Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

I just read "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates that was dedicated to Bob Dylan because she was inspired to write the short story after hearing his song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". The story is about a mischievous teenager named Connie who sneaks around with her friends and ends up getting herself into trouble. She is at home alone one day when a guy that saw her one night when she was out shows up in his car. His name is Arnold Friend and he insists that she gets in and they "take a ride". Connie gets scared and backs into her house and tries to call the cops but he stops her. At the end she gets in with him because he threatens to hurt her family. It is unknown where they go, or if she returns safely. I looked up "rapey songs" and "creepy songs about teenage girls" and what I found was mostly country songs about having sex in a chevy or blurred lines by robin thicke. I definitely imagined this guy to be like that, in a creepy pedophile-like way.

A+P

I just read A+P by John Updike, a somewhat controversial story about respect and sensitivity. Three girls walk into a store wearing bikinis, which is disrespectful because it is showing that they don't think the store matters. The kid at the counter took note of the girls and didn't appreciate how they were dressed, but he kept it to himself. The manager came out and got really offended because he thinks his store deserves more respect. The store isn't in a tourist town, or by a beach so their bikinis are inappropriate. Sammy, the cashier, gives each girl a name based on the way they look or act around their friends. Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goonie Goonie are scanning through the store and leave very embarrassed. The manager, Lengel, comes out and scolds them for their behavior and they leave in a hurry. At the end of the story, Sammy quits because he is appalled by the way the manager reacted. I was surprised by the way Lengel reacted, because it's business no matter who the consumer is. I do agree that Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goonie Goonie are disrespectful to the store because it's not that type of town. My favorite part of the story was when Sammy described the girls and their bathing suits. "There was a chunky one, with the two piece- it was bright green and the seems on the bra were still sharp and her belly was still pretty pale so I guessed that she just got it (the suit)." He notices specific detail and describes it very well. I found humor in this story, I really enjoyed it.

A Very Old Many With Enormous Wings

I just read "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a very intriguing short story about a vivid imagination of an angel... but it is unclear what it is exactly. At the end of the story, I still couldn't figure out exactly what had happened, but I enjoyed it. At the beginning they said a man was an angel, he had come to take a sick child. The people enjoyed the company of the angel and appreciated his "supernatural virtue" 3 Questions I would as the author- 1. Why did the angel have that affect on the people and how did you get the idea/inspiration of the angel? 2. Why did the people think that the angel came for the sick child? Was it an answered prayer? 3. Why did the "angel" stay around for the child's life?

Half A Day

In Naguib Mahfouz's short story "Half A Day" he explains a daze that he was caught in. He is an old man going to the school that he attended as a child and I think he has a form of dementia because he thinks that it is a school day of kindergarten. Mahfouz explains how he dreaded going to school as a young boy and he actually felt that pain going as an old man. At the end we learned that he isn't a child and it is quite confusing. I was confused at first but when we talked as a class I understood. I don't know how he could possibly mistake a random day as a kindergarten school day. He had vivid imaginations and descriptive detail. I enjoyed the short story because it made me think and react.

How to date a brown girl (black girl, white girl, or halfie)

How to Date a Brown Girl is a short story by Junot Diaz. He is pretty much explaining how to get a girl to fuck him, without saying it directly. I was pretty impressed by his writing, he was very descriptive and his advice was straightforward. Diaz's advice was so specific, he obviously has a lot of experience in this subject. He has a very well thought out plan, because his goal with every girl is to get in there pants. I was confused by some of the things Diaz said at the beginning, he talked about cleaning up the house. He had to hide the Government cheese, I think that meant it was provided for his family which he was probably embarrassed about. He also hides the disgusting parts of the bathroom, for when she goes to clean up... Diaz also describes how to impress girls of different races, or where they are from. He compares the races and generalizes girls so easily, it's as if they all treat sex the same way. I didn't really like this story because of the way he uses girls for sex. He openly admits that's the whole point of the dates, and says how to make it easier for them to want to have sex. His dating advice is too specific, Diaz somehow believes that's the best way to get every girl. I would say that he needs to be less specific because every one is different and you can't generalize by race or what part of town their from. I also disliked the things he said about certain races- especially white girls. "If she's a whitegirl you know you'll at least get a handjob" and "If she's a white girl she might just give it up." Diaz definitely overgeneralizes and stereotypes. I have to admit, I think it was an interesting story because of how much effort he puts into getting sex. I wouldn't recommend it for dating advice but I would if you're looking for an interesting plan.

Happy Endings

Happy Endings is a collection of short stories with random endings by Margaret Atwood. They are all about the couples Fred and Madge or John and Mary. Each story has a different ending, but both relationships are described in the stories. The sentences are short and choppy, but they are consistent which makes them interesting. They are all very straightforward. Letter A is very boring, but something that people desire. Some of the stories are very short, like mine, and end abruptly. For the most part they are surprising and you wonder why the author thought of that. I liked these stories because they are all different and it is an interesting writing style. My Ending: John and Mary meet. They are at a birthday party at the bar. The birthday boy is in John's class at Indiana. The birthday boy is Mary's brother. They meet at the table by the door. Mary took some shots. John felt bad and got drunk too. Mary left the bar and John took her home. She kissed him in front of her apartment. But only for a second. John decides he likes Mary. He comes to her apartment the next morning. He asks her on a date. But then, her boyfriend comes out of the bedroom. He says who the fuck is this. Mary doesn't know.

And of Clay We Are Created

I just read "And of Clay We Are Created" by Isabelle Allende, an inspiring short story about a last moment friendship between a heroic reporter and a girl fighting for her life. When Azucena was in a cemetery, a avalanche came roaring and she got caught in a fatal position. In this moment, she didn't have any hope and expected no help to come. She was ready to let go and say goodbye to her life when a news crew came and her story was reported. They couldn't get her out of the pile of rubble, but she bonded with the reporter. Rolf was a caring man that had empathy for Azucena because he had experienced trauma as well. I was awestruck when she didn't make it, because you don't usually see stories end like this. After all of the character growth, you wouldn't expect her to die. She had developed such a beautiful relationship with the reporter in such a small period of time. Rolf seemed to have felt a connection with her, and he expressed his sorrow to her. I was very emotional when I read this because I have a fear of natural disasters like the one Azucena struggled through. I would definitely recommend this short read.