This second part of the Godfather is when the book really starts to get off the ground. Book 1 was more of an introduction to the family and the daily happenings of the Italian Mafia. In this part of the book, an Arabian drug dealer named Solozzo comes to the Don with a proposal. He is setting up a drug trading route through mexico and columbia with another New York 'family.' There is alot of money to be made in this industry and many high ranking officials in the Corleone family feel that it would be best to get into drug trading. Solozzo asks the Don only for his protection, since he has many powerful political connections. The Don respectfully declines Solozzo's offer, fearing that there is too much risk in the business. The Don seems to be happy with the money he is making with his sucessful Olive Oil importing company. Solozzo stomps out of The Don's office, fuming.
A few weeks later, when the Don is in downtown New York shopping for fresh fruits, his is shot in a hit and run by two of Solozzo's men. Fortunately, they failed to kill him. Sonny promptly takes over the running of the family business and finds out that the Don's bodyguard had mysteriously been 'sick' that day. He immediately sends two of his men to kill him, knowing that he had been payed off by Solozzo.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Black Boy (End)
Black Boy presented my styles and themes to me while reading. The first thing I noticed was that he started each chapter with an exciting event that tried to catch your attention. He had great dialogue in his book and his explanations of events were simple and to the point. One thing that he could have added to help make the book more interesting was the details of settings. His descriptions of scenes and people seemed to me like they were a little bland. In adding detail he could have kept the reader interested and added excitment and color to his book.
A theme that I saw emerging as a read the book was the opening of Richards eyes to the racsism of the time in the South. He seems comepletely oblivious to the danger he faces everyday when he interacts with white people at his job and on the streets. All the other black kids seem to have learned the ways interaction with the opposite race. I think the reason Richard had so much trouble adapting to the life that the other Black kids follow is because he moved around so much and had virtually no parents to teach him right and wrong in interacting with Whites. He kind of had to learn on his own, and that made him below the learning curve until he was about 17. Another reason is that he has a very strong will and doesn't seem to take no for an answer, which had the potential to come back and haunt him.
A theme that I saw emerging as a read the book was the opening of Richards eyes to the racsism of the time in the South. He seems comepletely oblivious to the danger he faces everyday when he interacts with white people at his job and on the streets. All the other black kids seem to have learned the ways interaction with the opposite race. I think the reason Richard had so much trouble adapting to the life that the other Black kids follow is because he moved around so much and had virtually no parents to teach him right and wrong in interacting with Whites. He kind of had to learn on his own, and that made him below the learning curve until he was about 17. Another reason is that he has a very strong will and doesn't seem to take no for an answer, which had the potential to come back and haunt him.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Godfather
I chose The Godfather written by Mario Puzo as my outside reading book. Although I personally have never seen the movie, I have heard that the book is much more interesting and detailed than its film counterpart.
In the first part of the book we meet the whole family of characters. The whole operation is run by a family named the Corleones. The head of the family and the chief operator is called "Don" Vito Corleone, otherwise known as "The Godfather." The couple of chapters details the wedding of his daughter, Chrissy. We also meet his oldest son, Sonny or Santino, who despite his very large temper is believed to be the heir the the Corleone throne. We also meet Freddy, his second son and more of a servant than anything. Freddy is viewed by most outsiders as someone who will always be an assistant to the Don of the family. Finally there is Michael Corleone. Mike betrayed his father and family and enrolled in the army during World War II and now is going to college at Dartmouth University. He is the most like the Don in emotional features and was thought to be the best fit for the head position in the Family until he severed ties with them.
In the first part of the book we meet the whole family of characters. The whole operation is run by a family named the Corleones. The head of the family and the chief operator is called "Don" Vito Corleone, otherwise known as "The Godfather." The couple of chapters details the wedding of his daughter, Chrissy. We also meet his oldest son, Sonny or Santino, who despite his very large temper is believed to be the heir the the Corleone throne. We also meet Freddy, his second son and more of a servant than anything. Freddy is viewed by most outsiders as someone who will always be an assistant to the Don of the family. Finally there is Michael Corleone. Mike betrayed his father and family and enrolled in the army during World War II and now is going to college at Dartmouth University. He is the most like the Don in emotional features and was thought to be the best fit for the head position in the Family until he severed ties with them.
Black Boy
This part of Black Boy was an 'awakening' for Richard to the outside world. First, after consistent begging on the part of his mother and his friends, Richard joins his grandmother's church.
Uncle Tom's temper flares up after he asks Richard what time it is. The conversation seems like a perfectly harmless one to Richard, and to me, but Uncle Tom seems to absolutely snap. I think that Tom's anger towards his nephew has been building up inside of him for a long time, and this little slip of Richard's mouth drives him over the edge. Luckily for Richard, he finds razors to prevent himself from getting whipped. This shows Richard's iron clad will, he simply refuses to get beaten or do anything else that he feels is unfair. I have a feeling that this could come back to haunt him in the future.
Throughout this whole time, Richard bounces from job to job, trying to statisfying his growing hunger. But all his earnings seem to slip into "the never ending debt of my family" and he never seems to jget anything good out of his hard work. Richard also writes a story that is published in the negro newspaper. Although it was very impressive, none of his family members or friends give him support in his new hobby.
Uncle Tom's temper flares up after he asks Richard what time it is. The conversation seems like a perfectly harmless one to Richard, and to me, but Uncle Tom seems to absolutely snap. I think that Tom's anger towards his nephew has been building up inside of him for a long time, and this little slip of Richard's mouth drives him over the edge. Luckily for Richard, he finds razors to prevent himself from getting whipped. This shows Richard's iron clad will, he simply refuses to get beaten or do anything else that he feels is unfair. I have a feeling that this could come back to haunt him in the future.
Throughout this whole time, Richard bounces from job to job, trying to statisfying his growing hunger. But all his earnings seem to slip into "the never ending debt of my family" and he never seems to jget anything good out of his hard work. Richard also writes a story that is published in the negro newspaper. Although it was very impressive, none of his family members or friends give him support in his new hobby.
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