Most recent public comments by Vony Andriamanantena https://nowcomment.com/users/11077 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331720 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331720 Thinking how did she prepare to die? What did she do? as well as thinking of answers to those questions all add suspense and imagery to the paragraph. I also find myself reflecting back on the previous paragraphs, thinking what led her to being prepared to die. Sun, 29 Mar 2015 00:20:42 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331719 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331719 It adds certainty, making the events sound factual yet there could be another side to the story as it was "according to" Ted. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:55 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331718 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331718 He serves as a fitting source not only because he knows Sylvia and Ted but because he's a writer himself. For him to acknowledge the potential, talent and drive within Plath, his peer, says something. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:55 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331717 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331717 Enough to build a connection with the character. We are taken into Plath's state of mind. Time, place and background helps us visualize where and when Sylvia's life began to change. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:55 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331716 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331716 This paragraph shows how Plath's writing was a temporary fix. It occupied her, helped her make sense of her life, but inevitably it wasn't enough to permanently secure or save her. Although her writing kept her going for so long, it couldn't fill or completely fix what was broken within her. Sat, 28 Mar 2015 23:35:14 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331715 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25279?scroll_to=331715 Using chronology helps give the story an organized and clear format. It keeps each paragraph flowing, and it allows readers to feel apart of Plath's mind from discovering her husbands affair, the separation, divorce and highs and lows of being divorced. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:55 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323503 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323503 This paragraph shows the cultural differences between Sylvia and Ted, and how the writer, who's also an American, can relate to her. To a Brit their cars have the right of way as opposed to Americans, where pedestrians have the right of way. Neither culture is more right or wrong than the other but Ted's friends seem to judge her according to the standards of their own culture. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:39 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323495 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323495 He's introducing himself as a researcher and if not an expert on Sylvia Plath, a fan of hers or both. He does this by building a connection between the London Plath knew (1959), the London he's seen (1963) and the present-day London. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:39 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323494 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323494 The writer is having a minor culture shock. It's typical for New Yorkers to form loose to no lines at all, in England everything is seemingly less hectic and more orderly. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:39 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323490 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25283?scroll_to=323490 The writer is documenting what he found interesting, important, worth noting during his trip to London, just as you would in a journal entry. It's also personal, unpolished in a sense because you get to see the writer's candid thought process. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:44 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321736 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321736 Contained into one paragraph, Ishmael expresses loss, having nothing to live for on land, depression by wanting to step into the street, and then hope. Even with all the baggage and jumbled up emotions Ishmael feels, there is hope brought in by the sea. Whether he means it in a biblical sense of wanting to become spiritually fulfilled and renewed or escaping his problems on board, Melville allows us to form our own idea of what hope means to Ishmael. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:37 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321734 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321734 Water is addressed in the bible nearly one thousand times. Water is essential to living, it also symbolizes growth, refreshment, and irrigation. If the men knew what being out at sea really meant, having a renewed life, they would all come to appreciate it. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:37 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321731 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321731 Instead of having Ishmael tell us who he is like, "I'm a survivor" or "I'm depressed," Melville is giving us imagery, memories, metaphors to interpret who he is on our own. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:36 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321730 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321730 Ishmael and his mother Hagar were exiled, wondering in the desert, slowly dying from thirst and hunger. Though in their desperation, God always provided, making sure they lived and equipping them with water. It's clear the narrator is not only stripped of everything but like Ishmael from the Bible, he is thirsty and aching for life outside the dry land. Being at sea would be like heaven, he'll thirst no more. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:36 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321725 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30622?scroll_to=321725 Ishmael perhaps is just fed up. No longer interested in working, making ends meet or the common struggles people face "on land," Ishmael wants to renew himself. With no reason to stay and feeling sick, tired, and depressed, there's no better place for him but at sea. It's where he gets to dump his burdens and find some peace. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:36 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317461 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317461 Very clever transitioning choices. First we're taken into Michael's personal space after the death of Jill, it's messy and disorganized, then to when Jill was alive and then back to Michael, describing his appearance three months after Jill's passing. I would think it would've been confusing, but it flows. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:29 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317460 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317460 Just with the first sentence, "Now Jill is dead," I could feel the biographer's pain. From the personal way this paragraph is being written, it's clear that the biographer respects and cares about them very much. This paragraph also shows how easily likeable Michael and Jill were. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:29 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317459 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317459 It could be used to reflect back on life with Jill, everything is cozy and lively. Also the previous paragraph reflects on Michael's character as this paragraph shows Jill's character, how loving and trusting she is with her beloved friend Rebecca. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317456 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317456 Everything is disorderly. He's let go and see's no need to tidy up anymore. He has a liking towards reading, but even more so now that Jill isn't there. He, maybe purposely, gets lost in his mess in attempt to not miss Jill as much as he does. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317452 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317452 Biographers most likely have streams of questions pertaining to their subjects. Even the best of biographers have moments of "I'm not sure.." or "I wonder." That's part of the process, wondering, discovering and searching. In this context saying, "I wonder," questions if anyone has every thought of showing the behind the scenes of making a biography. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317435 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317435 The biographer drives the biography in the direction he or she sees fit. Biographers are consistently digging for refreshing and relevant information then putting the pieces together. As readers are reading the biography, they're looking in on the biographer's thought process. So they're very much a part of the story rather it's being done consciously or unconsciously. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317427 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30636?scroll_to=317427 Another way of looking at the term "raw record" is that it's unaltered nor manipulated. Staying as close to the truth, it'll consist of primary sources and as discoveries are made the biography will simultaneously take form. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:29 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30619?scroll_to=315779 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30619?scroll_to=315779 As elaborate as this writing is, I appreciate how descriptive Hardy is. The way he builds each scene, the vocabulary he uses to describe them. Instead of saying the sun is setting, he allows us to envision the mood and setting as the cloud extends, covering the sky. Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:35:19 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314064 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314064 Rearranged "Top 20" 1.Write for yourself 2. But don't obsess over perfect grammar 3. Write one word at a time 4. Writing is about getting happy! 5. Stick to your own style 6. Better writer by reading and writing 7. Don't use passive voice 8. Avoid adverbs 9. Leave out boring parts and kill your darlings! 10. Read. Read. Read 11. Dig! 12. The magic is in you 13. Avoid adverbs "he said" and "she said" 14. There are two secrets to success 15. Take a break! 16. The research shouldn't overshadow 17. Don't worry about making others happy 18. You have three months! 19. Eliminate distraction 20. Turn off the TV I would add, listen to advice but reevaluate them and make sure it's good advice. There was a part in "On writing," were Stephen's teacher made him feel like a lousy writer. It took him years to feel unashamed of his writing. (This helps me a lot) Free write! Turn off spell-check. Don't think too hard about it. Stop thinking, "does this sound good," "is my grammar okay," etc just write your story, one idea after the other. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:19 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314063 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314063 It's extreme to "turn off the TV" indefinitely, seeing that it can be used as a tool (if used carefully) to help you form your OWN ideas. King did get a lot of his sic-fi idea's from the movies he's watched like "The Haunting," and "Lady in a Cage." With that being said there should be an extent to how much television you watch and how much of it should influence your writing. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:19 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314060 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314060 Simple but needs to be heard. As Stephen King said in his book "On Writing," almost everyone has the ability to tell a story. It's a matter of strengthening and sharpening your skills. He refers to it as a disjointed growth process in which ambition, desire, and a little talent plays a part. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314059 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314059 There are times were I literally spend an hour on a paragraph, making sure my phrases make sense, that it's understandable and so on. It got to the point were I didn't enjoy writing. I seriously wished someone would have told me, "Screw grammar!" Writing in a stream of consciousness helps me exponentially. Usually your first idea is your best idea, so now I go with it. Of course, after getting down the main ideas, you can then operate on your work (grammar included). Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314058 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314058 I'm guilty of this too. I use to feel like I'm missing something without my adverbs. I'm realizing now, it only helps drown my writing. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314056 https://nowcomment.com/documents/30612?scroll_to=314056 Funny enough this rule is in Stephen King's memoir, "On Writing," and it happens to be my favorite part. Relating to his book, this first rule came from his editor John Gould, I believe in the intention to make Stephen realize he shouldn't apologize for his mistakes. A writers job is to write whatever he/she wants and the last thing on their mind should be is if someone will like it. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290581 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290581 Unauthorized work does spark an interest especially if you want to get candid, unfiltered information but what makes this new information stick are the sources. It’s extremely important to make sure that the claims made are backed up by sound evidence, or else it won’t stand up to scrutiny. By listing the sources, this shows that proper research was done. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290580 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290580 When it comes to a well-known celebrity like Paul McCartney, it’s tiring to hear repeated facts and old information. It’s redundant and a waste of space. It’s a challenge but I think the best work focuses on finding new material, taking on different perspectives and gaining a new understanding of the subject. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290579 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290579 Sounes’s subtitle IS “An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney,” and although he conducted over 200 interviews, ignoring McCartney’s reaction in regards to being closely scrutinized makes me question Sounes’s credibility and if he actually knows McCartney well enough to write about his life so intimately. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290578 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25272?scroll_to=290578 Why does McCartney keep biographers at bay/at a distant? Now I need to dive in and see if the reviewer answers my question. The title doesn’t lag and it propels me to keep on reading. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:46:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281722 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281722 It seems Begley puts up boundaries and doesn’t fully pursue certain points that are important to know, like Updike’s sibling-less childhood. Therefore a second biographer can further pursue and explore Updike's childhood, relationship with his parents, his marriage to his second wife and children. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:54 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281721 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281721 Understanding the process of how a biography is formed and the steps towards gathering useful information shows the dedication of biographers. Seeing the process also shows the challenges that come with making biographies. There’s also the idea of there being no perfect biography that has all the answers. I think that’s why biographies “invariably leave more to be explored,” every biographer brings a different perspective. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:54 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281709 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25200?scroll_to=281709 Biographies tell it like it is. As mentioned, though many believed Updike effortlessly wrote sixty-plus books, Begley is able to show that in actuality it took a lot of effort. Biographies can also but isn’t limited to, taking the opportunity to deeply explore, appreciate and evaluate their subject. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:54 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275650 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275650 The biographer made it a duty to tell Plath's story as close to the truth as possible. So much so, the reviewer concludes that Hughes can admire it for doing just that. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:51 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275648 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275648 The reviewer is generalizing and making an assumption rather than building a convincing argument in regards to why Monroe and Plath's demise are not in any way the same. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:51 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275626 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25199?scroll_to=275626 I think that the reviewer is cleverly inserting the term “slyvia mania” to refer to both how troubled and ill Slyvia was and also to the mania surrounding Slyvia since she is an icon/celebrity. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:50 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270841 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270841 Having a longer review allows for a deeper and more detailed description giving the readers a clearer picture of the story, stronger context, a richer interpretation and more support in the evaluation. Aside from elaborating on the elements, a longer review can show different angles and perspectives. In the beginning of the review Assia was being introduced as a seductress and as the story unfolded, the truth about Hughes unravels and Plath. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:46 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270839 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270839 Assia still contributes to the break up of Hughes and Plath's marriage, because she "enchanted" Hughes. At the same time once you analyze Hughes behavior patterns, you begin to see how broken the marriage is because he's restless and unhappy. Not entertained and enraptured with Sylvia he moves on to Assia who he later gets tired of. If it wasn't Assia whom he had an interest in, it would have easily been another woman. So Assia isn't entirely to blame. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:45 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270837 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270837 Yes, Assia being referred to as femme fatale is put into question after discovering that Hughes may be a sexual stalker. Seems to me Hughes is a womanizer. In a way, Assia being called a femme fatale seems relatively minor compared to Hughes’s deep-rooted issues such as calling his wife a “hag,” having commitment issues and having several other women on the side aside from Assia. Oh yeah! he now has sexual stalker to add on to his list. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:45 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270828 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270828 Through the use of description, by listing and analyzing different Plath biographers, the reviewer is not only establishing authority but is also creating a starting point which all can agree. Bringing in factual, concrete sources such as Olwyn Hughes it makes it easier for the reviewer when transitioning into the arguments. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:45 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270253 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25198?scroll_to=270253 The term Femme fatale which loosely translates to “disastrous woman,” fits in with how Assia’s being portrayed. You see this right from the beginning, Assia’s being described as a she-devil enchantress who has Hughes under her spell. Assia’s was also on her third marriage, that adds more weight to her reputation. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:45 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25186?scroll_to=262038 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25186?scroll_to=262038 There is a history and a bond between Inge and Faulkner. The reviewer uses their relationship to show the readers that Inge knows Faulkner well enough that we can value his opinion of him. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:39 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25186?scroll_to=262016 https://nowcomment.com/documents/25186?scroll_to=262016 Visually, at first, the quotation threw me off since I didn't expect to see one at the very beginning. However after reading it, it is very fitting in that it directly gives us a taste of Inge's style. Instead describing what a Faulknerian is, the reviewer just shows us through the quotation and it works. Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:45:39 -0500