Jessica’s Comments (group member since Jan 02, 2013)

Jessica’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Coffin

Jack o lantern

S'mores

I was shocked that 13 reasons why and Looking for Alaska were already on a banned list! I didn't realize how ridiculous this stuff got. But let it be known a banned books shirt will be worn that week. If only I could wear at the place I work. I swear this is like having a political stance in congress.

Here is my update. Hoping to get a good chunk of these read over the next month or so. Pretty close to being done and possibly doubling up on a couple of letters. Fingers crossed! :)


A Atwood, Margaret The Handmaid's Tale (FINISHED June 17, 2013)
B Bronte, Anne The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (FINISHED
C Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre (FINISHED February 21, 2013)
D Daphne du Maurier 2013) Rebecca (FINISHED
E Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights (FINISHED January 15, 2013)
F F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Great Gatsby (FINSIHED April 5, 2013)
G Gardner, John Grendel (FINISHED SEPTEMBER 21013)
H D.H.Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover (FINSIHED September 24, 2013)
I Irving, John A Prayer for Owen Meany
J J.R.R.Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring (FINISHED March 21, 2013)
K Ken Kesey One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (FINISHED June 25, 2013)
L Lem, Stannislaw Solaris (FINISHED June 28, 2013)
M Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita
N Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter
O Orwell, George 1984 and Animal Farm (FINISHED August 12, 2013)
P Poe, Edgar Allen The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales (FINISHED July 20)
Q Marques de Sade Justine
R Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 (FINISHED July 16)
S Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Carmilla (FINISHED March 14, 2013)
T Tolstoy, Leo Anna Karenina (FINISHED May 17, 2013)
U Umberto Eco The Name of the Rose
V Vonnegut, Kurt Slaughterhouse-Five (FINISHED July 19)
W Wilkie Collins The Woman in White
X Huxley, Aldus Brave New World (FINISHED April 4, 2013)
Y Yann Martel Life of Pi (FINISHED February 16, 20143)
Z Zola, Emile Thérèse Raquin (FINISHED October 28,

sinus infection

Foam finger

Bookshelf. As a matter of fact, it has found a happy home on mine. This book is by far one of the best books I have read all year. Atwood creates a dystopian society that, when you think bout it, could happen tomorrow. In the flashback scenes I would think to myself, "Well, that's pretty much how things are now. So....?" It was scary to even think that this could be possibility. But it is. And with that being said it made me appreciate and truly understand how important the women's rights movement was. Not that I was against it, I just don't think I grasped the weight of it.

I enjoyed the main character's stream of consciousness. It wasn't an author telling me about something. The reader gets to, literally, read the character's thoughts. Any flashback, any emotion, thought, or memory is experienced with the character. It elevated my experience with this story. I felt like I was part of it.

For me the most interesting/favorite part was the very end. Written like a piece of history found in an old torn down house...Like a diary found decades later. It was haunting and the perfect ending to this story. I will be reading more from Atwood that's for sure!

You know it saddens me that parents get in such crazy anger over an assigned book for an english course. It also infuriates me. This might sound odd/over the top but I always have this image pop in my head, in regards to these parents. After reading so much dystopian literature lately (Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaid's Tale, Brave New World, Animal Farm, 1984) it's hard not to see things in odd ways. The parents become the government or firemen sworn to protect us all from books. It sounds crazy but, to me, they aren't very different from each other in these extreme moments.

And...end soap box.

I give that professor, mentioned above, a 5 star rating for sticking to his guns and his stance on the book. There is so much to be gained from this book. It's frightening, brilliant, and a warning to all of us. As a woman, myself, I found this book to be an eye opener. I feel like, for most of my life, I have taken what rites women do have for granted. We have come so far and it could all be taken away so quickly.

C wrote: "I would not say I "enjoyed" this book but it was a page turner for me. Once I started this book I wanted to see it through to the end- for better or worse. One line that really stuck out for me in ..."

That is one of my favorite quotes from this piece. I never thought of freedom that way either.

Hope you all are enjoying the book. Love this story and, quickly, became one of my favorites.

Jessica wrote: "Just started Grendel."

I never had to read it in school. A friend of mine leant it to me, so we shall see. The idea behind the story has always intrigued me. Hopefully I will get some kind of enjoyment out of it.

Just started Grendel.

horses

noose

I love, love, loved this book! Read a couple of months ago. Atwood is my new favorite lady!

Who on here can answer some question, for me, pertaining to Boardwalk Empire? Obviously through pm so no one gets the show ruined for them. Saw a random episode the other night and need some explanation on an event that happened. I will be starting up this series soon...hopefully. So hard to get started in a series when there are soooo many getting ready to start up for fall.

Thanks ahead of time!

cherry blossoms

Bed bugs

Destruction

Wilson