Deerskin (part three)

To start out with can I just say how confused I was when the whole wedding scene was going on. I did not understand how there was two of Deerskin. I was thinking maybe it was like her older self verse her new self and how she was letting go the past and who she used to be and what happened to her. Also, would that be the reason why she was bleeding in between her legs as well? She was letting go what happened and giving it back to her father so she could move on with her life. Now that I mention the father, what happened to him exactly? After he fell I mean. I really wished they mentioned just a little bit more about that part. I assume he didn't marry Camiella but who did what with him after he fell, is what I would like to know. Other than that I thought this book's ending was great. It left you with a little bit of a mystery to weather or not Ossin and Deerskin or Lissar get married but you know deep down that they are together and happy. Lissar can finally lead the life she deserves now that she has overcome what happened in the past and does not have to fear her father, or herself/her memories. It was nice to have this book end with a happy ending considering everything Lissar went through throughout the whole novel.

Deerskin and her puppies

After reading the next couple of chapters, I like how Lissar’s life is kind of coming together. What I mean by this is she now basically has a place to live, a job and almost like a family. The puppies are her family but so are, I think at least, are Hela, Jude and especially Ossin (I sense some sparks in their feelings for one another). But that’s just guess, I wanted to talk more about the puppies. I’m not really a dog lover but I like the relationship Lissar develops with her puppies and how they are a big part of her life. These puppies are almost like her children. She takes care of them, is constantly worrying about their well being, she really truly loves them when no one else wanted to care for them. I thought that was really sad. Who wouldn’t want to try to help these little pups get better and survive? Anyways, I feel like the reason she loves and can relate to these puppies so well is because she was once them, someone trying to live or survive. When she escaped her castle and father and hide in the cabin, she was trying to get better and survive, just like these little puppies were. And maybe that’s why the puppies survived because of Lissar’s will to fight and be alive.

Deerskin (part two)

It frustrates me how Lissar can not remember anything, not even the good parts of her past. For example she started to remember Viaka but then the thought of her name made her stop thinking and repress everything about her past again. I understand that she went through a traumatic experience and all but come on. I mean lets be real here why would she try to forget about her good friend who left her food and helped her survive? I just don’t get it. Oh, and the fact that she couldn’t even remember what language she spoke was just plain dumb. I would think even after something so horrible as a rape, you would be at least able to remember what language you speak and who your good friend was. Although on Tuesday when we were discussing these chapters in class I believe that somebody brought up the idea of the whole castle where Lissar once lived was bewitched and casted a “spell” on them. Which would make sense to me. From the beginning of this book I felt that some witchery has taken place, especially with one particular character, the Queen. So if the queen had some sort of powers does this mean Lissar has inherited them? Will she ever discover them? And of course the most important question, how will she use them, for good or for evil? I can’t wait to have all these questions answered and I hope its soon because I’m getting anxious to know.

Graceling (358-471)

At first when I finished the Graceling, I did not like the ending because it wasn’t like an official end. I thought it should have ended when they found Po. But after discussing the conclusion in class I find that the book ended with a sense of peacefulness, almost as if everyone finally found their place in the world. Especially for Katsa. Instead of being controlled by various men like Randa with how he forcefully made her use her grace, and Leck who controlled her with his mind. Katsa came to her own through out the novel. She led us on the journey of discovering who she is and gaining her own control on her own life. At the end, instead of her and Po getting married and living happily ever after, Katsa found something important she wanted to do, teach young girls how to fight. The fact that Katsa wants to do this would have been surprising at the beginning but now since Katsa became her own person. I think that’s so great because this really shows young girls who will read this book that you can and should do what you want with your own life and that you don’t need a man to do that. Over all I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others. 

Graceling (143-201)

There is a quote in the Graceling that caught my attention because of how we have been discussing feminism. The scene is on page 181, when Katsa was going to hunt for Po and hers dinner she says to Po, “Does it bother you? You’re welcome to do the hunting yourself. Perhaps I can stay by the fire and mend your socks, and scream if I hear any strange noises.” I thought this was funny because Katsa mocks her and every women’s feminism. It also shows how she is out of touch with her own feminism or lack of I should say. Katsa presents herself as a very strong fighter and that’s all. She never shows herself as more then that. I mean there’s nothing wrong with being a strong fighter, I like to think of myself as a strong women as well but why can’t women be both strong and feminine? I feel that Katsa would be much happier if she get in touch a little more with her girly feminine side. If she did, she would be able to see how and why a man like Giddon would be in love with her and want to marry her. I’m not saying that her happiness rides on her getting in touch with her feminine side but maybe she could accept herself better if she realizes that she is not just a strong fighter but that she is a strong women fighter which makes her special and unique. 

Graceling (82-143)

After reading this week, I have really gotten into The Graceling. So much just happen, most of it predictable of course, but that is what I think I like about this book. I honestly do love the fact that I guessed before Katsa even knew Giddon loved her and that Po was a mindreader! I thought that was funny. But it really showed how young, and naive her character really is. With the part about Giddon being in love with her and she was saying how could anyone love me, really shows how she feels about herself. I find that very upsetting because she is a great, strong girl who only wants to use her grace for good. Although, this is what makes her so relatable to the younger age group.

I thought it was so funny when Giddon proposed to Katsa especially after the talk she had with Raffin and how he told her to come up with a good reason that would not hurt Giddon. You could tell that Katsa was trying to remember what Raffin told her to say but she was so taken off guard she like forgot. Then her FINALLY figuring out Po was a mindreader was great! I mean finally! I’ve known that since the first time we meet this character. I really want to read on and find out what she’ll say to Po and if she will confront him about his lies and what will this do to their relationship.

Graceling

After reading the assigned reading for this week, I have to say that the novel Graceling is really interesting and good. I’m only on page 80 and it is a lot better then The Left Hand of Darkness. The first chapter of Graceling was interesting and entertaining, it also really drew you in right away unlike in The Left Hand of Darkness where it took till like page 205 for me to really get into the story. In the novel Graceling, I also really enjoy the way Kristin Cashore writes. It is simple, easy to understand and she writes with subtle detail which makes sense why this book is directed to young adults or “Tweens” as they say. Another thing I love about the way she writes, is how she narrates in third person omniscient, meaning the narrator is not a character in the book but she is telling the story.     

This may be off topic and random but when I was reading about what the Council and what they do, it kind of reminded me of the movie Robin Hood. Katsa and the council helps out by kidnapping a Lienid among other good deeds. Just like what Robin Hood does by stealing from the poor and giving to the needy. I thought it was funny and interesting how these two stories sort of intertwined.