Hello partners,Suleman here,does anyone have an idea of what the old lady means by the quote''As long as you do not have work in the fields,it does not matter that i will never learn to read that ragged old Bible under my pillow''?it does sound interesting but i don't really understand what she is trying to say here. please take a look at page 4 at the end of the second paragraph.id be glad if someone translate this quote the way it's not beyond my comprehension.
Hi Suleman,I took a look at page four and I read the quote that you didn't understand and I have my own personal analysis of this quote. If you look at page four at the beginning of the paragraph Tante Atie was telling her niece about how when she was younger she didn't have the privelege to go to school. All she did was work in the fields and cut cane. She wasn't able to enjoy her childhood like her niece is able to. That quote was all in response to her niece complaining about going to school. That's why Tante Atie said that her niece is accomplishing something that she was never able to accomplish-learning how to read. That's why she is saying everything that she has been through like working in the fields and not learning how to read the bible under her pillow,is all worth it as long as her niece never has to go through what she's been through. That's my analysis of this quote. I hope this helps you understand.
This in an outstanding analysis just as i requested now i understand everything.So this was all about something she never had in the past that now existed in the present, but then it was too late for her to accomplish it anyway. Thanks for the response i gladly appreciate it. I was also focused on these following theorist questions such as who has power? who did not? who is being exploited and what motivates the characters? I have been reading up to page 40 but i haven't come up with anything if anyone find an answer to this questions please share with me or tell me what page to look at.
Hey Suleman,after reading your what you were thinking it gave the book more meaning to me. The question Bria answered helped me understand the quote just a little bit more. Also the fact that you are asking the question about who has the power, who does not, and what motivates the main character, have all helped me to question the book just a little it more. To ask what is the main reason for these words on the page. thinking about who actually has the power I thin when I first read it I thought maybe it was Monsieur Augustin, mainly because he had a wife, he got kids to clean his yard for him, and he has the respect of the community. But thinking about it I want to say it's Sophie. Sophie has the power because she can read, her aunt respects her and wants her to do her best in school. And everybody and now look up to Sophie now that she is gone, and living in New York. This will give them inspiration, in my opinion. What I think motivates Sophie is love. The love o her aunt/mother helps her to believe that she can do anything, the love of her grandmother helps her tot believe that everyone deserves a second chance and one she gets to know her mother a little bit more then she will motivates Sophie to do well too.But I think those who does not have power might just be Sophie's mother, and her aunt. They didn't follow their dreams of being doctors and getting of there together. Who knows they might just change im not that far ahead of you in the book.
I myself was wondering how can Breath,Eyes,Memory be looked at from a social class Theorist perspective.At first I also thought it was the Augustin's because on page 11 Tante Atie says thats only someone with a profession for example Monsieur Augustin could afford a house like the one they lived in. But after reading whats Alexus wrote I have a better understanding of who has power and agree with what she has said. I thought that when one is asked who has power its looked at in a way of who in the book has the money but in this case it is it more on who has the knowledge. Thanks Alexus
I just finished reading chapter one of Breath,Eyes,Memory. I found the first chapter very interesting and in this first chapter there was alot of foreshadowing of an ominous situation. The way Tante Atie kept it a secret from her niece that her mother wants to take her back and take full responsibilty of her was kind of suspicious. I don't understand why she would keep something so important from her.While reading the first chapter I also didn't understand why all of a sudden the mother wants to take full responsibilty of her child? What has changed in the mothers life to make her want to make this decision? Will this even turn out to be a good decision? I was also able to make text to self connections while reading chapter one. I understand why Tante Atie is so hard on her niece and why she wants her niece to do well in school and learn how to read because she never was capable of doing it herself. I can relate to this because most of the time my mom does the same thing to me. She puts alot of pressure on me to obtain certain things in life that she wasn't able to obtain. I look forward to reading more of this book and finding out the answers to my questions.
(From Amber M.) Bria I completely agree with your analysis to the first couple of pages to the book. I can also relate to your text to world connection. At times my mother puts much pressure so that I can't strive and have better then she and my family did because of the fact that they didn't take advantage of the opportunities they had. Like Sophie I sometimes wonder if the pressure is really necessary but then I stop and think that it all comes from a good place. I also questioned why Tante decided to keep the message from Sophie s mother too her. Perhaps she was trying to protect her from information she isn't ready to reveal or was it for her own selfish reasoning ? Maybe she just needed some time to take in what was happening. Although we may not understand Tante's character right now, maybe we should attempt to put our selves in her position and then reevaluate her decision to keep the message from Sophie. I can't imagine how hurt she was to let go of her after having her for so many years, basically raising her as a child of her own. I'm excited to find out the true reasoning on why all of a sudden Sophie s mother wants her home, but I guess we'll just have to read on and see!
I'm up to chapter 7 of Breath,Eyes,Memory. So fa all the questions i had in the beginning of the book as been answered.Me and my group was reading the other day and we were all questioning why they were speaking french. I remember when we got to pick out the book the description said that she was Dominican. I was wrong about that it turns out that she is actually Haitian. I found that out in chapter 7.It makes scene that's why she speaks french. I loved the quote Tante Atie said in chapter 4 "we must be strong like mountains." The thing that shocks me about her is that she is so wise but has never read a book a day in her life. She's a great mother figure to Sophie, but I cant help but wonder is she hiding something? I say this because when before Sophie left she let Sophie use this cup that said "je t'ame de tout mon coure" which means "i love you very much" but it came from Monsieur Augustin. This become questionable because when Sophie reached over to read a not attached to it her Tante, snatches away from her. that raises a question for me to ask, is there something going on with Atie and Augustin? After all he is married. I actually can't wait to read some more the book is really getting good now.
Hey partners, sorry I'm late but I'm up to chapter 9 of Breath,Eyes,Memory. I would need you guys to help me find the meaning of this quote in chapter 5 that says "The sun crawled across our faces as the car sped into Port-au-Prince". Well my idea about this quote is that, maybe the sun was shining when they reached Port-au-Prince and I think Atie and Augustin are having an affair in a secrete way because of how misogynistic he is to the one he had already married.
I have just finished reading a few chapters of Breath,Eyes,Memory.I am now on Chapter 6 and i actually find the book to be very interesting.As i read the first chapter i was very addled ,it was unclear to me why Tante Atie would not take the letter that Sophie made her for Mother's Day , after all the one you call your mother is the one who has raised you right? As i continued to read and found out what the card actually said I still didn't understand why Atie still insisted that Sophie gave it to her mother if what was said in the card was clearly about her.I also has some questions about the relationship with Sophie and her mother. Why would her mother suddenly want her daughter to move out to New York after so long of being apart from her? I also took noticed that Sophie's grandmother & Tante Atie were trying to persuade Sophie that her mother is a great person and that she is a friend to her.But I was wondering why they continued to repeat themselves is Sophie's mother really like this or is this a way the author was trying to foreshadow an upcoming event ?
I have just finished reading a couple of chapters. This book seems a little more interesting to me now. When I read the first couple of chapters I wondered why tante atie kept that secret from sophie.
Indeed,that was true alexus and here i was also thinking that it was mosieur augustin because, he is happy married and judging from the description his house it sounds like he is rich too but, after reading your response, i finally realized that money isn't the power in this play, but knowledge is. Now that i think about it sophie has something that both her mother and tanti aunti never had and that means she can do something with that power to succeed. thanks for taking your time to respond to my request.
(From Amber M.) Finally, I managed to put everything aside today (Sunday) and just lay in bed and give this book a try. I have to say though I didn't have the opportunity to choose a book of my own, I am very happy that Ms.Lambert did for me. Not only those the book appeal to my liking, but it shows that she took the time to get to know me as an individual to know what things actually interest me. Though me and my group made the decision of reading 8 pages a day, I can't help but want to read more! I just finished reading up to the middle of chapter six, and I have to say I didn't want to put the book down! Tante Antie (Sophie's aunt) seems to be very complacent with the person she has become. I say this because I realize one of the things she constantly converses about is her lack of education, but then I can't help but wonder how a women with such wisom, advice and form of expanded vocabulary could claim she is informally "uneducated". Something else that caught my attention was the implicit relationship that Tante and Monsieur Augustin share.chapter one page fifteen "she kept her eyes on the Augustin's house. The main light in their bedroom was lit. Their bodies were silhouetted on the ruffled curtains blowing in the night breeze. Monsieur Augustin sat in a rocking chair by the window. His wife sat on his lap as she unlaced her long braid of black hair. Monsieur Augustin brushed the hair draped like a silk blanket down Madame Augustin's back. When he was done, Monsieur Augustin got up to undress. Then slowly, Madame Augustin took off her day clothes and slipped into a long-sleeved night gown. Their laughter rose in the night as they tunbled into bed.tante Antie kept looking at the window even after all signs of the aaAugustins had faded into the night". This quote makes me believe that Tante antie probably shared a mendacious relatiosnhip where the love just never ended. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
After avoiding this book, I have finally started to read. Already I have found a character that is interesting to me, and thats Sophie's aunt Tante Atie. She seems like she has a mystery to her and I would not mind finding out. I noticed even though she is Sophie's guardian at the time she does not want to get emotionally involved. I can say this because when Sophie tried to give her a mother's day card she refused the card. She insisted that it was for Sophie's mom who was not around. But I noticed she became sad after she refused the card..
Hello fellow bloggers. I am up to chapter nine, page 71 in the book Breath,Eyes,Memory. I am starting to like this book more and more because the book is starting to get more interesting. All of the questions that I had when I started reading the book have now been answered. I finally realized why Sophie's mother sent Sophie away to live with her aunt since infancy. Sophie's mother was raped and Sophie is a product of that rape and I guess Sophie's mother couldn't bare to cope with seeing the face of her rapist when she looked at Sophie. I just don't understand why she changed her mind now all of a sudden and now wants Sophie to live with her in New York? I sort of feel bad for Sophie because if I was her I would feel unwanted by my mother and have some sort of resentment towards her. My emotions are now getting involved with the book and that's when you know a book is getting good. I was also introduced to a new character in the book named Marc, Sophie's Mother's boyfriend. I can't really read Marc just yet but I sense something really fishy about him. I don't feel like he is sincere in anything he says or does and I feel like he has something up his sleeve. I don't know, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but that's just my intuition kicking in. I was also introduced to another new character, Joseph. He is the older guy that Sophie is crushing on(at this time Sophie is 18 years old). I feel like Joseph is going to be no good for Sophie. I think he is going to cause tension between her and her mother, since her mother is always telling her to stay away from boys. He can only cause more problems for them that they don't need right now since they are probably still trying to build and work on their relationship. I am going to continue to read on,feel free to tell me what you guys think about these new characters.
yes! Bria, about all that rapping thing, Sophie's father never turned out to be how i expected him to be. After reading chapter 8, I was totally infuriated because, when i found out that Sophie's mother was raped it makes me feel nothing but repugnance toward men. Now Sophie is going be among the category that do not know their father's name. I asked myself, how can a man be capable of doing such a thing, and it also makes me apply to the ''Gender Theory'', because i don't get it why men always belittle women for their own satisfaction like they're some kind of tool, and turn their back them. Why can’t it be the other way around or at least dispassionate? The way the author of this book makes flash backs in the play can really change people's attitude. Honestly, it makes men look treacherous. This is why i don't like reading books such as,''Breath,Eyes,Memory'', or Maybe i have spoken too soon. I might as well keep reading.
Yes Suleman, thank you for mentioning gender theory. When we watched "Mean Girls" in class we were asked to look at the movie through a gender lens and I noticed some things in the movie that I never really noticed before and I've watched that movie a million times. I can make a connection between the movie "Mean Girls" and Breath,Eyes,Memory based on gender theory. You are right men are somewhat always seen belittling women. The book just further proves this. The fact that Sophie's father thought it was alright to rape Sophie's mother just baffles me. He thought that since he was the man in the situation he had all the control and he took total control of that. Now that I look at the book through a gender theory lens,I take back what I said in my last post. I said that I felt resentment towards Sophie's mom for sending Sophie away to live with her aunt. I understand through a gender theory lens why her mother would send her away. Men feel like they can just do whatever they want to women and then women are left to deal with it. In this case Sophie's mother couldn't deal with the rape and I totally respect her decision of sending Sophie away. I feel like it was a good decision for her to take Sophie back since she is her daughter after all. I see Sophie's mother in a new way now.
Bria, I completely agree with your analysis! I feel like there is something funny about Marc, I don’t feel like his heart in genuinely into his relationship, I also don’t want to jump to conclusions, but he seems like the type of character to try something with Sophie, not consensually ether! I still question myself why Sophie’s mother requested her to all of a sudden live with her? Why was she not in her care from the beginning? How does she feel to now have to look at her rapist creation in the eyes every single day? I couldn’t help but wonder about this new kid Sophie was into, the bad vibe you picked from him made me question him as well. I have a fear that he might possibly attempt to rape her or force himself on her. I just hope that this time around this generation doesn’t allow the actually rape to take place.
On Wednesday I caught myself reading during class, I noticed that I was self-consciously reading because the book became a bit banal. I didn’t quite comprehend what I was reading.-I knew that I had to complete a certain amount of pages before the end of the week in order to blog- So I sucked it up and read anyways. I realized that going into pages 60 to 61 the story took sort of a shift. We (as the readers) got to know Sophie’s mother on a different level, she opened up to us in a form that makes us want to questions her serendipitous behavior. The form she asked Sophie is she was “pure” was a little peculiar to me. It was too broad and open, confusing just a bit. I was much more surprised when she “explained” how Sophie was created,” Did Atie tell you how you were born?” sort of like it was Tante Atie’s job to tell her. Her duty to explain the history behind why Sophie wasn’t living with her mother “The details are too much” she said. “But it happened like this. A man grabbed me form the side of the road, pulled me into a cane field, and put you in my body. I was still a young girl then, just barely older than you.” Maybe she could have explained it in a different tone perhaps? I guess her experiences have shaped her into a pretty open person.
Lately I haven't been wanting to read this book because I enjoy reading books that get right to the interesting part.But after hearing from my fellow group members and Ms.Lambert that the book gets better I picked u the book to continue reading. As I read chapter six my opinion on Sophie's mother changed. I didn't seem to comprehend why a mother would just leave her child to move to another country , but when Sophie arrived she treated her with love and care as if she'd raised her all her life. She wanted nothing but the best for her. In the ending of chapter 8 I finally understood why Sophie's mother left her. She couldn't bare being in a place knowing that the child she had giving birth to was a result of her being raped by a random man. When I first read the line "But now when I look at your face i think it is true what they say. A child out of wedlock always looks like its father." I had to read it repeatedly order to get a better understand to why Sophie does look like anyone in her family. I actually began to feel bad as I read the last few lines of chapter 8 because it made me realize that Sophie's mother isn't a bad person after all . She did what was best for her child's life.
i agree with you amii. sophie's aunt is one of my favorite characters so far. she seems very focused and responsible. especially after finding out that she decided to take care after sophie to help her mother get throught whatever she was actually going through. thats what questions me the most. like , what was sophie's mother actually going through. was she a coke feen, alcoholic, or just a mother who abandoned her daughter? its confusing but i know i will soon find the answers. there are always answers. i just hope that when sophie goes back to live with her mother, that her mother shows much love to her because she's been so used to tantie always being there for her. her "real" mother would be considered as a stranger to her.
so sophie finally meets her mother. i think it good to allow her to see her at a young age because if it she was much older, most likely there would have been problems. sophie wouldve really treated her mother like a stranger (as if she was one).her mother was very happy to see her. i respect the fact that she wants sophie to attend school and become something in life. its shows she cares. i didnt exspect sophie to really speak much because its like , "why did you leave me?" . "what possessed you to leave your child w. another than yourself"? her mother needs to tell her the whole story why she did what she did.
So I read a couple more chapters tonight. I have began noticing sophie's transition for Haiti to New York. At first it seems like she doen't feel comfortable around her mother and in the new setting she's in. I don't blame sophie , because if I was her I wouldn't feel comfortable either because she doesn't know much about her mother only what people have told her. Tantie atie always defends sophie's mother and claims she was a good sister to her. So maybe she did have a good reason to leave sophie with her aunt.
As I continued to read Breath, Eyes, Memory I started to get confused . I understood that a mother would like to know if her child is “pure” but the way Sophie’s mother checked was unnecessary. As I read this part in the book I was a bit disgusted and upset, knowing that Sophie couldn’t have enough privacy. I can actually relate to this. I remember when my mother would constantly harass me asking me if I was pure .In this case I actually found it quite funny that my mother can relate to another mother in this way. As I lay in my bed I began to become more interested in the book. I loved how the story suddenly turned into a Love story; this kept me fixated on the book. I found it beautiful how she fell in love with someone who is older than her and someone who she does see as must do to his profession. What I didn’t understand was chapter 12, I didn’t quite get why Sophie compared herself to why Sophie did what she did to herself and why she compared herself to the story about the woman who walked around with blood constantly spurting out of her unbroken skin.
After thinking about it , I've come to a conclusion that Sophie compared herself to the woman and did what she did to herself to show that she has hit her breaking point. Sophie wants to live her life not the life that he mother was unable to live as a child . Sophie doesn't want to be a doctor like her mother wants her to be . she also wants to be able to be with Joseph without he mother worrying about his age , because according to Sophie age doesn't matter.
The first night at sophie's new home she awakes in the middle of the night and hears her mother shouting in her sleep. This probably foreshadows something that will happen or has happened to her mother. Even though sophie seemed like she didn't really want to a relationship with her mother she rushed to her side to see what happened to her and she was there to comfort her. I think sophie really does care about her mother and she wants her to know she's there for her.
I'm up to chapter 19 and I'm starting to see all the damage that Sophie is suffering from. She is visiting her grandmother and Tante Atie with her daughter Brigette. Her grandmother asks her why she left her husband so early on and she answers saying that it’s just a temporary vacation away from each other and that her and Joseph are have marital issues. This just proves what I said in one of my lasts posts about Sophie and her husband not working out in the long run. Sophie tells her grandmother that she is not able to fulfill her duties as a wife, sexually. She says that it is very painful for her to have sex and she doesn't enjoy it. She also says that she is ashamed of her own body and she doesn't think that anyone should see it. I think all these insecurities are caused by her mother and they are mentally affecting her. Since her mother never trusted her and was always testing to see if she was a virgin, she feels humiliated and ashamed of her own self. I don't think Sophie's and Joseph's relationship will ever get better unless Sophie decides to forgive her mother and mend their relationship because deep down inside I know Sophie wants to talk to her mother and I know, them not talking is causing her anxiety and that anxiety is causing tension between Sophie and Joseph.
I have started reading chapter 14 page 103, and i came across this interesting quote coming from Tante atie '' It is really grand as they say ,New York?''its a place were you can loss yourself easily'' This quote was significant to me because, as i analyzed this quote, I understood more about why Sophie's mother left her behind, and why Sophie couldn't spend a long time with her mother, In other words,this quote makes me feel more like i am the one in Sophie's shoes. I recall the reason why i was sent to Africa for couple of years because my mother thought if i grow up in New York i wouldn't become what she'd expect me to be. when i connected this to Sophie's story, I thought this could be the reason why Sophie's mother left her behind. As for my mother, she believe that i might loss my self or be different from the family. Therefore,she packed my stuff and sent me to my aunt in Africa but that was only when i was seven years old. For ten years i have not seen my mother and then when i came back, by then i was an adult. For some reason we kind of misunderstood each other its not like we get into arguments or anything but honestly, I just couldn't forget my aunt because she was the woman that raised me. By experiencing that i think that's why Sophie and her mother didn't get along In Brief, she doesn't have as much love for her mother as she have for Tantie Atie.
Sol, I can sort of relate to our experience with your mother. When my mother had me she was very young, too young to understand the responsibility that came with a baby- my grandmother thought it would be best if she took me under her wing for a while. Really the only time I would see my mother at that point in time was on the weekends. That soon came to an end when I turned eight. My grandmother thought it would be best if I lived with my mother because the most important points of my life were soon approaching. Since that age I have been in the care of my mother. I have to say the change till this day still affects me because I can still see the difference in care I receive and just our difference as individuals. Despite our differences though, I now fully understand my mother choices and decisions- they were for the best of the both of us.
But also you guys have to remember that "Had I know is always at last" maybe we might think that all things our parents are doing does not make any sense but it will reach a time where we will remember what they always use to tell us. Parents always insult or beat their children for doing something wrong which doesn't mean they hate us or whatever but we should sometimes be sure that they are just doing that for our own good because maybe by the time we become adults and learn from our mistakes, they have been dead and go forever.
Now that Sulemon mentioned that quote I now too have some interest in it as well. When Tante Atie asks Sophie if New York is really as grand as everyone makes it out to be, I respond to that as yes, New York is really grand and big, it's a very big city. Then once Sophie responds and says New York is a place where you can loose yourself easily, I respond to that as saying New York is such a big place that you get lost in it and you loose yourself as well so I agree with Sophie. I think Sophie is saying that because she feels that once she went to New York she lost who she really was deep down inside. Her roots are in Haiti and that's all she's ever really known so it's not like she was ever going to fully adapt to being in New York especially when she has never met her mother before. I think that Sophie said that she lost herself because she has just had a child and she is having trouble in her marriage and it's natural to feel that way since she is going through a lot right now.
It seems like i misunderstood the quote after reading your blog post Bria. I thought everything was said by Tanti Anti but, when i read your post,I understand that Tanti Anti just asked and Sophie responded. thank for adding to the quote Bria. Now i have also gotten to the part that Sophie came back home and told her grandmother that its just a temporary vacation. I thought she and Joseph have had a fight or broken up because, when her grand mother asked ''Are you having trouble with any martial duties''?''yes'' I answered honestly.''What is it?'' ''They say it is most important to a man.'' It sound to me like she and Joseph had a problem. I decided to keep reading to find out why did Sophie came back home,and then i got to a part where Sophie's grandmother asked her again if her mother tested her but Sophie called it humiliation. May be as Bria said in her last post, Sophie has faced such danger due to her mother's testing and lack of trust.
Oh for me, I already know that "with God, all things are possible" which means that I think Sophie will have her peaceful mind one day and I also think the reason why all these things have happening to her is because of poverty. Well if not, then something has been going on in their family because we all know what is going on with Sophie, we all know that she is in a sad situation. Such problems like this cannot happen to men but always women WHY? because women's rights seems to be unnecessary. Men are always seemed to be stronger than women so they can fight for their rights and freedoms. For me I will always react the same way Sophie does, her behavior shows humbleness or a modest life like me and I think I should now have a nickname called modesty. I really love this book because it was written by a victim of such unwealthy situations.
After I went back to chapter 14, the quote that says "It is really grand as they say,New York? it is a place where you can lose yourself easily" but there is many corrections to make about this quote. Bria, this quote doesn't mean the hugeness or how big New York is but rather the things that go on in it. We all bare witness that New York is a very big city but if you don't take good care, you cannot fit in which is the real meaning of this statement quoted by Tante Atie. New York is made up of different ethnic groups which means people with different cultural values but the non-believers are many. About 95% of the individuals in New York don't know their culture so they always always choose to do what ever they want. I think the reason why Sophie's mother didn't want to send her along to New York because maybe the mother herself has experienced such things before so she doesn't want her daughter to go through the same situations. Also I think we have all share significant ideas about Tante Atie's statement, this is a very strong argument within our knowledgeable team and I hope we will one-day become honest future leaders!
Chapter 15 page number 108. I should be further ahead but I've been slacking off a little bit. But so far the books had been getting good. Sophie has been getting random searches from her mom to check if she is still pure or not, she was passing them until she harmed herself and got rid of the whole "pure" idea her mother believes a women should have. That's what i find crazy that a woman has to be pure before she gets marred. I understand if the women wants to be that way but if she doesn't does that really make her a whore. I mean after her mother found out that her daughter was no longer intake she kicked her out. My biggest question would have to be does she now consider Sophie a whore? And did Sophie really want to get kicked out all along, if so why not just leave instead. Did she really have to go through all that pain? Then the book moves forward again, now Sophie is back in Haiti and visiting her aunt and grandmother, she now has a kid and she and Joseph are married .I love how the aunt is finally learning how to read, she wants better for herself. When she read the same words that Sophie wrote to her mother years ago, it let Sophie know that her aunt was always thinking of her. I found that to be really touching. But all I'm want to know now is where is Sophie's mom, does she know that Sophie has a baby and is married, and finally I really want to know is Sophie going to be the same type of mother to her child like her mother was to her?
Everyone has become a child before but has not become adult. My idea about Sophie mother's attitude is that she is kind for not allowing Sophie come to New York because she has become a child or teenager before and has also experienced it before. "Every mother knows what is right for her son or daughter" this means that it is the mother's responsibility to prevent her child from such situations like this. Ok what if she brought Sophie to New York and at the end she gets pregnant and couldn't go to school, who are we going to blame, is it the mother or Sophie herself?, no one knows what is going to happen in the future so I really agree with Sophie's mom 100%.
I Have got up to chapter 16. I can admit this book has really become very interesting. I was wondering how the relationship between Sophie and Her mother would change as she got older. Sophie's mom does alot of the things her mother did to her when she was younger to Sophie. I don't think it's right for her mother to invade her daughter's privacy by "checking" her to see if she's still a virgin. Sophie is 18 years old she should be able to make her own decisions without having to face consequences from her overprotective mother.
Sophie has become very insecure because of her mother's actions. Those test have effected the way Sophie views herself. Also it has effected her marriage with Joseph. I think Sophie's mother tested her and told her to stay pure till she was married because she didn't want her to end up like she did. But Sophie's mom should've thought about how those test would affect her daughter later on in life.
Amber baby I totally agree with you ! Even though Sophie's mother does not want her to go through the things she did she has to let Sophie learn on her on. Also Sophie's mom has to come to reality and see that Sophie is her own person not her mother. Every child has a mind of there a own. Telling them to do something that you do not want them to is like telling them to do it. The only thing a mother can do is hope that her child has taken in what you have taught them and respect themselves 100%. Therefore Sophie's mom just need to fall back. LOL
Still not wanting to read the book, I have continue to keep going some how. I've met Sophie's mom ugghhhh !!! This lady seems a little bit strange if you ask me but then again its as if she wants to belong in Sophie's life. I honestly thinks she understood the mistake she has made by walking out of Sophie's. Like we all noticed you make a mistake to learn and grow from them. I think eventually Sophie will welcome her mother with open arms. But what did through me off was the neighborhood that the mother lives in. Lets see if they can make the best out of it, sadly I will have have to continue to read in order to find out!
I’ve slacked off a bit on my reading, but I have to say what I have read is pretty crazy! going back into the ending of chapter eight when Sophie’s mother first spoke to her about “how she was created” Sophie’s mother mentioned a small method her mother used to do on her to see if she was pure. “When I was a girl, my mother used to test us to see if we were virgins. She would put her finger in our private parts and see if it would go inside.” Still around chapter fourteen to fifteen this was still going on. Sophie stuck her finger inside and unfortunately took away her “pureness”. When Sophie’s mother tested her she realized that she was no longer pure assuming that she was sexually active. As a result she kicked Sophie out of her home. I don’t really agree with this as one of her “methods of parenting”. It’s unethical that this would STILL be going- Sophie is already at ager where her privacy should be respected! Maybe Sophie’s mother still needs a few pointers on how to raise her teenage daughter.
I agree with you Amber because how you gon sit here & complain about your mother's way of doing things, but you sitting here doing the same? It was confusing because it was like I thought you didnt like it so why do it to your own daughter. Her "methods of parenting" like you said, aree really wack! She explained to Sophie that when she had turned 18, she can date. Now that Sophies in love or found a man, she wanna switch it all up & start "testing" her. That dont make no damn sense. She basically raping an adult, taking away her daughter's own "pureness". And I also find it crazy how she was telling Sophie not to mess with those "American Boys". Like, what did she mean by that? It don't matter of the race of how a guy treats a girl, it all depends on the guy & what he values. She dont make sense, everybody's different. I wonder if somebody American played her or if she's just racist.
I found it disgusting how tantie and her sister were finger popped by their own mother as children to see if they were virgins. Like, I understand she just wanted to check on her children & make sure they were worrying about the responsible things in life but they were other ways to do that. I dont know what she could've done besides that but i know that was jus over the top. Its was just very digrading. After hearing the story of Sophie's mom being raped, I feel sorry for her. She was young & didnt deserve it. Noone should ever get raped, it just aint right ! And its even more crazier because thats how Sophie was made. By an (her) unknown man (father) raping her mother. And I feel its also good that she's warning Sophie to keep away from boys so that she wont get distracted with her school work. it shows how much she cares for her daughters future.
Well Tinaya, I also found it disgusting for this kind of traditional experiment. According the Robert Hook who was a Greek scientist brought scientific idea that "every female virgin who has not been touch by a male has something like a tube containing liquid and blood in the female's v****a so if she has sex with a man, the tube will then destroy and the blood will come out as a waste".According to this idea, I think then none of them is still a virgin because those tube might be broken which doesn't make them virgins anymore.
I am now on the third part of Breathe, Eye, Memory. When Sophie goes to Haiti to visit her grandmother and her Tante Atie with her daughter Brigitte. As i began reading this part many questions began to wonder. While reading chapter 13 I was trying to put pieces together as to why Sophie's mother did not accompany them to Haiti as well. I misread chapter 13 and actually thought that Sophie's mother died when in fact i was wrong. From how chapter 12 ended i wondered if Sophie's mother was aware that Sophie had went off with Joseph has gotten marriage and if she accepted it due to his and her age difference. I also wondered if Sophie's mother has ever meet her grandchild. If not how can someone like Sophie's mother let her child go off without wondering about her or wanting to know their where bouts. especially because she was not around in her child's life ass she was growing up , what does that prove about Sophie's mother if she doesn't come around to meet her grandchild. But I am still unsure until i continue to read
As continued reading the same questions about Sophie's mother began to develop towards Sophie's Husband,Joseph. I was wondering why he wasn't in Haiti with his two girls. I thought maybe Sophie's toook this short vaction because she needed a break from her husband or maybe from what i've read because she needed a break because she felt that as a wife she needed to sleep with her Husband but it was painful for her because of what she did to herself so she can be set free from her mother. As I forced myself to continue reading i took notice of Tante Aties behavior . According to what Sophie's grandmother has said it seems like Tante Atie has changed since Sophie has been gone in both good and bad ways. Atie has finally learned to read which was something Sophie really wanted for her aunt. Bu Atie has also gone off and came home at different times of the night drunk. i thought that maybe Atie craves for attention from Sophie or maybe Atie does need to see the City to gain a new experience like Grandma Ife suggested.
I am now to the fourth part of Breath,Eyes,Memory. Sophie's mother came to surprise her in Haiti and then it just seemed like all their problems and tension was brushed under the rug. When Sophie's mother saw Brigette for the first time it seemed like all her frustration and anger towards Sophie had vanished. I guess the birth of a child can really change everything. I'm anxious to see if Sophie and her mother rehash their issues once they get back to New York. Another thing that was questionable to me was when Sophie and her grandmother were talking about the testing of virginity. I've never seen or heard of people being so obsessed with being pure for men, it just doesn't make any sense to me. It's a double standard to me, why do women have to be virgins for their husbands but the men don't have to be for their wives. I feel the women in this society put each other and themselves down because they encourage this testing and they test their daughters, knowing how much the testing hurt them,physically,mentally,and emotionally. Why carry on such a tradition that is harsh and cruel? The grandmother also said how she doesn't want to be humiliated and talked about because her daughter isn't pure and that's why she does the testing. It sickens me to know what her priorities are. She rather have a good reputation than have a good relationship with her daughter.
Well Bria,i believe there are so many questions that came across your mind. However as for the virginity, its not only about being pure for men but its about avoiding humiliation. According to the quote at page 156 were Sophie's grand mother asked ''the testing? Why do mothers do that? and then someone responded i don't know who the person was,saying that''If a child dies,you do not die. But if your child is disgraced, you are disgraced. I guess this proves that mothers are not only protecting themselves from humiliation but their daughters as well. You also asked a strong question about why doesn't men have to be virgins their wives. Well, that's an a interesting question.
In the beginning, Breath Eyes and Memory did not excite me. As I unwillingly continued to read, the book started getting interesting. I found myself not being able to put the book down, everywhere I went the book was with me. As I continued to read the book, questions came across in my mind. Like where was her mother, why her aunt kept her such a secret, and why she kept saying "Don't fight with your mom", as I read on most of my questions were answered. Her mother let her live with her aunt to have a better life, and she couldn't take care of her at the time. It confused me why she wanted to leave her mom house so bad to be with a boy, I have to continue reading. Also wonder did her mother ever look for her after she left? Another question was how she popped up with a baby, confused me also, they gave us the whole run down about what she went through, just wonder why they couldn't give us the history with her being pregnant. I wonder does her now baby father think she wasn't a virgin? I'm now to the part where she went to visit Tante Atie, with her daughter, Now more questions are filling into my head, one question is why is Atie going out in the middle of the night and coming back drunk? She's change much since Sophie has left. The good thing is now Atie can read, which she and Sophie wanted for her. But What has change Atie ways o start going out in the middle of night and coming back drunk. I MUST continue reading to find the answers to ALL my questions.... Until Next Time !!!
Nyshell, I agree with you because from the beginning of the Breathe,Eyes,Memory, I didn't want to read it again but now I'm done with all the chapters and I have also got what I want. I bet you that this book is one of the most interesting books I have read so far. I think this book is written in a way just to advice young teenagers like you and me to be very careful and not engaging ourselves in sexual intercourse which may lead us being teenage mothers and fathers. Isn't this funny?
Hey guys I'm done with my book (The Breathe,Eyes,Memory)but I still have to wait till you finish yours. Well I have one important quote to share with you that says "Brace yourself. I know that you are not going to believe what I have to tell you. Sophie, your mother is pregnant". Does this quote sound different about what Sophie's mother always tell her? Now the mother is pregnant and she is been asked whether the man responsible for her pregnancy is going to marry her. This is kind of a shameful act that has happen within Sophie and her mother. Also, Sophie has to learn something from what has happen to her mother (I mean giving without any husband which is really sad) so that she too doesn't get the same bad situations one day. I think Sophie's mother is having a cancer according to Chapter 29 and if Marc, the one responsible of the pregnancy finds out that she has cancer then he is not going to marry her so that is another problem that Sophie's mother has to solve including the pregnancy.
I wanted to respond to what you said frederick about Sophie's mother being pregnant now. I feel like it's a complete double standard that all of Sophie's life, she has been told to be pure for her husband and to wait to have sex when she is married and then her mom turns up pregnant. Sophie's mother scarred her by testing to see if she was still pure and then she winds up pregnant without even being married to Marc. I also didn't understand why Sophie's mother doesn't want to get married to Marc even though she's pregnant.I kind of feel like she is scared to be in a committed relationship and she feels like things are going to change once they get married. Throughout the whole book I felt like the roles were reversed and Sophie was more of a mother to her own mother than her mother was to her. Sophie is the one giving her mother great advise about the pregnancy and her relationship with Marc. Her mother is being childish about the situation and stressing about everything that can possibly go wrong instead of making sure that things go right. I'm almost finished with the book so I'm eager to find out what happens at the end.
The book has gotten more interesting at the end of part three as i read further. It seems Sophie's mother came back for her and i had feeling that she'll come back for her when i noticed that Sophie was now back at Tanti Autie's place. After all, its only natural parents can't abandon their child , so i wasn't worried about that. But i was wondering their how re-union will turn out. As for you Frederick, Honestly, it would have been wise not to tell what's going to happen in the future because, the author makes foreshadowing to make us question the book. This strategies grabs the reader's attention and makes him/her want to read more to find the answer,that is the fun part of reading. I know this was surprising to you when you got that part but you should have let us be surprised too. Since you told us whats going to happen it make the book sort of boring.
Off course, things are really going to change because how can Sophie stay in the same house with her mother and step father. If they truly get married then Sophie has to leave the house because she too can be very attractive to her mother's husband. I'm actually saying this because it does happen all the time where men have sex with their wives and at the same time sleep with their own daughter or step daughters. Also, no one knows what the future is going to be whether good or bad we have face it. I think Sophie's mother is being childish and agree with you Bria,Sophie's mother has now become daughter of her own daughter which is really sad and how could this be. I hope she is going to be ashamed of herself by getting pregnant with a man she has not yet married.
Truly speaking, this book is very interesting and all the thanks goes to our lovely teacher MS. Lambert for providing us such a great book. Hey friends, this book has taught me much about life and how I should go about it.
So as I continued reading the book I noticed Sophie doesn't like dealing with her issues she avoids them or runs away. For example she fleed to Haiti to avoid her marital issues with her husband. I think she went back to Haiti because being there gave her a feeling of being safe and young again and she wouldn't have to deal with her issues there.
Iam almost done with this book. I came across an interesting part in this book. Sophie's mother becomes pregnant by her longtime boyfriend Marc , but doesn't want to have the baby because she & marc aren't married. I feel that sophie's mother is a hypocrite because she went against everything she ever told her daughter. She had sex with Marc before they were married but when she found out Sophie was no longer "pure" she was disappointed in Sophie. And I don't understand why the mother doesn't want to marry Marc , I mean it makes sense she might as well she's already pregnant by him
I have read the whole book. This was one if the most heart filling book I have ever read. One of my favorite quote was "It is really grand as they say ,New York? ' 'its a place were you can loss yourself easily'' This quote was significant to me because, as i analyzed this quote, I understood more about why Sophie's mother left her behind, and why Sophie couldn't spend a long time with her mother, In other words,this quote makes me feel more like i am the one in Sophie's shoes. For Example when I Went to Texas and I kept calling my mother and she did not want to answer any of my phone calls this made me feel just like Sophie. The greatest part was when Sophie's mother got pregnant by her boyfriend and doesn't want to give birth . This gives me a whole different image of her because when her daughter made a mistake she called her names and wasn't happy about it , but now that it is happening to her she wants to act a whole different way. The saddest part was when the mother died and Sophie admitted why she blamed herself for everything. This shows gender theory because as a female they are usually the weak . When the worst comes they tend to blame themselves.
I feel that gender theory applies to my book. All the females characters in this book feel they have to live up to standards and old traditions which were probably made up by men. The women probably felt if they didn't live up to those standard they would be shunned by their families or called nasty names. Women in the haitian culture had to be "pure" until they were married and if they lost their virginity before being married they would be looked down on. However the males in this book didn't face the pressure of being a virgin until they were married. They had it easy.
Hello partners,Suleman here,does anyone have an idea of what the old lady means by the quote''As long as you do not have work in the fields,it does not matter that i will never learn to read that ragged old Bible under my pillow''?it does sound interesting but i don't really understand what she is trying to say here. please take a look at page 4 at the end of the second paragraph.id be glad if someone translate this quote the way it's not beyond my comprehension.
ReplyDeleteHi Suleman,I took a look at page four and I read the quote that you didn't understand and I have my own personal analysis of this quote. If you look at page four at the beginning of the paragraph Tante Atie was telling her niece about how when she was younger she didn't have the privelege to go to school. All she did was work in the fields and cut cane. She wasn't able to enjoy her childhood like her niece is able to. That quote was all in response to her niece complaining about going to school. That's why Tante Atie said that her niece is accomplishing something that she was never able to accomplish-learning how to read. That's why she is saying everything that she has been through like working in the fields and not learning how to read the bible under her pillow,is all worth it as long as her niece never has to go through what she's been through. That's my analysis of this quote. I hope this helps you understand.
DeleteThis in an outstanding analysis just as i requested now i understand everything.So this was all about something she never had in the past that now existed in the present, but then it was too late for her to accomplish it anyway. Thanks for the response i gladly appreciate it. I was also focused on these following theorist questions such as who has power? who did not? who is being exploited and what motivates the characters? I have been reading up to page 40 but i haven't come up with anything if anyone find an answer to this questions please share with me or tell me what page to look at.
DeleteHey Suleman,after reading your what you were thinking it gave the book more meaning to me. The question Bria answered helped me understand the quote just a little bit more. Also the fact that you are asking the question about who has the power, who does not, and what motivates the main character, have all helped me to question the book just a little it more. To ask what is the main reason for these words on the page. thinking about who actually has the power I thin when I first read it I thought maybe it was Monsieur Augustin, mainly because he had a wife, he got kids to clean his yard for him, and he has the respect of the community. But thinking about it I want to say it's Sophie. Sophie has the power because she can read, her aunt respects her and wants her to do her best in school. And everybody and now look up to Sophie now that she is gone, and living in New York. This will give them inspiration, in my opinion. What I think motivates Sophie is love. The love o her aunt/mother helps her to believe that she can do anything, the love of her grandmother helps her tot believe that everyone deserves a second chance and one she gets to know her mother a little bit more then she will motivates Sophie to do well too.But I think those who does not have power might just be Sophie's mother, and her aunt. They didn't follow their dreams of being doctors and getting of there together. Who knows they might just change im not that far ahead of you in the book.
DeleteI myself was wondering how can Breath,Eyes,Memory be looked at from a social class Theorist perspective.At first I also thought it was the Augustin's because on page 11 Tante Atie says thats only someone with a profession for example Monsieur Augustin could afford a house like the one they lived in. But after reading whats Alexus wrote I have a better understanding of who has power and agree with what she has said. I thought that when one is asked who has power its looked at in a way of who in the book has the money but in this case it is it more on who has the knowledge. Thanks Alexus
DeleteThis Book, wasn't what i expected it to be. It's interesting though i'll continue to read it to know what happens in the end.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading chapter one of Breath,Eyes,Memory. I found the first chapter very interesting and in this first chapter there was alot of foreshadowing of an ominous situation. The way Tante Atie kept it a secret from her niece that her mother wants to take her back and take full responsibilty of her was kind of suspicious. I don't understand why she would keep something so important from her.While reading the first chapter I also didn't understand why all of a sudden the mother wants to take full responsibilty of her child? What has changed in the mothers life to make her want to make this decision? Will this even turn out to be a good decision? I was also able to make text to self connections while reading chapter one. I understand why Tante Atie is so hard on her niece and why she wants her niece to do well in school and learn how to read because she never was capable of doing it herself. I can relate to this because most of the time my mom does the same thing to me. She puts alot of pressure on me to obtain certain things in life that she wasn't able to obtain. I look forward to reading more of this book and finding out the answers to my questions.
ReplyDelete(From Amber M.)
DeleteBria I completely agree with your analysis to the first couple of
pages to the book. I can also relate to your text to world connection.
At times my mother puts much pressure so that I can't strive and have
better then she and my family did because of the fact that they didn't
take advantage of the opportunities they had. Like Sophie I sometimes
wonder if the pressure is really necessary but then I stop and think
that it all comes from a good place. I also questioned why Tante
decided to keep the message from Sophie s mother too her. Perhaps she
was trying to protect her from information she isn't ready to reveal
or was it for her own selfish reasoning ? Maybe she just needed some
time to take in what was happening. Although we may not understand
Tante's character right now, maybe we should attempt to put our selves
in her position and then reevaluate her decision to keep the message
from Sophie. I can't imagine how hurt she was to let go of her after
having her for so many years, basically raising her as a child of her
own. I'm excited to find out the true reasoning on why all of a sudden
Sophie s mother wants her home, but I guess we'll just have to read on
and see!
I'm up to chapter 7 of Breath,Eyes,Memory. So fa all the questions i had in the beginning of the book as been answered.Me and my group was reading the other day and we were all questioning why they were speaking french. I remember when we got to pick out the book the description said that she was Dominican. I was wrong about that it turns out that she is actually Haitian. I found that out in chapter 7.It makes scene that's why she speaks french. I loved the quote Tante Atie said in chapter 4 "we must be strong like mountains." The thing that shocks me about her is that she is so wise but has never read a book a day in her life. She's a great mother figure to Sophie, but I cant help but wonder is she hiding something? I say this because when before Sophie left she let Sophie use this cup that said "je t'ame de tout mon coure" which means "i love you very much" but it came from Monsieur Augustin. This become questionable because when Sophie reached over to read a not attached to it her Tante, snatches away from her. that raises a question for me to ask, is there something going on with Atie and Augustin? After all he is married. I actually can't wait to read some more the book is really getting good now.
ReplyDeleteHey partners, sorry I'm late but I'm up to chapter 9 of Breath,Eyes,Memory. I would need you guys to help me find the meaning of this quote in chapter 5 that says "The sun crawled across our faces as the car sped into Port-au-Prince". Well my idea about this quote is that, maybe the sun was shining when they reached Port-au-Prince and I think Atie and Augustin are having an affair in a secrete way because of how misogynistic he is to the one he had already married.
ReplyDeleteThis Book Is Interesting So Far , Im Excited To Continue reading to see how the relationship between tante atie and her niece will change.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished reading a few chapters of Breath,Eyes,Memory.I am now on Chapter 6 and i actually find the book to be very interesting.As i read the first chapter i was very addled ,it was unclear to me why Tante Atie would not take the letter that Sophie made her for Mother's Day , after all the one you call your mother is the one who has raised you right? As i continued to read and found out what the card actually said I still didn't understand why Atie still insisted that Sophie gave it to her mother if what was said in the card was clearly about her.I also has some questions about the relationship with Sophie and her mother. Why would her mother suddenly want her daughter to move out to New York after so long of being apart from her? I also took noticed that Sophie's grandmother & Tante Atie were trying to persuade Sophie that her mother is a great person and that she is a friend to her.But I was wondering why they continued to repeat themselves is Sophie's mother really like this or is this a way the author was trying to foreshadow an upcoming event ?
ReplyDeleteI have just finished reading a couple of chapters. This book seems a little more interesting to me now. When I read the first couple of chapters I wondered why tante atie kept that secret from sophie.
ReplyDeleteIndeed,that was true alexus and here i was also thinking that it was mosieur augustin because, he is happy married and judging from the description his house it sounds like he is rich too but, after reading your response, i finally realized that money isn't the power in this play, but knowledge is. Now that i think about it sophie has something that both her mother and tanti aunti never had and that means she can do something with that power to succeed. thanks for taking your time to respond to my request.
ReplyDelete(From Amber M.)
ReplyDeleteFinally, I managed to put everything aside today (Sunday) and just lay in bed and give this book a try. I have to say though I didn't have the opportunity to choose a book of my own, I am very happy that Ms.Lambert did for me. Not only those the book appeal to my liking, but it shows that she took the time to get to know me as an individual to know what things actually interest me. Though me and my group made the decision of reading 8 pages a day, I can't help but want to read more! I just finished reading up to the middle of chapter six, and I have to say I didn't want to put the book down! Tante Antie (Sophie's aunt) seems to be very complacent with the person she has become. I say this because I realize one of the things she constantly converses about is her lack of education, but then I can't help but wonder how a women with such wisom, advice and form of expanded vocabulary could claim she is informally "uneducated". Something else that caught my attention was the implicit relationship that Tante and Monsieur Augustin share.chapter one page fifteen "she kept her eyes on the Augustin's house. The main light in their bedroom was lit. Their bodies were silhouetted on the ruffled curtains blowing in the night breeze. Monsieur Augustin sat in a rocking chair by the window. His wife sat on his lap as she unlaced her long braid of black hair. Monsieur Augustin brushed the hair draped like a silk blanket down Madame Augustin's back. When he was done, Monsieur Augustin got up to undress. Then slowly, Madame Augustin took off her day clothes and slipped into a long-sleeved night gown. Their laughter rose in the night as they tunbled into bed.tante Antie kept looking at the window even after all signs of the aaAugustins had faded into the night". This quote makes me believe that Tante antie probably shared a mendacious relatiosnhip where the love just never ended. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
After avoiding this book, I have finally started to read. Already I have found a character that is interesting to me, and thats Sophie's aunt Tante Atie. She seems like she has a mystery to her and I would not mind finding out. I noticed even though she is Sophie's guardian at the time she does not want to get emotionally involved. I can say this because when Sophie tried to give her a mother's day card she refused the card. She insisted that it was for Sophie's mom who was not around. But I noticed she became sad after she refused the card..
ReplyDeleteHello fellow bloggers. I am up to chapter nine, page 71 in the book Breath,Eyes,Memory. I am starting to like this book more and more because the book is starting to get more interesting. All of the questions that I had when I started reading the book have now been answered. I finally realized why Sophie's mother sent Sophie away to live with her aunt since infancy. Sophie's mother was raped and Sophie is a product of that rape and I guess Sophie's mother couldn't bare to cope with seeing the face of her rapist when she looked at Sophie. I just don't understand why she changed her mind now all of a sudden and now wants Sophie to live with her in New York? I sort of feel bad for Sophie because if I was her I would feel unwanted by my mother and have some sort of resentment towards her. My emotions are now getting involved with the book and that's when you know a book is getting good. I was also introduced to a new character in the book named Marc, Sophie's Mother's boyfriend. I can't really read Marc just yet but I sense something really fishy about him. I don't feel like he is sincere in anything he says or does and I feel like he has something up his sleeve. I don't know, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but that's just my intuition kicking in. I was also introduced to another new character, Joseph. He is the older guy that Sophie is crushing on(at this time Sophie is 18 years old). I feel like Joseph is going to be no good for Sophie. I think he is going to cause tension between her and her mother, since her mother is always telling her to stay away from boys. He can only cause more problems for them that they don't need right now since they are probably still trying to build and work on their relationship. I am going to continue to read on,feel free to tell me what you guys think about these new characters.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deleteyes! Bria, about all that rapping thing, Sophie's father never turned out to be how i expected him to be. After reading chapter 8, I was totally infuriated because, when i found out that Sophie's mother was raped it makes me feel nothing but repugnance toward men. Now Sophie is going be among the category that do not know their father's name. I asked myself, how can a man be capable of doing such a thing, and it also makes me apply to the ''Gender Theory'', because i don't get it why men always belittle women for their own satisfaction like they're some kind of tool, and turn their back them. Why can’t it be the other way around or at least dispassionate? The way the author of this book makes flash backs in the play can really change people's attitude. Honestly, it makes men look treacherous. This is why i don't like reading books such as,''Breath,Eyes,Memory'', or Maybe i have spoken too soon. I might as well keep reading.
DeleteYes Suleman, thank you for mentioning gender theory. When we watched "Mean Girls" in class we were asked to look at the movie through a gender lens and I noticed some things in the movie that I never really noticed before and I've watched that movie a million times. I can make a connection between the movie "Mean Girls" and Breath,Eyes,Memory based on gender theory. You are right men are somewhat always seen belittling women. The book just further proves this. The fact that Sophie's father thought it was alright to rape Sophie's mother just baffles me. He thought that since he was the man in the situation he had all the control and he took total control of that. Now that I look at the book through a gender theory lens,I take back what I said in my last post. I said that I felt resentment towards Sophie's mom for sending Sophie away to live with her aunt. I understand through a gender theory lens why her mother would send her away. Men feel like they can just do whatever they want to women and then women are left to deal with it. In this case Sophie's mother couldn't deal with the rape and I totally respect her decision of sending Sophie away. I feel like it was a good decision for her to take Sophie back since she is her daughter after all. I see Sophie's mother in a new way now.
DeleteBria, I completely agree with your analysis! I feel like there is something funny about Marc, I don’t feel like his heart in genuinely into his relationship, I also don’t want to jump to conclusions, but he seems like the type of character to try something with Sophie, not consensually ether! I still question myself why Sophie’s mother requested her to all of a sudden live with her? Why was she not in her care from the beginning? How does she feel to now have to look at her rapist creation in the eyes every single day? I couldn’t help but wonder about this new kid Sophie was into, the bad vibe you picked from him made me question him as well. I have a fear that he might possibly attempt to rape her or force himself on her. I just hope that this time around this generation doesn’t allow the actually rape to take place.
DeleteOn Wednesday I caught myself reading during class, I noticed that I was self-consciously reading because the book became a bit banal. I didn’t quite comprehend what I was reading.-I knew that I had to complete a certain amount of pages before the end of the week in order to blog- So I sucked it up and read anyways. I realized that going into pages 60 to 61 the story took sort of a shift. We (as the readers) got to know Sophie’s mother on a different level, she opened up to us in a form that makes us want to questions her serendipitous behavior. The form she asked Sophie is she was “pure” was a little peculiar to me. It was too broad and open, confusing just a bit. I was much more surprised when she “explained” how Sophie was created,” Did Atie tell you how you were born?” sort of like it was Tante Atie’s job to tell her. Her duty to explain the history behind why Sophie wasn’t living with her mother “The details are too much” she said. “But it happened like this. A man grabbed me form the side of the road, pulled me into a cane field, and put you in my body. I was still a young girl then, just barely older than you.” Maybe she could have explained it in a different tone perhaps? I guess her experiences have shaped her into a pretty open person.
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ReplyDeleteLately I haven't been wanting to read this book because I enjoy reading books that get right to the interesting part.But after hearing from my fellow group members and Ms.Lambert that the book gets better I picked u the book to continue reading. As I read chapter six my opinion on Sophie's mother changed. I didn't seem to comprehend why a mother would just leave her child to move to another country , but when Sophie arrived she treated her with love and care as if she'd raised her all her life. She wanted nothing but the best for her. In the ending of chapter 8 I finally understood why Sophie's mother left her. She couldn't bare being in a place knowing that the child she had giving birth to was a result of her being raped by a random man. When I first read the line "But now when I look at your face i think it is true what they say. A child out of wedlock always looks like its father." I had to read it repeatedly order to get a better understand to why Sophie does look like anyone in her family. I actually began to feel bad as I read the last few lines of chapter 8 because it made me realize that Sophie's mother isn't a bad person after all . She did what was best for her child's life.
Deletei agree with you amii. sophie's aunt is one of my favorite characters so far. she seems very focused and responsible. especially after finding out that she decided to take care after sophie to help her mother get throught whatever she was actually going through. thats what questions me the most. like , what was sophie's mother actually going through. was she a coke feen, alcoholic, or just a mother who abandoned her daughter? its confusing but i know i will soon find the answers. there are always answers. i just hope that when sophie goes back to live with her mother, that her mother shows much love to her because she's been so used to tantie always being there for her. her "real" mother would be considered as a stranger to her.
ReplyDeleteso sophie finally meets her mother. i think it good to allow her to see her at a young age because if it she was much older, most likely there would have been problems. sophie wouldve really treated her mother like a stranger (as if she was one).her mother was very happy to see her. i respect the fact that she wants sophie to attend school and become something in life. its shows she cares. i didnt exspect sophie to really speak much because its like , "why did you leave me?" . "what possessed you to leave your child w. another than yourself"? her mother needs to tell her the whole story why she did what she did.
ReplyDeleteSo I read a couple more chapters tonight. I have began noticing sophie's transition for Haiti to New York. At first it seems like she doen't feel comfortable around her mother and in the new setting she's in. I don't blame sophie , because if I was her I wouldn't feel comfortable either because she doesn't know much about her mother only what people have told her. Tantie atie always defends sophie's mother and claims she was a good sister to her. So maybe she did have a good reason to leave sophie with her aunt.
ReplyDeleteAs I continued to read Breath, Eyes, Memory I started to get confused . I understood that a mother would like to know if her child is “pure” but the way Sophie’s mother checked was unnecessary. As I read this part in the book I was a bit disgusted and upset, knowing that Sophie couldn’t have enough privacy. I can actually relate to this. I remember when my mother would constantly harass me asking me if I was pure .In this case I actually found it quite funny that my mother can relate to another mother in this way. As I lay in my bed I began to become more interested in the book. I loved how the story suddenly turned into a Love story; this kept me fixated on the book. I found it beautiful how she fell in love with someone who is older than her and someone who she does see as must do to his profession. What I didn’t understand was chapter 12, I didn’t quite get why Sophie compared herself to why Sophie did what she did to herself and why she compared herself to the story about the woman who walked around with blood constantly spurting out of her unbroken skin.
ReplyDeleteAfter thinking about it , I've come to a conclusion that Sophie compared herself to the woman and did what she did to herself to show that she has hit her breaking point. Sophie wants to live her life not the life that he mother was unable to live as a child . Sophie doesn't want to be a doctor like her mother wants her to be . she also wants to be able to be with Joseph without he mother worrying about his age , because according to Sophie age doesn't matter.
DeleteThe first night at sophie's new home she awakes in the middle of the night and hears her mother shouting in her sleep. This probably foreshadows something that will happen or has happened to her mother. Even though sophie seemed like she didn't really want to a relationship with her mother she rushed to her side to see what happened to her and she was there to comfort her. I think sophie really does care about her mother and she wants her to know she's there for her.
ReplyDeleteI'm up to chapter 19 and I'm starting to see all the damage that Sophie is suffering from. She is visiting her grandmother and Tante Atie with her daughter Brigette. Her grandmother asks her why she left her husband so early on and she answers saying that it’s just a temporary vacation away from each other and that her and Joseph are have marital issues. This just proves what I said in one of my lasts posts about Sophie and her husband not working out in the long run. Sophie tells her grandmother that she is not able to fulfill her duties as a wife, sexually. She says that it is very painful for her to have sex and she doesn't enjoy it. She also says that she is ashamed of her own body and she doesn't think that anyone should see it. I think all these insecurities are caused by her mother and they are mentally affecting her. Since her mother never trusted her and was always testing to see if she was a virgin, she feels humiliated and ashamed of her own self. I don't think Sophie's and Joseph's relationship will ever get better unless Sophie decides to forgive her mother and mend their relationship because deep down inside I know Sophie wants to talk to her mother and I know, them not talking is causing her anxiety and that anxiety is causing tension between Sophie and Joseph.
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ReplyDeleteI have started reading chapter 14 page 103, and i came across this interesting quote coming from Tante atie '' It is really grand as they say ,New York?''its a place were you can loss yourself easily'' This quote was significant to me because, as i analyzed this quote, I understood more about why Sophie's mother left her behind, and why Sophie couldn't spend a long time with her mother, In other words,this quote makes me feel more like i am the one in Sophie's shoes. I recall the reason why i was sent to Africa for couple of years because my mother thought if i grow up in New York i wouldn't become what she'd expect me to be. when i connected this to Sophie's story, I thought this could be the reason why Sophie's mother left her behind. As for my mother, she believe that i might loss my self or be different from the family. Therefore,she packed my stuff and sent me to my aunt in Africa but that was only when i was seven years old. For ten years i have not seen my mother and then when i came back, by then i was an adult. For some reason we kind of misunderstood each other its not like we get into arguments or anything but honestly, I just couldn't forget my aunt because she was the woman that raised me. By experiencing that i think that's why Sophie and her mother didn't get along In Brief, she doesn't have as much love for her mother as she have for Tantie Atie.
ReplyDeleteSol, I can sort of relate to our experience with your mother. When my mother had me she was very young, too young to understand the responsibility that came with a baby- my grandmother thought it would be best if she took me under her wing for a while. Really the only time I would see my mother at that point in time was on the weekends. That soon came to an end when I turned eight. My grandmother thought it would be best if I lived with my mother because the most important points of my life were soon approaching. Since that age I have been in the care of my mother. I have to say the change till this day still affects me because I can still see the difference in care I receive and just our difference as individuals. Despite our differences though, I now fully understand my mother choices and decisions- they were for the best of the both of us.
DeleteBut also you guys have to remember that "Had I know is always at last" maybe we might think that all things our parents are doing does not make any sense but it will reach a time where we will remember what they always use to tell us. Parents always insult or beat their children for doing something wrong which doesn't mean they hate us or whatever but we should sometimes be sure that they are just doing that for our own good because maybe by the time we become adults and learn from our mistakes, they have been dead and go forever.
DeleteNow that Sulemon mentioned that quote I now too have some interest in it as well. When Tante Atie asks Sophie if New York is really as grand as everyone makes it out to be, I respond to that as yes, New York is really grand and big, it's a very big city. Then once Sophie responds and says New York is a place where you can loose yourself easily, I respond to that as saying New York is such a big place that you get lost in it and you loose yourself as well so I agree with Sophie. I think Sophie is saying that because she feels that once she went to New York she lost who she really was deep down inside. Her roots are in Haiti and that's all she's ever really known so it's not like she was ever going to fully adapt to being in New York especially when she has never met her mother before. I think that Sophie said that she lost herself because she has just had a child and she is having trouble in her marriage and it's natural to feel that way since she is going through a lot right now.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like i misunderstood the quote after reading your blog post Bria. I thought everything was said by Tanti Anti but, when i read your post,I understand that Tanti Anti just asked and Sophie responded. thank for adding to the quote Bria. Now i have also gotten to the part that Sophie came back home and told her grandmother that its just a temporary vacation. I thought she and Joseph have had a fight or broken up because, when her grand mother asked ''Are you having trouble with any martial duties''?''yes'' I answered honestly.''What is it?'' ''They say it is most important to a man.'' It sound to me like she and Joseph had a problem. I decided to keep reading to find out why did Sophie came back home,and then i got to a part where Sophie's grandmother asked her again if her mother tested her but Sophie called it humiliation. May be as Bria said in her last post, Sophie has faced such danger due to her mother's testing and lack of trust.
DeleteOh for me, I already know that "with God, all things are possible" which means that I think Sophie will have her peaceful mind one day and I also think the reason why all these things have happening to her is because of poverty. Well if not, then something has been going on in their family because we all know what is going on with Sophie, we all know that she is in a sad situation. Such problems like this cannot happen to men but always women WHY? because women's rights seems to be unnecessary. Men are always seemed to be stronger than women so they can fight for their rights and freedoms. For me I will always react the same way Sophie does, her behavior shows humbleness or a modest life like me and I think I should now have a nickname called modesty. I really love this book because it was written by a victim of such unwealthy situations.
ReplyDeleteAfter I went back to chapter 14, the quote that says "It is really grand as they say,New York? it is a place where you can lose yourself easily" but there is many corrections to make about this quote. Bria, this quote doesn't mean the hugeness or how big New York is but rather the things that go on in it. We all bare witness that New York is a very big city but if you don't take good care, you cannot fit in which is the real meaning of this statement quoted by Tante Atie. New York is made up of different ethnic groups which means people with different cultural values but the non-believers are many. About 95% of the individuals in New York don't know their culture so they always always choose to do what ever they want. I think the reason why Sophie's mother didn't want to send her along to New York because maybe the mother herself has experienced such things before so she doesn't want her daughter to go through the same situations. Also I think we have all share significant ideas about Tante Atie's statement, this is a very strong argument within our knowledgeable team and I hope we will one-day become honest future leaders!
ReplyDeleteChapter 15 page number 108. I should be further ahead but I've been slacking off a little bit. But so far the books had been getting good. Sophie has been getting random searches from her mom to check if she is still pure or not, she was passing them until she harmed herself and got rid of the whole "pure" idea her mother believes a women should have. That's what i find crazy that a woman has to be pure before she gets marred. I understand if the women wants to be that way but if she doesn't does that really make her a whore. I mean after her mother found out that her daughter was no longer intake she kicked her out. My biggest question would have to be does she now consider Sophie a whore? And did Sophie really want to get kicked out all along, if so why not just leave instead. Did she really have to go through all that pain? Then the book moves forward again, now Sophie is back in Haiti and visiting her aunt and grandmother, she now has a kid and she and Joseph are married .I love how the aunt is finally learning how to read, she wants better for herself. When she read the same words that Sophie wrote to her mother years ago, it let Sophie know that her aunt was always thinking of her. I found that to be really touching. But all I'm want to know now is where is Sophie's mom, does she know that Sophie has a baby and is married, and finally I really want to know is Sophie going to be the same type of mother to her child like her mother was to her?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you , Sophie's mother had no right to do that to her daughter.
DeleteEveryone has become a child before but has not become adult. My idea about Sophie mother's attitude is that she is kind for not allowing Sophie come to New York because she has become a child or teenager before and has also experienced it before. "Every mother knows what is right for her son or daughter" this means that it is the mother's responsibility to prevent her child from such situations like this. Ok what if she brought Sophie to New York and at the end she gets pregnant and couldn't go to school, who are we going to blame, is it the mother or Sophie herself?, no one knows what is going to happen in the future so I really agree with Sophie's mom 100%.
DeleteI Have got up to chapter 16. I can admit this book has really become very interesting. I was wondering how the relationship between Sophie and Her mother would change as she got older. Sophie's mom does alot of the things her mother did to her when she was younger to Sophie. I don't think it's right for her mother to invade her daughter's privacy by "checking" her to see if she's still a virgin. Sophie is 18 years old she should be able to make her own decisions without having to face consequences from her overprotective mother.
ReplyDeleteSophie has become very insecure because of her mother's actions. Those test have effected the way Sophie views herself. Also it has effected her marriage with Joseph. I think Sophie's mother tested her and told her to stay pure till she was married because she didn't want her to end up like she did. But Sophie's mom should've thought about how those test would affect her daughter later on in life.
ReplyDeleteAmber baby I totally agree with you ! Even though Sophie's mother does not want her to go through the things she did she has to let Sophie learn on her on. Also Sophie's mom has to come to reality and see that Sophie is her own person not her mother. Every child has a mind of there a own. Telling them to do something that you do not want them to is like telling them to do it. The only thing a mother can do is hope that her child has taken in what you have taught them and respect themselves 100%. Therefore Sophie's mom just need to fall back. LOL
DeleteStill not wanting to read the book, I have continue to keep going some how. I've met Sophie's mom ugghhhh !!! This lady seems a little bit strange if you ask me but then again its as if she wants to belong in Sophie's life. I honestly thinks she understood the mistake she has made by walking out of Sophie's. Like we all noticed you make a mistake to learn and grow from them. I think eventually Sophie will welcome her mother with open arms. But what did through me off was the neighborhood that the mother lives in. Lets see if they can make the best out of it, sadly I will have have to continue to read in order to find out!
ReplyDeleteI’ve slacked off a bit on my reading, but I have to say what I have read is pretty crazy! going back into the ending of chapter eight when Sophie’s mother first spoke to her about “how she was created” Sophie’s mother mentioned a small method her mother used to do on her to see if she was pure. “When I was a girl, my mother used to test us to see if we were virgins. She would put her finger in our private parts and see if it would go inside.” Still around chapter fourteen to fifteen this was still going on. Sophie stuck her finger inside and unfortunately took away her “pureness”. When Sophie’s mother tested her she realized that she was no longer pure assuming that she was sexually active. As a result she kicked Sophie out of her home. I don’t really agree with this as one of her “methods of parenting”. It’s unethical that this would STILL be going- Sophie is already at ager where her privacy should be respected! Maybe Sophie’s mother still needs a few pointers on how to raise her teenage daughter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Amber because how you gon sit here & complain about your mother's way of doing things, but you sitting here doing the same? It was confusing because it was like I thought you didnt like it so why do it to your own daughter. Her "methods of parenting" like you said, aree really wack! She explained to Sophie that when she had turned 18, she can date. Now that Sophies in love or found a man, she wanna switch it all up & start "testing" her. That dont make no damn sense. She basically raping an adult, taking away her daughter's own "pureness". And I also find it crazy how she was telling Sophie not to mess with those "American Boys". Like, what did she mean by that? It don't matter of the race of how a guy treats a girl, it all depends on the guy & what he values. She dont make sense, everybody's different. I wonder if somebody American played her or if she's just racist.
DeleteI found it disgusting how tantie and her sister were finger popped by their own mother as children to see if they were virgins. Like, I understand she just wanted to check on her children & make sure they were worrying about the responsible things in life but they were other ways to do that. I dont know what she could've done besides that but i know that was jus over the top. Its was just very digrading. After hearing the story of Sophie's mom being raped, I feel sorry for her. She was young & didnt deserve it. Noone should ever get raped, it just aint right ! And its even more crazier because thats how Sophie was made. By an (her) unknown man (father) raping her mother. And I feel its also good that she's warning Sophie to keep away from boys so that she wont get distracted with her school work. it shows how much she cares for her daughters future.
ReplyDeleteWell Tinaya, I also found it disgusting for this kind of traditional experiment. According the Robert Hook who was a Greek scientist brought scientific idea that "every female virgin who has not been touch by a male has something like a tube containing liquid and blood in the female's v****a so if she has sex with a man, the tube will then destroy and the blood will come out as a waste".According to this idea, I think then none of them is still a virgin because those tube might be broken which doesn't make them virgins anymore.
DeleteI am now on the third part of Breathe, Eye, Memory. When Sophie goes to Haiti to visit her grandmother and her Tante Atie with her daughter Brigitte. As i began reading this part many questions began to wonder. While reading chapter 13 I was trying to put pieces together as to why Sophie's mother did not accompany them to Haiti as well. I misread chapter 13 and actually thought that Sophie's mother died when in fact i was wrong. From how chapter 12 ended i wondered if Sophie's mother was aware that Sophie had went off with Joseph has gotten marriage and if she accepted it due to his and her age difference. I also wondered if Sophie's mother has ever meet her grandchild. If not how can someone like Sophie's mother let her child go off without wondering about her or wanting to know their where bouts. especially because she was not around in her child's life ass she was growing up , what does that prove about Sophie's mother if she doesn't come around to meet her grandchild. But I am still unsure until i continue to read
ReplyDeleteAs continued reading the same questions about Sophie's mother began to develop towards Sophie's Husband,Joseph. I was wondering why he wasn't in Haiti with his two girls. I thought maybe Sophie's toook this short vaction because she needed a break from her husband or maybe from what i've read because she needed a break because she felt that as a wife she needed to sleep with her Husband but it was painful for her because of what she did to herself so she can be set free from her mother. As I forced myself to continue reading i took notice of Tante Aties behavior . According to what Sophie's grandmother has said it seems like Tante Atie has changed since Sophie has been gone in both good and bad ways. Atie has finally learned to read which was something Sophie really wanted for her aunt. Bu Atie has also gone off and came home at different times of the night drunk. i thought that maybe Atie craves for attention from Sophie or maybe Atie does need to see the City to gain a new experience like Grandma Ife suggested.
ReplyDeleteI am now to the fourth part of Breath,Eyes,Memory. Sophie's mother came to surprise her in Haiti and then it just seemed like all their problems and tension was brushed under the rug. When Sophie's mother saw Brigette for the first time it seemed like all her frustration and anger towards Sophie had vanished. I guess the birth of a child can really change everything. I'm anxious to see if Sophie and her mother rehash their issues once they get back to New York. Another thing that was questionable to me was when Sophie and her grandmother were talking about the testing of virginity. I've never seen or heard of people being so obsessed with being pure for men, it just doesn't make any sense to me. It's a double standard to me, why do women have to be virgins for their husbands but the men don't have to be for their wives. I feel the women in this society put each other and themselves down because they encourage this testing and they test their daughters, knowing how much the testing hurt them,physically,mentally,and emotionally. Why carry on such a tradition that is harsh and cruel? The grandmother also said how she doesn't want to be humiliated and talked about because her daughter isn't pure and that's why she does the testing. It sickens me to know what her priorities are. She rather have a good reputation than have a good relationship with her daughter.
ReplyDeleteWell Bria,i believe there are so many questions that came across your mind. However as for the virginity, its not only about being pure for men but its about avoiding humiliation. According to the quote at page 156 were Sophie's grand mother asked ''the testing? Why do mothers do that? and then someone responded i don't know who the person was,saying that''If a child dies,you do not die. But if your child is disgraced, you are disgraced. I guess this proves that mothers are not only protecting themselves from humiliation but their daughters as well. You also asked a strong question about why doesn't men have to be virgins their wives. Well, that's an a interesting question.
DeleteIn the beginning, Breath Eyes and Memory did not excite me. As I unwillingly continued to read, the book started getting interesting. I found myself not being able to put the book down, everywhere I went the book was with me. As I continued to read the book, questions came across in my mind. Like where was her mother, why her aunt kept her such a secret, and why she kept saying "Don't fight with your mom", as I read on most of my questions were answered. Her mother let her live with her aunt to have a better life, and she couldn't take care of her at the time. It confused me why she wanted to leave her mom house so bad to be with a boy, I have to continue reading. Also wonder did her mother ever look for her after she left? Another question was how she popped up with a baby, confused me also, they gave us the whole run down about what she went through, just wonder why they couldn't give us the history with her being pregnant. I wonder does her now baby father think she wasn't a virgin? I'm now to the part where she went to visit Tante Atie, with her daughter, Now more questions are filling into my head, one question is why is Atie going out in the middle of the night and coming back drunk? She's change much since Sophie has left. The good thing is now Atie can read, which she and Sophie wanted for her. But What has change Atie ways o start going out in the middle of night and coming back drunk. I MUST continue reading to find the answers to ALL my questions.... Until Next Time !!!
ReplyDeleteNyshell, I agree with you because from the beginning of the Breathe,Eyes,Memory, I didn't want to read it again but now I'm done with all the chapters and I have also got what I want. I bet you that this book is one of the most interesting books I have read so far. I think this book is written in a way just to advice young teenagers like you and me to be very careful and not engaging ourselves in sexual intercourse which may lead us being teenage mothers and fathers. Isn't this funny?
DeleteHey guys I'm done with my book (The Breathe,Eyes,Memory)but I still have to wait till you finish yours. Well I have one important quote to share with you that says "Brace yourself. I know that you are not going to believe what I have to tell you. Sophie, your mother is pregnant". Does this quote sound different about what Sophie's mother always tell her? Now the mother is pregnant and she is been asked whether the man responsible for her pregnancy is going to marry her. This is kind of a shameful act that has happen within Sophie and her mother. Also, Sophie has to learn something from what has happen to her mother (I mean giving without any husband which is really sad) so that she too doesn't get the same bad situations one day. I think Sophie's mother is having a cancer according to Chapter 29 and if Marc, the one responsible of the pregnancy finds out that she has cancer then he is not going to marry her so that is another problem that Sophie's mother has to solve including the pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to respond to what you said frederick about Sophie's mother being pregnant now. I feel like it's a complete double standard that all of Sophie's life, she has been told to be pure for her husband and to wait to have sex when she is married and then her mom turns up pregnant. Sophie's mother scarred her by testing to see if she was still pure and then she winds up pregnant without even being married to Marc. I also didn't understand why Sophie's mother doesn't want to get married to Marc even though she's pregnant.I kind of feel like she is scared to be in a committed relationship and she feels like things are going to change once they get married. Throughout the whole book I felt like the roles were reversed and Sophie was more of a mother to her own mother than her mother was to her. Sophie is the one giving her mother great advise about the pregnancy and her relationship with Marc. Her mother is being childish about the situation and stressing about everything that can possibly go wrong instead of making sure that things go right. I'm almost finished with the book so I'm eager to find out what happens at the end.
DeleteThe book has gotten more interesting at the end of part three as i read further. It seems Sophie's mother came back for her and i had feeling that she'll come back for her when i noticed that Sophie was now back at Tanti Autie's place. After all, its only natural parents can't abandon their child , so i wasn't worried about that. But i was wondering their how re-union will turn out. As for you Frederick, Honestly, it would have been wise not to tell what's going to happen in the future because, the author makes foreshadowing to make us question the book. This strategies grabs the reader's attention and makes him/her want to read more to find the answer,that is the fun part of reading. I know this was surprising to you when you got that part but you should have let us be surprised too. Since you told us whats going to happen it make the book sort of boring.
ReplyDeleteOff course, things are really going to change because how can Sophie stay in the same house with her mother and step father. If they truly get married then Sophie has to leave the house because she too can be very attractive to her mother's husband. I'm actually saying this because it does happen all the time where men have sex with their wives and at the same time sleep with their own daughter or step daughters. Also, no one knows what the future is going to be whether good or bad we have face it. I think Sophie's mother is being childish and agree with you Bria,Sophie's mother has now become daughter of her own daughter which is really sad and how could this be. I hope she is going to be ashamed of herself by getting pregnant with a man she has not yet married.
ReplyDeleteTruly speaking, this book is very interesting and all the thanks goes to our lovely teacher MS. Lambert for providing us such a great book. Hey friends, this book has taught me much about life and how I should go about it.
ReplyDeleteSo as I continued reading the book I noticed Sophie doesn't like dealing with her issues she avoids them or runs away. For example she fleed to Haiti to avoid her marital issues with her husband. I think she went back to Haiti because being there gave her a feeling of being safe and young again and she wouldn't have to deal with her issues there.
ReplyDeleteIam almost done with this book. I came across an interesting part in this book. Sophie's mother becomes pregnant by her longtime boyfriend Marc , but doesn't want to have the baby because she & marc aren't married. I feel that sophie's mother is a hypocrite because she went against everything she ever told her daughter. She had sex with Marc before they were married but when she found out Sophie was no longer "pure" she was disappointed in Sophie. And I don't understand why the mother doesn't want to marry Marc , I mean it makes sense she might as well she's already pregnant by him
ReplyDeleteI have read the whole book. This was one if the most heart filling book I have ever read. One of my favorite quote was "It is really grand as they say ,New York? ' 'its a place were you can loss yourself easily'' This quote was significant to me because, as i analyzed this quote, I understood more about why Sophie's mother left her behind, and why Sophie couldn't spend a long time with her mother, In other words,this quote makes me feel more like i am the one in Sophie's shoes. For Example when I Went to Texas and I kept calling my mother and she did not want to answer any of my phone calls this made me feel just like Sophie. The greatest part was when Sophie's mother got pregnant by her boyfriend and doesn't want to give birth . This gives me a whole different image of her because when her daughter made a mistake she called her names and wasn't happy about it , but now that it is happening to her she wants to act a whole different way. The saddest part was when the mother died and Sophie admitted why she blamed herself for everything. This shows gender theory because as a female they are usually the weak . When the worst comes they tend to blame themselves.
ReplyDeleteI feel that gender theory applies to my book. All the females characters in this book feel they have to live up to standards and old traditions which were probably made up by men. The women probably felt if they didn't live up to those standard they would be shunned by their families or called nasty names. Women in the haitian culture had to be "pure" until they were married and if they lost their virginity before being married they would be looked down on. However the males in this book didn't face the pressure of being a virgin until they were married. They had it easy.
ReplyDelete