In the assignment for today I asked whether you were more interested in the pathos of the story, or the documentary details about the living conditions of the people Pascal describes.
COMMENT: write distinct, separate paragraphs.
1) Think back to the time BEFORE you started reading the book:
can you describe your expectations (whether positive or negative). Were you curious or skeptical? Ready to get bored to tears, or excited, or whatever?
can you describe your expectations (whether positive or negative). Were you curious or skeptical? Ready to get bored to tears, or excited, or whatever?
2) Six chapters later: compare your initial approach with your state of mind now. Surprised? Satisfied? Eager to find out more? Mildly entertained? "What-a-chore?
3) What is the single aspect of the book that you will remember 5 years after you graduate?
REPLY: wait for at least 10 comments before you reply -- pick any comment you liked.
Before I started reading the book, I had a fairly good idea of the path the story would most likely take. I rightfully assumed that, with a little help from the material written on the back, that in would be a story of a poor Italian laborer who moves to America with aspirations of better opportunities which would enable him to improve his life and the lives of his family back home. Only those opportunities brought along newfound trials and tribulations and he found the trek to America to be much more difficult than he first anticipated and it was during those difficult times that he found his love for literature which influenced him for an even larger and seemingly unrealistic goal of becoming a writer. He succeeded. That being said, this book didn't contain a story I haven't heard before. Turns out I was correct. My expectations were that it was going to be a story of triumph, which it was, but a story we have all heard before.
ReplyDeleteI definitely was much more intrigued than I first thought. The beginning was rather captivating, especially when talk of the supernatural came about and piqued my interest. I was surprised to see the book take a bit of a detour in that way, but it made for a much more interesting read and opened up more space for interpretation. I also quite enjoy how the author pokes fun at his own ignorance, especially at the end of chapter 5. I think D'Angelo told a story that was very familiar, but in a unique way that has kept my interest thus far.
It's difficult to answer this question, but there was a quote on page 77 that has resonated with me since I read it: "They will go to the funeral of their best friend and keep a straight face. I believe they feel ashamed if in a moment of forgetfulness they've turned to look at a flower or a beautiful sunset". If this was true about us Americans back then, it is true even moreso now. Especially in this age of social media where everyone is obsessed with everyone else's business that they forget to live in their own. I am just as guilty as anybody else. We are alive, but we aren't living. There is beauty surrounding us, but the only time we notice it is when it's over or when we want likes on instagram. I think this quote will be something i'll always remember as a reminder to take a look at what's around me more often.
ReplyDeleteI like to read autobiographical books because these books allow to me to take a look on
some historical facts through the eyes of an eyewitness and gives me a better insight into how the authors’ experiences have shaped them as a person. And before I started to read this book I knew that it would be a story about Italian immigrants and since I am also an immigrant, I was curious to start to read this book.
After I read six chapters I wanted to continue reading because it is interesting for me how the main character without knowing English language and by working with his father on a state road in America became a writer who mastered English language, and also, I am wondering why he never got the chance to come back to his home. However from the last sentences of chapter 5 which are full of pain and anger I realized that these feelings still haunt him even after he achieved success in becoming a poet.
After I graduate from college I will remember the name of the book and the whole autobiography of the Italian immigrant, but if somebody will ask me the author’s name maybe right away I can’t tell because I have a bad memory for names. In order to memorise the author’s name I need to read more books that he or she wrote.
Ferjana Safa
DeleteI agree with all that you said. It'll be interesting to know how they make it without knowing that much English. Also, you do bring up a good point about why wasn't he able to go back to his home.
Before I started reading this book, I wasn't very interested in the aspects of his life. As I started reading and saw how harsh his life was, I was reminded of stories my mother told me when she hasn't come to the USA yet and how she worked hard but didn't get much in return much like the father of D'Angelo.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I expressed my disinterest, I found myself moved by the characters thoughts.He was afraid of moving away from his mother and who wouldn't be at a tender age.I found myself relating to the character and the emotions he poured out and I became invested in what he would do next.
The one single aspect that I would remember from the book is when the boy had to sleep in a strange way. His mother placed coats and dresses on the floor that would be the child's bed. When I read this moment I felt my heart sank. The reason this scene is what I would remember years from now is because of the impact this shows on the characters setting and the aspects of his family as a whole. This scene shows that he is cared for even though its just placing clothes on the floor for bedding but that's just because his financial position doesn't allow him to have a bed and I take that for granted.
The detail that his mother put her shirt on the floor for Pascal also made a deep impression on me. Although the circumstances of the Pascal family were very poor, the family members were rich in love. The mother did not meet the economic needs of the family, but always loved and looked after her children carefully.
DeleteBefore reading the book, I wasn’t interested in reading the book but at the same time, looked intereSting based on the summary in the back and the book cover. That changed as I kept on reading where I then became interested even more. Autobiographies are interesting depending on the person for me because it gives us a sense of idea of what the person went through based on their point of view. Also, I had an idea it was about an Italian and the book could’ve been about his experiences and how it shaped him as a person. When I read 6 chapters, I started thinking how someone like him who English wasn’t his primary Language bécame fluent and also became a good writer while also working with his father in a State road. He was also upset about not being able to go back home as you read the last lines of chapter 5. So far, im interested to continue reading the book as well as remembering this book. For that to happen, I need to read continuously
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning I also was not interested in the author’s life. As I read on, I found it more interesting. The book highlights many poignant struggles of immigrants such as the language barrier and sometimes living in squalor. Like you mentioned, it was great to see how he went from little to no English to becoming an author. He definitely overcame the immigrant’s struggle and his book is a testimony to it.
DeleteBefore I started to read the book, I was skeptical and expected the book to be dreary and depressing. Auto-biographies aren’t my first choice of reading material. However, I felt completely different by the time I made it to chapter six.
ReplyDeleteI would say I judged the book by its cover, and completely disregarded D’Angelo’s ability to surprise me. After getting to chapter six in the book, I feel a sense of overwhelming emotions, and I am now eager to find out more about D’Angelo’s experiences as an Italian immigrant. D’Angelo is able to dramatize his emotions and experiences in a way that captivates the reader. The story expressed by D’Angelo, drew me in as he described the emotions that took over, during his journey to America. I was able to feel the fear of the unknown, and sadness of the loss of normality. Within each scenario described by D’Angelo, I felt an emotional response. Without a doubt, I am intrigued by his story, and can not wait to see what the future held for D’Angelo and his “gang”.
The single, most memorable aspect of the book, that I will remember five years after I graduate, would be the ultimate sacrifice made my D’Angelo and his fellow immigrants. This book tells the story of one immigrant child who jeopardized his life for a chance at a better future. However, it opened my eyes to the millions of other immigrants in search of a better future and the courage it takes to enter a new world full of the unknown. I have never felt the anxiety or fear of entering a new world in search of a better life, yet this book allowed me to empathize with individuals who have. Without any doubts, I can say I will remember the emotions I felt while reading this autobiography.
Before I started the book "Son of Italy" I wasn't excited nor interested in reading the book. I imagined it to be boring and very bland. By the cover art of the book it looked old and simple and not very worth spending my time on. If it was a choice I most likely wouldn't have read the book. I also don't like autobiographies. I think they're not very interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteAfter beginning the book and now read up to chapter six I am both mildly entertained and eager to find out more. I don't really like the style of writing for an autobiography; it's very complex. And some chapters are more interesting than others , the book started off slow and what I found most interesting thus far is the folk stories or the myths about the town he lived in, in Italy. I also didn't think of it til the second set of chapters assigned the point of view of the story in make it more complex when trying to decide what may and may not be real and what could of been a figure of his imagination and what could've just been exaggerated for the book
The single aspect of the book I will remember is him deciding he wanted to leave with his dad , the emotions he went through making the decision. And how it affected his family as a whole. The reason for that would be because I could relate to what he was feeling , I moved around alot growing up and not being able to stick together as a whole family regardless of the reason is a difficult feeling to figure out for yourself being a child as well.
Prior to reading I didn’t have any expectations, I just saw it as the first piece of literature we’d have to read for the course. The book cover is quite plain and doesn’t really give me any information on the books content, and I didn’t read the summary on the back of the book so I didn’t know what to expect. But the course is centered around Italian American literature and film so I knew it had something to do with that. In conclusion, I was indifferent about reading the book.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I didn’t expect anything for the book I really can’t compare my initial approach to my current state of mind but I can share my thoughts about the book. I’m mildly entertained, and reading the pages goes by pretty quickly so that’s contributing to my enjoyment. After chapter three I feel that the story picked up making it easier to read. The first three chapters were interesting because he spoke about his experiences during childhood but I’m enjoying chapters four through six more.
I think that its too early to be able to choose a single aspect of the book that I would remember 5 years after I graduate. But if I have to pick one I would choose Pascals and his mothers feelings from when she initially tells Pascal that his father was going to America to when Pascal and his father got onto the train and set off on their voyage to America. I chose this aspect because it resonates with me more than the others. Although I was born and raised in Brooklyn, my parents immigrated here during the mid 70s and 90s. Obviously there’s a huge difference in how my parents got here compared to Pascal and the means in which they can communicate with their families back home, which makes Pascals trip a lot harder than my parents. But they all had to experience the fear of being the first in their families to leave a world they’ve known their entire lives for a foreign land in hopes of attaining a better life.
The description of mother's reaction to the father leaving is very powerful. This scene resonated with me too.
DeleteWhen first seeing the book I wasn't very excited because the cover looked bland and I had never heard of the book so I didn't have much information going in.
ReplyDeleteI like the book now having read a good portion of it. I think that the story is compelling and that Pascal's life is interesting. It makes me want to learn more about my heritage as well as gives insight to the perspective of Italian families before and after immigrating to America. However, the book doesn't provide much imagery. The author's writing style doesn't keep me in and it often feels like they are stating events.
The one thing I will remember from this book is Pascal's introduction to America when he sees "golden clouds and rainbow vistas". It painted a picture of what he built America up to be as this land of opportunity where he would soon provide money for his family.
To be honest, i really had no expectation when I started reading the book. Even though the Italian American experience does fascinate me, as my grandparents immigrated here in the late 1940's, i had no motivation to read the story other than fulfilling my obligations to the class. I actually enjoy reading, so i didn't think reading these chapters would be too much of a chore, however, I'm actually glad that my prior feelings affected my judgments of the story, because otherwise my expectations wouldn't have been low and i probably would not have enjoyed what i read as much as i did.
ReplyDeleteI certainly did not expect any of the story to resonate with me as much as it did. As i was reading, i kept imagining my own grandfather and great grandfather getting ready to come to America. My Grandfather was a hardworking man that worked every day in a factory, and loved to grow his own vegetables, so reading about Pascals early life in Italy and his dream of working more if given the chance, really made me think of my grandfathers work ethic and kept bringing me back to those days when he used to allow my brothers and I to help him in his garden. Six chapters in, i'm certainly ready to dive in for some more.
I'm not sure what i will remember from the book 5 years from now, perhaps the emotions between Pascal and his mother, or the idealistic view of America from a foreigners eyes. If anything, i think i will liken that view of America to my own family, and their plight to assimilate to American culture.
I believe i will remember his relationship to his mother as well, it was very deep and emotionally impacting. The perception of america that foreigners have about this country and the subsequent realization that it has its faults as any other country, is truly fascinating as it breaks down the hard borders we where taught in school.
DeleteJessica Fracasse
DeleteI agree. His relationship with his mother was very touching. I feel that they had to live so close together and then suddenly he left.. that must have been a very difficult experience as a teenager.
Prior to reading this book I was not expectant of anything, I was ready to be bored and uninterested in its contents, because most books fail to grasp my attention and amusement I am never excited nor do I look forward to have to read a book for class.
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest even after reading the first six chapters my view remains the same maybe because I'm reading just to read it the contents of the book goes in one ear and out the other. I guess I can say that it was interesting to hear about someone's experience going through Ellis Island and leaving their family behind but other than that my thoughts remain the same.
Honestly, in five years it is very likely that I won't remember the contents of the book.
Ferjana Safa
ReplyDeleteBefore I started to read the book, I knew it was an autobiography. At first, I wasn’t all that interested but after reading the back of the book’s summary it drew my attention and made me want to know the ending outcome. I also wanted to know what the author had went through while being an immigrant.
Six chapters into the book, I actually find it more interesting than I initially had though it to be. After reading about the beginning stages of his life, it made me mire curious to find out what happens as he lived in America and what experiences he went through. I was also eager to look into their lifestyle and how it differed when they came to America.
After five years I think the thing that's worth remembering, would be the entirety of the book. It was an autobiography so it will be memorable in one way or another. To pinpoint a certain aspect of the book, I’d say the struggles Pascal, his father and other immigrants went through would really stick with me even after I finish this course.
I felt the same way it really is something worth remembering.
DeleteI like the thing you chose that would stick with you for 5 years down the road. I couldn't agree more because that is what stuck with me most. Also, i never thought about how there lifestyles in the book would evolve but now I am eager to find out.
DeleteI remember being very skeptical about what exactly the book was about. I believe I was envisioning a series of Italian historical events, primary and secondary sources strung together with boring ‘educational’ commentary.
ReplyDeleteNow that i’m this far into the book and honestly by the end of the first chapter I was 100% intrigued by the historical, anthropological and emotional dialogue this novel displays. I’m so utterly facilitated by the way other people’s, from completely innocent stand points, take in and experience our world of modern machines; especially at that time being the turn of industrialized mass production to eventually in the 30’s extreme technological advancements.
How other people perceive and assimilate things they have absolutely no concept for to things they had back in there culture, there ‘world’. I think that will help me u sweat and people better, in a more fundamental way.
Jessica Fracasse
ReplyDeletePrior to reading this book I expected to be bored. I love to read, however I am not a fan of autobiographical books. I knew this would be a story about a man and his struggles in America as an Immigrant. I suppose I also was not interested because I thought that I knew a lot about what ITAM went through from stories from my family, yet I was surprised.
After reading the first 6 chapters, I was instantly taken with the paranormal ideas in the book ( this drew me in because I love books with paranormal activity and mystery). However as the story went on I was shocked to hear about his life here. I feel like I never heard this part of the stories when my family told them. His attitude from when he first arrived to when the accident happened and he lost coworkers really got me interested in his want to stay.
Something that will stick with me is his want to see the “real America”. I feel like if I were to experience the things that he did I would want to leave immediately. His one quote saying “... I had so much more to suffer...” real shows his determination and hunger to stay in America.
I was really enthralled by that quotation too. He knew this transition in his life wasn't going to deter him from achieving his goals and it is that determination that he had that makes him a very admirable figure. He could have very easily gone back home with his father, but he had a goal in his head and he wasn't going to let anyone or anything stop him from achieving the seemingly impossible.
DeleteI agree with your point about him wanting to see America because I personally feel as if America advertises itself to be amazing, with the lady liberty and other symbols of freedom America portrays to purposely lure immigrants in just for labor. But, everything is whole a different ball game. I would leave to, but I know I wouldn’t be able to because he came there to support his family. It comes down to will he work to provide his family or struggle once again which are both bad choices, but one has to pick one of the lesser of the two evils in a way.
DeleteBefore I first started to read the book, I thought that it was boring. I thought that it was your average memoir with lackluster details and the author just rambling along. I expected the book to be filled with a lot of historical details that were boring—stuff that I learned in school. I was not expecting the author to captivate and entertain me.
ReplyDeleteSix chapters later, I am happy to say that it is the opposite of what I expected. I was not as bored as I anticipated—although there are some parts that are snooze-worthy. The book gives me insight on life for immigrants in America during the early 20th century. I am also eager to find out more about how people survived during this time and first hand accounts of any discrimination that occurred.
The single most aspect that I will probably remember 5 years from is D’angelo’s encounter with the witch. I found it interesting because this topic is controversial and it is hard to know what is true sometimes. I enjoy hearing or reading stories about people’s supernatural encounters because I find every story unique. It is sometimes hard to know what is real or not.
For me it is also interesting to learn from this book about the life of Italian immigrants in America during the early 20th century and to find out that the main reason for their immigration was poverty and the dream to return to Italy with enough money to buy land. I still curious why D'Angelo by having the dream to buy land never come back home.
DeleteBefore I started reading this book, when I looked at the cover and read the title "Son of Italy", I thought it was a book about a rich Italian tycoon. The story will revolve around the rich life of "the son of Italy." But when I started reading the book, the content was completely different from what I had thought before. This book is about the life of a boy who born in a poor family in Italy.
ReplyDeleteIn the first chapter of the book, I felt quite boring. But when I read Chapter 3, things about charms and vampires made me interesting. And I began to enjoy reading about Pascal and his father's journey to a new land, America, to change their lives. It reminds me of my experience when I went to America to study abroad on my own.
I think the aspect that I will always remember the most in 5 years after I graduate is the indomitable spirit of Pascal. Although at a young age, Pascal was very brave and big-minded. He voluntarily left his hometown, his mother, brother and followed his father to America in order to have a better future and a better life. Similar to Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican immigrants, etc. They trade a lot of things, even illegally crossing, to be able to go to the US, because they expect to have a less strenuous life than when they live in their country.
I agree with what you said about chapter 3, it really made me more interested in what was happening. That's probably when I actually wanted to read and see what happens next.
DeleteBefore starting the book, I really didn't have any sort of expectations other than it being just another book that is required of me to read and understand. Although the book starts off rather slowly, I feel like by chapter 3, the story really picks up and becomes quite captivating.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that stuck out to me, that I may remember when I graduate is the characters decision to leave his father behind and move to America. There's something extremely emotional about that journey and having a feeling of empathy towards him.
I agree! I cannot imagine having to leave a parent behind only to never see them again all for a chance at a better life.
DeletePrior to reading the book i was actually dreading to read it because i thought it would be boring and i was reading for the sake of the class. As i began reading all though it didnt catch my attention at first by the 3rd chapter and i was reading about pascals father immigrating to america i began to think about my own parents who left their homeland almost 25 years ago to ensure a better life for me. I was thinking of the sacrifices our families make to give us a better life and how they leave their parents and family for their new generation. It was definitely very emotional for me as i was reading. Immigration in general is a very emotional topic in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBefore I started reading the book, I thought negatively of it. I assumed it was going to be boring. I thought it was going to be very historical and bland.
ReplyDeleteSix chapters later, I am pleasantly surprised that it is actually an interesting book. By mixing historical aspects with his real life story, the author gives us a full view of the experience of an Italian immigrant. I enjoy that the book is full of small anecdotes and details most people would not include like when he first tried a banana or messed up “I fell” with “you damn”.
In five years I will remember how sad it is that he was forced to leave the person he loved the most in the world, his mom, and how he will never see her again.
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ReplyDeleteBefore reading the book I thought I was going to be bored, honestly I am not much of a reader. I felt this book was going to be filled with a fictional, boring story and I would have nothing to relate to which wouldn't have been entertaining. I thought the book was going to have a lot of history on Italy or a part of Italy but I happened to be completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first six chapters I can say I am not bored at all. The book gives the reader a good look inside the hardships faced by immigrants from a more personal viewpoint which is new for me. Hearing about his life was also very interesting, and learning about his life and coming to America. I hope the book goes more into how these immigrants were treated and how they dealt with it.
Five years later from now one thing I think that I would remember is how the immigrants were treated in America and how none of them let that stop them. Having drive to push through everything that is trying to hold them back. I feel that was a big message in the book so far and it sticks with me.
My expectations for this book was not that high, but was not that low either because I have noticed that anything foreign is well written, as shown with the film parasite and my African literature and French film class of previous semesters. But, I didn’t know what could be discussed about Italian Americans in regards of literature and film because I don’t think much about European literature and film because it seems like it would advocate for the majority. But since the “son of italy” is written in 1924, so i knew it will touch on more of a great depression and more.
ReplyDeleteSix chapters in now, Like I said, I am not surprised for Son Of Italy to be good but there is some surprised on well written it is, how it tackles power structure, men and their emotions, family in regard of bloodline and people you meet. I’m actually extremely happy about D’Angelo speaking on emotions and men. I’m eager to know how Pascal turns out as he gets older, I’m just upset that he didn’t go to see his mother at all once he moved to America. She was there for him when nobody else was there for him when he was crying.
Something I will always remember from this book 5years later is the compassion, attention, he received from his mother. I haven’t seen a boy in any book I have read, where they were embraced for having feelings. I love it and stand for men being able to cry and show emotions. It’s not written about and men showing emotions need to shown more in novels, text instead of just brushing it off.
I think your response was well stated. European literature is always well written and usually more intriguing than other literature. I think we can all relate being we are a diverse class and that our family most likely immigrated here just like Pascal.
DeleteMy expectation of the book was that it would be a story about a man in Italy who would do something revolutionary for his country due to the title. I also thought it would be religious and bring up Catholicism being that the Pope lives in Italy.
ReplyDeleteSix chapters later I am mildly entertained. I do feel that being Italian, I can relate somewhat with my family having immigrated here from Italy and experiencing all of the struggles that went along with those hard times especially with how my dad grew up.
I'm not sure I will remember anything about the book after I graduate because I forget everything by the next semester but maybe the fact that he started working from 12 years old because my dad had to do the same exact thing when he was in Italy and it was a hard life growing up.