The Namesake (Pages 72-158)

Title: The Namesake
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Pages: 72-158
Chapters: 4-6

SUMMARY: Ashima, Ashoke and Gogol invite a new family member into their family, Sonali. Gogol feels kind of humiliated by his name now. It was Gogol's fourteenth birthday and his parents threw him a huge party but he was disappointed. He didn't know half of the kids and he didn't prefer the gifts. His father gave him a book from Nikolai Gogol, the man whom he was named after, but he doesn't like it either. It is ironic how he preferred the name "Gogol" when he was a kid and now due to peer pressure, Gogol wants to change his name to Nikhil. Gogol turns eighteen and he legally wants to change his name and get rid of Gogol. Although he did change his name, his friends, sister and his family still know him as Gogol. Only thing different is that he is known as Nikhil in college. He felt like he is finally fitting in with the college kids. Gogol meets a girl named Ruth in his sophomore year but she leaves him to go to Oxford. Gogol was finally confronted by the real truth. His father tells him the story about the train accident he was in. He tell shim that he reminds him of that day and it makes a great effect on Gogol. Gogol graduates from college in the subject of Architecture almost like his dad's field and starts to live in New York. There he meets a girl named Maxine Ratliff who invites him over to meet her parents and they click together. They share similar interest in architecture. Ashoke leaves off to Ohio for the research grant. Ashima is home alone. Before that Gogol introduces Maxine to his parents.

QUOTATION: " 'What's her name?' 'Max.' 'That's a boy's name.' He shakes his head. 'No, Ma. It's Maxine'" (Lahiri 145).

REACTION: This quote is very humorous yet familiar to me personally in an eerie way. Gogol has finally began to got a hold on girls now that his name is Nikhil and he isn't anymore ridiculed like in high school. His new love interest is Maxine or Max. While Gogol talks to his mom about this new girl Maxine, he tells her name is Max and his mother thinks that it's a boy. He is quite embarrassed but in India, Nepal and Southeast Asia, Moms tend to embarrass their children by asking them questions about their new love interest.

The Namesake (Pages 1-72)

Title: The Namesake
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Pages: 1-72
Chapters: 1-4

SUMMARY: The setting takes place in 1968. Ashima Ganguli was close to her due date and her husband Ashoke was expecting a new family member. They are both from Bengali family in India. Ashoke was a student in MIT and Ashima was taken to the hospital. Ashoke had to go to MIT so Ashima felt lonely in the hospital surrounded by complete strangers although they are there to help her. Ashima starts to have flashback to how she first met Ashoke when their parents were arranging their marriage. In India, almost all of the families live upon the belief of arranged marriage. They were married in Bengali style traditional wedding where the bride is decorated by her aunts and female relatives as she leaves her father's house. At that time Ashoke was in B.E. Institutional college where he was the top of his class. As Ashima was lying on the hospital bed, she thought of how nothing distracted Ashoke. He could read and walk at the same time and spent his childhood with his Grandfather reading books. He was different from his siblings. In October 20, 1961, Ashoke left to see his grandfather who became blind so he was to inherit all of his books. He got into a huge train accident which still haunted him. His traveling partner Ghosh was killed. A baby boy was born and he was given the name Gogol due to the hospitals requirement for a birth certificate name. The name was supposed to be decided by Ashima's grandmother but the letter never came. Gogol was named after Ashoke's favorite Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. Ashoke gets his dream job as a professor and they do a traditional rice feeding for Gogol with other Bengalis. Ashima was strucked by the news that her father recently died after her grandmother was permanently paralyzed in her right side. They go to India and after a while they move to a University area in the suburbs. Surprisingly, Ashima found out that she was pregnant again when Gogol was five years old. Gogol's new name becomes Nikhil, the one who conquers all, according to Ashoke but the school teachers call him Gogol as it was on his birth certificate and he prefers the name.

QUOTATION: "Ashoke's mother was always convinced that her eldest son would be hit by a bus or a train, his nose deep into War and Peace. That he would be reading a book the moment he died" (Lahiri 13).


REACTION: This is definitely a horrid foreshadowing. The writer's style is amazing how she can shift her writing from one time period to another by giving vivid yet very descriptive explanations of characters, objects and situations. It was foreshadowing because the reader knows that Ashoke is the eldest son and he is the only character in the book who loves reading and is very passionate about it. It is going to lead up to the train accident which his mother was aware of. There is another element there, Dramatic Irony.

The Chocolate War (Pages 216-263)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 216-263
Chapters: 32-39

SUMMARY: After the harsh beating, Janza was asked by Archie why he involved other kids. According to Janza, he wanted to psychologically hurt Jerry by calling him "Queer" and gang bang him by kids who would beat their grandmothers for quarters. That was very pathetic. Janza worked for Archie because of his black mail picture but Archie divulged that there was no picture. Janza was relieved and proud that he might be recruited to The Vigils. Jerry became invisible and the only friend he had, Goober, was absent. He felt relaxed, as he wasn't bothered by anyone. Nineteen thousand nine hundred fifty boxes of chocolates out of twenty thousand had been sold and the remaining fifty belongs to Jerry. Brother Leon only cared about the result and was looking forward to be the headmaster. Archie sets up a raffle in the school announcing Jerry vs. Janza in the boxing ring. The raffle tickets are all sold out and everyone attended except the Brothers. The raffle shows where Jerry is going to hit and how, same for where Janza will hit Jerry. The fight began and the crowd cheered. Goober was there to see Jerry although he was sick. Janza hit Jerry several times but he lost the bet as Jerry blocked the last punch so Janza knocked Jerry out in anger. Brother Leon had been watching this for the whole time because Archie kept him for The Vigil's protection if the situation gets worse. The Vigils were in the clear as Jerry was sent to the hospital.

QUOTATION: "Of course not. That's why he blew up. If you want to get under a guy's skin, accuse him of being something he isn't. Otherwise, you're only telling him something he knows" (Cormier 222)

REACTION: There you go, one of Archie's genius plans. Archie is real smart in terms of beating people psychologically. He told Janza to call Jerry a "queer," which Jerry was not, so that Jerry would be furious and try to fight Janza. Archie planned this out the whole time. Now it came to my mind that Jerry didn't sell those chocolates so Archie was trying to make him pay for it. First of all, After Archie was challenged by Renault, he sent Janza to beat him up both mentally and physically. Secondly, Jerry was angered so he agreed to fight Janza while Archie took profit of the raffle tickets and added it to the chocolate sale. Thirdly, Archie got Leon in his side so that if Jerry was hurt extremely, Leon will cover for The Vigils because Archie assisted him with the sales. Lastly, Archie reigned supreme simply giving out another message of "Don't mess with Archie Costello." This was a great book, especially for boys because there is a lot of drama and violence that can relate to daily life of teenage students. Mr. Robert Cormier deserves a true Bravo.

The Chocolate War (Pages 172-216)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 172-216
Chapters: 25-32

SUMMARY: The Vigils surrounded Jerry as they asked him why he wasn't selling chocolates anymore. Archie tried to intimidate Jerry by calling out random Vigils asking them how many they sold. The numbers were great but it was just a lie to frighten Jerry that there is no secret in the Vigils. The great Archie Costello had to "ask" Jerry to take the assignment. He had never "asked" anyone. Obie was extremely elated inside to see Archie Costello fall down for the first time. A skinny freshman kid has challenged the great Archie Costello. Archie kept cool so he let things pass by. Jerry constantly received prank calls at home. Next day, someone raided his locker and messed up his sneakers. Jerry was in awe that this activity was so immature. He was also attacked in the football field but he didn't know who it was. Brian was the student who kept records of the chocolate sale. Carter bullied him into giving credit to Vigil's members who didn't even sell chocolates. Fifteen thousand chocolates had been sold and Brother Leon was jovial. During roll call, Darcy asked Leon why Jerry wasn't selling any chocolates then the Great Debate occurred and the class went back and forth about Jerry's decision. Surprisingly, Goober stopped selling chocolates as well. He sided up with Jerry's existentialism but his sales record said he sold his fifty boxes. Goober was flabbergasted. Emile Janza and some six kids attacked Jerry until he vomited. They wanted him to sell chocolates but beating wasn't enough to stop Jerry Renault.

QUOTATION: "Blood stung Archie's cheeks and a pulse throbbed dangerously in his temple. No one had ever talked to him that way before" (Cormier 187).

REACTION: While reading this quote, my blood was rushing up and down. To see the great Archie Costello fall down was the ultimate scene. I had a feeling that Jerry's action will stir up the Vigils. People began to question Archie about Jerry, freshman kid who challenged the vigils. Carter had to take action and beat up to guys who asked those questions. Suddenly, Carter became in charge and the guys applauded for him. Archie faded in darkness for a while. Even Carter challenged him that if Archie doesn't do anything about this chocolate sale and Jerry, he is going to collapse. It was the moment of success for Obie to see Archie under pressure but Archie soon took control of the Vigils because he worked faster when he was under pressure. This part was the most intensifying scene so far.

The Chocolate War (Pages 120-172)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 120-172
Chapters: 18-25

SUMMARY: The Goober along with everyone else thinks that Jerry is carrying out a Vigil's assignment. However, they were all wrong. Jerry is refusing to sell chocolates because of his own little reason, not that anyone was coercing him to rebel. His actions were affecting many others in Trinity. Soon, most kids began to applaud for Jerry's rebelliousness and admired him. Even some of the seniors extolled him, astonished by his actions. Jerry exerted this young defiant vibe that began catching up to most of the students like a chain reaction. Archie's assignments now seem to be clear and patterned. He wants to ruin the brothers (teachers) and make them miserable. Brother Jacques' room faced almost the similar fate, students jumping on top of the table. It was all Archie's plan. He wanted everyone to be wild when Brother Jacques said the word "environment." The plan was to cross off that vocabulary word but Brother Jacques was aware of the plan so he turned the tables and kept saying the word until the students were exhausted. That was pretty amazing. The words had spread around the school. The seniors have started to follow Jerry Renault's idea. No one had thought about the idea of refusing to sell chocolates even though they were all exhausted of selling chocolates.

QUOTATION: "I'm getting sick of selling stuff. Jeez, my father's starting to call me 'my son, the salesman'" (Cormier 140).

REACTION: This quote is humorous and ironic. Trinity is the college prep school around New England according to the book. Trinity's annual chocolate sales have begun to turn the students to 'salesman' rather than preparing them for college and higher level of education. That is the irony. On the other hand, its funny how the parents go along with the school's tradition rather than questioning the school officials. This quote was said by Danny, a senior who is in agreement with most other seniors that are in the movement to use the idea of Jerry Renault. They are all sick and tired of selling chocolates, running up to people and beseeching them to buy their candies like beggars. Who would like that? Certainly, not me. This book is about to take a huge turn and who knows what’s going to happen. It is going to be exciting.

The Cholate War (Pages 66-120)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 66-120
Chapters: 9-18

SUMMARY: As Archie had planned, Brother Eugene's room collapsed as every chair and desks fell down. Brother Eugene felt miserable, gaping at his diminished room. Brother Leon rushed to the room and pushed Archie to the wall and admonished and yelled at Archie for all the damage he provided to the room. Leon couldn't do anything more because he had a deal with the Vigils in selling his chocolate boxes. Archie was smirking at his opus of destruction. At the football field, Jerry received a chance to prove to the coach his capability of making the team. Jerry snapped the ball and looked for a receiver. Carter jumped at him but was tackled by a defender. Jerry approached back, feeling the freedom, passed the ball to The Goober. Jerry was tackled but the pass was successful. The coach complimented Jerry and called him a "skinny son of a -----." This was how the coach appreciated a player into the team, calling them by the name. The Goober maintained a high rapport with the senior football players. It was time for accepting the chocolate boxes. Every kid replied as yes where as Jerry said No, rebelling against it. Jerry kept doing this for a week giving everyone a fear when Brother Leon will rage at the whole class. The story shifts to different characters. Tubs, a chubby kid with a beautiful girlfriend, was striving to maintain a financial level in order to buy his girlfriend Rita a necklace that she wanted so badly. He saved every cent from his allowance, slipping greasy dollars from his father’s pocket and the chocolate box money. Rita actually loved him for who he was. He bought her the gift counting the money plus tax. They went out on a picnic and she let him get closer to her. He received the ultimate chance to touch her body parts although he was shy. Now, panic strikes Tubs. How is he going to pay for the chocolate box money that he used to buy Rita a necklace?

QUOTATION: "Suddenly Jerry spotted Goober's waving hand. Jerry avoided fingers that tore at his sleeve and he unloosed the ball. Someone brushed his hip but he shrugged off the blow. The pass was beautiful" (Cormier 77).

REACTION: My ultimate reaction was very exciting with intense emotions. Personally, I have never read a book that actually intensified my emotions until The Chocolate War. While reading this quote, I felt like I was in a football field right next to Jerry watching the beautiful pass fly by. Recently, I have developed an interest in football and this quote elated me from my bed. It's amazing how books can actually drill a hole into the reader's mind so furtively prowling inside until you strike back to reality. Now that Jerry is executing a rebellious side, the book will be even better.

The Chocolate War (Pages 1-66)

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Pages: 1-66
Chapters: 1-9

SUMMARY: The book is narrated in a third person omniscient viewpoint. Jerry Renault is the protagonist in the story. The story starts off in a football field setting where Jerry is crushed by the game. Jerry wants to play football but he is not so good at it so the coach tells him to practice more. The school (Trinity) is literally ran by a group called 'The Vigils.' They are supposed to be unknown/under cover and no one dares to even whisper their name although every one knows about them. The president is Carter who is in the football team but he doesn't control the group. The assigner's name is Archie Costello and he controls the whole group. Everyone is afraid of him and exalt him of his wisdom and quickness. The school has teachers who are also afraid of Archie. Brother Leon is one of the ignorant teachers who always trick his students into a trap. Brother Leon implored Archie
in helping him sell twenty thousand boxes of candies. By Archie's help, he meant 'The Vigils' help but he couldn't say the word. Jerry's mom had passed away and he is alone with his dad who works overnight shifts and doesn't have so much to talk to Jerry. Jerry thinks that his dad's life should be very insipid because there is no excitement. Archie has an assistant whose name is Obie. As Archie picks a boy from the football team, Obie writes down the person's name and his information. Archie then assigns the job. The Vigil's notebook has more information from family history to medical records compared to the school's record book. Archie assigns 'The Goober’ who is a new boy in the football team to loosen all the screws in Brother Leon's room overnight. When Archie assigns an assignment, there is a pin drop silence and the vigils surround the person who takes the assignment. There is a black box which contains six marbles: five of them white and one of them black. If the assigner picks the black marble, he has to carry out the assignment but Archie had always beaten the box for 3 straight years.

QUOTATION: "But everyone knew that the head of The Vigils was The Assigner, Archie Costello, who was always one step ahead of them all" (Cormier 32).

REACTION: My reaction was that Archie is beautiful. His wisdom shakes the knees of the whole Vigils with ease. Wisdom is stronger than strength. The president was Carter, the muscle Archie needed to keep things in order. His errand boy was Obie who followed his instructions although he hated him. The ways Archie responds and assigns things are amazing. This quote alone proves how strong Archie is. He is just a skinny guy but mentally he is the strongest and smartest. You cannot defeat the power of wisdom with physical strength. The book is written in a third narrator omniscient view so it feels like the reader is in the story spying over all the characters. The tense situation brings out the chills. Comparing it to the film To Kill A Mockingbird, it is almost as if the reader is Boo Radley, viewing things in his perspective.