Posting #3

Posting #3
The Color of Water
Chapters 10-15

Quote Analysis

1. Quote from Page 88:
"Every morning we hit the door at six-thirty, fanning out across the city like soldiers, armed with books, T squares, musical instruments, an 'S' bus pass that allowed you to ride the bus and subway for a nickel, and a free-school-lunch coupon in out pocket. Even the tiniest of us knew the subway and local bus schedules and routes by heart."

2. I chose this quote because it shows what James' family went through just to get to school. Each kid had to take a different bus to school just to get to the Jewish schools that the monarch Mommy chose for them. It also shows how poor James' family really is, using the bus passes that allowed for a cheaper fare and free lunch tickets for school.

3. I have learned that James' school route was quite different than what we consider normal today. For James as well, he was thinking about the kids that could walk to school and why he had to take an hour and a half bus ride to school. He did not understand why he had to go to a Jewish school, so I imagine that every day that he rode the bus to school, he would be wondering why he couldn't go to a school down the street and walk.

Questions:
1. In your own opinion, why do you think the guy on the street corner is called "Chicken Man"?

2. In Chapter 12, James realizes that at one point he had a real father. But instead of seeing his actual dad, who died before he was born, he imagines Hunter Jordan Sr. How would you feel if you didn't know your own dad and instead of imagining him, you imagined someone else?

Posting #2

Posting #2
The Color of Water
Chapters 5-10

Quote Analysis

1. Quote from Pg. 65
"I was what Mommy called a 'Little Kid,' one of the five young'uns, microscopic dots on the power grid of the household, thus fit to be tied, tortured, trickled, tormented, ignored, and commanded to suffer all sorts of indignities at the hands of the 'Big Kids,' who didn't have to go to sleep early, didn't believe in the tooth fairy, and were appointed denizens of power by Mommy, who of course wielded ultimate power."

2. I chose this quote because it shows how the living conditions were for James growing up. How the house was kind of like a social pyramid, with the all powerful Mommy at the top and slowly winding down to the peon Little Kids.

3. This will effect James' life will like as he grows up, always on the bottom of the social pyramid with the all powerful Mommy at the top. This quote also reveals a lot into James' life as it shows what home life was like for him. Later in the chapter, it says that his brothers and sisters were his best friends, so this gives us insight into what his closest buddies are.

Questions:
1. On pg. 85, James asks his Mommy what the deals are, and she answers that the Jews have the deals. Do you think there is a deeper meaning to this?

2. Chapter 7, Sam, has a very in depth look at one of James' brothers. If you were James, what would your feelings toward Sam be?

Posting #1

Posting #1
The Color of Water
Pgs. 1-57

Quote Analysis:
"You don't need money. What's money if your mind is empty! Educate your mind! Is this world crazy or am I the crazy one? It's probably me."

Response:
I chose this quote because it says a lot about the mom. She can be wise in a way at times, but also crazy too. It also tells us a little bit about how she treats her daughter. It shows she wants the best for her daughter by teaching her a little about what not to do, but even though the mother's heart is in the right place, her lessons are a little off.

Significance:
This quote has definitely showed us the mother's personality. Quotes like these will probably become more and more significant as the story progresses as it shows how the mother will cope with her kids in the story.


1. Ruth, the mother of the children, has a very interesting personality. How do you think this personality will affect the children in the later story?

2. Ruth does call herself white in front of her children, why do you think this is?