Separate paragraphs:
1) Your general reaction to the style. Did the language used by Di Donato get in the way of comprehension? How does it rate in terms of difficulty, compared to other texts you read before?
2) Was there anything in this chapter that you didn't expect? Is there one specific detail that grabbed your attention?
3) Is the text clear enough about the nature of the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata? What kind of rapport do they have?
4) Read your classmates comments about 2). Pick one comment that opens up a different perspective for you.
1. The language used was hard to understand. The difficulty was high probably a 8/10 because I have never reviewed/read a text that was written in this way. The text is multi-layered with narration from the writer's perspective, and also having narration coming from the other characters in the book. The hardest thing for me about the language was not being able to understand when they characters or writer was narrating their thoughts and what was actually happening.
ReplyDelete2. One thing that grabbed my attention, if I understood it properly was when Geremio said to Thomas that he could not get Big Titted Cola pregnant. Then the next line states that when Delenee turns the door knob to his room and old Philmana (or Annunziata, Geremio's wife)becomes a a balloon and becomes pregnant. So what I found surprising was how Geremio and his wife can have a child when they want one but Thomas struggles so hard with Big Titted Cola because what could have been the reason that they were so unlucky?
(Sorry for the spelling of names I could not read them clearly so I did my best)
3. I find the text to be very clear about the nature of the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata. On page twenty in the second paragraph the writer states that Geremio finally got a house of his own after working so hard to help build the new world. It states the Geremio was happy to help sign on the X with Annunziata to secure their home and it would be the place for their next child to be born. So the text makes it very clear that the nature of Geremio and Annunziata's relationship was husband and wife and they are live partners.
4. I can not answer this yet because no one responded but when people do I will comment with the answer to question 4.
4 Continued: One perspective that stood out to me was Ifakat's answer to question 2. I personally did not think anything of the names of the characters, I thought that was a way for the writer to add some of there own personal twist but, after going back and looking over the text again it does seem to me the author uses these names for the characters as a way to bring some lightness to the text which I over looked. My first attitude when reading this book was that all the characters were ungrateful and didn't like where they were or who they were. But instead the characters did not feel that way, they acted and spoke how they spoke to in a sense, help push themselves through their hard time. Almost like a way to make time pass.
Delete1. upon reading the chapter, I became confused with what was happening. I was considering reading a chapter before the one assigned to us to have an understanding but I didn't do that and just did my best. The language of the book made it more difficult to understand as well as the use of punctuation was not there. The narrator and the characters thoughts are in the book which makes it difficult to understand who is saying what. I'll rate the difficulty a 8/10.
ReplyDelete2. Lean clawed walled knots jumping in jaw masonry crumbled dust billowed thundered choked". I wasn't expecting something like this in the book at all. It was difficult for me to even comprehend what is being said. Which leads me to answer the next question for number 2. This sentence was also interesting to me because of how it doesn't follow current English structure (especially no punctuation which can make a difference). This would be my first time encountering something like this in a written work.
3. Honestly, I find it it kinda clear. It's a bit confusing but looking at the analysis video the professor made, It cleared things up for me a bit.
4. Joseph said something interesting for number 2 which was aboy Big Titted Cola. I found it funny reading it but his analysis of what that paragraph is about opened up my perspective a bit. He said Geremio and his wife can have a child but Thomas was unlucky to have a child with Big Titted Cola.
1. I felt the language did get in the way of my comprehension a bit but it wasn't impossible to understand. The problem I have however when a text is hard to read is that it bores me completely and I don't want to untangle the words of each sentence or paragraph to understand the message. In terms of difficulty I have read harder texts such as Shakespear, a Scottish novel and Dante's Inferno were all extremely difficult.
ReplyDelete2. I didn't expect Annunziata to have 6 kids and another 2 on the way. Watching the movie I can see how old it is and what I imagined were the living conditions. They were obviously not as sanitary as they are now, but not only that. I wondered how her and Geremio could possibly take care of them all when no one made lots of money back in those days and feeding 8 people total is not easy even in todays day in age.
3. The text is clear about Geremio and Annunziata's relationship. They seem happy together and excited to build their future together with all their children. They signed a contract for a house and the narrator states how Geremio is dreaming about it and they don't want to tell anyone about it because people will get jealous so to me, I see ambition and confidence here.
4. Isaiah makes a great point about not comprehending what is meant to be said. When I first read that line I thought everything was just wrong until I saw he quoted it from the text. This is a flaw in reading because the if the reader cannot understand the text, it defeats the purpose of reading it in the first place. I also agree with him that punctuation is extremely important. It provides the tone of the message.
1. I honestly felt the first chapter of “Christ in Concrete” was a bit difficult at times. I found some parts to be confusing and a little challenging. Compared to the other books, we’ve read, “Christ in Concrete” is undoubtedly, the most difficult to read. However, I felt my second attempt to read the chapter, allowed me to better understand the plot of the story.
ReplyDelete2. One thing I was not expecting to see within the story, was the constant name calling and nicknames. Although, we learn the real names of characters, I found the authors attempt to include nicknames and insults to be a sense of comedic relief. Although the job being performed is dangerous, and ultimately deadly; the author inserts moments of cheerful banter. For example, “Cherry faced Tomas”, “Mike the barrel-mouth”, “tobacco-eater Lazarene” and “Snoutnose”.
3.I believe the text was clear about the nature of the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata. For one, we know they have multiple children and expecting another child. We are told they purchase a house under both of their names, and without a doubt living together. A specific scene, I can recall, that to me reassures their status, is when Annunziata asks Germeio why he doesn’t talk about his new job, and if it was a dangerous. This to me, meant Annunziata noticed a change in her husband and was concerned, too which Geremio tried to hide the dangers of his job, so she wouldn’t worry. I felt the text allowed enough information to support the loving bond between Geremio and Annunziata.
4. I believe Adriana brings up a great point. I honestly didn’t think twice about the number of children Annunziata and Geremio had. However, Adriana pointed out just how difficult it must have been for the family to survive in such poor conditions. It was clear Geremio’s income was not stable, let alone enough to support such a large family. So, I agree with Adriana, and wonder how they were able to feed and shelter so many children under one roof.
1. I thought the language used by Di Donato was a little difficult to comprehend. I found myself having to reread many parts of the texts compared to others I’ve read before. I am not a big reader to begin with and use reading as a hobby or enjoyment, this was 10 out of 10 difficult level for me.
ReplyDelete2. Due to the title “Christ in Concrete” the chapter was what I expected, especially the ending. One detail that grabbed my full attention is how Geremio had such high hopes and expectations for the children of America.
3. Geremio and Annunziata’s relationship is crystal clear of a loving marriage. Their rapport is that of a loving honest struggle immigrant couple who are very religious.
4. I believe the fellow students who posted before I kinda all agreed the text was difficult to read, which was a sigh of relief I wasn’t rowing that boat alone. (Thanks all!). Also we all thought the same thing of the marriage of Geremio and Annuziata <3
ReplyDelete1.For me, this book was hard to read not because of the complex structure but because of the emotionally difficult plot and the way how realistically the author expresses the characters’ thoughts especially at the end when Di Donato describes in details Geremeo’s death in a wet cement. In terms of difficulty of the text it was not so hard for me to read it because I already read similar texts in a Russian classical literature.
2.I didn’t expect that in the first chapter of the book the main character Geremio would die, because at first I watched the movie “Give us this day”. From one side the movie helped me to have images of the main characters in my head but from the other side it gave me a distorted view of Geremio,who cheated on his wife. My attention gabed the way how the author in graphic details described Geremio's Good Friday death and in these descriptions he looked like Christ on the cross as he is pierced with his arms outstretched by metal reinforcement rods. I remember how we already discussed the similar analogy with Christ in the book “Son of Italy” when Pascal because of an incident injured his hand.In both this book we see what important role played religion for the Italian Immigrants and how their faith was ruined by the Capitalist ideals.
3.I think that the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata is clear enough and as in a normal family they both have common dreams such as buying a house for their children and are happy for every child that appears in their family in spite of life's difficulties. By using the relationship between Germio and Annunziata the author shows how the love of family served as the driving force in the lives of the Italian immigrant.
4.While I read the book I tried to concentrate my attention on the text content but I actually did not pay attention to the punctuation. After I read Isaiah #2 comment I opened the book and revised Chapter 1 and found out that it has too many punctuation and for me the author very often uses ellipsis. For example, in the sentence “I will convince him that the work must not go on like this … just for the sake of little more profit!”. In my opinion the author does this for many reasons to highlight the characters confusion, insecurity, distress and to attract the reader attention to the emotional aspect of the text.
1) I think the literature was complex and sometimes if you don't understand something that's going on in one part, you can potentially misinterpret or miss something important. Whenever I read or watch any movie, I have to know what's going on before I can continue, it bothers me a bit. There's a lot on my mind, as I'm sure everyone feels the same, but it kind of distracted me.
ReplyDelete2)I didn't quite expect the circumstances presented in the novel at the time, I'm not sure why. It seems impossible to have any sort of humor positivity when the stakes are so high and they must endure such harsh conditions.
3)I think from what I understood, they both seem to be on the same page in regards to dreaming about making a happy life for themselves and their family. Both Geremio and Annunziata show the willingness and drive to survive and make a happy life as a family.
4) I think for the most part we all agree on some level about the questions but I think Hanna shed some light on what the author was trying to do, even if I didn't catch that at all. The part about the author using ellipsis actually makes a ton of sense.
ReplyDelete1) Your general reaction to the style. Did the language used by Di Donato get in the way of comprehension? How does it rate in terms of difficulty, compared to other texts you read before?
The language used by Di Donato was a little challenging but I was able to get through it. I would say that it rates higher in difficulty than the other texts because the vocabulary is complex and Di Donato emphasizes on the narrative aspect.
2) Was there anything in this chapter that you didn't expect? Is there one specific detail that grabbed your attention?
I did not expect Geremio to fall into the concrete. The detail that grabbed me was when he started to call out to the lord and his children. His last words were the things that were important to him and I thought that that was special.
3) Is the text clear enough about the nature of the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata? What kind of rapport do they have?
I don’t that based on chapter one I was able to get the full picture of the relationship between Geremio and Annunizata. It just seems like he is a family man who wants to please his wife. Geremio is the man of the house and he works to provide and Annunziata is the woman of the house and she is a homemaker. Geremio respects Geremio because he used to tell her about work, however, now he seems to be reluctant. Despite this, I think that their relationship is still solid.
4) Read your classmates comments about 2). Pick one comment that opens up a different perspective for you.
Paulina's comment about Geremio expecting his children to excel in America. I completely forgot about that point and I think that it is important. To me this reaffirms the immigrant’s tale, in which they want to seize all opportunities and make sacrifices in order for their kids to be successful.
1. I thought the way that the chapter was written was strange and I would say it was a bit difficult. Writing notes down while reading definitely aided my me in understanding the text. I had to frequently reread previous sentences, paragraphs and I constantly referred to my notes. Although the video posted by Professor Carasi on how to read the chapter helps, I would still say in terms of difficulty the chapter is an 7/10.
ReplyDelete2. I didn’t really expect the type of language that was used when they spoke about each others wives. When I originally read “Big Titted Cola” I had to read it again because I thought I made a mistake, but after rereading it I realized I didn't.
3. Since we only read a chapter I don’t think we can fully see what kind of rapport they have but think they have a good relationship. I think that their relationship has been strained by the stress of having and raising seven children with another one on the way.
4. Reading Paulinas comment pointed out something I had not noticed and realized, the fact that the title of the book is “Christ in Concrete” and the manner in which Geremio met his end was being submerged in concrete.
1. To fully understand the first chapter of the book, I had to read it twice. Although I understood the vocabulary, the flow the author used (or lack of) when writing caught me off guard at first and got me confused about what was happening.
ReplyDelete2. Although it became apparent early on in the chapter something bad was going to happen due to the fact that they were working on some shady construction site, I was caught off guard about how bad it was going to be. The amount of detail the author used created a clear idea in the readers head as to how these men suffered and died.
3. The author makes the nature of the relationship between Geremio and Annunziata clear. He talks about how they have children together, how they are moving together which makes it clear they are married. The author also mentions how Annunziata noticed that Geremio had stopped talking about work and knew that this probably meant he didn’t want to scare her about how dangerous it was indicating a close emotional connection between the two.
4. One comment I found interesting was Adrianas answer for number 2. In her answer, she wonders why they would have so many kids if they cannot afford them. I find myself wondering this same thing a lot when looking back at the early 20th century. There was an old man in my building who’s parents moved from Italy to New York in the early 20th century and were in a very similar situation. The story he loved to tell was how his family had 11 kids and 5 pairs of shoes, whoever woke up first got the shoes that day. I guess social norms were just different back then.
This is John Giannusa.
ReplyDeleteDi Dinato's style was a little all over the place. It was almost as if he was going on tangents, like in the first part in the reading when the workers are talking to each other. The dialogue is spastic in a way. It wasn't necessarily hard it was just a little confusing and it was definitely harder than Son of Italy, which was a super easy read. This reading focused more on details than Son of Italy.
I did not expect that there were Italians calling each other nicknames, in the sort of way that mob movies introduce characters.
The text isn't able to show us the true form of Geremio's relationship with Annunziata. It seems like their relationship is solid. However, in the movie it seems like Geremio just marries her just so he doesn't grow old alone and because he believes getting married is what everyone does.
Emily Rassmann's comment on the construction site being extremely dangerous, yet they kept their jobs because they needed the money.