Marlon Douglas
English 113B Professor Marca
February 21, 2012
Most recently as a class we went over the text “Interesting Times” by Judith Lewis. We talked about how Lewis story has shaped us as a person. I remember the class being a bit timid about answering this question. In my head, I was thinking Lewis and I do have a similar connection in which I feel that her most interesting times of her life was also the most devastating times of her life as well. When I found that she was naming streets that I am very familiar, I’ve became astonished.
At first I believed the concept of the story was about her posing as a fake Hollywood celebrity just to fit in. I later then realized that it’s basically about a girl who went through things throughout her experience of Los Angeles. She mentions the 1992 L.A Riots, O.J. Simpson and basically all the events that occurred throughout the mid 90’s. Basically the concluding paragraph helped push my idea into a different direction.
What excited me is basically the whole concept of her experiencing tragic events seems to be the most fascinating times of her life. I would agree that some of the disastrous events that occurred in my life are quite fascinating for me as well. I remember when I’ve been banged on before. Getting banged on is no joke. They ended up taking my wallet which had 23 dollars in it. Now this is just a story I reminisce about to friends were hanging out. Basically what I am saying is that the most disastrous events can be the most interesting stories.
I remember in class we also went over the two words ambivalence and exonerated. Ambivalence means uncertainty, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things. Exonerated means to clear as of an accusation; free from guilt or blame exculpate. At first I felt the author was contradicting herself when she used the word ambivalence because I assumed at first she seemed certain that her most interesting times would be with the Hollywood celebrities that she ran into. Now I realize that the most interesting times where the times in the bad part of Los Angeles such as Florence and Normandie.
In conclusion, this story has shaped me in a sense that I now want to be proud that I actually made out of that chaos. If her perilous times where the most interesting times for her, then my perilous times in my neighborhood are the most interesting times for me. I like how she connects with the reader. I feel this author gave enough details about her Los Angeles experience. This story would have to be my favorite story of the book because I can relate to her.
