Blog Post #33

Tom Leonard's "The Six O'Clock News" is very modernist, I think. The words are spelled phonetically and sentences are seemingly randomly broken up by the lines of the poem. I cannot tell what the structure is or what guidelines he is using to write it, and that is why it feels modernist (like Marianne Moore's poetry). Maybe Leonard was trying to make the poem appear long and skinny like a straw, and this is why there are never more than four words per line. I'm not sure what he means by "yoo scruff." Is it Scottish slang/terminology? I like the part about the BBC accent--it's ironic because the speaker is imitating the news reporter in his own heavy Scottish accent. There's a right way to spell and a right way to speak (very elitist), and common people are incapable of this kind of refinement. I like what Leonard is doing with this poem, because I dislike that sort of mentality as well.

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!!

Blog Post #22

It seems as though James is alive after all--I suspected as much. What's more, he really does end up going to India. The story within a story business is rather confusing, I must confess. And poor Henry! He sounds as though he has changed for the worse as a result of his nearly killing his own brother, which I can imagine would make anyone go crazy. I thought it was odd that he told Alexander that "a man" had fought with the devil and nearly succeeded in killing it. Is this another reference to Jacob in the bible? As in the part where he wrestles an angel? (Although angels and devils are complete opposites, I can imagine that it might be a parallel in Henry's mind). I agree with Mackellar that it was strange for Henry to have told the story to his son...how awful! I guess it is just another example of how he is being tormented throughout the book. Then we get to hear from the Chevalier in India. I like Francis better than most of the others. He's always travelling and doing something exciting, but unfortunately this bit of his memoirs is much shorter than his description of life as a pirate. James comes back again--you would think he would have learned his lesson the first time! Thankfully, Henry and his family move to New York. However, as long as James is living he is likely to plague them (if previous events are anything to go by).

Blog Post #21

As there is a lot to cover in this section, I am going to write about what interested me most--which is: Pirates! Arr! It was extremely interesting to hear about the Chevalier's and the Master's adventures on the high seas. The only minor irritant was that at times, Mr. Mackellar found it necessary to put his 2 cents in. Thankfully he kept this to a minimum and did not disrupt the story too much with his pompously distracting "This is what he said, but I know better" comments. I haven't heard James' account yet, but I don't particularly care for him thus far. I don't think it was necessary for him to kill Dutton even if he was a pirate; in fact, I think it was a highly ungentlemanly thing to do. Francis comes off far better and I can sympathize with him more. Captain Teach was quite a character--the scene in which he chews glass is quite disturbing, but then again so are the numerous episodes in which sailors are made to walk the plank. I was pleased that there was real treasure and that some of it was even buried in the end, according to Francis' account. How exciting!

Both of Stevenson's poems for today were rather morbid, but at the same time hopeful. The narrator is not afraid of death, and almost seems to welcome it. It seems that they were both about sailors, or at least travellers. Much like Stevenson himself, from the sound of it. It reminds me of Dumbledore's remark in Harry Potter that "to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." I think Stevenson might have agreed with the sentiment.

Blog Post #20

 I am not sure I understand the hierarchy of Scottish titles. From what I read, I gathered that there was a lord, a master, a steward, and a major-domo. Probably there were others too, but I'm not sure. I thought it was strange that the narrator's name is not introduced until page 20. Isn't that rather late into the story? Actually, I noticed that his name appears in the preface, but at that point I was unaware that he was the main character. Do most Scottish folk tales involve meetings with Auld Horny or the devil? I noticed several references. I also feel very bad for Mr. Henry. He sounds absolutely miserable, and he has good reason to if everyone likes his brother better than him. And who marries someone out of pity?! That part just makes me mad.

I loved Stevenson's "The Light-Keeper." I like the imagery and the line "This is the man who gives up that is lovely in living for the means to live." I like the idea that this lonely, solitary man is an inspiration for poetry--it shows that he is noticed despite the fact that he is removed from society.

Blog Post #19

Wierd. Robert's logic is really scary. He's a cruel and sadistic person--"I can hardly describe the joy that it gave to my heart to see a wicked creature suffering" and then he tries to justify his own actions by saying, "I never sinned from principal, but accident." It is interesting to get the story from Robert's perspective, especially the part about the encounter on the hillside between Robert and George (who R claims has a "corrupt nature"). Look who's talking. Robert also suggests that Gil-Martin prodded him into single combat against George and later into killing his father, thus clearing him of any blame.

"I'm Naebody Noo" is sad because it's true. People have a tendency to place too much value on money rather than on the individual. I definitely agree that it's easier to know who your friends truly are when you're not rich. It would be awful to be looked at and seen as a stack of money.

Blog Post #18

This has turned into a murder mystery! Unfortunately, George does come to an untimely end but this is not altogether unexpected (seeing as Wringhim wanted him dead from the beginning). Although it's complicated by a disagreement with Thomas Drummond, Robert is suspect--to me!--because of his previous behavior toward George. So maybe it's not that mysterious. A prostitute, Mrs. Calvert, sees Robert and a Drummond doppelgänger come to fight with George. Robert hides and stabs George in the back, ending his life. By doing so, he becomes Laird of Dalcastle and a Colwan. Mrs. Calvert and Mrs. Logan are in cahoots against Robert and cunningly trap him and tie him up, BUT they leave him there in the middle of the road!! I was glad they decided against killing him, but just leaving him there to be found and helped unsuspectingly or to escape wasn't that bright in my opinion. Robert does disappear, but Drummond's name is cleared in the end. So my questions are: what happens to Robert and who is this Gil-Martin accomplice character really?

Blog Post #17

First of all, I like Hogg's cursive script. For one thing I can actually read most of it, and also it's very pretty. My cursive hasn't improved much since I learned the style in 3rd grade. Anyways! I don't understand the relation of the editor's narrative to Hogg's confessions, but I suppose that will be explained further on. Mrs. Colwan, Lady Dalcastle, gets rolled in a blanket. This sounds like a highly undignified and undesirable means of conveyance, even though she did "run away" from her soon-to-be husband. It would make an interesting spectacle, no doubt about it. Then her own father beats her "with many stripes" and locks her away with only water and bread to eat. Poor thing! Despite numerous attempts, she cannot get her wayward husband to convert or pray. Her son George has a strained relationship with her other son Robert Wringhim. Affairs are horrible and make everything confusing...George is a romantic person who enjoys sitting on hillsides and gazing at clouds. It seems that he has an exceptionally vivid imagination or else his foul brother Wringhim really is in leage with the devil, as George suggests. In any case, Wringhim is absolutely creepy and needs to stop following George around.

Blog Post #16

Rose was helping Edward all along, and this finally seals the deal. She is "The One." Even though I don't particularly care for Fergus, I feel sorry for him (not to mention Evan!!). It's an awful way to die, and to impale their heads on stakes--well, that's just gruesome. Somehow since everything else works out so neatly, it almost seems that this is what Sir Walter Scott thought was just. Everyone gets what they deserve, in a way. There is a happy ending for Sir Everard, and Edward gets a nice domestic wife...as opposed to a wild, untame one? like Flora. The comparison is similar to that of a house cat and a lion. Scott says in the postscript which should have been a preface that he wants the new generation to remember how things were by writing a sort of record of the times.

Is Byron's full name Lord George Gordon Byron? If so, why do(es) his first name(s) appear before his title? I mean, it does sound better that way, but it doesn't make sense to me. Apparently Lords and Sirs are vastly different...I think in Lachin y Gair, the speaker is comparing England and Scotland and Scotland comes off by far the better of the two. The valley of Loch na Garr reminds the speaker--Byron? of his ancestors.

Blog Post #15

A lot has been happening in Waverley lately. Edward's father is dead, and Fergus doesn't seem to care...he is remarkably self-centered. Naturally Fergus gets bent out of shape when he thinks Edward is a threat/obstacle to winning Rose's hand in marriage. Thank goodness the Baron put a stop to Fergus's challenge of a  "fight to the death" over Rose. Also, there was a plot to kill Edward that went awry? Talk about a heap of trouble for one clueless guy to handle.

I also wanted to talk about the poems for today. I thought "The Wee, Wee German Lairdie" was extremely insulting throughout, so it achieves its purpose well in that respect. There is also a garden metaphor and a bit about thistles (which I believe represent Scottish nationalism). Are thistles the national weed? They're so prickly...menacing, I suppose--like a proper mascot should be. I really liked "The Thistle's Grown aboon the Rose" for some reason. I honestly can't explain why, and I'm not even sure I understood it. Ok, yes, I liked the rhyme, rhythm, and meter. I thought the language was beautiful, especially in the first two stanzas. Somehow, it is very satisfying to read. Maybe this is the case because everything is so exact and follows the constructed pattern with some variation in the third stanza.

Blog Post #14

In some ways, the Highlanders seem to be the secondary heroes in Waverley. They rescue Edward, and Alice (and Janet) help him to recover in safety. Then when he's captured by Balmawhapple, Fergus makes plans to rescue Edward from prison...however, it is also true that E promises to join F's cause. Did the Highlanders mainly support the Tories? It is interesting to me that Scott includes Prince Charlie in this story (blending fact with fiction). I think Edward should give up on trying to win Flora's favor. He's getting a little pathetic--the way he's throwing himself at her, it's no surprise she hasn't fallen for him. No usually does, in fact, mean no. Edward seems to be adrift in the political sea, not really knowing where he stands. This makes complete sense when you consider his background, though. And poor Gardiner and Balmawhapple!

Why is "Lochiel's Warning" spoken by a wizard? Does it refer to wizard in a magical sense, or is it some sort of title? I thought it was frightfully graphic and also tragic, especially towards the end. At least it didn't try to glorify war.