aelamblog

During my additional research, I found that the time frame this novel took place as in the 1980’s??? I know during those times it was normal for a young boy to carry a weapon; however, I don’t recall them shooting at each other in the streets for fun…MAYBE HURTING GAME! NOT PEOPLE!! One night Benji is struck in the face by a pellet.  Hopefully, this taught him and the others a lesson about playing with dangerous weapons.

Unfortunately, I am having a hard time getting into this novel! We have read a lot of books in this short period of time, and this book is my least favorite book compared to Girl, Interrupted and The Complete Persepolis.

Colsen still seems to be describing the scene of the novel. The narrator Benji, he begins to make some trouble in Sag Harbor..FINALLY some action! He gets caught stealing which seemed to give him a bad boy image. And from the skim of things he definitely wants to make a name for himself in the community. THE COOL KID! Because he got in trouble, he got a job at the ice cream polar to take on some responsibility. I am confused about the “black or white” question that is talked about. Benji and his brother seem to have a good brotherly love relationship. On the other hand, Benji’s position at the ice cream polar turns sour in her relation with the customer. He isn’t the friendliest guy at your corner ice cream polar. Of course, I see this bring more drama to the plot.

I did some research about the author. In my findings, it is revealed that he is a African American. In this section, he discuss the scenery. It’s summer break for all the wealth teenagers of New Jersey. Apparently, these teenagers are on their own at the family’s beach house with no supervision. The females have drivers! Really? They are only 17 years of age..SPOILED ARE WE?!

I really enjoy Colsen’s style of writing. He is very descriptive with his words. Another aspect that I like about this book thus far is the fact that the author is black, and he is giving the prospective of a wealth African American teenager. Normally, we only read or see about African American’s in poverty or murder. So I am very interested to see were the author takes us in the his words.

The Socks

In class, it was hard to draw a picture of a woman showing nothing at all. Eventually, the professors approved of the women drawing a structure with its limbs are visible. However, Satrapi got in trouble for sculpting a men after school hours. These restrictions are unbearable! Later, the boys and girls would meet outside of school to do some real drawing. One day Satrapi was running down the street trying to catch the bus, when she was stopped by a guardian because her butt was moving too much while she was running. ARE THESE PEOPLE SERIOUS??!!! I could never live like this… She ever got in trouble for wearing red socks! Later in class, Satrapi faces judgement again about her sexual life among her classmates. She tells them that she is on the pill because she has sex with her boyfriend. During this time, there were many parties and many trips to jail for partying. One night at a party, the guardians killed Farzad. Satrapi faced his death with drinking more than usual.

The Wedding

Reza proposed to Satrapi, but she isn’t sure of her decision just yet. So she talks it over with her father to gain insight. After her talk with her father, she decided to get married. Ebi took the couple out to dinner to celebrate the new. At dinner, Ebi told Reza 3 major things he needed to know about Satrapi and marriage. Satrapi makes a side note that her father knew their marriage wouldn’t last, and according to her he was right. Once Satrapi mother returned from Vancouver, she started planning the wedding. Then came the day of the wedding, there were many tears and laughter. After the wedding when the couple returned to their apartment, Satrapi felt a sense of regret and from that day things between her and Reza worsen by the second. They no longer hung out together or spoke to one another without angry. The couple couldn’t face the fact that they had failed at marriage.

The Satellite

In the beginning of the chapter, Satrapi is mistaken for a prostitute by a Kuwaiti immigrant. And there is war between Iraq and Kuwait. The war tickles Satrapi and her father, especially the timid Europeans.  On the other hand, it’s Fariborz new satellite that has the attention of Satrapi and her friends. They were so excited because it was the first time they were able to view something that wasn’t dictated by their government. Sooner or later, their fun was ruin when the government forbidden satellites. However, those who had a satellite before the ban was enforced kept their satellite hidden during the day. Satrapi was enjoying the satellite TV so much that her father pulled her aside for a talk. In his talk, he told Satrapi that she is losing herself in the tube. Immediately, she becomes defensive and storms out the house. Eventually, she came to her senses and apologized to her father, and she took his advice.

The End

This was by far the best chapter of the book, and not just because I am finally done but Satrapi is FREE! The chapter begins with Satrapi and Reza working on the theme park project. The two worked on this project for a year. And this was the first time in awhile that they didn’t argue. They were so distracted with the project that they felt normal. Once the project was complete, the professor was blown away by their work. The professor told them that it was student like her and Reza that gave him hope for the future. Only if he saw their home life before the project!!  The professor suggested that they present the painting to the Mayor to be put to use. However, the Mayor denied the painting because of the usage of women on animals. Shortly after being turned down by the Mayor, Satapi realized that she no longer loved Reza. DIVORCE?! She talked about  her thoughts/decision with a girlfriend and Grandma. As usually, her girlfriend gave her horrible advance; where as, Grandma had to the words of true wisdom. SO SHE WAITED!! Until one day, Reza approached her asking her to give their love a shot and move to France. At this point, Satrapi knew their love was at the end, so she asked for a divorce without any REGRET! The next day, she went to tell the news to her parents about the divorce but wanting to move to France. As Ebi had said before, he and Satrapi mother was delighted to hear the news. Okay so this is where I fell in love with this book, Satrapi gets into an art school in France, and she no longer has a tourist visa. Her Grandma comes with her to the airport for the first time to say GOODBYE! SATRAPI IS A FREE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF HER COUNTRY!! Side note: The relationship between her and her family is so special but rare in my generation. Her family is accepting and believe in making your own choices. Today, many children don’t have this…

Hide and Seek

Frau Doctor Heller’s dog is constantly pooping on Satrapi’s bed. Because of this the two of them often get into arguments. In this chapter, Satrapi thought she had a true boyfriend named Enrique, but he turned out to be a homosexual. She enjoyed hanging out with him. He even introduced her into a group of people who she became closer to. After finding out about Enrique sexuality, Satrapi punished herself. She felt ugly, alone, unloved, and unwanted. As time went on, her physics teacher noticed a change in her mood, so he invited her to his home. She greatly accepted he invitation. At his house, his mother and twin daughters loved Satrapi; they wanted to know more about her and her life. However, his wife was complete opposite, and she was the reason he never invited Satrapi to his home again. Jean-Paul arrives, Satrapi thinks love has stuck her again, but he was only wanting help with his math homework. Again, Satrapi goes through a self-esteem issue, so her only outlet was to get high with Ingrid. Then she meets Markus at a club! They seem to hit it off, but whats with the asking her for gas money? NOT A GENTLEMEN! Unfortunately, Satrapi falls for his charm, and they begin to date. However, his mother and Frau Doctor Heller didn’t like the two being together. Often, this made it difficult for they to hang out. This lead Satrapi to more pot smoking. Before she knew it, she was the school’s dealer. The things we do for boys!

The Croissant

Satrapi wasn’t making a profit from dealing, so she found other ways to earn an income. She became a sever at Cafe Sole where the costumers are always right. She didn’t enjoy this job. From the pictures, she looked like a cocktail waitress. Thank goodness for Svetlana who stood up for Satrapi. Somehow, Satrapi’s principal finds out about drug dealing business. He lets her go with a warning, and that became the end of Satrapi’s drug dealing business but not her smoking it! Her increase in smoking lead to more distance between her and Markus. It was as if they switched rolls in life. He wanted to study more, and Satrapi wanted to smoke more. It was the day of her birthday that changed their relationship forever. Satrapi was invited to Graz for her birthday by a friend. However, a part of her wanted to spend her birthday with her boyfriend, but he insisted that she went to Graz. On the day of her departure, she misses her train, and decides to surprise Markus with a croissant. It was a total surprise! She caught him in the bed with another woman. Of course, he tried to tell her he loved her, but she left and never returned.

The Veil

Back at her apartment, everything reminds her of Markus pushing her deeper into depression. At the same time, Frau Doctor Keller was accusing Satrapi of stealing her things. This woman I can’t stand!! She always has a issue with something. Satrapi packed up her things and left. For the next three months, Satrapi lived on the streets. She had blown her saving on Markus. She lived on the train or in allies. Until one day, she became very ill with bronchitis. The bronchitis had become so bad that she was spitting blood and fainting. After waking up, she was in a hospital. How did she get there? At this time, Satrapi knew she needed to call her parents, and she did. After talking to her parents, she was on her way back home in 5 days.

The Return

Satrapi is wearing her veil again! At the airport, people were everywhere and in a hurry. Of course, she and her parents didn’t recognize each other at first. But once she did, I could sense the relief she felt in her words. The first thing Satrapi noticed was her father’s car. He no longer had the Cadillac that Satrapi disliked. Now, he drove a car that lacked the luxury of the Cadillac. It was at this point, Satrapi wished her father still owned that car after living in poverty the last 3 months of her life. Being back in her old room made Satrapi think about the transitions she has made in her life. Some were good and some weren’t. The next day, Satrapi went to view the changes of the city that had taken place. She describes the changes as unsettling as if she was walking through a cemetery. Apparently, most of the street names had changed to name of martyr’s or something relate to it. It’s like her city will never move past the war. Later that night, her father told her stories as to why and how things have changed in the community.

The Joke

Everyone is delighted by Satrapi’s return, so they have come to greet her with gifts and kind words. Unfortunately, this is the last thing she want to do. But the best visitor was save for last..GRANDMA! Satrapi’s girlfriends had become women on the hunt for a husband. Of course, after Satrapi’s experience with men this was the least of her concerns. So she decided to go see her childhood friend Kia. Kia had served in the war where he lost a leg and an arm. Kia told her the story of the soldier blown to pieces with his penis attached to his hip. This was the famous JOKE!!

Skiing

Before this chapter, Satrapi didn’t want to discuss what happen in Austria, but her secrets become to hard to keep. Eventually, she told her family about her difficulties, and they start to pamper her to help rebuild her self-esteem. Satrapi and her friends went skiing in Dizin. Although, she didn’t do much skiing; this helped Satrapi out of her rut. At the same time, her friends began to think she was immoral based on her sex life. It seems as if they judged her. But why? Isn’t that the life that they too want to have? unfortunately, this put distance between the girls and Satrapi. Once she got home, she attempted suicide in many forms. Again why? The real Satrapi doesn’t care what other people have to say. After failing to commit suicide, Satrapi had a total make over..new hair, new clothes, new job, etc. She was becoming a sophisticated woman.

The Exam

At Roxana’s party, she meet a guy named Reza. Her and Reza were complete opposites of each other, but they complement one another. Two years from now, they would be husband and wife. In the process, Roxana stopped talking to Satrapi because her best friend liked Reza at the time. Reza and Satrapi began to plan their futures together. Reza wants to move to the U.S. or Europe very soon, so the two started studying for the National Exam to earn their visa. Surprisingly, they both were granted a visa, but their journey to the visa wasn’t complete just yet. Next, they were to take the Ideological Test which is more detail than the National Exam. Preparing for this exam was difficult for Satrapi, the information wasn’t going to her long term memory, so she gave up and prayed about it. When test day came, she was completely honest with the instructor that she didn’t know the information. However, the instructor admired her honesty and passed her. Also, Reza passed!

The Make Up

Satrapi decides to wear a little more make up to surprise Reza because he is always picking on her appearance. As she is waiting on his arrive, the guardians of the revolution appeared. Suddenly, she’s in a panic because she is wearing forbidden substances (the make up). To draw the attention away for her, she tell the police that a man sitting on the street has disrespected her. As a result, he was taken to jail, and the guardians didn’t notice her or her make up. Reza was impressed by her survival instincts, but Grandma thought she was being  selfish bitch. Grandma became very disappointed, and didn’t speak to Satrapi for some time.

The Convocation

Satrapi and Reza are back in school. The males and females still studied separately, but it didn’t stop them from senting flirtatious looks to one another. The girls around Satrapi gossiped about the boys in school except Reza. They thought he was cute. Of course, Satrapi wasn’t to thrill to hear them talking about her boyfriend. After all, no one was to know about their relationship because they aren’t married. The veil became a problem for Satrapi again. She feels she isn’t able to freely draw like the men. So Grandma brought her a new veil with ventilation pores.

The Wine

Tehran became the bomber’s main target. When they were near, the sirens would ring and everyone would head to the basement for cover. After the raid at the Tinoosh place, Satrapi’s mother put up black curtains to keep others from looking their home, because they had all the things that were forbidden in their home. One night after a party at Satrapi’s uncles house, she and her family were pulled over and harassed. The officer knew that father had been drinking alcohol, but mother was able to convince him otherwise. So the officer followed them home to check for forbidden substances. In the car, they came up with a plan to stall the officer while Satrapi and Grandma cleared the house. By the time they reached the house, the officer didn’t come in, so Satrapi and Grandma cleared to house for no reason. Now, this is no more alcohol which is what Satrapi father needs at the moment. What was with the lady giving Satrapi her baby at the party??

The Cigarette

Satrapi is 12 now. She has 2 girlfriends that are 14. One day at school, the girls skipped class to go to the burger joint (Kansas) to flirt with boys. Satrapi’s mother finds out about cutting class. At first, she tries to lying about it, but mothers know all! The war is still going. Satrapi’s government refuses to except any support from other countries. But why? This is so silly! Satrapi enters adulthood with the smoking of a cigarette.

The Passport

Uncle Taher health is getting worse, and he is depressed about being away from his son who at school abroad. With no one allowed to cross the border, he fears he will never see his son again. Due to a grenade, Uncle Taher has his third heart attack. Unfortunately, the only way for him to get better is to go to England for more medical assistance, but he doesn’t have a passport. This upset his wide even more. So Ebi went to an old friend who could help, but he was forced to flee the country before the passport was made. Uncle Taher died without seeing his son. This was extremely sad to me. People/this government are harsh!

Kim Wilde

A year after Uncle Taher’s death, the borders reopened and people were allowed to get passports. Satrapi’s parent ran to get their, so they could take a vacation to Turkey without Satrapi. She was pretty bombed out about the she wasn’t going and that they weren’t going to America or Europe. While in Turkey, they brought back a pair of Nike’s, MJ pin, denim jacket, and 2 posters for Satrapi. Her parents were very clever in getting these things across the border. She is excited to wear her new clothes to town. Why? She knows this is only going to cause trouble! She is so hard headed. She went to town to buy 2 tapes. On the way back home, she was stopped by guardians of the revolution for wearing her new gear. She lied and said that she played basketball is why she had the Nike’s. She said the pin was Malcolm X!! Too funny! But she didn’t have an excuse for the denim jacket. The women were planning to take her to the committee. But she was able to get out of going down to HQ with more lies and a pour of tears.

The Shabbat

The Iraqis has ballistic missiles from the Soviet Union. These missiles were known to be the most dangerous missiles available. On top of that currency was increasing. One day, a missile hit the Tavanir neighborhood, where Satrapi lives, while she was out shopping. It was her neighbor’s house, the Baba-Levy, that was hit. Unfortunately, they died and Satrapi saw Neda bracklet in the rebel still attacted to her arm.

The Dowry

After Neda’s death, Satrapi”s life made a huge changed. She wore Neda’s bracelet is her memory, but jewelry was forbidden. As a result, Satrapi often got in trouble for wearing the bracelet until one day she was expelled. On that day, Satrapi was defending her ground, but she hit the principal.  Later, she found another school to attend, but of course Satrapi goes there acting like her normal self. At her new school, she told the class about her uncle’s imprisonment. This time her classmates seemed impress but her teachers were total opposite. SO her parents were called AGAIN! Next, her mother talks to her about no one will kill a virgin…which I am not sure what she means by that or if that is to be true in their country. Satrapi’s parents send her to Vienna, Austria for school where she would live with mother’s friend Zozo. Hearing the news at first, Satrapi felt bittersweet. She was excited to be on her own, yet she feared she wasn’t ready for that life style. She gave her friends her posters to remember her by, and Grandma came to spend the night with one last time. That night Grandma told her to stay true to herself and don’t lose her dignity. I absolutely love Grandma’s advice! There are too many jerks in the world to actually get them credit for being human. And as life goes on Satrapi well understand why her Grandma shared this with her. The next morning, Satrapi left for Vienna. At the airport, Ebi had to carry Satrapi’s mother to the car.

The Soup

ZoZo and Shirin greeted Satrapi in the airport. As soon as Satrapi saw Zozo, she knew something was wrong. On the other hand, Shirin was busy talking about thing that were relevant like make up and ear muffs. This made Satrapi angry because while people are dying back home, she is being entertain by things that don’t matter.  Zozo and her husband argued everyday about money, because back home they were rich, but here they were poor.  Satrapi became close to Houshang while at the house. Plus, I believe she thought he was the only normal one in the house. Zozo sent Satrapi to a boarding school in Europe because their home was too small for the 4 of them. Satrapi was actually excited about her new independence. At the boarding, she would have a roommate named Lucia. Lucia thought her German and they became friends. However, everyone spoke German at the school, so Satrapi had difficulties making friends and hanging out with the other kids.

Tyrol

Every morning Lucia woke her up with her hair dryer. This didn’t settle with Satrapi very well. Still with few friends, Satrapi decided to create attention her way by making good grades and drawing caricatures of her teachers. Until the 18 year old French girl came along. She was fascinated by Satrapi life at war. The French girl introduced her to three other boys who she befriended. Momo was the first boy to kiss her on the lips; although the kiss was very platonic. Christmas vacation was arriving, and all the students were discussing their travel plans except Satrapi. Satrapi culture doesn’t celebrate Christmas. Lucia invited Satrapi to Tyrol with her for the holidays. Lucia explained that her parents were very Catholic, so they weren’t to know about her boyfriend at school. Satrapi agreed to the conditions as long as the hair drying came to a halt at 6:30 am. At Lucia’s house, Satrapi had made a new family! She loved it!

Pasta

It was time for another vacation. Satrapi isn’t use to this because in her country, they only got a 2 week break before the new year. Once all the students left, Satrapi read about Bakunin followed by stories her mother use to read. If she wasn’t reading she was at the supermarket. When February came, it was time for Satrapi to make her eternal spaghetti. After making her spaghetti, she went to the TV room to watch Inspector Derrick with the nuns. While watching the movie, the nuns told Satrapi that she was ignorance for eating pasta out of the pot.  She replied that all nuns use to be prostitutes. And she was expelled AGAIN! She called her friend Julie to come get her, and the school called her parents telling them that she left.

The Pill

Satrapi is sharing a room with Julia. The relationship between Julia and her mother, Armelle, compared to Satrapi and her mother was completely opposite. Armelle was a woman who lacked authority allowing Julia to disrespect her. However, Armelle thought that Satrapi would have a good influence on Julia. Little did her mother know, there was no stopping Julia at this point. At nights, Julia told Satrapi about her sexual experiences. She had sex with 18 people! Satrapi still very inexperience, she didn’t even know what sex looked like. Julia tells Satrapi that she is on the pill that’s why her butt is getting bigger. Armelle goes out of town for 6 weeks on business. They were to call Martin, Armelle’s friend (platonic). Before Armelle’s taxi could leave the drive, Julia was calling her friends to come over for the party. For the party, Julia does Satrapi’s make-up which later became apart of her appearance. A the party, Satrapi didn’t enjoy her experience in the western culture. All the people did was smoke and lay around. The laying around was more like having sex. After everyone left, Satrapi over heard Julia having sex. This became Satrapi first step towards assimilating into western culture.

The Vegetable

Satrapi’s body is changing, the right side seems to be larger than the left. She goes through a punkish phase. She pretends to be a smoker and a French girl to fit it. In this chapter, Satrapi is trying to escape her past. She knew that if her parents saw her appearance and knew about her actions, they wouldn’t believe she was the dream child. It wasn’t until she heard some girls making fun of her that she stood up for herself and understood the words of her Grandma.

The Horse

Julia and her mother left Vienna, so Satrapi moved into a wohngemeinschaft with eight homosexual men. Satrapi’s mother is coming to see her. At the airport, her mother barely recognized her, and mother now has gray hair. Her mother is surprised to see her living with 8 HOMOSEXUAL MEN!! During her visit, her mother never asked about her life and what she has been doing. Partly because her mother was afraid to know what she had been doing. Mother is a smoker now! She is loosening up in her ways I see. They found Satrapi a new apartment. They made fun of the landlord because her resembled a horse. This was definitely a mother/daughter moment. I love this part because Satrapi and her mother are in a more comfortable environment, so this is the first time we see them RELAX. Normally, they are so worried about what they are doing or wearing so much that they don’t have room for freedom. It is proven here what the presents of a mother/father or Grandma/Grandpa can bring to a child’s life at anytime.  Being here in Clemson at times can be hard, and the only thing to bring me out of my funk is my mother and grandmother.

The Veil
Satrapi is a 10 year old girl living during the “The Islamic Revolution.” At this time in her life, her government began to require a veil be worn during school and boys/girls learn separately. All the girls in school hated wearing the veil. Satrapi’s mother was photographed in a protest against the wearing of the veil. But things got out of control and her mother decided to change her appearance. Satrapi tells her teacher and classmates that she want to be prophet. Everyone mocked her for saying this and her parents were call. When her parents arrived, she lied to them and said she wanted to be a doctor. Why? She even has her own holy book. I’m glad she has her grandmother’s support in this negativity. Every night she has a discussion with God. She believes he has chosen her to leaf his people.

The Bicycle
Satrapi forgets about being a prophet and joins the revolution. Her and her family would do demonstration in the garden at their home. She learned everything there was to know about the revolution. She loved the “Dialectic Materialism” comic. Partly because one of it’s characters resembles God. God leaves her, but she doesn’t realize how much she needed him until her parents denied her from participating in a real demonstration.

The Water Cell

In 1992, Lynn receives a message from Alan Green. She assumes it is the Director of Public Prosecutions, but it was actually her ex boyfriend. The transitions to when Barber was 16 years old at the bus stop where she meet Alan Green. At the time Green was about 30 years of age. That day at the bus stop, Green pulled up in a maroon Bristol and asked Barber if she needed a ride. Of course, she knew to never accept rides from stranger, but Green didn’t seem like a strange at the time. On the drive to her home, she notices that Green has an accent and discover he was Jewish. Barber thought to herself that he didn’t seem to be Jewish, but she has never seen a Jewish man before so how would she know the difference. Once they reached Barber’s house, Green asked her out for coffee. She declines and says she is too busy preparing for her play at the Richmond Little Theater. The opening night of Barber’s play, there was a bouquet of flowers addressed to her from Green. Everyone was jealous and spoke about how expensive the flowers must have been. Later that night after the play, Green was outside waiting on Barber. They decide to go out on Friday night, but Green had to get the famous lecture from her father first. When Green meet her father, he was different than before with other boys. He actually liked Green. He even gave Barber a later curfew. I wonder why? Could her father not sense his age? It became routine for the two to go out every Friday or Saturday. During their dates, Green would stop randomly at places leaving Barber in the car. One night, she asked if she could come along and he said no and that this was busy. What time of business? Is he a drug dealer? Maybe that’s too soon to assume by this but hey why not?? Green would stop by Barber house during the week from time to time just to say hey and talk to Barber and her parents.

Barber is the only child and her parents only concern. Before she was born, her parents were Primitive Methodists, but when Barber came into the world they only believed in education. Since birth, Barber was programmed to attend Oxford or Cambridge, and she was very close to her goal. Her father was a lawyer and her mother an English teacher. This shows Barber and her families social class and describe their expectations.  Her father was very strict practical man. But Green seemed to have the opposite affect on her parents. Barber was just glad her parents had a new topic of discussion NOT HER! Although, she enjoyed the fact that her parents liked Green, but why. He was everything that she and her family stood for.

When Barber and Green were together, she wouldn’t ask him questions because she wanted to seem more sophisticated in Green’s eyes. One day, she and Green discuss when she was planning to lose her virginity. She replied 17. Green thought this was perfect, so he told her that she needed to lose her virginity to a more mature man than those silly boys she attends school with. In the mist of thing, she shows Green her breast. The two begin taking trips together to Paris, Amsterdam, and more. It’s surprising that Barber’s parents trust this man…I can get over this! My parents would flip! My best friend now is actually dating an older man and her parents seem to be cool with it. This would never happen in the ELAM house hold. Barber starts smoking cigarettes to add to her sophistication. It was finally Barber’s birthday, the big day to lose her virginity. She felt this was the only way to pay her debts to Green. They have sex, but it wasn’t what Barber had imagined. She recalls never having an orgasm with Green, and they didn’t have sex regularly. Honestly whats with his banana? Who does this!!!?

Barber was living a double life. She and her friends from school started to drift apart it seems, and they are dying to meet Mr. Green. However, in Barber’s mind this would never happen because she thought they wouldn’t see what she sees. This is funny to me because I have yet to meet my best friend’s boyfriend and they have been together almost 2 years. After talking to Green for about a year, Barber realized she still knew nothing about Green. It seem like the only thing she know about Green at this point is his friend Danny and Helen whom become Barber’s obsession. She spends a good deal of time with Danny secretly learning things about Green’s lifestyle. One day, the man at the book store referred to Green as Prewalski to Barber, but she honestly had no idea. Then he told her that he called the police on Green for bouncing cheques. Green told Barber to never go there again and to say they no longer dated. So is Green really a poor man posing?

One day in Six Mile, they stopped to look at a cottage for sale. The owner showed them around. However while there, Green stole a Speed map in which he was arrested for. Now he is steal with Minn  around?? He is becoming comfortable and sloppy in his techniques. Later, Green proposed to her. In Barber’s mind, this would never happen because she was going to Oxford, but when she mentioned the idea to her parents they approved her marriage proposal. This confused Barber because for 18 years they have stressed nothing more than education. Now they are telling her to give it all up for a man?? What is this?? Plus they don’t know the true Alan Green. Back at school, the headmaster heard about Barber’s engagement. She told Barber it was either Oxford or her marriage not both. Why couldn’t she have both? Because Green is Jewish? Well she chose marriage, everyone was pleased with Barber’s decision except her. One evening, Barber decides to go through Green’s glove compartment, she finds bills and letters addressed to a Mr. and Mrs. Green to an address that was down the street from her house. After some research, Barber found the number to the address, and discovered that Green has a wife and two children. WOW!! That summer Barber’s father got her back in the Oxford program where Barber was able to pick back up where she started. I loved this reading. I love talking about relationships. Men seem to always manipulate women leaving them puzzled as to where they went wrong. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy for most women to pick up where they left as it was for Barber. In life, this can be a year or more long process.

The story begins describing the narrator as a poor 17 year old girl who is a pianist. The girl tells the story of the night she left her childhood to become a woman and a wife. Her emotions seems to be in limbo about her new life. She’s excited to leave her old life, but she fears the idea of no longer being her mother’s child. And it seems her mother is having difficulties with letting her go. When her wedding dressed arrived, she mother asked her if she was truly in love and not marrying for the money. Why doesn’t she believe her daughter is happy? The story reveals that she will being marrying a king. He is OLDER, romantic, gentle, and big.  How much older? She trying he reminds her of a lily because is somewhat emotionless. However, she hopes that once they are married and in the palace he will let down his guard.  Apparent, the king is still mourning the death of this previous wife. She died in a boating accident just 3 months after the couple married. His wife was a famous opera singer. And our narrator was a fan of hers as a CHILD. This signals a major age difference between the king and his new wife. On the other hand, this made her feel insure about why the king now wanted to be with her. I feel this is natural in these types of situations. The night before the their wedding, the girl and her future husband attend an opera. Why would he talk her there knowing who is past lover meant to this world? Everyone at the opera couldn’t keep their eyes off the girl as she displayed her wedding ring and her choker of rubies that belonged to the king’s grandmother. During the opera, the narrator notices the king looked at her in a sexual manner for the first time. She seems to be thrill and feeling more womanly by the minute. That night when the couple returned to the castle, the king’s mood changed, he no longer has the passion in his eyes to take her virginity. He leaves her to attend to business, but he returns and takes her virginity. The next morning, the king leaves for New York for a month. Before leaving, he instructs his new wife to explore the house except for a specific room and never take off her choker. Why can’t she take off the choker? The next day, she meets Jean Yves, the piano tuner, who is blind. They plan for him to listen to her play one day.

Later that day, she gets upset after talking with her mother, so she decides to explore the castle. In the process, she goes through the kings office. In his office, she finds things from his previous marriages which up sets her. This pushes the narrator to explore the forbidden room. When she enters the room, she finds the corpse of the king’s first and second wife. WOW! He murdered his wives! Why? Is our narrator his next victim? She rooms out the room crying, she calls her mother but the phone is dead. So she plays the piano until Jean Yves comes to join her because he is able to calm her down. She tells him about finding the king’s secret, and he tells her about the folks calling the castle “the Castle of Murder.” I guess our narrator didn’t hear about this rumor? Is that why her mother tried to stop her?? When the king returns, he senses that the narrator has discovered his hidden secret. As he asked her for the ring key, he notices the blood stain on the key to his forbidden room. Immediately, he decides to behead her and Jean Yves. I wonder is this is the reason he killed his previous wives?? The tells the girl that “this ring will serve many fiances.” WOW! So he is planning to kill again? MANY! As the king prepares to behead the girl, the girl’s mother appears distracting him long enough for Jean-Yves to shot him. The kings is dead!! Which he should be. What he was doing was wrong.. Now the narrator brings us to present day, she, her mother, and Jean Yves made the castle a school for the blind. I loved the ending. It’s the only thing we have read thus far with a slightly normal heroic ending.