Chandni > Recent Status Updates

Writer Strategy - I love how the author doesn't tell us directly what is going on and instead describes it. Instead of saying that "Tess got friendzoned", she puts in an elaborate realistic dialogue between Tess and Day. (I have reached the 500 page mark for this semester and done 30 posts so now I'll stop)

Ask -Ashen is on the opposing side, but since he likes June, he can be swayed by her. Is he a bad person, or is he just doing what he thinks is right?

C - I can relate to not wanting to agree to someone but having to since there is not really any better choice. June agreed to join the Patriots even though she didn't want to.

Inference/Observation - It seems like in the political world, even when a leader with a good reputation dies, the people seem to be sad for a bit but move on very quickly. A leader led for decades, but when he died, the Republic nodded and moved on.

F - I love how Mae is teaching her little brother that blacks are equal to whites. She is being creative; in a roleplay, she is the white lady, and her brother is Rosa Parks.

Connection - It is awkward and kind of scary when someone starts accusing and punishing other people for something you did, and you don't know whether to confess or not... I can definitely relate to Aibileen.

F: I am SO happy that Miss Skeeter's book was approved

Infer - (This is more of an observation) Wow, Miss Skeeter has another thing in common with Miss Celia; neither of them can cook well!

Favourite Quote - "What you think about calling it . . . "Help"?" Miss Skeeter and Aibileen are talking for a while on what to title the book, and I just love it when they name it "Help". As you could tell with one of my updates in Separate Peace, I like catching title references. :)

Ask - Has the author ever clearly stated the "Terrible Thing" Minny did to Miss Hilly? Did I skim that part, or is it going to be revealed later in the story?

Infer - It is ironic that Miss Celia doesn't want to associate with Miss Skeeter since she thinks that Miss Skeeter is not "well-liked" by the other girls even though Miss Celia herself is an outsider to the clique.

Connection - I feel bad when people go after fake friends. Miss Celia should just realise that not everyone is nice like she is so she can't be part of certain cliques.

Favourite - I like how Aibileen tells Mae stories that indirectly tell her that whites and blacks are equal. It shows that Aibileen is brave, and that even though Mae is her 17th white child, she still wants to teach her what is right and wrong.

Favourite - I like how Aibileen tells Mae stories that indirectly tell her that whites and blacks are equal. It shows that Aibileen is brave, and that even though Mae is her 17th white child, she still wants to teach her what is right and wrong.

Ask - I really want to know what Patricia did to Stuart and why Stuart does not seem to be completely over her. I wonder if Miss Skeeter and Stuart are really for each other or not.

Theme: Race equality -I noticed how some of the maids who were interviewed by Miss Skeeter also shared stories about some kind white people they met. Miss Celia was really nice but just stressed (she was not drunk, but she was just drinking a lot of liquid medicine). By showing both sides, people don't just start hating the whites but instead take a step back and think of all humans as equal.

Infer -Something is wrong with Miss Skeeter's mom because she is tired, and she got very antsy when asked why she was going to the doctor.

Argue - Wow Minny really knows how to push other people's buttons. When she found out that Miss Celia (the person she works for) was an alcoholic, she angrily threatened to tell her husband. To be honest though, I would have not been so blunt about it especially if my job was on stake. Minny lost another job, but hopefully, she manages to find another one eventually.

Predict - I love how modest and patient Aibileen is. She also mostly convinced another maid to tell her stories to Miss Skeeter. I think this book/plan might just work :D

Infer - Hilly is so double-faced because she is telling others of how she wants to support the starving children of Africa by sending them food, yet she does not treat her black maid Aibileen kindly at home.

Favourite Quote - This segregation law is so ironic: The Board shall maintain a separate building on separate grounds for the instruction of all blind persons of the colored race." Why would anyone hold a meeting and tell everyone they think blacks and whites are equal if the meetings are "segregated"?

Allusion - In HWOC, we learned that statistics are more reliable than stories, but this book centers around stories. In other words, Miss Skeeter's future book is going to be just stories that Aibileen, Minny, and other maids told. I hope that the future readers will believe the stories and not just disregard them as exaggerations or fantasies.

C - I agree with Miss Skeeter. My dad told me to beware people who never smile and people who smile all the time (since they might be hiding bad secrets underneath those smiles).

Predict - Miss Celia seems to be so pale and nervous when she is reminded that she has to eventually tell her husband that Minny is working for them. It makes me want to know how her husband is going to react. I am crossing my fingers (not literally because then how would I be able to type)

F - I am so glad Aibileen is slowly getting the courage to speak up for her race even if it is risky. She is being interviewed so that she can talk about what it is like working for white people (aka talking badly of Miss Hilly behind her back).

Predict - Miss Skeeter wants to interview some black maids to know more about their lives as servants/maids. What if Miss Skeeter got introduced to Minny then convinced Minny to tell her all about her life?

Infuriating Moment - Why did Miss Skeeter's mom lie to her and say that Constantine just quit instead of at least admitting that she fired her? Constantine deserves some justice. After all, she supported the family for 29 years.