Prediction Blog Entry

I believe that Adele’s plan to hide all the evidence of the murder is going to fail. She will have to change her strategy. The only thing that Adele is really good at is using sex as tool to manipulate other men. I think that she is going to sleep with the judge to get what she wants. However Timar will not be able to handle the fact that she had sex with another man. He is already extremely jealous; he almost had a fight with Bouilloux. He can’t really understand that Adele needs to do that to save her life. Timar doesn’t want to share her with anyone which is why he is going to leave Adele alone.

Timar will hate Africa even more. He feels ostracized. He will consider going back to France, but it will be a really tough decision for him, because he is in love with Adele.  However, as time goes by, it will be easier for him to leave her. Adele will never stop sleeping with other men, even if she has feelings for Timar. I believe that Adele will go to jail and Timar will live happily in France.

Reading Quiz for Tropic Moon

1. What is the setting in the story? Does the setting change?
2. Who has helped Timar get a new job?
3. Who killed Thomas? Why?
4. What is the policeman's opinion about the murder?
5. What happened to Adele's husband?
6. What does Adele do for a living?
7. How is Adele planning to get a million dollars in three years?
8. Why does Adele need Timar to accomplish this plan?
9. Describe the relationship between Timar and Adele.
10. How happy Timar is with his new life with Adele?

Virtual Literary Circles: What Happens Next (Tropic Moon)

The death of Thomas is a crucial moment in the book.  One of the themes of the book is the brutal racism. Adele is the hotel owner’s wife and she seems to be very much involved in Thomas’s death. Eugene seems to be the only person that Adele is afraid of. She takes care of him and tries to help him fight his snail fever; however, she is not loyal to her husband. Thomas is a black servant that works in the hotel and he probably knows how close Adele is with her guests. Timar saw “Adele hit Thomas in the face with her fist” (10). I believe that this violent act happened for a reason.  Maybe Thomas happened to know too much about her actions and Adele didn’t want her husband to find out about them.

Timar on the other hand is mesmerized by Adele. He is not being very cautious with her and he is willing to do anything to make her happy. Adele is a very controlling and self-centered person. I believe that she is going to use Timar to accomplish everything she wants. Timar is going to struggle with his identity and eventually he will have to choose whether he wants to continue his romance with Adele or completely ruin everything and turn her in to the police. 

Imagining Argentina Photo Essay - Showing Rather than Telling Exercise Part II: Trent's Picture

Emotions: Indignation, shame, envy, hope, disgust.

 Sight

This pretentious building looks out of place amongst the other much more conservative and monotonous structures. The light red walls serve as a splash of color in this dull city.

 Sound

The sound of water splashing in the fountain is serene. You can hear the laughter of children running around and admiring the statue of Manuel Belgrano.

 Smell

The fresh and fruity scents don’t let anyone feel down on this beautiful night. The smell of a gathering at a barbecue at a local parc coming from a couple of blocks away from the center is the prescience of winter.

 Touch

The people can feel the tiny drops of water emanating from the fountain. The drops of water roll down and draw smiles on peoples’ faces.

 Taste

A couple took a nice long walk in front of La Casa Rosada to enjoy the last taste of fall.

Imagining Argentina Photo Essay - Showing Rather than Telling Exercise

Emotions: euphoria, longing, amusement, loneliness, passion.

Sight

There was ruthless passionate Argentine tango dance inside the Gaminito Café. A young woman was dancing with a handsome stranger like it was the last night of her life.

Sound

The sound of an old bandoneón was keeping the young couple dancing. The beat of the song was infectious and the audience couldn’t hear anything but the song and the woman’s high heel shoes scratching the old wooden floor.

Taste

The wine from the vineyards in Mendoza was a perfect addition to the evening. The wonderful taste made the Argentines proud, one more time, of the rich lands where they were lucky enough to be born in.

Smell

It was a hot summer day and the smell of tobacco smoke permeated the air. This unpleasant for many of us odor, surprisingly, made the place feel very welcoming and warm.

Touch

A man was caressing his wife’s arm while they were sitting at the table drinking yerba mate tea. He couldn't decide what was more heartwarming – the hot drink or the pleasant company.