Stop, Yield, Go

Well, I have to admit that I have not taken an English class in about 4 years, also since this is my last semester at Clemson I have a huge work load with senior design. So senior design and trying to blog all the time is pretty ruff, and even when i read the passages that are required, sometimes i just don't have time to turn around and blog on them.
STOP: Well I understand why we read some of the stories/poems that we have read, the writing styles are very good, hence why these people are considered some of the greatest writers of our time, but the fact that you chose to make us read material that covers the same subject of child molestation is a little off to me, since i feel there would be other writings by the same authors that show case their talents. lolita was one of my favorite books I've read in a long time. The content was a little gut wrenching at times, but the writing was amazing. Also I think that finding the humor is very difficult at times(when it comes to children material), my g/f is a masters student in physcology and is working with kids that have all sorts of issues, and so many of these kids have been molested or beat as young children and will never be able to live a normal life because of this, so it is kinda what i think about while reading those.
Yield: I feel that the amount of work is fine for this class, I feel as a freshman/sophomore you should be grinding through mass work loads anyways, because that is what being an underclassman is all about. I also am glad that you expect us to participate in class, and all though some days i really want to, other times I'm thinking about other things, like fluids and pipe flow..... But i do enjoy my break in my everyday life to sit down and read. I also feel that sometime we look too deep into meanings and that writers just write it how it is(the fish and beer thing, comes to mind)... but I guess that is because i'm a hard science major and I see things how they go together and work, just the way i was trained.
GO: I really enjoy this class being more interactive, so many classes are just sit there and listen to your professor talk... I think that you can connect to most of these students and help coach/encourage a thought that most would not have expressed if you didn't help... As a senior most of my classes are very interactive and involve more "hands" on work rather then just note taking and this class kinda meets that flow, which i enjoy. I don't know how to stay so in the know... I mean sometimes i'm lost with the verbiage that younger students use just because I'm 23 and some of these kids are only 18. I guess because I don't have social networks like facebook, I don't learn the new slange. it just kinda goes with the way that you can stay connected. I really do enjoy this class, sometimes I just have more work than i can handle but that isn't because of your class. keep your format though i think that is a great set up with the blogging and then the open class discussion. I hope this helps and see ya on monday

River of Names & Cathedral

River of Names, is again a story about abuse, incest and poverty. The narrator (Allison) is drawing on her own life experiences to describe her times growing up at home. I am not to sure why we keep reading books like this, although the writing is very sensual, and flows very nicely. It is still hard to understand why as a professor you'd keep making students read about child abuse. To me there are so many other stories from writers and poets that don't cover this topic, and I'd prefer to read something a little lighter every now and then. There have been times that I have also said it "How wonderful to be part of such a large family." and although my family isn't huge I was being just as sarcastic... well probably not, it really makes me think that any family issues I had are nothing. The other quote that really stood out to me was "You've got such a fashion with violence. You've got so many terrible stories." After reading wiki about Dorthy Allison it seems that these stories are true, and I can really only relate her experiences with violence to what soldiers see at war, and how some have trouble letting go. it is hard that she was able to actually let go, and live a life. it is more of a survival story, of her growing up and living her life.

Finally I am able to read something and actually not cringe at the though of child molestation, pain and suffering. This was a really great story about developing a close personal relationship with someone that you first prejudged. I think everyone wants to be able to experiences life experiences and fit in to society, very few won't to be outside of society. and I feel that Robert does a good job being able to experience it. and who doesn't look good with a beard... The narrator was able to finally connect with Robert by stepping out of his shell and helps Robert see the cathedral by drawing it with his hand. Many people need someone to help them step out of their shell with their insecurities and be able to do things.

Lolita Part One Chapters 1-16

The first line of the book is very interesting to me... "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." those open remarks really set a good tone for this book, and how interesting it was going to be. Not only did I really enjoy the way he wrote it but it is amazing how much he feels he loves it, no matter the girls name in his arms they are always Lolita. He also talks about how we the readers are "his jury" as if he is making his case to us and the memories are his defense. The next chapter is his history of him growing up, and I really have to look at this in his favor here, his mother dying is a very traumatic incident in his life and probably really caused a lot of pain, and he missed out on some very important mother to child bonding that he obviously didn't receive from of his step mother. and not to mention the lack of guidance from his absent father. The next couple of chapters are describing his introduction and obsession with Lolita, and a particular type at that a "nymphet," which according to Humbert is a girl between 9-14, describes them as having "mysterious characteristics, the fey grace, the elusive, shifty, soul-shattering, insidious charm that separates the nymphet from such coevals of hers as an incomparably more dependent on the spatial world of synchronous phenomena than on that intangible island entranced time where Lolita plays with her likes."
The next couple chapters are how Humbert tries to control his illicit behavior, he gets married to a Polish doctor's daughter, but finds the case to be boring. He also realizes that he is hopeless when it comes to sex "All of which goes to show how dreadfully stupid poor Humbert always was in matters of sex." Chapter 8 was very fun to read this thoughts of killings his wife and her lover, the insult of leaving the urine in the toilet and the cigarette butt. I can relate with this feeling of anger, I had a girl cheat on me before, although thoughts of killing her didn't come through my head, beating the shit out of, my at that point, ex best friend did... Chapter 8 was also an enjoyable chapter even though he was institutionalized twice he seemed as if he had fun with doctors, "there was an endless source of robust enjoyment in trifling with psychiatrists: cunningly leading them on; never letting them see that you know all the tricks of the trade; inventing for them elaborate dreams, pure classics in style(which make them, the dream-extortionists, dream and wake up shrieking); teasing them with fake "primal scenes"; and never allowing them the slightest glimpse of one's real sexual predicament." at the same time though if he would of gotten help for his mental disease he may not be on trial for what he had done. Again the next few chapters describe "exhibit number two" which he describes his efforts at getting her alone and pretty much only describes her as Lolita. In chapter 13 he describes the encounter of rubbing against her till she climax. I found this to be a little disturbing, and a little graphic. 14-16 is about how upset Humbert is that Lolita is leaving for camp and she may loose her purity. Lolita kisses him in 15 and in 16 she confesses his love for him and wants him to marry him.... which is where i stop on my blog for the day, although this book is terribly vulgar and and some points I did find my self questioning why I was reading it. the way that Vladimir Nabokov words things is very seductive and charming in a way, his persuasive writing almost makes you pity this man and actually side with him and his ideas. I've really enjoyed his style of writing..