Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides by (pg 319-423)

Summary:

    The narrator talks about her college years. She had a girlfriend named Olivia, how ironic. She said that they were joined together by their common woundedness. Olivia was brutally attacked and almost raped when she was simply thirteen. Thankfully, the police caught the person, and Olivia had to go to court to testify several times. After finishing college, Calliope took a trip around the world. When She went to Brussels, she fell in love with a bartender there, and she asked her to marry her. The bartender refused her proposal and ran off with somebody else instead.
    In the chapter called "Tiresias in love", Callie is forced to go to the doctor for her check-up. She pretended like she didn't understand why she needs to see a "ladies doctor", because she had already seen her regular physician for her physical.
Quote:
"When girls get a certain age, Callie, they have to go get checked" -said her mother
"why" -said Calliope
(Eugenides, 340)
Reaction:
    This is a pretty interesting quote. When your young, you barely understand what happens to your body when you grow. But, Callie a grown lady. She knows why a "lady doctor" has to check a girls body. She was pretending like she did not understand situation. She played it cool, and followed her mother's lead.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginedes (pg 215-318)

Summary:
    In this chapter, Stephanides tells us a description of her birth. She compares her mother's triumphant face to the Mount Rushmore. She mentions the nurse that took care of her. She said she was pretty, had a long face and was from Tennessee. Her name was Rosalee. Dr. Nishan Philobosian his doctor. After being born, she began checking Calliope's neck, then counted her fingers and toes. She inspected her palate, and noted Stephanides Mora reflex. 
    When the colored people started to riot, everyone in the neighborhood were scared. People started sleeping in their basement, and didn't leave their housings if it wasn't important. Death toll raised and raised. On day one, 15 people died. On day two, 27 people died. And on day three, 36 people died. There was many injuries, stores looted, and fires. For three days, Calliopes and his family didn't bathe nor brush their teeth. 

Quote:
"We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes" (Euginedes, 251)

Reaction: 
    I love this quote because it represents Phoenix's people, and the situations they overcome. Example: When there was a riots, and no one left their housing. This event was very difficult to overcome, especially with death tolls increasing everyday. After this event, the people of Phoenix rose from their ashes.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (106-215)

Summary:
    Calliope can't have children, which was one of the reasons why she never got married. She said that its one of the reasons aside from shame. So, that's why she decided to join the Foreign Service. Stephanides is also a member of the Intersex Society of North America, which is pretty funny because she says that she doesn't like groups. So, its Ironic because she is part of one. The way she lives, is by living her own life. She is her own nurse and take cares of her own wounds. Calliope knows that its not the best way to live one's life, but its the way she is.

Quote:
"Why did my father marry a caucasian devil?" (Eugenides, 152)

Reaction:
    This quote was said when the unknown voice was talking to Desdemona.
    He knew that his son was destined to spread the word of the lost potion of the tribe. Meaning, He felt that him, his son, should have a skin color that would help him deal with Black and White people equally, and righteously. So, that's why the unknown voice is mulatto.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (pg 3-105)

summary:
    The narrator, Calliope Stephanides, introduces herself, and her birth. She is a field hockey goalie. She gives the reader a brief description of her past life, school, work, love life, family, and his struggles. She also introduces her brother, Chapter Eleven, and his grandmother, Desdemona Stephanides. His mother didn't want a boy, she wanted a girl, that's why she was named "Calliope". Stephanides compares herself with Si Ling-Chi, she was a chinese Princess, whose discovery gave Desdemona her livelihood. She unraveled her story to pass, where her grandparents are making preparation to another voyage to Giulia.

Quote:
    "I was born twice: first, as a baby.....and then again, as a teenage boy" (Eugenides, 3)

Reaction:
    This quote is the first thing that stood out to me when I started reading this book. At first I didn't understand it, but as I kept reading, I started to look back at this statement. Being a teenager is like being born again, everything is different, its like a new life. You over come school, love life, and family situation. But, when your a baby, you don't really understand anything happening around you.

Forever by Judy Blume (pg 183-220)

Summary:
    In chapter twenty-three, Katherine narrates a typical day at camp. Readers can tell that she is becoming somewhat attracted to Theo. She describes in detail what he looks like. Katherine cries because she does not understand her mixed emotions.

    In the beginning of chapter twenty-four, Katherine's grandfather dies. In this chapter, Katherine also stops writing to Michael, as she needs time to think. Later on, Michael surprises Katherine with a visit at the camp she works at. He catches Katherine holding hands with Theo. So, Michael guesses that there is another guy in her life than him. Then he refers to the necklace that he gave katherine and the word "Forever" on it. He wants to know what that means now to her and their relationship. Michael decides that their relationship can never be the same again, although Katherine holds onto the hope that it can be. Michael tells Katherine that he doesn't want to share her with another guy. Katherine asks if that means it is all over between them. Michael says that he thinks it is. Katherine takes off the necklace and gives it to Michael. But, Michael puts it in her purse.

    The book ends with Katherine at home. She has just been told that Theo has called.

Quote:
"Have you thought about how this relationship will end?" (Blume, 216)

Reaction:
    When Katherine asked Michael that question, I was surprise because I thought there relationship would last for ever. This phrase foreshadows what will happen to their relationship by the end of the book. Throughout the book the book, Katherine has grown from her experiences. She learned that you can't love a person forever just to make love. She realized that the word "forever" is a long, complicated, and strong word. Thus, it can brake ones heart.  

Forever by Judy Blume (pg 141-183)

Summary:
    Both Michael and Katherine has the flu. They must stay apart from each other for several days, until they feel somewhat better. When Michael takes Katherine out on her birthday, he gives her a present. It is a necklace that holds a small silver disk with "Katherine" engraved on one side and "Forever … Michael" on the other.

    In this chapter, Katherine also mentions that her sister, Jamie, is going back to a summer camp in New Hampshire.Later, Katherine tells Michael that she has to go to New Hampshire for the summer, where jamie goes to camp. Michael announces then that he has accepted a summer job in North Carolina. Both of their parents wanted them to take the jobs. Katherine and Michael resolve not to let the separation change their relationship.

    Katherine attends Michael's graduation. Katherine's graduation is held next. Four days after that, Katherine and her sister, Jamie, are at the New Hampshire camp.

Quote:
"It makes me wish I could share every day with him- forever" (Blume, 151)

Reaction:
    In this passage, Kathrine's relationship with Michael has grown. Besides everything else, the author considers Michael as her best friend. Its a different kind of friendship from the one she has with Erica. She is starting to get closer to Michael, and knowing him not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

Forever by Judy Blume (107-141)

summary:
    Katherine receives a package from her grandmother. It is filled with Planned Parenthood pamphlets. Katherine then telephones Planned Parenthood and makes an appointment with them. In chapter fifteen, one of the clinicians at Planned Parenthood asks Katherine several personal questions about her relationship with Michael. They then discuss various birth control devices. Katherine is also tested for gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease. By the end of the chapter, Katherine has chosen a birth control pill to use. Katherine tells Michael that she has a surprise for him. She tells him that she is now on the pill.

Quote:
   "Like my mother said, you can't go back to holding hands and anyway, I don't want to" (Blume, 125)

Reaction:
    Katherine's mother wants her daughter to grow up, and Kath also realizes that she is growing. "you can't go back to holding hands", to me, this quote means to think ahead. thinking ahead meaning, planning ahead. Kath's mother wants kath to think/plan ahead before reacting to a situation. That shows the coming of age of katherine.