Let us start with Paris to the Moon by Gopnik. Ugh. I'm honestly just not sure what it was about. I'm pretty sure it was a story about moving to France, but it just didn't capture me like the previous 2 stories. Yet, If I consider it against the Narrative Life, every moment and adventure in life is worth recording. And while I was reading it, I did think about my own trip to England a couple of years ago. Boy was that an experience. I flew overseas for the first time, almost didn't make it into the England because the customs lady didn't like me, and I slept in a hostel. I should have recorded more from that trip. Live and learn I guess.

    As for Billy the Kid, it was interesting to say the least. Since this was only an excerpt from the piece, I would eventually like to read more of it to better reflect upon it. However, I did enjoy the author's use of color. In one passage he talked about darkness and black, and in the others he mentioned red, white, and yellow. It allowed me to picture things clearer. I also liked that he included passages that were almost poem/prose like. My favorite line was actually the last: "sad billys out/ floating barracuda in the brain." (Ondaatje)

    The first reading that I liked was the Narrative Life. Overall, I think the author made many good points. After reading this, I felt like it was now my responsibility as a writer to record whatever I can, no matter how trivial I may think it is. If I think back over my childhood, there are probably many things I should have recorded by now. Because like Pagnucci explained, children are natural story tellers (67-68). I have a 10-year-old niece who tells me at least 2, 10 minute stories every time I see her. The climax of the stories range from her favorite song that played on the radio on the way to school or how her friend has the same shirt as her. Though they are not the best stories, they are well told and explained. She never excludes details.
    The other thing I liked about that reading was what Pagnucci said about using "I."Up until about last semester, I was told by all of my professors to leave out "I" in my papers. It was only really during last semester that I was encouraged to use it in some my papers. And it makes sense. We inevitably put ourselves into each paper we write, so why not include the giant elephant in the middle of the room? USE I!

    The other reading that I enjoyed was Native Hill. The first point that really stuck out to me was the point that Berry made about being born 5 years later. Our world has advanced so quickly with technology over the past 50 years or so that its hard to imagine a life without the amenities that we enjoy. I look at how I've grown up and wonder what kind of gadgets my future kids will be playing with as they grow up.
    In addition, I also liked the distinction he made between a road and a path. In the way Berry described it, a path is more natural. People or creatures traveling along it move with its natural obstacles, like roots, streams, and trees. A road on the other hand, plows everything in its way. It destroys trees and wildlife, and it covers over ravines and streams. As a society, we have taken nature for granted. Lately, efforts have been made to "Go Green." But is it really just an advertising catchphrase at this point?
    The last thing I liked in his essay was his hints toward religion; Christianity to be exact. He mentioned heaven and the story of Solomon (24). He also compared  topsoil to Christ (25), and a few pages later he talked about the Sabbath. I liked picking up on all these little clues as I read.