Leslie Marmon Silko “The Yellow Woman”
The yellow woman was enjoyable to me because i enjoy folktales and this reminded me of that. I love stories of the somewhat supernatural world and The Yellow Woman had that element where it drew me immediately. In most stories where the end is kind of left open to the readers interpretation i hate it, but in this story i appreciated it because it held significance value to the character and her being unsure and kind of feeling alone in it. It made her feel okay bout her affair because she had helped live out the legendary tale for the umpteenth time but nonetheless had become a part of history in her own right.
Audre Lorde “Coal”
Coal was a very intriguing read a so had to read it a couple of times and then section by section to even attempt to understand it. after group discussions the interpretation of it was very clear and also very beautiful.It represented self worth and recognizing it regardless of outside opinions. The way it described the way diamonds are made mirrored her speaking of how she was made, flaws and all.
Alison Bechedel “Fun Home”
Fun home was a peculiar read as the title threw me off from the start. My interpretation of the story was that the father acted as if she was one of the boys and failed to form that father and daughter bond that is so important. The way she wrote about him seemed as though she adored him from a far but despised him personally. She respected his ability to turn trash into treasure and appreciated his appreciation of having nice things but like stated, felt like the furniture antiques were more of his kids than they were. She spoke of him like a stranger would to someone who just studies someone from afar because that is what she did. A very good and unexpected read.
James Baldwin ” Sonny’s Blues”
I’ve read this story every year since 2011 and i am always still excited to read it. Sonny’s Blues is important because it teaches you to love one another and not judge. It symbolizes understanding and listening aside from forcing notions and standards down someones throat and just accepting them as they are. Through the bitterness of the narrator of losing his child and his brother to the sorrow within Sonny’s eyes from losing his family. Not being accepted because of his love and joy for the music and how it itself is his drug, his therapy. When people try to understand versus try to control a common ground can be found eve through heartbreak and struggles and i love that message within this story.
thinkingoutloud 