Monday, May 10, 2010

i suoi pensieri diventano le sue azioni

So today marks my re-attempt into the blogging world. I have decided to write as if I am writing to an audience (although Im not entirely sure anyone will ever read this)

The above entitle post translated from Italian means: "Its thoughts become his actions." Its very interesting to see how much of the uncontrollable things in our lives are influenced by our response to it. I guess that is what I will begin with. My goal with this blog is to record my journey into enlightment, wherever that may be. I am on a quest to fine-tune my body, my soul and my spirit to become what I believe I was created to be. It should be an interesting journey... attendere e vedere

Friday, April 17, 2009

Review of Selected Poems by Atilla Josef

Selected Poems by: Attila Josef
I normally am not the biggest fan of anything beyond elementary poetry. In other words, I rarely like to listen or read poetry that is beyond iambic pentameter. This text forced me to read and comprehend outside of my comfort zone as far as literature is concerned. One thing I must say I found in reading the Selected Poems was the constant reference to the author’s mother. It seemed through his writings that he had both a tremendous love and an excessive hate for his mother. In the poem, “Too Late for a Funeral” he blames his mother for her own death, stating, “I should have eaten you!” It was expressions such as these that caught my attention and forced me to look deeper into the writing. After reading that selection, it became clear to me that the poems required deeper thinking into literature itself, and to read into what the author was saying. Aside from the negative, I also found the selection, “Rising at the Dawn like Bakers” to be an interesting piece. He describes this ideal woman that he hopes to marry one day. He illustrates her qualities and elucidates that this idea of a woman is much like his own mother. He wishes to be like his father and marry her one day. In another selection entitled, “Sacriledge” he refers to a young virgin and asks for her “virgin mercy”. These writings were certainly different and intriguing. I also cant help but wonder the author’s complete intended purpose in writing. These writings were translated into English from Hungarian, and anyone who has ever spoken more than one language can tell you that passages are never exactly the same. Perhaps, some of the true meaning was lost in the translation. All in all, excellent read, I recommend it to anyone.

Review of Pembroke Magazine #40

Pembroke Magazine #40

One, if not the most interesting thing about this magazine was its “special” or its number 40 edition. The magazine contained often ignored or disregarded subjects of writing and the authors that write them. This particular edition featured Hispanic/ Latino writers. One thing I found to be quite interesting was the bi-lingual changes throughout the writing. I am not bi-lingual so the text was accommodating. There will be a passage in English, followed by the same passage translated into Spanish, and vice-versa. I was also astounded to find so many countries represented throughout the writing. Some of the countries mentioned throughout the text were Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain and the United States. The diversity was not limited to merely countries, the range of ideas of the writing itself ranged from immigration to romance. Throughout reading some of the passages and poems I came across a story written by Jose Latour entitled, Havanightmare located on page 18. The title alone caught my attention and as I read the story intrigued me. It told the story of a woman named Megan who went on a cruise around the islands of Central America. She was kidnapped by a man and held hostage. What she later learns is that the man holding her is essentially doing so beyond his own will. After an insightful look into his own troubled past, he informs his captive that by kidnapping her is the only way to save his wife. It is a story that ends with quite a twist that was not expected. It was just one among many poems throughout the text, but it was a great read that I suggest to anyone whether bilingual or not.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Millie by Peter Hargatai

PETER HARGITAI’s Millie is a novel that touches the heart. When I first read it I wasnt too sure of the novel that laid ahead of me, but was pleasantly suprised.
In a story of the quintessential American dream, immigration, Hargitai tells the story of the coming-of-age of Art Nagy, a young Hungarian who arrives in America after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet-Communist occupation. Art struggles to make sense of life not only as an adolescent but also within his family who insist on transplanting many of their customs and much of their thinking from their country of origin, including less than attractive ideas about race and class. Art’s likes and dislikes and the friends he chooses bring the family to clash over values and beliefs, and culminate in tragedy when he falls in love with a girl from a different background. His deep love for Millie pits him against everything his family believes in…. And the final pages of the novel reveal acts of horror in his family’s past and explain much of what Art Nagy was up against.
Every page keeps the reader fascinated, unable to put it down until the very end. Millie was truly a book in of itself about pushing limits in every sense. Hargatai's strong sense of lack of thought for the common norm. kept me thinking. His raw and real approach to racism and sex is truly unmatched by any other author. It made me want to read again and again. Millie, was and is by far, one of Hargatai's best compilations.

Monday, January 26, 2009

No I didnt die...

Hello to those who possibly are still reading my blog.. sorry its been a while since I've written, life has had me pretty busy.

My post will be short.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Live it. Love it. All in Christ. Christ in all.

Peace&Love

Thursday, December 25, 2008

All I Want For Christmas...


Holidays, especially Christmas have a tendency to bring out the most selfish aspects of our personalities. It no longer becomes giving, but rather what do I want or what do I need. In a season intended to be about others, how is it that it becomes the most trying time to put others before ourselves? This Christmas was a good evaluation of my progress in my spiritual life. It was a Christmas of little monteraily, but in abundance spiritually. This Christmas, it wasnt about what was wrapped under my tree, but rather the words I spoke the day of while cooking with my insane family. It was trying to be a light to my family and friends... It left me thinking though, what do I really want for Christmas? The "college student answer" says, money money money. The "spiritual answer" is for my parents and sister to come to know and accept Christ... but what about me? What do I reallly want for Christmas? Ever since I was a little girl all I ever wanted was a big kitchen and living room filled with tons of family and friends surrounded by foos and wine and endless laughter and yelling. You see, what most people see as normal or boring I see as perfection. I think Christmas has a tendency to make us appreciate the things we have and sadden us to the things we dont, and more often than not, the things we lack cannot be bought with money. This Christmas is my first by myself. My extended family is up north, and for the first year in a while... I am alone. No relationship... and for the first time, although I'm lonely I dont feel alone. I am content with Gods placement in my life. And this Christmas, thats all I wanted... contentment. Nothing more, nothing less. For the first time, I remembered the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

ENC 1101 Assignment: Self-Evaluation

My experience writing this argumentation paper was an interesting experience. For the first time in a while my writing skills were challanged. I found it difficult to argue a paper I didnt agree with. I have found in my past semester in 1101 that difficulty was a consistant factor. Our assignments constantly challanged to think outside the realm of comfortability. I truly enjoyed the socratic-teaching style of having each of the students sit in a circle to have an open forum for discussion. That push to think and write beyond the status quo is something I will continue to carry with me throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies.