Getting to Know Liza Through a Letter

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden, is written in an epistolary tradition that frames the whole story in two perspectives: a looking glass and mirror of way. Readers not only see through Liza's eyes what is going on, but also her battling decisions to reassure herself that her love for Annie is true and pure. Most people put their inner workings into a journal/diary, so why not take a widley controversal issue and make it that much more personal.

First, readers get a looking glass perspective through Liza. They way she describes people around her, especially Annie; lets us know that her feelings are deeper than the first crush. What is especially noteable that was discussed in class is the fact that Liza does not talk about herself at all. There is truly no indepth character building with her at all. The one moment readers get a portait is when Liza is pushed in an uncomfortable situation, when her mother makes her dress up like a girl for the trial. This is the one time she describes herself, another time its about other people and their atributes. Although she doesn't descibe herself readers get a good sense of who Liza is without even knowning it.

Second, the epistolary style of writing gives Liza a mirror to look at so that she can realize the bigger picture that is going on around her. Liza is thinking back to the list of events that got her to the current moment in time. Her going back and reflecting on what happened in school and between her and Annie just makes her realize that she does want  to be with Annie and their love is just as real as any other love. I believe that it is her looking for self-actualization that most people need to do and most get through writing.

Lastly, I think this type of writing style gives readers a deeper look at Liza. This shows that Liza doesn't associate herself closly as femine, again this is shown with her lack of self despriction as well as the way she moves and acts in certain situations. From my last post I discussed the idea that I could only picture Liza as a boy, but from further reading and discussion it is clear to see that she isn't trying to be man like or trying to be the "man" in the relationship, which most stereotypes zero in on in lesbian relationships. This idea was in my head at the beginning and as I kept reading it made feel bad because I had followed along with this stereotype. This is a personal story that shows a battle for a relationship with a epistolary traditional writting style