Chapter 6-10

Nels Gudmundsson is very observant. I noticed this in the way he questioned Horace. Most older people develop this inquisitive and observant set of skills as they age. My grandmother, a former lawyer, and my dad, her son, are excellent examples of this. People like this make excellent lawyers and detectives. Honestly, I don't think I could ever be cut out for that job. My observance comes and goes like the wind on a fall afternoon, and frankly, a job like that doesn't interest me in the least.
Art had the job of telling Susan Marie of Carl's death. How hard that would be; to tell, not even a stranger, but yet, someone whom you interacted with, that their beloved husband was dead. Most people would wimp out, I probably would too or I would fill her head with lovely euphemisms; my heart is a smidgen too tender, and I'd probably cry on the spot. The grief that woman must have had, or any woman who has had to go through that.
Another type of grief is what Kabuo's wife had. She was missing her husband and wanted just to touch him; the prison walls much too constricting. I don't know how she managed for 77 days; I would've gone insane. she was strong though, her years of training and growing up from a little girl to a married woman, had prepared her. Despite her timidness I found her to be strong liek my mom whom if you didn't know her, would think her to be just another woman. Along with this story I found a little drama. I read about Hatsue and Ishmael's affair as young kids; the 'wrongness' of their love and I wondered: would I be able to do the same? Cheesy as it may sound, 'forbidden love' would be a hard this to carry out. I just don't know if I would be strong enough to go through with it.
Etta, a woman so stubborn she'd drive me crazy was the mother of Carl. She reminded me, as I read of her, of my Oma or even my dad. They both have that anal type of stubbornness where if something is not done their way they get furious and frustrated.
When Ole tells about the sale of the farm I recognized and experienced the indifference Carl and Kabuo had towards each other. This indifference gave me a insight on how these men and girls from my school are the same. They don't really go out and fight but they definitely know who hates who.

Chapters 1-5

In the beginning of Chapter 1 the setting was described as very dark, dreary, bleak, and empty. The mood was very uncomfortable and awkward much like Kabuo Miyamoto who was also harsh and unemotional. He reminds me of a boy I know who attends my church; rigid, unattainable and seems to be really deep.
The town of Amity Harbour was described as lonely, empty, desolate, remote and makes me think of other books with other towns much like this. Ishmael Chambers who lives in this town, is the local reporter. He makes me think of my Pake on my mom's side. My old grandfather doesn't wish for change like Ishmael. He doesn't like random people intruding on his territory, family, and friends. Very much a stubborn man but with a pure and honest heart.
Art Moran was a strange man that you wouldn't think would be the sheriff, but he was. The uncomfortable man, along with Abel Martinson, the deputy, had uncovered the scene on the Susan Marie, consisting of Carl Heine's dead body in the netting; his haunting eyes shocked the younger deputy much as they would me. I am definitely too scared of blood to stay sane if I ever saw that.
In my opinion, I think the uncovering of the body was written impeccably well written with so many details that if I had nightmares, would leave me in a cold sweat when I woke up dreaming of it. When I read it I had so many pictures flowing through my mind; not necessarily a good thing as I am not good with blood and at the sight of it my heart clenches up, beats a little faster, and if there's a lot of it, I feel a little faint. In spite of my uneasiness with blood this bit in the book left me satisfied, not many authors can get my head going like that and fully relating to the circumstance.
Nels Gudmundsson; inquisitive and a rather good attorney despite the handicap of his eye, was the legal aid for Kabuo. In chapter 4 I get a better understanding of Ishmael Chambers, his cynicism coming from the war; his misunderstanding about people and why he couldn't like them; where his roots came from, and his background with Carl. The interaction of Ishmael and the fisherman gave an incredibly good description of the men. Lonely and rugged; out to support their families; knowledgeable with heavy opinions and very proud men.
Horace Whaley, a man sentenced to be the coroner was also a man of war like Ishmael. His experience gave him the qualifications necessary to be a coroner but left him with a heavy heart, full of disturbing images of men dead in battle that I have tried not to picture while reading this. I would have nightmares having this job. I would evolve from a girl who only dreams of random stuff or not even remembering the dreams to a woman with nightmares every night. Horace in his examination of Carl noticed a cut by his left ear that he thought was made by an experienced Japanese person such as Kabuo. In this point in the book I am not sure to believe if Carl just drowned or if he really was a victim of homicide.

My Family

In my family there is 9 people and 10 animals. I am the oldest kid in my family at age 16. My other siblings in ascending order are Jocelyn 14, Mitchell 13, Vicki 11, Melissa 9, Jesse 7, and Paul whom is 6. My mom's name is Rhoda and she is 37; she lives with us kids in Nanoose. My dad's name is Peter and he is 39; he lives in Edmonton, Alberta with a close family friend named Rick. We have 10 animals of 3 different species in my house. we have 3 cats named Lovey, Peanut and Mojo. We have 5 degus named Baby, Smokey, Bubbles, Muffin and Porky and we have 2 guinea pigs named Timone and Pumba. Altogether it is a very full and busy household.