The End of the Odyssey

We've finally come to the end of the Odyssey! (It's about time, too) He kills off every last suitor and all the disobedient maids (AND Antinous's father, What's-His-Face) Then he reveals who he is and Penelope doesn't believe him until he starts talking about his bed. Then the townspeople get really mad and want to kill him then at the very very end it's all over and only Antinous's father died, and everything is peaceful and happy. It really makes me realize how long you have to wait for him to finish off all the suitors.

It starts with the fight against Irus, where I actually felt a little bad for Irus because he got beat so badly. (By an old man, too) The suitors all think it's hilarious, especially when Irus is beaten, which makes me even more mad, because it seems like it would be sad to watch beggars fight. Those suitors should have suffered longer.

I liked hearing about the gifts Penelope tricked the suitors into giving her, which wasn't really a trick, but I imagine they kept everything (after all, the suitors were dead after that). I also thought it was funny when he tell Euryclea (or Eurycleia) to go and lock the maids in the rooms. "Well you see, there's going to be this big fight downstairs, so excuse me a moment while I lock you in your room." But it probably was a good idea after all.

It was sort of nice to finally let Odysseus see his wife, after all that time he had been away, even if he was in disguise. Personally, I was very happy, because he had been sitting in Ithaca for so long, and he didn't even get to see his wife.

I also enjoyed listening to the story about how Odysseus was named and how he got the scar from the boar, although it seemed to be the best reason he had for being himself. As smart as he was, you'd think he would remember a big scar that would identify him, especially when he asked to be washed by a nurse. Were people really so good that they couldn't wash their own feet? Anyway, she recognizes him and drops his leg (Ow) and spills all the water. Very luckily, I suppose, Athena diverted her attention. I still don't think it was that necessary to keep it a secret from his wife. What would she do? If you locked her in like all the maids, she couldn't have done much, and if they had all died in the battle, how could the maid tell Penelope that it was her husband who had died and not told her? At least if she had known who he was, if he died, then she would know to remarry again, and that he got home safely. I just think I would be annoyed not to be in on a secret that my husband was home, even after the battle and everything.

I was always amazed at how much they seemed to revolve around Odysseus. Someone is always stopping to say something like, "I wish he would come home soon!" or praying to the gods that he would return. I'd think that after 20 years they'd be a little used to it, and they wouldn't still do that too much, but I guess it makes a better story.

I thought it was sort of weird when Ctesippus picks up a cow foot and chucks it at him, honestly, a heifer's foot? I guess it was the closest thing, but it just seems weird. Then he insults him, which is just a terrible idea. (We all saw what happened when the Phaeacians did that) I thought he might explode, because he didn't really seem controlled when he was challenged like that before.

Let's see, next Penelope decided to take out the "deadly bow and arrows" for a game. When she opens the door it makes a noise like a bull bellowing. That's some noisy door! What's the deal with that? I wouldn't open that door ever. Our teacher once let go of one of those pull out maps that roll up when you let them go and it went 'BANG' and I jumped because it scared me so you can imagine how much I would really hate to have to open that door.

Not a lot struck me for a while, except for when one of the suitors admits how inferior they are to Odysseus during the bow-stringing and shooting game. And when Penelope embarrasses Eurymachus. Then she has to go back upstairs and she cries again, which sort of makes Telemachus mean. :(

Then he strings the bow, and it made me feel sort of happy for some reason, even though we already knew he would. Then he shoots Antinous, which was way too quick of an end for being so evil. Then he goes on and kills a lot of them, saves the bard and Medon, and continues on to kill everyone else. When Leiodes, the sacrificing priest, comes and begs for his life, I don't think I even felt bad for him. He seems so sad, but somehow I never was even the tiniest bit sorry for him.

After that I was a tiny bit bored. Penelope doesn't want to believe it's really Odysseus, and you hear the ghosts talk amongst themselves. Then Odysseus is kind of mean in playing games with his dad, who has been waiting so long for him to come home and pretty much breaks down. Then the townspeople go to kill him for him killing all the people, and suddenly they all decide in peace.

Overall, it was very relieving to be finished and wrapped up, although it was a long time to get there. I thought he might punish the suitors some more, he was so mad, after all. I guess killing them was pretty harsh in the first place, but he seemed to punish his servants more than the suitors in the end. I thought he might be a little to hard on the maids. I would have just fired them and make sure they never got another job or ship them off somewhere terrible. Telemachus never really stepped up to head of the household, but he could have done more to discipline them, I think. I just think they might have done a better job if there had been more effort to make them do their job. Why put up with them if they won't agree? Why couldn't they just get rid of them years before to save a lot of problems?

The end sort of leaves me to wonder what life is like for the future. What does he do for all these years? When does he go and get the treasure from the cave? Did he even have anything to do? It must seem dull for him not to have to get anywhere or do anything or fight anyone. He also must have nightmares or occasionally feel bad for killing all those people, it seems like you would be. Thinking you were still stuck on an island or attacked by some monster or something. I guess that's not part of his journey home. I still have to wonder who had the patience to tell that whole story, really. I found I really didn't care about 'Rosy-fingered Dawn'. I actually liked all the epithets, they were almost comforting to read I think. I think I liked the beginning and the storytelling by Odysseus the best. I don't like all the time it takes to finish the story, but I guess it had to finish. In the end, I think I liked all the characters a little less. It was weird to see Odysseus fighting, to see Telemachus bossing his mom around, Penelope constantly crying, etc. It sort of makes you wonder what great huge adventure Telemachus gets to go on one day.

Do we get to finish O Brother Where Art Thou? now? (I don't think I'll be happy until it's done)

The Rest of My Reading Oct. 5-12

Yes, so now that I'm done writing about the short story, I think I'll write about 'The Odyssey'. A lot happened in these few books. Yes, Odysseus goes home with all his riches and Poseidon punishes them by turning the boat to a rock and are going to escape because there is a prophecy that he will also want to squish them under a huge mountain. That's when you get to Odysseus who is confused until Athena pops out and fills him in, hides his stuff, and brings him to his swineherd's house. He makes up a story, and Telemachus, meanwhile is rushing to get home because Athena has warned him about the evil suitors. He gets home fine, and eventually meets his father, who has been talking to the swineherd for a really really long time and eating his food. Together, they hatch a plan to kill the suitors, and eventually they go to back to Odysseus's house and he meets all the suitors. Then you come to a stop, after waiting for a really long time to see all the suitors get what they deserved. Anyway, there were a few things I'd like to mention. First of all is when they give Odysseus a tripod and a cauldron. It's funny, because he quite literally said that because he had a long and difficult journey home, he wanted to give him a cauldron, which would seem like a weird thing to say. I don't think the gift itself is strange, it's just that it seems funny to want to give him all that stuff because he had a hard time getting there. It seems like it would be hospitable enough to let the guy have some food and a warm bed, but I guess it's only truly kind if you also give them a lot of presents. I was very relieved when they said he could go, and also when he got to sleep the whole way home! (That would be so nice) I was really looking forward to his ship crashing or something, though. It seems to easy that he just gets home, but I'm am really glad he did, because it was about time! I think he just could have gotten home in a more exciting way, like a giant sea monster pops out and ruins the ship, and he is saved by a passing boat who takes him home and he gets to keep one of his gifts. Except that probably wouldn't happen, and then some people would be disappointed because he never got his gifts. I also noticed that he keeps getting clean shirts and cloaks. I don't know why, but he just can't seem to keep all the ones he gets. He always gets them dirty or watery or just loses them somewhere. It just seems crazy

I feel pretty bad for the Phaeacians, they get punished for being really nice to someone. It made me curious, though, if he turned the boat to rock, does that mean the boat turns to stone, or the boat and everyone on it turns to stone. That is definitely two different things. I just think it would be mean to ruin it for these people who were trying to do what was right and happened to help someone that a god was angry at. It seems like there should be no one to punish, because no one did anything wrong! (Although it was fun to imagine a boat suddenly turning to stone.) Personally, I would have gotten off that island as fast as I could, but it's probably good they made a sacrifice first. I just hope everyone turned out okay! I'm trying to go in order of notes I made!

There were a few things that I thought were funny. One is the word 'bespatter', which Athena uses to describe what will happen to the brains of the suitors. The second is when one of the servants says 'Dinner is good at dinner time' which I just think is funny. I also thought it was funny how they talked so much about Odysseus when he was right there. Really, right there. IF only Odysseus could come back. IF only he would rid of those terrible suitors. IF Odysseus was here he could stand up and save the day. It was just hilarious how much everyone talked about him. He seemed to always be right there to hear about how much everyone loved him! Telemachus must have felt dumb when he found out his dad was right there, but it was nice to know how happy they were.

I think sometimes the way they talk is funny, too. (Well duh) Anyway, it seems like they are sometimes being rude to one another without meaning to. Like when the swineherd tells him that he has found the story of his misfortune 'interesting'. It seems like a mean thing to say, but I don't know. I found it very interesting to listen to the swineherd's story, and Odysseus's made-up one.

I also find it interesting that the one man, Theoclymenus, that shows up and has Telemachus take him to Ithaca with them. It seems sort of random, but I hope it turns out to be a good thing! I was also really excited when Penelope stood up to Antinous, but then she basically was quiet and never said anything again. That was just flat-out disappointing! She really should just send them all out because she doesn't want to marry any of them and hates them all. I think Penelope has been one of the most disappointing characters.

I was really sad when his dog dies, especially after it describes what a great dog he was. I just wrote 'NOOOOO' where it says ...'but Argos died as soon as he had recognized his master.' That's so sad! That poor dog was just left to die (although you think it might have been more resourceful for a hunting dog).

I think it was a really good idea to go and beg from them to see their personalities, even if it was technically not Odysseus's. It was a perfect way for him to stay in his character and be able to see what all the suitors were like. I was a little confuse about how Antinous would have the power to throw him out, though. (He says that if Odysseus doesn't go away he'll make the servants drag him out) It seems strange that he would suddenly have that power, but I guess he was be a 'guest' and if something was disturbing him, then he could have it removed, but it still seems like a lot of power.

That takes us to the end of the reading! I really want to get to the end, and I'm so glad that we have both Telemachus and Odysseus together, because I've been waiting for that and I really like them both! Hopefully, we will see the suitors being 'bespattered' on the pavement (Ha ha) Also, hopefully, there won't be any more really long stories in it, because the stories are interesting, but always so long! Anyway, I thinking we're pretty close to the end and I am hoping it turns out to have a good ending!

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Watching the movie was sort of weird when you were thinking about things like names and events that were similar. I was talking about it to my mom, and she was saying that most people, even who The Odyssey, too. I wrote down some things, and some of them I didn't connect them to anything in The Odyssey, but here are some of the ones I have found.

One is just characters. Ulysses/Odysseus obviously shares his name with Ulysses Everett McGill, and I know I heard 'Menelaus' in the movie, I'm pretty sure it was 'Gov. Menelaus'. I was sort of thinking that his two friends were like Odysseus's unintelligent crew. There is also the one eyed man (and I can't think of his name) that is pretty much evil and squashes their amphibian friend, like the cyclopes. (Particularly when the cyclopes eats their friends.

I also have put together that his journey to get that money, is sort of like Odysseus's journey home from the war. The old guy on the train tracks is like the dead prophet Odysseus meets, and the last thing was that Ulysses comes back home to find his wife is going to be married, sort of like Odysseus comes home to find all the suitors in his house, except sort of the opposite because one wife wants to be remarried, and the other really doesn't.

That wasn't really three, but I didn't know how much recognizing peoples' names counted as connections, so I just threw in an extra one, trying not to say the same things other people have said. I hope we get to see the rest of the movie next week!!

Reading, Odyssey Books IX-XII

Reading this week, has been a lot like other weeks. I'm still reading The Glass Castle, only a chapter or two a day. A lot happens fast, but the little girl, Jeanette, is still pretty little. Most of the time she was on the move with her family, but she stayed for almost a year in one place, but then her dad decided it was time to move. Then she moves on to Phoenix, where her grandma left them a house, and she's still exploring around there now. Each chapter is a different adventure, a different problem that crops up (or doesn't).
I also read A Good Man Is Hard to Find, I already wrote about that. I gave it to my mom to read. I still think it's pretty creepy.
The Odyssey was (I think) the last thing I read this week. I don't think I forgot anything. Anyway, I think Odysseus just got to talk a lot! It was time we heard his story, but it was a LONG story. Yup, I think I would actually be happier if there was more suspense, like it jumps from Telemachus to Odysseus' story and back again. I got a little bored when he just kept talking on and on, but I guess it might also be easier to keep the story going. I just don't like how you can freeze one story and go on with the other. I feel like then you just keep having to catch up on one story and the next, and you never get both in the present. Anyway, it wasn't that bad, and we got to the stuff I recognized a little more, (Come on, who hasn't seen the Arthur or Wishbone version on TV?) like the Cyclopes. He was really crazy, and that's just about it! I probably would have died in there, if I was him. Of course, I probably wouldn't be even fighting in a war, or on a ship back from a war. The whole hiding under sheep thing was a good idea, but it seems like a lot depended on that they poked his eye out. And if there had been some weird problem where they couldn't poke his eye, they probably wouldn't have escaped. It's sort of funny how they don't seem to care that he eats their friends while it's happening, but when they get back, they start to cry. It seems like you would look away while a giant cyclopes ate your friend, really. There's not much suspense because you know he gets out alive, but I guess it's all part of the story. I'm glad they escape, but what if his friends had sailed away without him? What would they do? There would be a cyclopes on the island looking for them, which might take a while, but it's still sort of strange to think about what might have happened to them. I'm glad they finally get away, because eventually he was going to run out of people to eat. They sail away, and are treated well for a while, but then they eventually come to Circe. She's just sort of strange. How would it be fun to turn people into pigs and lions and wolves? I also am curious why exactly Hermes wanted to help him out, because he couldn't have done much without him. She was sort of crazy, suddenly screaming and all sorts of weird things. He really should have left sooner, a year is way too long. I don't know why he had to go and visit the dead when she could have just told him. She told him a lot of what the prophet/seer already said. It was interesting to hear him talk to all the ghosts. The fact he couldn't hug his mom was sad, and all the stories of how people died were also pretty sad. It's funny how he talks to the guy who falls off the roof first, because he doesn't seem that important, but I guess it's a good reason to go back to Circe's island. I want to know why the other people who died, for example, in the Cyclopes' cave, don't get to come back and talk to him when the other people do. The people who are sitting on the ship must either be really bored or listening in, because he talked to a lot of people. Anyway, he goes back, and then goes off on his journey, more people get eaten by one of the monsters, and it gets bad again. The Sirens didn't really get to sing a lot. I wish we could hear them sing more, but I'm also glad it kept moving. Then they get to the place where the cattle and sheep are kept. That's just sort of frustrating because they ran out of food and there was only a little to eat. They couldn't go anywhere, what are they supposed to do? Of course, they definitely shouldn't have eaten the cows, and it was really creepy when they said that the bones were making cow noises and the legs were walking around. Then he with himself on Calypso's island after floating on a raft of sorts. It only took four books to tell! (That actually isn't that sarcasm) You'd think after all that stuff that happened to him, it would take longer to tell, but I like it wasn't super long. It's sort of mean that even though he wanted to go to bed, the king wouldn't let him. I'm surprised he didn't fall asleep in the middle, although I am pretty happy that he kept talking. They really should have let Nausicaa hear this story, just so it made sense to her. I would have been pretty excited if someone had come in and started talking about this long and really terrifying journey they had. (Forget the singing bard) I still would be a little afraid to think he had done all this, and I don't know if they would believe him, because it seems like a pretty crazy story. Now I want to know about Telemachus, and all the people at home, and even about what happens next. I am feeling tempted to read ahead! (But I won't)

Odyssey Reading, Books 5-8

It's time to talk about The Odyssey! This week I was pretty excited to get to Odysseus instead of Telemachus, Telemachus, Telemachus, (It's like Duck Duck Goose...). In the end of this reading, I feel like he's not that special. Yup, and there's still a lot of crying. Just let the guy go home!!

Calypso is just strange. She seems to be plotting something, and then she seems to want to help him. I don't know, she's obviously upset to have to send him away, and she wants to get him there safely, but is it just so he'll like her better? That's the one thing about this book, you never really know when someone is acting or not. (I think I've said this before, so no more!) She definitely makes it easier for him to get somewhere, and he probably would have gotten home if Neptune would just let him go! He is stubborn! Really, you kept him on the island, he has suffered for a long time, and now you make this huge storm just because he poked an eye out! (Really, you'd think he might just poke his eye out, too and call it an eye for an eye) Then you try and bash him against the rocks, it's not even his fault he's free! His fellow gods decided, so shouldn't he be mad at them, not Odysseus?

I'm a little confused how he got on the island, he was just brought to a river suddenly, why didn't he see it before? If Neptune was angry enough to smash him against the rocks, he sure seems to forget about it quickly when he asked for help. He just calmed everything down and let him float to safety. It seems like if he came to such a big sailing town, he might have seen someone sailing or fishing somewhere nearby, but I guess not! I'm not sure what to think of Nausicaa, she seems smart and brave for standing up to the crazy person who popped out of the bushes, but then again Athena was there to help her. She, of course, helps him, which I suppose most people would do in that situation, and offers to take him home, which seems nice, but how much is just what she was taught to do? (Besides 'Never talk to strangers') It's sort of frustrating he always stays with the rich people, I think he should stay with a friendly family or something. Which reminds me, there are no small children in this book so far! I guess it's not really important, but they just aren't. Telemachus is supposed to be kind of young (which confuses me, because he acts older and his dad is supposed to seem young, too). It's funny how Athena pops up to lead him to their home, and you'd think he might at least think she was strange or something, because she tells him a lot about the king and queen that not everyone might know, and really helps him on how to act. I think she sometimes helps him too much.

Anyway, I like how the queen is well respected, but she gets left out a lot after he meets her. The king is friendly, hospitable, rich, and a lot like the other kings he meets. It's sort of weird and nice of him to give him a feast for suddenly appearing at his door, and it's also weird how he doesn't ask who he is or why he is there until after he feeds him multiple times. It's also strange how he has the blind musical guy, Demodocus, come back after he sees that it makes him cry the first time. I think it's weird he wants him to sing about it when it makes him cry so much. So basically I thought most of the feast was abnormal. The first time Odysseus hides his crying, but the second time, as it is so carefully described, he doesn't bother. He sure gets mad about the guy who said he probably couldn't play any sports, which was really mean to say to the guy, but I was afraid he would hurt someone! (It was on and on and on about all the stuff he could do) Then the king got into it and started talking about what all the people in his town were good at and what they liked and somehow calmed Odysseus down with that. Then they went back and watched more people dance, which made him happy, and then he got really upset, so it doesn't sound like a good day. Finally, the king asks who he is (Using a whole page to say 'Who are you?') and now we have to wait for him to answer.

I liked books five, six, and seven. Eight was all over, now he's mad, now he's crying, now he's laughing, He was spoiled with the fifty-two sailors and brand new boat, and with the whole feast, but I guess he had a long journey. I sort of wish instead of spending so much time there, he would just leave and get home, because that's all he seems to care about. I have a bad feeling about him telling the king about his story, it will probably be really long, but I hope he starts sailing home soon!!

The Odyssey, Books 2-4

I hope I did this right, I read books 2,3, and 4. I'm not sure if I was supposed to read to four, or through for, but I guess it doesn't matter now, because the damage has been done. I am actually really liking this book so far! This 'active reading' thing sometimes seems annoying, but it helps me to pay attention, especially when I realize that I've been writing the strangest things on the paper. Sometimes I would look back and have no idea why I underlined what I did, but I would remember what I read really well. I also wrote notes to myself that, although I felt stupid writing, made sense, kind of. I wrote connections that I made like 'Wait, if the man-servant tells Penelope that the suitors are planning to kill her son who's in another city far away, then that means that she will know her son is/was at sea!' and then less than a paragraph later it says the same thing and I feel stupid that I took time to point that out to myself. Another weird thing I do is when I write things to myself, after a while of reading, I start to write them like the people talk, so 'old English' I guess. I guess it feels sort of harsh to say 'The guy is sad'. I don't know why I like the story so much, but I'm feeling pretty confident that the beginning is the worst of it. The one thing I noticed that I don't like is that it seems like he is only liked because of his father. Even Athena (or Minerva) although she seems to like him, seems to only be helping him because it means getting Odysseus back. I also don't like, now that I think about it, how I can't always tell why the people do or say something, or if they know something. For example, when Athena disguises herself as 'Mentor' does Telemachus know it's her? It seems like he doesn't, but he also hinted that he could tell it was her before, and then when she turns into an eagle and flies away, is he paying attention? It seems obvious that he would see, since it seems like he should still be there (how far could he have gotten in a few lines? But how do I know? I also can't always tell (and it might be my stupidity) when Telemachus is acting and when he sincerely is thinking something. To a degree, he is always acting, and so in Athena (yes, I know I'm referring to one in a Roman name and one Greek, but that's how I think), but how do I know when he seriously is thinking that he will never find Odysseus and when he is acting for someone. I guess sometimes it doesn't matter, but I want to know. I don't know whether or not I like not knowing what he looks like, other than once being referred to as 'tall and strong'.

People I don't like: the suitors, of course! They are hogs, and I can see what can sparks their greed of money, because Penelope obviously has a lot of riches in her house, but they are definitely a little crazy. I love how they can't be pushed in their greed and they can seem so stupid, because then I can picture them better. I somehow felt that they would come to be a stronger problem, although I didn't think they would try to sail after him. It seems too easy, I guess. I just thought they would stay and be more trouble to his mom, which they would have been, and still are, except now I don't know why she would marry any of them after they plot to kill her son. Which brings me to my other point, I don't like Penelope, for many reasons. She seems to not think much of her son. There are many times when she says something like 'he's not strong enough' or things like that. This especially bothers me when she seems to prize her husband so much. I realize that she loves him to bits, but she regards him as stupid in his decisions and weak and small, like he's still an infant. He doesn't even score as heroic in her mind when he goes off to find his father, which makes me even angrier. Of course, we could give her the excuse of being overcome by grief and suitors who are jerks, and her son can be a little pushy and mean to his mom, but you'd think she might think something of him. Penelope's character also seems to change a lot. At first she seems to be the poor women who lost her husband, and they we're told stories about how she tricked the suitors, so maybe she's smart. Then she seems to be helpless again and cry a lot. She's almost like a baby, in a way. Of course, I'm probably being hard on her, but I can't help thinking badly of her.
One of the people I do like, even though she has a tiny part, is the nurse, whose name I can't think of, who helps get Telemachus supplies and has to tell Penelope about him leaving. Although at first I though she would tell of him leaving, she seemed to really care about and know Telemachus. She was obedient, and loved him, then she also proved to be intelligent. She covered his story and when the word got out he sailed away, she even took responsibility for his departure. "Then the dear old nurse Euryclea said, "You may kill me, Madam, or let me live on in your house, whichever you please, but I will tell you the real truth." This woman is so loyal, and she tells the truth even when it could, as she knows, get her killed. Not only this, but then she has either thought out, or comes up with a perfect way to do three things: relax, even slightly, Penelope, get her to stop crying, and keep her busy and not crying. Although she still cries later, Penelope seems to really listen to what she advises, and what she says has good reason to it.
The people Telemachus visits and stays with Nestor (who is preparing dinner at sunrise) and Menelaus are just okay. They seem similar, and are both long-winded about their past. They both seem to only like him because of his dad, and both seem kind and generous, and although they tell interesting stories of their past, they seem a little dull. I liked the story about Proteus, but it seems like it only told us what we already knew for the seventh time.
Even though I talked a lot and said a lot of things I didn't like, I think it just means that it was written well, because I think people should feel like that about the characters in the story. I can't wait to keep reading, (but I have to admit I spent a long time reading)!

Odyssey Reading

Hopefully I will be able to say what I think of the Odyssey so far, but I'm not sure how well I will be able to do that, because I am somewhat unsure of what to think of it! I think it's very interesting how it's just a long poem, and I also am interested in the way the author writes. I can't say I really like it or don't like it so far. I enjoyed reading it, I felt like it was hard to soak up all the first time, so I reread the first part, which helped. I think the whole idea of the story is kind of interesting, especially since there are all sorts of gods and creatures to make it different.

I like how everything has to do with something else. You aren't ever told anything unless it's at least somewhat important, of course, this isn't so good if you sometimes forget facts, because then you get lost and confused, which has definitely happened to me before. Hopefully I won't forget anything. I haven't read a lot of Greek myths, but I remember some things, so hopefully it will help. It does sort of make me wonder what it would be like to actually be in a myth, or go on an adventure with everything considered so differently. If you had someone powerful against you, or on your side, or even what it would be like to meet some of the creatures. I always sort of ignore picturing specific monsters in my head, but it would be terrifying to meet one of them.

Right now I have a good feeling I'll like it, but I guess I won't know for sure for a while. I think I will enjoy the plot the most, but again, I can't tell. Sometimes the names get me confused, but that happens to me in a lot of books, so I'm not too worried! I can't wait to keep reading!