Mr_Shank

In the last section of this book, I will be looking at Taylor. During the first part we see that she becomes hesitant when it comes to Turtle. At the stop on the road when she was with Esperanza and Estevan she does not tell the man that she is Turtle’s mother right away. Estavan has to say that the baby is his. What do you think of this? When Turtle even starts to call Esperenza ‘Ma’ this really affects Taylor. She feels hurt. Did you expect this to happen? And does her reaction surprise you?

As they go back to the bar, Taylor becomes frustrated. She finds out that the bar has no idea where her relatives might be. She feels that she has come all this way for nothing. Her moods seem to go up and down, and they all seem to be revloved around Turtle. She also felt that she has misjudged the Cherrokee Nation. Things get even weirder for Taylor. As they drive to the lake, she feels like a minority, the odd one out. No one looks like her, and Estevan and Esperanza feel much more comfortable with everyone appearing like them.

Another feeling Taylor experiences in this chapter is that or worrying. Turtle looks out the window and shouts, “Mama!” when no women is in sight. She arrives at the lake, and they stay at a cottage for the night. She tells Estevan she will miss him, but he does not return the thought. She then wishes that she can keep Estevan and the baby, but only really hopes to keep the girl. What do you think is going through Taylor’s head? Is she more worried about losing Turtle, or losing her friends. Do you think that she’s afraid of losing her life that she has come accustom to living? This chapter ends by her if Estevan and Esperana will do her a favor.

Next, Taylor has her two friends pose as Turtle’s biological parents. This is a huge risk, and shows how much she cares for Turtle. Would you go this far for someone you cared about? They trust that they really are the parents, sign the documents and get emotional. Esperanza seems happy at the end, and Taylor is now the mother of Turtle, officially, but unofficially. It seemed like Taylor cared enough about the child to let Esperanza have her if she truly wanted her, and it shows how good of a friend she is.

Finally, the last chapter of the book starts with Taylor taking her friends to the church for shelter. She feels that she has lost someone she loved for the very first time. By calling her mother, it shows that she also cares a lot about her, and her mother comforts her. Turtle and her have their second good conversation and Taylor explains that she is her mother and that her name is now April Turtle Greer (Brandons sister). The story ends very well, and Turtle and Taylor go home to see LouAnn. This happens after she calls her to see if she would get back together with Angel, and she informs her that she has met a new man but that Taylor is her family and she won’t move in with her. Taylor has come in a complete circle, starting in KY, trying to get away and start a new life. Then going to AZ, and trying to find Turtle’s parents. The story turned out the way Taylor would have wanted it, having someone to care about her in LouAnn, and raising someone she loved, in Turtle.

What were your thoughts on Taylor? Do you think that the way she handled things were the best options in some cases? For example, adopting Turtle in the way she did. If she couldn’t find the relatives, would lying be that big of a deal? Finally, what do you think of the ending? Do Taylor’s actions with Turtle show that she is a good mother? If yes, why?

-Dan

First off, to get a better look into the last few chapters we need to look into the past. Why do you guys think that Mr. Heathcliff married Isabell if he really loved Catherine? Could it be that he was using her? Possibly blackmail?

Why do you think that after all Mr. Heathcliff has done to Catherine, and vice/versa, that they once again meet each other? Do you think that Mr. Heathcliff intends to “woo” Catherine? Or possibly that maybe he wants just to get back at her?

Finally do you guys believe that what Mr. Heathcliff and Catherine is true love??? Being able to withstand the odds and everyone’s opionions! Or maybe its just a big crush. If you love somebody enough, dont you think you wouldn’t care what other people think of your relationship? Maybe Catherine and Mr. Heathcliff have a love/hate situation? They hate the fact that they love each other?

The whole key to this story has been intertwined with a certain person’s (AKA Barbara Kingsolver) liking of vegetables. This may not necessarily be true, but based off of this story, someone has a great liking for the vegetables to inspire her to write this book.

I must say though, that was a good end to a good book, at least in a veggie sort of way. As you know, this is our last blog of the book, The Bean Trees. The final chapter has finally answered the question of the bean tree title. I have several questions for you based on the final chapters.

Based on the reference of legumes in the Horticultural Encyclopedia, how does the bean tree represent family?

Do you support Taylor’s opinion on the wisteria vine? If you do not, explain. If you do, explain anyway.

My final question is how do you think the event of adopting Turtle has changed Taylor? How do you think this event will effect Turtle in the future?

That is all that I have for you!

-Jenni Kantor

Okay, so this is our last entry on The Bean Trees. It should cover Chapters 14-17, finishing the book. The entry next week is the first entry on Dracula by Bram Stoker. Any edition should be pretty similar. I have the Puffin Classics edition.

Anyway, I found this quote which I think relates to one of the most important themes in the book: family.

Family is just accident…. They don’t mean to get on your nerves.  They don’t even mean to be your family, they just are.

This quote relates to several different scenes in the book. Taylor never intended to meet LouAnn or Turtle or Esperanza and Estevan. It just happened. When Taylor first met LouAnn, they didn’t get along. Taylor wanted to act like her life was completely seperate from LouAnn’s. Taylor never intended to adopt Turtle, it just happened. Likewise, Estevan and Esperanza never tried to become as close to Taylor as they did. It was a lucky event.

What do you think of this quote? Do you think it connects to the story well. What other connections can you draw from it?

Shank, if you’re reading this, we’re reading Dracula. You already said it would work, and that’s what we’re reading, as you said Digital Fortress had no literary merit, even though it was a New York Times Bestseller.

-Brandon

I chose to follow Carton. He has changed a lot throughout the story. In the beginning he was rude and didn’t really want to deal with people. By the last chapters he is more mature and is willing to do things for others. For example, in chapter 4 Carton says to Darnay, “I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.” This makes him sound like a misanthrope that doesn’t want to bother with anyone and wants to be left alone. But in the last chapter Carton demonstrates some kindness. When Darnay has been condemned  his family is very upset, so Carton switches clothes with him and dies in his place. I think that was very considerate of him, and I see him as a hero. That is not an easy task, Carton has definately grown a lot.

What do you think caused the change in Carton? Why was he so willing to do what he did for Darnay? Do you think you could have done the same thing?

=)

Alyssa

So, this is our last blog for this book and then we are moving on to ‘The House of Sand and Fog’? We are going to have to discuss who will be doing which role for the first blog.

Taylor has gone through many things throughout the book. How has Taylor changed by the end of the book? Also, Taylor keeps in touch with her mother but still she does not seem to like her mothers’s new husband very much. Do you think Taylor will ever go back to see her mother? Why or why not? Estevan and Esperanza are illegal immigrants. With this as an issue today in our country, what do you think of the situation involving illegal immigrants? How should the United States deal with this in your opinion?

Have fun!

~Sarah Light

My connection is between Book the Third Chapter 6: Triumph and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

In Chapter 6:  There is a large gathering at Darnay’s trial.  They are all waiting and wondering what will happen and what new information will be revealed.  Also in this chapter Dr. Manette tells everybody at the trial that Darnay is his son-in-law.  The jury acquits Darnay and drops all charges.  The people are then very happy.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, there is also a trial going on about Tom Robinson raping Mayella Ewell.  One connection between the two, is that many people also gathered at Tom’s trial.  This shows that many people are nosy and butt into other peoples business.  It also shows how some times people have nothing better to do.  Another connection between the two is that even though both stories have different verdicts against the criminals, in the end the people who gathered are happy.  In A Tale of Two Cities, the people are happy that the jury acquit Darnay and carry him out on a chair.  Where as in To Kill a Mockingbird, all of the white people are happy that Tom was found guilty. 

Another connection between the two books is that in both stories we see the difference between the haves and the have nots.  In a Tale of Two Cities we see the upper class who has many things and are not affected by any of the occurring problems.  Then there is the middle and lower class who is looked down upon by the Upper class and are facing poverty.  It is like this in To Kill a Mockingbird.  You have the whites how have many things and look down upon the blacks, and the blacks are facing many problems caused by the whites and are also living in poverty.

Time for questions! Are there any other connections between To Kill a Mockingbird and A Tale of Two Cities?

What does this connection show us about how people of different social classes treat each other?

Have Fun! =]

~Lauren Gress~