Journal Entry #8
pgs 203-231

5 Comments
-James wishes to travel to Suffolk in order to figure out the past of his mother. While the mother explains her past she is very brief and does not reveal to much.
-When he arrives in the town he notices that is has not changed much and meets a man by the name of Eddie Thompson, who explains what may have happened to the Shilskys family.
- Eddie Thomspon explained that Ruth's father was not liked by the people in the town. He explained that he was not fond of black people.
- All of the people who lived in Suffolk that the mother had grown up had and left. Aubrey used James's tape recorder to send a greeting to Ruth. The message never given to his mother because he thought it would be to painful for her mother to listen to.
-James returned to New York appreciating life and thanking her grandmother for it.

4 Question
Why was he trying to find out abotu his mother's past?
What happened to the mother's sister?
Why did everyone leave the town?
How did these experiences affect his veiws on life now?



3 Vocabulary Terms

1. Pg 205 Solicit-Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently.
2. Pg 222 Nostalgia-Longing for something past.
3. Pg 223 Azaleas-Any of numerous ornamental shrubs grown for their showy flowers of various colors.



2 Literary Elements

1. " The part of me that wanted to understand who I was began to irk and itch at me, like a pesky mosquito bite that cries out to be seperated." Pg 225 This is an example of a simile.
2." my own humanity was awakened, rising out to greet me with a handshake as I watched the first glimmers of sunlight peek over the horizon." Pg 229 This is an example of personification.

Summary Sentence
James had traveled in order to answer the question about his life and also come to appreciate his life.