1. Write about what you like best about one or both of these readings, and why. Be specific.
2. Post two discussion questions (one for each reading) that focus on an aspect of the reading you would like to discuss in class.
Keep in mind that discussion questions do not have "correct" answers, and that they usually begin with words like "Why", "How", "Can," or "If," (or a number of other words that allow for open-ended answers). Give context (essay, page number, background info., etc) to help me and your classmates understand your question.
Here's an example of a great discussion question:
In "Junkyard" Ray includes a section about her father's friend who challenges him with a math question (75-77). Why do you think Ray includes this section? How does this affect our characterization of her father, and how, if at all, does it affect Ray's ethos?
And here's an example of a bad question:
Why did David Sedaris move to NYC in the first place?
Finally, keep in mind that you don't need to know the answer to your question.
Also, remember to be thinking/pre-writing/drafting in preparation for our "paper ideas workshop" on Tuesday. The more you can talk about your essay-to-be, the better feedback you'll get.
1. I really like how these short essays hit the ground running. They got my attention and kept it without slowing down. They didn’t just ramble on with mindless exposition nor did they exactly follow a strict or rigid chronological structure. They may have progressed chronologically but they weren’t broken down systematically.
ReplyDelete2. In “Junkyard” Ray seems to switch pace near the end and talk about her father’s mental illness (77-80). Why do you think she does this? What aspect of her father is she trying to portray or does the point she is trying to get across even strictly pertain to her father at all?
In “City of Angels” Sedaris really makes use of the angel motif. Though Bonnie did get in an argument with a person at the flea market over the price of an angel (128), Sedaris could have just as easily focused more on her talk with the cab driver or high tea. What made the angel situation so significant? What does the situation with the angel tell about Bonnie that the other situations leave out?
Both of the readings were good in the sense that they were short and in the vernacular language, so that neither was too cumbersome to read. I liked how both have a very distinctive voice, which I believe would be considered a strong ethos, or persona, for our author/narrator. I do have to admit that I found the Sedaris reading to be more interesting than Ray's. Perhaps this is because I have a personal bias to consider, in the sense that I love Sedaris for his characteristic witty voice, especially in Me Talk Pretty One Day and Naked.
ReplyDelete1. At the end of the very first page of "City of Angels", Sedaris begins his tale by informing the reader that his very quiet, sweet friend--Alisha--would be bringing a guest with her on one of her yearly visits to his NYC home. He mentions specifically that Alisha said Bonnie had never left her hometown and "that [Bonnie] seemed like a very sweet person" (125) which is immediately contradicted by Bonnie's behavior during the chapter. Even though Sedaris admits that Alisha gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, certainly she wouldn't have brought someone so difficult with her on such a trip. Why do you think Bonnie acts in such a negative manner towards her first trip outside of her hometown? Can factors such as the media and social/racial prejudices have been the cause for such a reaction?
2. In "Junkyard", Ray describes her fear of succumbing to mental illness like her father and other members of her family (78-79). If she were to be overwhelmed by mental illness, would she have the strength, like her father, to recover or would she be overwhelmed by her own incapability? With the last line of her father's letter telling her to "Fear not" (80), should the reader take this as encouragement to Ray to not live her life in fear of illness or a warning that if she does possess this fear, she will certainly fall victim to it?
L. Knight
(Who also happens to be awful at writing discussion questions :D)
After reading both essays I liked how each author developed the characters. Even in a short essay I feel like I have a good understanding of each character. In "Junkyard" the author ends the essay with a letter from the father about his mental illness. I thought this was a creative way to end the story and it brought the whole story together. In "City of Angels" the author says "the crowds multiple to Chinese proportions" (128). I thought this was a very creative way to show the size of the crowd instead of just saying that there were a lot of people.
ReplyDelete1. In "City of Angels" Bonnie explains that she did not tip the taxi driver because she "expects to be treated like an American" (127). What did Bonnie mean by this statement? How did she expect the taxi driver to treat her?
2.In "Junkyard" the author mentions how the father spent many days trying to solve a math problem with no background in math. Why do you think the author included this situation? Do you think it was supposed to parallel how he builds cars without much experience?
1. I enjoyed that both of these essays read almost like short stories. I felt that I could really relate to the characters in them. In Junkyard I liked that you could relate her father’s strength as a person before and after his mental illness. The letter at the end of Junkyard shows his growth during the story. I thought it was interesting that in City of Angels, Bonnie wanted a “real New York experience,” however she wasn’t happy unless she was amongst other tourists in New York.
ReplyDelete2. In “City of Angels,” Alisha’s friend Bonnie takes her first trip away from home. Bonnie is repeatedly rude towards her host who was kind enough to provide her a place to stay. On p. 128 she says, “I came to New York to see New York and isn’t nobody going to stop me.” Would you have ignored Bonnie’s bad attitude, or would you have expressed how annoyed you were with how she was acting? Or, would you perhaps have been angry with Alisha for not getting to know her “friend” better before inviting her? How would you have dealt with such a rude houseguest?
In “Junkyard,” Ray’s father calls his mental illness “one of the greatest experiences of my life” (p. 79). How does this illustrate to his personality before the illness looking back to his success in business and sales?
Katherine Smith
After reading Ray's "Junkyard," what I enjoyed particularly about her style of writing was the vivid imagery and accurate character development present in her narrative. For example, in the beginning of "Junkyard" Ray illustrates her father's physical and psychological attributes, describing him as a man with "prematurely gray hair" (72) and "speech...full of passion and feeling" (72-73). Throughout her narrative, Ray continues to develop her father's character as a kind, passionate, and caring individual. Consequently, the reader feels a sort of personal relationship with Ray's father, leading to increased empathy and catharsis, or a release of emotions, when the audience discovers that her father had acquired a mental illness. In this sense, Ray is particularly effective in establishing pathos, or an appeal to the emotions of the audience.
ReplyDelete1.) Typically, mental illness is not viewed in a poisitive light. However, Ray's father calls it "one of the greatest experiences of [his] life" (79). He then goes on to explain what he learned as a result of his mental illness. Have you experienced a life-changing event that has caused you to see your life from a different perspective? Did the event bring about a newfound respect for things you would have otherwise taken for granted?
2.) At the end of "City of Angels," Sedaris ultimately comes to realize that he is a "clear outsider in a city [he'd] foolishly thought to call [his] own" (131). How did Sedaris' experience with Bonnie contribute to his realization about New York City? Can you think of similar instances that have occurred in your hometown that have made you feel like an "outsider?" If so, share them and explain how they made you feel.
Hmmm, well, I thought that both of the stories or sections of a story were great, both stories really zoned in on a unique feeling or thought. My favorite part in "City of Angels" was the pushing thought of the comparison between Southern and New York City. Each bit was sharply forced upon us, making me feel as if I was there with Alisha, suffering through social taboos.
ReplyDelete1. If the situation was switched in the story "City of Angels" and the visitor from coming from New York City, do you think they would have slammed on so many social taboos? Why or why not?
2. In the Junkyard, what do you think the point of the orphan boy chasing chasing the, author or the voice, around during recess? History or something else?
What I liked best in "City of Angels" was that although the entirety of the excerpt the author is criticizing and questioning the actions taken by Bonnie because she is an outsider, yet in the end he questions whether or not he is the real outsider in a town full of tourists. The last line of the excerpt states;
ReplyDelete"Encircled by her army of angels, she drifted across the avenue to photograph a juggler, while I hobbled off toward home, a clear outsider in a city I'd foolishly though to call my own" (131).
This thought is incredibly captivation because it raises the question; who really makes a city a city? The people who live in it or the people who create the facade or impression that such a city is an honor to be in. I also liked that the author used informal vernacular to emphasize his point when he states;
"when the crowds multiply to Chinese proportions" (128).
I liked this because it is a relief to venture away from more formal methods of writing literature.
1. Mental illness and the methods in which mentally ill people are treated tends to create controversy when debating ethical and moral principles of both. In "Junkyard" the authors father says;
"I have nothing but praise for the state of Georgia's mental institutions" (80).
Some people view mental health facility's as degrading and a corrupt tool that only serve to drug and censer individuals who think differently and fight the norms of society.
Do you think that people are labeled and diagnosed with mentally illness far too often? And if so do you think that a person should be ordered and forced into taking medication they do not want if they are not a danger to themselves or others? After all it was not uncommon for woman during the 19th century to be hospitalized by their husbands for being "Mentally ill" when they would not comply with the demands of their husbands. Is this system still abused today in a more delicate manner?
2. In the story "City of Angels" Bonnie is continually rude and ignores the advice given to her by the narrator. The narrator is mostly right in what he says but is also used to living in a city where "It was a standard thirty-dollar fare from Kennedy Airport to any destination in Manhattan" (127). After he warns Bonnie that she might want to dress nicer for the trip to the Plaza Hotel, she decided to go out dressed like a farm-hand any ways. The narrator is shocked to see that other people are dressed just as informally as she is. After reading the story, do you think that it might be possible that the narrators view of the situation was slanted, making seem like she was the wise patron when really she just views herself as better educated about the New York culture. If Bonnie told the story do you think she would have had a different perspective.
1. I really enjoyed both of the two readings. They both gave me a good understanding of what you are looking for in captivating a certain place and or character that we would like to write about. Both of the short stories were very detailed in the not only physical appearance of the characters but the actions and personalities they embody. Although both authors had different styles of writing they equally pulled you into the story and gave you a real look and understanding of what it would be like to be in their shoes. The descriptive and entertaining stories make them able to relate to and easy to empathize with.
ReplyDelete2. In the "City of Angels" I first saw Bonnie as very annoying and ridiculous not cooperating with anyone and thinking that everyone was treating her less than everyone else. I thought the authors judgmental views were funny and kind of spot on what I was thinking when she says " We should have beaten her to death. It was clearly the best solution to the problem.." (129) Obviously she is being sarcastic which is what I liked about it because I am very sarcastic as well. However, after realizing all of the flaws and stubborn characteristics of Bonnie the author starts to realize that she is getting along with most of the people around her in what she considers to be her own city and hometown and now she is starting to feel like the real "outsider". In the last sentence she says "..a clear outsider in a city I foolishly thought to call my own" What does the author mean by this statement? Is she an outsider because she has lives there everyday and is not excited about the same beauties and tourist spots as maybe she once was in her life?
I also really enjoyed the "Junkyard". The author does a great job describing her father as a very bright charismatic gentlemen. He was easy to like by the stories she told. I thought it was cute how he use to give out coins for the children answering the question. He would say "I've got a question for somebody," he'd say at the dinner table" "its worth a nickel. Who can tell me the name of Robert E. Lee's Horse" (77)I thought it was amazing that he was so intelligent and willing to make sure his kids were well educated even though he didn't even finish high school. There are some people that don't finish high school however, are still driven to do better in life although there are also many people who don't finish high school and don't do anything with more than work a minimum wage job. What do you think the deciding factor is in a person when they motivate themselves in doing more than what statistics might say they will be able to do?
After reading both the Sedaris and Ray essays, I'd have to say that what I liked best was the good character development in both stories. By mainly focusing on the father in "Junkyard" , the author gives you a clear idea of what this man was like. The writing concentrated on his mental strengths for most of the story. You felt as though you truly got to know the character in only a few pages from the many stories the author described. It came to a surprise when the author revealed that her father had eventually developed a mental illness. However, I liked how the chapter was concluded with a letter from him describing how he believed it to be a blessing in disguise and how he actually learned a lot from the world from his experiences with his illness. It showed that people can overcome great complications in their life and still have an optimistic outlook.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Questions:
1.) In "Junkyard", why do you think that the main focus is on the mental strengths of the father? How come the essay only begins to turn it's focus onto the fact that he developed mental illness near the end? (pg. 77) Is it maybe because that way you can see how it deeply effected his children?
2.) In "City of Angels", why do you think Bonnie seemed to be angry and irritated throughout the story? Do you think it is because New York isn't what she expected to be, that she wasn't getting the experience she wanted? Do you think it had something to do with the fact that she had never left North Carolina and had no other way of dealing with change? Why do you think she only began to seem happy when she went to the tourist hot spots?
I thought both reading were good. They were both two different styles of writing even though they are both talking about people who they know/are acquaintances of. One was just written talking highly of someone and the other was talking negatively about someone. However i found that "Junkyard" was a little more pleasing to me than "City of Angels". The reason being is that after a while i despised Bonnie for Greensboro NC. I just felt that she was way too selfish and I too thought that the best solution to her ( the problem) was to beat her to death.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part in "Junkyard" had to have been the ending letter that the writer received from her father. I thought it summed a place of happiness and relaxation for the old man, after a life of long hard work.
To my surprise my favorite part of the story "City of Angels" was the end as well. I just thought it was ironic that this woman who seemed like she was having an awful time in the big apple found a places where she would feel right at home. She found the places where New Yorkers desperately try to avoid.
Why do you think the old man in the "Junkyard" called his mental illness his greatest experience in his life? What happened to the junkyard and his passion?
For "City of Angels" Why do you think that Bonnie felt like an outsider everywhere else besides the places at the end of the story? You can find those same people everywhere in NYC
These were both rather interesting stories. The first one I read was the Ray essay. One aspect I liked best about the story was how she talked about mental illness, the problems associated with it, and her own concern and fear about it. I particularly liked it because I have thought about this sort of thing before. I believe that a person is their brain, a person is their mind. Everything that defines or explains a person resides in their mind. It is their identity. As in the story, once you part with your mind, you are but a body.
ReplyDelete"For the first time I knew the two of them could be separate." She is talking about the separation of her fathers mind with his body.
When she talked about how afraid she was that this could happen to her, I could relate. Something like this could happen to anyone. It is scary to think that tomorrow I could wake up and something could have happened in the night where I changed. I could wake up and it could not be me. It would be my body, but it would not be my mind. One can look to Friedrich Nietzsche as an example. One of the greatest minds and critical thinkers ever succumbed to mental illness. If that can happen to someone like that, it can happen to anyone.
The second reading, the Sedaris essay, was entertaining. I found humor in the close-mindedness and ignorance of Betty.
I liked the quote "I expect to be treated like an American." It highlights the sense of entitlement and privilege that far too many people expect. Too many people lack humility.
1. In the Ray essay, her father advises her to fear not. Do you or do you not you think that this is good advice? Not just for the author, but in your everyday life.
2. In the Sedaris essay, Bonnie came to New York with a closed mind and negative attitude. Do you think her actions were justified? What type of attitude do you think that someone visiting a new place should have? Can this apply to everyday life? Examples could be small to big. Like trying a new coffee shop in town to visiting a new country. Is it good sometimes to disregard your inhibitions?
-Chris
As I read the two stories, I thought they both were very interesting. I enjoyed reading both stories but I preferred "Junkyard" over "City of Angels". Bonnie from Greensboro just seemed very stuck up. She seemed to have no manners, and just seemed to ignore people if she didn't like them. In the other story, it shows a great example of a loving family. You have a son that looks up to his father and his mother. I have a great deal of respect for the father because it seemed like he had a tough road, but was able to work hard and have a great amount of success. I thought both of the readings proved great points, as well as got the reader interested in the subjects and points they were trying to prove.
ReplyDeleteIn the "Junkyard" story, it talks about the father not really having the greatest education, but rather learning on the fly and from his father. What are some advantages and disadvantages of this way of learning? The father also seemed to have a drive about him that he wouldn't take no for an answer. Is this a trait you develop over time? Or might it be something you are taught by say your father?
In the "City of Angels" story, Bonnie is very stuck up, and seems to not get along with anyone until she meets some people she considers her own in the city. Why might she feel this way towards people she has never met? Do you think it deals with the fact that she has never left Greensboro and they are the only ones she respects? It seems like she had her mind made up when talking about the type of person she would be able to get along with.
1. I was really happy when "City of Angels" progressed in essentially the exact direction I wanted it to go. The more Bonnie explored what she considered to be the "real" New York, the more it seemed like it wasn't New York at all. This is the same feeling I got the one and only time I've visited the place; I didn't feel like I'd actually been there until I went to some random bar show in Brooklyn. Sure, I felt like everyone was staring at me because I wasn't wearing a scarf in the middle of August, but according to this essay, that's the Real New York.
ReplyDelete"Junkyard" also had a satisfying progression, although I feel its themes were not executed as well. However, "Junkyard" has much superior character development, in that there *is* character development. In a few pages, we're relayed the entire life story of a character whose name we never learn. We get a feel for his drives, passions, talents, and even his attitude toward death as he comes to his final moments. While I do think the insanity and ensuing death came a little quickly, it is still impressive that I obtained such a thorough understanding of this character in ten short pages.
2. Discussion:
i. In "City of Angels", both Bonnie and the narrator seem to be, for a lack of a better word, assholes. Bonnie wants nothing but to be treated exactly the way she wants and is convinced that everyone in New York is out to get her. Conversely, the narrator seems to think that Bonnie is a naive, stubborn, and ultimately self-important charicature of the non-New Yorker. Both of these points of view believe the other to be at fault. Who is correct? Bonnie, the narrator, both, or neither? Do you think this dichotomy --or lack thereof-- was deliberate?
ii. In "Junkyard", barely any information is given about the narrator. In fact, until page 77, we're not even sure of their gender. Clearly this story is not about the narrator, but the father. How is the story of this man improved by being told from the perspective of his anonymous offspring?
I personally found both short narratives to be pleasant in terms of their logos and both authors' established pathos. However, I found that I harvested a deeper connection to Sedaris' "City of Angels." His descriptions of Bonnie, characterizing her as the worst kind of tourist, made me laugh a few times. Sedaris’ portrayal of Bonnie and Alisha made them mentally visible in my mind, establishing great pathos. I also found it entertaining the ways in which the author feels he is setting up Bonnie for certain humiliation only to find himself humiliated. I too have conjured these feelings when traveling with friends abroad; electing myself as some sort of local, only to find that my touristy friends fit in more comfortably than myself.
ReplyDeleteI found the essay "Junkyard" to be quite enlightening as well. Ray's own logos gives the essay a very personal touch which I found rather relaxing somehow. I found it very interesting the way she described her father beginning to end. She talks of him in a soft and gentle, reverend voice; even when he is acting strangely. In my eyes I found the most interesting part of the whole essay to be the last few paragraphs in which the author includes a letter her father had written describing his own view of his mental disorder. I believe we can all learn something from this letter. Whether it be humility, courage, or understanding; life is one big experience that no one should take for granted.
Discussion
1) In the Sedaris essay "City of Angels" Bonnie is viewed as a nagging, high horsed southern woman, and a bitch to travel with. However the author's friend Alisha is portrayed as an easy going, relaxed individual who is rather pleasant to be around with. Due to my own experiences with people who shouldn't be allowed to travel, I found myself hurting for Alisha being dragged all across NYC by Bonnie. Have you ever traveled with someone you thought to be enjoyable, only later to find that you'd made a horrible lapse in judgment? Who do you think held the best frame of mind throughout the essay; Alisha, Bonnie, or Sedaris?
2) In Ray's "Junkyard" I found her descriptions of her father rather odd when I discovered that he had become mentally ill when she was only in the first grade (77-79). I was surprised that despite only knowing her father as a sane man for such a short time in her life, she still held such a positive outlook concerning her father. I also found it interesting that she doesn't talk about how her father's illness affected her or the rest of the family. Why do you think this is? Has anyone you've loved ever been stricken with a mental illness? If so, how did it affect you and your family? What mental illness might Ray's father have been suffering/ enlightened by?
As I read through the "Junkyard" story I find myself feeling much admiration for Charlie, the father. He seemed to be brought up as a simple man who is more than willing to learn on the fly and is extremely persistent when trying to finish a problem/job. I love that fact that Charlie started out with 'just enough to get by' and turned a hobby into a successful business for him and his family. He showed that he is an innovator and great provider for his family. A great quality I saw in Charlie was that he was able to turn a bad situation (mental illness) and twist the perspective of this illness into a positive one. Most people become overwhelmed with the title as "mentally ill" but Charlie embraced it and explained it through his faith. He described it as more of a blessing than a negative occurence. Charlie just seems to be an overall, good guy.
ReplyDeleteIn the "Junkyard" story it briefly describes Lee Ada, the mother, but it states that Charlie often calls her 'Cook' (74) as a nickname. Why do you think Charlie calls her this and what kind of relationship do you think exists between Charlie and his wife (good, bad, affectionate, emotionally seperated, etc.)?
Throughout the entire "City of Angels" story the author described Bonnie as an arrogant and self-absorbed individual who does not belong in New York City, but at the end of the story the author states, "...a clear outsider in a city, I foolishly thought to call my own." Why do you think she says this and what does she mean by this?
1. My favorite essay of the two was the story about Rays Junkyard. The fact that someone, especially a father, can be perfectly normal one moment and then experience a mental breakdown that quickly is saddening. The part I like the most, however, was the letter he wrote at the end of the chapter. It was great to see that someone can look at a poor situation and be so optimistic about, something I think a lot of people have a hard time doing.
ReplyDelete2. In the Sedaris reading, what did Bonnie mean by saying, "I expect to be treated like an American," even though she was in still in New York City?
Do you think her attitude is fair to "new yorkers," who seem to be doing a fine job accomodating her needs anyways?
1.In the Sedaris essay, City of Angels, I found the line on page 129 pretty humorous. “We should have beaten her to death. It was clearly the best solution to the problem.” Both the author and Alisha have had enough of Bonnie despite trying their very best to please the woman from Greensboro. Sedaris builds up a great case against the non-New Yorker that she doesn’t belong in the big apple but then ends up finding consolation and belonging in the other non-New Yorkers who are exactly like her visiting New York.
ReplyDelete2.In “Junkyard” Ray talks about how Charlie could fix anything and would be able to convince car owners to sell their coveted cars. Why does Ray spend seven pages building up these facts about how handy and determined the father is before mentioning his mental illness? Does this seem to diminish the father’s mental illness or strengthen his determination?
In “City of Angels” Alisha introduces Bonnie as a sweet person. Would you agree or disagree with her judge of character? Why? How would you describe Bonnie?
Rays Junkyard was the reading I enjoyed the most. Charlie was a character that was very likeable because of his work ethic and determination. He did was he had to do to support his family. All this made him coming down with his mental disorder even sadder. Through all the adversity Charlie still keeps his head up and his spirits high, and that is the coolest part about him. Most people in the same situation would not react the same.
ReplyDeleteIn the Ray reading, the author says "Curtis Hamilton was one of Daddy's few friends, probably because he was older and earned the respect mandated elders in the Bible and because his high IQ approached Daddy's own," what does this say about Charlie as a person and as a judge of character?
In the Sedaris reading, do you think the author is putting a reason behind the city's rudeness to and non-acceptance of outsiders when it's described as "a city founded on the principle of Us versus Them"?
1) In the short story the "Junkyard," I really enjoyed the fact that Charlie didn't have much and loved life. He loved what he did and did not even graduate from high school. He turned something he loved doing, into a business where he wanted to make lots of money. The letter at the end of the story was really interesting. I liked the fact that he was trying to tell his daughter that being crazy was not a terrible outcome and it really opened up is views of the world.
ReplyDelete2) In the "Junkyard," Charlie was trying to emphasize that a "mental illness" was not a bad thing. If you were his child, after reading the letter would you be scared to come down with a mental illness like Charlie? Why or why not?
In the "City of Angels" why do you think Bonnie thought everyone in New York was going to rip her off? Do you think this is a sterotype people have on New York?
I really enjoyed the character development in both of these short stories. After only the second paragraph in “City of Angels” I felt as if I understood Alisha’s character perfectly. I wish I had gotten to know Alisha a little better, I immediately felt as if she was a character I would have been able to relate to. The fifth paragraph introducing Bonnie was literally two sentences yet it gave me a wonderful image of exactly who Bonnie was. My favorite part of Bonnie’s description was, “She had a pronounced Greensboro accent and had landed at Kennedy convinced that, given half a chance, the people of New York would steal her fillings right out of her mouth- and she was not about to let that happen.” This sentence provides us readers with so much information about Bennie’s character, showing us exactly how this skeptical traveler felt about the city she was visiting. Even though I vaguely got to know her, I felt bad for the narrator by the end of this short story, she clearly felt defeated and unsure of the place she was originally glad to call her home. Though the narrator is talking about other people the entire time, you feel like you know her well by the end of the passage.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that my favorite part of “Junkyard” was the character development as well. Through out this story you get a great sense not only Charlie’s character, but also the relationship between father and son. The narrator never once talks about the relationship he had with his father, yet you can see how much his son respects and looks up to his father through his writing. You can tell that this family is a little rough around the edges, however you grow to admire them owing to the sense of pride is packed throughout the story.
“City of Angels” begins by introducing Alisha, a friend of the narrator. However her presence in the story tapers off as the stories focus changes to Bonnie. Why do you think the author felt it was necessary to begin by introducing Alisha with such detail when she was such a minor character in this story? Do you think that including Alisha in more of the story would have lessened the impact of Bonnie’s character?
In “Junkyard” Charley is portrayed to be a reputable man. However, during the story we learn that Charley refers to his wife as Cook, “ ‘Cook’ was what he called Mama, affectionately intended;” Though the nickname seems somewhat offensive, the author assures us that it is not. Do you think that the author included this piece in order to provide more information on Charley’s personality? What kind of impression does this leave you with about Charley and his family?