Blog 5

    I really enjoyed reading chapter 3 in House Made of Dawn. There were a couple things that surprised me and were really sad. The general story Benally tells of what Abel goes through is heartbreaking. I feel like this is just one instance of so many Native Americans that were relocated. The fact that they didn't have lodging ready for those that they relocated and offered to them to stay in the basement where people got sick was horrible. What Abel went through with all the torment from Tosamah and Martinez was depressing. Not just that it happened but that he internalized it and to go through it at all. Tosamah is also a Native American but seems to enjoy pushing people's buttons and getting under their skin. Martinez on the other hand is a cop. It sickens me to hear what cops did to these people.

    What I liked about this chapter were the stories that Benally remembers from before, describing the reservation he grew up on. I was thinking about my paper and the way he describes things is amazing. I could imagine these places I've never been to. Also, some of the stories reminded me of when I was little. I think it was mainly the way he described things, like waiting for a hot drink to cool when you're little. By repeating when I was little so many times in this story it really out me in the mindset of when I was little and could feel the excitement he was describing. Another thing was that I grew up in the LA area so when he was talking about Santa Monica and Westwood I knew where they were, I've been to these places.