Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday Writing, 2 of 2, TC Boyle

What do you think Boyle's purpose was in writing The Tortilla Curtain? What was the point of the book?
Write at least a paragraph on this topic.

52 comments:

  1. I think Boyle's purpose in writing The Tortilla Curtain was to speak on the troubles involved with illegal immigration. The positives, The negatives and all the things in between. He created a story that showed each opinion on the issue and it was beneficial to do that because when dealing with something like illegal immigration you always wanna see what each persons view on the dilemma is and how it affects them.

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  2. I think Boyles purpose of writing like that was to allow his readers to really see both sides of the plot. Telling each side of the immigration process helped me as a reader understand where both of them come from on the situation.

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  3. I agree with Fernando, his writing was based on a very biased or opinionated subject so the fact that he displays both sides of it is very important to really understand the hardships of immigration.

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  4. I think Boyle might have written this type of a book for either one of two reasons: One, he probably experienced a similar -- but not so harsh as actually hitting an immigrant with his car -- situation with an illegal, and thought, "huh, this would be make an interesting novel." He wanted us to know just how upside down and chaotic your life can be when encountering an illegal. Or two, he's simply an observer like the character Delaney is with his nature, and saw what it is that immigrants face when coming to this country illegally. He wanted to paint a picture for us, and I think he got it spot-on for some of the activities that go on behind the scenes for immigrants. We don't see everything, and I think that he was trying to let us know that it's a lot harder for them than just having to cross a border and avoid La Migra. It's much more than that.

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  5. I think the point of the book was to show the views from every side. He showed the struggles that the immigrants have coming over her and trying to start their lives. They have to find jobs to support their families and build homes to live in. He showed how the people who lived there originally and how they treat the illegal immigrants. Nobody tried to help them, they were just looked down upon.

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  6. I think that the purpose of Boyle writing the book was to show a character that did not hold any grudges or hatred to a person that made his life hell. Candido was already in a struggle but the accident and other factors made it worse. I agree with Hannah, He also tried to show two points of view; from the mexican and the american side. Both races have their struggles and we are all one when you look at the overall picture.

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  7. i think tc boyle wrote this book to show how society demonizes other races when they themselves are the ones to be judged. many mexicans see the whites as "ignorant" or "lazy" and vice versa (spell check). this book gives two sides of the story and it lets the reader see the reality of the situation. the situation which i believe is illegal immigration.

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  8. Nice manny. Its true. This book shows two sides of the story. No one, no race is above the other.

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  9. I belive Boyle's purpose of tortilla curtain was to show the transition and struggles that the illegal immigrant faces in AMerica. Also the sometimes judgemental face that we tend to look upon illegals with.It helped me understand the real life of an illegal immigrant rather than just looking upon them negatively, without even knowing them. In other words how blessed we are to live in America, and have at least decent lifestyles as far as housing, food and job opportunity. I believe the point of the book was to show the compassion that we as humans are capable of showing. In the end the man who lost everything and who was looked upon with hatred, saved his oppressor. It just shows the beauty of what commpassion from a person can do, which is the greatest gift one can give, which is showing love for one who treats you as an enemy.

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  10. I think the author TC Boyle wanted to show the two sides of illegal immigration. The way it affects the immigrants that are here and the ones that are coming in and the US citizens that live here. The point of view of 4 different people in LA County. An illegal immigrant, his wife, a citizen, and his wife. There are racist views and good views on both sides of the issue, but beyond all the hatred that both sides had for eachother one side over came it becasue deep down he had good in him and helped the one who tried to kill moments before.

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  11. I think he wrote the book to show the struggles immigrants go through to try to live here.
    Maybe he wants everyone else to be gratefull for what they have. Seriously, I feel sooo bad throwing food away and ignoring beggers on the street!

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  12. I think that Boyle wrote this book because as Fernando said about the illegal imigration. The book deals alot with that and the different points of view on it. Like the struggles that America and Candido had to face becausae they were actual illegal immigrants and the way that it affected the people who weren't illegal immigrants such as Delaney and his wife. Also I think he is trying to send a message on be thankful for what you have and make the best of things.

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  13. aww man. we only have 12 comments:/
    I really like sleeping in on fridays

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  14. i think everybody sees the two sides of the story. Also, in the end, the readers can all see how Candido is not a bad person like Delaney wants everyone to think.

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  15. looking like this is the last one, anaizabel...cmon people, rally time!

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  16. to mannyiguess: good one! it's sort of unfair how people treat illegals and stereotype them, when really in the end, who's the human? some people can be real monsters sometimes.

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  17. I think the point of the book was to show us how immigration is dealt with from both point of views. We got to see how hard it was for Candido, and what illegal immigrants go through a lot of the times. And then there was Delaney's point of view, where he is an American living with so many mexican immigrants who seem to be causing problems. One view is of a poor man trying to live on almost nothing everyday with mouths to feed. And the other is of a white man who lives well and has a wife and step son he looks after in a big house. I thought it was cool how opposite these stories were from each other, but they sort of relate at the same time.

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  18. I completely agree with Ashley... especially since we had very similar posts!

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  19. I think that Boyle writes this bool to show the side of illegal immigration that many people ignore or not even realize. When I read this book, it changed my view on immigration. I often felt that they all caused problems to everyone in the U.S.. The truth is, that most the time when people enter illegally, all they want is a better future. They want to live the American dream. The problem with that is that its hard to do when they arent living here legally. The view on Candito and America is a story that changed my view on illegal immigration

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  20. Oh yeah Hannah! I kinda forgot about that part.
    Even after all the stuff he had to put up with because of delaney he still reached down to help him!

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  21. To: randyforeshe7133: I agree I also believe that most of the time instead of causing problems all they want is a better future and trying escape from something bad in their own country so they come here in search for a better life and not all of them get what they are looking for. I mean I know very fortunate people that take things for grantid they got lucky becasue they could have been in the situation. But I also beleive that immigrants are not the cause for the problems we have here in the US

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  22. Hey anaizabel your lucky you get to sleep in on Fridays I still have to wake up to take my sister to school since she has to study so she cant drive while shes studying and her class is at 8 so we still have to go early! hahaha

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  23. I feel like I am just following everybody. Everyone has like stolen my words. But i think the book was written to show the hardship of trying to "make an American dream".

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  24. It also shows what it means to not use our own stereotypes of others to judge them. You don't know what others are going through unless you step into their shoes. People have become so selfish and full of themselves that when others are in trouble we are so naive about them getting help.

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  25. Isn't there a book called The American Dream? Huh? Well anyways the book does show the stereotypes. Like when Delaney (I call him Daniel becasue it was so much easier to pronounce) but anyways when he was developing the film at Jack's house he expected to see Candido or some other illegal mexican but instead he saw Jack's son Jack jr.
    Stereo type. Yup Yup

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  26. I believe TC Boyle's purpose for this book is to see both sides of a delicate situation. It shows the poor and the rich how they both struggle throughout the book. However, Candido is the one who suffers the most and Delaney does not suffer as much as he does. Boyle is trying to show us two different worlds.

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  27. I agree with Manny. They are always two sides to a story.

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  28. I really like what Fernando said .Illegal immigration they are takijng a high risk. The story do kind of tell yoou the opinions and issues involving illlegal immigration.

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  29. I think he was trying to give people an understanding of what is like living in California from two points of view. One being from the eyes of an illegal who had nothing and had to work very hard just to survive. And the other from as well off white guy. And at the same time he wants people to see how just because we're different doesn't mean we're not equal.

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  30. I believe that he wrote the book because he probably went through some sort of experience like in the book. it is very similar to what some people go through these days. if not that i think somebody went through that in his life or he might of just was very into that topic. either way Boyle did a great job on the book.

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  31. I think Boyles purpose of writing this book was so that the people know what the immigrants faced but also what the people thought of them. Americas and Candidos life is sort of what most immigrants faced and probably what some might be facing right now. Delaneys and his wifes ideas about immigrants was what most whites thought. They treated them like if it was a disease that was taking over there city.

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  32. It could be to show what immigrants go through so they could be here and not to bag on them alot and to let them be not to harass them becasue there not harrassing us. Or yeah like Sal said it could be that he himself went through a similar experience and he wants his audience to know what it was like and to share his experience. Either way it showed how it is from two different sides of the world.(I'm not saying those are the only sides but those are two to that stuck out to him.)

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  33. i agree with Reba, and i really don't wanna go to class Friday!

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  34. Fernando is right. There positive and negative points of immigrations and this book showed some negatives and some positives. And both sides could do something to change the situations and make things better.

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  35. I believe Boyles purpose for writing this book was to show both sides of immigration. Reading this book gave me a chance to experience both point of views of the issue. At the end of the day there's no right or wrong way to think about immigration and how it affects all people.

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  36. I agree with all of you who say it shows both sides of the story. Thats the importance of this book

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  37. Same here I belive that it shows both sides of the story. he writes this to show how no matter what everyone is always affected.

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  38. It shows both sides maybe to show not to be selfish? Also in the book there was alot of stereotyping going on with both sides.

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  39. ..I think the point of the book was to show both sides of a "problem" that there is in the U.S. The minorities who come to work and try to live a better life, and the citizens who want them out and back to their own countries. I thought it was a good way to show how one side is living compared to the other.

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  40. Kim, that really sucks.
    I get to sleep in an extra hour:)

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  41. I agree with giovannieomar that it also showed both sides of a problem.

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  42. again sorry for being late..
    well i think the purpose of this was to tell us that when someone is meant to be in your life, they will someone end up in your life. but then again all you guys could be right..maybe its to paint a picture for us in order to see what immigrants go through in this country, its not easy for them and maybe TC Boyle wanted to show us how it is..

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  43. Eziquiel i didn't think of it that way. The way where if someone is meant to be in your life they will end up being there no matter how much you disagree on it. Wow thats smart.


    I think this book would make a great movie and be a visual of what he was trying to say in his book.

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  44. Hey Anaizabel, lucky I want an extra hour of sleep!! but I guess I can take a nap until my class starts since I have to be there at 8 but my class doesnt start until 11 so I have 3 hours there.Ha

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  45. Kim!
    yeah i guess you can do that.lol
    lay down under a tree or something.
    That wouldnt be wierd to see.

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  46. did we make enough comments yet?? =)) i agree with almost everyone on the point of writing this book. It shows both sides of the matter and lets u know what each aspect is like.

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  47. the point probably was to let everyone know what happens probably everyday.to show the totally different people,way of living and just different everything.to show us hhow people assume things of others and the way of thinking that shouldnt be around at this day and age.

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  48. i agree with giovannieomar.its true that it shows how different raices see each other and what could happen between them.

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  49. Fernando Idk but I've written alot already so i'm not sure??

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  50. Anaizabel hahaha like all of a sudden your walking to your class and you see me sleeping under a tree for shade and your just gonna think like WOW!!! she really did that.! hahaha

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  51. This is hard to reply to anything. We all have about the same basic idea. so I agree with almost everybody. and yes I know it is saturday but I like to actually finish my convos with people ;P

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  52. yes It was sunday. my mistake. I seriously had to waste my Saturday so I got it confused . . . MY BAD!

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