Book Review: the Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

"We do not realize the sound the world makes-unless of course it stops. Then, when it starts, it sounds like an orchestra." The man whom figured out time becomes cursed by what he sought for. Controlling time, he changes people's life's. In Mitch Alboms's, the Time Keeper, he ensnares his readers, leaving them begging for another word, another sentence, an explanation of what will be. 

The theme that rang loudly throughout the entire book was an immense one. We must treasure the time we have on earth before it is over. "Now all she had to do was wait. The fumes would take care of the rest." Sarah Lemon tries to kill herself, because she believes since a certain guy does not love her back she can never live another day; however, her course will soon change, and she will forever cherish everyday she has on earth. " His final sentence to Grace had been a lie. He would not be here when she returned." Victor Delamonte is facing death, and makes drastic choices to try and stop it instead of being happy with the days he has left. From this we learn that even though life may get rough; we are capable of choosing the better route and be content and happy with the life we have left on the earth. The author greatly expressed this theme in the way he uses his voice. 

Secondly the voice in which Mitch Albom potrays the Time Keeper aids in the emotions he wants his audience to feel coming from every word. " He feels a breath shoot from his chest, as if someone choked it out. His face contorts. His eyes moisten." By making his readers feel the emotions, he is capable of grasping at their hearts. This style of writing is one in which I love greatly. As much as suffering hurts, I feel as if I has stopped I myself would have suffered from not knowing what happened next. " Her parents gave it to her for her twelfth birthday. Two months later, they divorced. After the split, Sarah stayed with Lorraine, who would blame Tom, her absent ex, for every wrong thing in their life's." The pain I felt in my heart while reading was immense. I myself can relate to the situation, and the way the author portrays such a scene just knocks the breath out of me. Filled with teary page after teary page, Mitch Albom will make you feel as if your part of the book. 

Another great work in writing is the way the author makes a character appear. " 'In the hallway,' Victor instructs." By giving this man an attitude with merely the words he says, Mitch Albom portrays his characters personality perfectly. His assertiveness proves that he means to be a man of business. " He refused to speak with the magazine(Victor shield from publicity)." Although a man of business, Victor Delamonte wanted certain details of his life to be hidden. Proving, yet another personality, Victor shows to be a secretive man, drawing the reader in to know more. " She had tried to kill himself over a boy(he looked like a punk, Victor told himself, but then, he was biased; he was coming to like this Sarah.)" As much as he tried to hide it, Victor Delemonte still has a soft side. The author did an exquisite job portraying his characters, and making me feel as if I knew them for years.

Expressing the vast differences in the roles of a man and woman, the Time Keeper is a book worth reading. I recommend this book if your looking for something to grip at your heart and consistently draw you into it's invigorating plot. 

Current Connection 3.2

In the article The 1960's: A decade of change for women, it emphasizes the change that occurred for women during the 1960's, and how great an impact in had on our society throughout the years. Author, Kenneth T. Walsh's purpose of this article is to make us realize how greatly this changed our world, and how women have many more privileges now than they ever thought of having before this drastic change.

In the second paragraph of this article Mr. Walsh stated, "More females than ever were entering the paid workforce, and this increased the dissatisfaction among women regarding huge gender disparities in pay and advancement and sexual harassment at the workplace." A woman's role in society went from being a homemaker to becoming part of the workforce, making more complications for men whom were already part of the workforce. Sexual harassment began to spread as women put themselves in the same room with many men;moreover, the attitudes of both males and females changed due to this jump in society. 

Kenneth provides another drastic change in society by saying," More than 80 percent of wives of childbearing age were using contraception after the federal government in 1960 approved a birth control pill." Although still loving children, women were able to do more with theirs life's than ever before without having to worry about getting pregnant. This mean't a huge change in the bedroom. Benefiting both men and women, women began to change the way they could live, and could control the birth rate with more ease than before. 

The author also states that," equal pay for equal work, an end to domestic violence, curtailment of severe limits on women in managerial jobs, an end to sexual harassment, and sharing of responsibility for housework and child rearing." As society accepted these concepts, it was a sure fact that women began to change the way our nation worked as a whole. More laws were beginning to form to protect women and their rights, and gradually this was viewed as something to be accepted. The expression 'one of the guys' began being used referring to women; men and women began to cooperate with each other in the workforce, bringing our society to a rapid change in the way it runs. 

Thanks to these many changes that women enforced in the 60's, women today are free to do just about anything. We are capable of going to college, becoming a CEO at a large cooperation, being able to support a family when the other spouse is incapable, and doing whatever we desire with our lives. Everyday we see women taking their children to school, going to work, leading corporate meetings, picking up their kids from school, and keeping their house clean and family fed at the same time. Although men are subjected to help in such matters, women still are wanting to 'do it all' these days, and I'm afraid that is never gonna change. 

Was this change in society right? Did women have the right to no longer be submissive under man as our creator intended? These changes may have been great, and may have made others equal; however, it has also made women view men differently.  In your opinion do you believe it was right for women to change what the Lord intended. 





                            

  

Kenneth T. Walsh. The 1960's: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S News. 01/24/14

Current Connection 3.1

Throughout history it has been said that women do more jobs that connect more with house wife duties, and the male population takes part in jobs that are more heavy duty, or "manly". In a previous article, Gender Roles Are Still at Work, by Dan Gordan, it emphasizes some of those stereotypes and gives some great examples of the roles women and men have in our society today. Bringing these problems to our attention, Dan Gordan greatly expresses the view of gender roles.

In this article it states, "Stereotypes persist, and lifestyle and personal preferences also keep some professions male or female-dominated." The fact that men believe the must do certain things to make themselves appear more manly to other males has a mass effect on the jobs widely overrun with the male population; moreover, females are the same way. Most women feel as if their role has to be submissive to men when it comes to the work force. Jobs such as secretaries to a male lawyer or doctor are great examples of these instances.

Secondly, this article brings into attention the women who defy those stereotypes, "Truck driving isn't the only occupation in which women are a distinct minority. When was the last time you saw a female plumber, carpenter, or electrician?" Although the ratio, male to female, is very small in these occupations, women are still dipping into these types of work settings. Some women ever aid in road construction, and the building of houses and/or commercial buildings.

Furthermore, Dan Gordan elaborates more on the stereotypes, "Women were teachers, nurses, secretaries, social workers, stewardesses, and librarians; men were just about everything else." Many view the assumptions made of women doing a  woman's job and men doing a man's job very sexist. Although this may be true in some cases, some believe that some occupations may be unsafe for women and therefore making it more of a man's job. Due to the fact that men develop more muscle than women, some jobs are better suited for the male population.

Finally, Gordan brings up a recent study on the matter of gender roles, "Some studies have suggested teachers have lower expectations or are less encouraging toward girls in math, though that may be changing. It has recently been strongly thought out that men do better going into a field that is strong in mathematics; however, here recently more women have taken action and are being allowed to take advantage of this experience also.

In conclusion the gender roles stereotypes, even though its spread out a little better, are still running rampant throughout our society as a whole. What is to come in the future? Will women take over some of the highly male populated occupations?

Dan Gordan. Gender Roles are still at work. Las Angeles Times. 01/10/14