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Something you might like to know about my family history as it relates to the life of the farmers wife. My maternal grandmother was a striking and well educated young woman when she married my grandfather who was also handsome and educated. He was of German descent and occupied as a head schoolmaster in the 1900's. His mother had a farm which her oldest son helped her operate (great grandfather had died a few years before). Upon the untimely death of his brother (kicked in the head by a mule at the age of 35) my grandfather had to return to the farm to help my granny. So my grandmother became a farmer's wife, much to her dismay,. She cooked for fields hands, cleaned her home, gathered eggs, fed the chickensbutchered chickens and hogs, you name it, she could do it. I didn't find out about how she ended up a farmers wife until many years after her death. So sad she didn't get the life she envisioned, but so many people did not in that time period.

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The book version of "Trifles" has to use more observations from the characters to set up the scenes in this story. With the women's views and men's views building the tension of the situation. Upon discovering the fate of Minnie Foster, driven to such a dire act, Mrs. Hale feels guilty that she never made the time to check in on her neighbor. The isolation she imagines that Minnie felt weighs heavily on her.

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The play by Susan Glaspell was a surprising look into the lives of early 19th century farmers and their wives  in the aftermath of an apparent murder of passion. The descriptions of the scene settings were integral to helping the reader understand the complexity of the situation. Some of the subtle signs were also the most telling indeed. The poorly finished stitching on the quilt and the kitchen in disarray help the reader to understand that Minnie was just not in her right mind. The sad discovery of the dead canary seemed to complete the comparison of Minnie trapped in a cage unable to sing and be happy any longer and the one thing that gave her pleasure destroyed by her husband as well.

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Follow this link to view the unbelievable sacrifices families have to make to provide an acceptable dowry for their daughters.

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Marjane Satrapi is a very successful artist and writer. I was moved by the very last scene in her graphic narrative where she looked back and saw her mother had collapsed and was being carried by her father. I am almost in tears just thinking about how much her parents loved her to send her away to protect her!

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Amy Tan describes the struggle between mother and daughter from the point of view of Jing-mei, a young Chinese girl who only wants to be her own person. The cultural and generational gap is almost palpable in this story of a mother pushing her daughter to be the "best" at something. I thought it most heartbreaking when Jing-mei used the terrible loss of her mother's twin girls as a final blow to "break" the determination of her mother. The regret, even as she used this brutal  verbal assault, left the daughter and mother with a broken relationship. So sad to think how hurtful words can be when there is no forethought given to saying them. Once spoken, they cannot be taken back.

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This story, written by Tim O'Brien, is a gripping recount of the things soldiers carry both physically and emotionally. Especially moving is the hope that Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carries for his "love" Martha. Even though he knows it is a false hope, he has to have this to keep going. Once tragedy strikes he realizes the hopelessness of an imagined "love" that he left behind. The death of Ted Lavender brings out a resolve to make sure his men survive. I felt the weight of the units' emotional and physical burdens.

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The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich

Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin

These two stories were heartbreaking each in their own way.

The Red Convertible was such an emotional read as it addressed the issue of PTSD and how families are affected by the way Veterans cannot deal with life after combat. Such a tragic and symbolic ending representing the mental and physical loss of a sibling bond.

In Sonny's Blues, which was a more melancholy read depicting similar loss of that sibling closeness because of tragic situations. Sonny actually finds an outlet for his pain, and it is so touching that his brother could see and understand this outlet in hismusic. I am partial to this story because my son is a jazz musician and music is part of the way he sometimes deals with his intolerance of society.

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This is such a poignant story about the changes in a young man after returning from Vietnam. Told by the younger brother in  remembrance dedicated to his older brother. The red convertible symbolizes happier times for the brothers.

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This story of a young boy "coming to Jesus" at a church revival brought back memories to my own childhood experiences. It was just not on one occasion that I felt the pressure to acknowledge a presence that I did not feel or understand. It takes maturity to make such an emotional decision and I wish I had known that as an 11 year old little girl.

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I feel the hurt and loss of Anna Quindlen in this heartfelt essay. How sad to have to wonder about the things that might have been and only have fantasy to hold on to. My mother was so dear to me that it makes my heart hurt for any daughter who lost their mother before making lifelong memories.

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The Road Not Taken

A path that is unknown can hold the most mystery but also to most promise. This picture is just how it is described in Robert Frost's poem.

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Such a sad story of how too much importance is placed upon appearances and status. A reminder of the close mindedness of some societies. Love should be color blind and those who have no choice in their heritage should not have to suffer due to the ignorance of others.

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The visual image of Sandra Cisneros  embarrassed and unable to speak brings a pang of sympathy for her predicament. Oh, the phases we go through to reach that long awaited maturity.

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I liked the story in respect to showing how the easy way to get something can really become complicated. The writer got his message across using an intriguing method of introducing the cure before the anecdote.

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Very interesting piece about John Collier. An unusual sort of fellow. 

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Very interesting piece about John Collier. An unusual sort of fellow. 

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http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/forgotten-authors-no-34-john-collier-1689028.html

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Cute clip from the Movie Love Potion No. 9

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Cute clip from the Movie Love Potion No. 9

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http://www.bing.com/search?q=love+potion+number+9+movie&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IENTTR&conversationid=