Dillard and Brandt Readings

An American Childhood
In Annie Dillard's "An American Childhood", she recalls a time in her childhood, where she experienced an exciting chase. I love how Dillard use short, then long sentences in her first paragraph, the choppy lines make it seem that she is telling the story form a child's perspective. As Dillard describes running away from the angry man, she gives great details to where exactly they are running. The details almost make the story seem very recent, or almost like the narrator is still the same seven year old girl. It's so funny that Dillard is disappointed when her "hero/captor" catches up with them and expects, and wants, something more extreme than a lecture. I've never been disappointed for not being punished enough, she must have been an odd child, but makes a great author.

Calling Home
In Jean Brandt's "Calling Home, Brandt recalls a time in her adolescents when she shoplifted. Brandt's description as she is leaving the store actually makes my heart beat faster, wondering if she is going get away with her "crime". I can feel how nervous she is as she describes her thought racing. I feel like I understand exactly what Brandt was feeling as her story progresses.