Reading Log Week 5

Book: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

Tuesday, 11/1
Pages Read: 1-39
Minutes Read: 35

Multiple perspectives

The chipmunk regrets breaking up with the chipmunk and uses it as an opportunity to reflect on that one decision that changed her life.

"the chipmunk forgot that she and the squirrel had nothing to talk about...forgot the definition of 'jazz' as well and came to think of it as every beautiful thing she had ever failed to appreciate,"(Sedaris 21).

The chipmunk was so worried about what the word "jazz" meant and the fact that she and squirrel had nothing to talk about, that she broke up with him. She realizes that she made a mistake as she got older and she soon forgot about the reasons why she broke up with him. She remembered him  as the squirrel she loved and thought of the meaning of the word "jazz", which was something he really loved. In the end, she was sad that she did not have squirrel, but she took it as an opportunity to treasure everything in life she has.

Thursday, 11/3
Pages Read: 39-73
Minutes Read: 30

Friday, 11/4
Pages Read: 74-99
Minutes Read: 25

Patterns

The pattern I notice in this book is that Sedaris switches the theme drastically in each short excerpt.

"The crow moved beside her and plucked out the eyes of the newborn lamb," (Sedaris 82).
"Since she was injected with AIDS, I've detected an outlook a lot less perfumy. Funny... it actually did make him feel better," (Sedaris 89)
" 'You'll see,' his voice a little song that hung in the air long after he'd disappeared," (Sedaris 99).

At the end of each excerpt, Sedaris ends each of them differently. They each have different themes as well. In the crow and the lamb one, Sedaris ends the excerpt with the lamb being tricked by the crow. In the second one with the two mice, the male mice is happy that his female roommate is being injected with AIDS in the lab. In he third excerpt, Sedaris ends it with the turkey not giving the cow his "Secret Santa"  gift but tells him in a more mysterious way. Sedaris set a different mood in each as well as a different theme in each excerpt to set the overall tone of his book. The way he does it however makes it all mix together.

Sunday, 11/6
Pages Read: 75-159
Minutes Read: 90