Similar to the first 114
pages of Eleanor and
Park, I read the next one hundred pages in one sitting. In
fact, I couldn’t wait to get home on Thursday just to be able to read. Books
have not been that exciting in a while.
As the story progressed,
I liked how Park’s family became more involved. When Park’s mom,
Mindy, observed Eleanor with her family at the grocery store, that seemed to
remind her of a personal connection. Mindy commented that she knew about having
many siblings. From that point on, Park invited Eleanor over with his mom’s approval. Park also had his dad consistently inviting Eleanor to stay
for dinner, and insisting that it be considered an open invitation. Park's dad invited Eleanor especially
because he knew her step-dad, Richie, and knew it would probably be
better to be at their house instead of her own house. I liked this because it
took away some of the individual burden Eleanor felt. Eleanor even shared more
with Park about her home life.
Is there a price to pay
for that support? Park’s mom, Mindy, is a beautician, with their garage as her
shop. It is easy to tell that Mindy enjoys what she does for the business and
she also enjoys it personally. In fact, her view of females is that they
present themselves with makeup on and hair done. Mindy tries to encourage
Eleanor with this, promising the makeup will all wash off. Although Eleanor
goes along with trying this out, to her it feels fake. This is a difference
that really stands out between Eleanor and many of the female characters in the
story. I am not stating that it is not fun to dress up sometimes. Society’s expectation,
which has not changed much since the 1980’s, is that females be pretty to look at and be available for the
male in their life. Eleanor’s mom and step-dad are like this, too. When Eleanor
wears what she does, she is presenting herself, which is hard for the other
characters to believe or accept. Park constantly comments that Eleanor must be trying to capture attention because of the clothes she wears and what she adds to her hair. We discussed these points regularly in a gender and women’s
studies class. Although I am not certain of how to change these norms, like
Eleanor, I tend to not use makeup and choose styles to wear because I feel
comfortable with them. I have friends who will not walk out of the house without "putting their face on" or doing their hair. Neither are wrong or right, yet there is a social standard. How do you choose presentations of yourself?
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Actually, Mindy's eventual acceptance of Eleanor- and really just the route she goes through to get to that point is really in my opinion one of the cooler parts of the book.
ReplyDeleteWhile Mindy, at first glance, is not that similar to Eleanor- causing an already nervous mother to reject her sons girlriend- that eventually she DOES find a way to relate to Eleanor just shows how perfectly perfect these characters can be. Mindy always wants what is best for her son, and is genuinely I think a good character- but she falls into many of the same prejudices that she herself has probably faced in the past. Once she realizes this and accepts it and moves on, I feel you almost cant help but respect her a bit.
I do like Mindy and agree that the route to accepting Eleanor is cool. Other than that, they are on different paths. I think there is a lot of respect developing between them. Mindy is portrayed as a stereotype, though, and it is nice to see her change because it gives her more depth and a hint of her background. I totally agree she wants what is best for her son and I hope she continues to change.
DeleteWhen Parks father kept inviting Eleanor to stay for dinner, and told her that if she was more comfortable at their house than her own that they would be happy to have her made me like him more than previously because we only read how hard he is on Park. Everyone has different interests and has different views on woman in society and I think that Park's mother was trying to relate to her the only way she knew how, by showing what being a girly girly is like which may not be right, but I think in the book it was her way of making an effort to relate to Eleanor with the only thing they have in common: being female.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point that Mindy is using the make-over to relate as females. It is cool that she is trying, and that we get to see another side of Park's father.
DeleteIt is interesting to me that while Eleanor feels like she is lying while wearing makeup, Park feels more like himself while wearing it. Perhaps this story is trying to show the variation in what makes people feel like themselves.
DeleteI totally agree!
DeleteI really like the acceptance that Park's mom has started giving Eleanor. I was surprised that Mindy even asked Eleanor if she could give her a makeover. I'm sure Mindy can clearly tell that Eleanor isn't they type of girl to wear makeup or care too much about her hair. But I think it was still a kind gesture to try to show Eleanor that she likes her and tried to get her out of her comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how Park's family got more involved. I was so frustrated with Park's mom at first, so I really liked the scene when she kind of opened up with Park about her siblings. I think she feels bad for Eleanor, and hopefully that turns into a closer relationship for them.
ReplyDeleteThat would be cool if a deeper relationship developed between Mindy and Eleanor.
DeleteYou made very good points throughout your blog. It was interesting to see Mindy show Eleanor her nice side that is often talked about throughout the story. I was happy to see Mindy being about to relate a little to Eleanor.
ReplyDelete