Inherit the Wind- Despite its short length, I think this novel had an important message. I often to find the things that have happened in our nation's history quite intriguing because it differs so much from society today. The idea that one town could be so biased and untolerant seems shocking, but it is real. I mostly enjoyed this book because of the fact that is allowed me to reflect and appreciate that I have the right to think. It also makes me wonder what parts of our society are absurd that later generations will discover. Overall, it might not have been my favorite of the year, but I definitely did gain something from it.
My Antonia- The overall sense I got from others was that they strongly disliked this book. I liked this one less than Inherit the Wind, but I don't think it was as bad as people say. I really enjoyed the start of the book. When I was younger, I really enjoyed the Laura Ingalls Wilder series which also describes life on the prairie in an anecdotal manner. Although I enjoyed the beginning, I too kept waiting for something profound in Jim or Antonia's life to happen, but nothing did. Now that I'm looking back though, people find it boring because this book has the ups and downs of everyday life and when we read books we want to escape into something more interesting. Yet the fact that this book alludes to one person having a significant impact on another person's life, it really made me reflect. Who are the people in my life who shape me the most? At the moment, I don't have a clue. Only time will tell. Again, I feel like I see the value in the book, but I would probably not pick it up again readily in the future.
The Catcher in the Rye- This book has gotten a lot of mixed reviews. Some people have said they hated it and for others it was the best book they have read. I fall somewhere in the middle. I do see the deeper meaning in the book, but it is beauried under an unrelatable narrator. Under the surface I understood that Holden was struggling with coming of age and I felt bad that he had to endure tragedy at such a young age. The reason I can't say I loved it though is Holden and I are opposites. We have such different values, I can't imagine getting kicked out of school because it is very important to me. Also the drinking, smoking, and flirting with older women. I know that the teenage years are an experimental time, but the barrier between us was so strong. I feel like if I could have connected with him better, the book would have been a lot more meaningful for me. I understand why it is such a popular book because it capitalizes on the teenage need to rebel and explore.
A Midsummer Night's Dream- Shakespeare can always be quite a challenge. In past years when I have read his works I struggled to understand the language, but like others have said before me, the tapes helped and slowly I think I am starting to understand his language. With the help of the in class discussions, I was able to actually laugh at some of the jokes which was an improvement. I thought the added element of magic and the setting of the forest made it an interesting plot. However, I believe that Shakespeare is an acquired taste. Although I am progressing, I think it will take a lot more time and exposure for me to truly appreciate his genius.
First They Killed My Father- Wow. That was my initial reaction after reading this book. I am very glad that we were assigned this book. Normally, I tend to read the assigned chapters grudgingly, but I found myself hooked and I constantly was underlining my favorite quotes. A lot of people talked about how they have been exposed to several genocide stories, so it felt repetitive. Even though I have read genocide stories, this was new for me because I did not know about the genocide in Cambodia prior to this book. It truly made me grateful for what I have, which I know is very cliché, but I sincerely felt that way. What interested me the most though, was not just the tragedy of the plot itself, but the writing. The manner in which she described the hatred was compelling. It broke my heart to think the only way that she survived the sadness, was to channel such dark, anger. It is scary to think that a little girl could harbor such dangerous emotions, but the fact that she is living her life and doing something to benefit others now is incredibly inspirational. I probably could write a novel on my reaction to this book, so I'll try to keep it as concise as possible. Essentially, I don't know what makes us connect to certain books, but this really impacted me and it was by far my favorite book of the semester.
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