Journal 4 from Alexis

Part one:

The reading so far is going really well for me, both books are very different from one another. One talks about a girl trying to find her true self which is the novel The House on Mango Street and the other novel A Long Way Gone is about a group of boys trying to survive a life changing experience.  Some strengths that I found in the book The House on Mango street was its interesting how it has universal themes for each chapter of the identity.  A weakness for that book is throughout the whole book your seeing things through Esperanza eyes which may come across as confusing on sometimes trying to visualize what she sees or going through and experiencing. For the book A Long Way Gone the strengths and weaknesses for that is, the strengths that I notice is how detailed and descripted its being, almost makes you feel as your there as well witnessing some of the things. A weakness in the book that I think is missing that would help is visual pictures for us to get a better visualization of some of the things going on that they are experiencing and to really feel as if your there.

Part two: Chapter 8, Loneliness

The nutshell for chapter 8 is Beah recounts his steps for days without much sleep, and only stopping to drink water from streams that come along his walk. He cannot shake the feeling of being followed, so he keeps pushing himself further. On the third day he becomes lost in a forest and starts to have a difficult time finding his bearings. He spots a snake that then leads him to a stick that he used for protection. After trying to make marks of helping him find his way, Beah is yet unable to gain a sense of direction. Bean finally found a spot where there was enough food nearby where he could stay there indefinitely, so he then finally decides do take a break from his walking to rest. Six days later after traveling, the boys came across an old man and others that was left behind when the village felt into the forest when hearing that the “seven boys” were coming to the village. Beah finds out from the old man of the rumor that’s going around about the seven boys and how there painting a picture that the boys are more dangerous then what they really are.  

            Loneliness is a constant theme in this chapter, even though being by himself is what kept him safe.  The loneliness becomes to much for him and leads him to take up with another group of boys even though he knows the dangers. He joined a group that is known to be dangerous and people flee when seeing them in sight, he fears that’s exactly what they are becoming.