Group Critique

Today after group critique, I think I finally have enough feedback to finish one of my essays and also enough feedback to add a lot more writing to my foreword. It helps to read other peoples work so that you can see how they transition their paragraphs, I was having trouble with transitions but now after reading my partners work I think im okay.

Dead Chicken Theme in Blue Angel

Blue Angel is quite interesting of a novel, however there is this one theme that I think I picked up on, I am not sure however if it is actually a theme that the author meant to put in the book, however I can't help but think that this idea was put in intentionally. The idea is based off the mention of the kid having sex with a dead chicken. Throughout the first 63 pages it seemed that swenson has sex in the back of his mind, but when hr brings up having sex with his wife in the clinic that she works at, she kinda makes an excuse as to why they shouldn't have sex in the clinic. If you continue to read on, you come across the weird relationship in which swenson and angela start. All of this brings me to the conclusion that the kid having sex with a dead chicken is a representation of Swensons sex life, which seems to be dead. It explains why Swenson discusses the story with his creative writing class, and why it seems to come up throughout the first 63 pages. This of course is all speculation, but it is something to think about when you continue to read.

Blue Angel

It would appear as though Swenson was interested in what Angela wrote. As he came down to the part where he’s finishing, his expression is demonstrating that he probably read it before and she might have plagiarized. It would appear as though he picked up him phone because he was either going to verify what he found out or report it.

Blue Angel

       Towards the end of the third chapter in Blue Angel, the author begins to write about how close Angela and Swenson have become with each other and builds some context about their relationship. The way they act towards each other and even Swenson’s thoughts while he’s with her. From here it is safe to assume that Swenson and Angela will become more intimate or Swenson will put a stop before it goes to far.

Blue Angel

I feel like Swenson is intrigued by Angela’s novel. He really likes it and is surprised she could write something like that. He was skeptical at one point that she may have plagiarized. I have a feeling that he might get too interested and it could lead to something bad, judging from the cover of the book.

Blue Angel

After reading the first 25 pages of the book I was extremely confused. I have no idea what this book is talking about or where it is going. I tried to look for summaries to maybe help me figure out what I was reading but there are none online. If anyone can briefly explain to me what is going on or where to find summaries that might help me, please let me know!!

From the questions that professor Talbird has posted, this is what I THINK I know...

1. I think that Swenson has a comfortable relationship with Angela, I know that in the very beginning that were kind of joking around with each other. I think his relationships seem laid back.
2. I think this novel is written from a narrator and Swensons point of view. That makes the reader understand Swensons side of conversations and what not a little better then the others in the book.
3. Based on what I've read, I don't really know whats going to happen because I honestly don't even know whats going on at this point in the book. As I read on maybe I will have a better prediction of how the book is going to turn out.

Beginning Fiction: Blue Angel

Ted Swenson is a writer-in-residence at a liberal arts college in New England. It's a small town and everyone--not just the other faculty and students, but a waitress at a restaurant and the owner of the bookstore--know him and make assumptions about him, namely that he is working on his third novel. However, we, the readers of this novel, know something different. What does it tell us about this protagonist that he is teaching students how to write fiction and he no longer writes it himself?

Other questions:

• What do you think of his relationship w/ Angela Argo so far? His relationship w/ his wife? With his daughter? With his colleagues?
• What is the point-of-view of this novel and how does that affect the way you're reading it?
• Based on what you've read so far, what do you expect to happen? 
• What questions do you have so far?