Skyscraper 1/3

I am really enjoying this novel so far. The first chapter was a little rough, though. I wasn't really sure where the novel was going and what Baldwin was really talking about. After I got into it, however, I started to like it much more. There were only a few confusing areas where I wasn't sure of who was speaking (or even what they were speaking about) but I could usually figure it out if I re-read it a couple times. I think that I would like, and understand the novel a little more if Lynn was the narrator. Also, I wouldn't feel as disconnected with her.
This novel is very similar to Bread Givers in that Lynn and Sara are similiar characters working towards their similar goals of success, but Lynn actually enjoys what she does and she doesn't want to give it up for anyone... even the man that she loves. I admire her for her determination, much like Sara.
Things are beginning to change between Lynn and Sarah, her mothers friend and mentor, all because of a new man who has entered the story, Dwight, so I am very anxious to see what happens to their relationship.

Introduction and Forward by Kessler-Harris

"When Sara Smolinsky declared her independence by selling herring at two cents a piece, the act penetrated my flesh. I read this book as an immigrant, a woman, a Jew, and a 'person'" ( Kessler-Harris, viii). I like this quote that Kessler-Harris made in the forward of the book. This made me realize that so many other immigrants probably read it in a similar way--as sort of an inspirational piece, whereas I did not appreciate it in the same way. I am not, nor have I eer been in the same situations of immigrant women in the early 1900's, so I cannot relate as well. I also like that Kessler-Harris compares Sara to Anzia, and then Anzia to herself because it gave me a differnet perspective to look at than the one that I had when I just read the book.

Bread Givers Books II and III

Bread Givers: Book II and Book III

Wow. So I definitely enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I was not really surprised by the ending, but I could almost feel Sara's pain and anxieties throughout these last two sections. I was correct in assuming before that we would get to know Sara, and I am definitely glad that this was true. I felt as though I could relate to her much more and I definitely felt some sympathy... however, I was not exactly thrilled with the fact that she is bringing her father back into her home and putting herself in the same situation that she was in so many years before. But, I do admire her for it. "But as I came back to my quiet, sunny room, my heart ached for father" ( Yezierska, 268). It is admirable that even though she had such strong feelings of hatred towards her father, she was able to help him in his times of need. This shows great maturity, and I definitely think that her father found a a new respect for her as well, which made me happy. I really enjoyed this novel, and I think that it really shows that anyone, especially a single woman in America, can do whatever she wants if she wants it enough.

Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. 1925. Doubleday & co., inc. 155-297.

Bread Givers: Book I

Bread Givers: Book I

My initial reaction to this novel, so far, is one of frustration and almost anger. I am so annoyed by Sara's father that it almost stresses me out. I am utterly amazed at the way that the father speaks to the members of his family, and how he can do nothing to earn wages and yet willingly give money out to charities. He is so full of himself that it is almost ridiculous. I think the most amazing part is that he believes himself to be a good father, husband, and person. The way that he practically prostitutes his daughters into marriage, refers to his wife as "woman" and spends all of his time reading his books and not earning money for the family, and then expects his daughters to support him is unreal. I could go on about this for a very long time, he makes me so mad... but one quote that I found to be absolutely appauling was when he stated to both Mashah and Fania, "As you made your bed, so you must sleep on it" (Yezierska, 85). After he forced his daughters to turn down the men that they loved for two men that were nothing but liars, he told them that it was their own fault. Now imagine if they had disobeyed him and not married the men.... this was definitely a lose-lose situation for the two girls, and it really bothers me that he is so arrogant to think that he has done nothing wrong. He speaks many times throughout the first part of the novel about how smart he is.... if you ask me, it is ignorance. Or maybe just pure stupidity?
I see some similarities in this novel compared to some other liturature that we have read so far this semester. The living conditions described are much like those of Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis. However, I feel as though this story, thus far, has not involved the narrator much at all. I don't feel like I know much about Sara, just the other members of her family, but I think that may be about to change...

Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. 1925. Doubleday & co., inc. 1-151.