Week 3- Entry A

Vocabulary-

(p 295) entrenched- To provide with a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying or defending

(p 351) commiserate- to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity

Figurative Language-

1. (p 295) "After all, what was the whole wide world but a place for people to yearn for their hearts' impossible desires, for those desires to become entrenched in defiance of logic, plausibility, and even the passage of time, as eternal as polished marble?" Time is compared to marble in this simile.

2. (p 337) "He'd scraped until dark, [...] gouging out rotting wood, half expecting blood to bead up where he'd punctured the church's skin." The church is personified as having skin and blood.

3. (p 351) "They were like ghosts, each inhabiting different dimensions of the same physical space [...]" The Whitings are compared to ghosts in this simile.

Quote

(p 468) "Before long he knew the names of all three librarians, one of whom had confessed that she'd taken him for a professor or a writer researching a book. [...] But to be tole, at forty-three, that he looked like what he'd meant to be only increased Mile's sense of personal failure." Mile's should have done what he wanted to, but instead he got stuck in Empire Falls. He was so close to escaping, but Mrs. Whiting and Grace's sickness brought him back. I just feel so bad for poor Mile's.

Theme-

You can't run away from your life. You have to go and face the problems and figure it out.

Week 3- Entry B

Dear Richard Russo,

Your book was absolutely fantastic! While I was reading, I felt the character's happiness and pain along with them and felt like I was actually in Empire Falls. The book was very realistic and had an ending that actually made sense in today's world. It didn't end happily ever after, but it wasn't a downer of an ending either. I suppose that's how life really works. You get dealt some crappy cards along with the good ones. You can't have a winning hand every time. I still felt a little bit less pleased with the book after finishing it however. I think I just wanted a happy go lucky end to Empire Falls, but it didn't deliver. I do admit that the book all in all was wonderful, but when I finished, I just wasn't in the mood to read anything depressing. Sometimes the beauty of books is that they take you out of our world and put you in a better one, but Empire Falls did the opposite. While reading I just felt more and more sad.

I had high hopes for John Voss, but he disappointed me by making poor decisions. He obviously can't be solely blamed for his social awkwardness and being in generally royally messed up, but I still wanted the best for him. After reading about his past and the way he dealt with his grandmother, I have to admit I cried. I don't like contemplating the existence of anyone that sad in the world, but I suppose those sorts of people are out there. How did you ever come up with such horrifying details to John's life. I don't think I could have come up with anything so unpleasant. Avoiding the news and reading sad books helps me keep up these mildly pleasant thoughts, so I wonder what sort of stuff are you reading?

I am also sad because Miles never got to live the life he truly wanted. It was truly disconcerting to read about Miles dream when he was back at the Vineyard. His dream was obviously a representation of his subconscious mind. How can anyone live their life believing that they killed their mother?

I wonder about what Tick's future will be like. Miles says he will make sure that she gets out of Empire Falls and doesn't carry on the business of the grill, but isn't that a lot like what Grace said? Are you saying that the tradition of staying in Empire Falls will carry on, or are you suggesting that Tick will overcome her family's problems and get out of that little town? I hope that it's the latter. I can't imaging Tick being confined to Empire Falls for the rest of her life!

Thank you for such a great book! I think I may try reading some of your other books as well. It may be a while though. I need to recuperate by reading some happier books!

Week 2- Entry B

I'm kind of frustrated right now. As I wrote in my last blog, I really like the character Miles. After reading further I've come to enjoy his daughter, Tick, and even his soon to be ex-wife, Janine. Miles is so innocent and nice. His mother in law thinks, " (Miles) was about the nicest, saddest man in all of Empire Falls [...] others, like Miles, you just kind of wanted to something nice fore because they were decent and deserved and you knew they'd be appreciative and wouldn't hold it against you for maybe not being so damn beautiful yourself." As I'm reading this fictional work, I want to do something to help Miles! I just want the best for him. He's kind of pitiful and helpless, but that's what attracts the characters in the book and the reader to him. Because I want Miles to be happy, I can't stand seeing him stuck in Empire Falls! He just needs to get out of the little lifeless hole. I can't imagine anyone having to live there. Even Miles' father, Max, wants to leave and go to the Florida Keys. I really dislike Max, but I still want him to escape from the town.

The worst part of all of this is that I think there are people in real life in situations similar to this. Once you're in a small town, it can be difficult to leave on account of economic issues or just fear of the unknown. Miles is stuck in Empire Falls because he is bound to his restaurant and hopes to own it in the future. I think he should high tail it out there and make money doing something else. As his brother David pointed out, the owner of Empire Grill won't die until she's in her nineties. By that time, Miles will be sixty and his daughter will end up owning the restaurant. I don't want Tick stuck with such a profitless bundle of crap! Max can't escape from Empire Falls simply because he lacks finances. He doesn't have a license or a car, so he needs someone else to bum a ride down to Florida.

I sincerely hope that everyone can make lives for themselves elsewhere in the world. Empire Falls is too small for anyone to sanely live their life. Everyone knows everyone else and no ones business is private. However, I doubt this book will end how I want it too. *sigh*

Week 2- Entry A

Vocabulary-

(p 62) antithetical- directly opposed or contrasted; opposite.

(p 62) parochial- very limited or narrow in scope or outlook

Figurative Language-

1. (p 114) "Climb like a monkey." Max is described in this simile as being nimble in his years of age.

2. (p 118) " His brother nodded slowly, as if this whole conversation had already taken place numerous times and there were just one or two minor details he'd failed to memorize." In this simile, the conversation is compared to one that seems to have happened before.

3. (p 132) "Once they turned seventy, they became leaky faucets with slow, incessant drips." Old people are compared to leaky faucets in this simile.

Quote

(p 146) " He becomes a public nuisance every now and then when he tires of being a private one. [...] Your father cares only about your father. I wish that weren't so, but it is, and you're old enough to know it. The sooner you understand it, the better off you'll be." This is the first time that Miles is told straight out about his father's personality. Being only a nine year old, I don't think Miles completely understands who his father is. Max just got arrested for being a public nuisance and cares little about his family. Even as an old man, his actions are only ones that push himself forward.

Theme-

Everyone deserves to be happy at some point in their lifetime.

Week 1- Entry B

I really like the main character, Miles, in Empire Falls. He is a middle aged man that acts more like a child than an adult. He's confused, stressed, and worried about his future. He was promised a long time ago that Empire Grill, a diner restaurant, would be given to him after the death of the owner. The will may be changed by now, so he doesn't know if this is still the plan. The only reason that he sticks around Empire Falls, Maine is because he thinks he will someday own the diner. He finds reassurance in this restaurant that hardly makes any money because he has been working there since he was in high school. He knows his town and his job and is scared of the rest of the world. Last week, Miles and his daughter Tick visited The Vineyard in California where everyone is beautiful and rich. They both adored it there, and Tick even wanted to move there, but I don't think Miles wanted that. He did like the change of scenery, but I don't think he's a strong enough man to move away from the familiarity of Empire Falls.

He is also very unsure and uncomfortable with himself. During his marriage to Janine, he felt happy enough, but everyone else realized the marriage wouldn't work. Even Janine was unhappy with the arrangement, but Miles just didn't get it. Only after splitting up did he realize that it wasn't right. I don't think he's completely gotten over Janine, however, because he makes excuses for her constantly. Because he can't figure out his own emotions, Miles doesn't know who he is.

Miles acts like a teenager in so many ways. I like reading about him, because I feel like I can relate. He doesn't act like most adults in books who always have the answers and are the guides to children. He needs help as he is struggling through a rough patch in life.

Week 1- Entry A

Vocabulary-

(p 46) nomenclature- (noun) a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community

(p 48) manichaean- (noun) adherent of the dualistic religious system of Manes, a combination of Gnostic Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and various other elements, with a basic doctrine of a conflict between light and dark, matter being regarded as dark and evil

Figurative Language-

1. (p 50) "To Miles, Father Tom resembled nothing more than a scolded child, convinced against his better instincts by a loving parent that he'd been a bad boy." This simile compares Tom to being like a child.

2. (p 20) "[...] Tick, a rail thin sophomore, lugged all her books in a canvas L.L. Bean backpack and had to lean forward, as if into a strong headwind, to balance a weight nearly as great as her own." Tick leaning forward is used in a simile.

3. (p 69) "Miles was more transparent when he was playing cards. When it came to what he was holding close to his vest, He'd just hang on to it, tight as grim death, and deny it was there, no matter how hard you tried to pry it out of him." How Miles holds his cards is compared in a simile to death's grip.

Quote

(p 29) "Since he and Janine had separated, a separation of different sort had occurred between himself and Tick [...] it troubled him to feel so out of sync. Too often he found himself needing to see her, as if only her physical presence could reassure him of her wellbeing [...]. " Miles is very lonely and his number one love in his life is his daughter Tick.

Theme-

Patience can sometimes bring great opportunities.

Amazing Journey by The Who

Telemachus interests me because he is a new born man. I think it’s interesting how his personality changes drastically just within the first few books. At first, he is just an observer of the suitors and Penelope’s situation. Once Athena comes however, he quickly sees that he must take action to find his father and rid his home of his pestering visitors. He gains courage when he has to speak to Nestor and Menelaus. Telemachus also gains wisdom as he leads a crew across the ocean on a journey to hear news of his father. He has clear connections to Tommy from the rock opera by The Who. Tommy is a deaf, dumb, and blind child who finds eyesight. Tommy is abused and mistreated, but he realizes that he needs to get away from his life, so he gains his senses and leaves home. In a way, Telemachus is blind to the injustice going on around him, but when Athena visits him, he recognizes that he must do something and gains sight.

Deaf Dumb and blind boy
He's in a quiet vibration land
Strange as it seems his musical dreams
Ain't quite so bad.

Before meeting Athena, Telemachus wonders where his father is, but does little to figure anything out. He has happy dreams of the suitors leaving and his father coming home.

All at once a tall stranger I suddenly see.
He's dressed in a silver sparked
Glittering gown
And His golden beard flows
Nearly down to the ground.

After seeing Athena, Telemachus becomes a wiser, more courageous man. He speaks to Nestor, although he says, “How can I greet him, Mentor, even approach the king? I’m hardly adept at subtle conversation. Someone my age might feel shy, what’s more, interrogating an older man”. Telemachus must rise to the occasion, and act more mature than he may really be. Nestor sees him as a fine prince who only deserves the best. He gives him a fabulous meal, great lodging, and a chariot ride to go to Menelaus’s court in Sparta. Because Telemachus acts like a powerful grown man, others perceive him to be this way.

That he is your leader
And he is your guide
On the amazing journey together you'll ride.

Telemachus leads a crew on the ocean to find news of Odysseus. He steps up to be the leader on this amazing journey, this odyssey.