Blog Post #32

I am both amused and disgusted. We'll leave it at that, I think. Jack has chosen loyalty to Rebus, not Ancram. Seeing as how Rebus has mostly been true to Jack, it makes sense, and I think I approve. Maybe. It's just that John seems to be magnificent at making trouble wherever he goes, and I don't want Jack to suffer because of John's actions. It's a risk he'll have to take, and I'm sure he's well aware of it. Well, at least Johnson and Boswell's "Journey and Tour" helped me to familiarize myself with place names. I think with a course like this, we should somehow raise funds to take a trip to Scotland. Yeah, I know--ha, ha. That kind of mirthless laughing, the one full of sympathy. That's the kind I'd choose. Wishful thinking, but I still think it. Briony the hamster. Nice. I'm very suspicious of her. Good! Rebus is going to 'face the music.' I saw that cliché coming miles away, or more accurately, blogs away. At least he's being good and keeping Jack out of it. Oh no! Enter Trouble. Eeew! What a nasty expression: shit monkeys?! Hit the puke switch and duck. I don't like torture scenes--they always seem to go on forever. That was a close one! Aah. He's finally figured out who Bible John is. I thought that was interesting, how Rankin let us know pretty quick up front who Bible John was. Not in the sense of having his real name, necessarily, but in having an idea of his identity/motives. Interesting ending, too. Of course, it is a series--we must bear that in mind. I liked this book...it kind of makes me want to read more. So I think I'd have to say that my opnion of Rebus has changed somewhat: I grudgingly like him. Ian Rankin's so eccentric. Alcohol researcher, though! Ya think?! :)

Blog Post #31

haha! Good line: Ancram: "By the way, DCI Grogan called me this morning." Rebus: "It must be love." I've got to remember that one...although I can't think of a situation where it would be useful at the moment. I'm a huge fan of dry humor. Is Girl Guides Scotland's version of Girl Scouts? I'm going to guess: affirmative. I'm starting to get very curious about the Dancing Pigs. I have decided that Jack is much more likable--I'd rather run into him than John anyday. Why do Rebus and Jack have to bond if they're friends? I'm starting to think Rebus doesn't have any friends. Brian should get out while he can! Rankin is really helping me to get the hang of irony, so I think this book is worth reading (even if it is written primarily for entertainment value). I can't believe Rebus actually ran away from Mick like that. I haven't a clue what he could have said, but I feel like maybe he should've tried. I think that this scene where Rebus breaks down and cries is one of his finest moments. Rebus + 8 points. It's not daft, not at all. For talking to Nell, + 19 points. I have my own scoring system, you see. Apparently he can be truly decent at times. No alcohol and no ciggies!! If the story stopped here, I would consider it a happy ending. Really?! They're playing cat and mouse in a toddler assault course? Into the plastic balls...my favorite! And Hank gets a ball in the mouth. Boy it gets better and better...the attendant asks for the ball back!! :p I probably shouldn't be laughing, but the double negatives are so classic! Whenever I read this book, my hands get dirty. It's like newsprint, just rubs off on my fingers. Ah, bummer. Back to boozing and smoking again. Oooh! Abstinence after all. R + 6. I'm actually getting a little fond of him now, "give the garlic here, I'll stamp on it!" Wait--Bible John didn't plan the attack/message on Rebus? Who did??? Well that is an ominous place to stop. Someone's about to get a bruising (or worse). I really wonder who will find who first, Rebus-Bible or Bible-Johnny?

Blog Post #30

I don't really think I like John Rebus (as a person) all that much, which is kind of problematic as I have no choice but to follow him everywhere he goes and hear about his experiences as an investigator. He is a very slippery alky indeed, but he can be quite witty at times, so that helps in my book. I did have to admit being a little concerned for him when he was pulled down the hill and hit over the head with the handgun. I wonder what all that was about, who the message was from? I kinda wish he'd just face the music (and Ancram). It lowers my opinion of Rebus, although I know he doesn't feel all that good himself either. So Bible John is trying to frame Rebus? An interesting idea...that would get rid of him nicely while John looks for Johnny. Is it just me, or are there not a lot of Johns in this book?! At least he finally did have to meet with Ancram...the running is over, and now he's going to be tailed by Jack. He got off lucky--for the moment. Also, all of these brief snapshot glimpses into Bible John's mind are creepy. A little like Robert Wringhim, acutally.

Blog Post #29

I am going to make a few observations about Black and Blue before I move on to the poetry. The thing that stands out most to me is that I lose track of things when I'm reading it. I mean, I lose myself in the book. I told myself I would stop reading when I got to the next chapter, and then the next chapter seemed to go on a bit longer than I thought it should. So I went back and checked, and sure enough, I'd read right past it. Not that the other books we've been reading have been uninteresting, but I haven't had that experience with them as often. Also, Rankin's descriptions of crime scenes are detailed to the point of being downright grotesque. However, I love all of the band/music references. I've heard of most of them, and I actually like some of them. Rebus reminds me of James Bond: he smokes, he curses, and he's not ugly. Predictably, he's not oblivious to pretty women either.

"Return to Scalpay" has many asides to the reader--an interesting feature. It sounds like the speaker is revisiting the place where he/she grew up. I don't understand the part about jumping in a batwing jacket. It reminds me of batman, and I think it's pretty safe to say that MacCaig was not thinking of superheroes in capes when he was writing this. The Scalpay folk are not Spinozas...I had to look that one up for sure. Turns out Spinoza was a rationalist philosopher, which helps a little. I like the "easy glum, easy glow" remark, which sounds a little like "easy come, easy go" although it has a much different meaning. And last and perhaps best of all are the final lines, "knowing that I have been, and knowing why, diminished and enlarged. Are they the same?" This question deserves either a very good answer or no answer at all. I'm only capable of the latter.

Blog Post #28

"Instrument and Agent" is an interesting poem. Is it like signifier and signified? That would be a more boring title, I suppose. Does the first line mean that the speaker does not love anyone? I like the description of how each image uses other thoughts to make meaning. I wonder why the "objects" travel to the back of the brain. They all accumulate in one place, apparently, but what is significant about the back other than the fact that they all have to move a short distance to get there? The pairings of images and concepts are interesting, but there seems to be a theme of space with moon and stars. Is the poem comparing the mind to the infinite reaches of outer space?

"Basking Shark"--I love the title of this poem. I like the line "on a sea tin-tacked with rain" and the contrast of the shark's great size in comparison with its tiny brain. The poem explores the concept of evolution. I wonder why the shark was "shaken" on the wrong side of the family tree. "Shook" is a curious verb to use, and I wonder what it means in this context. It makes me imagine a tree growing sharks instead of apples, which is rather alarming! The speaker starts thinking deep thoughts about who is superior by evolutionary standards. I find it hard to believe that the speaker is more frightened by the idea that he could be a monster than by the fact that he has just hit a shark with his oar, and has probably made it very angry by doing so! However, on the whole, I enjoy Norman MacCaig's poetry.

Blog Post #27

Haha! "She'd be safe as a cow though she hoped to God she didn't quite look like one." That is a good line. Chris has her baby and it sounds like a very unpleasant ordeal despite the doctor's assurance. There is a lot about the war, and people seem to be quite anti-German. I wonder if this helped the book's popularity at all--it was published in 1932. When Chae comes back from the war, he is different. He's thinner and his laugh is altered. And then Rob is taken away to war against his will and Ewan goes off to war without even telling Chris first! I would be sooo mad!! He just leaves her with all that responsibility and his son to take care of all by herself. Will comes back...it's hard not to like Will when Chris obviously likes him so much. Ewan comes back and he's just awful. If I thought he was bad before, he's twice as bad now. She actually has to threaten him with a knife, and it's sad that that's the only kind of language that gets through to him. His son doesn't even know him any more. Too bad he didn't realize that it's more cowardly to submit to the need to prove himself rather than to live life the way he wants to. As if he hasn't done enough damage already, he goes and dies in the war. I feel sorry for Chris. It gets worse! He was shot as a deserter. Rob was killed too. I am not satisfied with the ending, maybe because it didn't fulfill my expectations. Also, I sincerely hope we go over the poems tomorrow in class...I didn't really understand them, but I get the feeling that they are probably very good and I'm missing out.

Blog Post #26

Has her father died too? I hope every new chapter does not start with a death!! There weren't many people in Chris's family to start with! Aunt Janet makes the dour prediction that Chris will be next! I doubt that will happen, but that has been the trend so far.The incest bit was extremely disturbing and does not do anything to raise my opinion of John Guthrie. Chris forgives him though, and realizes all he's done to take care of the family. The part about Chris feeling free now that she is all by herself reminds me a liffle of "Story of an Hour." Oh, my! Ewan Tavendale! I knew he was trouble. The part about the lightning/thunderstorm was very exciting. There seems to be a hopping night-life (as in people are out and about after dark quite frequently) despite the fact that the story takes place in the country. That was rather an abrupt proposal, I thought--although seeing as how they both turn red as tomatoes every time they look at each other it shouldn't come as a huge surprise. There is a lot of talk going on among Chris and the neighbors about the wedding. It's awfully sweet that Chae stepped in to walk Chris down the aisle. The toasts go on for a while, which is also to be expected as Gibbon has made it clear that the people of Kinraddie love to talk. Good for Chae, moving everyone along to the dancing. And there was much kissing, let's not forget about that. Chris is not even 19!!! That is shocking. Clearly she chose land over education. It sounds like she is relatively happy with the life she's chosen...except for that one argument at the end, anyways.

Blog Post #25

Now wait just a minute. Chris's mother poisoned herself and the twins? When?! Between chapters, apparently. And it's stated there just as casually as if Chris is reporting a change in the weather. I don't appreciate being kept in the dark for long stretches of time, so I guess I'd better keep reading. Oh, this is sad. It sounds like Chris has given up all her dreams and now she has no future. And then there is gossip--lots and lots of it. I'm familiar with talk getting around in small towns, so this is not altogether surprising even if it is rather obscene. It doesn't sound like a very nice place to live, what with the scarcity of conversation topics and the subject matter considered to be interesting/worth relating. I have to say, I'm starting to wonder if the story really is about Chris or if it's about everyone else who lives in and around Kinraddie as well. Now a barn has burned down and Long Rob of the Mill is smoking his pipe and saving furniture from the wreckage. I like Chris's comment "there was surely enough smell and smoke without that." :) But how awful that Will and Mr. Guthrie can't be friends since they've hated each other for so long. Somehow it's both childish and complex. New Year's sounds like fun, though!! Also, what does childe mean? Clearly it is not another spelling of "child" because it has been applied to grown men up to this point in the book. The blushing that goes on in the book is fairly endless, but I suppose Chris does have a reason to be embarrassed now that she knows it was Ewan who kissed her that night. I smell more gossip cooking in the near future!

Blog Post #24

cdfoigmdodlfjb. I don't understand. I'm not sure a word has been invented that describes my present state of confusion. What is argy-bargying? What is clamjamfried? Oh, I am vexed! These archaic sayings are frightful. Then there are British and Scots terms/slang thrown in for good measure and enough characters to make my head swim. And this is just in the prelude. I guess my questions at this point is how is all of this connected and what exactly is going on? I don't dislike it, but I've got to say I'm pretty sure that I'm lost. Is the prelude just a description of the people who live in this community in 1911? There are several good descriptive lines--for example: "She'd redden up like a stalk of rhubarb in a dung patch." One other thing I can say for certain is that nothing seems to smell very good in Kinraddie. Actually, the more I read, the more I like it...that's funny! I like reading dialect and interesting sayings, so maybe that's why. I don't like John Guthrie, though. He always seems to be in a bad temper, and not in a humorous way either. Does Chris have two selves? A Scottish self and an English self? She seems to be divided between the two of them--as though different aspects of her identity come out in particular circumstances. This is much easier to understand now. It's very interesting, sort of coming-of-age-ish.

Blog Post #23

What an ending! The bit about Secundra digging up James: that was just creepy--there's no getting around it. Ugh. It makes me shudder to imagine it. I guess this entry is going to jump around a little seeing as I started with the ending. Anyways, it was interesting to me that James has such an influence over people that he even succeeded in sort-of making Mackellar his friend (after M made a rather spontaneous attempt on his life). That was also very peculiar. To me, Mackellar seemed like too much of a pansy to actually try killing anyone--even James. The part about New York wasn't all that spectacular in comparison to previous events. It mostly chronicled Henry's miseries involving having to deal with James again and deriving a sick sort of happiness as a result of his profound hatred of his brother. Alison basically drops out of the rest of the story for all intents and purposes. Then Henry and Mackellar go to Albany and all the adventures start again with buried treasure and scalping and living death all culminating in the actual death of both brothers. It seems as though Henry's death triggered James's (even though it is true he was in a severely weakened state). I was sort of disappointed that no one ever recovered the buried treasure, though.

The poem from "The City of Dreadful Night" was indeed dreadful, or at least the subject matter was. I think it was a bleak description of life without faith, love, or hope. Just exsistence without meaning. So Thomson was right to make it appear nightmarish!!