Read: Chapter Nine - Pages 68-80
Page 76:
"'Come on, Taslima, let's not fight.' [Aisha] pulls close to her and smiles."
Page 78:
"It's been a long while since I felt so good about Aisha. We're together, a sister-sister team."
I didn't think that Aisha was going to change much. I thought that she would still try to be the boss of everything (Especially Nadira). In this chapter, she seems to have changed, though. To me, it looks like Aisha is doing her best to change for the better. She is trying to befriend and work well with both Nadira and Taslima. In the previous chapters, though, I highly doubt that Aisha would try so hard to make Nadira's life easier. I think that Aisha may really be turning a leaf into a new life.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
(b)Log #5
Read: Chapters Seven & Eight - Pages 55-67
Page 56:
"And then one day Naseem disappeared, gone to join the Mukti Bahini, "Freedom Fighters," who wanted their own nation. Every day my grandmother pressed her forehead against the window grate, praying her eldest son would walk down the dusty street. But it was not to be. The more grandmother prayed, the worse the news became. They heard about university students shot and professors murdered on their pillows. They heard about Freedom Fighters mowed down in dirt pits, Hindu villages riddled with gunshot"
This paragraph gave a lot of perspective on the troubles that Nadira's family had back in Bangladesh before they moved to America. It would be so horrible to live in a country in which you fear for your life. Nothing seems to get better, it always gets worse and worse.
The paragraph really illustrated how bad life was before they came to live in the US. Now that they think they finally live in a place where they can live like they should be able to, they find out that they really can't.
Page 56:
"And then one day Naseem disappeared, gone to join the Mukti Bahini, "Freedom Fighters," who wanted their own nation. Every day my grandmother pressed her forehead against the window grate, praying her eldest son would walk down the dusty street. But it was not to be. The more grandmother prayed, the worse the news became. They heard about university students shot and professors murdered on their pillows. They heard about Freedom Fighters mowed down in dirt pits, Hindu villages riddled with gunshot"
This paragraph gave a lot of perspective on the troubles that Nadira's family had back in Bangladesh before they moved to America. It would be so horrible to live in a country in which you fear for your life. Nothing seems to get better, it always gets worse and worse.
The paragraph really illustrated how bad life was before they came to live in the US. Now that they think they finally live in a place where they can live like they should be able to, they find out that they really can't.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Borders
Page 10:
"Abba asked me to bring out my map of the northeast. After I laid the map open on the dining table, Abba showed us the thick arteries of the highways, the spidery blue lines of the border.
In the movie, when you see the men crossing the borders, they seem extremely easy to cross. Some of the borders were just as simple as fence. The borders to cross into the US and into Canada are much harder to cross, than this.
"Abba asked me to bring out my map of the northeast. After I laid the map open on the dining table, Abba showed us the thick arteries of the highways, the spidery blue lines of the border.
In the movie, when you see the men crossing the borders, they seem extremely easy to cross. Some of the borders were just as simple as fence. The borders to cross into the US and into Canada are much harder to cross, than this.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
(b)Log #4
Read: Chapter 6 - Pages 42-54
Page 45:
"'I tell you what we have to do. We have to stop asking Allah for so much. Because everything we ask for on this earth, every gine we beg for, it is always taken away from us.'"
This chapter seemed to be all about Nadira and Aisha's uncle (Who we learned is named Ahmed). A lot seemed to happen at the breakfast table between Nadira and her uncle. Ahmed seems to be a very sour person, and knowing that so many people are being deported or being detained for not being legal citizens doesn't seem to be helping him become a nicer person. Ahmed seems to have very strong feelings about America and the legality of everything.
When Ahmed told Nadira that he thinks they should stop praying to Allah, I was rather shocked. Ahmed seems to have totally lost faith. Allah is the god that he has been praying to since (I assume) he was a child. If he stops believing in the god that he's worshiped for so many years, he must believe that there is very much wrong with the world.
Page 45:
"'I tell you what we have to do. We have to stop asking Allah for so much. Because everything we ask for on this earth, every gine we beg for, it is always taken away from us.'"
This chapter seemed to be all about Nadira and Aisha's uncle (Who we learned is named Ahmed). A lot seemed to happen at the breakfast table between Nadira and her uncle. Ahmed seems to be a very sour person, and knowing that so many people are being deported or being detained for not being legal citizens doesn't seem to be helping him become a nicer person. Ahmed seems to have very strong feelings about America and the legality of everything.
When Ahmed told Nadira that he thinks they should stop praying to Allah, I was rather shocked. Ahmed seems to have totally lost faith. Allah is the god that he has been praying to since (I assume) he was a child. If he stops believing in the god that he's worshiped for so many years, he must believe that there is very much wrong with the world.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
(b)Log #3
Read: Chapter 5 - Pages 29-41
Page 38:
"Whenever we talk about Aisha I feel two things: I'm proud, like I get to rest for a minute in the glow of being her baby sister, but then I get mad and wish there was some way I could make them notice me too."
I thought that this sentence gave a lot of insight on how Nadira feels about Aisha. I can totally understand that Nadira would feel really proud of her sister and everything that she has accomplished, and that she looks up to Aisha. Most younger siblings would be just like Nadira in this way. They look up to their siblings, and try to be like them. But of course, if their sibling is successful, they would be jealous, and Nadira seems rather jealous.
I think that Nadira is really proud of her sister, but she also really wishes that her parents would pay attention to her. Yes, she may believe that she is the younger sister, the stupid one, the fat one, but she is still there! She is still their daughter! Shouldn't they be paying attention to both of their children? Not just focusing their energy on the older, "more successful" one?
Page 38:
"Whenever we talk about Aisha I feel two things: I'm proud, like I get to rest for a minute in the glow of being her baby sister, but then I get mad and wish there was some way I could make them notice me too."
I thought that this sentence gave a lot of insight on how Nadira feels about Aisha. I can totally understand that Nadira would feel really proud of her sister and everything that she has accomplished, and that she looks up to Aisha. Most younger siblings would be just like Nadira in this way. They look up to their siblings, and try to be like them. But of course, if their sibling is successful, they would be jealous, and Nadira seems rather jealous.
I think that Nadira is really proud of her sister, but she also really wishes that her parents would pay attention to her. Yes, she may believe that she is the younger sister, the stupid one, the fat one, but she is still there! She is still their daughter! Shouldn't they be paying attention to both of their children? Not just focusing their energy on the older, "more successful" one?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Other Blogs
I was reading Nickie's newest blog post, and thought that she had a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about the idea that her country's past was so similar to her family's current life. I thought that this was a great connection, and wanted to suggest reading this post (and blog) for any fans of "Ask Me No Questions".
I was also flipping through Claire's blog and found a really interesting poll. You should check it out and vote!
I was also flipping through Claire's blog and found a really interesting poll. You should check it out and vote!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
(b)Log #2
Read: Chapters Three & Four - Pages 19-28
Page 23:
"I know things about my family that no one else does. Like about Aisha." ... "Like nothing could shake her up. I know better"
To me, it seems that Nadira really doesn't like her sister. Whenever she gets the opportunity she seems to talk about how Aisha thinks she's so great (Even though Nadira doesn't agree) or she will mention one of her flaws. When Aisha wants to call a truce, Nadira immediately thinks that she is going to use that to her advantages and denies her sister's attempts to make friends. Since this is just until chapter four, I still don't know Aisha very well, so maybe Nadira is right. Maybe Aisha is as bad as Nadira seems to think she is. But for now, there is no proof of this.
Page 23:
"I know things about my family that no one else does. Like about Aisha." ... "Like nothing could shake her up. I know better"
To me, it seems that Nadira really doesn't like her sister. Whenever she gets the opportunity she seems to talk about how Aisha thinks she's so great (Even though Nadira doesn't agree) or she will mention one of her flaws. When Aisha wants to call a truce, Nadira immediately thinks that she is going to use that to her advantages and denies her sister's attempts to make friends. Since this is just until chapter four, I still don't know Aisha very well, so maybe Nadira is right. Maybe Aisha is as bad as Nadira seems to think she is. But for now, there is no proof of this.
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