Post #5

Summary:

              This is the last post for this book. Through pages 175 and 212 I read about how Richard decided to write this book; this autobiography in which he expresses his feeling and exposes the private life to the public. He explains how hard it was to actually write this book. He mentions how his mother didn’t like how he expressed his family’s problems in the open. In a letter she told him that she didn’t like that los gringos were going to read the book and be satisfied by how separated he felt because of his skin color. In the last pages, Richard writes about how hard it was for him to reflect back on his life and actually write about it. When he finally decided to write it he spent most of his time in his house alone, with his phone off, writing. He was separated from the real life and was living in the past. Most of the time when he would run out of money he would start a job. Then he would go back to writing again. Reflecting back to his past, had been like a roller-coaster ride for Richard. He though back at the time he was in the 6^th grade and when his teacher told him to write an essay about his family’s life. He remembered that he actually made everything up and that he didn’t feel comfortable writing about his family. Every memory reminds him of how his life has changed. Before he didn’t like writing or even talking about his family to other people and now he is writing a book which everyone is going to read based on his life. He remembers when he was a kid and the worm feeling he got from hearing his mother speak Spanish and speak back to her in the same language. Now he barely speaks Spanish. He remembers how close his family used to be and now at the dinner table for Christmas, they often say a word to each other. Richard feels very distant from his mom and his dad.   

Quote:

“A new paragraph changes the tone. Soft, maternal. Worried she adds, ‘Do not punish yourself for having to give up your culture in order to “make it” as you say. Think of all the wonderful achievements you have obtained. You should be proud. Learn Spanish better.”(Rodriguez 192-193)

Reflection:

Those are the words that Richard’s mother wrote to him on one of her letters after hearing that Richard was going to write a book about his life. She didn’t agree with him about the book being about his personal life and the life of his family. She wasn’t happy that her son completely gave up his culture and created the distance between his family and himself.