Farming of Bones

   In class on Tuesday, Ali and I led the class discussion on The Farming of Bones. We discussed the important themes of the book and the background and plot surrounding the narrative. As we mentioned, the most important theme of this narrative is the importance of memory. Throughout the story, Amabelle frequently remembers her parents and times they shared before they died. By recalling these memories, Amabelle is making sure that she does not lose them. Memories are one of the most important things that we possess. Memories allow us to maintain who we are and stay close to our roots. These memories are extremely sacred to Amabelle epecially during such drastic changes in her early life. She misses her parents, and misses her home in Haiti. 

   This theme of remembering one's past is a theme that is studied throughout this course and has been exemplified in each book we have read so far. It is interesting to be able to make connections between each book and tie them together, while still being able to separate them and distinguish their differences and unique stories. 

On page 224, Amabelle recalls a saying that her father always said, “Misery won't touch you gentle. It always leaves its thumbprints on you; sometimes it leaves them for others to see, sometimes for nobody but you to know of.” I think that this is a very powerful quote that captures the book as a whole. Not only does it help the reader to get further into the mmd of Amabelle and understand her story, it also encourages the reader to apply this concept to his or her own life. Sometimes it is easy to forget that everyone is fighting a battle. No matter how big or small, it is extremely important to remember that you are not the only one going through a hard time, nor are you alone in it. I really appreciate the meaning of this book because it is extremely humbling. This is my favorite we have read so far. I actually might even go back and read it for pleasure when I have more time to really get into it and enjoy it.