Researcher Part 2: Chapters 1-5

Candido describes how he arrived in the United States. When The United States was growing, many new immigrants came to live the "American Dream" and become successful. Many Mexican workers were brought to the U.S. for labor work, and those workers ended up staying here in the U.S.

Delaneys talks about the Immigration problems and how he feels about it. Even in 2013, there has still been immigration problems. 

Candido is facing a lot of unemployment in the U.S. I looked up the unemployment rates in the U.S and the numbers have been decreasing. 

Vocabulary part2 1-5

Baja - "Baja California" Mexico

Señor - Sir

Cynical- believing that people are motivated by self-interest ; doubtful

Admonishing - to warn firmly

Sheaf - bundle ; bunch

penurious - extremely poor

Hey,

Has anybody cried yet? I cried throught the entire book when i read it. Does anyones heart hurt?????

Summarizer

In T.C Boyle's first chapters of his novel, The Tortilla Curtain, the protagonists exhibit very different life styles, and with alternating point of views, the reader discovers the differences between each of their lives. Told in third person point-of-view, Boyle provides the reader with the struggles that Candido suffers as a Mexican immigrant with his now pregnant wife, ironically named America, Dalaney Mossbacher was the exact opposite, he was rich and owned property at the top of the where Candido and his wife sheltered themselves. In these first five chapters we are allowed to see their true characters. Candido is a man with good intentions, looking for work in order to be able to support his family finacially, just minding his business. Delaney on the other hand is stuck-up he doesnt consider others feelings or situations and when he does ita for a quick second. In the beginning chapter, the scene opens with Delaney crashes, and later diacovers he ran over Candido. Throught the entire ordeal all Delaney could thing about was his damaged car and if he would get sued, he selfishly gave Candido $20 and drove off. As the story progresses we again see their true characters. Whenever Candido seems to accomplish something, a terrible inccident has to happen, and it outweighs the good. Both men show contrasting characeristics and both have different lives. Boyle uses alternating point of views in order to portray a better understanding in the differences of life, even if they are just feet away.

Discussion Director Part 3 Ch. 4-8

1. Compare and contast Candido and Delaney's views on life in America. Who's side do you agree with more?

2. Do you think that Socorro's name was meant as irony? Why or why not?

3. What do you believe the author's view on immigration is based on this novel?  Explain.

4. Do you think the book had any type of moral or life lesson? If so, what is it?

5. Did you enjoy this book? Would you recommend it to someone? Why or why not?

Travel Tracer chapters 1-5

• Delaney is having a flashback of when he ran over a man.
• He gave the man some money and the problem was solved, but he still felt bad.
• Delaney went to the dealer to get his car fixed.
• Called his wife and told her what happened.

Change of POV

• Candido (a mexican man) had a flashback of the accident where a white man ran him over.
• Had another flashback of when he had no money because of gangsters and "coyotes".
•  Setting is in LA.
• America, Candido's wife, found him and tried her best to tend to his wounds.
• They live outside, in the trail of the mountains in a canyon.
• After two days, he got better.
• America is 17 and pregnant.
• He was so hurt that he couldn't work.
• America had to dress up as nicely as she could to go find a job.

Change of POV

• Delaney is an organized and punctual person.
• Morning was going on like usual until they heard a scream (Delaney, his wife Kyra, and her son, Jordan went to look what happened.
• Jordan had seen a coyote in the backyard.
• The coyote took one of their dogs and Delaney blamed the "Mexicans" for leaving food out for them.
• Went to a town meeting about concerns with the neighborhoodand got more anger towards mexicans.
• he showed the audience his dog's leg and they were horrified.
• he told his friend's son abut where he saw the mexican guy he had ran over.

Summary Ch. 6-8

Chapter 6:

• Cándido does not want América to go to work to earn the money for the two of them, but she thinks that is what she needs to do to help out.

• She meets a stranger who seems nice and tries to start a conversation, but she does not want to talk to him. Then, the stranger starts hitting her. America is afraid and thinks of Cándido.

• After a while of waiting for work, a man enters the work exchange to hire someone for a cleaning job. He picks America  another girl, called Mary, goes with them as well. They have to clean little Buddhas in a house in Arroyo Blanco.

• While América is at work, Cándido starts to move their camp across the pool in the canyon because he wants a safer place for her and himself. He also feels bad about their discussion and about slapping her. 

Chapter 7:

• Delaney is home preparing dinner for his wife, Jordan, and himself, when he discovers that he needs to go and buy some pasta to finish. He wants to get it from the super market, however he cannot leave Jordan at home by himself and takes him with him. 

• Jordan stays in the car while Delaney goes inside. He runs into Jack Jardine and his son, Jack Jr. They discuss about the fence that is going to put up in Arroyo Blanco. 
• hey also talk about immigration and the increasing problems caused by illegal immigrants. Both, Jack and Delaney, hold different opinions on that topic.
• They also talk about immigration and the increasing problems caused by illegal immigrants. Both, Jack and Delaney, hold different opinions on that topic.
• While Delaney walks to his car, he sees a fight between a few men on the other side of the parking lot. He identifies one of them as the Mexican hit a couple of days ago and left injured near the road. 
• He feels guilty for running him over, but then remember what he was talking about to Jack, and forgets about the Mexican.
• The next day, Delaney decides to go hiking at the canyon. 
• While hiking, he spots Candido's campsite and he becomes angry and embarrassed  He tries to distract himself and goes home
• When he walks back to his car, he can't find his car keys.

Chapter 8:

• Cándido waits for América in the bushes near the parking lot after being in a fight with a few other men. 
• Having waited there for about an hour Cándido sees América arrive. He is happy to see her, but at the same time he is unhappy because she works whereas he cannot. He does not like the idea that a woman is the breadwinner.
• The talk about America's new job and head back to the campsite.
•  At their new campsite they prepare dinner. América thinks that the worst is behind them because she has a job and he may get work as well. The next morning they walk to the labor exchange together to get some work. 
• America gets picked up from work and after work she gets dropped off
• She waits for Candido at the same place she did the day before. He doesn't show up and it starts to get dark, so she walks back to the campsite. 
• While on her way, to men stop her and talk to her. She gets scared and runs away, but the two men get a hold of her and rape her.