"Uncle Tony's Goat" by Leslie Marmon Silko

     The whole time I was reading this piece I was expecting something exciting or tragic to happen at the end, maybe that Silko would shoot the goat with her home made bow and arrow. So I must say I was fairly dissapointed when at the end the goat just ran away. It was a completely anticlimactic ending.
     But besides that, I enjoyed the rest of the essay. Silko's childhood was very different than mine, and I always like to read about such things. She did a wonderful job of relaying the emotions she felt at the time, but also using the wisdom she has now gained to make this a very expertly written piece. The main problem I had with it was just that I was basically dissapointed at the end. It's not Silko's fault, because this is nonfiction and she told what really happened, but it was just sort of dull.

"No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch" by Ann Hodgman

     Wow. This was not at all what I was expecting. If an essay is going to have this title, I expect the contents to be of a satirical nature, maybe commenting on cancer, emotions, or relationships. The last thing I expected this piece to be about was a woman eating dog food. And man, was it revolting! The line where she noted a grey vein hanging from a piece of "meat" basically made me lose my dinner. It's absolutely horrifying that this is what our dogs are eating, and even more so that Hodgman ate it!! I seriously don't know how she could keep on with this little taste test after her first revolting experience.
    I will say that this essay was very informative; I learned more about dog food than I ever wanted to know. It does kind of make me skeptical about what my dog is eating though, all of the statements made by these different brands of dog food basically seem like they're just bull shit. But as for the essay, I thought it was very attention grabbing, and a very exquisite topic.

Chapter One of "Confederates in The Attic" by Tony Horwitz

     This chapter was very interesting. This was a very quirky topic, and I got a few laughs out of it. The intensity of these re-enactors is astonishing, and the fact that this was a first hand account made it even better. I'm not sure how I feel about the seriousness these men put on the Civil War re-enactments, but I have to commend them on channeling their passion. I liked how Horwitz described the first meeting he attended as part weight watchers, part fashion show. It was true that these men were so obsessed with the legitimacy and originality of their acting that they had to lose weight and soak their buttons in urine. That is just ridiculous! This piece was overall an entertaining read, and I might even take a shot at reading the whole book. I feel like Horwitz would have a lot more to say on such an exquisite subject.

"A Place Called Midland" by Susan Orlean

     This essay was extremely well written. I loved Orlean's writing style, and the way she characterized Midland. I felt like she described it as if it were a person, which just made it that much more interesting to read. I also found it peculiar that this is the hometown of former president George W. Bush. And I found it refreshing that Orlean didn't center the entire piece around that detail; she only made it just that: a detail. The imagery she used to describe the arid weather of Midland made me feel like I was experiencing it right along with her, feeling my face get all crusty and caked in dirt.
     I feel like this piece's strong point is in the details, because the topic of the essay isn't all that interesting, it's just a small town. I did find it very informative that this town's economy was basically centered around the oil industry, and the George W. Bush was a part of that.

Politics

     The one thing I hate to write about the most is politics. The whole idea if it all is great, but they way it pans out is ridiculous and sad. Every other commercial these days is just one politician bashing the other. None of the candidates even run for what they believe in any more, only for what they think will get them elected. Politics is full of lies, manipulation, deceit, all for the ultimate goal of monetary gain.
     Now don't get me wrong, I love our country and am aware the democracy has gotten us to where we are today, but that doesn't mean I have to be blind to the fact that politics are basically corrupted now a days. I feel like I can't believe anything I hear that comes out of the mouths of any politician, no matter what party they are affiliated with. And I hate writing about politics so much because the majority of people are extremely set in their ways, and trying to talk to anyone about politics is basically guaranteeing that there will be an argument. My parents argue about it, my friends argue about it, everyone argues about it. And the worst part is that everyone thinks they are right! No one ever wants to listen to anyone else's opinions, and it in turn leaves each party looking completely ignorant.
     I knew if I started writing about politics that I would end up on a ridiculous rant with no literary merit whatsoever, and that it exactly what has happened. UGH I HATE POLITICS.

From "Louis Riel" by Chester Brown

     This piece was a literary comic, and showed a segment of the life of Louis Riel. As I have no prior knowledge of Louis Riel, I was  somewhat confused about this man and whether or not he was indeed insane. But all in all I did like this comic, the illustrations were detailed and simple at the same time, and the subtle humor in the piece was very enjoyable. I feel like this story would have been more enjoyable had I read the whole thing, and known more about what was going in the plot. But I do believe Brown did a great job of giving Riel a very strong character in the comic, and the word choice combined with the illustrations made for a great combined effect.

"The Ashes of August" by Kim Barnes

     The writing style of this piece was particularly enjoyable. The descriptions were so vivid that it really made me want to visit the childhood home of Barnes. The subject of this essay was also very interesting, as Barnes nonchalantly wrote about how fire was a constant threat to her home and her life, but was such a part of her way of life that it never felt so dangerous. Barnes' writing styles used both factual and personal information combined with very vivid descriptions to tell the reader what it was like for her growing up, including the beauty and the terror of the arid atmosphere.