Student Blogs

Viewing the world through the lens of the novel’s central character, Natalia, Mercè Rodoreda intricately delves into themes of poverty, despair, and the fragile intricacies of human existence. Rodoreda crafts a profoundly moving narrative, with readers confronting the challenging truths encountered by those navigating displacement, scarcity, and the erosion of self. Rodoreda skillfully employs imagery […] read full post >>

The Time of the Doves tells the story of the two marriages of the heroine, Natalia, living in the period of Spanish Civil War, when she first meets and falls in love with Quimet in the square. But their married life was not a prosperous one, and to make matters worse, Ouimet enlisted in the […] read full post >>

The novel ‘The Time of the Doves’ by Merce Rodoreda, portrays the story of a young woman who was engaged to Pere at first but then it showcases how her life turned out to be when a man named Quimet asked her to dance with her at the Placa Del Diamant and told her that […] read full post >>

I believe that “The Time of the Doves” by Mercé Rodoreda is a story about how women grow in turbulent times. I must admit that Natalia is a very vivid character. Vividness also implies that she is not perfect; she has some flaws that initially made me dislike her. As someone from the present era, […] read full post >>

Wow! This book was so heartwrenching but amazing! the character-building and descriptions were truly encapsulating. Natalia’s life was so beautifully captured, and I felt so immersed in the story. I’ll admit at the beginning I was not into the book that much because of Quimet and how much I disliked him. I was upset at […] read full post >>

Yet again another woman with a troubling life, by the social circumstances given by the men in her life. A book called “The Time of the Doves” by Mercè Rodoreda. The main character, Natalia starts off by working at a pastry shop and is persuaded by her friend Julieta to go to an event. That […] read full post >>

Entering the world of ‘The Time of the Doves’ by Merce Rodoreda was like stepping onto a rollercoaster of emotions, navigating the already difficult life of Natalia, turned upside-down due to the Spanish Civil War. This literary journey becomes a captivating search for identity, belongingness, growth, and transformation. Natalia’s alienation From the beginning we can […] read full post >>

 This was a very difficult read this week. I don't know if it was the midterm stress or the context or length of the book in general, but I had difficulty grasping the nuances of Deep Rivers. However, I found the writing style flowed in a way that... read full post >>

 This was a very difficult read this week. I don't know if it was the midterm stress or the context or length of the book in general, but I had difficulty grasping the nuances of Deep Rivers. However, I found the writing style flowed in a way that... read full post >>

Surprise surprise… today I will be discussing yet another coming of age story. José María Arguedas’s “Deep Rivers” is a journey through the heart of Peru and through finding a sense of belonging. For this blog post I’m focusing on the dynamics of the setting, because I’m getting a little bored of talking only about […] read full post >>

Impression   This week’s reading on Black Shack Alley covers underlying themes including slavery, poverty, violence, trauma, and colonialism. Readings of some of the descriptive writings illustrating the violence and infliction of pain such as the bruising instilled disheartening images to me as I read. The themes in this book are much more serious than […] read full post >>

Deep Rivers by José María Arguedas.   This week’s read was definitely a ride for me. I don’t think I’ve ever looked up words or referred to the footnote this much when reading a book, but it was fascinating reading about the culture, their language, and the nature of the Andean people. I really liked […] read full post >>

Going from Agostino to Black Shack Alley, I think I can appreciate that the latter really allows the reader to experience life as a child should, with elements of innocence and naivety despite the harsh circumstances that surround Jose. Although both books feature a young boy journeying through adolescence, I think I’m able to connect … Continue reading Thoughts on Black Shack Alley read full post >>

As I was reading through Joseph Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley”, I found myself immersed in a world that was both familiar and foreign. The novel, set in early 20th century Martinique, follows the life of José, a young boy grappling with the realities of post-colonial life which is greatly different from my life. However, his […] read full post >>

Hi everyone, this week I read “Black Shack Alley” by Joseph Zobel. The story follows José, who starts out living in Black Shack Alley, as he grows up with his grandmother M’man Tine. I found this book harder to get through than the other readings. Acce... read full post >>