Tears Of A Tiger Book Reviev

Book Review: Tears of a Tiger author: Sharon M. Drapor

By, Noemi Delgado

           As Monty was drawing a picture for school, he looked up to his big brother Andy and asked if tigers cry. Andy was tough like a tiger and Monty saw him as a role model. But now Andy cried a lot and didn’t feel he deserved to be looked up to. Andy told his little brother it was okay to draw tears on his tiger.
           Andy Jackson was a 17-year-old basketball star on the Hazelwood High Tigers. He was a loving brother and boyfriend with decent grades and a big chance for a college scholarship.  His life was filled with basketball, girls and parties. He was one of the most popular kids at school. Until a tragic accident unraveled his happiness into, depression and guilt.  After a long basketball game Andy and his buddies had a few drinks before Andy got in the drivers seat. Andy lost control and they got into a horrible accident.  He watched as his best friend Robert Washington, who was stuck in the car, burn to death.
           This accident led into the story of a teenage boy dealing with extreme guilt, on top of all the problems any high school student would go through. As an African American, he also dealt with discrimination and expectations from his father to fit in with a white society. This book is interesting because it tells the story from many different perspectives; such as Andy’s, his friend’s, his teacher’s, his brother’s, his parent’s and his psychologist’s. These character’s feelings are expressed in many different forms. For example the author uses diary entries, English essays, letters and dialogues to tell this story. The unique writing style of Sharon M. Drapor, gives the readers the opportunity to mold their opinion about different events, according to the feelings and experiences of various characters. It also lets you see how Andy’s deterioration affects the people around him, especially the ones who loved him the most.
           Andy became obsessed by his guilt. He tried to act happy, but around his girlfriend Keisha he opened up and let his depression take over. Their relationship grew weaker as Andy grew sadder.  Throughout the book you see Andy  becomes more and more isolated, which causes him to care less not only about others, but about himself.
           The book captivates your feelings and lets you understand the pain that every character goes through. I recommend this book because, it allows you to enter the world of Andy Jackson and his tragic experiences. This story is mostly told in dialogue, so it is not the most beautifully written book. But it’s deep emotional pull makes it worth the read.

           

NAME:Noemi DATE:10/24 TITLE:Bone TIME:2HOURS AUTHOR:Fae NG PAGES:105-150 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK:45 START FINISH

The chapters that I read this week were mostly about how Leila dealt with the death of her sister. She talked about how it felt for everyone in China Tow to be talking about it. I think it was especially hard to have everyone talking about it because Ona killed herself, and people probably thought badly of their family. Leila didn’t really care too much that people talked about it, she cared when people talked to her about it.

Old friends, boyfriends and even enemies stopped to try and talk with Leila. They all wanted to know why she jumped. Leila avoided them all; I think she felt they were all trying to make themselves feel good by pitying the family.

Leila doesn’t like attention she doesn’t like pity. I think her mom and sister, Nina do. They care a lot more about what other people think.  But during the morning of Ona, no one really cared about anything except holding on to her.

NAME: Noemi Delgado DATE:10/16/10 TITLE:Bone TIME:2HOURS AUTHOR:Fae NG PAGES 65-105 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK40

After the death of Ona, everyone in the family had a different way of dealing with it.  Leila tried to focus on her relationship with Mason. Nina tried to move away from the sadness, by going to New York. Mah was just sad all the time. Leon was the only one who was able to live sad and happy at the same time. Leon had the best way of dealing with it, because he found a way to accept the fact that she was gone and still have some peace. Everyone else had to forget about her to feel peaceful.

            Leon is a very spontaneous character; no one ever knows where he is or what he is doing. He always has a new project he is working on, with a line of unfinished projects behind it.  He reminds me of Lennie from Of Mice & Men, because he has a sweet heart but he is always disappointing people and getting into trouble. Leon is very wise although, most people look at him like an idiot.

            Mah always pities herself saying, “I have one daughter dead and one in New York.”  I think this makes Leila feel unappreciated. She spends most of her time helping her parents, yet her mom only thinks about her other two daughters. While Mah and Nina were in Hong Kong, Nina felt like there was weight lifted off of her. I think she felt this way because Leon doesn’t want her help even though he needs it, but Mah doesn’t really need her help she just wants it. Nina got to focus on Mason and just occasionally check in on Leon. Spending time with Mason is what really gets her mind off Ona and their other family problems.

NAME: Noemi Delgado DATE: 10/8 TITLE: Bone TIME: 2 hrs. AUTHOR: Fae Myenne NG PAGES 1-65 TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 65

     The author of this book from the point of view of second generation Chinese American woman named Laila. I can relate to her in some ways because my dad immigrated to the U.S. as a young adult, I get to share another culture  & speak another language. I don't relate to Leila in many ways because my dad speaks English well & he doesn't rely on me to help him in this society unlike her parents. Her Mah & her step dad Leon are constantly needing her help to translate for them & help them with paper work. Leila is always worrying about her parent because they have a hard time getting along in American society.
     Leila is the oldest of three sisters, the youngest Nina moved to New York and Ona committed suicide. Ona is a big part of the book even though she is not present, her death is the caused many of the character's problems. Each family member blames them self except Nina, who blames the family. Nina tries to get away from all the guilt and obligations of the family, while Leila is being tied down by her familial duties. For example, when Leila visits Nina in New York, she convinces her to marry her long time boy friend at City Hall, instead of having a big banquette held by her mother. "Look, you've always been on stand by for them. Waiting and doing things there way," Nina said this because she wants to encourage her sister to do thing for herself instead of always pleasing her parents.
     I think Nina is right in many ways, they have to be their own person & make their own decisions. I also know where Leila is coming from because I wouldn't be able to just leave my parents helpless. If I were Leila I would get married in city hall, but I would also let my mom throw a little family banquette for me. She does need to realize that celebrating her happiness is what makes her Mah happy.

IR Book

Title: Bone
Author: Fae Myenne Ng

M&M POST 5

1. What do the rabbits symbolize in the story?

I think the rabbits symbolize safety and comfort for Lennie. Maybe petting their soft fur reminds him of the piece of velvet his aunt Clara gave to him. The rabbits are sort of like a prize for him whenever he is doing something bad he is worried he wont get to tend the rabbits. Lennie is like a little boy he needs something to remind him not to get in trouble. He feels good when he is petting soft things and he is a caring guy so thats why he is so into rabbits.

2. Choose a character in the novel (other than Curley's wife) and discuss what they represent. Use details about the character to support your answer.

Crook is an old man of color. No one cares too much for him.Everyone on the farm treats him as if he is less of a human then they are, just because of his color. He talks to Lennie, and tells him how lonely he is. Even tough he acts mad at everyone for coming in his room you can tell he likes the company.

3. Describe your reactions to Lennie killing Curley's wife. What do you think will happen to Lennie now?

I was shocked when Lennie killed Curley's wife. He must feel like a monster because everything he touches gets hurt. I feel so bad for Lennie he had no idea how bad he was hurting her. I think Curley is going to hurt him, or even kill him! I don't think George will want to travel with Lennie anymore, he is  to much to handle.

4. Discuss Curley's wife and what she represents in the novel.

Curley's wife was a broken dream. She wanted to become a movie star but instead she ended up married yet lonely. She didn't like her husband, but he was the only person she was allowed to talk to. Finally she started talking to Lennie, she opened up to him. But Lennie accidentally killed her.

 

Journal Entry - Curly's Perspective

Dear diary,

    Today I got in a fight with that big old Lennie. Me and Slim was arguing, him telling me to watch my wife talking about her as if she is a dog I needed to keep on a leash. It didn't bug me much I knew he was just jealous, but when I looked over and saw that giant bastard laughing at me I decided to teach him a lesson! So I leaned over slashed him across the face. He was bleeding everywhere, I kept going at him but the idiot wouldn't make a move. I could hear George yelling at Lennie, telling him to defend himself. He just stood there confused, not knowing what to do. Finally as I was getting ready to take a hit he reaches out and grabs my fist. His huge powerful hand swallowed mine and crushed it, I could feel every bone in my hand breaking. I looked up at him pleading for mercy, but he just stood there with a scared look on his face. Everyone surrounded Lennie making him let go, finally he did. I fell to the ground, my hand was in an excruciating amount of pain. George was trying to defend Lennie, saying it wasn't his fault. Then he says to me, "if you don't tell anyone what Lennie did, I wont tell anyone how Lennie crushed you." I said yes to this deal, I don't want anyone finding out because it would kill my reputation.