Short Stories!

In sixth grade, I took a class where we read a whole bunch of short stories and I specifically remember reading a lot by Edgar Allen Poe.  I thought that his stories were interesting because he had a very unique style that was different from anything I have read before that point.  Even though they were sometimes a little creepy, I thought that they were interesting and entertaining due to all the description.  My favorite story that I read by Poe was The Murders in the Rue Morgue because it was a mystery with a huge twist.  Without giving too much away, I know that every time I see an electric razor I think of this story because it sticks out so clearly in my memory.  I believe that that is the point of a great story - to make you always remember what it was about - and Poe succeeded in this case especially.

Do you think people today value their education as much as Sara Smolinksy does?

     Because of the current time period, I feel that people do not care about their education as much as Sara Smolinsky.  It is guaranteed nowadays that people get an education, while in the past, it was more of a choice for people to be educated.  Women in history have been known to stay in the house and take care of the family, so few of them felt the need to venture out into the real world and get a job, meaning no need for an education.  Sara, different from the majority, made it her goal to get a college education, which proves how much she wanted it.  She could've been just like her mother and all of her sisters, but she made it her mission to learn.  Also, because the rest of her life would be impacted by her education, it was more important than being educated for fun.  Since she lived on her own, she had nothing, and with a college education it would be easier for her to find a job.  

     Some people today consider it to be a requirement and don't appreciate what good opportunities an education offers in society.  Most people think of it as just something that wastes their time, but in reality it is an important tool.  Without a college education, it is hard to get a good job with good pay.  With this being said, it does not mean that everyone does not value their education because some people do understand the importance of being well-educated.  I just feel that Sara values her education more because it wasn't given to her as a right, it was her decision by choice.

Writing!?

"There's nothing hard about writing.

All you have to do is sit down and open up a vein."

- Walter "Red" Smith

     When hearing this quote, I am hesitant to agree because writing is only easy to a certain extent.  I think that the main idea of this quote is the idea of opening up your vein, which I take as opening yourself up and making yourself vulnerable.  When writing about something you are familiar with or something you enjoy, it is easy to form ideas and begin to write.  It could be, however, difficult to take the ideas from your head and put them down on paper.  Also, it could be difficult to write about things that are too personal or things that aren't fascinating to you.

Reb Smolinsky!

     In Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers, the character that irritates me the most is the father of the Smolinsky family.  I feel that he is selfish and only cares about himself and the Jewish religion to the point that the rest of his family is suffering.  Because he doesn't work, the money has to be provided by all the girls, but at this time in history it was hard for poor women to get and keep jobs.  Also, he is so focused on getting rich quick that his daughters cannot marry the husbands of the choice.  I feel it is very unfair for a woman to have to marry a man that she does not love just because her father wants a man that can support everyone.  In addition, he takes the credit for being the matchmaker for his daughters, saying he should become a professional.  However, once Masha and Fania told him that their husbands were crooks and fakes, he immediately placed the blame on the daughters.  He wants all the credit and the positive aspects of being the man of the household, but anything slightly negative cannot be put onto him.  Especially now in America, Reb Smolinsky should learn how to respect his family instead of taking total control.

Thanksgiving Top Ten!

i am most thankful for...

1. my family

2. friends

3. bella and lola

4. HOUSE!

5. disney movies

6. starbucks

7. chloe

8. ellen hopkins

9. reese's peanut butter cups

10. (last but not least) sam