Saturday, January 14, 2017

Journal 2 from Kai

Hello everyone! My name is Simon Gill, but everyone calls me Kai. I'm was born and raised in Alabama and have since forsaken my roots to live north of the Mason-Dixon line. I have been married for about 12 years and live with her and daughter in Powell. I generally prefer my dinners under florescent lighting and don't like beaches... or long walks! While my major focus of study is CSE, I do have a love for comedy and voice acting. If you aren't laughing, you aren't living!

Kai and family at Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The small chapters and fluid language in The House on Mango street keeps the story moving. It flows fluidly and remains so fresh that I have a hard time realizing I've read too far into it. One can easily read the book cover to cover without it ever getting stale. The best part I find is the setup. When she talks about the nun asking her where she lived you already know enough in the first few pages about the little girl and her situation that you can feel the condemnation in the nun's voice. It was just one word, an italicized "there?", but you can easily visualize what the nun is referencing. The word is laced with the mixed feeling of pity, dread, and disgust. Immediately you come to the same realization as the child that there is now shame in something you had not thought about before. Shame from knowing that what you have isn't good enough. It will become a driving force to better yourself.

3 comments:

  1. Kai, your intro shows you know how important humor is in life and I can relate. There are seasons for everything and timing is important, but keeping a sense of humor is vital! Good close reading of Cisneros and you are starting to see Esperanza's attitude come through in her conversations and use of dialogue. You will hear me say many times that good dialogue reveals character.

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  2. Kai I completely agree with you that laughter plays a big role in our lives. There have been many times in my life where my day was just horrible and I just wanted it to be over. But when I would get home and start joking around with family and laughing it could turn a horrible day into a good one in a matter of minutes.

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  3. I agree with "if you aren't laughing, you aren't living!" Laughter is truly the best medicine and can turn a whole day around if you let it! I've only been in class with you what? 2 times maybe? And you've already made me laugh multiple times.

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