As you begin reading the book, what are your first impressions? Make as many comments on this post as you wish, but you must create at least two. ONE of those comments must be a well-organized paragraph. Use specific details from the reading in your comments: characters, events, setting, or other details from the book. If you're having trouble coming up with a way to start your comments, check out the sentence starters, which might give you direction on this generic first post. You have until Monday, November 26 to comment.
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As you begin reading the book, what are your first impressions? Make as many comments on this post as you wish, but you must create at least two. ONE of those comments must be a well-organized paragraph. Use specific details from the reading in your comments: characters, events, setting, or other details from the book. If you're having trouble coming up with a way to start your comments, check out the sentence starters, which might give you direction on this generic first post. You have until Monday, November 26 to comment.
6 Comments
Kamryn W
11/25/2018 10:46:47 am
As I read through the first few chapters of The Color of Water by James McBride, I wonder if the entire book will exchange points of view between James and his mother for every other chapter. If this demonstrates as true, then I think that James's side of the story will continue to tell the story of his life and how the absence of his father has influenced his choices and how difficult his mother's early life was. James has had a rough childhood as he has explained so far. His family was broke, and living in a house with 11 siblings proves to be difficult. His mother's side of the story so far consists of her telling the stories of her Jewish family in Poland. She talks about the Sabbath and how difficult it was living in Poland during that time. I predict this tribute to his mother will show the hardships of living as a Jew, moving to America to better the lives of her family, and taking care of 12 children essentially all alone. I hope this novel proves that no matter the misfortunes that life bring, a mother will do everything she possibly can to care for her family.
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TJ D
11/26/2018 05:40:34 am
As I read the first few chapters of the book I had the same thought on if the book would flip back and forth on perspectives. I have found the effect of this way of writing to lead me on to read the next chapter. Also, I like how McBride ties both their lives by using this form of writing. What are your feelings on this style?
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Caris Cross
11/26/2018 07:09:30 pm
My latest though about this is that it could not of been a better way too summarize the mother's motives and make such goof connections throughout the first chapter and how they could play out in the rest of the book. In addition I also thought about how the mother has not give up and how she was able to keep her children in a state of manner where they could live their life in a caring manner.
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TJ D
11/25/2018 01:52:09 pm
While reading The Color of Water by James McBride I wonder how McBride related both his and his mother’s lives so closely. At first I did not get the point of switching back and forth between his mother’s point of view and his point of view. Around chapter 6 I realized how each previous chapter tied into the one after it. McBride states that he grew up poor, but what caught my eye was how through religion his family stayed strong. The idea I am getting is that much of his life and his mother’s life are tied through religion. In several of his mother’s chapters she says how she would pray for help as a child for multiple things such as abuse from her father and bullies at school. James also says in the chapters describing his life how he prayed to God when he was in need. For example he prayed when he struggle in school, with drug addictions, and racial injustice. Hopefully the book stays this interesting all the way to the end.
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Kamryn W
11/26/2018 09:23:20 am
I agree with your comment suggesting that a huge part of James's life is religion as well as his mother's life, but as I read in chapter three, his mother would always dread the sabbath and how quiet she had to be. Also, she mentioned that she was not allowed to speak of death in her family, or even mention the word. I have only read through chapter four and I wonder if the chapters that follow show the importance of religion in a positive manner.
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Caris Cross
11/26/2018 07:04:07 pm
Although the book The Color of Water by James McBride starts out as a dark and somber mood, it changes through the authors quick jump to the mother. I think that the jump from the first chapter Dead and then to the chapter The Bicycle shows how the author was able to make a huge mood shift seem very seamless and flow. I also noticed how he was able to relate both of them together when there was a little bit of almost bitterness when McBride was describing the mothers "Mommy's madwalk"(pg 7).
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