American Son: In Review
God Bless: My Lola, for naming our new puppy “Xena.” Yeah. That Xena. The Warrior Princess. My parents are suffering from empty nest syndrome and the only cure was a new puppy. And my lola named it Xena. God bless.
Feeling: :-)
Wow. How unproductive was that spring break? I really need to get my procrastination in check. But anyways, HAPPY EASTER to all of you ahead of time!
Well, I’ve already quibbled about the ending—I suppose it’s time to rant about the whole book.
In response to the questions posed by Ms. Gier during class, I have to admit that I never thought of the novel as a tragedy-comedy—I just thought the characters were obnoxious. I’m not exactly sure what constitutes a tragedy-comedy, but I can see how there is a kind of humor in the fact that the characters in American Son are constantly making poor decisions. It’s like watching a contestant from [insert name of fraternity/sorority] stumble through an episode of The Price Is Right. Bad, bad decisions.
For instance, Gabe’s sojourn through the most obscure locations in California…what was he thinking? His trip culminates with the embarrassment he causes his mother. Instead of solving his problems at home by fleeing from them—which, all you potential runaways reading this, is never the answer—he instead succeeds in worsening his relationship with his mother. And don’t even get me started about the series of errands he agrees to complete for his brother as a sort of comeuppance for selling Buster. Sorority girls on Price Is Right. Sorority girls on Price Is Right.
Also asks Ms. Gier, “To what extent is [American Son] satirical? Is it political? Is it critical? If so, then of what?”
My instinct is to answer “no,” just so that I don’t have to answer the “then of what” part of the question, but I know that’s probably not what she’s looking for. And, actually, I really don’t know what she’s looking for. I’m not sure what is being satirized. Possibly passive pilipinas? (Oy, excuse my alliteration. I do that when I’m tired.) Gabe’s mother is a stereotypically meek Filipino mother that has lost control of her children. Speaking of her children, is Roley commenting on the behavior of irresponsible, reckless, ungrateful youth? Of progeny of Filipino immigrants specifically?
I’m sure everyone else has written this already, but I think the author is critical of the American dream. Wow that sounds so obvious after I typed it. Okay, anyways, I think there’s a little irony in the juxtaposition between the standards of living of Gabe’s family and that of his uncle’s. Gabe’s mother, presumably, immigrated in order to provide her family with better living conditions, but (are you paying attention Alanis Morissette? For this is truly ironic) her brother remained in the Philippines and attained wealth and prestige.
That’s all I can think of right now. I better sleep before I start to get incoherent. See you all in class!
Feeling: :-)
Wow. How unproductive was that spring break? I really need to get my procrastination in check. But anyways, HAPPY EASTER to all of you ahead of time!
Well, I’ve already quibbled about the ending—I suppose it’s time to rant about the whole book.
In response to the questions posed by Ms. Gier during class, I have to admit that I never thought of the novel as a tragedy-comedy—I just thought the characters were obnoxious. I’m not exactly sure what constitutes a tragedy-comedy, but I can see how there is a kind of humor in the fact that the characters in American Son are constantly making poor decisions. It’s like watching a contestant from [insert name of fraternity/sorority] stumble through an episode of The Price Is Right. Bad, bad decisions.
For instance, Gabe’s sojourn through the most obscure locations in California…what was he thinking? His trip culminates with the embarrassment he causes his mother. Instead of solving his problems at home by fleeing from them—which, all you potential runaways reading this, is never the answer—he instead succeeds in worsening his relationship with his mother. And don’t even get me started about the series of errands he agrees to complete for his brother as a sort of comeuppance for selling Buster. Sorority girls on Price Is Right. Sorority girls on Price Is Right.
Also asks Ms. Gier, “To what extent is [American Son] satirical? Is it political? Is it critical? If so, then of what?”
My instinct is to answer “no,” just so that I don’t have to answer the “then of what” part of the question, but I know that’s probably not what she’s looking for. And, actually, I really don’t know what she’s looking for. I’m not sure what is being satirized. Possibly passive pilipinas? (Oy, excuse my alliteration. I do that when I’m tired.) Gabe’s mother is a stereotypically meek Filipino mother that has lost control of her children. Speaking of her children, is Roley commenting on the behavior of irresponsible, reckless, ungrateful youth? Of progeny of Filipino immigrants specifically?
I’m sure everyone else has written this already, but I think the author is critical of the American dream. Wow that sounds so obvious after I typed it. Okay, anyways, I think there’s a little irony in the juxtaposition between the standards of living of Gabe’s family and that of his uncle’s. Gabe’s mother, presumably, immigrated in order to provide her family with better living conditions, but (are you paying attention Alanis Morissette? For this is truly ironic) her brother remained in the Philippines and attained wealth and prestige.
That’s all I can think of right now. I better sleep before I start to get incoherent. See you all in class!
posted by The Kenneth @ 11:02 PM
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