COMMENT: choose a moment in the book that has a particular meaning for you, either because it evoked a strong emotional response, or because it contained a piece of information about the past / human condition, or because it reminded you of something close and personal.
Do not repeat episodes that have already been mentioned: choose an original one.
It's best if it is a SMALL thing, a detail rather than a major mother-scene.
REPLY: choose one or more comments that also have meaning for you.
One moment in the book that was meaningful to me, was when Angelo described getting caught under the storm with his mother. I had emotional connection to this part because it reminded me of a story that my mother once told me when she was little, and it has stayed with me every since. She was the oldest of 7 children. Her grandmother lived quite a distance away from my mothers house. She was told to go leave a pot to her grandmother, she had to travel through a savannah/ hills of land to get there, but there was a small river she had to cross. On her way back, it started to storm, and while crossing the river, she slipped and cut herself on a rock. This memory of my mother came to mind when reading this part in the book.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading all the scenes with Pascal and his mother. Their relationship touched my heart and every time he mentions his mother, I think of mine.
DeleteOne moment in the book that had meaning for me was the very last sentence of the book, “… the tributes of my fellow workers who recognized that at last one of them had risen from the ditches and quicksands of toil to speak his heart to the upper world.” Every one thought he was crazy to stay in America and follow his dream. No one understood why he would not just stay at one of the physical labor jobs that he had. I now look up to Pascal D’Angelo, he is a perfect example of never give up and that hard work will eventually pay off, you just need to go out and look for it. It just made me genuinely happy that after all Pascal went through he was able to push through all of the hard times and become as successful as he is now.
ReplyDeleteThe defining moment of the book for me came in Pascal's decision to remain in America when his father resigned to return to Italy. Though he faced poverty, discrimination, and a gnawing sense of hopelessness, Pascal held strong to his determination and dream of obtaining a better life for himself in America, even if it meant leaving his family behind.
ReplyDeleteI found this scene special because I was able to see MYSELF in it; I will be taking a job after graduation that requires me to move miles away from much of my family/friends and the only life I've ever known, but I look past that negative to focus on the hope and determination I hold in acquiring a good career and fulfilling life for myself, much like Pascal does in this scene and the narrative as a whole.
Brandon,
DeleteI also thought this moment was very special. I admired his determination and courage to stay in a country which up until that point had treated him horribly.
this moment also was meaningful for me, not giving up your dreams and work towards them no matter how hard it is.
DeleteA moment in Son of Italy that had meaning to me was on page 80 when Pascal said "I thought of how lovely yet repulsive this enchanting city was." This line reminded me of stories my grandmother told me of when she first came to America. She described New York City in a similar way, saying she was petrified yet in awe at the same time. I can't imagine how terrifying it most have been to move to another country where you do not speak the language or know many people. It makes me have the utmost admiration for those who had the courage to come to this country for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteGabriella, I do recall Pascal writing about this moment in the book. I feel as though people still feel this way when moving to a new city or country. Packing up and leaving your home to come to somewhere you are unfamiliar with must be so terrifying.
DeleteA moment in the book that had a particular meaning for me was when Pascal decided to go to America and he was spending the last hours with his mother and other family members. I personally felt connected to this scene because a couple years ago, I moved to a different country and left my entire family. We had a family gathering a few days before my trip and it was nice to see everyone before I left. I was moving to get married and spend the year in Jordan. Like Pascal, it was hard to leave my mother. That is why I felt personally connected to this scene.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion 17
ReplyDeleteOne moment in the book that really was meaningful for me was in page 156 last paragraph. It was time when Pascal was trying to find any magazine who would print his poems, with no money and nothing to eat. He said “I had faith in myself. Without realizing it, I had learned great lesson of America: I had learned to have faith in the future.” This moment really was meaningful for me because as an immigrant myself I also had a lot of difficulties and sometimes sill have them and no matter what happens to me I know that it is worst it. No matter how hard is it for me right now I need to be patient and in the future it will turnout in a good way. I also learned that in America. I learned to be patient and work hard no matter what to my future goals.