MuskaE_B08L03D_Blog1

Summary

Katherine is narrating the story. Katherine and Erica go to a New Years Eve Party together. (Erica is Katherine’s outspoken best friend.) The party is hosted by Sybil, Erica’s cousin. Sybil is described by Katherine as being extremely intelligent, but also promiscuous. At the fondue party, a boy named Michael Wagner introduces himself to Katherine. Katherine acts turned off by his forwardness, and begins to talk to a creepy, uninteresting boy. Jealousy arises in Katherine when she spies Michael is at the party with a girl (Elizabeth). Before going to sleep, Erica talks to Katherine about Michael. Erica reveals that he had asked for Katherine’s number.

The next morning, Michael calls. He says he is coming to get his records. Before he arrives, Katherine inquires about him to Sybil. Sybil reveals that Elizabeth is not his girlfriend, and that Michael’s a senior like them. Michael had come over in truth to see Katherine; not retrieve his records. Katherine’s dad is going to pick her up later, so Katherine and Michael decide to spend time together. Michael drives. They take a walk by the lake. It is obvious that they are beginning to fall for each other. Michael kisses Katherine two times before she leaves.

Katherine tells her Mom about the boy she met.

Jamie is introduced; Katherine’s younger sister. She is in junior high and is very artistic.

Michael is different from Tommy Anderson, who Katherine used to like. Tommy dated her, so that he could have sex. Michael is more emotionally invested in Katherine, and makes sure to call her every night.

Before their date, Michael comes over Katherine’s house. Katherine is nervous, because her family is sitting around hooking a rug. Michael meets Katherine’s entire family. They go to a movie, to a diner, and then back to Katherine’s house. They kiss, and Michael asks Katherine if she is a virgin. She replies yes.

Things That Make Me Go “Hmm”

In chapter two, Katherine tells Michael that she is a candy striper. The word candy striper made me pause, because that is not a term that is commonly used today. Thus, the word hints at when then book was written. A candy striper was traditionally a young, female hospital volunteer. The word “candy striper” derives from the red and white pinafores that were worn by the volunteers. Around the time of the 1960’s, candy stripers (and therefore the term) were popular and widespread. Candy stripers interacted and helped patients. This showed me that Katherine has a compassionate heart.

(Candy stripers shown at above, as they volunteer their time at a hospital. Image from http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2008/07/manic-monday.html )

In chapter three, Jamie talks about embroidering jeans. This, along with Katherine being a candy striper, dates the book back to the 1970’s. In the 1970’s jeans were commonly personalized. They were often embroidered with flower or abstract textural designs.

Another thing that I noticed in chapter three is that Jamie and Katherine seem to be good friends, despite a wide age difference and reasons for rivalry. (Jamie is good at the things that Katherine is not, and vice-versa.) They are about six years apart. I know that my brother and I, who are the same age apart, do not get along nearly as well as they do. They seem to have a strong common bond, unbroken by the differences that result from their ages.

Assigned Focus-Voice of the Writer

The narrator of Forever… is Katherine. The author of Forever… is Judy Blume. The narrator and author feel the same way about love, but the way that they express themselves in polar-opposite ways. The differences in their voices makes for an attention-grabbing combination and out of the ordinary story.

Judy Blume chose the topic of her book to be teenage love, specifically the first love between two teenagers. Katherine has a naiveté in her personality, which directly corresponds to her optimism with love. Judy Blume’s opinion of this topic is like her main character’s; optimistic, in a fairy tale way. I think that Judy took the voice that she did with this topic, because her daughter asked for a story about “two nice kids who have sex without either of them having to die”. Judy’s voice through Katherine is light and airy. Judy’s voice is unlike a voice a reason chasing Katherine or a voice with a sense of impending doom chasing Katherine. It seems like things would rarely ever go as smoothly realistically, as they begin to with Michael and Katherine.

Judy Blume seems very comfortable speaking about the topic. Judy is loud and uninhabited as an author while talking about sex. This is her voice in Forever…; uninhabited and daring. Furthermore, it conveys her personality. Having never met her, I would expect Judy Blume to be a free spirited person. Katherine’s voice is the total opposite. She is scared and shy of the topic. Judy’s openness allows Katherine’s reserved nature to be shown. Without Judy’s stylistic voice, Katherine’s voice would never speak.