Book Marks Responce
This is the first reading that we have done so far that I really disliked. There was just to much going on in the essay that annoyed me and made me want to stop reading. The woman in the essay is essential using this book of poems to analyze and look at her own life but she keeps insisting that she is looking at the life of another. I can understand this plot or idea that this is what she’s doing. What annoys is not that she doesn’t see this but rather that she feels he can deduce a persons entire life from what they underlined or wrote in the margins of a book of poems. I also disliked the transition between the library book of poems and what was going on in her life but I guess that’s because I just don’t think in the way necessary to see that transition as fitting together.
I did enjoy parts of the reading though such as the paragraph at the bottom of 109 about having your reading interrupted when you are totally engrossed in it. “You won’t be able to put it down. Booksellers claim as they ring up your purchase. But of course you do, you must.” I thought this was a really good line because it describes the annoyance of having to put down a book your interested in so well. I also liked the line “The world lifted her veil and showed her whole self”. I really liked the imagery here and the metaphor for awakening to the world and what’s going on as whole as well as the casting off of depression. Over all though I just didn’t really like this reading. Blue machinery and some of the other readings were much more appealing to me.
I also enjoyed the quote on page 109. I thought it was realy orignal and for the most part oddly true.
>>There was just to much going on in the essay that annoyed me and made me want to stop reading.<<
I totally agree! At first, I couldn’t figure out how I felt about it, but after reflecting on the essay as a whole, I realized that I didn’t walk away with much, even when there was so much information included! I think that McClanahan should have narrowed it down to one or two ideas (that were relevant to each other) and focused only on them.
Yes, there’s a lot in her piece. Yet I feel that it all fits–the kind of contemplation of her life and this mystery woman’s life. It makes me want to read more about Denise Levertov as a poet–and to read that poem too. She’s creating a situation where we see her see herself in a poem. It’s like looking in a mirror with a mirror–continual and unending images.
Megan
I agree there is alot in this piece, but Im suprised you did not like it at all. Maybe you would have enjoyed it better if you were reading it for fun, instead of having to analyze it. It did become confusing at times, but thats what I found brilliant about it.