Week 4 Reading Response, Karen Leonardo

1. A descriptive detail that especially stood out to me was when X’ said, “You couldn’t have gotten me out of books with a wedge. Between Mr. Muhammad’s teachings, m correspondence, my visitors- usually Ella and Reginald – and my reading of books, month passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life.” When I read this from X’s narrative I was completely astonished by his use of words, especially when he said, “In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life.” It is crazy to think how one could be incarcerated with no where to go, no freedom, and still somehow manage to find something that works as a distraction for him. It’s also extremely inspiring the fact that when he was imprisoned his first action was to teach himself to read and write. He wanted to better himself. He wanted to have a better relationship with the literacy world which definitely worked out for him at the end of the day. That just showed not only me but the people who were inspired by Malcom X, how one could be better they just have to really want it for themselves.
2. One structure of writing that really grabbed my attention was Sedaris’s and Anzaldua’s writings. One thing that I really enjoyed about Sedaris’s writing was how she incorporated humor into her narrative. That really grabbed my attention and I just wanted to keep on reading on and on. One thing I really liked about Anzaldua’s writing style was how she included personal experiences into her writing. It really helped me understand her writing more and made me feel the emotions she might’ve been feeling while writing her literacy narrative. In my literacy narrative I want to incorporate those two types of writing styles, although they are both very distinct from each other, I think it is still possible to do so. I just have to figure out a way to get it done.