Lucy

=Lucy's Reading Log (Discussion Director, Passage Master, Connector, Researcher)=

**May 16: Chapter I- Discussion Director**
In the first chapter of the book we are introduced to the McCourt family- Frankie, Malachy, the twins Eugene and Oliver, Margaret, along with father Malachy and Angela. The reader is shown into the lives of this Irish family, and how they came to live in America, for a while. So far the hardships of the Great Depression and hunger, along with having an alcoholic father seem to be key issues and factors of the family's life. Young Frankie is forced to take a fatherly figure position at age 5, and take care of his siblings as best he can. Support is given to the family through neighbors and Italian grocers; but they begin to see care is just not being given to these children. After little Margaret dies in the night, Anglea's cousins come to the apartment of the McCourt's and decided enough is enough. The McCourt family is sent back to Ireland, where the name of the family will be disgraced no longer.
 * //Summary://**

1) The first thing i noticed while reading was the way in which the dialoge was written. Do readers find this to be more effective? does it give a better sense of relationships with characters in the novel?
 * Questions** during my reading:

2) At the end of the chapter the family is moved back to Ireland. What kinds of predictions can you think of for the family there? Better or worse?

3) "That night Cuchulain comes to me. There's a big green bird on his shoulder that keeps singing about Kevin Barry and Roddy McCorley and I don't like that bird because there's blood dripping from his mouth when he sings"(pg 41). Frankie's dream has some double, real life meaning to it. What is the significance of this?

4) In the book Malachy McCourt(Frankie's father) is a drunk from Northern Ireland. Why is it that when little Margaret is born he changes his ways so drastically?

**May 20: Chapter II & III- Passage Master**
//**Summary:**// In these next two chapters, the reader is shown right away that things are certainly not any better in Ireland then they were in America. The McCourt family goes to visit both of its sides of the family, neither of which are happy to have them there. The six McCourt's find themselves living off of charity and barely getting by. Finally Malachy(father) has a job and the have at least some to live off of. Things seem to be turning for the worse however when little OIiver dies, and then his twin Eugene soon after. The family can not take any more of this turmoil, especially Frankie's mother, who has now lost three of her five children. Frankie is once again forced to see at a young age what it is that breaks his family apart- his father's drinking and their family's poverty.

-page 83. The ninth line down is where it begins. I think this part is important for review, because it shows how Frankie first of all, is having to babysit his own father, and tell him that he shouldn't be drinking. Second of all, the passage shows that Frankie once again is having to grow up-fast. He's understanding at age 5(?) that his father is out at this pub, his brother is dead, and that he has something else he should be doing. -page 73. Starting at paragraph six, when Pa Keating says he thinks he should 'keep this little fella'. This passage needs reviewing I believe because it goes on to show how some people (Aunt Aggie) perceive Frankie's mother Angela. Angela is a character that I feel is really important to follow and understand as clearly as possible- her name is in the title! I'm also curious about this passage- is it important that Pa Keating was Eugene's favorite? -page 49, paragraph five. Right when the McCourt's get to Ireland they go to family. This passage is important because it just goes to show that no matter where this family is, they aren't really welcome. In America, they are the Irish outcasts, poor and disgraceful. In Ireland, they are the Yank outcasts, poor and disgraceful.
 * Passages to Review:**

**May 21: Chapter IV & V- Connector**
//**Summary**//: Here one sees that Frankie and Malachy have started to go to school everyday and learn how to become good Catholic boys. In chapters four and five the family religion, and the religion of the town really become important and a main focus in Frankie's life. He comes of age for his First Confession, and along with that his first Communion. The trials of the times continue to show; never having enough money to live off of, and especially now with a new child in the house, Michael. Frankie's dad is still an alcoholic who can't keep a job, and won't take pity from anyone if it has to do with keeping his dignity. This is the first time we get to see other families relating to the same issues the McCourt's are having however- like the Malloys. Frankie is now ten, and as he grows older he learns about lying and how to get away with things; this is put to the test when the young fellow is forced to take Irish step classes but is too ashamed to do so, so he lies to his parents.

While I was reading these chapters I kept picturing the movies I've seen about the Great Depression here in America. There are many films depicting this time period, but the truth is, it doesn't seem as harrowing as that of the Irish. With their strict values on being Catholic and upholding Irish dignity- not to mention consumption, its seems like it would be a hard life to lead. I'm also brought back to our world, where we hear about situations in the news all the time, but can never really understand to the full extent what poverty is. When I went to Jamaica over winter break, it was the first time that I was really able to see and be affected by poverty. The shams of neighborhoods we would pass in our van, the unpaved dangerous roads, the town thick with scamming beggars who just want some money. It was these types of situations I'd never //really// thought of, or had ever seen myself in. Being able to put yourself in other people's shoes is something I've been hearing about since the sixth grade (//Walk Two Moons:)// ), but really being able to do just that is what can bring a persons understanding and knowledge to a new level. Connecting these situations with this book just goes to show that even today, we still see these issues of poverty and hunger in some countries.
 * Connections:**

May 22: Chapters VI-VII- Researcher
//**Summary:**// During this reading we learn about the schooling of little Frankie. He is now nine, and with age is becoming more learned on certain topics, as well as on being an older kid. He is learning consequences of his actions, and going through the basic trial and error of growing up. Getting new friends, like Fintan Slattery, or Patty Clohessy, and learning how to balance that with family. We see that Frankie is now in grade 4, and has to deal with bullies and being hungry. These things don't usually go together, but the times deal with typical growing up and also growing up in this famine. Frankie has to learn to prove himself to his parents that he's not disobedient, and also try to learn the realities of life. Frankie's father is still drinking away the family's dole money, along with losing any job he gets in the 3rd week. With the new addition of a baby brother to the family, the choices Frankie's father makes are crucial to their being fed and living conditions. These are all topics we see in this reading, and will continue to follow.

In this reading, something that struck me as particularly interesting was the topic of Euclid. Usually when the young students of this school in our novel ask a question, they are shut down and made a fool in front of the class for asking questions. The particular grade four teacher however is happy to talk about Euclid, but doesn't exactly give and accurate idea of who it is. So here's some more in-depth information for you guys: -Euclid was known as the "Father of Geometry" -he was a Greek mathematician during the Hellenistic era -is now famous for having written //Elements;// principles on Euclidean geometry which are deduced from a small set of axioms -he wrote on other important ideas such as perspective, conic sections, spherical geometry, and rigor
 * Research:**

Omadhaun-** idiot or moron or noodle; pg 154 paragraph 3. I thought that this word should be noted because it is a common term that the teachers call the young students.
 * Vocabulary:
 * Ingles-** of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture; pg 159 in the last paragraph. I chose this word because its one that confused me, and its what Frankie was teased and called during school.
 * Bandoiler-** a pocketed belt for holding ammunition; pg 162 first paragraph. This word is significant to the reading because war is actually going on currently in our reading. The talk of military and dying for Ireland is always brought up, and this common term should be known.

May 23: Chapter VIII- Discussion Director
//**Summary**:// In this chapter Frankie gets confirmed! In the beginning of the chapter Frankie is ten, and ready to get the Collection money after he is confirmed so he can go to the movies and get candy. Suddenly though Frankie is caught up with a bleeding nose and can't stop throwing up. He has to be in bed for days after that, and is bleeding out the wazoo. The bleeding doesn't stop, and finally their doctor is able to come and gets Frankie to the hospital right away. He has typhoid fever. Frankie is forced to stay in the 'Fever Hospital' for months, and regain his strength and ability to walk. He is extremely lucky to have survived the fever, but is sad because he doesn't get visitors often, because its dangerous for them. He can't even see his family after a time. He befriends a girl named Patricia Madigan, another patient at the hospital and right next door to Frankie. He is eventually discharged however and is behind in school now being eleven. His father still earns money and goes and drinks it all away; meanwhile Frankie still loves him for being his father.

1) "When you have your father to yourself by the fire in the morning you don't need Cuchulain or the Angel on the Seventh Step or anything"(pg 209). We see that Frankie's love for his father has no end-and he even lies when necessary, about the old mans faults to his mom. What kinds of predictions do you have about Frankie's dad's role in the family? What can you see happening to Frankie's dad, and how will he be seen by his family?
 * Questions**:

2) When Frankie is brought to the hospital because of his typhoid fever, he befriends a girl named Patricia Madigan in the room next door. Is this Frankie's first love? What evidence is there that Frankie even liked this girl?

3) Why is it that as Frankie has gotten older and moved into the higher classes of his school, that the teachers become more open to answering students questions? Do you think that its because now teachers feel the boys are mature enough to have logical questions, or because the teachers are just nicer people?

4) In the beginning of the chapter we hear about Frankie's friend 'Quasimodo' and how his life-long dream is to go work at a radio station in England. Because everyone in Limerick is so anti-English, what are some reasons why this young boy would be so desperate to go to England to work?

May 27: Chapters IX-XI- Passage MAstA
//**Summary**:// In these chapters Malachy(Dad) goes off to England to work in the factories that the British aren't working in anymore, because they're at war. Every Saturday is the day in which the families with fathers in England expect to get their money in a telegram- unfortunately, the McCourt family is let down by their father; as usual. The children are starving, and only have the clothes on their backs, and little Alphie is now born which makes another mouth to feed. Frankie gets conjunctivitis in both of his eyes, and has to go to the hospital again. Once home, his mother falls ill with phenomena, and for the first time Frankie truly steps up to the role as man of the house. Once their mother goes to the hospital however, the children go and stay with their Aunt Aggie, who is snappy and not understanding. Malachy comes home from England just for a bit, to make sure Angela is doing alright again. He sends the weeks wages then once after, and never again. The McCourt family is starving and freezing in the cold of Ireland's winter, and Angela is forced to beg for food. Here the reader really begins to see Frankie's concern for his family, and his greater understanding that he must step up as a leader in his own family. When offered to help a neighbor, Mr. Hannon in the coal yards, Frankie seizes the opportunity to bring home that one shilling to his mother. Now Frankie, known as Frank, is admired among his peers, and feels he has found his place and future. The last of these chapters ends with Mr. Hannon being unable to continue the work at the coal yards, due to his legs being weak, and unfortunately for Frank, this ends his work their as well.

-pg. 217, the last sentence in the first paragraph. I believe that this statement about how the Irish were actually perfectly happy about Hitler during the war is important to recognize. The Irish were only getting benefits from the English going to war, and much better jobs with better pay in England. This passage shows how times could've changed for the better for many Irish families. -pg. 246, the first sentence in the third paragraph. This passage is significant because the reader sees that Aunt Aggie is a stubborn mean woman. She has many luxuries surrounding her lifestyle, but is still very unhappy. It was mentioned before that Auntie Ag. was particularly mad because all she ever wanted was children of her own, and she feels her sister who married from the North, and made many mistakes, was undeserving of such a blessing. -pg. 265, the first sentence of the fifth paragraph. "And I can't stop crying now because this was my one chance to be a man..." This sentence is so important to our reading because Frank is beginning to understand and feel the pressures of being an adult at a young age. He feels he must step in for his father, and take care of his family and provide for them. He can't figure out why people want him in school, when he could be doing his mother so much good at a job like the coal yard.
 * Passages to Review**:

May 28: Chapters XII-XIII- Connector
In this reading the McCourt family is evicted. They are forced to leave their house and move in with an unpleasant cousin of Angela's, who is rude and uncaring. Frankie's grandmother dies, as do his aunt and uncle. Frankie is now thirteen going on fourteen, and yet there are definitely still some things the child doesn't know yet about the world. Malachy is still gone in England, and the Frank's family is living off of what Laman(cousin) has provided them with. Their family is still upholding their religious views, and Frankie as been noted for his outstanding work skills. With high hopes of Frankie becoming a significant character in life, Angela continues to stress the importance of school in her children's lives. Life in Laman's house is awful however, and Angela is forced to clean the chamber pot of Laman, and sleep with him. Their conditions have gotten better, but their lives have gotten much worse in the house. Frankie has done many chores for Laman, and done everything he has been asked in order to be allowed to use his bike. Laman and Frankie end up fighting and Frank is ashamed of his mother's decisions.
 * //Summary//**:

In relation to the McCourt's having to live with another family, I immediately thought of when the Hughes' had to move out of their house, because they were getting an addition. They had much different circumstances then the McCourt's however they still 'moved in' with another family, onto the Weichmiester farm (Sofie's family). It was much farther away then where the Hughes' were used to living, and they were forced to adjust their usual routines in order to accommodate everyone. The Hughes' however got to live in Sofie's guest house-unlike the McCourts who actually had to live in the same house as Laman. Both of these families were uprooted from their houses however, both having to adjust lifestyles and ways of going about things in order to get by.
 * Connector**:

May 29: Chapters XIV & XV- Researcher
//**Summary**//: In the beginning of these chapters Frankie decides to move out of Laman's house, by himself. He is disgusted by his mother's actions, and how his family has to live in order to please Laman. Frankie moves in with his Uncle Pat, or The Abbot, his uncle who was dropped on his head when he was little. Frankie has to learn to find food for himself, and once he turns 14 he gets a job as a telegram boy. He has many adventures as a telegram boy and learns much about Limerick during this time, and all about where things are in Limerick. He is growing up, going through a confusing and difficult time understanding and coping with sinning, and also dealing with respecting his mother. On a telegram run he meets a girl named Theresa and has sex for the first time when he's fourteen. She is is first love, and dies of consumption. The amount of loss he feels when she is gone is immense, and he is confused about how to react. Frankie's mother and brothers end up moving in with Frank and his uncle, and this is important to bringing their family back together again. Frankie's ultimate goal is to get to America; and to leave Ireland and it's evils behind him.

In these two chapters the reader gets to learn a lot about the telegram boys, and how the post system generally works in Ireland. Frankie does become one of these telegram boys and so I thought it would be important to remember key points about them: -you can't be a real telegram boy until you've taken the exam and passed-after age sixteen -you can start at age fourteen, but won't get decent wages or a real uniform until you've passed the exam -once you've become and official telegram boy, you can become a postman, and eventually work behind a desk -the official telegram boys are highly respected by the community, and the post jobs in general
 * Research**:


 * Vocabulary**:
 * Urchin**- a mischievous and often poor and raggedly clothed youngster; pg. 300 paragraph 2. I figured this word was important to understand the reading, and also how society sees the McCourt boys and their family.
 * Beyant**- a place or type or derogatory term used to describe something; pg 300 paragraph 2. This Irish term has no real meaning, but I gathered from the context around it that this was the definition. I thought it was significant to the reading because it was also another way of describing the family that I wasn't sure about.
 * Martyr**- a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion; pg 301 paragraph 1. This word is extremely important to the book, because it is mentioned so much in the town of Limerick. They are very religious people in Ireland, always praying to virgin martyrs and what not- one cans see now that they are most likely role models for society and following the Catholic religion.

May 30: Chapter XVI-END- Discussion Director
In these last chapters of the book, we see Frankie go through a real struggle. As he’s been growing up he’s had trouble being able to forgive himself for the sins he has committed, and they really seem to bring down his everyday actions. He still hopes and works everyday to go to America; now quitting his job as a telegram boy, he delivers magazines from England, and making himself a lot of money. He is saving up, and also providing for his family, something his father was never able to do. He finally gets his wish about going to America and has enough money to get there. He struggles with forgiving himself for sleeping with Theresa while he was a telegram boy, and committing the ultimate sin, while sending her to hell. He is forgiven for his actions however and feels much better about confessing finally after a long period of time to St. Francis. He will miss his family he realizes, and hopes they can one day join him. He has grown up with no actual father, but many father figures, and really proven to many people in Limerick, his family most importantly, that he could make something out of his life. 1) What is the significance of the title of the book? Was Frankie’s mother important to the story in the end? 2) Did the story leave anything untold in the end? Anything feel like it was not finished? 3) His whole life Frankie struggles with the fact that he isn’t sure if he has been forgiven for his sins, and made his first love Theresa go to hell. What does this internal struggle mean for Frank by the end of the story? 4) What are your predictions about where Frank’s family ends up? Does he ever see his father again?
 * //Summary//**:
 * Questions**: