How To Wash Water

Throughout the entire chapter 8 I lost the ability to focus on what I was reading, because really who asks a question like how do you wash water?! It was distracting, which I guess what the purpose as it definitely caught my attention. I spent the remainder of the chapter trying to come up with solutions to this and couldn't think of any for about an hour. But then I realized that that is the whole issue in Africa right now, with the purification of water. I took this "washing" Niakoro referred to as the act of making water usable or drinkable. So for anyone who was curious I looked this up, the 7 steps to purify water:


1. Clean the containers in which you're going to hold or store the water.
2. Filter water through a clean cloth
3. Speed up the clearing of water
4. Purify the water using any of the following methods (boiling, disinfecting,commercial tablets, etc)
5. Be careful with the cap or lid of the container.
6.Improve the flavor of purified water, if needed
7. Take care when consuming


So, as to whether or not this satisfied Niakoro's question or not I will never know, though I am content with this as a way to wash water.
On a different topic though, the focus of the trial:
"Had his pride made him seek the stimulant that comes from holding power over others? He saw himself again, giving orders to the women, with the policeman at his side. Had it been the taste of flattery that separated him from the others.."
As it is so often seen power can overcome people. Take over completely and in Diara's case leading him to turn against his own people and beliefs simply for that sense of domination and control. Amazing what people will do to further their own ambitions isn't it? 

If You Want Your Meat, You're Going to Have to Kill it Yourself

Ramatoulaye has a drastic change from a timid, desperate woman into a ferocious woman. This change seems to happen very quickly, in the course of a day, but I think her new personality had been building up since the beginning of the strike. Like most other women and probably men in the town, she was fed up with continually making sacrifices for her family because of the Europeans and the strike. The day that she attacked Vendredi, I think all of her emotions bubbled over. This is significant because I think this is the start of a ripple effect throughout the entire town of people acting out like Ramatoulaye. Another significant conflict that we began to see in chapter is the internal conflict of N'Deye. N’Deye’s conflict can be summarized in one phrase, ” N’Deye herself knew far more about europe than she did about Africa” (58). Yes N’Deye seems to be a, “…prisoner in the place that should have been her home” (58). And yes her intellectual and her standards of marriage are not present in the community. But it is important to stress that N’Deye seems to hold Africa dear in her heart. Her strange relationship with Bakayoko strengthens her hidden love for Africa since she is drawn to him despite her appearent beliefs of European superiority. Bakayoko advocates a message of european resistance, but most importantly a message of accepting the African culture, and N’Deye seems to accept this message when she says to Beaugosse, ” Have you noticed that in the whole time we have been talking we haven’t spoken a single word in Oulof?” (63) N’Deye's conflict between African culture and the European influence in my opinion will cause many people to rethink their views about the strike. My friend recently told me that females are attracted to movies and plots where the women has to choose between two men, such as The Notebook, Twlight, etc. This is seen in this plot as well as it is clear that N'Deye will have to make a decision between Bakayoko or Beaugesse, and im very curious to see who she choses.

So Much To Remember

... But all to easy to forget


In reading chapters 3 and 4 I was astounded at how many new characters appeared seemingly out of nowhere! Although all their stories were interesting and I paid very close attention to detail, or tried to at least, I kept asking myself, "who is that again?”. If I was an author I would like to think I would give character’s name that didn't sound so similar, Dieynaba, Dejean, Demba, Doudou, and Deune all introduced in the first couple chapters.. Really?? In places like Dakar and Dialav.. Sensing a pattern? But apart from the character’s names I do enjoy the story, it's very interesting to see how people step up in the time of need. A quote that really stood out to me was in chapter 3:

"And men began to understand that if the times were bringing forth a new breed of men, they were also bringing forth a new breed of women” (34).

I think what really stood out for me as a changing point was one of the last lines of the chapter which had Ramatoulaye saying, “Today, I will bring back something to eat” (34). The women are starting to take on new roles in society along with men whose roles are also changing as well with their decision to participate in the strike. Some of the traditions are beginning to decline as survival becomes more important and with this survival comes change. Ramatoulaye shows these characteristics during her struggles of gathering food and water, and in her conflicts with her brother Mabigué.

“At the moment the eyes of the body closed, the eyes of the mind were opened.”

—God’s Bits of wood

And So It Begins....

So, after reading the first two chapters of God’s Bits of Wood, which I will now be calling GBOW (just to make things easier), I decided to review the chapters on Spark Notes, just for clarification purposes of course. But apparently Spark Notes doesn’t want anything to do with this book. That’s right, no spark notes. I actually have to read the entire book with no assistance. Although, after painfully getting through the 600 page novel that is Crime and Punishment this mere 250 pager seems more than doable. Plus, at least after the first 2 chapters I actually found myself interested in the plot. Especially the little girl Ad'jibid'ji. Ad’jibid’ji is clearly in limbo between the Europeanized Bamako generation and her elders’ generation which clings to the old traditions of the culture. As the strike develops history will be recalled and the elders advise against a strike because of the lives that were lost in past strikes. But  since Ad’jibid’ji’s generation has a different view of the strike, they crave immediate action and want rapid change. They do not focus on past events- even if the strike could be dangerous. Although the younger generation respects the elders, especially Mamadou Keita, and have heard about the outcome of past events they want the strike and display fierce enthusiasm for the cause. This devision shows a major difference between the elders of the society and the younger generation. I belive Ad’jibid’ji’s character will provide critical insight for us as readers and help us understand the relationship between the respected elders and the excited younger generation. I really hope that she doesn't get too mixed up in the violence that will become of this novel, though from end of the second chapter i'd say it isn't looking to good.