COMMENT
Select a BRIEF quote from the second part of the book (past page 60).
Choose something that made a particularly deep impression on you and summarizes ONE of the larger themes of the book.
Explain the reason of your choice.
REPLY
When you read in the comments something YOU wish you had found first, tell the author. Maybe you would have given it a different interpretation. Explain the how and why of your reply.
The most memorable quote in the book for me is "Papa is in Paradise...watching..." on page 33. The reason why I was so impressed was that Paul, who is the oldest son, tried to comfort his mother because she was suffering from nightmare. Also, Paradise sounds like heaven to me personally, and the writer tried to use metaphor.
ReplyDeleteThe quote is chapter 3, "job" part. That part is about his mother, who grieved the loss of her husband after the accident and misses him and her oldest son, Paul, tries to cheer her up.
I would have picked this quote too. Paul have this idea in his head that his father is still with them in spirit. I feel like this gave him the courage or the push to take on the role of his father in the family.
DeleteThe quote "Girls were creatures referred to in many ways that he did not understand. He always saw them at a distance, and above him, for God made them finer and gentler and sweeter than he and the other boys" on page 120 was one of the parts that made an impression on me while I was reading the book. Not because it had the emotional weight of the other quotes that I remember, but just because it made me think about the women in Paul's life and how the men had referred to them.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in the book, Paul develops a crush on Gloria and thinks about all the ways he's heard women spoken about. He saw his mother's weakness after the loss of his father and how he had to step in. Everyone refers to Cola as "big titted," and it seems like none of the men have ever discussed their wives without mentioning sex in the conversation. I feel like it discusses the theme of the role of women during this time, and how they are seen by Paul and the people around him, even if it's not overtly mentioned.
The quote that struck out to me was when Louis told Paul that there's no God. At that moment Paul felt very confused because his whole life his family taught him about faith and he just went to the cripple and spoke to Geremio so at that point his faith started fading away.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite quotes in the book, but I don't think his faith is fading away, I just think he feels like the experience with the psychic proved that faith in a divine power can just be an attempt to make a random world less random.
Delete"When he finally opened the envelope he saw one papery five-dollar bill. He ran through Job and came out the back way-to walk home alone. Why why why why? had they given him only five dollars? What could mother Annunziata and the children do with five dollars? What had he failed to do?" (pg. 86)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stuck out to me the most because I could feel his pain, almost. We, as the reader, follow Paul to walking around the city trying to find food and then trying to get a job as a bricklayer. After all his hard work and blistered hands, he finally gets the job and does it well, only to find out that he won't get paid as much as the other. Over the next week, those five dollars, between 9 people, wouldn't last. And after all his hard work, he wouldn't have anything to show for it.
"He was older than all those children of his own age. He was a bricklayer. He was the father of his father's family." (p. 120)
ReplyDeleteThis quote really made a lasting impression upon me, not only because of the ironic and nonsensical way in which it uses language, but for how it encompasses the larger theme of the book. In this quote, di Donato relies heavily upon the usage of oxymoron to relay the message he intends to send. For someone to be older than another who shares the same age [in years since birth] means only that they have lived more, or rather have lived a more intense life. Furthermore, to say that Paul was the father of his father's family was another brilliant way of communicating the unnatural (or non-traditional) way in which Paul's life was changed by the death of his own father. I absolutely loved the way in which di Donato uses contradiction in language to forcefully yet gracefully convey how Paul (as a 12 year old) was older than other 12 year olds by virtue of what his assumed responsibility was to his family; Paul truly does become the patriarch to the family of his own father.
Beyond the wonderful and playful way in which this quote really grabbed my attention, I chose it because I believe that it encapsulates the story of "Christ in Concrete." For a boy the age of 12 to be thrust into a situation of providing for seven (7!) siblings and his mother is as out-of-sorts as the language used to depict the life itself. Paul IS older than other children his age, then and forever, while becoming the head of a family which he was born into (rather than fathering himself).
"Paul was curious about the Jewish family on the opposite side of the shaft. He watched them each night before going to bed. The old father prayed, the old mother made tea, the husky brother sorted his newspapers, and the somber boy with the shaved head studied profoundly"(p. 121)
ReplyDeleteThis quote had an immediate impression on me as soon as I read it. The way I understood this was Paul looking at what appeared to him to be a "real" or "complete" family. After losing his father, Paul was the adopted father of the family and I think he struggled with this greatly.
Aside from my personal opinion about why this quote was so important, to me it also explains one of the largest aspects of the book itself, which is family. Specifically about how Paul a young boy when his father is taken from him, has to work harder and grow up faster then other kids his age.
I agree with your point about Family because I did notice that too. Especially when Pauls mother physically beat him but soon after that they were together. I like the fact that despite his disagreement with his mother he still cared about her.
DeleteOne brief quote that caught my attention was the line, on page 82, that reads, "It was war for living, and Paul was a soldier." This specific line from my perspective shows reflects the theme of survival that is ongoing throughout this book. They have to struggle against many difficult challenges such as injustice towards their heritage of being an Italian. They have to survive against the natural elements such as the cold. All these tribulations is what I view as the "War" and how Paul (Since I believe he is the main protagonist) is battling against theses elements (Physical and social) to support his family which is the burden he didn't ask for.
ReplyDeleteThere was another Quote on page 214 that truly did catch my attention. This quote states, "HIs father rolls up his coatsleeves and quietly begins laying bricks. Paul tries to lay bricks with him but finds his trowel is very heavy, the handle is hardly big enough to grasp, and the mortar will not stick to the trowel. He struggles to keep up with his father but the bricks fall from his fingers and will not lay straight. Fear swathes him." I saw about two meanings from these words. One was how Paul had foreshadowed of his own life and how in this moment he must have felt as if he was witnessing his own death because he was following his fathers path (experiencing the exact same end as his father. Like deja vu). The second analysis I extracted was how Paul couldn't keep up with his father and so meaning he felt he was not meant to follow in his fathers foot steps. I'm referring to the part when he was trying to keep up with his father laying bricks.
Overall I feel as If that this is a crucial moment in Paul's life that represented "visually" (or very extremity written with clear details) of how he was feeling. The struggle, pain, and fear he saw when he analyzed the trajectory of his own life. This moment I feel and assume everyone must have gone through a moment like this, which is why it can be relocatable. I don't mean exactly like this but just the part where he figures out what he wants from his own life.
the quote that catch my attention was o god you have heard me- i have laid brick!. on page 69. paul felt proud being able to lay brick like his dad, would be able to provide for his family.i thinK for him is was big load on his shoulders trying to find job. then this would be his new job .
ReplyDelete"... Come we who work with our hands can live a thousand centuries, and yet will we have to work."
ReplyDelete(p. 213)
This is said by Nazone and although it may come off as a reason to brush off work to go drinking it also describes the cyclical nature of immigrants who come to work in hard blue collar labor. It is almost nihilistic because it implies that men will forever toil and work much like Geremio and Paul. Geremio died doing the Job, now Paul must take up his mantle. It's almost an omen because Nanzone eventually dies doing the work, which given the aforementioned quote, there will be someone to replace him. Someone will always be there to work and the whole cycle begins again all throughout the centuries.
"Papa's life has been used against me. My toil has been used against me."
ReplyDeleteThis is what Paul said when he was arguing with his mother towards the end of the book, about how unfair life is and questioning God's existence. There were a lot of good quotes from this section. I picked this one in particular because it felt like an overflow of Paul's inner and hidden feelings throughout the book that did not come about only until after he lost a father-figure. He stopped being a kid at 12 years old and took on a role of a man. People expected him to be like his dead father causing him to mold that image in himself. Everyday he struggled to live up to that expectation of others and of himself.
"O God,is it possible that i may work? That I may rebuild father's hands and the home to last forever?"
ReplyDeleteThis quote caught my attention because here is Paul wanting to work and become a bricklayer like his father so that he could support his family. He's asking God would he be able to work like his father and rebuild is home. Lucy thinks he is a fool, but Nazone tells her not to discourage him why shouldn't he learn so that he could provide food for his family. I chose this quote because I think anyone in this situation would question God if they would be able to accomplish something or do something after a tragic event in their life.
This quote is something i would have picked by myself because this quote catches attention because it shows how he was not ready for the big change in his life. He was not ready for the big responsibility and he doubts himself if he could actually do it, fit into his fathers shoes and also he is happy that he can do what his father did which was run the family and support the family.
DeleteRight at the end of the chapter job after the doctor helps ease the strain on Paul's heart. Paul tells his mother that he has had a horrible dream. He says "someone was casing me - like I owed someone a billion dollars and only had a penny." I interpreted this to have two different meanings.
ReplyDeleteThe first is relating to the Job, his bosses are always hounding him to work pushing him to his bodies limits which casues his heart strain. The man chasing him asking for a billion dollars represents the amount of work they want him to accomplish and the penny that he has represents how he is weak and can't handle the Job.
The second relates to his responsibility to his family. He is thrown into the work force at 12 years old because Geremio, the provider, is dead and Paul must take over. This duty has been cast onto him unwillingly, he didn't have a choice. The man chasing him asking for a billion dollars represents the responsibility to his family. The penny he is carrying relates to the low pay that he has been receieving, nearly working himself to death to get pennies. In the dream the penny is all he has to offer and has the family right behind him always going to need more than has can provide.
on Page 68,"O God, you have heard my prayer" This quote connects to how Paul and the characters feel connected to their faith but more importantly "God" Who they cannot distant themselves from because they want help after the death of their father. When Paul knows that he must be a bricklayer in order to support his family, connects to the larger theme of Faith.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletethe quote i choose was on page 88 "you are ill,Luigi but i pain i pain we are with you dear Ci Luigi i am alone terribly alone and i fear i fear i will die... it goes on to talk about god brother brother you will not die. brother brother courage of Christ..., they apply the religious aspect about praying to god and everything will be OK god has all the answers. this is an example of how religion helps people and gives them hope and courage in the book.
ReplyDeletei was thinking about choosing this quote, as Ci Luigi was his family and as his leg had to be amputated he when through such pain as only animals endure. but not only physical pain but mentally too as he wanted to support his sister by working and giving her money.
Delete"I mean they said they have nothing to do with supporting us. Mister Rinaldi, i am the only one who can work for mama and the kids...i must!." pg 71 This quote made an impression me because this made me think how he must have felt when he was looking for a job. He went for help but nobody is willing to him and he is desperate and he will take the risk of being caught just to work as a bricklayer so he can feed his family. He is alone in the world with nobody to hold his hand and guide or somebody who can extend a helping hand.
ReplyDeleteVomit your poison, you miserable bastards” (Di Donato 75). I chose this quote because, instead of giving all Americans an equal opportunity, some remain marginalized without a chance to empower themselves. Instead of helping them out, the country engages in every effort to derail their progress.
ReplyDeletepage#113 "O papa, forgive my tears... For i wrap with joy. And papa... why can't we all be together? we could help...And papa, theres something i want to tell you... When the job fell sown on you i felt every pain." i found this quote very painful as a a child not older than my own little cousin had to go through such devastation and poverty, the only thing Paul felt was that he needed to make ends meet and support his family. Be the pillar that would hold his family together.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had found this quote because It was heartfelt because Paul took on the challenge when his father pass. Not only did he took on the challenge but he wanted everyone around him to be happy, most of all his mother and she supported him throughout the hard time they faced.
DeleteThe quote I chose is on page 76 when Annunziata said "O Thirtieth of March, what have you done to me?". I chose this quote because it was at this time that Annunziata realized what Paul has been doing when he has been going out during the day. It was at this moment that she realized Paul really has taken up the mantle of being the father of his father's house. This of course represents the larger theme of family and poverty. Paul was just a twelve year old boy at this time but with his father gone he saw that he had to step up so his siblings would not starve. Paul would do anything for his family, including growing up much faster than he should have to so that his siblings could have a childhood.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that catches my eye was on page 86“ Brother-brother, you will not died. Brother -brother, courage of Christ…” In that quote you could see the religion aspect. This is a great example that shows how religion have impact on the people in the book and give them hope. It amazes me to see how they had faith in god. They have the confidant that god was going to hear their prayer and come to rescued them. That crying out to god was going to help their prayer to be answer.
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