Eric’s Comments (group member since Apr 08, 2016)
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Starlee wrote: "It sounds like a really interesting book, does Tobasonakwut mean anything in the language?..." Yes it does actually. It means "Low gliding cloud".. *aanakwat* kind of means cloud.. *toba* kind of means "glides low".. like a tobaagan. I forget what tobaagan actually means. But they have a different name for it in other communities like 'the working sled', or 'the board that glides low' depends on how you look at it and describe it i guess
Eric C. C. Black
ENG1P2P
April, 14th, 2016
The book I am currently reading is called ‘The Reason You Walk’ by Wab Kinew. The book starts off with a boy named Tobasonakwut (Tobaaswanakwat(proper spelling)), and the challenges he faces during his lifetime, such as residential school, and what happened within the residential schools… Examples like physical and verbal abuse (directed racial comments), and also sexual abuse from the nuns and priests, which eventually led to an internal build up of emotions. The book continues on with the storytelling between other characters in the book, and how the abuse had effects against the protagonist.
In the beginning, there was racist people and places that did not tolerate “coloured” people in general. The reason being for that is so the ‘whites’ and indigenous peoples didn’t start conflicts.
(evidence from the text… Tobasonakwut had finished residential school and started working)
“The hard work had its effect on Tobasonakwut. The thin teenager who first ventured into the bush that winter had emerged a few years later as a muscular man. And he tolerated no abuse. From anyone. When Tobasonakwut went into town on his days off, he still heard comments like “dirty Indian” or “jack pine nigger,” names he had heard when he was a boy. But now he would call the speaker on it, and sometimes challenge him to a fight.” (24)
Afterward, Tobasonakwut had met an african-american boxing trainer, and he felt he was finally putting the anger and other stuff built up inside of him (internal forces) into something positive.
(The book mentions also that Muhammad Ali was in the same gym using his unique styles to win against the other boxers)
Eric CooperENG1P/2P
C. Black
02/03/16
Book Review On Independent Novel: godless - Pete Hautman
This fiction novel is about a few teenagers. The first two being introduced are Jason (main character) and his best friend Shin (Schinner). The story explains the characters and how they look throughout the book, Jason being a big guy, Shin being a little skinny dude. Shin is very interested in snails (Gastropods) and collects them, he likes to think of himself as a god of snails. They go on a quest to search for more gastropods at a water tower, when they arrive there they run into a boy named Henry Stag and his fellow followers. All of which seem to be mischievous in a way, shortly after Jay-boy(name given by Henry) had explained his thoughts to Shin, stating that, water is a main source to everything and everything and everyone on earth relies on the water deeply for survival, also that the most tallest structure in most towns are water towers, then comes the idea of “worshipping a water tower”. They called themselves “Chutengodians” and three other characters get introduced into the story shortly after. After having a few meetings the new Chutengodians decide to have a Masses on Tuesdays, or Wednesdays if you prefer, at 12 AM. The very first Mass turns into a terrible crisis, as the Chutengodians follow Henry into the water tower, and nearly drown. I forgot to mention that Shin gets deeply involved with the water tower and starts to write entries in a sort of mimic way of the Holy Bible, but he repeatedly fails to prove himself to the Chutengodians. The result ends in tragedy as Henry nearly dies for his actions against the Demi-god, The Ten-Legged One. This is not the end of the book, more like the rising action before the dead end.
I think this book is pretty hilarious, the characters face two life threatening encounters throughout the book. I think I could relate to Henry in sort of a way I grew up. He's considered unpredictable through the stuff he does outside of his home, and inside his home he's very calm and chill. If I were to change the a part of the story, I would add initiative to a part when he gets the idea to run away to ‘serve’ another Demi-God, such as The Five-Legged One… and actually does it.
I preferably think that a youth in grades 5-8 would enjoy this book, or at least some who take interest into those who’ve tried to worship material objects.
This book relates to reconciliation through the characters and how they get together and make choices about ‘the ten-legged one’. They fail to do some of the stuff assigned by the leaders in the group, but I think that’s because they allowed negative people inside their “new religion”.
