Annie John

I think this book was an easy novel to get through because it is easy to relate to. My background is not of slavery or racial oppression, however, it is a girl growing up. I feel like Annie John exemplifies a young girl growing up, no matter the ethnicity. At one point in life, about age 10, she adored her mother. She looked upon her mother as the most beautiful woman, intelligent, courageous, etc. At one point I think every girl looks at her mother that way. As she grows older she begins to think less of her mother. She feels her mother has other concerns outside of her and feels left out from her old life. I think at one point every girl growing up can relate to going from adoration for her mother to seeing a more accurate depiction. I view Annie John as a coming of age story in many ways. The strongest way is in the maturity she gains as she grows older. She begins to flirt with boys and see her mother's real life. When Annie John's mother called her a slut after she was flirting with the boys in town, she at age 10 never would have yelled back at her mother "like daughter, like mother." She has matured, not in the sense that she can yell back at her mom, but that she can see accuracy in her life.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this novel. I think it was easy to relate and continuously kept me interested.

The House on Mango Street

This novel was fun to read and one of the easier novels we have read thus far in the course. It was a little quick and to the point at parts. I think what made it so easy and quick to read was the short chapters. I think the chapter titles also played a big role throughout the novel. The titles I felt were kind of strange, or at least different. They were lengthy at times.
The novel primarily tells the coming of age story for Esperenza. Esperenza is a young girl growing up, discovering her identity, her culture, and her sexuality. She encounters several friends along the way who introduce her to a different aspect about herself. She encounters friends who help her discover her sexuality. She goes from having a fear of heels to understanding her role as a woman. She also struggles throughout the novel to discover admiration for her origins and where her home is. Throughout the novel we discover Esperenza's desire to live in a home of her own away from Mango Street. Esperenza begins to discover her role in society and in her neighborhood, as well as her family.
In parts of the book I was shocked at the treatment. I believe it was the scene in the lunchroom or in the classroom and that make me look at the treatment of other races. Even her teacher treated her differently because of her background. She was stereotyped and generalized because of her neighborhood. I believe that we do that in today's society as well. We think ..."oh your from East St. Louis, you must be dangerous." but not everybody is dangergous. We cannot categorize people by their neighborhood or origins.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. I would enjoy reading it again someday.