This book is a nonfiction about the author, James McBride's life and his mother, Ruth's life. The story switches every chapter, from James's life and his mothers. Throughout the story, James is conflicted because he is African-American and his mother is Caucasian. When he asks her what color God is, she says "God is the Color of Water." Thus the title. Throughout the whole book, James, his mother, his siblings, and his half-siblings deal with the pressures of being a multi-racial family. James and all of his siblings even though his mother just barely makes enough to keep them alive, puts all twelve of her children through college and allows them to become doctors, professors, teachers, composers, and scientists. On the other side of the story, Ruth's life is described, born to Jewish Polish immigrants in Virginia. Her father is a Rabbi, obsessed with money, hates black people, doesn't care for his family, divorces his wife but still lives with her, and hates his children. Her mother is a frail women with polio. Ruth (Rachel at the time) obviously falls in love with a black boy, becomes pregnant, but before her father finds out her mother sends Ruth to her aunt. She gets an abortion, one of the worst experience of her life. She then separates from her family, living with her somewhat, making little money moving from job to job. After a few events, she meets Andrew "Dennis" McBride. She gets to know him, and after Ruth quits an awful job that she thought was good, she falls in love and marries him. They have seven kids, but Dennis gets sick after a while, and Ruth is pregnant with James. Dennis dies after Ruth and the children visit him. She finds out for the first time that he had cancer. She gets remarried later, having more children, the the second husband dies. The book ends with James uncovering his mothers past, helping her meet lost friends and family, and discussing the accomplishments of her twelve children.
"The Color of Water [will] make you proud to be a member of the human race." -Mirabella
The real conflict in this story is one that started thousands of years ago. "Why do I look different from those people?" James doesn't understand in his early years why his mother is so different in looks from him. His mother wants everyone to know that black people are no different, and hates racism. They all go through life with this problem. Another conflict is the conflict Ruth has as she raises her children, losing two husbands, barely making enough to keep her family stable, but she overcomes this conflict. The story shows how true sacrifice pays off in the end.
"There are probably a hundred reasons why Ruthie should have stayed on the Jewish side instead of taking New Jersey transit and the F train to go to a Christian church in Red Hook, Brooklyn, with her shvartse children and friends, and I'm sure the Old Testament lists them all, but I'm glad she came over to the African-American side."
This book really made me think. About the three Inalienable rights, Life Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. About equality. Simply about life. The book shows the struggles this one amazing woman overcomes to give her family the best life she possibly can and her son's comprehension of life under his mother who lived differently than others. The book was a great read, teaching mean some lessons of life that are hard to comprehend. I would definently recommend it to other readers.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Bass of Lake Spofford
In life, people find that there are mental effects an item has as well as Physical effects. Things that we have everyday can be our most prized possession. Our minds eye see these things as if there worth vast amounts of money. In many ways, those things in life that don’t have any value are the most valuable things a person can have. In many other ways, those things that have value can be valuable to us, but not in the ways people believe.
One item that I value in life is my Bass. My Bass shows how I can express what I believe through the different elements of music. It is a Rickenbocker 4003 bass, with two pickups, mono and stereo outputs, and a really great truss rod design. It is worth $1600. That is not the reason I love this bass. It just feels right to play it. The way I run my fingers along the surface of the strings, it makes my fingers blister and calices. I don’t feel any pain. I just feel the body of the bass in my fingers. The bass came to me from my uncle, who got it from his brother, who paid $800 for it from some crazy Rush fan who carved his name and social security number into the pickup plate. The bass came with an amplifier, a few chords, a strap, and a hard case. Every little trait about this bass is great. The strings, which have been on there for twenty or so years, are still in great condition. I had one string break in my three years of having this bass, but it was easy fixing. When I got the replacement strings, I saw a Hofner bass, (Paul McCartney is a well known user of it) and I asked the store manager to play it, but when it was placed in my hands, I didn’t feel the warmth I felt with my Rickenbocker. The Hofner was too light, small, and perfectly shaped. I can’t put another bass in my hand without missing the Rickenbocker that came from Alex Higgins, 019-….
In my life, I have gone to Spofford Lake in New Hampshire every summer. One moment in those fifteen years that really stuck out to me was on the Fourth of July (2007), when we all go out in the boat parade and throw water balloons and shoot water guns at other boats. We went in our cousins’ boat this particular year, and they have a ski tower on which he cleverly set up two catapults for water balloons, and we dominated. We had a great time, in the process nailing a bunch of annoying college kids who tried to flip our smaller boat last year. We took on the guys who use fire hoses, hitting quite a few people in the process. Afterwards, we went to our cousins’ house and had dinner, and we hung out all night, playing games, Rock Band, and just having fun. The times we have up at the lake are really important to me, because there are so many things I can do up there. I feel like I am free up there, with no worries or concerns, and time is not a matter to me.
My bass has also been involved at my lake house. This past summer one of the most fun times of my life occurred with my bass at my lake house. In mid July, we decided to play as two bands for a day. We played five set lists. I played in every song. We set up large amplifiers on our patch of beach on the right side of the lawn, two PA speakers on the edge, we took two old docks, connected them, and placed drums and the PA control on them, and we put wood on the beach to keep our shoes from spreading sand into the foot pedals. The bass amp is right behind me, and as I play, I feel the smooth, heavy rhythm of the bass combining with the warm summer sun and the lakes cool breeze against my body, and everything feels alright. It was one of the greatest feelings in the world.
I value both my bass and my time at my lake house. They both reflect the kind of person I am. I like being with the people I love to be with at my lake house, which is separate from cities and businesses, and just to separate myself from the world and go to the rhythm of the music thundering through my ears. As much as I value solitude and peace of mind, when it becomes too much, it is more a sin than a virtue. So I even though I cannot have this feeling whenever I want, I believe that the separation from this feeling greatens my value for it, because it is an award for time spent without the feeling of playing the Rickenbocker bass or being at my lake house in the summer.
In life, people find that there are mental effects an item has as well as Physical effects. Things that we have everyday can be our most prized possession. Our minds eye see these things as if there worth vast amounts of money. In many ways, those things in life that don’t have any value are the most valuable things a person can have. In many other ways, those things that have value can be valuable to us, but not in the ways people believe.
One item that I value in life is my Bass. My Bass shows how I can express what I believe through the different elements of music. It is a Rickenbocker 4003 bass, with two pickups, mono and stereo outputs, and a really great truss rod design. It is worth $1600. That is not the reason I love this bass. It just feels right to play it. The way I run my fingers along the surface of the strings, it makes my fingers blister and calices. I don’t feel any pain. I just feel the body of the bass in my fingers. The bass came to me from my uncle, who got it from his brother, who paid $800 for it from some crazy Rush fan who carved his name and social security number into the pickup plate. The bass came with an amplifier, a few chords, a strap, and a hard case. Every little trait about this bass is great. The strings, which have been on there for twenty or so years, are still in great condition. I had one string break in my three years of having this bass, but it was easy fixing. When I got the replacement strings, I saw a Hofner bass, (Paul McCartney is a well known user of it) and I asked the store manager to play it, but when it was placed in my hands, I didn’t feel the warmth I felt with my Rickenbocker. The Hofner was too light, small, and perfectly shaped. I can’t put another bass in my hand without missing the Rickenbocker that came from Alex Higgins, 019-….
In my life, I have gone to Spofford Lake in New Hampshire every summer. One moment in those fifteen years that really stuck out to me was on the Fourth of July (2007), when we all go out in the boat parade and throw water balloons and shoot water guns at other boats. We went in our cousins’ boat this particular year, and they have a ski tower on which he cleverly set up two catapults for water balloons, and we dominated. We had a great time, in the process nailing a bunch of annoying college kids who tried to flip our smaller boat last year. We took on the guys who use fire hoses, hitting quite a few people in the process. Afterwards, we went to our cousins’ house and had dinner, and we hung out all night, playing games, Rock Band, and just having fun. The times we have up at the lake are really important to me, because there are so many things I can do up there. I feel like I am free up there, with no worries or concerns, and time is not a matter to me.
My bass has also been involved at my lake house. This past summer one of the most fun times of my life occurred with my bass at my lake house. In mid July, we decided to play as two bands for a day. We played five set lists. I played in every song. We set up large amplifiers on our patch of beach on the right side of the lawn, two PA speakers on the edge, we took two old docks, connected them, and placed drums and the PA control on them, and we put wood on the beach to keep our shoes from spreading sand into the foot pedals. The bass amp is right behind me, and as I play, I feel the smooth, heavy rhythm of the bass combining with the warm summer sun and the lakes cool breeze against my body, and everything feels alright. It was one of the greatest feelings in the world.
I value both my bass and my time at my lake house. They both reflect the kind of person I am. I like being with the people I love to be with at my lake house, which is separate from cities and businesses, and just to separate myself from the world and go to the rhythm of the music thundering through my ears. As much as I value solitude and peace of mind, when it becomes too much, it is more a sin than a virtue. So I even though I cannot have this feeling whenever I want, I believe that the separation from this feeling greatens my value for it, because it is an award for time spent without the feeling of playing the Rickenbocker bass or being at my lake house in the summer.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Book Review
Ender's Game is a book by Orson Scott Card that is about Ender Wiggin, who is a child genius that is selected by government officials to stop alien invaders from invading Earth. He goes through battle camp, excelling in everything, beating all the hardest challenges after many attempts. Ender's evil brother, Peter, is taking over earth, and wants Ender to return under his control. At the end of the book, after training with Mazer Rackham, Ender supposedly defeats the buggers. He lives on a new planet until he finds what's left of the buggers. Ender goes to the Queen of the buggers and communicates through thought to find that she is only trying to find a new planet for her people to live on and that she is very sorry for what she has done. Ender then makes it his mission to find her a home.
"Enders's Game is a guaranteed crowd pleaser." - Ben Bova.
In Ender's Game, Ender is portrayed as a young, self-consciences boy who is trying to understand who he is. He wishes to be the best at battle school, but he also wants to see his sister again. The conflict here really caught my interest, because it shows that Ender can easily have one of these things, but he cannot have both. Card shows that even though the main character is genius, he has his problems. He also feels guilt after his defeat of the buggers, believing he had ended their entire existence. Ender's Game allows readers to see that even the mind of a child genius has its problems.
"I'll carry you." said Ender [to the hive queen] "I'll go from world to world until I find a time and a place where you can come awake in safety. And I'll tell your story to my people, so that perhaps in time they can forgive you to. The way that you've forgiven me."
This book as probably the strangest reading experience I've ever had. I read the book, found it dull, because I very close-minded to this genre type. But as I re-read it to comprehend any details I missed, I found that I really respected the writing style. Card is abrupt with his tone, not giving long, dull explanations on what is occurring. Ender gives the rest of his life to the last remaining queen of the buggers, to help her find a new home. In the end, I decided that if your going to read science fiction, Ender's Game should be #1 on your list.
"Enders's Game is a guaranteed crowd pleaser." - Ben Bova.
In Ender's Game, Ender is portrayed as a young, self-consciences boy who is trying to understand who he is. He wishes to be the best at battle school, but he also wants to see his sister again. The conflict here really caught my interest, because it shows that Ender can easily have one of these things, but he cannot have both. Card shows that even though the main character is genius, he has his problems. He also feels guilt after his defeat of the buggers, believing he had ended their entire existence. Ender's Game allows readers to see that even the mind of a child genius has its problems.
"I'll carry you." said Ender [to the hive queen] "I'll go from world to world until I find a time and a place where you can come awake in safety. And I'll tell your story to my people, so that perhaps in time they can forgive you to. The way that you've forgiven me."
This book as probably the strangest reading experience I've ever had. I read the book, found it dull, because I very close-minded to this genre type. But as I re-read it to comprehend any details I missed, I found that I really respected the writing style. Card is abrupt with his tone, not giving long, dull explanations on what is occurring. Ender gives the rest of his life to the last remaining queen of the buggers, to help her find a new home. In the end, I decided that if your going to read science fiction, Ender's Game should be #1 on your list.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Other Fighter
The Contender - Alfred Brooks
How I Live Now - Daisy
New York City
Daisy had been in the hospital for some amount of months, slowly dying emotionally from loss. When she was released, because they weren’t sure of what her medical problem was, she found herself living in New York. She was isolated, separated from those in England she loved. She had to live with her father who didn’t even care about her, her stepmother who believed she was a worthless waste of money, and her half sister, who was very conceited. She soon left, and found a job, but couldn’t save up enough money to get her to England anytime soon. She was incredibly sad.
Alfred Brooks, on the other hand, was in better spirits because he was starting at Donatelli’s gym, boxing. He was finally becoming somebody, not just a street bum, and plus, he was get time away from Major and Hollis and everyone else because they’d been after him since he accidentally didn’t mention the alarm when he accidentally relayed them information about the store where Alfred worked. So they tried to rob the store, and his friend James was the only one who got caught. He was getting better.
Then one day while Alfred was running and Daisy was strolling glumly through the park, Alfred accidentally ran into Daisy. Daisy, with incredible instincts because of the war immediately, but accidentally gave him a hard punch in the stomach. Alfred doubled-over in pain, Daisy, realizing what she had done, went to help him.
He asked her “How did you punch that hard when you’re that thin?”
Daisy replied, “I was in England during the War.”
“That was really a good punch, have you ever tried boxing?”
“No, I really just want to get back to England to see my cousins again. I don’t do anything except try to get money for a passport and transportation.”
“Why don’t you just ask your parents for some money or something?” Alfred asked.
“They wouldn’t bother giving me anything at all, not even food sometimes. But I don’t care. I don’t live with them, and once I’m gone, I am not coming back for anything.”
“Well if you need money, come to Donatelli’s gym and start boxing it will take a few weeks, but you’ll get to fight in a real fight and with one win, you should get enough money from sponsors. My first fight should be soon.” said Alfred.
“What time do I have to go to this gym?” Daisy asked.
“Whatever works for you. Mr. Donatelli is pretty stern, but Bud and Henry will be good to you.”
Daisy started at the gym and the first thing Mr. Donatelli said to her is that she needs to eat healthy, but not nothing at all, because anorexia and bulimia weaken a fighter inside and out. Next he asked her why she was depressed. She wondered how he knew all this, maybe Alfred had told him, but Alfred knew only that she yearned to see her cousins, and that she had been there during the war, but nothing else. It was strange, as if he knew everything about her without knowing anything at all. She lied and said she was having a hard time with money, which, generally speaking, was true, but that was a very small reason for sadness. She talked a little more, set up her time, and started training.
Alfred trained, waiting for news about his soon to be first fight, but it did not come. Bud and Henry kept telling him it would come soon, but he was not reassured. The finally, Mr. Donatelli came over to him and said “You’ll be fighting, but winning will depend on all three fights.”
“What?” Alfred asked sure that he had misunderstood Donatelli.
“You, Jelly, and Daisy are going to fight against three fighters from a different gym. It’s just exhibition, money from sponsors is really all we get, but it’s good practice. Best two out of three wins.”
“Bu-” Alfred just caught himself before saying Daisy was to inexperienced, because he knew this was probably her one shot at getting the money she needed, and he didn’t want to cancel his first fight.
Daisy was scared for the fight, she’d only had three weeks of training, which she hated, and the girl she was fighting was a massive girl who won 4/5 fights on average. But all she could think about was England, Piper and Isaac, but most of all Edmond.
Alfred was nervous too, but his opponent had less experience than Daisy’s, but won 9/10 fights on average. He had to be ready.
The fighter against Jelly was very skilled, and just won in the sixth round. That meant both Daisy and Alfred would have to win.
Daisy was up first. Alfred told her “This girls strong, but she’s slow. Hit her in the body then mix it up with some combinations.”
Daisy got in the ring. She saw the sponsors watching with a sort of impatient, annoyed look like Davina, her step mom. Then the bell rang, and she was hit with a punch that knocked her off her feet. She got back up, made a punch combo on the girl’s stomach, which sounded like the gunfire she’d heard during the war. It was strange thinking about that now, and it didn’t help her because her momentary distraction allowed the other girl to send another punch, this time to the face. Daisy stayed standing, but she knew she was seconds from losing. But she’d survived the war, survived the terrible conditions, so this should be nothing. She sent a bullet-like combo and the other girl fell, and did not get up. When the time was up, she helped the other girl up. She realized that now she could see Piper, Isaac, and most of all Edmond. But Alfred still had to win his fight.
Alfred really wanted to impress Donatelli in this fight, so he did everything he could do. But this kid was better. The first round both gave equal effort and skills, second round was really good for Alfred, but third round went to the other fighter. Then finally in the fourth round, Alfred knew it was all up to him to impress Donatelli, and help Daisy get to her goal he sent a punch at the other fighter’s cheek that knocked him out. It was strange, as he was horrified and hated at what he had done, but glad that he did it.
So Daisy was given the sponsor money, and she was going to leave for England. Alfred was glad he’d helped her, but still uneasy about fighting after that night. Daisy thanked Alfred for his help, and wished him luck as a fighter. And they both parted ways.
How I Live Now - Daisy
New York City
Daisy had been in the hospital for some amount of months, slowly dying emotionally from loss. When she was released, because they weren’t sure of what her medical problem was, she found herself living in New York. She was isolated, separated from those in England she loved. She had to live with her father who didn’t even care about her, her stepmother who believed she was a worthless waste of money, and her half sister, who was very conceited. She soon left, and found a job, but couldn’t save up enough money to get her to England anytime soon. She was incredibly sad.
Alfred Brooks, on the other hand, was in better spirits because he was starting at Donatelli’s gym, boxing. He was finally becoming somebody, not just a street bum, and plus, he was get time away from Major and Hollis and everyone else because they’d been after him since he accidentally didn’t mention the alarm when he accidentally relayed them information about the store where Alfred worked. So they tried to rob the store, and his friend James was the only one who got caught. He was getting better.
Then one day while Alfred was running and Daisy was strolling glumly through the park, Alfred accidentally ran into Daisy. Daisy, with incredible instincts because of the war immediately, but accidentally gave him a hard punch in the stomach. Alfred doubled-over in pain, Daisy, realizing what she had done, went to help him.
He asked her “How did you punch that hard when you’re that thin?”
Daisy replied, “I was in England during the War.”
“That was really a good punch, have you ever tried boxing?”
“No, I really just want to get back to England to see my cousins again. I don’t do anything except try to get money for a passport and transportation.”
“Why don’t you just ask your parents for some money or something?” Alfred asked.
“They wouldn’t bother giving me anything at all, not even food sometimes. But I don’t care. I don’t live with them, and once I’m gone, I am not coming back for anything.”
“Well if you need money, come to Donatelli’s gym and start boxing it will take a few weeks, but you’ll get to fight in a real fight and with one win, you should get enough money from sponsors. My first fight should be soon.” said Alfred.
“What time do I have to go to this gym?” Daisy asked.
“Whatever works for you. Mr. Donatelli is pretty stern, but Bud and Henry will be good to you.”
Daisy started at the gym and the first thing Mr. Donatelli said to her is that she needs to eat healthy, but not nothing at all, because anorexia and bulimia weaken a fighter inside and out. Next he asked her why she was depressed. She wondered how he knew all this, maybe Alfred had told him, but Alfred knew only that she yearned to see her cousins, and that she had been there during the war, but nothing else. It was strange, as if he knew everything about her without knowing anything at all. She lied and said she was having a hard time with money, which, generally speaking, was true, but that was a very small reason for sadness. She talked a little more, set up her time, and started training.
Alfred trained, waiting for news about his soon to be first fight, but it did not come. Bud and Henry kept telling him it would come soon, but he was not reassured. The finally, Mr. Donatelli came over to him and said “You’ll be fighting, but winning will depend on all three fights.”
“What?” Alfred asked sure that he had misunderstood Donatelli.
“You, Jelly, and Daisy are going to fight against three fighters from a different gym. It’s just exhibition, money from sponsors is really all we get, but it’s good practice. Best two out of three wins.”
“Bu-” Alfred just caught himself before saying Daisy was to inexperienced, because he knew this was probably her one shot at getting the money she needed, and he didn’t want to cancel his first fight.
Daisy was scared for the fight, she’d only had three weeks of training, which she hated, and the girl she was fighting was a massive girl who won 4/5 fights on average. But all she could think about was England, Piper and Isaac, but most of all Edmond.
Alfred was nervous too, but his opponent had less experience than Daisy’s, but won 9/10 fights on average. He had to be ready.
The fighter against Jelly was very skilled, and just won in the sixth round. That meant both Daisy and Alfred would have to win.
Daisy was up first. Alfred told her “This girls strong, but she’s slow. Hit her in the body then mix it up with some combinations.”
Daisy got in the ring. She saw the sponsors watching with a sort of impatient, annoyed look like Davina, her step mom. Then the bell rang, and she was hit with a punch that knocked her off her feet. She got back up, made a punch combo on the girl’s stomach, which sounded like the gunfire she’d heard during the war. It was strange thinking about that now, and it didn’t help her because her momentary distraction allowed the other girl to send another punch, this time to the face. Daisy stayed standing, but she knew she was seconds from losing. But she’d survived the war, survived the terrible conditions, so this should be nothing. She sent a bullet-like combo and the other girl fell, and did not get up. When the time was up, she helped the other girl up. She realized that now she could see Piper, Isaac, and most of all Edmond. But Alfred still had to win his fight.
Alfred really wanted to impress Donatelli in this fight, so he did everything he could do. But this kid was better. The first round both gave equal effort and skills, second round was really good for Alfred, but third round went to the other fighter. Then finally in the fourth round, Alfred knew it was all up to him to impress Donatelli, and help Daisy get to her goal he sent a punch at the other fighter’s cheek that knocked him out. It was strange, as he was horrified and hated at what he had done, but glad that he did it.
So Daisy was given the sponsor money, and she was going to leave for England. Alfred was glad he’d helped her, but still uneasy about fighting after that night. Daisy thanked Alfred for his help, and wished him luck as a fighter. And they both parted ways.
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