Henry Sergenian > Recent Status Updates

The book is beginning to become much more interesting for me. Da Chen has made extreme progress throughout the book. Right now in the book Da Chen seems more comfortable, Also I am glad that he switched into a better dorm with better conditions. This made the book less depressing. Right now a favorite character of mine is Bo. Bo is a savage and is always breaking the rules, he has enhanced the excitement in the book.

This chapter showed the perspective Da Chen has on America. It also shows how the people of China see America, and America's education. In the chapter Da Chen expresses his thoughts on America's education, and how he believes that because he studied in China his whole America with be a breeze, however his father warns him to be humble. I am interested to see if Da Chen will take his talents to America.

This was my favorite chapter of the book so far. I enjoyed how it showed America and the culture that I am familiar with. Also I found it very amusing and interesting it was that Da Chen was able to meet famous American Basketball icons and not even be aware of who they are. What I loved the most about the chapter was how at the end Da Chen had a realization about how precious the players are to America.

The book is really starting to get interesting, when Da Chen finds out he might have a shot to travel to America, because of his professor he has a chance of traveling abroad and making it big, American Dream style. I think this where the class theme of America Beauty comes into play and how the perspective of the people of China are viewing Americans. I am interested to read how the rest of his journey shapes out.

This chapter was really depressing and changed the whole pace of the book, I am really disappointed that Bo took his own life, bo was one of my favorite characters in the book, if not my favorite. I knew that Bo wasn't as jumpy as he was in the beginning of the book. So this was a red flag for me, but I didn't know that he was going to kill himself this was a big surprise for me and one of the many mood changes.

This part of the book is when examples of where are theme American beauty come into play. Da Chen is seriously considering going to America, however a specific part where our class year theme American beauty was portrayed was the way the chinese people views the American people, and culture. I am interested to see what Da does in his process to travel to America.

Right now in the book it is hard for me to follow what is going on. I am a little disappointed that Bo is slowing drifting out of the story and losing contact with Da. I think it is also sad that Bo is losing his swagger and now he is more reserved and held back. For me Bo was a huge character in the book and right now he hit rock bottom I hope he rebounds and gets back to the old Bo we know.

The book has begun to become a little boring for my liking. Right now I believe it is confusing and for me it is hard to follow and know what exactly is happening. After reading the first three chapters I had really high expectations for this book. One thing that I found interesting was how the Author describes the differences Dac Chen notices from his different life style at home.

Right now this book has really intrigued me, and I have been able to make some self connections to the book. Even though I think I have it hard here at Cardigan, I wouldn't be able to do what this little teenage Da Chen is doing, After reading the first three chapters I am really anxious to read more and to find how his experience at Beijing language Institute is going to change and how Da Chen will adapt.

Also I really enjoyed how Julia Alvarez gave us the first person view, because in the Author's note it tells us how the author herself went through the almost identical childhood as Anita in the story.

Anita and her family are adjusting to American life day by day, and are mourning the death of their father and uncle. The last chapter was very upsetting for me because of her father telling her to spread her wings and fly. At the end when Anita was making snow angels but realized the snow angels were just like butterflies and she wanted to "fly away". This symbolical ending was a fascinated way to end the book...

Chapter ten really brought the whole book theme together for me. This chapter really made me feel for Anita and her family. Anita getting caught stealing from a grocery store topped it off for me. However, right when I thought things couldn't get much worse Anita comes home to Mr. Washburn and her family to give her the news that her father and uncle had been killed Trujillo Junior. Anita was very mature about it

The view and perspective of Anita's diary is fascinating, Julia Alvarez does a great job of making us readers feel like we are actually there. It is really suspenseful getting a first person view about Anita hiding. The end of the chapter was exhilarating and makes me want to just read more and not put the book down, I cannot wait to see what is going to happen. I fear for Anita and her family.

This chapter really turned up the excitement when the SIM barged in and raided the house, also finding El Jefe's dead body in the chevy. Also, I am disappointed that there has not been any changes made in the government, it is really frustrating that even though El Jefe is killed, his son just steps up in his place running it with the same ideology.I really hope that the Dominicans get the independence they need.

Chapter eight was by far the most intriguing and exciting for me. The assassination of El Jefe really climaxed the story. However, even though El Jefe was killed this wasn't going to change the way of the government, thus the name of the chapter "Almost Free". This was a huge letdown for me because I really thought there was going to be some changes but now the government is being run by El Jefe's people.

The beginning of chapter 6 made me feel bad for Lucinda because of the power El Jefe hinting to her, and hitting on her.I began to really realize that this was a horrible thing that Lucinda nor any other fifteen year old girls could do about it. However throughout the chapter Lucinda was able to go to the U.S but I fear for Mr. Washburn and what may happen to him for letting Lucinda go to the U.S.I am anxious to read

In chapter four my opinion on Anita changed a little bit, because in my last good reads update I stated that she is clueless, however she is finally starting to notice what is happening in her country and she is finally starting to get it. Also, Although I predicted in my last good reads update I was still shocked that Tio Toni returned, I believe that he will play a pivotal role.

The third chapter was very interesting, and it seems like everything is calming down. However, after todays discussion in class about Anita being unaware of certain things it has become more apparent to me and I am seeing more examples of how she misses obvious points. Another thing that jumped out to me in the reading was when Papi uses code I find this very clever.I am also inferring that Tio Toni will be back.

The chapter was very interesting to me, and was kind of troubling for me to read because of the unfairness directed towards Dominican Republicans. It was really interesting to see how smart Anita and her father are because when they suspect the Secret Police they speak in code. However, I still think it is unfair on how the U.S government and the secret police are treating Anita and her family.

The beginning of the book was very intriguing to me and left me with a lot to think about and to infer. I am still confused as to why the teacher is racist and unfair to her own students. I thought the teacher would play a much more prominent role throughout the story. I am interested to see if Anita and her family will go to America.

The beginning of this chapter was very unpredictable and I was shocked how Aimee handled the love triangle she was mixed up in. I could not believe that Aimee took the advice and took her own life because of it. It truly shows that she could not have her mind. I never would have guessed that the love triangle would end in such a tragic fashion. The story continues to throw me for loops and constantly changing plots.

At the beginning of this chapter I am anxious and nervous to see who Aimee picks. Right now I think that Aimee is leaning closer to Mr. JoyBoy. I am not thrilled with Dennis or JoyBoy both of them are yet to impress me, but I really don't like JoyBoy. From getting to know more about Mr. JoyBoy I would much rather have her choose Dennis. I am curious to see who she picks, #Team Dennis All the way.

I was both relieved and happy that Aimee chose Dennis over Mr. Lovejoy. I was happy because I wanted Dennis to be more important and stay in the story unlike sir francis leaving in the beginning. I like Dennis because I like the humor that he brings to the table and I am getting better at seeing signs of the Dark Humor, for example the love triangle all linking to Death.

I thought that the end of chapter 6 had an interesting end to because it left me hanging and introduced the much anticipated love triangle. The love triangle was especially interesting because it all had to do with death. This was both funny and twisted because of the dark humor that tied the whole love triangle

The end of chapter 5 was really interesting to me because when we first starting reading the book we read the synopsis and I was anxious and wanted to read about the love triangle Dennis gets into. I thought it was both funny and interesting when Dennis first meets Aimee Thanatogenos because I think it is going to change the course of the book and she is going to play a huge factor I'm interesting to see what happens

At the end of chapter 3 I am really starting to pick up on the dark humor/ black humor of the story. The dark humor plays a prominent role in the book, the first major example I saw of the dark humor was how obsessed Dennis Barlow is about the passing of Sir Francis. I thought the irony of this was funny because Dennis looked at it with some pleasure of Sir Frances death, I hope I see more examples of the dark humor.

The second half of the chapter picked up, the tempo of the first chapter rapidly picked starting from starting slow and hitting a climax. What really shocked me in the second half of chapter one was when Sir Francis, who I thought was gonna play a big role in the book suddenly took his own life because of being let go from his job. This was interesting and I am excited to read more into the book and see what happens.

At the beginning of the chapter I think the book was a little slow for my liking, and I was a little lost with the plot of the book. However, I have acquired the dark humor in the start of the book and I am beginning to see more and more of it. One character I really have enjoyed in the beginning of this story was Ambrose Abercrombie, I liked him because of his stuck up English stereotype ways, this amused me.

The Epilogue really ended the book nicely, the author gave us very important much needed perspective on how life went on. What interested me the most in the epilogue is how they continue to live the lie that Frank didn't kill himself. The death of Frank really affected the lifestyle of the whole family, so much to the point where David and his family had to leave Bentrock. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it.