On a random note before I say anything else I just have to pause to notice that a lot of books start with the word "The." When I type in the title on my post it brings up a list of all other titles that start with the same thing and there's a lot that start with "the." I could probably write a whole post on what that signifies for the book and the sybolism between the title of a book and the content of the book, but I'll save that for a time when I haven't read any good books.
This book absolutely rocked. I can understand why it was an international best seller. The author created such a believable anti-hero that I had a hard time believing that he wasn't projecting himself onto his character. His character was flawed enough to have major need of redemption but he also had so much goodness in him that I was rooting for him all along. However, as much as I loved the character and thought that he was believable, there were some plot twists that I felt made this book a definite work of fiction. There were too many coincidences (although since I'm not a Middle Eastern political refugee I don't really have a sense of what kind of events happen in their lives). These coincidences however did create some beautiful symbolism in his life and made the book come full circle.
I almost don't want to discuss it too much because it is such an amazing book that I want everyone to be intrigued and read it for themselves. But I have to say that the thing that amazed me about this book is that how although it is about someone who lives a completely different life from me, it made me think quite a bit about who I am and why I act the way I do. While the protagonist was exploring his character flaws I explored myself to see if I would act the same way as him and how I felt about the way he acted. Would I have done the same thing in his shoes? That's what make me think that this protagonist was so well developed... I didn't see myself in him, but he made me think about who I was.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Giver
So my boyfriend went back to EFY and I started reading again. The summer is almost at an end and I barely made a dent in my reading list (which is currently 86 books long, but I haven't updated it recently); however, Andy does still have a couple summer trips so maybe I'll make a little bit more of a dent in it. We'll see. Once school starts though... this blog is definitely turning into a place for me to vent about books I'm reading in class (if only you could've experienced Wuthering Heights with me) and work out some ideas for papers. But back on track...
I read The Giver for the first time in my life last week. It brought me back to the question I partially addressed in my research paper on the His Dark Materials trilogy. Why do authors choose children's literature as a forum for adult ideas? I found a great quote while I was doing my research that said that children's literature is just adult literature with smaller words and more explanations (or something like that). My big question is how much do these children understand? I remember reading books like His Dark Materials as a child (before all the hype caused by the movies) and I loved them! I still love them! I never thought about the storyline as anything that had application to my life, I just read them to read them. When I read them again this last semester for my research project I started noticing all the little things that I had missed when I read them as a child... mostly allusions to other great works of literature. Anyways... back to the book at hand.
I found The Giver to be an interesting look at the only feasible way to have people be happy in such a utilarian society... take away their ability to think past the parameters set by the authorities. It's almost a 1984 for children. Take away someone's ability to give a name to a feeling and they'll stop feeling it (or at least acting on that feeling). By taking away people's ability to see color the authorities made it so that people couldn't discriminate based on those things. A red shirt wouldn't be better than a blue shirt... they were both just shirts. By taking away memories of the past and putting them all on one person, the general populace could have no word for oppression or tyrany because they knew of no other form of living.
But why is this a children's book? Why is it touted as one of the best children's books? Why is it that we as a society constantly hand our children these books that many adults may not understand the implications of? I guess that's the question that lies at the bottom of every other question I have about literature. What makes something adult literature vs. children or young adult? Obviously there are some thing such as blatant sexuality that set something off at adult literature, but there's always the grey area between childrens and young adult and young adult and adult. I guess if I could pick a question that summarizes my scholastic endevours and my contribution to the academic world that would be it. The question of what designates something as childrens/young adult/adult literature.
I read The Giver for the first time in my life last week. It brought me back to the question I partially addressed in my research paper on the His Dark Materials trilogy. Why do authors choose children's literature as a forum for adult ideas? I found a great quote while I was doing my research that said that children's literature is just adult literature with smaller words and more explanations (or something like that). My big question is how much do these children understand? I remember reading books like His Dark Materials as a child (before all the hype caused by the movies) and I loved them! I still love them! I never thought about the storyline as anything that had application to my life, I just read them to read them. When I read them again this last semester for my research project I started noticing all the little things that I had missed when I read them as a child... mostly allusions to other great works of literature. Anyways... back to the book at hand.
I found The Giver to be an interesting look at the only feasible way to have people be happy in such a utilarian society... take away their ability to think past the parameters set by the authorities. It's almost a 1984 for children. Take away someone's ability to give a name to a feeling and they'll stop feeling it (or at least acting on that feeling). By taking away people's ability to see color the authorities made it so that people couldn't discriminate based on those things. A red shirt wouldn't be better than a blue shirt... they were both just shirts. By taking away memories of the past and putting them all on one person, the general populace could have no word for oppression or tyrany because they knew of no other form of living.
But why is this a children's book? Why is it touted as one of the best children's books? Why is it that we as a society constantly hand our children these books that many adults may not understand the implications of? I guess that's the question that lies at the bottom of every other question I have about literature. What makes something adult literature vs. children or young adult? Obviously there are some thing such as blatant sexuality that set something off at adult literature, but there's always the grey area between childrens and young adult and young adult and adult. I guess if I could pick a question that summarizes my scholastic endevours and my contribution to the academic world that would be it. The question of what designates something as childrens/young adult/adult literature.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A Much Needed Rest
No... that's not the name of a book I read. It's what I just took. I love reading, but the last couple weeks I've taken a break from it. I went home for my sister's wedding--and some much needed family time--so rather than spending all week holed up in my room I reading, I decided to shut the books and go spend time with my family. It was amazing!! The one thing I miss living 1,038 miles from home (yes that is an accurate distance) is getting to see my younger siblings grow up, so I love going home and watching the "little girls" (who are in reality 11 and 14 and taller than me almost) make up dances and perform them for us. That's just one of the things I love, but it's one of the small things that I took for granted when I lived at home.
Since coming home I've been spending every spare minute with my wonderful boyfriend. He is such an amazing guy! He's been spending all summer as a counselor for EFY (a church camp for youth 14-18) and doing such a good job. Since we only met and started dating this summer it's been interesting to get to know him through this job of his. I've seen him at his low points and at his high points and tried to talk him through a lot of his frustrations. This last week was his first week off all summer, so I stole him away from his parents and enjoyed getting to see him for 7 whole hours every day. We went and watched movies and met each other's friends and family. We stayed up ridiculously late talking and getting to know each other better (and not in the Biblical sense). I got a taste of what life after this summer is going to be like (well except for the whole part where we spend all our time together studying) and it made me very excited. My boyfriend is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I'm honestly shocked that he wants to date me... and the best part is... we both feel that way.
So what's the point in all this? Besides giving an excuse/reason for why there have been no posts, it's to say that sometimes, you need to get away from something you love like reading and really enjoy life. Sure reading is enjoyable, but it doesn't give you the same joy that playing with your sisters or your first kiss with someone special gives you. So sure, read a lot, but then go out and make experiences for your book of life.
Since coming home I've been spending every spare minute with my wonderful boyfriend. He is such an amazing guy! He's been spending all summer as a counselor for EFY (a church camp for youth 14-18) and doing such a good job. Since we only met and started dating this summer it's been interesting to get to know him through this job of his. I've seen him at his low points and at his high points and tried to talk him through a lot of his frustrations. This last week was his first week off all summer, so I stole him away from his parents and enjoyed getting to see him for 7 whole hours every day. We went and watched movies and met each other's friends and family. We stayed up ridiculously late talking and getting to know each other better (and not in the Biblical sense). I got a taste of what life after this summer is going to be like (well except for the whole part where we spend all our time together studying) and it made me very excited. My boyfriend is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I'm honestly shocked that he wants to date me... and the best part is... we both feel that way.
So what's the point in all this? Besides giving an excuse/reason for why there have been no posts, it's to say that sometimes, you need to get away from something you love like reading and really enjoy life. Sure reading is enjoyable, but it doesn't give you the same joy that playing with your sisters or your first kiss with someone special gives you. So sure, read a lot, but then go out and make experiences for your book of life.
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