TOW #13 - IRB "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much"

In "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much," Allison Hoover Barlett writes about book thief John Gilkey. Ken Sanders, a Salt Lake City rare book dealer, has been chasing down the thief for years, and finally catches a break by learning his name and receiving a mug shot several days before an antique book fair in New York City. Her perspective as an outsider, a journalist interested in the case, makes readers trust her words. Barlett had initially written an article for her San Francisco magazine to cover this topic, but eventually it gathered large enough interest to create a book. She begins by illustrating her experience at the fair, and how she stalked out Sanders, and quotes him throughout her narrative of their conversation. She also met with Gilkey as he was in prison for bad checks, helping her appeal to ethos as she shows both sides of the story. She shows Gilkey's literary obsession, and his questionable mental state, without painting him as the villain and Sanders as the hero. She shows the views of those Gilkey affected and those who were after him, as well as Gilkey himself. She is constantly in the middle herself, and she shows that by describing the struggle she has between the moral responsibility she feels to tell the authorities of his crimes, and the lack of technical legal responsibility she has to do so. This appeals pathos in a way as it evokes feelings of pity and understanding from readers. Halfway through the book, I have yet to discover a concrete purpose from Barlett. But I find possible hints to it, as she finds it important to show both sides of the story and the fact that everyone has a reason behind what they do, even herself.

TOW #11 - "Knoxville: Summer of 1915"

In "Knoxville: Summer of 1915", James Agee describes the time in his life when he was a “new plate,” before he became damaged. His credibility comes from the fact that he is depicting his own life, and allowing himself to bring intense emotion into the piece. Before the reader can begin to understand Agee's purpose, one must recognize that this piece was not meant to stand alone; but it is an introduction for "A Death in the Family", an anecdote about the death of his father. Now it becomes quite clear, the story of his childhood is meant for anyone that will listen to his story. A story about a simpler and more innocent time in his childhood, before it all became rotten. Agee depicts an extremely average summer night in Knoxville, where nothing exciting happened, yet everything was peaceful and he was content with the world and his family. To achieve his purpose, Agee uses specific diction. It illustrates how a little boy would think and act, which allows the reader to connect emotionally with a young Agee and really step into the time period of his life that he is describing. This helps the reader understand the purity of youth by reading about it firsthand. Symbolism also plays a huge part in helping Agee achieve his purpose to depict the innocence of his childhood. He writes, "those who receive me, who quietly treat me, as one familiar and well-beloved in that home: but will not, oh, will not, not now, not ever, but will not ever tell me who I am" (Agee 175). Knowing oneself and being comfortable in one's skin is sign of maturity, whereas on the other hand having to be told who you are is a sign of naivety and youth. This really solidifies his purpose of showing innocence and purity in the context of the daily life of a young James Agee. Agee expertly aides his audience in understanding the innocence of his youth before corruption in "Knoxville: Summer of 1915".