The time keeper: Redefine time

Image1: The time keeper

Summary:

        The story's protagonist Dor is the man who invented the first clock on earth and tried to count the time. He was punished for measuring the greatest gift God has given to humanity, "time." He was banished to a cave for thousands of years and forced to listen to the begging voices of all those who followed him, who were against the clock and seeking more time: "If you can give me one more day, just a little more. Time..." Finally, the gods gave him a chance to be free, with a magic hourglass of time, teach the two people the true meaning of time, and save themselves from the fate of discovering time.

Reflection:

"Time" is fair to live beings or non-living things on the earth, and the elapsed time is the same. The difference is whether the existence of "time" has exacted and vital meaning to living beings or non-living things. Of course, "time" is also fair to human beings, and the reason is, of course, the same: because everyone has the same amount of time, not because of your status, gender, class, wealth... You don't buy time because you're rich, and you don't sell time because you're poor.

In Mitch Albom's new book "The Time Keeper," "time" is a fair term because the protagonists in the book are in different time and space environments and are experiencing completely different events. So, some people pray for time to pass faster; some people pray for time to give a little slower; some people feel that time is not enough; some people think that the existence of time is meaningless for them-in. In other words, some people want A little more time, and some people don't want it at all. As the two main characters, Sarah and Victor, are conversely situations. The girl Sarah considers she has too much time. She does not seem to like her body. I get the impression that she is stressing about a boy and what she will wear. The rich older man, Victor, learned from an authoritative doctor that he would die soon due to his illness. At the moment when he bravely asked the doctor, "How much time do I have?" I still have many things to do!" However, everyone knows that He does not seem to have much time left. These two instances reveal that humans will give additional meanings in different stages. From my standpoint, the novel points out that humans should cherish every moment. To me, this philosophy is SUCH A CLICHÉ! I want to set a "GOAL" for different life stages. If I were the two main characters, I would come up with some thoughts as they did. Hence, it is obvious their goal led to this decision to define time. This thought was inspired by the paragraph below. 

Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man, alone measures time. Man, alone chimes the hour. And because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out." ― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

Image 2: Tuesdays with Morrie movie

I am addicted to this paragraph, showing how we should define TIME. Time could be slow and fast, depending on your purpose and mission. In the slow-paced lifestyle, I feel the nature creatures, including weather, wind, planet, and so on, in my garden. From childhood, we are taught that the human body has five senses. Equipped with my five senses, I explore the universe around me and call the adventure with my soul. I strongly sense that the greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. In the fast-paced lifestyle, I am fond of ambition and tired. I quickly get tired during the afternoon. However, my heartbeat was so strong when I was doing my addictive things. The plot reminds me of the movie “Tuesdays with Morrie,” which is the same American author Mitch Albom with this novel. I was so moved by each lecture that the professor gave. I often try to feel how it would feel when I am dying. Each time I think about death, I would be more determined to do the things I really want to do. Once we will all leave this world behind; we should live our own lives. Both these two pieces of literature show me how I should adjust my mentality.

All in all, you know what your purpose is right now; it is better than keeping the time properly. In the long-term, humans will all die. Do what you love to do. Hence, you only come to the planet on your life once. Then you will become the true timekeeper.

Everything I Never told you: Forget and Return

         

Image1: Author with her book

"Forgetting and returning and It’s never too late,” two quotes, reveal the core of the whole of Lee's story. 

Summary& Analyze

In the end, every main character finally communicates with each other. (You can find the characters chart in my log4.) Even they didn't truly understand each one of their heartfelt feelings. This action has become their connection with each other, causing Lee's family to have a common mistake: that they only pursue self-mind. For instance, Asian American fathers are eager to be involved in American society; American mothers want to be outstanding in this patriarchal society, and biracial old brothers are eager to get out of their families. From my perspective, Lydia is dead because of this separate family, which is delicate to touch on every issue around the Lees. They choose to forget the horrible memories, but it returns again and again. The cycle has never ended, as if destiny is never endless. Chapter twelve is the most moving part; they finally accept the truth of Lydia's death and are willing to face their fear. Nath, Lydia's closest brother, once dived into the water, imagining the hurt of his lovely sister, Lydia. "From where he floats, her upside-down face is right-side up, and he dog-paddles toward her. He doesn't want to dive underwater and lose sight of her face," this paragraph represents the author's decision that let Nath end the story because only he knows Lydia's personality best. It also reveals the bravery of forgetting the painful emotions of the past away from family. All in all, family members are like a puzzle; they can't lose each piece.  

Torn between Two lovers

       Jack, Lydia's boyfriend, is known as a player. Nerveless, Lydia was attracted by his rebelliousness. People will love the one that has a unique feature that they don't own. In other words, they pursue the other side of themselves. Jack pursues family love; Lydia pursues freedom. It leads to nobody being perfect. People meet and associate with each other to complement each other. However, the climax between these two lovers is Jack uncovering their pain for Lydia. "At least, I know what I want. You never know what you want to do," a phrase that reminds me of my hurt with my boyfriend. I was as confused as Lydia. I tried to be a GOOD DAUGHTER, but I always lost my mind. My boyfriend's independence, critical thought, and self-goal appeal to me. However, I have a massive conflict with my boyfriend because he touches my deep pain of a sense of inferiority. He said the exact phrase as Jack in the novel. On that night, I think about my self-value with tears. Lydia also goes back to the lack and proves that she could swim to redeem her soul. Unfortunately, she eventually dives into the lake. Jack is the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

From the objective angle, it is not a big idea. That's the way the cookie crumbles. However, an individual never could go through others torn; even if you have the same issue, it could never be similar. It led those humans often are mean to those we love. Every conflict between lovers shows how much they love and respect each other. Hence, relationships enquire to maintain and season. It would help if you were mutually tolerant between the lover. Knowing to accept each other can be happier. However, I would love to say inclusion needs to be learned and criticized. Not every single tolerance should offend your respect. The most memorable memory in a relationship is makeup with him. We quarrel a lot, but we always kiss and make up soon after. After the conflicts, the relationship enhances and gains a deeper understanding. Every couple needs to argue now and then. It could prove that the relationship is strong enough to survive. 

 

Image 2 (left): Memories of Matsuko/Image 3(right): Everything I Never told you

Memories of Matsuko

Lydia's story could connect with "Memories of Matsuko," a film that describes the life of the Japanese woman Matsuko. Matsuko died nearby her homeland river, and the official police have found her. They are eager to find back the pureness of their childhood. When they find back their memory, God's hopelessness takes away their soul. Lydia and Matsuko are both not comprehended by their family. In other words, they both end in loneliness. Regardless, I like how the director narrates Matsuko's scenario. In the film, Matsuko is optimistic, pure, and fearless. From my standpoint, Lydia also has these personalities, but the author depicts the negative side to the reader. Therefore, the novel chose the deep blue cover; the movie chose the deep red poster. The contrast between these two characters indicates more comprehensively about folks' real life. Humans are contradictory in their personalities; both have pessimistic and optimistic aspects. Accordingly, every human being is an unprecedented miracle. Love ourselves and adore your life.

By the way, I made up my mind to call my family after reading the novel. This Monday, I called my mom in tears. I realize how much I love my family. And how much they love me. If you have any sense of missing your family, call them, and you will feel so much better. It’s never too late to reveal your love for them.

 

Everything I Never told you: The contradiction of My Siblings

        Hi everyone. I'm your girl Joyceline again. Finally, I had read the second half of "Everything I never told you" in my spare time. It is beyond my view of the novel plot I have read before. The second half of the book is more tragic than the first. Indeed, as my log1, I introspect my relationship between my family, friend, and boyfriend through this novel. In my perspective, this novel will become a hot hit film because of its every climax, detail, and vivid writing style. Therefore, I made primary and secondary characters images to give you more empathy when going through what I have learned in this novel.

Summary

        The story came to the mother, Marilyn, who has come home. Hence, she still misses her children and finds out that she's pregnant and her name is Hannah. However, Hannah, the third child of Lee's family, is ignored by her parents. The Lees family uses silence to cover the problem between their relationship. For instance, The Lees had tried to forget mother had once left without saying goodbye. But it lingered, like a bad smell. It had suffused them so deeply it could never wash out. This issue causes the three children to hesitate the habit of not expressing their true feelings in their life problems. Moreover, the reader could notice children have to fight for attention from their parents through the old brother and Lydia's interaction. These three siblings' complicated relationships as if they reflected my actual siblings' relationship and family education.

The contradiction of My Siblings

       My family has three children, as the Lees family in this novel. I am the third child in the family. The love from parents is different from the third child in the story. I'm the favorite girl of my parents; even my brothers sometimes complain to my mother. As the favorite child, I suffer from Princess Syndrome a bit. My confidence is built by others' compliments, and I usually have an impressionable mind. It has several disadvantages of being the most favorite child. Even though I am twenty-one, I don't know how to cook a meal, drive a car, and manage financially. As the third child of the book, the compression resistance and independent ability are what I lack in my personality. This point could be mentioned in the sibling's relationship with my brothers. I realize my attitude is horrible at building confidence from others' compliments. The motivation for getting good grades is to make my parents proud of me. I proved that I was the perfect child for my brothers. Once, I got into a fight with my young brother, and he complained that my parents used grades to value the children's value. It was a standard error judging a person by its score in Taiwan's traditional culture. This social stereotype also occurs in Lee's family education, a Chinese American family. However, both my family and Lee's family have a standard way of trying to reach the developmentally appropriate. 

    On the other hand, my relationship with my brother was closer in my childhood than now. It is contradictory to living about twenty-one years together, and I gradually don't know my siblings. The old brother and younger sister have the same brown eyes as their Asian American father in the story; Lydia, the main character, has blue eyes like her American mother. These character settings reveal the nuance behind the story's development.

In contrast, my younger brother and I were like two peas in a pod during childhood. We both have two small eyes and single-fold eyelids. I am closer to my younger brother than the older one. However, when I grew up, my older brother and I were made from the same mold, and we had the same big eyes with double eyelids. This consequence is the gene chosen by your following personalities and encounters in your future life. In addition, humans usually read others' minds through their eyes, let alone in this pandemic. Individuals only could see others' eyes in the first impression. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Eyes are the tunnel of expressing one's feelings and emotions. A phrase reminds me of the spirit in "Lady on fire," a movie annals the female gender in the eight teen century. The film uses the gaze movement in lots of the plots rather than letting character speak up their thoughts. I consider this is why I chose silence to speak up my words to my brothers.    

The motivation for calling my family is when I read through the second half of the chapters. It was a long period of not caring for my siblings. Once, when I passed my brother's bedroom, I heard his weeping, but I ignored his sadness and pretended as if it had never happened. I regret at all my selfishness to my most relative person. I like the one in this novel as if this book is my diary. Suppose there's an answer at the end of the book. I desire to find the solution behind the complex connection with my loved family.

  

Everything I Never told you_ second reflection: Family or Dreams?

 

Lydia’s dead body has been discovered. A frangible family relationship, as if Pandora's box unspecified evils were released into Lees household.⛈

Summary

In Lydia's closed-casket funeral, its atmosphere could leave out one-word "STRANG." In Lydia's honor, the school has closed for the day. Humans' last glimpse of Lydia has already passed. Some neighbors circle the Lees, squeezing their arms and murmuring condolences. It is very uncommon for Lees; hence Lydia's parents never reach out or entertain; they have no diver parties. Like Lydia, no REAL friends. Participants, who attend the funeral, are all strangers to Lees, including neighbors, professors, and school classmates. Home and school, where teenagers' places of activity, are the place that builds an association and relationship before stepping into the crucial society. However, Lee's family didn't communicate with others, even their own family members. It is more exaggerated about her father that he encounters the other woman, Louisa, a lecture assistant, after Lydia's autopsy. Yet, piece by piece, causing tears by tears among the Lees.

Before Lydia's death, Marilyn, Lydia's mother, was once determined to "leave" Lee's family. She portrays a female nowadays, trolling for her own ambitions, rather than consuming lots of periods in the kitchen as her mother. "It behooves a good wife to know how to make, and egg behaves in six basic ways," a quote divulges the social standard and unbroken destiny throughout this 21 century. In chapter four, it shows the separation of a family's power. A husband should take charge of external matters while his wife should take care of domestic matters. Lots of anxiety added to being a "wife," which couldn't be yourself. After all, the story pauses in the wife's leave without saying goodbye.

Image 2: Marilyn, Lydia's mother

Reflection

        A funeral is a solemn oath and directly presents a diverse traditional cultural spirit. As for the west, they dress black, and the east dress white. Nevertheless, both flanks demonstrate the mixture of sadness with humans' relationships. The heart split again and again during the funeral, closely with your side. During my grandfather's funeral, melancholy is one crucial temper that I couldn't forbear as the story of Lydia's family. Unexpectedly, the "strangers" attending Lydia's funeral are as identical as my circumstance. I couldn't recognize other relatives' faces; it's so vague and unfamiliar. Who are these people? A query throughout my mind.

All in all, constructing a relationship between individuals requires a connection. This is why we celebrate New Year to connect the lovely family, friendship, partners, and so on. If the heart of the key is gone, then the gate will lock limitless.

    Despite close relationships, the stereotype of being "missis" is the most inspirational, climaxed with different generation mothers singing about life together. Lydia's grandmother is the sacrificial offering under the gender stereotype. Grandmother had planned on a golden, vanilla-scented life but ended up alone with pencil marks. Betty Crocker's cookbook, Lydia's mother only preserved, is the recipe of food and the grandmother's reflection— housewife. In grandmother's cottage merely was any trace of girls, who only consumed her period in the kitchen. "Was she sad?" Lydia once said to her mother after realizing grandmother passed away. Undouble, she was sad.

Image 3: Thelma & Louise

About her tedious routine life. About everything. She was a chemistry degree human with a goal. As a female, bitterness is a distortion; the recipe does not reflect what is in our souls. I wouldn't dare leave my family members if I were Lydia's mother. It is challenging to rip off the label of female. Like my mother, she once grumbled to me about lives monotonous. She told me she desires to accept a part-time job rather than cooking family meals. In the west or east, a woman often becomes "chief" in their family, managing the housework. "I will never end up like that," Lydia's mother drove on into the night, homeward, her hair weeping tiny slow streams down her back. The scene reminds me of "Thelma & Louise," a 1991 American female companion highway crime film. The two female characters speedily drive into the Grand Crayoned at the end of the flick. I could sense the freezing air trace Marilyn's (Lydia's mother) frostbite face, eyes started flooding, but her heart was stale of endeavor. "Road car" seems to signify freedom and refreshed adventure. This intelligent woman shatters out of the anklet.

I look forward to what she selects for her life purpose or family.

 

 

Everything I Never told you_1st reflection

      

   

    “Everything I Never told you” was written by Celeste Ng, a female Asian American writer. The novel is 2014 debut and topped Amazon’s Best Books of the Year list for 2014. Similarly, it was a New York Times bestseller and champion of the Massachusetts Book Award. The story is about a teenage lass, Lydia, who drowned in a nearby lake of a mixed-race Chinese-American household.

    The rationale why I determined this novel, as I cited in my introduction blog. I got used to selecting a reader that could uplift my soul mind. The relationship is material in every temporary position in the world. I consistently inquire about creating an APPROPRIATE relationship because individuals have various personalities and family surroundings. A listener may perceive an unintended meaning in what is said, particularly in casual conversations. “Everything I Never told you,” as if a touch divulges the explanation behind every single movement between humans. Next, I will convey what I have read so far.

    “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet,” an unexpected paragraph of the curtain is open. The story begins with a racial difference—a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lee’s family has five members, including James (father), Marilyn (mother), Nathan (older brother), Hannah (younger sister). Last but not least, Lydia Elizabeth Lee, parents’ favorite teenage daughter, will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. In the first chapter, this family is confused about Lydia’s death. How come an outstanding Harvard daughter secretly passed away. “On the stairs, Lydia’s brother yawns still twined in the tail end of his dream. And in her chair in the corner of the kitchen, Lydia’s sister hunches moon-eyed over her corn flakes waiting for Lydia to appear.” This setting is just an ordinary day as every family’s morning. Unfortunately, a flowered halter-neck dress is found as if a faded Jasmine is floating on the glitter water surface. A series of delicate balancing behaviors keep tearing the Lee family apart.

    In chapter one, Nathan’s most prominent siblings are confident that the neighborhood bad boy was involved in Lydia’s death. Her younger sister, Hannah, displays the observer and knows more than anyone realizes. In chapter two, individuals could comprehend Lydia’s parents’ marriage—Asian and American, was not blessed by society. “You’ll regret it later,” said Marilyn’s mother to Marilyn, who’s looking for crystal-like love with James. Moreover, this chapter combined the social stereotype of racial discrimination and gender equality. Americans consistently have an intolerance to Asians. For instance, Lydia has difficulties making a friend in school. And her mother, Marilyn, is regarded as too vulnerable to study chemistry or be a physician.

    “Everything I have never told you” is a story as if it reflects the shadow of my proper lifestyle. I’m from a mixed-race family. My father is Hakka, and my mother is Hokkien. I also have two siblings in my family. During spare time, my family would rather dwell in the bedroom than chat with each other. Body language has evolved the primarily connected underpass with family relationships. For instance, I lived with my grandmother, who speaks Hakka, but I genuinely don’t know what she’s talking about. Ever since I remember, I have seldom chatted with her. Television, cellphones, and computers have become the entertainment we most spend time on. As I gradually get older, this pebble barricade becomes higher and higher. Sometimes, I am more familiar with my friend rather than family. The family relationship is an exquisite confection wrapping with bitter flavor chocolate. We don’t want to open up and taste those heartbroken remembrances.

    

    This fiction also reminded me about “Confessions,” a 2010 Japanese detective movie describing the seamy side of humanity in various Japanese families. Those revenge incidents’ motivations all initiate with the character’s family background. “Humans are greedy by nature. It is human nature to love and hate,” the film quote indicated the sophisticated relationship. I undoubtedly considered this quote after watching “Confession.” However, behavior is the combination of vibrancy, education, etc. I wonder what the dissimilarity is between my life and this Western fiction. In other words, Western and Eastern education is distinct. 

    Through the author’s close-to-life writing style, this mystery circumstance of sixteen-year-old Lydia Lee’s tragic death exactly leaps before the eyes. In every conceivable manner, the family links our past, the bridge to our future. Family is stage one, the basis of the core that affects the ego.

    As you can see on the book’s cover, deep blue and an afloat lassie, the book’s tone is depressing. It is a blue-pill treatment of my snowflake; hence, I suppose a family relationship couldn’t choose. I have the same sensibility as my mother and my father’s same sense. In my perspective, Lydia’s death is the mixing of her parents’ hereditary. Hence, the children usually unintentionally step the same road as their parents. Nevertheless, I believe the uncovering secrets hide or reveal poignant answers.

log 1, Joyceline's introduction

        Hello! This is Joyceline. 😄I’m a twenty-year-old AFL student at NTUST. Furthermore, I double major in the Finance Department.

Reading history

      When it comes to reading, the first one that came out was my favorite novel, The Hobbits. Honestly, my motivation for reading is observing the true intention behind the fog. This fog indicates that the object demonstrates less than its essence or substratum. In other words, I’m a curious person wanting to explore unknown horizons. For instance, I am crazy about The Hobbits movie series, so I bought a series of books. Hence, the novel reveals more adventure, emotion, and scene than the movie.

        There’s a fun thing I want to tell you.😚 Before my composition test, I read Business Weekly and poems during high school. YES, every signal time. This is another rationale for reading a book. The book has several great poems, vocabularies, and inspirations. Accordingly, I could sponge another outstanding masterpiece. In my sentiment, read and write’s order is read first and then write. You will investigate the highlights and new spark between the words from acknowledging the diverse standpoints.

 Hobbies🎨

      I could brief you one word during my spare time: “ART.” Yep, my life can't be without ART. I probably learned art for about five years. I learned watercolor and sketching in the art studio. Watercolor is the most beautiful thing on the planet. Utilizing the moisture to make the vivid, colorful artwork. Every single paint becomes unique because of the paper, brushes, color, and quantity of water. I am personally enthusiastic about Oscar-Claude Monet, a French painter and founder of impressionist painting. He perfectly seized the dawn of nature. He used to take his garden as the inspiration. This is similar to me in that I treasure utilizing the brush to express my feelings.

Course expectation

        I would love to get inspiration from another masterpiece. And get the skill of writing, such as structure or creation. Since I don’t think I have a good habit of reading and writing. Even talk about WRITERS. From my point of view, if the course presents little things about rewriting the article, that may inspire my different aspects of writing style, since writing an excellent essay as if in the dense fog. Fog obscures your sight to view the scenario. The only method to get out of it is by following the light. I believe step by step I would improve by taking this course.