blue highways

So far, I am having a hard time getting into this book. I often find my self zoning out and having to re-read sections so I actually process the text. I got more into it towards the end, but I did not history of the towns. I am hoping to get more into the book as I get to know the narrator and more characters. I enjoyed reading about the monks and why they decided to live in a monastery. I did not know anything about monks before, and it made me understand their lifestyle and beliefs. I think the main character is starting to realize how alone he is, and that he is kind of like a monk in a sense because he is living alone and not dependent on other people. However, the spiritual life is missing.

I do not get the purpose of his travel. The book starts out with him having a rough day, and then all of the sudden he decides to pick up and leave. Just like Clarissa did in Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name. I think the main character in this book did it because he was bored and wanted to see what else was out there in the world. However, I think it is really cool that he visits theses very small, random towns and only takes small roads to get there. I had never heard of any of the small towns: Remote, Simplicity, New Freedom, New Hope, Why, Igo, Why-not, Ono or Nameless. When I drive to Oxford, I always take back-roads that sometimes do not have street names. This reminded me of the main characters journey. 

I do not really understand his interest in finding a six calendar diner/restaurant. I enjoy reading about the conversations he has with people at these restaurants because the people are always different, depending on what town he is near. I like when he takes pictures of the people he meets, because I am a visual learner. I wish that he would also take pictures of the places, because that would help me understand the area. 

Over break I went to New York City. I have been there a few times, but I went with my sister who had never been there so we did some sightseeing. One of the places we went to was ground zero. I saw a picture of the new "ground zero" and the beginning construction. Being up close to it made it very real and made me remember 911 and how I was only in 6th grade. There was a list of all the firefighters and lieutenants killed on 911 trying to help others. The list had hundreds of names, and it really showed their devotion to their job and country.