Brooke Axelrod > Recent Status Updates

Got to the part where Jim reveals he is Huck’s father - it seems rushed and not handled with the care it should have been, given the time period and the connotations of such an admission. But it is a poignant moment for the story.

James is now with the minstrels and for once, drops the slave facade he has to maintain to survive and reveals slightly how intelligent he truly is, showing that he is smarter than the poorest whites. This contract is likely intentional, given that poor whites were strategically pitted against poor blacks as a policy choice.

Good start to the book so far - hooked with the mysterious Myers and the alleged corruption scheme involving a judge, but curious if there’s more to the story than money as a motive otherwise why did the investigators not see the obvious writing on the wall.

Very interesting - can’t wait to read volume 2. Love how he differentiates sex from sexuality, and how he focuses on how power is enveloped in sexuality and expressed through its various forms. Really poignant ending tying blood to sexuality and racism.

It’s interesting as a tete beche because the stories are intertwined, rather than two separate stories - so almost not like a tete beche at all, but a good story nonetheless. The historical accuracies are a nice inclusion

Finished book 1 - kind of ended on a cliff hanger but a good end nonetheless, semi predictable about midway through as to the culprit but not the method. Overall, decent.

Interesting discussion on how power expresses itself on various areas of sexuality - medicinally, legally, morally, etc. - through discursive forms to create sexual norms. The primary institutions of social control use knowledge as a means of controlling sexuality through its expression, whether that is to disfavor certain expressions or favor others for a variety of goals.

Now getting into the heart of the study - how do we transition thinking from a repressive hypothesis to one of discursive explosion? Rather than exert power on sexuality in a limiting way, power has been exerted to define, label sexuality and its expression, to the benefit of societies and governments as a whole.

Interesting discussion on the interplay between power and sexuality - rather than repress, society has created an increase in the discussion and expression of sexuality through a variety of means: religiosity, legally, medicinally, psychologically, etc. it becomes pervasive in all areas/aspects of life.

So far, interesting. He situates the Victorian Repressive Hypothesis to properly debunk it by virtue of its own core tenets - censorship was not repression but rather another way for sex to be pervasive, to remain a focal point of topic. Very interesting how he also connects the influence of religion, particularly Christianity, on the discursive functions.

“… these days men have learned the art of sinning expertly and genteelly, so as not to shock the eyes and senses of respectable society.”

It is wonderful how she is able to use both Christian faith and childish innocence to argue against the institution of slavery, in a language the oppressors understand and can sympathize with.

Pure is found dead and the other characters find out - Ophelia confronts St. Clare because it appears the cause of her death was whipping. St. Clare’s only response is that property interest is supposed to protect such things but his hands are tied - like many, he claims he could have no effect on such a system without realizing that is precisely what stops others from trying.

It is interesting the paradox she paints of northern abolitionist vs southern slaveholders - the abolitionists argue for freedom from slavery but want nothing to do with the people afterwards; so which is the better way? It is again attention grabbing to have Ophelia in the home and balk at the way it is managed, having never kept home herself.

We are introduced to the St. Clare’s, who Tom is sold to - though his cousin Ophelia is from Massachusetts and is an abolitionist, she balks when she witnesses Eva (St. Clare’s daughter) fawn over the enslaved staff, saying she could never do such a thing. I think this small moment conveys that hate (racism) is socialized, not something innate or natural.

“But who, sir, makes the trader? Who is most to blame?” A very poignant quote reflecting on the system of slavery and its creation - all parties claim they are just following societal norms and customs to evade guilt/accountability, creating a dichotomy wherein all parties deny wrongdoing and place more blame on the other actors, absolving themselves of guilt.

“You must consider it’s not a matter of private feeling, - there are great public interests involved…” I think this quote encapsulates common sentiment today and embodies many tangential issues still facing our Nation, just under different euphemisms.

Eliza has successfully escaped with Henry. Haley meets two other traders. Haley and one of the men brush off women not wanting to part with their children as “women’s notions.” The third is compared to the devil’s twin brother, which he considers a compliment, because he does not tolerate such things. An interesting dichotomy as it illustrates the dehumanization and cognitive dissonance inherent in slavery.

We are introduced to another character, Virgil, who humanizes Carl even more. Virgil is the only man convinced of Carl’s innocence, but it seems the cracks in his case are visible to anyone with a critical eye. The story appears deeper than the surface.

At first, I did not like it because it felt more like a memoir than anything else - then I stuck with it and got enthralled with the author’s descriptions. It feels as though I am in the room with the characters as I watch the story unfold.

There is a poignant moment where Marcos is watching teenagers brutalize puppies, and one of the teenagers remarks, “if we eat each other, they control overpopulation, poverty, and crime.” This feels like a euphemism for hate each other, exemplified by the current divisions in our society.

The latest chapters covered the influence of religion in the Transition and discuss how those who lived before can come to terms with the Transition through various ways. We are introduced to Urlet, who is wise but also complex as a character - he recognizes the weakness and beauty of humanity while capitalizing from it.

Really captivating book with a pointed realism to it that many may object to at first. Lots of tangents with current events and the style of governance and as well as an entrenched connection to historical events.

Very reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. An interesting perspective is offered through Jim’s eyes - smarter than he lets on.