ClubPatel's Journal #2

Dear Readers,

          Oh was it hard for me to read these past couple of days… I had gone on a trip to Montreal to meet some family and whatever time I had alone or where no one was talking I took my book and started to read. I got through chapter nine through nineteen and what a journey that was. Part 2 of our reading assignment started off with Novalee in the hospital surrounded by many reporters asking questions. During her resting time she met with Sam Walton the owner all Wal-Marts and had offered Novalee a job. I really enjoyed this act of kindness because Novalee does not have a job and this would really help her on the long run; help pay for expenses for Americus and to help out Sister Husband.

          It really confuses me when people around the states, people she had never met before in her life give Novalee money. I just don’t understand why they would send money through mail, like how would they know that Novalee had a list of things she had to repay the owner for all the materials/necessities she had used. Also, the part where Novalee was climbing the so called mountain, it confused me when she saw Benny Goodluck… I’m confused because I thought Benny was with his father and had a home but instead he is running around naked on top of a hill? I think that this part confused me more than people sending Novalee money.

          Other than confusion, it really bored me during chapter 11 when Novalee finds the place she is going to stay in. Basically the whole chapter was of Novalee settling in her new home and meeting new neighbors. We see a routine of Forney always coming after closing his library to read classic books to Americus. The only part that had got me excited was when Willy Jack had arrived in prison and had a heart attack. This literally had me at the edge of the couch when I was reading because his heart had just randomly stopped beating. I personally do not like this character and I wished at the moment that he would have died but when he felt his heart beat again I felt a sudden disappointment.

          There is one value that I find hilarious because I think I relate to it very well and it’s something that Sister Husband lives off of when it comes to buying things. “Never act like you want it, darlin’. Act like you wouldn’t own it if they paid you. Tell them it’s dirty, broken… a useless thing. Then make an offer.” –page153. Over here Sister Husband is telling Novalee to bargain for the things she desires. It is very clear that they are very poor but can still get what they want the most if they bargain nicely.

           At the end of chapter 19, for me was a major cliff hanger and I just wanted to keep reading. I did indeed keep reading after that, to find out what had happen of course.  The chapter ended with Novalee coming back from her search for a Christmas tree with Forney to Sister Husband telling her “Americus is gone.”