Sara Kerin
In the book The Bean Trees I was able to look into a way of life that I have never experienced. I found myself reading a book about a girl from rural America- Kentucky to be exact. Kentucky has always been a place that my friends and I make fun of as being backwords and "Jerry Springer-like." This viewpoint comes from kids who live in an urban area and come from a more prosperous economic class. Through this book I was able to see what life in Kentucky is like. However, more importantly I was able to see a new and different mentality towards life itself. There I was, reading about a girl who was my age and all of a sudden she decides to save her money, pack up, and leave. She has no plans; she just allows fate to steer her where ever she wants. This ability to just pack up and go is something new and unknown to me. I could never just leave the security of my home to roam the vast unknown. It was intriguing to see this carefree attitude because in my time and place it is hard to act in such a way. My life is one of such strict order and habit that just leaving everything would be basically impossible. It was interesting to see the obstacles she ecounters, the chances she takes, and her overall achievements and growth. Throught this book I was able to experience through Taylor the ability to be carefree and independent, and to be alone in the vast expanse of the American mid-west. It was almost disappointing to return to the normal everyday rituals of my life, knowing that I, as a person, would never be capable of taking the actions that Taylor took to see what was out there for her. I am more of a person that lets what is out there come to me.
This is a website for the Cherokee nation. Turtle is found in the Cherokee nation and is part of Taylor's travels.