Book 1 Post 2

 American Like Me, edited by America Ferrera

The book was not what I expected.  When I first read the book summary I thought it would be a more upbeat and happy book, but as I started it I started to realize the insecurities and worries that all people have. This wasn't a glorified version, but a raw and honest depiction. 

 I liked the way the book started.  It talked about names.  Names are something that I have a lot of understanding with realizing that my last name is unique.  I never really knew about this until high school where it became prevalent.  Especially going to an all boys school.  I really felt for both America and Reshma but for different ways.  I empathized with America as when my name is called people are usually fascinated with it, think its funny, and smirk.  As for reshma I empathized with the fact that often I will not say my last name when it is not needed.  It is often easier to not have to deal with the whole ordeal just kind of like how she would have to do at Starbucks.  I never really thought about this, and usually brushed it off or laughed it off but this was an interesting to know that many other people deal with the same thing just in a slightly different manner.  

I also sensed a theme about fitting in throughout all of the stories.  This is a very primal instinct and something that is very apparent when you are young.  I feel as though people start to grow out of this fear as they get older but the scaring can still be there.  I believe that everyone deals with trying to fit in.  No matter how perfect other people may think you are within everyone there is something that they are worried about or might want to change.  It takes maturity to grow out of this.  This is only heightened when there is a physical difference that you cannot change.  This is something that I have always been sensitive towards others, as you cannot change it.  This brought me back to when I was young as well.  I was always a bigger kid and I always had to deal with this.  And this understanding of what it is like has always stuck with me and made me never do this to others.  This was something that I was able to change and I can't imagine what it would be like when you cannot change that attribute of yourself.  There was good insight within the stories that gave me a window into what it might be like, but I feel as though it is something I will never fully understand without going through it myself.  

Something I was expecting and something that I enjoyed was the connection to their identity.  I always enjoy understanding about people and their identity and how it shapes them.  Half of my family is from the United Kingdom and the other is from Italy.  While these seem similar, because they came over fairly recently it is interesting to see how different they act.  Culture has such an impact on developing the person, what they care about, and how they act.  This insight into others cultures is an attribute that I looked for in this book.  I loved hearing what other cultures valued and why. Al's part especially highlighted this part and the importance of family.  This epitomized what I looked for and gave me great insight into his culture.  Even though his culture was very different there were more similarities than differences.  Italians have a lot of similarities with other marginalized groups as they themselves were once marginalized.  Reading these stories, seeing what I see within my own family made this book and enjoyable read and deepened my understanding of others.