Hamlet is one of those books people can analyze, discuss, and philosophize about. On an intellectual level, like a lot of literature, it possesses gre...moreHamlet is one of those books people can analyze, discuss, and philosophize about. On an intellectual level, like a lot of literature, it possesses great merit. It's much more enriching than the "oh, that b*stard killed my father, I will now seek my revenge!" plot line, as it picks apart the psychological aspects of several characters and uses them to further the story. Several themes run their course and motifs abound. Overall, without delving too deeply into it, it's a great book to write an AP Lit essay or a literary analysis paper on.
My three-star rating stems solely from my lack of emotional connection to the characters and the story. I appreciated the nuances and the beauty of Shakespeare's writing, but nothing made me care enough to experience any sort of literary enlightenment. This shows how subjective my ratings are, because I would recommend this for almost anyone, even those who did not like Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth - one of Shakespeare's most impressive qualities is the variation within his work. By all means, give this one a shot.(less)
As a pacifist, I did not expect to love The Things They Carried - a book comprised of short stories centered on the Vietnam War. However, Tim O'Brien'...moreAs a pacifist, I did not expect to love The Things They Carried - a book comprised of short stories centered on the Vietnam War. However, Tim O'Brien's magnificent writing won me over quicker than I could say "callipygous." This book isn't just about the brutality of war, it's about the human condition, the emotions that entrench us in times of desperation and loss. There isn't much more I can contribute concerning the book that hasn't been said so here are a few of my favorite passages from it.
"Even in the deep bush, where you could die any number of ways, the war was nakedly and aggressively boring. But it was a strange boredom. It was boredom with a twist, the kind of boredom that caused stomach disorders. You'd be sitting at the top of a high hill, the flat paddies stretching out below, and the day would be calm and utterly vacant, and you'd feel the boredom dripping inside of you like a faucet, except it wasn't water, it was a sort of acid, and with each little droplet you'd feel the stuff eating away at important organs. You'd try to relax. You'd uncurl your fists and let your thoughts go. Well, you'd think, this isn't so bad. And right then you'd hear gunfire behind you and your nuts would fly up into your throat and you'd be squealing pig squeals. That kind of boredom." (O'Brien, p 34)
"Courage, I seemed to think, comes to us in finite quantities, like an inheritance, and by being frugal and stashing it away and letting it earn interest, we steadily increase our moral capital in preparation for that day when the account must be drawn down. It was a comforting theory. It dispensed with all those bothersome little acts of daily courage; it offered hope and grace to the repetitive coward; it justified the past while amortizing the future." (O'Brien, p 40)
"For Mary Anne Bell, it seemed, Vietnam had the effect of a powerful drug: that mix of unnamed terror and unnamed pleasure that comes as the needle slips in and you know you're risking something. The endorphins start to flow, and the adrenaline, and you hold your breath and creep quietly through the moonlight nightscapes; you become intimate with danger; you're in touch with the far side of yourself, as though it's another hemisphere, and you want to string it out and go wherever the trip takes you and be host to all the possibilities inside yourself." (O'Brien, p 144)
A lot of the literature I've read for school this year has disappointed me. It's great that we got to read and watch The Glass Menagerie as part of my...moreA lot of the literature I've read for school this year has disappointed me. It's great that we got to read and watch The Glass Menagerie as part of my AP Lit class, because I reclaimed my title as extremely obsessive fanboy extraordinaire.
There's just so much to love in this play. Williams' writing is exquisite and his utilization of symbols leaves myriad room for analysis. His deep and damaged characters call for discussion: Amanda Wingfield, the ambitious and heady mother of Laura and Tom, Laura, the painfully shy girl with a penchant for glass, Tom, the trapped adventurer who yearns for excitement, and Jim, the gentleman caller who represents optimism and progress in society. The themes of disillusionment, quiet disaster, and the death of the American dream intertwine with the fragmented family and lead to a tragedy of epic proportions.
But I must admit my bias regarding the The Glass Menagerie - 1) I love the word "menagerie" and 2) I've experienced family issues like the ones portrayed in this play. However, not all stories that strike home succeed; this one hit the mark in its bittersweet portrayal of a mother who pushes her children in the wrong direction and a son and a daughter who fight back.
Highly recommended, especially for those who can watch the film version directed by Paul Newman.
How ironic that I would read The Poisonwood Bible immediately after publishing a blog post defending the merits of YA books. One individual commented...moreHow ironic that I would read The Poisonwood Bible immediately after publishing a blog post defending the merits of YA books. One individual commented about how literary fiction takes themes/motifs/messages and pushes them to the edge. I can see that with Barbara Kingsolver's work.
Yes, the book preaches about anti-Westernization and the plights of religion. Even though I agree for the most part with Kingsolver's descriptions of Christianity and colonialism, I can see why those who disagree or dislike her writing style in general would criticize the story. I myself had to trudge through the first 150 pages to get a solid grasp of the characters; I often had to flip to the beginning of each chapter to remind myself whose narration I was reading.
But the characters won me over. It would be easy to write a book report or literary analysis regarding how Kingsolver incorporates themes and motifs like the burden of guilt, the failures of religion, light v. darkness, etc. The way Kingsolver crafted her characters earns this book its four star rating. Reading Leah's perspective in the last 100 pages in comparison to the first 100 pages feels like reading two different people, but Kingsolver made the massive transition smooth. Each narrator shares her perspective of the events in Africa, growing along the way. Even Rachel, who didn't develop at all, maintained her voice throughout the story and contributed a thoughtfully thoughtless perspective.
Overall, a time-consuming yet ultimately worthy book about a missionary who travels to Africa with his wife and four daughters. It rarely takes me over a week to finish a work of fiction, but I don't regret reading The Poisonwood Bible at all.
On a plot level, reading The Stranger is as exciting as watching your grandmother eat potatoes. It's a simple story about a nondescript man who does t...moreOn a plot level, reading The Stranger is as exciting as watching your grandmother eat potatoes. It's a simple story about a nondescript man who does things randomly and routinely, and he eventually goes to trial for an incident caused by the heat.
Though I didn't care about the characters or the plot, The Stranger did prove intellectually stimulating. Thematically, it's a deep book that raises questions ranging from whether society conditions our emotions to how we deal with the difference between absurdity and existentialism. The last few pages of the book contained most of the mind meat (doesn't that sound delicious?) so I recommend not giving up halfway, even if you're not too entertained by the plot.
Overall, not the best book I've read for school, but one that works well in a Socratic seminar or any type of discussion. Will probably come back to it when I have a greater understanding of philosophy.
Sophie's Choice revolves around three characters and three story lines. The protagonist, Stingo, is an aspiring writer from the South who stumbles upo...moreSophie's Choice revolves around three characters and three story lines. The protagonist, Stingo, is an aspiring writer from the South who stumbles upon Sophie and Nathan when moving into his apartment in New York. Sophie serves as the beautiful and damaged love interest, a Polish woman and a survivor of Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp. Nathan, a handsome and successful biologist, brings both darkness and light into their lives. Stingo's journey as an individual and a writer, Sophie's troubled past, and Sophie and Nathan's tumultuous relationship all come together in a convoluted, intensely passionate triangle that will break readers' hearts.
This was my first time reading Styron. While his writing was not as superb in the literary sense as that of other authors, his prose conveyed all of the emotion essential to the story. Sophie's Choice reads like an addictive drama, sucking people in and slowly latching onto their hearts - and at the end, all heck breaks loose.
The development of the characters and the conflict amazed me as well. This book reminded me of Wuthering Heights, as Styron masterfully manipulated the narration and the timeline of events by using flashbacks. This allowed him to foreshadow certain occurrences and keep other revelations secret.
One minor issue I had while reading was the amount of sex. I understand that Styron included it to portray the mindset of a twenty-something-year-old man and to incorporate humor into his work, but at times it felt gratuitous. The book could have been more concise and effective if someone had eliminated some of Stingo's sexual thoughts and explorations.
However, I would recommend Sophie's Choice to everybody because of how beautifully and powerfully Styron tackled themes like oppression, mental illness, abusive relationships, etc. Get ready to cry, or at least feel serious heartbreak when you reach the end. It speaks to the evil mankind is capable of, for anyone to have to make anything similar to Sophie's choice.
A Raisin in the Sun details the story of a working-class family struggling to make ends meet. The Youngers are then faced with a difficult decision th...moreA Raisin in the Sun details the story of a working-class family struggling to make ends meet. The Youngers are then faced with a difficult decision that brings their colored heritage and the lives of their ancestors to the forefront.
Although this book and Death of a Salesman have some similar themes, what makes A Raisin in the Sun much better is its dynamic dialogue and the conflicting desires of its characters. While not perfectly three-dimensional, each family member in the story had an idea or belief that drove them forward. Not all of the characters were likable, especially Walter, but they worked well together in terms of their times of communion and crisis. I empathized a lot with Beneatha - the obstacles she overcame in such a racist, cruel community to express herself and find her dreams spoke to me. I also need a man like Asagai in my life.
Hansberry could have expanded the size of the story to further flesh out the many themes within it, but she portrayed them well with what she did write. The American dream, racism, money, etc. are all touched upon, which is why I suppose so many high schoolers are exposed to this work.
Overall, a solid play with strong characters. Not the most mind-blowing book, but not one that's sleep-inducing either.
When I finished reading this book in my AP Literature class, I literally cheered, clapped, and high-fived my friends sitting next to me. The cycle of...moreWhen I finished reading this book in my AP Literature class, I literally cheered, clapped, and high-fived my friends sitting next to me. The cycle of complete despair had been broken! My soul could now sing a song of optimism and joy!
Before I read this book, I still had a sliver of doubt in my mind. The doubt that I should include a myriad more classics to my reading list, that my brain would rot and rupture under the strain of contemporary fiction.
No. Just, no. The reason I'm giving Death of a Salesman two stars is that there is some meaning behind it, if you look deeply enough. It also is not absolute trash. And yet, there are a lot of books that I've read that are not even considered close to high literature that surpass this one in their quality.
It's not like I hate literature (which in itself is a subjective term.) I loved Jane Eyre. To Kill a Mockingbird. Wuthering Heights. But this book made me want to slap someone - especially Willy Loman - and storm off in a dramatic fit of frustration. Every time my teacher praised a certain phrase or bit of writing, I would mentally shake my head. Not because I don't respect my teacher, but because I could not fathom why he thought the writing in this book was extraordinary at all. Maybe I'm simply unaccustomed to the play format, but I was not impressed.
Both the story and the characters were horrendous. I understood, almost appreciated, and in the end abhorred the plot and its unsatisfying portrayal of a tragic hero/failed American dream. None of the characters earned any empathy. Willy was pathetic - not in a mean way - Biff and Happy were hopeless, and Linda was way too blind and bland. I hated how Linda put up with Willy's abuse and even enjoyed it to an extent. That's how it is in some abusive relationships, but how Arthur Miller made it look in this play upset me.
Overall, not recommended. Glad I can finally move on to something else.
Rushed through this one for my AP Latin class. Vergil knows how to craft a cunning phase as well as persuasive propaganda. At times it took me awhile...moreRushed through this one for my AP Latin class. Vergil knows how to craft a cunning phase as well as persuasive propaganda. At times it took me awhile to get through just a few passages but I enjoyed certain parts of the story, especially the sections featuring Dido. Perhaps when I'm more educated and scholarly I'll revisit The Aeneid and give it a more thorough reading. Highly recommended for fans of classical literature.(less)
Not sure whether I should classify this as nonfiction. A well-written piece of propaganda I read for my AP Latin class - Caesar sure knows how to ente...moreNot sure whether I should classify this as nonfiction. A well-written piece of propaganda I read for my AP Latin class - Caesar sure knows how to entertain with his descriptions of battle and debauchery. And by debauchery, I mean bloodshed and weird ritual sacrifices.
Fans of Roman and military history will eat this up.(less)
I encountered my first issue on page four. It was intense enmity at first sight.
"He thought the month was October but he wasnt sure. He hadnt kept a c...moreI encountered my first issue on page four. It was intense enmity at first sight.
"He thought the month was October but he wasnt sure. He hadnt kept a calendar for years."
Apostrophes!? What happened to those magical things? Then, on page five...
"The boy turned in the blankets. Then he opened his eyes. Hi, Papa, he said. I'm right here. I know."
Quotation marks? Where art thou? Like they often say, you don't appreciate things until they're gone - and, in this case, I was starting to sincerely appreciate proper grammar.
I'm slightly joking. The concise, spare, and experimental prose served McCarthy's purpose well in this story. It conveyed the themes of the book and touched on many truths of mankind in general. I give props to Cormac McCarthy for some of his more pulchritudinous passages:
"No list of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes. So, he whispered to the sleeping boy. I have you."
The Road has received myriad lauds and a lot of love. Despite this, I didn't effusively enjoy the book. The stilted writing style made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Near the end of the novel, I remember annotating "this is the scene where I should be crying... but I'm not." I recognize the feat McCarthy has achieved by publishing this heartbreaking post-apocalyptic novel, but, personally, I couldn't bring myself to like it more than any other okay book. Possibly because for every wonderfully-written passage or page, I had to trudge through 25 average ones.
Overall, I would recommend The Road to those who find pleasure in reading about dark, despairing situations as well as those who like experimental, post-apocalyptic fiction. The relationship between the father and his son acts as the best attribute of the book, as it reminds readers of the strength of human connection and how much love can endure and accomplish.
Okay, not really. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of all the animosity people feel toward him. He does deserve the ha...moreI am Holden Caulfield.
Okay, not really. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of all the animosity people feel toward him. He does deserve the hate - he's hypocritical, judgmental, whiny, and somewhat of a jerk overall. In fact, his awkwardness around the concept of homosexuality almost angered me.
But, as a seventeen-year-old male (just turned 17 last week!) I can honestly say that I connect with Holden. I usually detest characters who complain on every other page, but Holden complained on pretty much every page and I still empathized with him. He's a lonely guy with an idealistic, unrealistic perspective who doesn't know how to hold his own in a world where not everything can be watered down to black and white and right and wrong. He's caring, emotional, and intelligent, but so thoroughly disconnected from everyone that he cannot express what he wants, if he even knows what that is. He is hurt, he needs to heal, and he is one of the few fictional characters who I would give a hug to if I could.
Overall, major respect points to J.D. Salinger for writing what is commonly called the first real "young-adult" book/classic, and for creating the most banned book ever. The Catcher in the Rye should be read by anyone searching for a wonderfully misanthropic, tragically classic coming-of-age story.
*interestingly enough, Carol Gilligan, a researcher in the field of developmental psychology, states that boys have a more absolute view of right and wrong while girls are more likely to take into account situational factors. Perhaps this plays a part in me and Holden's thinking pattern...
Not a bad book, but not one I would read again or recommend to others. It's a collection of free-verse poems, crafted as epitaphs of the former citize...moreNot a bad book, but not one I would read again or recommend to others. It's a collection of free-verse poems, crafted as epitaphs of the former citizens of the Midwestern town Spoon River. While there were some meaningful poems and well-developed characters, there were quite a few sections that I did not care for at all. I've never been an ardent fan of poetry, though, and this one, while a good read, did nothing to change that.
Here's my favorite poem from the book:
"George Gray: I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled for me- A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. In truth it pictures not my destination But my life. For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment; Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid; Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances. Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life. And now I know that we must lift the sail And catch the winds of destiny Wherever they drive the boat. To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, Of restlessness and vague desire- It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid."(less)
3.5 stars. I had to write a report/review of this book for my AP US History class, so I've decided to use that as my review.
In Unbroken Laura Hillenbr...more3.5 stars. I had to write a report/review of this book for my AP US History class, so I've decided to use that as my review.
In Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand narrates the odyssey of Louie Zamperini – from his success as an Olympic athlete to his internment as a prisoner of war under the Japanese. Zamperini started off as an unruly child, but his rebellious nature was reformed into a healthy addiction to running – due to his talent, he was chosen to represent the United States in the Berlin Olympics. Afterward, as World War II began, he changed his career and became a bombardier. When a rescue mission went awry, he ended up alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. His fight for survival at this point only surfaced the ocean of his struggles, as he proceeded to be captured by the Japanese, who treated him horribly and inhumanely. However, after suffering from hateful and dehumanizing torture in several camps, Zamperini was able to return home once the war ended. Life was not a basket of peaches then, but eventually, he rose above his trials and tribulations and emerged unbroken from the battles he had faced.
Laura Hillenbrand writes well. Zamperini’s story itself interested me, and the book as a whole – despite some questionable facts and tangent-like plot twists – impressed me. As someone who generally sticks to fiction, Unbroken, despite being a historical nonfiction work, kept my attention like any well-written novel would have.
However, Unbroken was not an easy book to read. Every time Zamperini or one of his fellow POWs was tortured or treated inhumanely, I cringed. I cannot say that I have experienced anything even remotely similar to the suffering they endured, but my empathy for them enveloped my emotions as I read. Zamperini, especially, is such a strong person. While I was amazed by his perseverance during his plight in the Pacific and in his imprisonment, what really spoke to me the most was his ability to forgive his tormentor after the war was over. His ability to treat a monstrous man with kindness and compassion – someone who had beaten him down and stripped him of his dignity – truly inspires me to be an improved, more forgiving individual.
If I had read and rated this book two stars a year ago, perhaps I would have felt guilty. But that phase of my life is over. Though I am still somewha...moreIf I had read and rated this book two stars a year ago, perhaps I would have felt guilty. But that phase of my life is over. Though I am still somewhat scared that all of my future English professors will peer into my mind, feel my distaste for A Farewell to Arms, and proceed to punch me in the face.
There are a lot of great literary things going on here, and I can see why Hemingway in general is so well-received. Despite his imperfect personal life, his writing conveyed great beauty at times. This book delves into the brutality of battle and war, the torrid tale of two star-crossed lovers, and a multitude of other motifs and themes. If my ratings were based solely on literary merit this book would be much better off.
But, this is a book I wanted to feel. I wanted to experience the emotions of love and loss, to be consumed in the crashing waves of power and passion. I was not. Maybe Hemingway wrote Henry in such a stoic way to juxtapose his personality with the severity of war, but as a whole I was not convinced. I did not connect to any of the characters, and while I recognized how horrible the war was, I never truly cared.
Similar to what I said earlier, you can read many rave reviews filled with quotes of Hemingway's beautiful writing - I am not a fan, though this is only my first book by him. Hopefully I will enjoy his other books more!
I did like this brief exchange, though...
"'Hell, I said, "I love you enough now. What do you want to do? Ruin me?'
I usually don't enjoy short stories, and I was originally going to give this one a 3-3.5, but after analyzing it in my AP Lang class I've decided to r...moreI usually don't enjoy short stories, and I was originally going to give this one a 3-3.5, but after analyzing it in my AP Lang class I've decided to rate it 4 stars.
I loved how the horror/creepiness aspect of the story was combined with the theme of feminism. The extended metaphor of the wallpaper as the restricting force that oppresses women in society worked well, and the narrator's unreliability and descent into dementia was unsettling and powerful. If one were to read this short story and not be scared, I would wonder whether if they had already gone insane themselves.
Recommended for fans of feminism and somewhat darker short stories. I read this at 11:30 PM, which maybe was not the best time to read such an eerie piece...(less)
Not a bad short story! I loved Mrs. Mallard's progression in the piece, as well as the theme of feminism and the epiphanies that occurred throughout t...moreNot a bad short story! I loved Mrs. Mallard's progression in the piece, as well as the theme of feminism and the epiphanies that occurred throughout the work. And that ending, wow - did not see that one coming.(less)
An erudite and emphatically-written defense of literature and reading. Cicero's rhetoric is spot on, as expected, and his somewhat flamboyant style of...moreAn erudite and emphatically-written defense of literature and reading. Cicero's rhetoric is spot on, as expected, and his somewhat flamboyant style of writing is cooled by the strength of his speech overall. (less)
While reading it as opposed to watching it may have lessened some of the play's magic, I still loved the portrayal of Thoreau and agreed with many...more3.5
While reading it as opposed to watching it may have lessened some of the play's magic, I still loved the portrayal of Thoreau and agreed with many aspects of his philosophy. A great introduction to Transcendentalism.
Also, I will remember this line forever: "I hereby excommunicate you from the Milky Way!" Ha ha. (less)
Very interesting. While I don't necessarily agree with every argument Cicero has made, I do think that he does bring up great philosophical points tha...moreVery interesting. While I don't necessarily agree with every argument Cicero has made, I do think that he does bring up great philosophical points that apply to real life and are worthy of discussion. Read in Latin IV in high school.(less)
When I first heard of As I Lay Dying, I imagined a grand romance with star-crossed lovers fighting to stay together until the very end. I imagined a m...moreWhen I first heard of As I Lay Dying, I imagined a grand romance with star-crossed lovers fighting to stay together until the very end. I imagined a more mature Juliet calling out to Romeo to rescue her from her imminent doom, and I imagined a bittersweet ending bathed in pathos and poignancy. I expected an epic story featuring several deep themes: love, loss, heartbreak.
Well, now I know not to judge a book by its title.
As I Lay Dying is actually about the Bundren family, a messy group of uncouth Southerners who embark on a journey to Jefferson to bury their wife and mother, Addie. On the way they encounter difficulties ranging from storms to broken body parts, and their ambitions are tested accordingly.
I could justify any star rating for this book, but I based my two-star rating on how much I personally enjoyed it. For the first fifty pages I felt annoyed because of Faulkner's lackluster, seemingly pretentious writing. However, when I got deeper into the story and the symbolism started to seep in, I appreciated how there was so much happening that wasn't written on the page. The steam of consciousness style employed by Faulkner adds a layer of difficulty to the narration. Characters shares their immediate thoughts as events occur, which was confusing, but by the end I loved the reciprocity of how certain plot points and character developments were revealed.
While from a literary standpoint As I Lay Dying is worthy of all its lauds, I didn't love it. None of the characters were particularly praiseworthy and the themes of the novel, while interesting, weren't as mind-blowing as the ones incorporated into other books I've read. Recommended to those who are fans of stream of consciousness and want to try Faulkner for the first time - I've heard that his other books are much more difficult to comprehend.
I read this book. Literally. From front to back. All 504 pages.
I feel the need to review this because I read it like I would have read any other book...moreI read this book. Literally. From front to back. All 504 pages.
I feel the need to review this because I read it like I would have read any other book - except for annotating, taking the practice tests, etc. I was enrolled in AP World History from 2010-2011, got an A in the course, and received a 5 on the exam (I'm not bragging, just including the information so people know where I'm coming from).
This review book is lengthy. It's sort of like a second textbook. There is a lot of specific information that didn't show up on the exam, and some random facts I didn't even learn in my AP World History class itself. The sheer depth of the material in this book is its only major downside.
However, in contrast to the the saying "less is more", it's probably better to know more facts (even if some of them are unnecessary) than not enough facts for the AP exam. If you're crunched for time you can always skim the chapter overviews which provide a decent summary of the information in each section.
The practice tests in the back of the book are helpful as well. After completing each test, I went back and annotated every question I got wrong. There are also practice essays you can write.
A lot of people ask whether to buy this book or Princeton Review. From what I've gathered through my friends who used Princeton and my personal experience with Barron's, it seems that Princeton is more concise while Barron's is more verbose. Some of my friends complained that Princeton was too streamlined and didn't have practice essays (not sure if that's true though), while others niggled that Barron's had too much to get through.
I know people who got 5's using Barron's, and I know people who got 5's using Princeton. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, and the fact that you're utilizing the review book to study is already a good sign.
In his book Thank You for Arguing Jay Heinrichs teaches readers about the art of argument. He details the tools and techniques necessary for persuasio...moreIn his book Thank You for Arguing Jay Heinrichs teaches readers about the art of argument. He details the tools and techniques necessary for persuasion, and branches out into the overall importance of rhetoric in contemporary society and in our daily lives.
Thank You for Arguing served as a great guide to the many terms, tips, and tricks of argument. Heinrichs keeps his tone light to avoid boring his readers, and even points out how he utilizes rhetoric in his own writing throughout the book. While some of my peers thought that his voice verged on cheesiness, to me it had the right amount of jocularity to balance out the dryness of some of the material. He maintained a sophisticated writing style, too, and his expertise and the amount of research he conducted for the publishing of this book is made clear.
I can see why the English teachers at my school would have students read Thank You for Arguing before taking AP English Language - it introduces terms such as ethos, pathos, and logos, and shares techniques for argument such as utilizing the future tense. Recommended to those who wish to learn how to be more persuasive and to those who want to win more arguments.
This is merely my opinion of the book and a review based on how much I enjoyed it. You can assume from the presence this disclaimer that I feel self-c...moreThis is merely my opinion of the book and a review based on how much I enjoyed it. You can assume from the presence this disclaimer that I feel self-conscious attempting to critique such a renowned novel.
Moby-Dick is like the whale Moby Dick itself. Ubiquitous, colossal, grand in scope, you name it. There's so much to learn from this book and so much to discover about life itself through reading it. It's revered as a American classic for a reason - here's one of the quotes I absolutely adored from the book:
"Be it said, that though I had felt such a strong repugnance to his smoking in the bed the night before, yet see how elastic our stiff prejudices grow when love once comes to bend them." (Chapter 11, "Nightgown")
Dang. Isn't that beautiful? The theme of not judging one for their appearance and instead peering deeper into the depths of who they truly are... wow. There are a myriad of deep, thought-invoking themes in this book - so many that I could sit here and think of them for hours. Also, chapter 23 of the novel particularly inspired me after listening to an amazing lecture about it given by my history teacher.
Unfortunately I doubt I would've been able to finish the book if it had not been assigned reading for school. Some parts I struggled to get through due to the sheer sluggishness of the plot, like chapter 32 ("Cetology"), in which Melville literally writes about whales. In detail. Lots of detail.
Overall I've learned many things from reading Moby-Dick thanks to my wonderful teachers. I'll probably come back to it once I'm older and have a decent amount of time to invest in it... because this book takes up a lot of time. A lot of it.
My summer assignment for my AP US History class was to read and annotate The Devil in the White City. If I hadn't had to take extensive notes on the h...moreMy summer assignment for my AP US History class was to read and annotate The Devil in the White City. If I hadn't had to take extensive notes on the historical aspects of this novel I might've liked it more, but, oh well.
Not to say that the history was trivial or erroneous. Rather, it was how Erik Larson conveyed the historical facts that bored me. The book is literally split into two stories: a group of architects building Chicago's World Fair, and a serial killer that goes by the name of Holmes who murders women and children as they come to see the fair. The chapters alternate between following Daniel Burnham, the man in charge of the fair's construction, and Holmes. The separated structure didn't sell the story well as I trudged through the parts pertaining to the fair while looking forward to reading more about Holmes. This book would have benefited from intertwining the two plots - which it did toward the end, briefly.
I liked The Devil in the White City, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't like learning about history.
The Great Gatsby is such a beautiful book. Not beautiful in the literal sense - unless you find corruption, cheating, and constant cravings for wealth...moreThe Great Gatsby is such a beautiful book. Not beautiful in the literal sense - unless you find corruption, cheating, and constant cravings for wealth beautiful - but everything it symbolizes. It tackles so many themes, and this list of my personal favorites only covers a few: perception and reality, the American dream, past versus present versus future, the morality of the 1920's, etc.
My favorite part of the novel (aka, the one I'm willing to lose sleep over to write about as the time approaches midnight) was Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy and everything that stood for. Not only is their romance breathtaking and heartstrings-pulling at the literal level, but how Fitzgerald crafted their connection in such a way to represent America's persistent hope yet unattainable goal for the future blew me away.
Definitely my favorite book I've read so far for AP Lang... we'll see how The Grapes of Wrath compares. Now I will include a few quotes/passages that I found particularly well-written or meaningful, as Fitzgerald is an astounding writer.
"I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
"Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor."
"Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms. Her wan, scornful mouth smiled, and so I drew her up again closer, this time to my face."
"No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart."
"Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete."
I included a decent amount of romance-related quotes, as it is Valentine's Day... well, for another 40 minutes, that is.
"'How can you tell?' Uncle John demanded. 'What's to keep ever'thing from stoppin'; all the folks from jus' gittin' tired an' layin' down?'
'Hard to sa...more"'How can you tell?' Uncle John demanded. 'What's to keep ever'thing from stoppin'; all the folks from jus' gittin' tired an' layin' down?'
'Hard to say,' she said. 'Ever'thing we do - seems to me is aimed right at goin' on. Seems that way to me. Even gettin' hungry - even bein' sick; some die, but the rest is tougher. Jus' try to live the day, jus' the day.'"
Through his telling of the Okies' struggle to survive the Dust Bowl, John Steinbeck temporarily made me a misanthrope. While I was reading the book I once annotated "why must mankind suck so much". The Grapes of Wrath, for some, may not be an easy book to stomach due to the horrific hardships the Joads had to handle - not only from their environment and their ill-fortune, but also because of the cruelty of their fellow man.
There are other minor issues that may irritate readers (they got to me, occasionally). Some will find the passages pertaining to the setting of the story boring and verbose, while others will dislike Steinbeck's colloquial writing style. For me, this book does not live up to what I deem Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden.
However, The Grapes of Wrath acts as the antithesis of East of Eden - in a good way. While East of Eden focused on the power of the individual, The Grapes of Wrath centered on the interconnection of mankind and how we should all treat each other compassionately. There are myriad other themes that I enjoyed analyzing and learning from, such as the practical uses of anger, the falseness of the just-world phenomenon, and the plight of the common man as well as that of the farmer. Steinbeck's writing shines as always and it is obvious as to why this novel earned the Pulitzer Prize.
But most importantly, Steinbeck shows - especially through the ending - that in the end, humans are capable of altruistic kindness. We do possess the ability to take action for the good side, even when everything is broken and bleak and completely bad. And that's an idea that I would love to live by.
I read this as an introduction to Frakenstein - I had trouble getting into the story, but eventually let go of reality and immersed myself in Coleridg...moreI read this as an introduction to Frakenstein - I had trouble getting into the story, but eventually let go of reality and immersed myself in Coleridge's phenomenal writing.
"Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere Nor any drop to drink."
My peers joked that Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner while under an opium-induced haze. I think the drug may have affected his perspective when crafting this, but I doubt he wrote the entire poem under the influence. If he did, I'm jealous.
"The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea."
I shivered upon my first time reading that - so gross, yet so beautifully written. I'm glad my English teacher had us read this despite that it wasn't in the required curriculum.
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While intellectual and thought-provoking, I thought this book was dull and its characters lacking life. Frankenstein especially exemplified melodrama....moreWhile intellectual and thought-provoking, I thought this book was dull and its characters lacking life. Frankenstein especially exemplified melodrama. I can see why it's a classic - some of the themes intrigued me, but overall this was just not my kind of book. Kudos to Mary Shelley for writing a great piece of literature at such a young age.(less)
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