Marissa's Summer Reading

This book is an easy read and very enjoyable. It is interesting the way Nikki Grimes wrote the book because it is not in  only one persons point of view but in eighteen. This makes the story more dynamic and  you understand each characters view on one subject. There are many different subjects in the book and each are found in a students poem they have read at Open Mike Fridays. This is an opportunity for students to read their poems they have written to their classmates. In the beginning of Bronx Masquerade Open Mike Fridays isn’t popular but at the end the eighteen students can’t get enough. I don’t think I would enjoy Open Mike Fridays because I don’t like writing poetry although it is interesting reading the different poems in this book because they match each characters personality.

In the beginning of the Act Asagai got Beneatha to come to her senses about what Walter did with money which I think is good because she was over reacting. Then Mama tells the family their not moving because they can fix up the place they have now. And finally Walter decides he wants to take Mr. Lindners offer on the house but then at the last minute changes his mind and they decide to move in. I am glad that Walter didn’t take Mr. Lindners offer because he is showing he is not afraid of what will happen and is doing what is best for his family.

This scene started with the whole family being in a good mood and ready to move into their new house. Their day started going downhill when Mr. Lindner came as head of the “welcoming committee” for their new neighborhood. Mr. Lindner tells the family that he will pay them the money for the house plus extra if they won’t move in. The family decides they are still going to move but their day is still getting worse. Bobo comes to their house next and tells Walter Willy, the man they gave their money to, has stolen their money. Walter decided to take all the money Mama gave him including Beneathas school money and give it to Willy. Walter obviously made the wrong decision because some of the money he used didn’t belong to him. He has also betrayed Mamas trust which will be very hard to earn back. I’m glad the family is still moving because it shows how they stand together.

In this scene the family is getting ready to move by packing their things in crates, Beneatha has just had an argument with George over how much Beneatha talks, and Ms. Johnson came over to the house and was trying to be nice and upbeat but then told Mama the next headline in the paper would be “Negroes Invade Clybourne Park- Bombed”. Next, Ruth gets a call from Mrs. Arnold Walters employer and is at risk of being fired. Surprisingly Walter is trying to be fired.  And finally Mama gives Walter a check with the leftover money. Some is for Beneathas schooling and the rest is for Walter. This makes him exstatic and tells Travis he is going to go to college where ever he wants to and be whatever he wants to. I like this scene because it ends on a positive note unlike the rest of the scenes. I think Mama made the right choice to give the money to Walter and let him know she trusts him because he has made a “life changing decision” to never get drunk again and make a better living for his son.

In every scene there is one main conflict and in this scene it is Mama buying a new house with the $10,000 check. Walter is very angry because he wanted to use the money on a liquor bussiness. But what makes him even more mad is finding out that the house is in a neighborhood where “there ain’t no colored people”. I think Mama made the right decision buying the house but the wrong decision not letting the family know.

In scene 2 the main conflict is Ruths pregnancy. Everyone has different emotions about having this baby. Mama is hoping it’s a girl, Walter won’t disscuss the issue and Ruth wants to get rid of the baby thinking about what’s best for the rest of her family. In this situation I think Mama is right and that Walter is being extremley rude not listening to Ruth to the point that Mama has to tell him before he walks out. This Scene shows how much care Ruth has for her family because she is going to get rid of her baby. Also in this scene the character Asagai has been introduced. He is Beneathas friend who has just gotten back from Canada and has brought her records and colorful Nigerian robes.

New Moon is a romantic drama filled story based on the relationship of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. What makes their relationship interesting is that Edward is a vampire.  After the first book of the saga, Twilight, Bella and Edwards relationship was in a very good place. Their relationship takes a twist when Edward leaves because he is afraid he is putting Bella’s life in danger, considering he has evil vampires chasing after him. This crushes Bella and sends here on a wild journey trying new and crazy things such as riding motorcycles and jumping of cliffs into oceans. She also has a good friend named Jacob who accompanies Bella through her journey. What makes Jacob and Bellas relationship different is that Jacob is a wolf. Yes he morphs into a wolf. But that’s not it, he is also in love with Bella although she doesn’t feel the same way. Bella decides she can’t stand life without Edward and goes to find him with the help of his sister Alice. This book was a page turner and I couldn’t put it down. I think Bella is a little dramatic when Edward leaves considering she lays in the woods until the police had to come find her! I wish New Moon had a different ending instead of them going back home and everything being dandy like a fairy tale because this book is different than many others and needed a different ending. Otherwise I enjoyed reading New Moon.

Act 1 Scene 1 is focused around 1 main subject, a check. But first we discover there are three generations living under one roof. This includes “Mama” , Beneatha, Walter, Travis and Ruth. I can’t understand how they survived because if that were my house I would have been long gone. But some how they all stayed and we find out about  a large check coming for Mama worth $10,000. Everyone has there own way they want to spend it. Mama wants to spend it on a new house for the family considering the one they live in is extremely small. Beneatha wants to put it toward a fund for college because she has a dream of becoming a doctor. And finally Walter wants to invest in a liquor company while Ruth thinks that it is Mamas money so she should do what she wants with it. I completely agree with Ruth since it is Mamas money. I think Walter and Beneatha are being selfish because they are using the money for themselves while buying a new house would benefit the whole family.

By the end of the book things still haven’t changed, Laura still fragile after being lied to by Jim. Money is still an issue, for example when Tom didn’t pay the electric bill and Amanda is still criticizing Tom after Jim left Laura and she claimed Tom knew Jimwas engaged. In the final scene the symbolism between Laura and her glass collection is blunt when Jim compares Laura to the broken unicorn. I was still uninterested throughout the book.

Scene 5 is focused around Amanda and Tom. The scene begins with Amanda yet again criticizing Tom but this time about his looks and how much he smokes. They move out onto the fire escape where they wish on the moon. Amanda confesses her wish is success and happiness for her children which shows even that she is a very critical person she is also very caring. Tom then brings up the gentleman caller that he has found for Laura even though she wants no part in it. I predict that Laura will be kind to Mr. O’Connor because so far she is not a rude person.

Scene 6: Amanda and Laura begin getting ready for Mr.O’Connors visit. When Amanda is getting ready we can tell she is trying to relive her childhood by wearing the dress she wore when her gentlemen callers came and bringing up many old memories. When Jim O’Connor arrives Laura wants no part of meeting him because she went to high school with him. When they try to sit down and eat dinner Laura still won’t come until her mother forces her to. I don’t think Laura will be very social during and after dinner considering she didn’t even want to answer the door when Jim came.