Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Double Meaning

"Aziz was exquisitely dressed, from tie-pin to spats, but he had forgotten his back-collar stud, and there you have the Indian all over; inattention to detail, the fundamental slackness that reveals the race."

When Ronnie criticizes Aziz about his collar stud I find what he says to have a double meaning not intended by Ronnie, but by Forster. I think that when Ronnie says that "there you have the Indian," it is very true. There you have the Indian. Maybe by taking out his own collar stud could be the same as giving someone the clothes off your own back. Without knowing it Ronnie stated a true statement, there you have it, the Indians, a giving people.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

What is so modern!

pg. 186 "The young man had killed himself; but she did not pity him;with the clock striking the hour, one, two, three, she did not pity him....She felt somehow very lie him-the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it; thrown it away. The clock was striking."

I find the passage to be telling of the "non-Victorian" style and more the modern. I think that Victorian style writing would have never discussed the thought of suicide as good or relaxing. However, with suicide still being such a taboo subject that is not often explored Clarissa looks out the window at the old lady and is actually glad for Septimus. With the sound of the clock chiming you get the feeling that her time is limited. "He made her feel the beauty; made her feel the fun."

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Coming to London!!!

I loved it when Leonard Woolf says on the first page, referring to London, "I love it profoundly and, as with all real love that goes deep into the entrails, I hate it profoundly." I felt that out of all of the Bloomsbury group that identify with Leonard Woolf the most. I am a pretty laid back type of person and I felt that Leonard Woolf was the same. He describes himself at this dinner party where he accidently picks up a woman's petty coat thinking she had dropped her handkerchief. He describes himself as someone who was not terribly in the literary mix of "literary London" as I thought him to be. I still feel that he was very much a part of the world hejust didn't think he was. I too have a love/hate relationship with Fort Worth. I think Fort Worth is beautiful and as proud of the city, however I find it terribly boring and hate the repetitiveness of the days spent in this city. On the contrary if someone were to talk down upon Fort Worth I would take great offense because only I feel I can talk badly of it.

I found it interesting that Woolf started the memoir with stating why he is writing, "One of the things which I have been asked to deal with in this article is my 'first impressions of the London literary world'." And he ends with, "So I reached the goal set me by the editor for this article, my first publication and the London literary world of Bloomsbury." The way he began the article and ended the article was what I was always told not to do. 'You do tell the reader about what you are going to tell them.' However, I think that in doing this he supports his argument of not really fitting into this "literary London."

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Florence Nightingale

WOW! That description of the soldiers in the filth and the lack of space. The first thing that popped into my mind was the scene in "Gone With the Wind" where the camera shows a close up of some injured soldiers and then pans out and reveals thousands and thousands of injured and dying soldiers absolutley helpless.

" The walls were thick with dirt; incredible multitudes of vermin swarmed everywhere. And, enormous as the building was, it was yet too small. I contained four miles of beds."

(Here is a youtube video of the scene. Excuss the music and it is not the best clip, but here it is.)



Heartbreaking. I must confess that I did not know much about Florence Nightengale before I read the reading. I enjoyed learning about her through Stratchey. I love how he conveyed how much of an independent, brilant, and groundbreaking she was. I noticed how he made it a point to say that she did what everyone said she couldn't or shouldn't do.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Old Bloomsbury

I love the life that Virginia Woolf presents in Old Bloomsbury. Excitement is the only word that I can think of to describe her experiences. What she presents seems to show actually living. What I mean by that is that she lived her life and learned through life. I find this quality to be so valuable because I spend most my time trying to make good grades and working trying to make money. I love the value and the learning process of school, but the pressures of grades sometimes takes a toll on my body in the form of stress (a necessary evil). Virginia Woolf seems to have enjoyed learning and discussing knowledge with others. I too wish I could do this without the pressure. I think much more would be learned if along with reading we were able to simultaneously live. I found that, although the time difference, most motivations and meaning of what a party is transcends to today. Many times I come home from a night out with friends and there is a trail of clothes to my bed. I wish I had more time for tea, lunch, and dinner with friends but I do not. I love her non-conformity to the times. I like how she sees nothing wrong with the young men she is around. I love how she is able to acknowledge the fact that some men are gay and that times were changing. However, in my mind I thought that the early 1900's would have never even entertained the thought of homosexuality. I found the reading to be interesting, although it depicts a centuries old setting, ideas, and issues, I think the reading to still matter in the same subject matter today.

What i should have posted the other day.... i had writers block

So I feel like sharing a little about me. Wow! So right now I am at a point in my life I like to call “The Waiting Room.” You know the place at the doctors office where you wait and wait and wait for the doctor only to go the exam room and wait some more!!! Its sucks huh? Anyway I am going to school and trying to figure out where life wants me. It is scary. When you are little you always see yourself grown up and making all this money and this beautiful family…but once you get there it is harder then you thought! Anyway Dr. Seuss is my favorite author of all time! Dr. Seuss I know right? I mean he makes children’s books, but he has a way of simplifying life. Life is complicated enough…don’t get me wrong the great philosophers are fun to learn about in class, but to me Dr. Seuss gets right to the point and is able to sum up some of life’s inevitable moments every human being can relate to..and make it rhyme…my two favorite books are Oh the Places you’ll Go and Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? Anyway these are must reads…you don’t even have to buy them just go to the book store and read them real quick..so no excuses! I am an extremely optimistic person! I do have my moments where I am down but when I get that way I have to count my blessings (cheesy I know). I may not have all the money in the world, but it is ok, because I have something better!…Love and family! I have nothing to complain about….sometimes I catch myself taking things for granted or my thoughts become scrambled and let situations get the best of me….but then I stop and think… I have nothing to complain about. I talk to God about my life and try to pray as much as I can…isn’t it funny that if you talk to God you are considered sane but if He talks back you are considered crazy? (lol…funny huh? I didn’t make that up , I wish I was that clever, but I read it somewhere). Anyway I fall in love with people too easily, I don't mean the "I want to marry you type love," but I just think that everyone is beautiful in their own unique way.....unless their intent is evil then I reconsider.

Told you I was weird
Peace and Love

My "pick me up" quote
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in YOU!!!! -Christian D. Larson

Friday, August 28, 2009

Sarah Tovar

I am 21 years old and love English classes. I love science fiction. When school is in I have no life but to work and go to school, reading is the escape. I am weird and unique and wouldn't have it any other way. I love to dance. I used to dance Ballet Folklorico.