Genesis Response 2

One of the interesting things I noticed while reading Genesis, was that there seems to be a lot of tension between Orleanna and Nathan. The girls talk about how they must at times protect their mother or comfort her from both verbal/emotional and physical assault from "Father" (Nathan).
Also, when Father is telling the story about the Mercedes and the fanbelt, it shows a little bit of Orleanna's attitude towards him. She seems a bit sarcastic when she calls him sir, and it says that she sometimes develops a tone of voice, that is not altogether respectful. I believe that Orleanna feels a bit of resentment towards her husband because she doesn't firmly share all his strong beliefs.
I think my favorite character in this book so far is Adah. I like the way her character speaks, and her attention to detail. Adah talks a lot about the habits of the native women, their ability to carry large baskets on their heads, and their manner of dressing. The way Adah describes these things is also more poetic than the observations of her sisters. I like the rhyming and easy flow of Adah's words. For example, "Clumps of children stonethrowing outflowing rush upon terrified small goats, scattering them across the road so that the goats may tiptoe back and be chased again." (31) Adah also seems to be exceptionally bright, with the ability to add up receipts and her love of palindromes. I find Adah to be the most interesting, and cleverest of all the sisters.
Another kind of funny thing that occured in this part of the book so far, was the whole business of the garden. Mama Tataba warned Father about the poisonwood tree, and that it would bite, but he didn't understand/listen. Father ended up being covered in pus and with painful welts all over. Also, Mama Tataba told Father about making hills, but he brushed her comment off, believing that he knew best. He even flattened the earth after Mama Tataba went to the trouble of making the hills for him, But, the rains came and washed all the seeds about, wrecking the garden. Father then had to go back and make the hills himself, all the while not admitting that Mama Tataba had told him so. I find this all rather hilarious yet sad because Father has come to the Congo with preconceived notions, and it takes a lot for him to change his mind.