My Year of Meats April 17, 2008

It is interesting how Jane sees herself as “American”, and her mother and Akiko do too, but to other people Jane is Japanese or Asian. Jane’s mother said, “Because I am so lucky to get my big, tough American baby like you” (Ozeki 313).  Jane really is not the typical big and strong America baby, [...]

My Year of Meats April 13, 2008

Ozeki tends to bring something important up “runs away” then makes a startiling connection to that idea later on in the book. Ozeki goes on for pages on the whole idea of DES (124-126). I did not find it as important until he mentioned that it could affect Jane, and her pregnancy. I was able [...]

My Years of Meats April 10, 2008

This book is too strange for me. The continuous connection of meat to America, women, and having babies is bizarre. Even though the topic is quite unusual, I found that Ruth L Ozeki strongly supported her idea of meats. I like how she introduces Akiko as this scrawny little thing, and then the Texas woman [...]

Native Speaker: A look at language April 6, 2008

I felt the theme of language is frequently mentioned. I like how Henry first perceives the English Language. He is naïve about the complexity of it just as he is the culture. He says, “I thought English would be simply a version of our Korean. Like another kind of coat you would wear. I didn’t [...]

Native Speaker April 3, 2008

I like that I am being to learn more about John Kwang, Lelia, Jack and the Korean culture in general. I noticed that Henry brings up his attractiveness towards Lelia’s perfect speech again. He says, “I know how her voice will sound with the first word of the day, not as a low as it [...]

Native Speaker March 30, 2008

Many interesting events have occurred in the Native Speaker. We have learned more about Henry’s job, his son Mitt, his father, housekeeper, John Kwang, and Lelia, and Hoagland. I have noticed that Henry makes many references to language. I like the ending paragraph on page 130. Henry said “For it was nearness and not touch [...]

Native Speaker- I-II March 27, 2008

I enjoyed reading the Native Speaker by Chang Rae Lee. One thing I did not like about the book so far is the character Lelia. The story she loves to tell is when they first met. Personally, I do not understand what is so exciting about the story. The conversation they have is mainly about [...]

Immigration Blues- Bienvendio Santos March 16, 2008

The dialogue in the introduction was confusing. I had no clue what Pinoys or o.t.’s were, until I was done reading the story. The dialogue made a little more sense to me after I read the rest of the story, but was still a bit baffling. I enjoyed the story, and the descriptive passages. I [...]

initial thoughts… February 24, 2008

I have noticed that as time goes along in the book, Kazuko is becoming more accepting of her Japanese heritage. In the beginning of the book, she is horrified but I found that she is starting to enjoy learning about Japanese culture. Kazuko says, “A happier event to which I looked forward with keen anticipation [...]

Nisei Daughter February 21, 2008

I am sorry my post is late, but I lost internet in my apartment for three hours. But here it is….
I would say the beginning of Nisei daughter  is an “easy read” so far. There is a lot of description and boring descriptive scenes. A tough question in the story is, who speaks Japanese in the [...]