Wednesday, October 21, 2009
English 15.3: The Possibilities of Sainthood
Hello, all. This post is for my English 15.3 class at Brooklyn College, Fiction Writing for Children and Young Adults (after a year’s leave, I’m back to teaching. That’s why my blog is so dusty. Sneezes, coughs. Yes, someday I’ll actually write a new journal entry. For now, though, duty calls).
Dear students:
Donna Freitas is coming to talk to our class on Monday! I know you’re all racing through The Possibilities of Sainthood, and I’d like to hear your thoughts on the novel. So in the comments, please write a question you might like to ask Donna or a simple observation you have to share with the class.
Thanks!
~Marie
I also went to an all girls Catholic high school. Everything in the book seemed so relatable. Is this from expierence or just a lot of research?
I have to admit that initially I was not that interested in the book. I think it was just that there were a lot of facts thrown at me at once, and I have had little to no experience with the Catholic faith.
I kept going, of course, (aside from the fact this was an assignment) because stylistically I thought this story was well-told.
Before I knew it, I was hooked on Antonia’s life and thrown into her little world of family drama, school, boys, and her quest to become a saint. I loved the story and I loved how it ended. The characters are lovable—except, of course, the villains that are meant to be hated, like her cousin Veronica.
I do wonder how much research went into the book, though. I had no idea that there were so many patron saints, and I wonder if an interest in this subject was what inspired (at least partially) this book in the first place.
Well, when I looked at the book I thought “This is going to be boring.” I don’t find it boring at all. I love the way her chapter titles summarize the whole chapter (I didn’t really pick this up until I was a few chapters in and after each chapter I would look at the title again before moving to the next chapter).
There are too many saints to care about but all in all somehow all the saints are answering her prayers. It’s almost as if when she says her prayer, you expect it to happen later on.
I love the way Antonia tries to fit in but her mother doesn’t let her (reminds me of myself when I was in school). I also love the rebellion side when she arrives at school, taking off her socks and lifting her skirt. It’s all relatable (although I didn’t attend Catholic or private school but I was raised in a Christian home).
So far, so good. =0)
I finally finished the book and thought it was a good read. The narrative felt very cinematic and I could almost pick out which actors would play these characters. Energetic and never boring, Antonia’s character made me enjoy the book.
I also went to Catholic school and I could relate to some of Antonia’s experiences.
My question would be, given the title and plot of the book, how does one tackle such a personal and traditional subject such a spiritual beliefs and write this really accessible story?
I had no idea there was such a large Italian population in Providence. Did Freitas choose that city because she’s from there, because it’s a less obvious place, or for some other reason?
Currently, I am not finished with the book, but from what I have read, I absolutely love it.
My preference of book choices would have to be fantasy and anything based on unrealistic, magical events. A lot of the time, I do not give other books a chance (I know that is wrong) but due to this being an assignment I had no choice but to read it.
Lo and Behold, I fell in love with it! I can’t believe I ever doubted the fact that I’d like it.
The style used to write this book is clever and original. I couldn’t wait to flip the page and see another “tid-bit fact” from Antonia. I had a lot of fun reading this book and grew to love Antonia.
My question to the author is: Did you research all these patron saints (I had no idea there were so many) or did you just know about them? Were all the saints that you mentioned actually in the Catholic faith, or did you create some for the book?
What was your inspiration for writing this book?, How long did it take you to flesh out the characters and are you happy with the end result?
I finished reading this book. I love it. This was interesting and fascinating story that made me keep on reading it. I like how Catholic religion is brought in this story even though I am not Catholic, but this give me a insight thoughts to sainthood, Italian culture, Catholic religion, and about the pope.I love the characters that reveal their characteristics in the story such as Antonia, Maria and Michael. I think Andy is boring guy and I am glad that Antonia end up being with Michael who is sweet, charming, caring and understanding guy that is handsome.I also like how Antonia’s grandma resolved the situation and changed the mood when Amelia(Antonia’s mother)was angry and punished her daughter for going to the dance without telling her. I don’t blame her for not telling her mom because I am sure everyone has a secret that mother doesn’t know about. I think Antonia has cool grandma. Antonia’s grandmother is kind of like my grandmother, a fabulous cooker, caring and loving grandmother who is like a goddess. This story remind me when I had my first kiss. This story brought the imagination of romantic and sweet first kiss that every girls probably have dream of,I can totally associate with Antonia’s feeling in certain situation.The dancing scene seemed had fairytale-like quality like the Cinderella, but it felt so real as if I was there with Antonia. I kind of knew Antonia will end up with Michael because of how Antonia felt about him, and their close friendship that can turn into lovers as it can happen in reality.I also like how Antonia write a diary entries that are formal letters and felt like a prayer. She certainly has a passion to become a saint, I felt that all the way just as how I have passion toward writing.
Questions to Donna Freitas:
1. Is this story based on your childhood experiences and your catholic religion? I am sure you fictionalized some things, but not all because in your autobiography it is mention that it was based on what you had listened to your mother and grandmother prayed to the saints.
2. Are you Catholic?
3. Do you really believe in sainthood?
4. Growing up from a mother and a grandmother who are religious, did it influenced you in some ways?
5.What inspired you to write this book?
6. Do you feel that you have give all you got for this story?
7. How do you feel about your accomplishment of getting your story published as a writer?
8. If there is something you want to tell your reader, what would it be?
So far, the book is great. I think what makes the book so enjoyable is her knowledege with the patron saints and their specific attribution (or powers?) to everyday life. And she knows each saints abilities, but describe most of them in humorous definitions (the patron saint of Strife and Headaches, which I don’t the Pope would put it that way). Her sense of humor about everything in life, the way her mother scolds and
speaks to her, the various lists or definitions to why she does something or typical to her
but curious to the readers (the guide to Catholic girls rolling up their skirt or the top five
ways Italians express love). The big question is, will she become a saint of figs? I doubt it
(but it is fiction, so the writer could’ve made it so). But I know I’ll laugh and fall in love
with the character as the story comes to an end, and I find out if she does become a saint.
Honestly, I thought that this book was hilarious and beyond silly at times. Antonia’s inner thoughts made me smile and giggle so many times. Donna Freitas captured Antonia’s teenage voice wonderfully. Antonia’s desire to be a saint with a combination of being a typical teenage girl who just wants to be kissed is a story that most, if not all teenage girls should read. Having her heart broken by Andy was sad, but I loved in the end with she finally kissed Michael. The ending was sweet and romantic. I enjoyed reading this book!
I adored the book. I felt the dialogue was wonderful and extremely realistic. It reminded me of all the peculiar people I knew in High School and it made me realize how religion can play such a significant role in an individual’s life. I was wondering if the Donna Freitas believes that some girls who attend Catholic School today mirror the character of Antonia? Also, what was her muse for Antonia’s desire to be the first living saint?
I read that Donna Freitas wrote the first draft of this book in 3 weeks (
). I’m wondering, when she sat down to write it, did she already have a rough outline in her head? (In terms of plot, did she already know how it was going to end?) Or did she figure out how the plot was going to unfold along the way? If it was the latter, what was that process like?
The Possibilities of Sainthood was a great break from some of the other reading I’ve had to do this semester (this class excluded of course). I found myself wipping through the pages, always entertained. The story was simple but compelling at the same time, which is what I find myself trying to achieve most of the time when I’m writing. I love the use of lists in the story, I’m wondering if that was something Donna Freitas set out to do from the very beginning or something she just fell into? I also loved the twist on the perfect boy senario. At first Michael didn’t seem anything like the perfect boy. Another question I had is whether or not Freitas used this story to get her agent? Also, did she always know where the story was going to end, or did she just keep writing until she felt the stroy was over?
All in all I really enjoyed it and would have really gushed over it when I was in Junior High!
I enjoyed reading this book. Antonia’s character is rich and developed. She has qualities more common to an everyday person than most literary characters. Her love for her family coupled with the fact that they make her miserable seemed very real and reminds me of my own experiences. I was wondering how different the first draft of this novel was from its final iteration. Also did Freitas know how the book would end before beginning to write, how much of the writing was improvised, did she struggle with finding Antonia’s voice, and how much of herself did she put into each of her characters?
After reading “The POssisbilities of Sainthood,” I wondered if it was difficult for you to create a balanced protagonists? Although Antonia, like a normal teenager is a little self centered, but for the most part she’s very aware of the people arouond her and is concerned about their feelings, and overall well being.
Antonia is a very interesting teenager, not onlt because of her desire to become a living saint, but because she cares about Mrs. B physical health, her Grandmother’s memory loss, and her mother’s personal life.
In my opionion she seems to be an actual multitextual person. Where there certain attributes that you specifically wanted
to evoke with her,in regards to the entire book, or was her personality traits a simple aspects of the book?
I’ve also been enjoying the book. Especially its light kind of humor, which is mixed in with more serious teenage dilemmas. It also has a really nice flow and makes me wonder what Donna Freitas approach was with writing- like schedule wise. How each part was written, all together? in the order of events in the plot? or more pieced together, like a series of short stories that were then integrated to form Antonia’s larger story? I was also curious about the inspiration behind the story because Antonia’s voice and narration feels so genuine and real.
I was wondering the same thing Nico asked. I’m curious about Ms. Freitas writing process. Is everything outlined and plotted before the writing begins or does the book unfold as she writes it? Also, her characters are so rich, I want to know how she develops them.