The Rabbi's Cat

The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar is a very interesting picture novel. Having both the pictures and the words present on the page gives a whole other meaning to reading. The story is able to be told in a different way than traditional books. The pictures allow for the reader to visualize exactly how the author wants the book to be visualized. The negativity of having so many pictures is that they can be distracting to the reader when trying to focus on the words. If the novel is read slowly, including the pictures, the story is very clear.

                For me it was a little hard to relate to the Jewish religion since I am not a Jew myself, but religion is very important to me just as it was to the rabbi, his daughter, Jules, and many others in the book. I also had not had experience with other things in this book, but sometimes I think it would be easier if we were able to talk to the animals. The way this text did relate to me was through readings that we have already read and discussed, for example the book Nervous Conditions. In this novel the problem presented is the effects of colonization. In The Rabbi’s Cat there is not a lot of colonization presented, but the idea that the rabbi had to take a test in French and pass in order to stay rabbi there when he did not teach in French shows colonization in that sense. The school that Jules went to was a French school where he was taught to be a rabbi. It just seems not right for the French to be teaching something that will not be taught in French.

                This text clashed with my views on the learning and qualifications to become a rabbi.  It is hard for me to understand that things can be taught in one language and performed on a daily basis in another. I do not think it is right for those involved in a particular event, or those who shouldn’t be, to make up a criterion that must be followed that is really irrelevant.

                I had learned just like in the previous text required for the class, that there is always someone who is colonizing the so called “lesser” developed country. This makes things complicated for the individuals in the story. To want and to do the best, for the rabbi’s daughter, causes her to change for her husband.

                The text was enjoyable and entertaining. The story was clear and not all over, very easy to understand. I liked having the pictures along with the words. It made for easy and fast reading, but also brought the story more to life. It created a visual link to what was really going on in the story.

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Damgerembga 

In this reader response the novel that will be reviewed is Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga chapters 1-7. In the text many problems are presented. We have the problems of British vs. traditional, men vs. women, wealth vs. poverty, formal education vs. informal education. All of these problems mixed together give this greatly intense novel that holds your attention in many ways. It can be confusing with the way the author changes the plot from one story to another, but if you think about it these areas of the novel are more like the conversation we would have face to face. I will focus on the beginning of the story at the point where she wants to go to school so bad she is trying to sell the maize.

For me personally this part of the text means a lot. She is so determined educating herself with higher education than what she has already received. She does not listen to others, especially her parents, who tell her she can’t succeed. I have not had to deal with this particular situation, but I have had to pay for many things in my life that others take for granted. Some have disapproved of all that I have had to provide for myself. My parents did not like that I did, but I know secretly they are thankful. As in many families money has gotten tight, but with a family as big as mine it has been rough. Being the oldest of seven children my parents have not been able to help me in many way financially. I am still able to live under their roof which is very important, don’t get me wrong, but school has kind of been out of the question. I have been assisting in paying for many things since before I was out of high school when all of my friends did not have to do the same. This has made me a better person today and more responsible as well. 

Tambu here is learning to provide something for herself to make her a better person, in her mind. To me this is great, but knowing the culture of her people this is not something that is done. She should not want to be educated so much. She is just to me a house wife while the head of the family, a man, is to take care of the family. This idea clashes with my opinion of the world. I do not see that men and woman are not of equal rights and respect not given to all mankind. I see this way of life faulted in this way. Maybe there would be more peace and kindness if everyone was respected and treated equal.

The text I feel is very good to read. It gives you the insight of how other areas of the world function. Tambu wants to be in school to learn; she wants to make more of herself. Drawing into Tambu letting herself become colonized which is why she wants to be educated could be true. For the women population it seems to be a good thing to be colonized. This gives you as a woman more freedom and rights. Overall I feel that the text was very informative and a good novel choice for students to read who are wanting to learn about the African culture.