Thursday, March 26, 2020
The Color Of Water Book Review Essays - Hairstyles, Rachel Green
The Color Of Water Book Review Phillip Souzek Susan Vervaet English 111 Section (06) September 27, 2000 The Color of Water: Book Review In this memoir, the author chooses to have two narrators, himself as one, and his mother as the other. This style makes for quite an interesting story, skipping back and forth in time, from the childs life, to that of his mother. Although many time changes occur, they are quite easy to keep up with, as the two narrators of the book, James, and his mother, alternate chapters. For this reason, it is also very easy to compare the childhood of each of the main characters. Although the chapters arent always during the same time periods of the respective characters, they are close enough that similarities can be seen, and parallels can be drawn. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel, seeing the main character, James, grow up with his mother Rachel. In summary, the author tells the story of both his mother, and himself growing up. His mother was raised Jewish, but became Christian before James was born, which was thus the religion he was raised in. Both had very strict discipline, in their respective religions. The memoir focuses more on Rachel, who grows up in a Jewish family living in a country and area where Jews are not well received. After surviving this, and sexual abuse as a child, Rachel goes on to run away from home, and marries a caring black man from New York. Here she settles down, has a family, and raises twelve kids, while being constantly harassed because of her marriage, as well as her children, who are all of a different color than her. After eight children, her husband dies, and she remarries to a man of similar morals, race, and discipline. James, the final child of the original father, grows up knowing only the step-father as daddy, and suffers the hardships of growing up in a multi-racial family, which alway s seems to be in the minority. This memoir was written mainly for the authors interest, and not the readers, which definitely makes it unique. Although it is just like any other book, in that its successfulness will be judged by sales as well as how it affects readers, the author only went through all of the research done in writing this book in order to quench his own thirst for finding out where his roots lay. This is quite evident in the reading, which seems to mention the history, and story behind nearly everyone, as well as every place. This makes for many interesting stories, but often-times ones that are too preoccupied with showing the reader what it meant to the author, and not as concerned with the enjoyment of the reader. This, of course, spawns another problem. With an author who is only concerned with showing the reader how it affected himself, you are deprived of what you really want to know about a given character. James has eleven brothers and sisters, all of which have something to add to the story, and yet the exposition given to each of them is far from satisfactory. Much more detail could have been given on what they thought of their mother, how each of them found out about her, who teaches and lives the motto Dont tell anyone your business. For this reason, the children have the challenge of digging up the truth about their mother, and James takes it to the next level, by writing a book. What the book does offer a younger reader, like myself, is insight as to what it was like to grow in the 1950s and 60s in a biracial family. The hardships that these children, James especially, and his mother endure, are depicted quite well. Each shows how strong of a person Rachel was, and also helped to strengthen the children, which would benefit them later in life. However, the most important thing that came from these anecdotes of racism in the memoir was what it taught me, as a reader. The way that Mommy reacted during each of these instances showed that you truly could ignore people that have nothing good to say, and get away with it. She can
Friday, March 6, 2020
Meanings of French Homophones
Meanings of French Homophones Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and, sometimes, spellings. Therefore, French homophones can cause difficulties in oral comprehension and spelling. These pages should help you to understand the difference between the most common French homophones. French Homophones: A a - first letter of the French alphabeta - third person singular conjugation of avoir (to have)   Il a une question - He has a question (preposition) - to, at, in   Je vais la banque - Im going to the bankabaisse(s) - singular conjugations of abaisser (to lower)   Abaisse le drapeau - Lower the flagune abaisse - rolled-out pastry   Jai fait une abaisse de 5 mm - I rolled out the pastry to 5 mmune abbesse - abbess   Labbesse habite au couvent - The abbess lives in the conventaccro - (inf adj) hooked, addictedun accro - addict, lover   Je suis accro de franà §ais - Im a French lover/addictun accroc - tear, blotai - first person singular present indicative conjugation of avoir (to have)   Jai une idà ©e - I have an ideaaie - first person singular subjunctive of avoiraient - third person plural subjunctive of avoiraies - second person singular subjunctive of avoirait - third person singular subjunctive of avoires - second person singular present indicative of à ªtre (to be)est - third person singular present indicative of à ªtreet - (conjunction) and   Il est grand et beau - He is tall and handsomeun aide - male assistant   Je vais embaucher un aide - Im going to hire an assistantune aide - help, assistance, female assistant   Jai besoin de votre aide - I need your helpair, aire - see rune amande - almond   Jaime bien la pà ¢te aux amandes - I really like almond pasteune amende - fine   Tu dois payer une amende de 50 euros - You have to pay a 50-euro finean - year   Jhabite ici depuis un an - Ive lived here for a yearen (adverbial pronoun) - of it/them   Jen veux trois - I want three of themen (preposition) - to, in   Je vais en France - Im going to Franceaoà »t - August   Il ny a pas de cours en aoà »t - There are no classes in AugustHou ! - Boo! une houe - hoele houx - hollyou (coordinating conjunction) - or   Cest toi ou moi ? - Is it your turn or mine?oà ¹ (relative pronoun) - where   Oà ¹ vas-tu ? - Where are you going?au (contraction of le) - to the   Je vais au marchà © - Im going to the marketaux - to the (contraction of les)eau - watero - the letter ooh (interjection) - ohaussità ´t (adverb) - immediately   Aussità ´t dit, aussità ´t fait - No sooner said than doneaussi tà ´t - as/so early   Jarriverai aussi tà ´t que possible - I will arrive as early as possibleun autel - altar   Il y a toujours des fleurs sur lautel - There are always flowers on the altarun hà ´tel - hotel   Je cherche un hà ´tel Paris - Im looking for a hotel in Parisun auteur - author   Cest un auteur connu - Hes a well-known authorune hauteur - height   Quelle est la hauteur de la porte ? - How tall is the door?un avocat - avocadoun avocat - lawyer B b - the second letter of the alphabetbà ©e - open-mouthed   Il reste bouche bà ©e - He is standing open-mouthed (in wonder)bai (horse) - bayune baie - bay   Jhabite prà ¨s de la baie - I live near the bayune baie - berryun bar - bar/pub   Il y a un bar amà ©ricain prà ¨s dici - Theres an American bar nearbyun bar - bass   Je ne sais pas prà ©parer le bar - I dont know how to prepare bassune barre - bar (rod), barre, helm   Pourquoi y a-t-il une barre ici ? - Why is there a bar here?(un) Beur - (informal) second-generation North African (verlan of Arabe)le beurre - butterbois - first and second person singular of boire (to drink)   Je ne bois pas dalcool - I dont drink alcoholle bois - wood   Nous avons un four bois - We have a wood stoveboit - third person singular of boirela boue - mudle bout - tipun boum - bang, explosion   Et puis boum ! tout est tombà © - And then boom! everything fell downun boum - ( familiar) success   Je nai jamais vu un tel boum - Ive never seen such (incredible) successle boum - (familiar) activity   La fà ªte est en plein boum - The partys in full swingune boum - (informal) party   La boum commence 22h - The party starts at 10pmun brin - blade (of grass)   Le chien a mangà © un brin dherbe - The dog ate a blade of grassun brin - (informal) a bit   Un brin plus haut, sil te plaà ®t - A bit higher, pleasebrun - dark-haired   Le brun est plus beau que le blond - The dark-haired man is more handsome than the blondNote: These two words arent homophones for everyone; some French speakers make a distinction between in and un. bu - past participle of of boirele but - goal (note that some people pronounce the final t) C c - letter of the French alphabetces (demonstrative adjective) - these   Jaime ces fleurs - I like these flowerscest - it/this is   Cest difficile de trouver un bon emploi - Its hard to find a good jobsais - first and second person singular present indicative of savoir (to know)   Je ne sais pas - I dont knowsait - third person singular present indicative of savoirses (possessive adjective) - his, her, its   Voici ses livres - Here are his/her bookssest - reflexive pronoun se third person singular of à ªtre (to be)   Il sest dà ©j habillà ©Ã‚ - He already got dressedà §a indefinite demonstrative pronoun - it, that   Je naime pas à §a - I dont like thatsa (possessive adjective) - his, her, its   Cest sa sÅ“ur - Thats his/her sistercar (conjunction) - since, for   La rà ©union fut annulà ©e car le prà ©sident est malade - The meeting was canceled since the president is sickun quart - quarter   un kilo et quart - one and a quarter kilosce (indefinite demonstrative pronoun) - this, it   Ce doit à ªtre un bon restaurant - This must be a good restaurantse - reflexive pronoun   Il se là ¨ve huit heures - He gets up at 8 oclockcelle - see selcen - contraction of ce  en (adverbial pronoun)   Cen est trop - This is too muchcent - one hundred   Jai cent dollars - I have a hundred dollarsle sang - blood   Il y a du sang sur ta chemise - Theres blood on your shirtsans (preposition) - without   Je suis sorti sans manger - I went out without eatingsen - se  en   Il sen venait tranquillement - He was approaching unhurriedlysens - first and second person singular of sentir (to feel, smell)sent - third person singular of sentir   Ã⠀¡a sent bon !  - That smells good!censà ©Ã‚ - supposed to   Je suis censà © partir midi - Im supposed to leave at noonsensà ©Ã‚ - sensible   Cest un homme sensà ©Ã‚ - Hes a sensible mancest vowel or mute h (due to liaison)   Cest une bonne idà ©e - Thats a good ideacet - masculine demonstrative adjective in front of a vowel/mute h   Cet homme est beau - That man is handsomecette - feminine demonstrative adjective   Cette femme est belle - That woman is beautifulsept - seven   Jai sept chats - I have seven catssest vowel or mute h   Il sest habillà © tout seul - He got dressed all by himselfSà ¨te - a village in southern Francecà ©tait - it was   Cà ©tait formidable - It was greatsà ©tait - se third person singular imperfect of à ªtre   Il sà ©tait dà ©j levà ©Ã‚ - He had already gotten upsà ©taient - se third pe rson plural imperfect of à ªtre   Elles sà ©taient habillà ©es - They had gotten dressedla chair - fleshla chaire - pulpit, post, (university) chair   Ils vont crà ©er une chaire darabe - Theyre going to create a chair of Arabiccher - dear, expensive   un cher ami - a dear friendchÅ“ur - choir, chorus   Jaimerais bien à ©couter le chÅ“ur - Id really like to listen to the choircÅ“ur - heart   Il a le cÅ“ur malade - He has a weak heartchouette - great, nice   Je laime bien, elle est chouette - I really like her, shes greatchouette - owl   As-tu vu la chouette hier soir ?  - Did you see the owl last night?-ci - this (suffix)   Cet arbre-ci est plus joli que celui-l - This tree is prettier than that onescie - saw   Il doit acheter une nouvelle scie - He needs to buy a new sawsi - if   Si tu es prà ªt... - If youre ready...si - yes (in response to a negative question)   Tu ne viens pas ? Si ! - Arent you coming? Yes!six - sixsy - se  y (adverbial pronoun)   Il est temps de sy mettre - Its time to get on with itun compte - account, count, calculationun comte - count   Le Comte de Monte Cristo - The Count of Monte Cristoun conte - storycool - cool   Ça cest cool - Thats coolcoule(s) - singular indicative conjugations of couler (to run, flow)   Le Rhà ´ne coule du nord au sud - The Rhone flows from north to southle cou - neck   Pourquoi les girafes ont-ils de longs cous ? - Why do giraffes have long necks?le coup - blow   Il a pris un coup sur la tà ªte - He took a blow to the headle coà »t - cost   le coà »t de la vie - the cost of livingla cour - yard, courtyard   Je vais planter des fleurs dans la cour - Im going to plant some flowers in the yardle cours - course   Jai bien aimà © ce cours - I really liked this coursecourt - short   Ce chemin est plus court - This way is shorterle court - tennis courtle cul - assq - letter of the French alphabetle cygne - swan   Jai vu un cygne sur là ©tang - I saw a swan on the pondle signe - sign, gesture   Je ne comprends pas le signe que tu as fait - I dont understand the sign you made D d - letter of the French alphabetun dà ©Ã‚ - thimble, die   Jai besoin de deux dà ©s - I need two dicedes (indefinite article) - somedes (partitive article) - somedes (contraction of de  les) - of/about thedans (preposition) - in   Cest dans le tiroir - Its in the drawerden - preposition de  en (adverbial pronoun)   Nous navons pas fini den parler - We havent finished talking about itune dent - tooth   Je me brosse les dents - Im brushing my teethdavantage - more   En voulez-vous davantage ? - Would you like some more?davantage - de avantage (advantage)   Ce poste manque davantages - This job doesnt have (many) advantagesde (preposition) - of, from, about   Je suis de Californie - Im from Californiadeux - two   Jai deux frà ¨res - I have two brothersNote: These are not true homophones because they have differen t phonetic symbols, but their pronunciation is nearly identical.dà ©goà »ter - to disgust   Ça me dà ©goà »te - That disgusts medà ©goutter - to drip   De leau dà ©goutte de la table - Water is dripping off the tableun dessein (formal) - design, plan, intention   Il a le dessein de le refaire - He plans/intends to redo itun dessin - drawing   Cest un joli dessin - Its a nice drawingle diesel - diesel fuel   Cette station na pas de diesel - This station doesnt have any diesella diesel - diesel automobile   Cest une diesel - Its a diesel car / It takes dieselun don - gift, talent, donation   Il a un don pour le tennis - He has a gift for tennisdont - relative pronoun   Cest le livre dont je tai parlà ©Ã‚ - Its the book I told you aboutdu (partitive article) - some   Veux-tu du pain ?  - Do you want some bread?du - of/about the (contraction of de  le)dà »Ã‚ - past participle of devoir (to have to) E e - letter of the French alphabeteuh (interjection) - uh, um, er   Il y a, euh, trois choses faire - There are, um, three things to doeux (stressed pronoun) - them   Cest pour eux - Its for themNote: The letter e is not a true homophone because it has a different phonetic symbol than the other two, but their pronunciation is nearly identical.-à ©Ã‚ - past participle ending for -er verbs   parlà ©, chantà ©, dansà ©Ã‚ - spoke, sang, danced-er - infinitive ending for -er verbs   parler, chanter, danser - to speak, to sing, to dance-ez - ending for second person plural indicative and imperative of most verbs   (vous) parlez, chantez, dansez - (you) speak, sing, danceeau - see auelle (stressed pronoun) - her   Va avec elle. - Go with her.elle (subject pronoun) - she   Elle le fera demain - Shell do it tomorrow.elles (stressed pronoun) - them   I did it for them. - Je lai fait pour elles.elles (subject pronoun) - they   Elles viennent avec nous ? - Are they coming with us?l - letter of the French alphabeten - see anentre - between, among   entre toi et moi - between you and meentre(s) - singular conjugations of entrer (to enter)à ¨re - see res - see aià ¨s - see sun espace - space, room   Y a-t-il de lespace ?  - Is there any room?une espace - printing space   Il faut mettre une espace entre ces mots - We need to put a space between these wordsune Espace - car model from Renault   Je vais acheter une Espace - Im going to buy an Espaceest, et - see aià ©tà ©Ã‚ - past participle of à ªtre (to be)   Qui a à ©tà © blessà ©Ã‚ ? - Who was hurt?un à ©tà ©Ã‚ - summer   Jaime voyager en à ©tà ©Ã‚ - I like to travel in the summerà ªtre - to beun à ªtre - being   un à ªtre humain - human beingun hà ªtre - beech tree/woodeu - past participle of avoir (to have)   Je nai pas eu loccasion de le faire - I didnt have a chance to do itu - letter of the French alphabet F la faim - hunger   La faim dans le monde - World hungerla fin - end   Cest la fin - Thats the endun fait - fact   Ce nest pas mon opinion, cest un fait - Its not my opinion, its a factun faà ®te - summit, rooftop(vous) faites - second person plural indicative and imperative of faire (to do, make)   Que faites-vous ? - What are you doing?une fà ªte - party   quelle heure commence la fà ªte ? - What time does the party begin?le fard - make-upla phare - lighthouseun fil - thread, yarn, string   Jai tirà © un fil mon pull - I pulled a thread in my sweaterune file - line, queue   Il a dà ©j pris la file - He already got in lineun filtre - filter   Je nai plus de filtres cafà ©Ã‚ - I dont have any more coffee filtersun philtre - potion   Crois-tu que les philtres damour peuvent marcher ? - Do you thi nk love potions work?final - (adj) final, last   Cest la scà ¨ne finale - Its the last scenele finale - finale (music)   Ont-ils fait un finale ? - Did they play a finale?la finale - final (sports)   Vas-tu jouer la finale ?  - Are you going to play in the final (round)?le flan - custard tart   Jaime bien les flans - I really like custard tartsle flanc - side, flank   Il est couchà © sur le flanc - Hes lying on his sidela foi - faith   Il faut avoir la foi - You have to have faithle foie - liver   Je naime pas le foie de volaille - I dont like chicken liverune fois - once, one time   Je lai fait une fois - I did it oncele fond - bottom, back, far end   Il faut aller jusquau fond - You have to go all the way to the backfond - third person singular indicative of fondre (to melt)   La neige fond dà ©j - The snow is already meltingfonds - first and second person singular indicative of fondrefont - third person plural indicative of faire (to do, make)   Quest-ce quils font ? - What are they doing?les fonts - baptismal fountle foudre - (iro nic) leader, large cask   Cest un foudre de guerre - (sarcastic) Hes a great war leaderla foudre - lightning   La foudre est tombà ©e sur la maison - Lightning struck the house   Ça a à ©tà © le coup de foudre - It was love at first sight G g - letter of the alphabetjai (contraction of je first person singular conjugation of avoir [to have]) - I havele gà ¨ne - gene   Cest un gà ¨ne dominant - Its a dominant genela gà ªne - trouble, bother, embarrassment   Il à ©prouve une certaine gà ªne avaler - Hes having trouble swallowinggà ªne(s) - singular conjugations of gà ªner (to bother, embarrass)   Ça ne me gà ªne pas - It doesnt bother mele gà ®te - shelter, cottage, ~ bed and breakfast   Nous avons logà © dans un gà ®te - We stayed in a bed and breakfastla gà ®te - list, inclination of ship   Le bateau donne de la gà ®te - The boat is listingle greffe - court clerks office   Oà ¹ se trouve le greffe ? - Where is the court clerks office?la greffe - transplant, graft   Il a besoin dune greffe du cÅ“ur - He needs a heart transplantguà ¨re - hardlyà ‚   Il nen reste plus guà ¨re - Theres hardly any leftla guerre - war   Cest une guerre civile - Its a civil warun guide - guide (book or person)   Jai achetà © un guide gastronomique - I bought a restaurant guideune guide ~ girl scout/guide   Ma fille veut à ªtre guide - My daughter wants to be a girl scout/guideles guides (f) - reins   Il faut tirer sur les guides - You have to pull on the reins H la haine - hatredn - letter of the alphabethauteur - see auteurhà ªtre - see à ªtrele hockey - hockey   Il joue au hockey. - He plays hockey.le hoquet - hiccup   Jai le hoquet. - I have hiccups.hà ´tel - see autelhou, houe, houx - see aoà »t French Homophones: I i - letter of the alphabety - adverbial pronoun   Il y est allà © hier - He went there yesterdayil (subject pronoun) - he, it   Il est mà ©decin - Hes a doctorils (subject pronoun) - they   Ils ne sont pas prà ªts - They arent readyNote: In informal French, il and ils are commonly pronounced like i. J j - letter of the alphabetjy - contraction of je and y (adverbial pronoun)   Jy vais ! - Im going!jai - see gle jars - gander   Nous avons une oie et un jars - We have one goose and one ganderla jarre - earthenware jar   Jai trouvà © une jarre antique - I found an antique jarjeune - young   Il est trà ¨s jeune - He is very youngun/e jeune - young personle jeà »ne - fast, fasting   Cest un jour de jeà »ne - Its a fast day L l - see ellela (feminine definite article) - the   la pomme - the applela (feminine direct object pronoun) - her, it   Je la vois - I see herl - here, there   Il nest est pas l - Hes not therela - contraction of le or la third person singular of avoir (to have)   Il la achetà ©Ã‚ - He bought itlas - contraction of le or la second person singular of avoir   Tu las vu ? - You saw him?le lac - lakela laque - lacquer, shellac, hairsprayleur (indirect object pronoun) - them   Je leur donne les clà ©s - Im giving them the keysleur(s) (possessive adjective) - their   Cest leur maison - Its their housele(s)/la leur(s) (possessive pronoun) - theirs   Cest le leur - Its theirsun leurre - delusion, illusion, deception, trap, lure, decoylheur - good fortune (ironic)   Je nai pas eu lheur de le co nnaà ®tre - I didnt have the good fortune of knowing himlheure - hour, time   lheure actuelle - At the present timele livre - book   Comment sappelle ce livre ? - What is this book called? la livre - pound   Ça pà ¨se deux livres et coà »te cinq livres - That weighs two pounds and costs five poundslon - euphonic contraction of le  on   Ce que lon a fait - What we didlont - contraction of le or la third person plural of avoir   Ils lont dà ©j achetà ©Ã‚ - They already bought itlong - long   Ne sois pas trop long - Dont take too long M ma (possessive adjective) - my   ma mà ¨re - my motherma - contraction of me (object pronoun) third person singular avoir (to have)   Il ma vu - He saw memas - contraction of me second person singular avoir   Tu mas regardà ©Ã‚ - You looked at mele maire - mayorla mer - seala mà ¨re - mothermai - May   On est le premier mai - Its the first of Mayla maie - bread boxmais - but   Mais je ne suis pas prà ªt ! - But Im not ready!mes (possessive adjective) - my   Oà ¹ sont mes clà ©s ? - Where are my keys?mes - contraction of me second person singular à ªtre (to be)   Tu mes trà ¨s cher - You are very dear to memest - contraction of me third person singular à ªtremet - third person singular conjugation of mettre (to put)   Il met le pain sur la table - Hes putting the bread on the tablemets - first and second person singular mettreun mets - dish   Tout le monde doit amener un mets partager - Everyone needs to bring a dish to sharemaà ®tre (adjective) - main, major, chiefle maà ®tre - master, teachermettre - to putmal - bad, badly, wrong   Jai mal dormi - I slept badlyle mal - evil, pain   Jai mal la tà ªte - I have a headachemà ¢le* - male, manly   Cest une voix mà ¢le - Its a manly voicela malle - trunk (suitcase or car)   Jai dà ©j fait ma malle - Ive already packed my trunk*This isnt a homophone for everyone; some French speakers make a distinction between a and à ¢Ã‚ marocain - Moroccan   Il est marocain - He is Moroccanle maroquin - morocco leatherune mine - expression, look   Il a la bonne mine - He looks goodune mine - mine   Cest une mine dor - Its a gold minemon (possessive a djective) - my   Voici mon pà ¨re - This is my fatherle mont - mountain   Jai grimpà © le mont Blanc - I climbed Mont Blancmont - contraction me third person plural conjugation of avoir   Ils mont vu - They saw memou - softla moue - poutun mur - wallmà »r - ripeune mà »re - blackberry N n - see haineneuf - new (nouveau vs neuf)neuf - nineni - neither   Ni lun ni lautre nest prà ªt - Neither one is readyle nid - nestnie(s) - singular conjugations of nier (to deny)   Il nie là ©vidence - He is denying the obviousnient - third person plural of nierny - contraction of ne  y (adverbial pronoun)   Il ny a pas de pain - There isnt any breadle nom - last name, nounnon - nonont - contraction of ne third person plural conjugation of avoir   Ils nont pas denfants - They dont have any kids
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