LeMay Comp II Commonplace Book by Raymond LeMay

#1 "The Chaser" by John Collier

raymond_lemay — 2014-08-29 17:23:31 UTC

The entire time I was reading this story I was wondering why Austen wasn't listening to the old mans warnings. Then I realized he was blinded by love.

#2 "Brownies" by ZZ Packer

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:19:39 UTC

This must be what the girl's in Laurel's troop must have felt like when they confronted Troop 909 in the camp bathroom.

#5 "Indian Education" by Sherman Alexie

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:25:56 UTC

Since this story revolves around the stereotyping of Native Americans, I chose to post an example of a Google search which depicts the continued use of these stereotypes.

#3 "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:31:53 UTC

This story made me realize that there is much entertainment in the world. Rather than watching a reality TV series in our homes we could experience these realities in person. The experiences Miss Brill has are something that TV could not provide.

#4 "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:32:29 UTC

This story reminded me of the Tom Waits song "What's He Building in There." The man described in the song also has poison's in his house and is very private about his affairs. Fortunately in "A Rose for Emily" we find out what has been going on in the house.

#6 "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:33:00 UTC

The articles on this website discuss PTSD in veterans and are helpful in describing what is going on with Henry in "The Red Convertible."

#7 "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:33:39 UTC

This story reminds me of all the times my dad and I would go hiking through Natchez trace. I he loved to hunt and thought I should too, but I just loved watching the sights and sounds of the forest.

#8 "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:34:23 UTC

In recent years we have seen several movies that have similar plots. In The Hunger Games there is also a lottery that chooses one to participate in similar event. I am curious if the writer of this movie was influenced by Jackson's writing.

#9 "The Rememberer" by Aimee Bender

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:34:48 UTC

The woman in this story seems like she is describing the stages of Alzheimer disease that her husband is going through. The way Bender uses the animals to describe the different stages makes the story feel less dreadful.

#10 "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:35:23 UTC

I feel like this poem describes most hard working fathers from a child's perspective. The father is selfless and works hard to give his children warmth. This child however is slightly frightened by his father as was I when I was a child.

#11 "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:35:56 UTC

The simplicity of this poem read like a guide to me. I felt it did a better job of explaining poetry than some websites out there. The line "all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it" was how I felt poetry was supposed to be analyzed.

#12 "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:36:35 UTC

This poem affected me more than I thought possible. I experienced similar loss this past year when my Opa passed away. The poem made me feel like the emotions I had were a shared emotion that many people feel during such times.

#13 "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:37:02 UTC

The pool hall scene in the movie Dazed and Confused is what I picture when I read this poem. Underage kids playing pool, drinking, and smoking while out past their curfews.

#14 "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:37:41 UTC

My wife and I were discussing this poem and she showed me this picture from one of her favorite photographers, Meg Gaiger. Although graphic, this picture depicts Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" perfectly.

#15 "Fences" by August Wilson

raymond_lemay — 2014-12-01 03:38:03 UTC

My dad and I have similar personalities to the character's Troy and Cory in this play. My dad is a pesimist who has let his experiences hold him back, while I have choose to be more optimistic and try to find ways to better myself.