1st Semester Books

Sorry for posting a blank post in the beginning...whoops

Catcher in the Rye- Well I completely disagree with many of the people who posted before me. I for one absolutely loved this book. I liked it because Holden's way of thinking was easy to relate to and I felt like we don't read many books about teens and their lives so it was good to see something written in the mind of teens. I felt like he resembled one of my friends; has good intentions but just doesn’t execute them in the best way. I also enjoyed it for the fact that it was a light read and didn’t make me think really deep into it. Yes it made me think and interpret it but it was very good and many teens are like Holden today.
First they Killed my Father- I’m not sure why but I like books on genocide for the fact that it helps me appreciate my life and its value. I agree with Oleg. I was waiting for the father to die first and when he didn’t I was pretty surprised. The title built up all this suspense and I was disappointed. Also with what Joe said, it was like the same old same old. It was of course sad and depressing but I feel like I’ve heard that story way too often. The horrors are all similar and it gets old. I also read this before leaving to California, like Madison, and it made me sad right before a trip. Lovely. I really liked how the author wrote in present tense because it brought a greater effect of her story always being with her. She will probably never forget it and each moment she lived through is always going to be fresh in her mind.

Inherit The Wind- I did not enjoy this book very much. I was expecting a light easy going play when I heard we were going to read a play. But it was not. It was a very deep controversial play. However I liked theme of it. I liked how Cates stood up for what he believed in. I’m not sure why I didn’t like it that much though. It’s hard to explain. I liked the part of expressing individuality and being different from everybody else’s opinions but for some reason I did not enjoy the book. Maybe it was because we went through it so fast it didn’t click? When I was reviewing it for finals I definitely broadened my thoughts on it. Overall the theme was good, it was just long and boring.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream- I really have no definite opinion on the play. I thought it was comical but I also thought it was rather long for a play whose action doesn’t really take place until the forest. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it for the most part. I thought Shakespeare was trying to be a little too funny and the comedy aspect wasn’t that funny. Although I liked how he wrote about how foolish mortals can be, which made me laugh because today many people are like the four lovers. I think part of the reason why I didn’t like it was because of the fairies and bottom turning into a donkey because I know that could never happen. I really thought hearing it read aloud gave me a better understanding and it absorbed better.

My Antonia- I absolutely hated this book. It was so boring to read. There was no action or excitement. It was a dull book about Jim and his friendship and how everything relates back to Antonia. All it was, was a book about his life. It was a slow moving biography like novel. I couldn’t stand reading it. I was waiting for some big huge event and was disappointed to discover there was none.