them. James shouldn't run away from his fears, because it will only make the worse. Two more questions are 1: When will James face the truth and help his mother? And 2: How will James face his fears?
"I just couldn't go inside that church. In my heart I was still a Jew. I had done some wrong things in my life, but I was still my parents' child." (page 158)
ReplyDeleteThis line is significant because although Ruth dislikes being Jew because of the way she's treated and how they are looked at, deep down she knows how important it is to her and to her parents. I was thinking to myself she wouldn't go in the church to graduate, but she would get pregnant by a black man? Or does she feel as if she should start obeying her parents since she was still living under their roof. Maybe she wants to stop rebelling against them, after the abortion she just had. Then again she left her friend Frances down, so I'm not so sure if she had made the right decision. Part of me wishes she marched down in the ceremony with Frances. Maybe this is a sign of her finally choosing the right path for herself without any regrets.
Matthew Baldwin
ReplyDelete"And when i got back to New York in the fall of 1973 for y junior year in high school I resolved to jump back into my studies and rebuild myself."
In this quote James sounds like he really wants to get back on track after his encounter with the chicken man. but in the chapter, he does the exact opposite of the sentience. James goes back to being addicted to drugs, and can't quit. He realizes this when he hears on the news that it is dangerous to be hooked on marijuana. After that, the narrator goes into a speedy version of how he is addicted to drugs and can't get over it. HE says straight out that he uses drugs to get away from his problems. His problems is that he doesn't want to realizes that his mom is not doing to well and needs help, from his family. I think that drugs are a cooping mechanizume for James to deal with the stress of the outside world.
Matthew Baldwin
Delete3 questions:
1. Why does Ruth seem so two faced in the 2 different stories?
2. Why would James go to drugs, and not to his family?
3. Why is the books Tittle the "Color Of Water"
"Deep inside I knew that my old friend Chicken Man back in Louisville was right. I wasn't any smarter, or any wiser, or any bolder than the cats on the Corner, and if I chose that life I would end up on the corner no matter what my brains or potential." (161)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that James is capable of being an intellectual but s choosing the crime life instead is in 20/20 for him right now. He is able to see that its his choice to either take the path of a gangster or take advantage of his smart brain and potential and make use of it. Its his choice which path he takes an its up to him which way to go. I think this is significant because his future lies in front of his eyes because he can either choose the thug life or make use of the gift he has been given that not everyone has.
My 3 questions:
1. What would James have to say about this moment in his life 50 years later?
2. Does james use his intelligence when he's older to obtain a good profession?
3. Does james still commit crimes in the far future?
"She had to wipe the tears from her own face, but she got back in line and marched through the ceremony alone, and she sat through the graduation ceremony next to an empty seat. I walked home sobbing in my cap and gown and caught a Greyhound bus for New York the next day." (pg 158)
ReplyDeleteThis part of the book was very important because it showed that although Ruth wanted to graduate with Frances badly, she just couldn't betray her family and religion by going into the church, even though she often disagrees with the strictness of it. I think it was a big moment also in the friendship between Frances and Ruth because Frances understood why Ruth couldn't do it, although she wanted them to graduate side by side. This results in Ruth leaving to go to NY and I think Ruth just needed to get away from everything, such as her family and the hard times she goes through in her life, and she needs to be away from this to deal with things like her abortion, etc.
I agree with you when you say "I think Ruth just needed to get away from everything, such as her family and the hard times she goes through in her life." In addition, I believe Ruth graduating was somewhat symbolic for overcoming her father, and by not graduating, she 'gave in.' I think a reason why she left was so she could overcome her father in the most effective way, leaving.
Delete"I wanted to give up weed but i couldn't. Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart." pg 163
ReplyDeleteThis quote made me extremely skeptical. I wanted to know why James was running from his mothers problems. I know the feeling of watching your mother being upset and how it sort of tears you apart inside. I tried thinking of the troubles that James had to witness his mother go through and how James was hurting for his mother. James smoked to run way from the pain that derived from his mother. In a way this is extremely meaningful because it depicts how much James actually cares for his mother. However, if James cares for his mother that much that he runs from the pain by smoking and getting high and drunk, why does he claim that his friends are his family and his family are people he lived with. I think that the answer to this is that he thinks this because his friends provide him with the drugs and that his friends are there to comfort him whereas his family was hurting him and he couldn't go to them for help.
I really like what you are saying. I think that maybe James is doing what hes doing out of a need to sympathize with how his mother feels. Perhaps he sees his mother's state and wants to share that feeling with her. And I agree that to James it may seem as though his friends are " helping" him by giving him drugs and alcohol, but I think that he's just fooling himself into thinking this.
Delete"I just couldn't go inside that church. In my heart I was still a Jew. I had done some wrong things in my life, but I was still my parents' child." (p. 158)
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it shows that even though Ruth disliked her father and the setting she was raised in, she still was connected to her family. She had an argument with her father about attending the graduation, her father said not to but she went anyways. I would think that going to the church, would be therapeutic for her, like she was getting back at her father. Instead, Ruth had trouble going into the church which showed her interest in her family's opinions of her. I think this connects to the world because often times people may dislike their families, but also have a very strong connections with them because they grew up with their families present.
Questions: Why does Ruth force religion on to her children if she did not like being raised Jewish? Why does James look to drugs as a stress reliever are not other, legal, means? What happens to Peter?
“Rachel Deborah Shilsky could drive a car and pull a trailer behind it, but Ruth McBride Jordan had never touched a steering wheel before that day in 1973” (168).
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it shows how much Ruth despised her old life. As a kid, Rachel, she could drive a car but as an adult, Ruth, she had no ability to drive. This is because she hated her old life so much she made herself think she has lived two separate lives. I also think she “forgot” how to drive because this took place as Ruth was still recovering from the stepdad’s death and if she had any more bad memories of her childhood she would break. Ruth also doesn’t want her adult life to have any connections with her childhood and being able to drive is a connection between the two lives.
Three questions:
1. Why does Ruth feel the need to live two separate lives?
2. Will James eventually help his mom and his family? If so how?
3. Does James fully get over his drug problems?
"Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart." PG:163
ReplyDeleteThis stood out to me because it shows the contrast between Ruth and her son. When Ruth's life fell apart, she turned to religion. She saw that what would help her cope with her life was guidance. James on the other hand turned to drugs to get away from his problems. Instead of acknowledging that he needed help, be it from a god or otherwise, James tried to forget about his problems. I think this says that as a culture, we tend to try and lessen the responsibility our problems. Ruth gave that to god and Jesus, James tried to forget about it all together.
3 Questions:
1) Why do people turn to third parties to solve their problems?
2) Even thought he knew that it only made things worse, why did James continue in his self destructive behavior?
3) Why do we as people turn to self destructive behavior when our lives get difficult?
I agree with you and although it did set their differences, it showed that they turn to something powerful to deal with their problems. Drugs was very powerful and damaging and God was powerful and if you were religious you'd definitely will turn to him.
Delete"She had to wipe the tears from her own face, but she got back in line and marched through the ceremony alone, and she sat through the graduation ceremony next to an empty seat. I walked home sobbing in my cap and gown and caught a Greyhound bus for New York the next day." (pg 158)
ReplyDeleteThis quote really caught my attention because you can vividly imagine the two girls crying and parting in separate directions. I think this was the real breaking point for Ruth. I also believe the two girls parting ways represents Ruth's life. Ruth was turning her back to all she knew and what she would be in Suffolk, and leaving everything and everyone behind. While Frances was walking toward the life she was meant to have as an average Suffolk girl. The two exchanging a tearful goodbye might foreshadow that this is the end of their relationship. It might be too painful for Ruth to contact Frances,because Frances would remind her of what she was trying so hard to forget.
"Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart."
ReplyDelete-page 163
I chose this quote because it showed how dependent James was on drugs. He couldn't give up weed even if he tried because he was so hooked on it. He uses weed to try and forget his problems. I found it great that he tried to change but it was sad that James felt the need to get high. As much as he wanted, he couldn't give it up and that made his mom even more worried. James and Ruth were both emotionally unstable. As James found his momentary escape on weed, his mom found it very hard to move on after losing her first husband. Her past has made that harder for her. My questions for the book are, would Ruth be more stable if James hadn't done all the trouble (drop out, smoke, crimes) ?
Although she kept moving, how was Ruth able to keep going with such strength?
Where were the other siblings and did they help their mom?
This quote that you chose is really good!! James finally admits that he was trying to run away from his weak mother, and you descried it really well. Good job!
DeleteThis quote is strong for us to understand James more, and I think this is an on-going problem even today. Kids as young as us are just like James, and it's important for us to acknowledge this and resolve the issue. James has to resolve his issue with his mother, so what's he waiting for?
DeleteThis is the quote that I chose. It really does stand out.
Delete"Jesus gave Mommy hope. Jesus was Mommy's salvation. Jesus pressed her forward"(165)
ReplyDeleteThis line had stood out to me because it shows how much Ruth cared about the catholic religion, and of course, Jesus. Ruth was raised in a very religious orthodox Jewish family, and once she finally broke free from them, she married a black catholic man. Ruth raised all of her kids under a heavy influence of he catholic church. This quote is very ironic, because Jesus was Ruth's source of hope, salvation and the act of moving on, yet she was raised to believe that he never happened.
"Even in my own self-absorbed funk, I was worried about her, because as my siblings and I slowly got to our emotional feet, Mommy staggered about in an emotional stupor for nearly a year. But while she weebled and wobbled and leaned, she did not fall. She responded with speed and motion. She would not stop moving." (163)
ReplyDeleteThis part of the chapter stood out to me a lot because it showed a different side of James. I read a more mature version of James who understood what was going on in his world. He shows a lot of care and worry for his mother,yet he understood that she needed time and space to get better. He knew she was trying her best, making it through day by day, and he respected that as a son and as a person. Why doesn't he interject? What made him decide to leave his mom alone and heal on her own? Was he afraid of making his mom even more hurt?
"Weed was my friend, weed kept me running from the truth. And the truth was my mother was falling apart."
ReplyDelete- Wow. This quote says a lot about drugs, James's love for Ruth, Ruth in general, and all that. Drugs are an escape. Drugs don't have to be cigarettes or weed or cocaine for heroine or any of that. Drugs are just things that help you escape from reality. They help you find a place where you feel like you belong, or you feel like nothing is wrong, and it's where you've always wanted to be. Because in real life, you can never find that place. You can never find in real life what you can when you're on drugs. You can't feel what you can in reality than what you can when you're high. That may not be true, but for people that believe it is true, they take drugs. Like I said though, drugs don't have to be the usual substances. You can find a drug that won't kill you, such as movies! (My personal drug). Anyways what I'm saying is, when you have something in your life that you care about deeply and isn't going well, you can't get it off your mind. Drugs help you escape your anxiety for a little while. Which is why James is taking weed. He needs to escape his reality, he needs to escape his worrying for his mother, because it's bringing him down. This quote says a lot about drugs, and the imperfection of life itself. People go through tough times, people who are connected go through it together. Since Ruth is sad, James is sad because he loves her. And since James is sad, he's taking drugs. It also says a lot about kids in general. James is a kid, he doesn't know any better, he doesn't know where else to go to escape other than drugs. That's why you see so many teens doing drugs these days. It's a sad truth, and this quote defines it.