Crystal’s Comments (group member since Jan 04, 2013)

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

Oh dang. I wasn't able to vote in time. :(

Kainzow wrote: "I think that the book endeavours to show us how each small thing has a determining effect in the lives of the characters..."

I think that this is another way to look at the title of the book, as well.

One question that often comes up in analysis and discussion of this book is this:

Was Sophie Mol's death random, or did the events leading up to make it inescapable?

What are your thoughts?

Obviously, in the book, Ammu thinks of Velutha as the god of small things.

What does this mean, though? Does it really just refer to Velutha, or does it have a broader application?

Donation box. I can definitely do without reading this again.

One part of the book that I really love is towards the end, when Rahel was watching kathakali tell the "Great Stories," and it speaks about how no one is interested in his dances anymore because the world has moved on from those cultural traditions.

And then it says:

"In despair, he turns to tourism. He enters the market. He hawks the only he owns. The stories that his body can tell. He becomes a Regional Flavor."

That resonates with me because of how true it is, especially living in Asia and seeing so many important and sacred cultural things become shows void of meaning.

I would definitely be interested. I can also do reviews on my blog.

Shanea wrote: "Crystal wrote: "I have had a copy of this sitting on my bookshelf for years, so now I'm finally going to read it.

There's a classics read-a-thon next week, so I'm going to try to just power thro..."

It's an internet activity with another Goodread's group called #AYearAThon. It's run by four BookTubers who host one themed read-a-thon every month, and July is classics.

The group is open to anyone if you want to join.

I have had a copy of this sitting on my bookshelf for years, so now I'm finally going to read it.

There's a classics read-a-thon next week, so I'm going to try to just power through the whole thing during that week.

Here is mine:

http://infiniteink671.blogspot.com/

Now I have to go through everybody else's. Can't wait!

I really like Ariel Bisset. I am interested to watch her as she starts to branch out of YA because she has really intelligent opinions and insight.

I am still exploring the world of Booktube, so I'm checking out everyone's recommendations. Thanks!

haha. I have thought about it, but I don't think I have the drive to update regularly.

The one problem I'm running into with booktube is that it seems like the majority of them are young people who mostly read YA, which is fine. But I am not a YA fiend. I'd like to find someone who is a lot more well-rounded with a majority of genres, including non-fiction.

Karena wrote: "Crystal wrote: "I love love loved The Fault in Our Stars. It was refreshing in a genre that seems to be ruled by vampires.

Right now I'm reading [book:The Man in the High Castle..."

I just read Eleanor and Park. I loved that book.

I love love loved The Fault in Our Stars. It was refreshing in a genre that seems to be ruled by vampires.

Right now I'm reading The Man in the High Castle, which I'm enjoying. I'm also reading By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, but that one is moving a little slowly for me.

Yea, I read the Book Riot article. That's actually what got me looking into it. Thanks for linking it!

I've just recently been perusing the world of booktubers (YouTubers who make videos about books), and I want to know who your favorites are.

I've been enjoying Thug Notes and The Readables. And, of course, the vlogbrothers, even though they don't solely vlog about books.

Do any of you have a book vlog?

I fully enjoyed this (as far as "enjoying" a Southern tragedy can go). Though it was challenging, its difficulty was not off-putting. Rather, I found the disconnected style in Benjy's and, to a lesser extent, Quentin's section impressive and refreshing. To attempt to write like this is one thing, but to attempt it when it hadn't really been done before is completely different. The creativity that is shown through the style alone was inspiring to me.

Jennifer wrote: "Finally, I feel that Jason's bitterness toward Caddy stems from two issues. The first is Jason's love for Caddy. Yes, I think that he also had some unnatural feelings for Caddy. However, Benjy was Caddy's favorite."

What in the text brought you to that conclusion? I didn't catch that at all, so I'm wondering if I missed something.

As far as why they would send Quentin to school over Jason, most likely because Quentin is the eldest, so he would get preference. But I also believe that Mrs. Compson states that Mr. Compson always favored the other children over Jason, so that could also explain why.

On the surface, the book is about Caddy and the way her choices affect the family. But it's also a picture of the decline in the south during that time.

Perhaps Caddy doesn't have a voice because she never really adhered to the passing traditions anyway. Moreover, she escapes their confinements, in a way. Even if the others liken it to her ruin. She was never interested in Southern glory or morality, so to give her a voice would be to give the new generation's point of view rather than showing the people who were trying to desperately hold onto the past.