Paris to the Moon: Gopnik
Even though I felt Gopnik’s style of writing tended to be a bit confusing throughout his story I was able to really relate too many of his experiences. A main theme he talks about is change, his transition from one life to another. In his case moving his life from the thriving city of New York to its equivalent in Europe Paris. Gopink discusses the many differences he has encountered in France that vary from the ways of America. I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks this past summer traveling all over the country of France, with one of the stops being Paris. While reading the story I was able to relate the descriptions of certain locations and understand the problems he encountered while living in France. I laughed because it made me think of the numerous fights I had with converters while traveling over there. My most memorable one would have to be the first night we arrived in Belgium, France. We were staying in the small family ran hotel in the middle of the beautiful town of Bastogne. We were all exhausted from our day of traveling and were rotating taking turns showering, which in this case the showers were bathtubs with no shower curtains. So I finish up my shower and I plug my converter in and proceed to dry my hair. About 5 minutes into drying my hair I start to smell smoke I turn to where I had my converter plugged in and within second the whole thing blew up! I knocked out all of the lights in the entire hotel. It was mortifying; to say the least I was a lot more careful about finding out the wattage of the converters for the rest of the trip.
Overall, I found this piece insightful and interesting. I enjoyed hearing his comparisons between New York and Paris and being able to relate all of his issues. He allowed for the audience to see his comical but meaningful struggles he had while traveling that in change opened his mind to a new budding way of life. "There are two kinds of travelers. There is the kind who goes to see what there is to see, and the kind who has an image in his head and goes out to accomplish it. The first visitor has an easier time, but I think the second visitor sees more." This quote alludes that a person who is traveling just to take pictures and have a good time will indeed enjoy themselves, but a traveler who sets out to understand and encompass the culture of where they are traveling will gain more then they will ever expect.
Billy the Kid: Ondaatje
Well I have to say this story was different and quite bizarre to be honest. I took it that there were a variety of different narrators throughout the story, which in some aspects got me extremely confused. One thing I really did enjoy though was the usage of metaphors and colors throughout the entire passage. Being a part of the Writing Arts program has really showed me how rich imagery adds so much to a story. It brings the story alive inside of your mind, just by adding words that relate to your sense allows for your readers to feel and see what the author writing. The strong use of colors was really interesting to me; I have never really seen colors used as often as they were in the story. Here is a great example of the great use of descriptive color, “the night, the early morning yellow, the gradual move to dark blue at 11 O clock, the new white 4 O clock sun let in, later the gradual growing dark again” (32).
Even though I felt Gopnik’s style of writing tended to be a bit confusing throughout his story I was able to really relate too many of his experiences. A main theme he talks about is change, his transition from one life to another. In his case moving his life from the thriving city of New York to its equivalent in Europe Paris. Gopink discusses the many differences he has encountered in France that vary from the ways of America. I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks this past summer traveling all over the country of France, with one of the stops being Paris. While reading the story I was able to relate the descriptions of certain locations and understand the problems he encountered while living in France. I laughed because it made me think of the numerous fights I had with converters while traveling over there. My most memorable one would have to be the first night we arrived in Belgium, France. We were staying in the small family ran hotel in the middle of the beautiful town of Bastogne. We were all exhausted from our day of traveling and were rotating taking turns showering, which in this case the showers were bathtubs with no shower curtains. So I finish up my shower and I plug my converter in and proceed to dry my hair. About 5 minutes into drying my hair I start to smell smoke I turn to where I had my converter plugged in and within second the whole thing blew up! I knocked out all of the lights in the entire hotel. It was mortifying; to say the least I was a lot more careful about finding out the wattage of the converters for the rest of the trip.
Overall, I found this piece insightful and interesting. I enjoyed hearing his comparisons between New York and Paris and being able to relate all of his issues. He allowed for the audience to see his comical but meaningful struggles he had while traveling that in change opened his mind to a new budding way of life. "There are two kinds of travelers. There is the kind who goes to see what there is to see, and the kind who has an image in his head and goes out to accomplish it. The first visitor has an easier time, but I think the second visitor sees more." This quote alludes that a person who is traveling just to take pictures and have a good time will indeed enjoy themselves, but a traveler who sets out to understand and encompass the culture of where they are traveling will gain more then they will ever expect.
Billy the Kid: Ondaatje
Well I have to say this story was different and quite bizarre to be honest. I took it that there were a variety of different narrators throughout the story, which in some aspects got me extremely confused. One thing I really did enjoy though was the usage of metaphors and colors throughout the entire passage. Being a part of the Writing Arts program has really showed me how rich imagery adds so much to a story. It brings the story alive inside of your mind, just by adding words that relate to your sense allows for your readers to feel and see what the author writing. The strong use of colors was really interesting to me; I have never really seen colors used as often as they were in the story. Here is a great example of the great use of descriptive color, “the night, the early morning yellow, the gradual move to dark blue at 11 O clock, the new white 4 O clock sun let in, later the gradual growing dark again” (32).
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