This book was an easy read, and had a very interesting style. To be honest I didn't much care for the style and I didn't think the characters were given enough life in this form. The style, however, made it very easy for the author, Sandra Cisneros, to use symbolism to guide her story. This story made me think quite a bit about my World Novel class. So far in that class I enjoy the books, but not so much while reading them, but the after taste of the novel. The sweet symbolism, foreshadowing and other analytical elements is beautiful and makes me want to reread the book to see if there was anything I missed.
One chapter I would like to look at is The Family of Little Feet. I actually the beginning of this chapter twice because I was confused by the focus of feet. The focus seemed strange, and I strive to find the meaning in things which do not seem to make sense...everything should make sense. I feel I have found the symbolism in feet, and I would like some feedback. I think the feet is supposed to resemble themselves, and who they are. The author talks about her long legs, long beautiful legs which lead to her feet. I think the legs is supposed to be a path, the path of life to discover who they really are...they're feet. When the girls put on the shoes and strut around I think the shoes are supposed to be a mask hiding who they are and being what people want them to be, or expect them to be. Rachel gets so caught up in the compliments she even thinks of giving a drunkard a kiss, something out of character for her. Masking who you are will only make you more lost, and keeping feet how they should be, and allow them to walk how they were made to is what will make them happy. In the end the shoes are tossed and no one complains. By the end of the novel she knows who she is and how she needs to get there. She says things like 'march', and other words to show walking, or going down a path. I feel this is connecting with her feet.
This is just my thoughts as they go, please give me feedback! I am curious to other analysis of this novel.
I thought that your analysis was spot on with the legs and the meaning of the feet. I also agree that I think that the style doesn't lend itself to much character building or a single cohesive story. I thought the author's use of metaphor and language added great depth to the story. Overall, I thought your analysis was very interesting and will it into consideration upon further reading of this story.
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