If You Come Softly (Woodson 164-200)

summary
at the end of the story it ends with Jeremiah death. while leaving his girlfreind house he is in a happy mood. While hes' in happy that he begings to day dream as if he is on the basketball court. while he is on the court he is running down on a fast break. As he goes for the lay uo while in the air he suddenly drops. But outside of his day dream was a diffrent story. As he was running (fast break) cops call him over and over. He is black running in a white neighborhood so they see him as if he commited a crime. When he drop (collaps from the lay) up it was actually him being shot by the cops the called his name over and over. The shots ended his life.

quote
"I always hug Jeremiah like ill never see him again"

reactions
my reactions were surprised because i didnt expect his life to end the way it did. i exspected was an angry mob of people attacking him or close to that idea of attack. but my questions is the life of his girl friend. how she would react to his death in the future. Will she be able to move on after. how would his family react. the quote was strong because in ways its an link to his death. The words being said in her mind was right before jermiah left her house.

If You Come Softly (Woodson 126-164)

Summary
While reading these pages the racism has kick in more and its troubling the couple. Elisha ask how can this end. Their only solution was if they end. But that was not going to happen. Elisha waited her whole life to find someone like Jeremiah and when she finally got that person people want to take it away. From her eyes its not going to happen she won't allow it to happen. They see how strong their love is so what goes on in the outside world no longer fazes them. They look past it as they sit and stare into each other eyes. but the tension in the neighborhood rises each day as their seen together walking.

Quote
"Idea of me and Miah end is the scariest part"

Reactions
My reactions towards what I read was not any type of surprise because as I read ever time the two hung out more there love grew stronger. It seems as if nothing could end their relationship but death. The quote has a great reflection because what ends their relationship is an death. And dramatic death that leaves one numb and heartless. This death is what ends the life of the story and leaves one heart broken. to me i think the death will come to Jeremiah because he the most hated. but how he will die is still puzzled in the head.

If you come softly (Woodson 88-126)

Summary-
during these pages Jeremiah and Elisha are getting real close and serious involving there friend ship which later on turns into a relationship. Yes they do end up starting a vomited relationship. They gotten to know each other well and are beginning to love each other well. They planned a date outside there school near the biggest tree. During that day that's when there lips first lock. They sat and kissed under the shade while the sun shined the most. After the date the kiss was the only image that appeared in each other mind. They viewed their relationship as a gift. But others viewed it as non sense. As they walk the halls of their high school holding hands people acted different. They seen them different. It was a different reality for the couple.

Quote-
"some morning, there is only us in the world---but as we walk its another world"

Reactions-
while reading the story I see a perfect couple. As the describe it. They love each other. They never escape ones mind. There perfect for each other. But as the quote shows that how they see their life. But as they walk society looks at them wrong. They see them like what are they doing. As a black male and a white female it is not right for them to be toghter. The hostility turns on them because they cant even walk without people trying to separate them. Friends also. They cant walk holding hands without people looking at them. Or without people baffled about the situation like its against the law. I'm shocked because I wonder if they are going to let people get to them. If they will continue their relationship. My reaction is shocked.

If you come softly (Woodson 50-88)

Summary: throughout the pages I read Jermiah gets transferred to a different class. In the class he's ask to be seated and he sits next to Elisha then ask to share her text book. They talk like never before with an never ending talk. But when told to be silent one read while the other pretend to read but was actually gazing at the other. She took her time to gaze at him while he read then she read he look deeply at her. Now they only look forward to that class to see each other. Jermiah also meets a friend named carlton who some what explains things around the school
Quote: "The class laughed and Jermiah smiled. He has a beautiful smile"

Reaction: my reactions were based on future actions. The way they talk and stare at each other its like they feel they are mad for each other. Soul mates. So this reflects that a few more pages in the book maybe they will end up taking their relationship to the next level. The quote also shows how she has a strong feeling for him. She says his smile is beautiful. Something she cant keep hers eyes off.

If You Come Softly (Woodson 1-50)

Summary: There is a new student named Jermiah. He was black, tall, he had brown eyes the color of dried up leaves before winter, and his dreads lock deeply in his scout. He was from Brooklyn, NY. There is also a girl name Elisha. She's familiar with the school because she has been there a while. Her eyes lock on to him at first sight. There conversation was short. But to them they felt long and deep. The first 50 pages of the story is about Elisha watching him and Jermiah watching her. Clearly showing they like each other because they cant stop looking a each other. Love at first sight is was some seem to call it. It introduce these two characters and shows a future between the two.

Quote: "but on step outside. Just one step and some how the weight of his skin seemed to change. It got heavier"

Reactions: when I seen this line is had me thinking. What did she mean when she said "but on step outside. Just one step and some how the weight of his skin seemed to change. It got heavier". Knowing little about the book I did some research. I discovered there's racism involved in this book. So to me I predicted there's going to be future problems between the two. Knowing Jermiah is black and Elisha is white. People will disagree on them being toghter. This soon will promote conflict.

Still surviving (200-240)

Still surviving (200-240)

Summary: we know he was soon found innocent.  But by the time he was it was to late already they sentence his to death with a painful shock that shut down his body.  Also know as the electric chair. in these last pages it also explains how Nanon is a child from the ghetto. But a brilliant one. His father was involved with a big drug deal and was killed when Nanon was 12. Nanon is born in a world which only knows violence.  With such a family, it was easy to convict him.  Since eight years, he lives in Ellis Unit death row. He writes and read. Before prison, he wanted to attend a university and obtain a degree in psychology.  He is, in fact, a fantastic writer and should be published.

THE END

Quote:

"If I was my own man"

Reactions:

My reaction towards the story is jaw dropping.  Mainly because After seven years, his attorney, Helen Beardlsey, found out that the guy who testified against Nanon confessed to the crime on a tape and was arrested with the murder weapon. "Wow".  The quote connects to the story because it shows how Nanon was intelligent and how he was a well writer so when we read his auto biography we was in prison. He wanted to attend a university and obtain a degree in psychology.  He is in fact a fantastic writer and should be publisher.

Still surviving (150-200)

Still surviving (150-200)

Summary:

During the pages of 150-200 its explain why he's in the position he's in today? Eight years ago in Texas Nanon has been convicted of First Degree murder of 19 year old Adonius Collier. They both were purchasing drug when Nanon pulled a 25 caliber pistol and shot Collier and another man. As the second fled, he would have fired a second shotgun into Colliera's head. Then he would have left Texas for his native California,  Los Angeles, where he has been arrested three months later and sent to prison asap. But what happen then.

Quote: "the tape recording silenced the court room like a gun shot"

Reactions: my reactions are just as surprised and shocked as any other readers. I knew Nanon didn't actually do the murder but they found out by having the actual killer admit it.  Why did he take so long?. Now he had taken 3 lives. The quote shows the actual story behind Nanon situation. From a story saying he was the killer he did the crime. To the whole story being flipped and a new

Still surviving (100-150)

Summary:
In this time of the story Nanon considered himself as an inmate.  He has adapted to jail.  He's with his own crew, he's playing ball with other inmates making bets,  he begins doing push-up and work outs.  He broke his mental wall from saying I hate this place I'm getting out there's no way I'm staying here I hate everything and everyone here, now his mind set changed so now he contradicted where he had his mind before.  From trying to neglect the place and the way hes being considered to accepting the way he is being considered.  An inmate.  After he reads a book about pope joan he's beginning to question things and wonder about the way society works hes in jail and all he does it think so that iadea is what crosses i\his mind at night. the next morning hes being taking to a new setting.  where negative words are more fierce. He's now being shipped to an new jail and the rest of the pages are details about being stripped search and the rudeness of officers towards new nmates and other that have been recently arrested.  it explain hpw people do actully have right but usually inmated never enforce them so officersd feel as is they can do what ever they want.  thats why negativity is bold in this new setting.


Quote:
"Septembers sun lighted up the corner of my cell scaring away the nights darkness" (Williams 127)

Reactions:
The author talks threw 3rd person during this cretin sections.  to me this quote represents on how the author wires in a big way of an allusion.  The cell is usually dark but at some points it lighten ups.
 It shows how the character is going threw brutal emotions.  Days he can feel bright like his cell is lightened up and other times he's feel like his cell.  Cold, trap, dark, and alone.  That's why I see how this quote is some what important.  in a more simple way of explaning the quote.  The darkestness and the brightness of his days reflect his feelings. 

Still surviving (50-100)

Summary:
Throughout the pages I have read the story begins to talk about the main death in Nanon faced in his life.  Which is his father being killed by gang violence when he was at the age of 10.  The thought of his grandfather death rummage in his head.  The setting the character step into is more calm he's talking to other inmates he even has a new name which is L.A.  Nanon goes from being broken down mentally to putting him self back toghter.  He's starting to learn how to survive in prison, he's adapting to the prison life.

Quote:
"Why am I here I said while weeping in my cell, tears crawling out of eyes until I wipe them off when the gard banged on my cell door" (Williams 74)

Reaction:
The author continues to write in a way to put pictures in your head.  In a way he had showed the coming of age for Nanon he left his comfort zone his house and was sentence to prison since the age of 17 and since then he was been considered as an adult.  He has made his own decision he's making his own decision that he can and he's living off himself.  Being accepted into the new prison he had made friends he shows who he is and he's being supported by other inmates and this one staff.  This quote is important because it reveals how he's an innocent man but before it was realized he's been sentence already.  The quote helps paint that picture in your head about how he feels.  what he says wrap the story all up because it says why he's in jail and it answers the questions. why is he in jail, the quote shows he's didn't do the murder which is the question who did he kill and why.  Which is no one.  So it clears a lot about why he is facing death row and who did he kill if he actually killed someone and why.

still surviving pg1-50

Joshwa hall

10-1-10

Summary:  pages 1-50

So far threw the marvelous section I read from page 1-50 what is being describe is the main character who is Nanon, also who is the writer of the book.  He talks about the pain that burns threw him and his family because of his death sentence is facing.  Which mean life in jail until he gets the death penalty.  He goes from being petrified to not letting anything get to him.  He is ready for death row cause he realized he has no choice and crying wont help, nor will sorrow.  These pages 1-50 summarize his settlement in the prison and why he is there but not actually why he is there because he didn’t actually do the crim.  As said on the back of the  book.

Quote:

“The winter night was dark and rainy.  I fell asleep in my bunk at the Harris county jail.  When I awoke cold air was storming through the corridor like a freezing gas that paralyzed the nervous system” (Williams 1).  This shows the author style because it shows how he wants the reader to picture the book s a movie.  Every sentence you read creates a picture in your head.

Reaction:

A I said the way the author writes he uses strong words and sentences to express that he sees, feels, and thinks.  His overall emotion about everything.  The quote help symbolize where he at and no matter what the weather is, the feeling remains the same.  When you think about cold you think about not being warmed, numbness, no feeling ,it’s a cold place as in an hatred place.  The quote kind of raps up the setting and the feeling throughout the story