ryanc

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@poling_colin I would agree that he is selfish but I think for his means some of his requests could be justifiable - I also think this perspective can be skewed as mother/child relationship for June is such a sensitive subject as she was once a young mother to her younger siblings #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@haemi_chee I am having trouble with his decision to go in great depths regarding trauma and less depth in the recovery - he will go into detail about the exploitations each character uses but does really give anyone a redemption arc #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

I get more of a sense that each character is unable to interact with genuine intimate feelings as they all tend to look for traits that fulfill what they lack except, this can be true for everyone even in less traumatic pasts - tough concept but still hard to visualize #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

“In her overly grateful euphoria she once said she loved him. He didn’t know how to answer.” I wonder how the role of intimacy can be compared and contrasted across all characters throughout the novel #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

The author has gone in depth about each characters pastime and their traumatic exeperiences but does not directly mention their ability to share 'true' intimacy with others in the same detail #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@QuetzalWoomy @JamesC82826182 To add, I think it is also important to highlight themes that the U.S. brings like freedom. Despite trying to be free all of her life there is a physical toll on her as if she was never destined for safety and health #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@sageleonardsmc I wonder how this connects to Sylvie being attracted to broken people and in this sense broken men. I say broken because of the substance abuse but still. #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

#smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

“it was in fact because he was also frail, if not somehow wrecked, that she was drawn to him” Here, we see what we have been hypothesizing in class to be true; that Sylvie is attracted to people that are similarly looking for fulfillment #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

So again, another hypothesis was answered that Sylvie really does have a type for people abusing substances as an escape....I wonder how this relates to June?

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@avabaileyklugh I was also torn by this comparison. I mentioned in a previous tweet that it reminded me a lot of the adoption video we watched in class. It seems like the point is to show the American shock-but it still just does not resonate to the same extent as the effect on Koreans #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@haemi_chee Yes, especially after this paragraph with Sylvie. However at the same time I cannot decide if this is to further enhance the understanding of the cultural norms of what Koreans had to bare or if it is an American understanding of pushing their norms upon Koreans #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

It reminds me much of the video we watched in class about the family adopting all of these children but its sort of cultish and publicity stunt--versus here it is as if the author did that but in writing #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

“ placed the bones on a plate being passed back around to Mrs. Lum, who said she was going to make a soup out of them for the next day.” It is interesting parallel to describe the "American suffering" to the "Korean suffering"
#smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

Given the traumatic quick maturity we see June explore by taking care of her siblings, I find it to be also sort of confusing why the author chose to compare Sylvie's "suffering" with her upbringing and adding details to her childhood #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@poling_colin @JennaThibodea16 Good point Colin --> It purely is for his self interest and not the kids, whether it is eating ice cream on the couch or hitting the gym or work; I think everyone has their own way to express their trauma...but he does this in a creative way through building #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

@haemi_chee I mentioned in one of my tweets that the inclusion of eros in ch5 can essentially mean craftsmanship by Hector - this is essentially created by his internal identity finally setting itself free in a sort of stress reducing way #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

After his talk with Reverend Tanner - it is difficult to conclude how Hector really feels about the situation. This orphanage is the place he can create architectural structures but does not agree with the religion in place #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

“He inspired only homely acts of Eros.” (113) Applying some philosophy to eros here - eros meaning passions and desires can be targeted at specific interests and essentially become craftsmanship - with that, he is not doing it for the children #smce118

[ryanc @ryanc_smc]

Instead he is building and doing labor for his own self-interest that has no real regard for the children's wellbeing nor Reverend's. This can be translated to saying that building is his escape - not war #smce118