Lily's First Encounter with the Bees

The main character, Lily, is fascinated by bees. Late one night she is lying in her bed when a hive of bees start to swarm in her corner. Most kids would be frightened by this, but Lily is simply mesmerized. She sits and listens to them, entranced by their presence. She wants to tell her father about what is happening, so she quickly leaps out of bed to alert him. Not very happy with his daughter, he reluctantly awakes and stumbles, half asleep, to her room, only to find that there are no bees. They had disappeared. I found many things surprising in this scene. First, I don't know of any children who would sit quietly and watch the bees. All the children that I know would freak out and run screaming from the room. In fact, I know many grown ups who would do the same. Generally speaking, people aren't that fascinated with bees. They tend to be scared of them more than anything. I think especially in a circumstance like this one. If I were sitting in my bed and all of a sudden bees started swarming in the corner of my room I would be freaked out. I would not just sit there and watch them. Second, I found it very odd that they had all disappeared by the time Lily's father arrived. Where did they go? Why would the bees be so intent on swarming in one place, but abandon it in the matter of only a few seconds? I just thought that was fishy. The entire situation just seemed odd to me. To me this event seems like a big deal, but it is written very calmly. Kidd writes as if this is just another daily occurrence. She's very laid back about the whole ordeal. It seems like a big deal to Lily, but not in the way that one would expect.

Amir's Atonement

Amir should seek atonement for not saying anything about witnessing Hassan's rape. The key word there is "should." By not doing anything, Amir is currently not seeking atonement. He needs to actively do something in order to try and attain atonement. He needs to admit what he saw that day. By being silent, he has caused Hassan's life to spiral out of control. By remaining silent he set a series of events into place that he cannot undo. Besides the obvious need of atonement for his silence, he also needs to seek atonement for the events that followed. He acted selfishly, hiding some birthday gifts under Hassan's bed, an act which caused Hassan and Ali to move out. "The next morning...I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch...lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it...Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies (104)." This quote states that Amir feels shameful, he knows that he is doing something wrong. I think for Amir to "be good again," he needs to speak up. He needs to admit to himself and the world that he can't hold it all inside. Even then, I don't know that it will be enough. He needs to really believe that he is sorry. He needs to genuinely show remorse in order to even hope to gain atonement. He really needs to face the consequences, however difficult they may be, of his actions. He needs to accept the punishment for being silent.

The Secret Life of Bees Preview

The Secret Life of Bees takes place in South Carolina in 1964. It is the story of a young girl, Lily, whose mother was killed. She is raised by her black "Stand-in mother," Rosaleen. They are forced to leave their hometown once Rosaleen offends three racists. They are taken in by three beekeeping sisters in Tiburon, South Caroline. Through the process of learning about bee keeping, Lily discovers a lot about herself and her search for the mother she lost. The story is about female power and the search for identity.
This novel has many acclaims. It's a New York Times Bestseller. It was also selected by Good Morning America's "Read This!" Book club. The quotations on the back cover had nothing but wonderful things to say about this novel. When you first open the book there are pages of praise from various critics and publications.
My overall impression is that this book will be a very enjoyable read. It seems to have an interesting plot and many thought provoking central themes. This seems to be the kind of book that raises many questions, not necessarily answering them in a straight forward manner. I think that it's one of those books that provides you with a basis on which you are free to form your own opinion about universal topics. I always find those books more interesting. After reading a few sample passages, I seem to like the writer's style. She's not too wordy, but she provides the detail that we as readers need. I think it will be easy to read through.
Each chapter is preceded by a quote. I always think that is a cool way to catch the reader's attention. The quotes often get me thinking before I even start reading the chapter. They provide a sort of prelude to what the next few pages will reveal.

Triumph of Evil

I think this philosophy makes sense because the lack of action is presenting no obstacles for evil. If people doing evil don't have anything to overcome, they have an easier task. When presented with some kind of inhibitor, people are less likely to carry out their actions. If no one is stepping in to challenge evil, there isn't anything for the evil to fight. Therefore, it can prevail. Unchallenged in a fight, evil will always arise victorious.
On the other hand, I think that sometimes evil forces prevail even when good people stand up and fight against them. Sometimes evil overpowers good. Sometimes no matter how hard the forces of good fight, they cannot win.
To summarize, I agree mostly with this quote. I don't think that there is only one thing needed to allow evil to succeed. Generally there is more than one factor that allows evil to triumph. It's multifaceted. You can't say that there is only one reason behind something, nothing is truly that simple. Good people that do nothing play a large role in allowing evil occurrences to happen. The situation in Darfur currently is an excellent example of this philosophy. By not declaring it a genocide and kind of turning a blind eye to it, we're allowing it to continue. If someone were to step in and do something, the evil could be reduced significantly. In this instance, the lack of action on the side of good is allowing evil to prevail. But can we say definitively that if good stepped in it could be stopped entirely? I don't think there's an answer that simple. Perhaps multiple aspects have to change in order to stop evil in the world. While the lack of good actions allows evil to spread, it is not the sole reason for evil flourishes.

Decisions

There's a lot of factors that go into my decision making process. It really depends on what type of a decision I'm making and how important it is. I think that one of the most important factors in many of the decisions I make is money. That was a huge deciding factor in my selection of a college. Money is a limiting factor in most situations. Our society is so monetarily based nowadays that practically every decision we make somehow revolves around money. It's virtually impossible to make a decision without taking money into account in some way. We want to get the most value out of our decisions.
I think one factor that most people consider is what others will think of their decision. I try to not get caught in this trap. I want to make my decisions for me, not for anybody else. As long as I will be happy with my decision, I don't care about what others think. But, I think that sometimes other people get too caught up in the opinions of others. That can lead to bad decision making happens. And if you continually do everything for everybody else, you're not doing what you want. This will make your life much less enjoyable. I think that my future will be much more beneficial and enjoyable if I stick to what I want to do and not allow others to sway me. The most important factor for me is gut instinct. I decide based on what I want. I think this will provide me with a fulfilling and exciting future.
The process of picking a college was and is still a huge decision for me. As of now, I have not made an official decision. Each school I am looking at provides something totally different. Each school has different factors that I like and factors that I don't like. It's a big game of pro cons. And I still haven't found the winner yet.

Recipe for Afghanistan

• 50,000 years of history

• 262 years since establishment

• 32,000,000 inhabitant

• 5 major languages

• 30 minor languages and dialects

• 5 religions, all in constant conflict

• $2-3 Billion in annual international assistance

• Several years of civil war

• 5 years of Taliban rule

• 8 ongoing years of war

Mix all ingredients with hostility until they reach a very dry consistency. Poor into a 251,772 square miles pan. Bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for many hours. Let sit in the sun. Divide into 34 provinces, all landlocked.

Spring Break

Over spring break, I set to the task of organizing all of the songs that I have ever written. All of my songs were sitting in my dresser drawer, hand written in a couple of notebooks. A few of them are scribbled on assorted forms of paper. For instance, there's a few written on napkins and one written on a receipt. I've always been afraid that something would happen and they would get destroyed. I really wanted to have them backed up somewhere. I thought that typing them all would take an hour or two maximum, but it ended up taking much longer than I had originally planned. Rereading everything was a very interesting experience. It was as if I were reading about the past two years of my life, reliving it through my songs. It really made me realize a lot of things about myself. Most of what I wrote over the past year is so much easier to identify with now. I honestly learned a lot about myself through this process. I can say that my spring break was extremely beneficial.
I think that this song best sums up my past year. I wrote it over the break and it is entitled Better.
This didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to be/I’ve learned to find my strength in moments of vulnerability/And yeah I might get battered and my heart might take a beating/But it’s not worth not knowing where something might be leading//And every dead end road that I have come to meet/Will take me one step closer to a life on easy street/And all these scars I have I wouldn’t trade for anything/Love and loss is better than not feeling anything//You promised me the moon, the stars, the sky/Being innocent and naïve I embraced every lie/And yeah it may have taken all of me to pull on through/Just believe me when I say I don’t regret loving you//’Cause every dead end road that I have come to meet/Will take me one step closer to a life on easy street/And all these scars I have I wouldn’t trade for anything/Love and loss is better than not feeling anything/Through every heartbreak and forfeit of love/I’ve learned to find the courage to show all that I’m make of/And all these scars I have I wouldn’t trade for anything/Love and loss is better than not feeling anything//I don’t know where you are right now or if you’re thinking of me/But I have finally admitted we weren’t meant to be/I used to cry but now the tears have left my eyes/And I want to thank you for making me realize//That every dead end road that I have come to meet/Will take me one step closer to a life on easy street/And all these scars I have I wouldn’t trade for anything/Love and loss has taught me everything/You have helped me find everything//

Under the Feet of Jesus

This novel is titled Under the Feet of Jesus. This comes from a quotation in chapter 2. Petra is telling Estrella that she shouldn't take all the junk that people give her for being an illegal worker, because she's the one putting food on their table. Petra tells her that if they ask about birth certificates, Estrella should "...tell them the birth certificates are under the feel of Jesus, just tell them." This encompasses one of the main themes of the novel, equality among everyone. The author is stressing that all individuals are born equal in the eyes of Jesus. The book has very heavy religious overtones. The title stresses the views of the main character's mother, Petra. Petra drills the idea of equality into Estrella's head from the time that she is born. In turn, Petra's ideas and opinions become synonymous with Estrella's. I think it is a very fitting title for the book. However, if I were to give it an alternative title, I would probably choose A Summer to Discover. It is during this time in her life that she discovers all she wants to be. Through these experiences and times, Estrella ends up becoming herself.

(Prompt #18, Chapter #5)

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

The overall message of the book is discovery and growth of self. The entire book has followed Estrella as she passes from adolescence into young adulthood. She really doesn't know how she is supposed to fit in, at first. She knows mostly what she doesn't want to become and bases her actions and life choices around that. Being a young girl, she's subject to the typical whims that come with her age. She wants to fall in love, a goal which she achieves. Through all that life throws at her, all the hardships and struggles, she remains true to herself. She has a real fighting spirit, refusing to be looked at as part of a mass. She wants to be an individual. She wants to be seen as Estrella, a strong, independent woman. The entire book stresses that it's through adversity and struggles that we as individuals truly triumph. It takes being tested to find out what we really believe in and who we really want to be. This is comparable to a line in one of my favorite songs, "Hold fast to the break of day. The shadow proves the sunshine." These struggles exist so that we may overcome them and enjoy the beauty of life. Estrella has to go through many heartbreaking experiences to discover the strong individual that she is. Through the story of a teenage migrant worker, this book begs the reader to go out and find a voice in the world.

(Prompt #8, Chapter #4)

Predictions Revisited

I was correct in guessing that Estrella would fall in love with one of the cousins. Her and Alejo are currently in a relationship. I was wrong, however, about it being forbidden. While her mother may not approve entirely, she realizes that there is nothing she can do to stop it. Petra is allowing her daughter to develop her own identity. She is not sheltering Estrella from life. Petra has given Estrella a lot more freedom as the book progresses and she grows into a young woman. So far the book has a very good vibe. Alejo and Estrella have not yet ended their relationship, but I guess I'll have to wait until the very end to find out how it all plays out.

(Prompt #7, Chapter #4)

Disconnected

Alejo is incredibly sick at this moment in time, so sick that he can't even talk. Nobody understands what's wrong with him and he can't communicate all that he is feeling. I connected to this for a couple of reasons. Two years ago I lost my voice and was unable to communicate verbally for 35 days. It was an incredibly frustrating experience. Just like Alejo, I could see and understand all that happening. I just couldn't verbally say what I was thinking. Alejo is in the same boat at the current time. He sees all that is happening and he can understand what everyone is doing for him, but he can't say anything to them. He wants to thank them for all that they are doing, but is unable. I also connected on a more literal stage. A few weeks ago I had a terrible virus and was sick for several days, similar to Alejo's illness. Everybody else had to care for me and I felt hopeless, just like Alejo.

(Prompt #10, Chapter #3)

Decisions

Alejo becomes severely ill one day. He can't walk, he can barely eat, and he has no control of his body. Perfecto wants to leave him alone, leave him to die. Petra won't allow this to happen. Petra wants to care for him and nurse him back to health, against Perfecto's insistence that he will never get better. To me there is no decision to make, they should care for Alejo. I commend Petra for sticking up for what she believes. Without her help, Alejo would surely have died. I would advise Perfecto to lighten up a bit. He's so serious and he doesn't really care about anyone but himself. He should learn to show compassion to others. I would advise Petra to keep doing what she's doing. She has a strong set of beliefs and she sticks to them. That is a good quality to have. The only bad decision she made was to marry her husband, who ultimately ended up leaving. However, she now has her beautiful children, whom she loves very much. I don't think that she needs much guidance. Estrella is the sam way. She is shaping up to be very similar to her mother.

Estilo

The author, Helena Maria Viramontes, has a very interesting style. She book is almost entirely in English, but she occasionally writes a few sentences in Spanish. This reminds the reader of the cultural aspects behind the book. It serves as a reminder that just because this family lives in the United States, it doesn't mean they have forgotten their roots. They have not completely adapted to American customs, holding on to their cultural identity. These short blurbs of Spanish are difficult for me as the reader because I am not familiar with the language. I have to go look up what the phrases mean, which can be a bit annoying. However, I think that these passages add a lot of authenticity and character to the book. It reinforces the point that personal character should be held on to. Our differences shape our entire lives. Also, the author also has a tendency to jump from one scene to another without any warning. This is entirely too distracting and I think it detracts from my enjoyment of the novel. I think it would suit the novel better to switch chapters when switching story lines.

(Prompt #11, Chapter #2)

Universal Birth Certificates

"Don't run scared. You stay there and look them in the eye. Don't let them make you feel you did a crime for picking the vegetables they'll be eating for dinner. If they stop you, if they try to pull you into the green vans, you tell them the birth certificates are under the feel of Jesus, just tell them."

This quote embodies the theme of the book perfectly. Estrella is on the outskirts of society. She isn't accepted, she's looked down upon. Her mother is trying to instill a fighting spirit within her. Just because she may not be what society deems acceptable doesn't mean she is void of life and freedom. Estrella is trying to find her voice and place in this unfamiliar world, where everybody is trying to hold her back and keep her down. Her mother is telling her to fight because everybody is equal. She has the same human rights as anybody else. Everyone is born "under the feet of Jesus." This is the first time the title is mentioned in the reading. It's saying that we are all equal at birth in the eyes of religion. This idea should be applied to modern humanity, giving everybody the freedom and equality they deserve. Estrella needs to stand up for herself in order to better her life. The book is about her finding her true self amidst all the confusion and bad situations.

(Prompt #14, Chapter #2)

Predictions

So far the book has revolved around two seperate sets of characters: Estrella's family and the cousins. I think that these two sets of individuals are going to become intertwined. It makes perfect sense. Otherwise, why would she mention them? Estrella seems to be the main focus of her family, with the majority of the time being spent discussing her. The two cousins seem to have equal attention played to them, but I bet that one of them will become more of an emphasis as the novel progresses. I briefly remember reading something about young love, so perhaps Estrella and one of the cousins will fall in love. I would guess that this will be forbidden, as Petra, Estrella's mother, doesn't really allow her to have much freedom. Maybe this will take on a Romeo and Juliet theme of forbidden, young love. I foresee a bitter ending. I definitely don't think this will have a happily ever after vibe. The book seems too sorrowful to do a complete turn around in mood.

(Prompt #6, Chapter #1)

Lack of a Father

Estrella is quite a strong character. She shows a lot of strength for someone so young, but there is one aspect in her life which shows her youth and weakness - Perfecto. Estrella is outraged that Perfecto wants to be viewed as a father figure. He is not her father. He will never be her father. She gets into an argument when he asks for her help. Eventually she just breaks down and screams "You're not my papa." This whole conversation really moved me because it showed Estrella's vulnerable side. I think it is through vulnerability that character's become more easily identifiable with. When I am able to sympathize with an aspect of the novel, then I become more interested. She presented a sad situation, one in which she is longing for a father figure but will never get one in her current situation. I feel pity for her. I think that it is a sad situation that all too many people face. This entire scene really touched my heart.

(Prompt #5, Chapter #1)

Confusion

I don't really enjoy the author's style of writing in the first chapter. There are two different story lines involving two different sets of characters occurring simultaneously. It would be alright if there was something to signal which characters are being discussed at a certain time, but there aren't. It just switches between the two different story lines without any warning. The reader is left to assume that the author has changed topics. It is incredibly confusing to follow. I think this is a very inefficient way to write a novel. The author has thrown transitions out the door. Not only does she jump from story line to story line, but she jumps through time within each story line. I feel like I'm working on a jigsaw puzzle rather than reading a novel. I don't see the point in intertwining both of these stories in one chapter. Why didn't she devote a chapter to each set of characters? That would have been much more reader friendly.

(Prompt #1, Chapter #1)

Thesis

Che Guevara was a power-hungry hypocrite who manipulated society to gain the fame he sought.

Many Cuzcos

Che describes the city of Cuzco to be many cities within one city. Che writes, "Each one of these Cuzcos can be admired separately, and to each one we dedicated a part of our stay." Do you think that Che's description of Cuzco is at all reflective of himself as an individual? What other insights did this passage about Cuzco provide?

Essential Question

I think that Che wanted to be known for bettering society. I think that at the end of the day, he wanted to be remembered as an idealist who tried to make the world better. He believed that people should do all they could to better the society in which they lived. He thought that all people should work for the common good, without selfish indulgences. I think that he would want to be remembered as someone who did just that; a man who practiced what he preached. He wanted to influence people in a very deep way. In essence, he wanted to be remembered as a great thinker of our time. However, it wasn't fame that he was after. He was after something much deeper. He wanted to change the way that people think about society and make people examine the system currently in place. At the root of all he did was his philosophy, a philosophy by which he wanted to be remembered.

Brief Chilean History

Incas flourished. Spanish conquered. Socialists control.

Chilean Experiences

I think that Alberto impacted Che when he jumped through the fire to save someone's cat. I think that this experience furthered strengthened Che's need to sacrifice for others. Che mentions that Alberto, "Receiving effusive congratulations for his unrivalled heroism, his eyes shone with pleasure from beneath the huge helmet he had borrowed." I think this further strengthened Che's belief in helping others. He saw how happy saving the cat made both Alberto and the family who owned the cat. I think this allowed him to see the benefits of doing things for the greater good. This experience may have strengthened his belief in his ideals. It may possibly have been the foundation of some of his ideals. In this instance, Alberto exemplified what Che believes in.

America in 6 Words

Powerful industrial giant succeeding in failure.

This 6-word memoir encompasses America's current situation. I started with the current issue of economic panic, wanting to put in a hint of irony, hence the last 3 words of the memoir. I find the current situation ironic, given that we are such an advanced, powerful nation, yet we are in our current predicament. The first half of the memoir deals with the powerful image of America, but it's countered in the second half by America's downfalls.

Personal Philosophy

The most valued concept in my life is honesty. I think when we look back on our lives and examine the times when we were dishonest, we'll see that nothing good came from it. Being dishonest creates negative situations and confusion. While honesty is not always what someone may want to hear, it's often time what they need to hear. It is even more important to be honest with yourself. A lot of times we find ourselves in situations where we make up excuses as to why we acted a certain way that we didn't want to, and it all stems back to dishonesty. I'm not saying that I'm not guilty of telling a white lies here and there or that when the truth hurts I always embrace it. I fall short of my ideals sometimes, but that doesn't mean I try to. I always assume that people are telling me the truth, because I always strive to tell people the truth. I don't see the necessity of lies. Lies just give you the ability to dig yourself into a hole and escape what you are running from. It's not a healthy habit to have. We need to face our fears in life. Lying your way out of something that makes you uncomfortable or causes you pain isn't a healthy way of dealing with the issue at hand. I also have a huge conscious and I'm a big believer in the philosophy that your actions reflect who you are. When I do something that I knew was wrong, it bothers me. This all goes back to honesty. If we embrace the truth, life is so much more fulfilling. Consequences exist for a reason. We learn from our mistakes. Lies give you the opportunity to escape consequence, which will only hinder your personal growth. I feel that if you live your life honesty, you will be in a much better place and you will feel much better about yourself. At the end of my life, I don't want to regret my decisions and I feel the more lies you tell the more you will regret.

Similarities?

While there are some similarities at first glance, I don’t think that what the U.S. is currently doing should be compared to Che’s presence in Bolivia. Both initiatives defy the native government, but I see that as where the similarities end. The mission of each initiative is different. Che was attempting to instill his ideals and philosophies on a people, whereas the U.S. is attempting to counter a terrorist organization. I think that both are being carried out in different ways. Yes, both are secretive. These are different because Che was trying to be a revolutionary, whereas the U.S. is attempting to stop such revolutionary groups in Pakistan. I think that these situations are the same, but opposing sides are represented.

Voice

“The full moon is silhouetted against the sea, smothering the waves with silver reflections.” This sentence allows Ernesto to use imagery, which he does quite often. He does a very detailed job of describing what is happening around him. In particular, he pays a great deal of attention to nature and scenery, in this instance the ocean. The imagery that he creates with his sentences is a key component in defining his voice as an author. When he takes the time to describe in detail an experience, it is important to him. As a reader, we learn what types of experiences or sceneries influenced him to most.
“Invigorated by lunch, we set off with enthusiasm on the climb. From the start, however, we were joined by flies that circled us ceaselessly, biting when they got the chance.” Ernesto uses very long sentences in general. He puts a lot of thoughts and details into each sentence. He does this through the use of commas, most often. This allows him to add complexity to most of his sentences. As a reader, it shows us that he is multidimensional as a person. He uses many words that don’t necessarily need to be included. For example, in the above passage, the word “however,” was not necessary, but it added depth to the sentence.

Who Killed Che Guevara?

I’m still not completely sure about the circumstances surrounding Che’s death, as I have not been here to watch most of the documentary. From what I gather, there were many people who could have potentially wanted him gone. From what I have watched so far, Castro seems to be a likely person to blame. However I also think that the United States may have been involved. As of now, I really don't feel like I know enough to be answering this particular question. Perhaps once I watch the documentary I will be able to form a more informed opinion.

It Was Him

The person who wrote these notes passed away the moment his feet touched Argentine soil again.
That familiar feeling, the one he instantly recognized, yet hated all the same came back.
It was as if no time had passed, but he was in a much different place.
A place so different that it had stayed the same
A place that he recognized all too well
And a place he wished did not exist.
This place held nothing to him and yet it held so much:
His past, his memories, all which made him who he was.
But he wanted nothing more than to go away, knowing fully that that never was nor ever will be an option.
It was in him. It was him. It would forever be him.
And he was gone.

Across the United States

I would love to go on a road trip across the United States. When we were freshmen, my best friend and I actually planned to take a road trip the summer after senior year. We made an itinerary of everything that we wanted to see. We plan on driving through every state and visiting at least one landmark within it, excluding Hawaii, as it would be a little difficult to reach by car. Some notable places we really want to visit are Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, and Diamond Crater National Park in Arkansas. We also really want to go to a game at Wrigley Field. We really wanted to go to a game at Yankee's Stadium, but obviously that will never happen. I'm very excited to find a bunch of small restaurants that have awesome local food. I'm slightly obsessed with the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, which showcases small, local restaurants with incredible menus. Visiting the places mentioned on that show would be really cool. Also, I'd want to visit as many different gluten-free restaurants, stores and malls as possible. I love traveling, so naturally I would love to go on a road trip for as long as possible. Ideally, spending the whole summer on the road would be great!

First Impressions

I think that a lot of times I judge books by their covers. If it is presented nicely, it’s more likely to catch my attention. Another factor is my familiarity with the author or the genre of the novel. I know what types of books I don’t like to read, so naturally there are certain genres that I avoid. Similarly, there are authors whose novels I enjoy reading and there are authors whose novels I do not enjoy reading. These factors play into my first judgment of a book. One example of a book that caught my attention by the cover is His Bright Light by Danielle Steel. This turned out to be one of my favorite books, and the cover happened to be the first thing that caught my eye.
My first impressions about The Motorcycle Diaries are not good. I'm not really looking forward to reading this book. It doesn't look remotely interesting to me. It seems like it's going to be a boring book that I am not going to enjoy at all. Nothing about this book catches my interest. It's not the genre that I enjoy reading and it's not by an author that I enjoy reading. I expect to be disappointed with this book.

February 2

I agree with Beck's claims. He presents a good argument, and his presentation is very effective. He uses several effective methods of captivating the attention of his audience. When make such remarks and compare Che Guevara to such people as Hitler and Stalin, people are going to listen to what you are saying. That definitely catches their attention. He speaks with a very sarcastic tone. The whole time he's speaking he just sounds like he's mocking Che Guevara. He brings up ironic points, such that the "king of communism" is now a great capitalist. He also takes many stabs at society today. He is a bit provocative as a speaker, but I don't think that he is too provocative. He's provocative enough that he captures the attention of his audience, but not so provocative that lots of people think he is ridiculous.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! This blog will serve the purpose of allowing me to share my views and ideas about literature.