Journal #18

I think that Act Two, Scene Three really showed how long ago this play is set. Boy Willie seems to believe that women are just objects put on Earth for his own amusement. While Lymon seems to have more respect for them he is still talking about them like objects to Berniece. It also seems like he doesn't think their opinions matter because he says Berniece should marry Avery just since he's nice. And after standing there and listen to Lymon talk about getting girls she kisses him which was kind of confusing.

Comment:Well she is definitely involved with Lymon now but i'm not sure she was really involved with Avery. It just seems like everyone expects her to marry him so she has someone to support her which she doesn't need.

Journal #18

In act 2 Scene 2 I was kind of wondering what Avery is doing. He wants to marry Berniece, but he's not being romantic or anything he's just telling her she needs him, to move on from her dead husband, and quoting the Bible. This just struck me as odd. I also thought that Berniece seems very persistent in keeping the Piano but not using it ever. I wonder if they will end up taking it and selling it?


Comment:Wasn't Crawley Berniece's husband? and I'm not so sure she will end up marrying him she doesn't seem to like him so much.

Journal #17

Something that surprised me in today's reading was how fast the watermelons sold. Judging by the rascism that is evident so far I wouldn't have thought that the white people in the neighborhood wouldn't have wanted to buy from people of a different color. But apparently Boy Willie could even raise the price. I also realized how cheap Wining Boy was when he kept asking his brother for money and when he agreed to give him some he asked more more.

Comment: I agree that Wining Boy cheating Lymon is important. It enhanced my idea of both the characters as well.

Journal #16

In this session of reading we finally found out what the ghosts of the yellow dog were which I found very interesting. The man and hobos being locked in a train car and burned to death would be a horrible way to die and I guess it makes sense that people would think their ghosts are exacting revenge on peope. We also found out where the piano came from which is a major part o the story.

Comment: I agree with how the pace is a lot faster than it was in Cry and that it makes it a more interesting read. Im not so sure how I like the play format though.

Journal #15

Today's reading of The Piano Lesson  was a little odd. There was lots of whiskey drinking and singing in this part. It always kind of annoys me when I see song lyrics in a book with no way to know what the melody is. It may not be realsitic, but it is just a pet peeve of mine. We met Wining Boy who was apparently a traveling piano man, but grew to hate it. It would seem that he understands that he has grown out of style which I find interesting though.

On Berit's post: I agree that they are rather rude to eachother. It seems like none of them really like eachother or at least that Dokaer doesn't. And I like the connection to the other books we have read about how some characters are less important.

Journal #14

The Piano Lesson is definitely a more entertaining read so far. There are more characters that do more things, already accusations of theft and murder and things like that. There was a little mention of music, but not really that much. The role of the piano is coming into play now though even though it is just for it's monetary value.

I commented on Tylor Knutson's blog: I had not though about the railroad as being a parallel to Dokaer's life, but now that I have read this it makes sense. And I also agree with how he seems to be the most reasonalbe level headed character so far.

Journal #13

The Piano Lesson aty first seemed like it would be more compelling because of the musical attribute the title implies. Although there isn't any so far I am hoping for some later on. I have to say that some of the language is a turn off since it is so innapropriate for our times although I understand it was in theirs. Of the story that we have read so far I am most intrigued by the woman who husband has apparently died. I want to know more about what happend.

I posted on James Dolan's Blog:

I also thought this book would be interesting because of the musical aspect. The language is innapropriate in current times though and is somewhat of a turnoff.

Journal #12

One of the things I tabbed was the reference to the red blood of the earth. I think that this is like the end of one thing and a new beginning for others. The storm seems to have connected to the hanging of Kumalo's son. He will be killed and his blood spilled and the skies finally open up and the blood of the earth runs red.
I aslo tabbed, "They say he's going quuer. From what I've heard, he soon won't have any money left"(277). From what I have read jarvis has taken up the work of his son. The other white men don't seem to understand this but i think it's a good idea. It will help him connect to who his son was and help him learn how he lived.