For Friday:
FINISH ANIMAL DREAMS---TEST!!!
Today:
Work on short story for Animal Dreams, first draft due Friday
Work on Penfield poems--
Post a comment today about your readings.
Some discussion questions to consider:
How does Codi's character develop in the course of the novel?
Why does Codi ask Loyd if he was ever in love with Hallie, and what is the significance of his response?
What is the importance of the name the "Stitch and Bitch Club"?
What do Pecan trees symbolize?
Is either luck or chance a factor in the plot? How do their presence or absence relate to Hallie's nickname, "the luckiest girl in the world"?
From the publisher:
1. Why are Hallie and Codi different? What happened that caused them to take such different life paths? How and why does Codi change? Why does she become more engaged with the world?
2. One theme of the novel is the relationship between humans and the natural world. What does the novel have to say about the difference between Native American and Anglo American culture in relation to nature? How do creation stories, such as the Pueblo creation legend and the Garden of Eden story, continue to influence culture and behavior?
3. How do you feel about Doc Homer? What kind of parent was he, and why? In what ways did his strange point of view serve as a vehicle for the novel's themes of memory, amnesia, and identity?
2. One theme of the novel is the relationship between humans and the natural world. What does the novel have to say about the difference between Native American and Anglo American culture in relation to nature? How do creation stories, such as the Pueblo creation legend and the Garden of Eden story, continue to influence culture and behavior?
3. How do you feel about Doc Homer? What kind of parent was he, and why? In what ways did his strange point of view serve as a vehicle for the novel's themes of memory, amnesia, and identity?
Post a comment about your readings.
So far i think Codi begins to show a lot of her insecurities throughout the book but she also overcomes them. I think that she kind of envy's he sister because of the good things she does but her love for her over powers that. I think that from the part when she saved the babys life she began to feel proud of herself just as people feel about her sister. They are different because well everyone is different but because of events that happened in their childhood, like Codi loosing her baby and keeping it a secret.
ReplyDeleteAs the book goes on Codi becomes further and further rooted in Grace. Despite her flighty nature, and her nomadic instincts she begins to "nest" in Grace. She has remain co-dependent thus far and she is still very insecure. However, she begins to carve out a niche, even if she as convinced herself shew ill not stay to fill it. The "Stitch and Bitch" club is significant because it represents the strong central presence of women in Grace. Codi refers to a "matriarchy" in the town with these women perhaps having more influence than the men of the council. They get together, embroider table cloths and silently exert their pull over the town.
ReplyDeleteThe pecan trees and the "fruit drop" represent infertility and parallel Codi's miscarriage, as the fields become barren. Codi is drawn to the cause of the trees because the town will live or die by them and in as she constantly stacks herself up against her sister, she muses that maybe Hallie would be able to save the town. She even asks for advice from her sister as she sees her in everything.
Codi is becoming extra and further rooted in Grace. She begins to layer in Grace. She has remained dependent so far and but is still very insecure. However, she begins to carve out a place. The "Stitch and Bitch" club is significant because it characterize the strong middle existence of women in her. The pecan trees and the fruit drop represent poverty and similar Codi's miscarriage, as the turf become harsh. Codi is filled to the reason of the trees because the town will live or die by them,
ReplyDeleteThis is going to sound incredibly stupid because i am not sure what to saaaay:
ReplyDeleteAs the novel continues, Codi seems to become more rooted within the Grace community. As seen from the beginning of the novel, Codi felt as though she were an absolute stranger to Grace. This is reinforced by the fact that the townspeople know more about her own life than Codi herself does. However, through her ever-blossoming relationship with Loyd, someone whom Codi feels as though she can put all of her insecurities in front of, Codi begins to slowly become more active in the community, predominately in the Stitch and Bitch club.
Overall, this club represents the larger role of women in the Grace community. While the men only file a lawsuit, the women take it upon themselves to organize protesting efforts and fundraisers to raise the awareness of the harm pollution is doing to Grace.
The pecan trees and the orchards symbolize fertility. The residents of Grace had been cultivating these orchards for generations, each of them branching out and growing. However, the oil refinery's spillage has been killing the orchards off. This is parallel to Codi, as she sees the dying orchards as a reminder of her own miscarriage.
Hallie is the Good Samaritan. It's a part of who she is to help others and it's rewarding for her. Hallie is content from what she gets out of life to the point if she were to die she'd have no regrets. The strength and assurance in herself is what makes her the Rock that she is to those in need including Cosima.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast, Codi is lost emotionally so it's not possible for her to help others until she grows stronger ans wiser about how to deal with herself and what she wants to do with her life.
It seems like Codi put herself through dysfunctional, stale, and unfortunate events and relationships to find who she was and what she needs in life. Between her teen miscarriage, estranged lovers, and invisible relationships with her distant father and Carlo she just didn't know her place in life. Hallie on the other knew from the beginning her what she was meant to do and where her passion lied; politics and social justice.
Codi is warming up however to loving and caring for herself, what and who she wants, and what will give her the courage to move forward to help others. Maybe not like her sister, but that's not the purpose of Codi's journey.
the Pecan tree in this book symbolizes infertility of Codi's miscarriage. Codi has always been drawn to the trees because it is for the trees that the society can die or live because of them. she feels that the trees have become deserted by the people. Codi thinks that her sister Hallie could actually save their society that they live in. she asks her sister for her help.
ReplyDeleteDoc Homer, in my opinion is a good parent. Even though he wasn’t that involved in Cosima’s and Halli’s lives he stayed alert. He used to peep his head in their bedroom door when they were asleep and watch their sleep habits. He was one of the first one’s to notice that Codi was pregnant without her telling him. His senses are always alert when it comes to his children without needing to be their closet friend.
ReplyDeleteCodi and her younger sister, Hallie differ very much. I feel as though Hallie is less of a major character than Codi and in some ways is a foil character to Codi because of how opposite they are to one another. Codi is awkward and uncomfortable like an outsider wherever she goes, even in grace, whereas Hallie calls herself the "luckiest person in the world", and is comfortable wherever and has survived a near death experience. Hallie has known her whole life where she is going and Codi has absolutely no idea.
ReplyDeleteCodi and Hallie seem to be complete opposites. The creation of these foil characters were beneficial as the reader watched the Codi's characterization unfold. Codi and Hallie were very close as children. Codi admires Hallie for her strength and being brave enough to move to Nicaragua and help those people out. Codi wishes she could be like Hallie but Emelina reminds Codi that Hallie was the one who looked up to her. Codi believes that her father and sister both share the ability to fight against wrong doing but Codi doesnt share that same passion. When Codi had her miscarriage it changed her. This event is what led Codi down a different path
ReplyDeleteLedibel Rivera
ReplyDeleteIn the novel Animal dreams so far, Codi and Hallie are very different. In the novel Codi talks about her sister in an admiring tone. On page 61 Codi says that "I wish i were that brave, I'd be scared to death to be where she is." In the novel Codi and Hallie were very close as kids but after they grew up Hallie left Codi to go to Nicaragua to teach people how to grow plants without messing up the soil. So far in the novel Codi comes off as being insecure about herself. When first starting to teach Biology at her old school Codi says that she is scared that the kids won't like her. Codi tries to stay away from people and tries to avoid the party that Emelina threw but ended up going anyways. I thin k that's why Loyd is attracted to her, he's used to females throwing themselves athim and Codi isn't one of them.