Reading Response Week 9

This is in response to Florida Lives by Dionne Irving. When I first read this piece the first thing that jumped out at me was some of her descriptions. For example on page 94 when she is describing the smell of the house as “like mold, was perfect”, I reread the sentence over and over. It reminded me of the calisthenic on unexpected language. This strategy of using unexpected and quirky language continues throughout the piece. Also I love the portion when she is making the list on the food she is describes as exotic. The second time I read it at a slower pace and I began to notice how she used the quirkiness to show the speakers true self. After all, what person calls meatloaf exotic? Throughout this piece I feel as if I were lost in the couple’s world, as if I were witnessing the antics of the Fletchers or belly-aching over the less than tasteful shirts of Crystal. While this is a longer piece compared to others we have read it reminds me of I am 21, in that every action of the characters and those around help to reveal another aspect of their nature and the way they think.