Archive for April 28th, 2009
Timothy Tong
Late British Literature – Ms. Chan
Period 2
Book Recommendations
1)
a. Name: Richmon Kam
b. Year: Senior
c. Book: Catch 22
d. Author: Joseph Heller
e. Interests: Handball, hanging out with my girlfriend.
f. Questions
i. What distinguished this book from the others you’ve read?
1. It was a combination of military and political drama with humor. The book’s exploration of the concept of something as serious as war using humor made it unique. The characters were also really interesting; there was one guy named Major major major major.
ii. Did you relate to the story in any way? How?
1. No, it was a war story. But I did learn about how war affects everybody. Not only in the physical sense, but also in the emotional and mental sense as well.
iii. What theme would you say was essential to your book?
1. The fact that war can drive even the best of men insane.
iv. How influential was this book? In other words, did it inspire any life-changing revelations when you read it (or something remotely similar to that)?
1. Well, not in me. But before, I really didn’t care about wars. After reading this book though, I tried becoming more anti-war and active.
v. Which type of people does this book appeal to?
1. Probably war veterans. But I think it’s also good for the younger generations that haven’t experienced war – for educational purposes and also for enlightenment on the subject.
vi. What could’ve made this book better?
1. Some of the chapters were over-descriptive, and it kind of dragged the story down in those parts. So, I’d say cut those chapters down a bit, and the story would’ve been better.
2)
a. Name: Tracy Sit
b. Year: Junior
c. Book: Twilight
d. Author: Stephenie Meyer
e. Interests: Tennis, hanging out with friends, playing music on the keyboard and guitar, having fun wherever I am.
f. Questions
i. What distinguished this book from the others you’ve read?
1. This book talks about the love between vampires and humans. I love how this book makes it possible that the predator can love the prey and visa versa. The story is very captivating and although it is simply written (making it an easy reading), I enjoyed it thoroughly because of the love story between Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan that I so want to find for myself.
ii. Did you relate to the story in any way? How?
1. I actually don’t relate to the story since it takes place in a fictional world. But I do wish that I would find the true love that exists between Edward and Bella one day. Actually, I did relate to the story in that it takes place in a high school setting, when everyone are seniors, just like me. The same peer pressures and school issues that were in the book are also in my life.
iii. What theme would you say was essential to your book?
1. Love is the major theme in the book. If a “sick masochistic lion can love a lamb,” love can exist between any two people/countries/things.
iv. How influential was this book? In other words, did it inspire any life-changing revelations when you read it (or something remotely similar to that)?
1. This book wasn’t that influential. I just found myself daydreaming a lot about Edward Cullen and his love for Bella a lot.
v. Which type of people does this book appeal to?
1. This book appeals to teenagers. Not only because it takes place in high school, but also because it talks about love, a subject surrounded by much curiosity in the teenage world.
vi. What could’ve made this book better?
1. I don’t think this book could’ve been made better. Except for the sort of repetitive storytelling some people complained about (bogging them down). But I actually liked it – because it only reinforced the love between Edward and Bella.
3)
a. Name: Fang Fang Nan
b. Year: Senior
c. Book: Pride and Prejudice
d. Author: Jane Austen
e. Interests: Eating, cooking, shopping.
f. Questions
i. What distinguished this book from the others you’ve read?
1. The protagonist is a heroine is so different from the other (18th century?) women of her time. She’s independent and a strong individual.
ii. Did you relate to the story in any way? How?
1. I relate to Elizabeth because I consider myself an independent woman, who doesn’t need men. I admire her personal strength, in standing up for herself and rejecting men she couldn’t see herself with.
iii. So have you ever rejected men you couldn’t see yourself with?
1. (Laughs) I don’t want to answer that.
iv. What theme would you say was essential to your book?
1. I’d say standing up for yourself and going against societal norms.
v. Did this theme inspire any life-changing revelations when you read it?
1. I found this book slightly influential because I already had a feministic view on life before I read the book and after reading it, it was only strengthened.
vi. Which type of people does this book appeal to?
1. This definitely appeals to women who are oppressed. This book can help inspire them to stand up for themselves.
vii. What could’ve made this book better?
1. I think it took too long for Elizabeth to realize that Darcy was a good guy. It would’ve been better, in my opinion, if she realized Darcy’s true intentions earlier and they got their happily ever after earlier.
4)
a. Name: Shayanta Hasnat
b. Year: Senior
c. Book: The Stranger
d. Author: Albert Camus
e. Interests: Wrestling, beatboxing.
f. Questions
i. What distinguished this book from the others you’ve read?
1. Most of the stories I’ve read have built up to their main conflict in one way or another. In Camus’ The Stranger, the main character is accused of a crime without knowing what it is or why he is suspected. The absence of rationality in this book distinguishes it from other ones I’ve read.
ii. Did you relate to the story in any way? How?
1. There are times when I feel that the people who have influence over my life have no reason for doing what they do. My parents, for example, sometimes force me to eat at specific times even though I’m not hungry. At times like these, I relate to the main character of The Stranger, who was also forced into a bad situation by his superiors.
iii. What theme would you say was essential to your book?
1. Irrationality.
iv. Would like to expand on that?
1. I actually don’t remember off the top of my head. But I’ll get back to you if I do.
v. How influential was this book? In other words, did it inspire any life-changing revelations when you read it (or something remotely similar to that)?
1. This book made me realize that there is not always a happy ending to every story. The universe does not favor any one person. There is a sort of insignificance that all people share.
vi. Which type of people does this book appeal to?
1. Atheists and realists.
vii. What could’ve made this book better?
1. Skipped.
5)
a. Name: Richard Shyong
b. Year: Freshman
c. Book: Venus Plus X
d. Author: Theodore Sturgeon
e. Interests: Ultimate Frisbee, comics and movies.
f. Questions
i. What distinguished this book from the others you’ve read?
1. I liked this book because the idea of males and females becoming one and the same in the future was intriguing. This is one of the many science fiction stories that play around with crazy ideas that boggle your mind. The science behind it was actually a bit plausible too – besides the time traveling.
ii. Did you relate to the story in any way? How?
1. I couldn’t relate to the story.
iii. What theme would you say was essential to your book?
1. The gender battle between males and females will lead to a dystopia.
iv. How was this evident in the book?
1. In the end, because of all of the conflict between males and females, we find out there’s a lot going up beneath the surface of the utopia Sturgeon describes. The citizens of Ledom are actually more corrupt than they let on and everyone has their flaws.
v. How influential was this book? In other words, did it inspire any life-changing revelations when you read it (or something remotely similar to that)?
1. Not very – it was just interesting to read.
vi. What made it interesting?
1. The fact that there are so few differences between males and females. Our bodies are almost the same with the exception of our sexual organs (which the book describes in detail). But the way we think and the desires that drive our actions are very similar.
vii. Which type of people does this book appeal to?
1. Anyone who likes interesting, weird things.
viii. What could’ve made this book better?
1. Making the plot a little less convoluted. I found it confusing at times because there are a lot of names to keep track of. But I enjoyed it, overall.
Paul Rozenberg
Period 2
1) Tammy Oung, junior
The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams
Q- Can you give a brief plot overview?
Tom is the narrator. Laura, a cripple, is extremely timid and shy. Amanda, the mother, is imposing; she prevents Tom from pursuing his dreams and she tries to control Laura’s life. Tom works in a warehouse and he wants adventure in his life. Their father had left without a warning years ago, so Tom has to provide for his family. However, every night Tom chooses to go to the movies, causing conflict between him and his mother.
Laura chooses to keep to herself, and plays with her glass menagerie. Amanda had wanted her to go to business school, but Laura could not handle the stress, and she walked around instead of attending class. After finding out, Amanda thinks that there is no other option besides finding a man for Laura. Thus, she asks Tom to bring a “gentleman caller” from the warehouse—
Q- Thanks. Did you identify with any of the characters? Will readers be able to understand Laura’s struggles?
I identified with Laura the most because of her timidness and because of her nervous behavior. Readers, especially the more introverted ones, would be able to understand Laura’s struggles because her struggles stem from her lack of self-esteem and because she is self-conscious about her disability.
Q- How important is it that this work is a play, versus a novel or short story?
It is important that this work is a play because there is more emphasis on character dialogue and character interactions. There is less narration and description, so the dialogue sets the scene for the play.
Q- What is the setting for the play (time period)? Is this significant to Laura’s search for a job?
The time period is the 1930s. This is significant because this was probably during the Great Depression, so everyone was trying to get a job. The family is in bad financial shape.
2) Michael Ruan, Junior
Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison
Q- Can you give a brief plot overview?
A young black man goes to a black college, but is expelled for his naivety. He goes to Harlem, New York and becomes a leader of a section of the Communist Party. He realizes in the end that the party took away his individuality and to express his freedom, he leaves the Communists and lives in a manhole.
Q- Is he a troubled character? Do you think some people will identify with him?
Yes he is. He is struggling to find his own identity and is constantly being controlled by others throughout the novel. I think people would identify with him because this is a bildungsroman.
Q- What do you think is the social message of this novel? What does Ellison think of the Communist movement?
There are a lot of social messages in the novel. Most of it is against racial injustice and the inefficient Communist Party. This novel was written in the 1950s or 60s, so it was during the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War.
Q- Did it change the way you personally thought about any social issues?
I already knew about these issues, it made me think more deeply about them. Being exposed to them in literature was interesting, and I had not really done that before.
Q- Was this an enjoyable read, or burdensome to get through?
I read it for class, so we read at a fast pace, that made it a little harder to absorb. If I were to read it again I would enjoy it more. The novel has plenty of humor, and in general, it is very readable.
Q- Would you recommend this to someone looking for social commentary, or for a novel about a complex character?
I would recommend it to both. The protagonist has no name, he is very complex.
Q- Would you like to make your own question?
Does the main character or narrator change throughout the novel? Yes he does. He becomes mentally insane. At first he was naïve and thought he could become an equal with the whites. Then he went through a mental institution, had a prefrontal lobotomy, and was brainwashed by the Communists. It is a powerful transition, and it becomes emotional to read.
Q- How does the protagonist interact with the supporting characters—or is this a story of a lone man? Also, I already read The Invisible Man, is that the same thing?
There are many villains: Dr. Bledsoe, Burnside, Mr. Emerson, Broadway, Brother Jack, and Mr. Norton. It’s quite a cast. And no, you should know that, Paul.
3) Harrysh Indranathan, junior
The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins
Q- Give a brief plot summary (include genre, setting, etc.)
The moonstone is a fairly large diamond that was originally worshipped by Hindus. However, throughout history it has been constantly stolen and dedicated Hindus followed it generation after generation. Eventually, it came into the possession of Rachel, a very wealthy British woman in the Victorian Era. One day the diamond is stolen and Blake, who has strong feelings for Rachel, conducts as investigation with the help of Sergeant Cuff. However, it turns out he stole it under the influence of opium, this explaining why he wasn’t even aware of the crime.
Q- Was this one of the first times you read detective fiction? What do you think of the genre?
I began reading detective fiction around this time. It wasn’t my first but certainly among the first. The genre is surprisingly diverse. There are many different sub-genres—I find some extremely boring while others are very intriguing. As a whole, the genre is worth exploring and I am glad that I chose to do so.
Q- This sounds like a suspenseful read. In the detective genre, you know that there will be a mystery that will be solved by the end—does this add to the suspense, versus the climax of a regular novel?
Surprisingly, no. In this novel, the mystery of who stole the moonstone was solved quite early. For most of the novel the story revolves around how it was stolen and why Blake has no memory of stealing it. The book transformed from a who-dunnit to a how-dunnit. While other detective fiction novels were pretty suspenseful, The Moonstone was pretty dull. It consisted of a series of accounts by different characters.
Q- Would it be a good idea to adapt this into a movie?
It would take a pretty good producer to make it interesting. I am not sure if there is a movie about it already but I think it would be pretty boring. Of course I’m just the type of person who enjoys a lot of action. However, I’m sure a lot of people would like it if the scenes were constructed carefully. It would be a challenge to keep the viewer interested.
4) Alan Wu, Senior
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Q- Plot summary?
This is essentially about a young girl’s growth into a woman. It is a bildungsroman, where the girl starts off as a helpless orphan bullied by her stepsiblings and aunt. As she is sent to a boarding school, she is further tormented by the school officials and poor conditions. Jane applies and gets a job as a governess. At this manor she meets a man—he has a dark secret that threatens to destroy her hopes of love. However, the book ends up happily ever after as his wife commits suicide.
Q- How does Jane Eyre develop from a girl into woman—due to what factors?
In the beginning, she is a poor orphan dominated by her aunt and cousins. When she is sent to school, she is tormented even more, but through the rigors of education, she is refined and civilized. Mr. Rochester falls for her because of this.
Q- You told me this book taught you something. What was that again?
This era does not relate to me that much. But through the fictional world, I saw that romance is not one sided and females are complicated people that have impulses that influence their decisions. I learned a few things.
Q- Could this have been written as a play? Would there be negatives to this?
I do believe that it could be written as a play, as there is sufficient dialogue to draw from. However I don’t think that the play form could fully convey the person’s thoughts and would cut out details in the environs, the personalities of the characters, and important details.
Q- Is this an easy read, or a dense Victorian book you have to plow through?
It’s something you have to plow through if you are not a literary buff. It’s Victorian language.
Q- Did this novel interest you in Victorian English culture? I’m guessing no.
The story takes place in the country, not really the cities. It showed more of peasant culture, not life in London or Liverpool.
5) Aidan Bonner, Senior
Gravity’s Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon
Q- Can you give a brief plot summary?
The plot is kind of really hard to summarize, it is very complex. the novel revolves around Tyrone Slothrop and his quest to find a secret V2 rocket in WWII Europe.
Q- How did the structure affect your enjoyment of the novel?
The plot structure made the plot much harder to follow, but made the book ultimately more rewarding.
Q- Is it difficult to build a connection with the main character because of the structure?
No, since the main character seems to react in the same way we all do when thrust into surreal dreams.
Q- How does this compare to the other things you have read by Pynchon?
Its scope and scale is much grander, but it has the same soul as other Pynchon works.
Q- Why do you think Pynchon writes these books?
Pynchon writes this sort of book as an attempt to plumb deeper into the depths of the psyche.
6) William Gorelick, senior
A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter Miller
Q- Give a brief plot summary (include genre, setting, etc.)
The story takes place after the “Flame Deluge,” or WWII basically, in which the countries’ leaders nuke each other in an attempt to grab power. The first part of the connected trilogy occurs no more than several centuries after the war and is centered around a monastery dedicated to Leibowitz, the one who protected important scientific documents from the Simplification.
Q- Which is what?
An event that occurred after the deluge in which mobs burned everything of importance in a frenzy to see the world anew (compared to the genetic mutants of the day). The book continues with sections that take place further in time and plays with the idea of Armageddon.
Q- Does this novel have the standard sci-fi themes, or are there some unique themes developed here?
I believe that it does use standard sci-fi themes. The possibility of Armageddon was toyed around with a lot during the Cold War and in such films as “Dr. Strangelove.” As for babelfish, outer space, and the life, it is definitely common.
Nonetheless, there are interesting twists on the story—for example, telling the story from the perspective of abbots and other religious underlings.
Q- How do the characters develop throughout the novel? Do they develop by fighting forces outside their control?
The author cycles through the lives of two abbots and Francis, concentrating on each until he moves on (or until Frances dies). They attempt to preserve manuscripts and works of scientists and wise men, but many others are more interested in looting or, in the case of the generals, in conquest.
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Shoumik Dhar -
Book: Crime and Punishment
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
What is the book about?
The basic plot is about a man named Rodion who begins a downward spiral after killing two women. He thought that they were useless to society, and that he was above the law when he killed them.
Where did you get the idea to read the book?
It had been on the back of my mind for awhile, and while I was at the library, I picked it up and began reading it. I had heard so much about it, and wanted to see what was so great about it. Now I know.
Were there characters you could relate to?
I could relate mostly to Rodion, minus the killings and feelings of superiority he had. He was mainly just a person trying to get through his life, but had to blame others for his misdeeds. He became obsessed with guilt, and he ended up living on the support of family and friends.
Was the book difficult to understand?
Not really. This book had a slightly difficult beginning, but could hold my attention after a few chapters, when it starts to get interesting. It was very interesting to read about Rodion’s plunge into madness as he became overcome with guilt.
Is the book inspiring, or have any positive messages for readers?
The book does contain some positive messages, though most of them are probably common sense. It’s a sort of spiritual guide for readers, showing them how morality works. The author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, was somewhat religious with some of his characters.
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Jeffrey Cheung
Title: Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
What is the book about?
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It was about a boy who is mistreated by his adoptive family and runs away from home. He comes back as a fully grown man for revenge.
What made you decide to read this book?
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It was a Kaplan classic with SAT words and their definitions. I thought that it might be easier to improve my vocabulary by reading it than by study a textbook or using a dictionary.
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Were there characters you could relate to?
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Not really; but, like the main character, I do hate snobby people that are stuck up.
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Was the book difficult to understand?
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No, but that was because the harder stuff and vocab was explained on every page.
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Is the book inspiring, or does it have any positive messages for readers?
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It might inspire readers to be more open-minded towards different people especially the lower class.
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Snigdha Das
Title:The Butcher Boy
Author: Patrick McCabe
What is the book about?
Tells the story of an Irish boy named Francie who is very disturbed.
From an abusive father, a suicidal mother, poverty etc Francie deals with such deprived circumstances through his dark fantasies and hallucinations of Mother Marry.
This book is basically a perversion of childhood innocence -that is in many sense a mirror of present society-.
I would describe it as dark comedy really; I could imagine a cult following for this book (and its movie version much like Donnie Darko).
What made you decide to read this book?
I saw a movie based on another book by McCabe (Breakfast on Pluto) and thought I should check out his other works. The Butcher Boy just blew my mind.
Were there characters you could relate to?
Although it might sound very messed up to say, I did relate to this boy with serious mental issues. Throughout the book I truly felt his repression, his rage.
Was the book difficult to understand?
No, it was fine. I mean the book was in a stream of consciousness-style. I guess some people could say that does not made for a very reliable narrator/narrative, but I didn’t have any problems with that aspect of it. I rather enjoyed it actually. I don’t believe in forcing coherence into everything.
Is the book inspiring, or does it have any positive messages for readers?
I really don’t think this book was meant to be “inspiring” or “positive” or what not; since the book ended with Francie going postal and butchering his neighbor and messing around with her blood and organs.
I found the character amoral if anything; and I guess I sort of appreciated that. A change from books that drill morals into you.
Well class differences, bigotry, and various social/human evils were sort of-I guess-addressed in the book. So maybe positive in that sense.
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John Guan
Title: Beowulf
Author: No author
What is the book about?
It’s about a medieval battle between Beowulf and three of his enemies. Beowulf is the hero of the story.
What made you decide to read this book?
I had to read it for a class.
Were there characters you could relate to?
No because the characters were from a different time and it’s not easy to relate with medieval times.
Was the book difficult to understand?
A little because it’s from centuries ago. There can be some problems with understanding the English language at the time.
Is the book inspiring, or does it have any positive messages for readers?
I guess a good message it had was the importance of friendship and family and how they strengthen people.
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John Guan
Title: Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
What is the book about?
It’s about how the world would be like in the future with more technology.
What made you decide to read this book?
Again, I had to read it for a class.
Were there characters you could relate to?
No, most of the main characters would not fit the personalities of today’s people, and some may see the characters as not normal.
Was the book difficult to understand?
No, this book was okay. It may not be the best book for people not into science fiction though.
Is the book inspiring, or does it have any positive messages for readers?
The book didn’t really have any obvious messages, but it’s still a good read for anyone who has a good imagination.
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