W5 Reading Notes: “Ramona” by Jackson

Reading Notes are for “Ramona” by Jackson, pg. 269-278

• The history about Jackson and the influences for writing “Ramona” are interesting, especially how it is about California and the mission period, but herself was not born here.
• The height of the missions was a lot of Spanish influence in the US, despite California no longer belonging to them,so it’s interesting to read about the downfall rather than the rise.
• I love the description of the blooming season of So.Cal, the envisioning of all the blossoms and fruits is a pretty sight and very “Californian”
• It’s a bit saddening to hear about the Father loving what’s around him but at the same time experiencing losing it all at the same time
• Walking on a trail that fades away feels like a part the authors wants us to know, a stepping into the wilds feel, even though it’s just mustard flower, but those can get pretty unruly!
• She really loves adding on the details of the beauty of nature, placing you in the area itself.
• Oh, a mystery woman, I feel like she will have a bit of a supernatural feel with her, side that’s a common trope with a person coming out of untamed wilds.
• “The Canticle of the Sun,” I’m curious of the significance of this song to the church and to these people.
• Ramona is very romanticized by the author, she gives her this exoticized but yet naturally beautiful feel about her
• There’s that supernatural feel, she’s more like an angel or a saint than that of a maiden....
• Ramona and the Father are very familiar, I wonder if they are a frequent family of the church. 
• Felipe and Ramona compare their beauty to each other, which is interesting to me, since they’re family and not the same gender either. Ramona has this longing feeling to wanting certain features of Felipe.
•  The thought of brown eyes more attractive than blue, that’s something that’s changed quite a bit, but also may be cultural with them. Now many people try to have blue or green eyes and even use contacts to fake it.
• Interesting relationship with Margarita and Ramona, rather than maid and master, they ar more of childhood friends it feels, there is a huge lack of formality.
• The altar cloth is pretty important, so that’s a big deal that it’s damaged.
• Artichokes, one of California’s most produced crops.
• Ramona is very good with people and doing the best she can to help them out. 
• Putting of sheep shearing in the summer is quite deterimental to their health, which indicates the urgency of this chore.
• A supper of sopa con albondigas and frijoles is very classic Mexican dish, showing the families heritage and the migration of people and history
• Ramona is really shown as the good girl that would be an ideal wife manY times in the story.