Student Blogs

This week’s reading was one of the better reads I’ve had, where “Black Shack Alley” by Zobel is a story about figuring out who you are and where you fit in. The main character, José, goes on to understand himself and the world around him. Right from the start, José feels pressure to do well […] read full post >>

This book was an easy read, although it was slow. The story is told from the perspective of a child who is first protected by the shield of his childlike innocence. It depicts a time when slavery had been abolished, but they were still forced to work under the same conditions. The book was delightful […] read full post >>

“For many days afterward I felt alone, completely isolated. I felt I should be like the great river, crossing the land, cutting through the rocks, undetainably and serenely flowing through mountains and forests, and entering the sea accompanied by a huge nation of birds that sang from the heavens” (63) This novel digs deep into […] read full post >>

Black shack alley by Zobel is like any other coming of age novel but, it is in a “post colonial” evolving world. I didn’t like Black Shack Alley as much as the rest of the books we’ve read so far but I believe that is fully just because of my taste in books, not at … read full post >>

José María Arguedas’ novel “Deep Rivers” explores Peruvian identity through indigenous culture, colonial heritage, and nature. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Ernesto, the author tells a story about the search for belonging. We follow a story that is both turbulent and calm, like the rivers that flow through the pages of the book. Between Two Worlds […] read full post >>

I was intimidated by the book before actually reading the book, since it doubled the length than the book read before this week. I was unconfident to even finish the book in time. However, [Deep Rivers] was, in my opinion, way easier to understand compare to the first few books previously read. Following the easiness […] read full post >>

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact it might even be my favourite book that we’ve read so far. The storytelling and imagery was done beautifully in the novel and I felt like it was the most realistic and relatable read so far.” It made me truly appreciate the resources and privilege I had growing up cause damnnn […] read full post >>

Joseph Zobel’s Black Shack Alley was an incredibly moving and eye-opening story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Zobel does a really good job at eliciting emotions throughout the book as I felt myself becoming more and more attached to the story … Continue reading → read full post >>

“The Green Door” 1981 by Lois Mailou Jones. Beautiful painting like c’mon? “It is those who are blind and those who block their ears that I must shout.” (Zobel, pg 182) Where do I even begin? To start, amongst all the books thus far, I feel I have been the most moved by this one. […] read full post >>

Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley” was an amazing read. Following the life of José we see his slow innocent realization of poverty and the world he was born into. José represents the numerous challenges and discrimination due to his race and socioeconomic status, but José is determined to improve his circumstances. I really liked how this text went into great detail about the interactions and memories of José’s childhood. Through this, José unfolds his memories but also depicts his shifted perspective of his reality. One theme that I really appreciated in...read more read full post >>

“Long was my sorrow” (147)  This phrase echoed my feelings as I delved into Zobel’s grabbing narrative of injustice and resilience within the confines of Black Shack Alley. This piece intricately weaves together the lives of its characters, immersing me into a world where inequality and tragedy thrive, and many are left behind. Although I […] read full post >>

“Deep Rivers,” through the perspective of Ernesto, vividly portrays the coming-of-age journey of a young boy, intricately interweaving themes of culture, identity, social justice, and the beauty of nature. Some stories, whether fiction or non-fiction, may not present significant ups and downs when read. Arguedas utilizes Ernesto’s viewpoint to narrate the entire story, rendering the […] read full post >>

Joseph Zobel's "Black Shack Alley," originally the French work "La Rue Cases-Nègres," translated into English by Keith Q. Warner, offers readers a deep insight into the harsh realities of post-slavery Martinique through the eyes of its protagonist, Jo... read full post >>

Joseph Zobel's "Black Shack Alley," originally the French work "La Rue Cases-Nègres," translated into English by Keith Q. Warner, offers readers a deep insight into the harsh realities of post-slavery Martinique through the eyes of its protagonist, Jo... read full post >>

I enjoyed Zobel's "Black Shack Alley" very much. At first, I was a little intimidated by the number of pages, but once I started reading, I was glued to it. It is definitely one of my favourites so far. Not only does it raise awareness, but it is told ... read full post >>