House on Mango Street: Mangos vs. Pears. I like Mangos, but to Be Honest, I Like Pears More. That's Irrelevant Though.

Just out of curiosity, I am wondering why the author chose the street to be "Mango." So far, I have not been able to rationalize this decision, but I hope I can realize by the end of the book, what the author means be it. I also find it interesting that each chapter ends on an ambiguous or weighty, profound statement, normally short or simple in structure. It makes the reader think about what really happened in the chapter. So far, I see that the character is ashamed of her name and her life. She wants to stand out and be independent, but in a way that does not make her feel like an outsider or outcast. She feels like she has spirit (comparing herself to a red balloon), but has no means to make anything out of it.

Also, Esperanza is just so lonely and sad. She is begging for friends, to the point where she is jealous of her brothers for being closer in age. She is disappointed in what she has (the house on Mango street, her siblings, and her name), and her goal to to be more than that. In a way, I think Esperanza connects her life to the house on Mango Street. When she talks about her goals, her goals center on having a big house, unlike the one she had on Mango Street. She feels tied to her house maybe, and its neighborhood.

This may be a stretch, but the bicycle may represent her desire to move- to move out of her life. She traded Cathy (who is a total snob) to have part of the bicycle. Even though she, Lucy, and Rachel ride the bicycle together crooked, they like going "fast and faster." past their neighborhood. Perhaps this relates to Esperanzas, desire to get out of this neighborhood, because her life is tied to this neighborhood.

The Bean Trees #2: Vegetable Soup

I really like the ending of this book. Towards the end, everything seems to come together, and even the symbols become more clear. When Taylor is sitting in the library with Turtle, I feel like this implies that Turtle will have a good life, with loving people and hope for a future. This scene reminds me of Taylor's childhood, where she was naive, and not particularly knowledge. Education was poor in her hometown, and she did not sit with her mother reading horticulture in a library. Turtle has good chances a life, and the particular entry they study is very sweet :) The chapter is titled "rhizobia," because Taylor speaks with all the people that have been rhizobia for her: her mother, Estevan, Esperanza, and Lou Ann. Perhaps Mattie is omitted, because she is rhizobia for everyone, and she posed as a sort of mother figure who always believed in Taylor and praised her.

I also love how Lou Ann shows how far she has come in this novel. At first, she had low self-esteem, she was frightened of everything, and very cautious. By the end, she becomes adventurous, takes life into her own hands by rejecting Angel and deciding how she wants to handle her new boyfriend. Cameron seems sweet, and he is sort of like Taylor's old teacher. Taylor's old teacher was like a breath of fresh air for Pittsford; Cameron John is like a man Lou Ann has never had, and her relationship with him is different from her relationship with Angel, which dragged on when she lacked the confidence to move on.

Also, now that all is said and done in the novel, I would like to consider why the author chose the name "Turtle." Turtles are shy creatures, that tend to retract in their shells for protection, and they can use their shells to hide and blend in with surroundings. Turtle began as catatonic, too afraid and hurt to trust anyone. She retracted within herself, and she was so quiet, that Taylor did not even notice her in their first car ride. However, later in the novel, Taylor and Lou Ann discover that her name is actually April. I can relate the phrase "April showers bring May flowers" to her new name. Shortly after Taylor and Lou Ann realize the name, Turtle is attacked again in the park. Her life becomes story again, and she reverts to her old catatonic ways. Eventually though, she emerges from that phase again. First, the cereus blooming is an auspicious sign. During the travels, Turtle also finds mutual comfort and love with Esperanza, another damaged person. The trip ultimately brings about the bright ending, where everyone has come to terms with their past, and they now have lasting, loving bonds with another. Turtle realizes who she belongs with, and her relationship with Taylor imply that Turtle will have a hopeful life. These results would be the "may flowers" that emerge from the gloom.

When Turtle sings the vegetable soup song, I find that very contrasting with Turtle at the beginning of the novel. Turtle didn't speak at all in the novel, she was quiet and hurt. As the novel ends, the Taylor and Turtle are driving to Arizona again; this time, Turtle is bubbly, energetic, and she is singing! She doesn't just speak. She has come so far that she feels free to sing now.

The Bean Trees #1. Okay, Here it goes...

Currently, I am wondering how the two characters (Taylor Greer and Lou Ann Ruiz) will relate to each other. I think that the baby, Turtle, will be the greatest yoke between their lives (hmmnnn idk if I used that right, hope so.) Because Lou Ann is pregnant, her baby may actually be Turtle. This might be one of those books where there are two stories that the author keeps going between, and they happen at different point in time, and the earlier story has a major effect on determining the fate of the characters in the later story. That reminds me of the book, The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevelier, which also rotated between two stories happening in different generations. In that book, tragedy of Isabelle de Moulin's life in the 1300s seemed to have a psychological effect on the women later in her bloodline. After beginning to receive strange and disturbing dreams, Ella Turner's (a descendent of Isaballe) searched to understand her heritage, while the author simultaneously described Isabelle's past. The climax comes to the point where the Ella is at the place where Isabelle's tragedy occurred. I think that this story will probably have a similar point, where the stories seem to merge at some common place that would change Lou Ann's and Taylor's lives.

I also admire Taylor's courage and determination, although she knows little of what she is doing and what her future will be. Personally, however, I also think that it is a great risk to leave so much of life up to chance, but those sort of stories seem to always be pretty touching for the audience. Taylor also seems to be fueled by emotion rather than reason. Many of her decisions depend on her emotional reaction to certain situations. For example, when she begins to comprehend Turtle's abusive past, Taylor becomes convinced that she must keep her safe. Only later, does Taylor think about how unprepared she is as a mother. However, I think that she will do well with raising the baby. Taylor is very independent and capable, and she can protect herself and the baby.

....This post has so little structure and organization to it. It feels pretty weird putting this up when its so unorganized. But okay, I'm going to. Sorry if anything is really run-on.