The Old Man and the Sea: Obstacles

People are constantly running into obstacles, whether it’s everyday life, or even a special occasion. There are disadvantages to almost everything we do, and sometimes we just need to face them. People must make decisions, and sometimes they are horrific mistakes. Something like getting into an accident because you were texting while driving could have been easily avoided. Santiago ran into a number of challenging obstacles while out at sea, firstly, he was alone, also the lack of advanced technology, and the size and strength of the Marlin. Santiago wasn’t prepared to be out at sea for as long as he was, and he was very resentful of this. The old man faced things that he couldn’t handle, and he paid for it in the end.

Sometimes people can’t handle things on their own.This is one of those cases because Santiago was alone for several days on the skiff by himself, with no crew or help. He obviously needed Manolin’s assistance because it was nearly impossible to catch a fish the size of the Marlin all alone. The old man was very wise, and he managed catch the fish anyway, but “’if the boy were [there] he would wet the coils of the line, he thought’” (83). If the boy were on the boat with Santiago and assisting him, then catching the Marlin would’ve been much easier and faster.

Manolin could’ve assisted Santiago on the skiff, but instead the old man is regretful that he didn’t come along. The old man thought about the boy, and talked about him and how much easier it would’ve been with his help. “Aloud he said, ‘I wish I had the boy’” (51). Any type of crew or help would’ve been helpful to the old man, but in the end it was just an obstacle.

Even the simplest technologies help people when they have no attendants. Something as little as a walkie-talkie could save a life or influence a decision. In Santiago’s case, the most helpful piece of technology would’ve been a radio. If he had a radio, he could have let others know his lonely and haunting situation. “And the rich have radios to talk to them in their boats and to bring them the baseball.’” (39). He would have brought many other tools with him, but the most important would be a radio so he could be entertained by sports and, more importantly, contact others to get the aid he needs.

The Marlin was massive, and very strong. The old man was astonished by its strength and size, since he has never seen anything like it. “’No,’ he said. “He can’t be that big’” (90). But the Marlin was about eighteen feet long, and fifteen hundred pounds. It had threatening strength, and its every move was suspenseful. It was a very tense situation, and there was no way out.

The old man stayed very controlled yet anxious throughout the entire book, his every move had to be precise. People face obstacles that are stronger than them, such as bully or boss. Santiago struggled to catch the fish, but he had patience and beat the odds of the Marlin’s immaculate size. Not everyone believed what they saw when the skiff was in the water and the old man was back. “Many fishermen were around the skiff looking at what was lashed beside it and one was in the water, his trousers rolled up, measuring the skeleton with a length of line” (122). The Marlin was an incredible miracle, and the old man had proof of his existence.

The sincere old man had to make unexpected decisions, and some seriously affected his life. If he caught the Marlin and was able to bring it home safely, then he would have enough food to go on the table and money to go around. But he faced obstacles such as the size and strength of the Marlin, being alone, and the lack of technology. His unprepared ness caused him to lose a life-changing Marlin, and he was remorseful due to his obstacles. But obstacles are everywhere, and people just have to try to find the best way through them.

Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin. Penguin Books, 2003. Genre: Autobiographical Novel,
nonfiction

Mao's Last Dancer is about Li Cunxin, a peasant boy living in Qingdao, China with his parents and six brothers. His family was incredibly poor, with barely enough dried yams to go around at dinner time. But life changes for the Li family when ten-year-old Cunxin gets chosen to go to Madame Mao's School of Dance in Bejing in 1971. When there, the students learn how to write Chinese, dance, and of course, learn everything in Chairman Mao's red book. Over time, Cunxin improves as a dancer, and finds himself with once in a lifetime oppurtunities. He gets to go to America, and experience fame and fortune as an immensly talented ballet dancer.While there, he runs into language barriers (because he didn't know any English before going to America), and mishaps with the Chinese government. Yet he still tries to find love in the west, and focus solely on dancing. Cunxin lives his dream, and he gives family a proud name.

"[A] fascinating memoir... told simply but passionately, with subtle humor and unguarded emotion." -Houston Chronicle.

Mao's Last Dancer is very easy to read and get into. It is told by Li Cunxin himself, as he and his family stuggle to survive in a poor town. He is given rare oppurtunities to break free from his small town, and his poor country to go to the amazing city of Houstin, Texas in America. I haven't read any other books by him, and I'm not sure if he has even written any other books. But if he did write another book, I would read it in a heartbeat. The paragraphs go by very quickly, and it is easy to read. The reader never knows what the next turn in the book is, and that's what makes it so good.

"I had gone back home and expected to leave them feeling light and optimistic. Instead I was leaving with a confused heart" (437).

I have never really liked nonfiction books, but Mao's Last Dancer convinced me to alter my opinion. It was much better than I expected, and I'm not really into dancing. But I understood this book, and the fact that it was a true story was really what made it inspiring. It is hard to believe that a poor peasant boy can become a world-wide famous dancer, and have the chance to leave his poor life in China for a wealthier life in America. It is an awesome book, and I'd definately recommend it to anyone who wants to give nonfiction books a try. This book is a really inspirational and beautiful tale on how one person can make a difference in their own life.