The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
(pg. 215-230)
One night before the first summer's storm Mattie took Taylor, Estevan and Esperanza to the top of the mountain to watch the storm. She explained that the first summer storm was the start of the Native American New Year. they waited and Watched as the rain gave new life to everything. They danced in the rain and enjoyed the smell in the air. On the way back to the truck they heard small toads croak as loud as the could and then they ran into a rattle snake in a tree. They went around the other way and made their way home.
When Taylor got home something terrible had happened to Turtle while Edna and Mrs. Virgie were watching her. Someone laid hands on Turtle. Taylor was devastated after she had worked so hard to make Turtle feel safe and then this happens. Taylor couldn't eat.
Nothing is what it seems and bad things can happen at anytime and you never know what to expect. Turtle was safe and loved but someone bad messed that up in an instant. No matter how hard Taylor tried to protect Turtle she couldn't sheild her from the world.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Dream Angels
The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
(pg. 203-214)
Lou Ann got a job at the Red Hot Mama's Salsa factory as a packer. She worked the swing shift so she would watch the children until 3pm when she would go to work and wouldn't get home until eleven at night. Through this Lou Ann gained more confidence and one night told Taylor why she was such a "worry wart." She had a dream one night were she was told by what appeared to her to be an angel told her Dwayne Ray would not live to the year 2000. Taylor comforted her by assuring her it was just a dream and telling her how great of a mom she was.
A month later, in June,when Lou Ann had done well in her job and become a manager, a package came from Montana. Angel wanted Lou Ann to come live with her in a yurt and Lou Ann had no clue what to do. Later at work Mattie told Taylor that Estevan and Esperanza might need to be moved to a different safe house or risk deportation.
Just when Lou Ann was starting to stand on her own to feet and gain some self confidence Angel has to send her a package. Id Lou Ann goes to live with him in Montana her confidence will go down the tubes and she'll go back to feeling sorry for herself. Now Estevan and Esperanza are good friends of Taylor, Can she bare to see them go?
Image:
http://www.comments.zingerbugimages.com/Angels/dream_standing_angel.gif
The Bean Trees
The Bean Trees By Barbara Kingsolver
(pg. 190-202)
In the morning Taylor made breakfast for Estevan and sent him on his way. She was thinking of Esperanza and thought she might go see her.
Turtle was much more rumbustious and Dwayne Ray would laugh and watch her play on the sun porch they had turned into a playroom.
That day they were sitting under the dying trees of the arbor in Roosevelt Park when Turtle called out, "Bean trees." Turtle noticed something beautiful about the ugliest tree in the park.
Taylor went to talk to Esperanza though Taylor did all of the talking. Esperanza came close to a smile at one point and ended up crying but Taylor felt she needed to talk to her and tell her she knew about Ismene.
That Wednesday when Taylor got off of work she spotted Lou Ann getting off the bus. When she ca;;ed her over Taylor heard of how the interview went and how terrible the interviewer was. Lou Ann admitted she was jealous of how strong of a person Taylor was.
Taylor admits to herself that she is in love with Estevan and does her best to be a friend to him and Esperanza. Lou Ann sees that she is down trodden and wishes she could be more like Taylor. This friendship between Taylor and Lou Ann brings out the best in both of them.
Image:
http://cindyha.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/clematis_052109.jpg?w=470&h=312
Simple Beauty
The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
Page 193-194
Turtle was staring up at the wisteria flowers.
"Beans," she said pointing.
"Bees," I said. "Those things that go buzz are bees."
"They sting," Lou Ann pointed out.
But Turtle shook her head. "Bean trees," she said, as plainly as if she had been thinking about it all day. We looked where she was pointing. Some of the wisteria flowers had gone to seed, and all these wonderful long green pods hung down from the branches. They looked as much like beans as anything you'd ever care to eat
"Will you look at that," I said. It was another miracle. The flower trees were turning into bean trees.
Some things are so beautiful that everyone notices them. Somethings no one ever notices. Then there are things that are so simple yet magnificent in structure and still beautiful that only a child can see. As we get older we get more busy and more distracted with life that sometimes we can't notice the simple beauties of everyday life.
Page 193-194
Turtle was staring up at the wisteria flowers.
"Beans," she said pointing.
"Bees," I said. "Those things that go buzz are bees."
"They sting," Lou Ann pointed out.
But Turtle shook her head. "Bean trees," she said, as plainly as if she had been thinking about it all day. We looked where she was pointing. Some of the wisteria flowers had gone to seed, and all these wonderful long green pods hung down from the branches. They looked as much like beans as anything you'd ever care to eat
"Will you look at that," I said. It was another miracle. The flower trees were turning into bean trees.
Some things are so beautiful that everyone notices them. Somethings no one ever notices. Then there are things that are so simple yet magnificent in structure and still beautiful that only a child can see. As we get older we get more busy and more distracted with life that sometimes we can't notice the simple beauties of everyday life.
Foster MOM
The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
Page 162
"I can't answer these questions," i said.
"Are you the parent or guardian?"
"I'm the one responsible for her."
"Then we need the medical history before we can fill an encounter form"
"But I don't know that much about her past," I said.
"Then you are not the parent or guardian?"
This was getting to be a trip around the fish pond.
"Look," I said. "I'm not her real mother, but I'm taking care of her now. She's not with her original family anymore."
"Oh, you're a foster home." Jill was calm again,...
This is really amazing. Every time you got to doctors office they hassle you with a bunch of paper work and you have to answer questions that you don't even understand. When the lady thinks that Taylor is a foster mother then suddenly everything is okay and not real paper work is required. Sometimes, things just fall through the cracks.
Page 162
"I can't answer these questions," i said.
"Are you the parent or guardian?"
"I'm the one responsible for her."
"Then we need the medical history before we can fill an encounter form"
"But I don't know that much about her past," I said.
"Then you are not the parent or guardian?"
This was getting to be a trip around the fish pond.
"Look," I said. "I'm not her real mother, but I'm taking care of her now. She's not with her original family anymore."
"Oh, you're a foster home." Jill was calm again,...
This is really amazing. Every time you got to doctors office they hassle you with a bunch of paper work and you have to answer questions that you don't even understand. When the lady thinks that Taylor is a foster mother then suddenly everything is okay and not real paper work is required. Sometimes, things just fall through the cracks.
Instant Friends
The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
Page 101
She made a serious face and fussed with the baby for a while with out saying anything.
"So what do you think?" I finally said. "Is it okay if we move in?"
"Sure!" Her wide eyes and the way she held her baby reminded me for a minute of Sandi. The lady downtown who could paint either one of them: "Bewildered Madonna or Sunflower Eyes." "Of course you can mover in." she said. "I'd love it..."
This is amazing how in just a few short minutes instant friends are made. What these two girls have in common, their children creates and instant bond. This goes to show friends are everywhere if you just open your eyes.
Page 101
She made a serious face and fussed with the baby for a while with out saying anything.
"So what do you think?" I finally said. "Is it okay if we move in?"
"Sure!" Her wide eyes and the way she held her baby reminded me for a minute of Sandi. The lady downtown who could paint either one of them: "Bewildered Madonna or Sunflower Eyes." "Of course you can mover in." she said. "I'd love it..."
This is amazing how in just a few short minutes instant friends are made. What these two girls have in common, their children creates and instant bond. This goes to show friends are everywhere if you just open your eyes.
Ismene
The Bean Trees By: Barbara Kingsolver
(pg. 176-189)
Estevan came to Lou Ann and Taylor's house the tell Taylor Esperanza tried to kill herself by downing a bottle of baby aspirin. They stayed up for a while and talked some about things in their pasts. Taylor told a story of a boy in her high school that fell between the cracks and was a very good student but didn't fit into any of the clicks. That boy killed himself. Estevan told Taylor why Esperanza might want to kill herself. He told he of time in jail in Guatemala and how people who went against what the government said got killed. He and Esperanza knew to much for them to be killed but they took their child Ismene and they never knew what happened to her.
It is very sad that Estevan and Esperanza will never know what happened to their child. That is a lot of grief to live with. Plus with being on the run Esperanza must have thought it would have been better to stop living. That is as low of a point in any person's life as you can go. I hope Esperanza can get better.
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