One things that struck me in particular while reading "Getting Mother's Body" was the informal language used. Specifically, the inconsistent replacement of the word "your" with "yr". When I first noticed it, I was hoping to find some kind of pattern for when "yr" was used instead of "your", but there doesn't appear to be any clear rules for which one Parks uses. Within the span of a few pages, Billy says both "Penny for yr thoughts" and "Penny for your thoughts". I wonder if this was done to emphasize the complexity of the characters in "Getting Mother's Body", and how capable they are of taking of various roles. It also may be that Billy, in particular, has a knack for adjusting her speech and behavior in order to exploit what she calls Holes.

I was very excited to read that there was a lesbian in the novel. I was sad to learn that even though she is so far trusted and seen as a good person she is written as a theif and a lier. I was hoping for the lesbian character that was a good citizen and showed that lesbians aren't greedy and selfish. I really want to know why she had to have such a sad character flaw? I understand that every character is slightly flawed, some more than others, but why does hers have to be so bad? Or is it a perception thing? Where the reader can percieve her crime bad as they like.

I was very intrigued by Susan- Lori Parks writing because it was understandable and I enjoyed getting to know the characters through and there own individual personalities.  It was one of those books that I can enjoy going through because I can focus more on the story than the words and meanings. I like how Park tells a story through one of the characters eyes then the next chapter tells us how another participant felt about either the same experience or events surrounding it.  It was clear to me from the start that the characters were from the 60's and most likely black although I have not reached a point where it was explicitly stated.  When Park comes to speak with us I hope to just learn more about her story, inspiration for this book and why she chose to set it in the 60's.

My initial reaction to this novel was that it was going to be dark and have a tragic ending. When first reading the book I disapproved of Snipes' and Billy's relationship. It didn't really seem as if Snipes genuinely cared about Billy. Later on readers find out that Snipes actually already has a wife and kids and was just messing with Billy which was heartbreaking to learn since Billy was so excited for the wedding. Now, Billy is still unmarried and still is carrying Snipes’ child which Snipes has abandoned as well. Moreover, Parks conveys the idea that being a Beede means that one is cursed with bad luck. This obviously does not help with anyone's situation.

What struck me the most while reading Getting Mother's Body were the similarties between the main character, Billy Beede, and one of the characters from William Faulkner's novel, As I Lay Dying. Faulkner is one of my favorite authors, and As I Lay Dying is probably my favorite book of all time, so I was eager to probe more into how these two characters were connected. One of the most striking connections was the situation both young girls found themselves in. Both ended up pregnant at a young age, and both of their former lovers (whom they thought would be loyal to them) ended up deserting them. They also both undergo a journey in order to get an abortion. Their mothers are also both dead at the time at which their stories take place.

Last week I chose the class location and I thought it would be best to have our class in the Quita Woodward Reading Room in Thomas Hall. I chose this location because I love the ambiance of the room. I think that our class had a great discussion in this warm and welcoming room. I feel as if whenever we meet in rooms with sofas, comfortable chairs, or any room with a cozy ambiance, it is easier for us to open up during discussions. I thought we had a great discussion about the readings and I believe that we should find more rooms with this type of environment to have our classes in.

At the beginning Getting Mother’s Body felt familiar, almost cliche- but as the story developed it became harder for me to get a grasp on. Billy, especially, proved difficult for me to try to understand. At first the character seemed naive but in reflecting on the story I think her optimism is more of just a shield. She is refusing to accept her reality of being a poor, unmarried mother. I was surprised by the hopeful ending of the story. I’d noticed the books similarities to As I Lay Dying and I expected it to have a similarly dark ending to other stories about race and poverty in the south. I am still not sure what the significance of the ending was besides that Billy comes to some sort of peace with her mother and herself.

I really enjoyed reading the book. I was worried that I would find it boring or uninteresting but turns out that I really enjoy the book! I think the storyline and the characters are great. I find it so creative how in each chapter, Parks uses the perspective of different characters to tell their story. I have never read a book with that type of format so that was definitely interesting. I also enjoyed following the characters on their journey and how all of their lives entangle one another. I am excited and interested to hear what Parks has to say this Thursday at the lecture!

I like her, I like him. I don't like him, I don't like her. As each character was introduced to me, these were my initial responses. This for me became the type of book that you don't put down, once you began reading it. At first I felt that this book jumped too much, but as I continued reading I was pleased to get a chance to "hear" everyone's voice. I was able to get a clearer picture of who they were. There were characters I was rooting for, like Dill, Homer, and even Willa Mae Beede, but towards the closing of the chapter all I could think was, Go to Hell. For the life of me I couldn't understand why Billy Beede was so fisty, but I love how her wit made her strong.

I think one of the most interesting points she makes throughout the entire book is how personal and individualized disability is. There are many examples of this, however one of the most pointed stories she shares is at the very end of the book when she is talking about her trip to England. She describes how while looking on websites for accessible hotels she found one that looked suitable and when they showed up there were stairs between the dining room and their room, however the hotel claimed that there were "only" six steps. I just wanted to talk about the everchanging and individualized definition of accessible and disabled. How is it possible to make our world "accessible" when there is no one definition of disabled?