Book Corner
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
This was one of the required readings in my Freshman Composition class. The story depicts how the main character, Holden Caulfield, flunks class and runs away from his college preparatory school. His sojourn to New York City and his struggles with the surrounding reflect the insecurities and confusions in many adolescents like me. I shared many similarities with him: I had just entered high school and struggled to adjust. At the same time, we worried over how to face our families. Like Holden, I wanted to run away from failures and didn’t know how to recover. However, he was much bolder to wander around New York by himself.
When Holden secretly returns to his home, he reconnects with his little sister and reveals how he feels guilty for the death of his brother. When his future seemed so uncertain, I felt sympathy and anxious to find out about his decision. To me, the descriptions of Holden’s journey and his pessimistic views of the world are realistic and solemn. This novel surprised and relieved me; it taught me that my problems were common among teenagers. Holden and I needed to be more confident to handle the issues in life. For the freshmen who will face various hardships in Stuyvesant, I hope this book will ease their inner struggles and influence them to have more determination.
The Odyssey – Homer
I read this epic during sophomore year in English class with Ms. Moore. In Classical literature, this is one of the most well known works by the Greek poet, Homer. He connects the stories of the gods and goddesses of Olympia to the lives of Odysseus and his family. I could not help but exult over the courage and faith of the hero. Despite obstacles imposed by giants, muses, and the torrent sea, Odysseus overcomes them with determination and finally returns home after twenty years. Likewise, the devotion of his wife and his son, who wait upon his return despite the pursuit of greedy suitors, convinces me that loyalty will not go unrewarded. Their example teaches me to have patience and stay resolved if I have goals to achieve.
This early form of literature is also unique in incorporating characters of various shapes and sizes; it opened my eyes to Greek culture and conveyed how avidly people stressed virtue and worship of gods. This long battle included the themes of good versus evil, virtue versus corruption, and modesty versus greed. Odysseus, the protagonist who endured the various hardships at sea and stayed loyal to his wife, has become a model to me. He revived in me the sense to live righteously and not fear judgments. I think this epic will echo strongly in the minds of high school students in the future, reminding them what is right and what is wrong.
Macbeth -William Shakespeare
Another famous work that I read in English Class in sophomore year was Macbeth. I had a chance to delve deeper into the unique writing styles of Shakespeare, such as his iambic pentameters, rhythmic alliterations and elegant language. At the same time, I was able to learn of the significance and moral meanings behind this tragedy. Shakespeare uses words such as “blood” and “sleepless night” to portray the ominous air and depict the fouls of greed. Macbeth, initially a noble, listens to the claims of three witches that he will become king and turns heartless to murder his friend and his king. He soon drowns in guilt and becomes delusional. The moment that he sees his hand stained in blood and claims that even the sea will be stained by his hand, conveys his regret and self derision. At another instant, when he sees the ghost of the Scottish king and tries to fight him, chills my heart and makes me wonder if this power is actually worth it. This regret also affects his wife and causes her to become delusional.
The unsettled mind of Macbeth produced a psychological effect upon me and indeed taught me to be honest and not to aspire too high. In using Macbeth as an example, Shakespeare warns of the tragic consequences of greed and calculation. This piece of tragedy, with grave language and solemn message, will easily communicate to high school students the importance of morals.
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
Being a Chinese American who hopes to communicate her own culture through writing, I decided to take Asian American Literature during the first term of senior year. The Joy Luck Club was a part of my reading in Ms.Choi’s class. This poignant work offers glimpses into the stories of four mothers and their daughters. The mothers, an early generation of immigrants who hope to pass their dreams to their daughters in America, have to accept the different goals of their daughters with reluctance. The daughters, raised in a westernized culture, recall their childhoods to better understand their mothers. I learned how their mother-daughter relationships are often hindered by language and cultural barriers. Through the narratives of the mothers, I began to see the impact of historical events such as World War II on their lives and the push factors to settle in America. Through the accounts of the daughters, I began to see their aspirations and events that shape them today.
I connected more with these personal narratives, because I am also the daughter of an immigrant family. My mother and I also share language and cultural barriers. She speaks mostly Chinese and binds more to traditions while I speak English to adjust in society and is less familiar with customs. This reading made me recall the hardships that Asian Americans faced in coming to a new land and our dreams for better lives. The realistic experiences and bitter sweet times that united the main characters into a club greatly affected me. I bonded to my family and culture more strongly. This book would be great for those high school students who are dealing with similar issues in life. It helps them to appreciate the early generations who overcame many hardships to make more opportunities possible.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay- Michael Chabon
This is a comical yet meaningful novel that I read in Mr. La Bonne’s Late American Literature class in junior year. Filled with length and depth and humor, it can be very moving and historically significant at times. During the later periods, World War II and Nazi Germany occupied a great part of American history. The autobiographical novel portrays the conflicts of a Jewish refugee in America, Joseph Kavalier. When he achieves his dream and gains success making graphic comedy with his cousin Sam Clay, he attempts to bring his family over from Europe to escape persecution. However, when his attempts fail and his family is separated, he drowns in excessive guilt and could not let go of his family back in Europe. He runs away from his family in New York and has since been concealed from the fact that his lover is pregnant. The misfortunes that Joseph undergoes aroused my sympathy and bitterness.
Reading this autobiographical work reminds me of The Diary of Anne Frank, which is also a famous work that depicts the horrifying life of a Jewish refugee who has to starve and constantly fear and hide from the Nazis. Images of the Jewish massacre and the numerous deaths in concentration camps floated once again into my mind as I read on. The slow and painful recovery of Joseph from the traumas of losing his family stirred my anger and derision of Nazis. This work taught me how important human rights are and how each ethnic and race should be treated equally. This novel will help raise awareness in future students of the sufferings brought on by racism and hatred. I hope that readers will adopt a greater sense of respect and appreciation for humanity.
Frankenstein – Mary W. Shelley
Before tenth grade, I spent my 2007 summer vacation in preparatory school, volunteered at Queens library, and passed the times reading off the shelves. Frankenstein was one of the books that grabbed my attention, and it did not prove to be a disappointment. I found it exhilarating and was easily lured into this highly creative piece of work. My initial horror turned into pity as I learned how Frankenstein, the human experiment come to life, never receives the love and care he yearns from his creator. He takes down the loved ones of his creator as revenge and make warnings, yet his creator continues to neglect and blame him for the miseries. I was surprised and moved; Frankenstein is not born a harmful creature, but forced to become a murderer. Even to the end, he is seen as a hideous monster and reviled.
This classical and elegant novel offered a break from monotonous preparatory school and loneliness. The winter setting and shallow themes also helped to chill my scorching summer. The book has proved more than one essential point: Do not judge by appearances, respect other’s feelings, and be content and peaceful with life. Because without accepting Frankenstein, society will suffer losing their own loved ones to the creature who turned wild for revenge. I hope this could be as enjoyable to future high school students, and teach them to see inner beauties and appreciate the creations of life!
The God of Small Things-Arundhati Roy
I read this during senior year in Ms. Chan’s Late British English class. This book had unique style and great story line. The theme of British colonialism and how it tore India apart emerged frequently as the story of an Indian family progressed. The perspectives seen through the twins, Rahel and Estha, can be humorous in one instant and grim in another. Their normal childhood lives are interrupted by shocks from the Terror and deaths in the family. The author used many flashbacks to emphasize how the twins have changed after the incidents and continue to struggle as adults. This aroused great pity in me; suddenly, there did seem like innumerable holes that were shaped like people and objects in India as Rahel had described.
The unhappy ending, the unexpected deaths, and the broken family, are enough to depict the confusion that India was in after British colonialism ended. Arundhati Roy also used the novel to criticize the caste system and rigid traditions in India. I could not believe how Rahel and Estha were shunned by society just for the fact that they are twins and children of a divorced woman. I was angered by descriptions of how the females endured the beatings of their husbands and are treated as properties. I was even more ridiculed to find how Indian society reviled and mistreated Velutha, an untouchable, who is actually the most capable, admirable, and pure character. Roy has successfully touched upon the various cultural and familial issues that deserved more attention.
Book recommendations by Stuyvesant students for Stuyvesant students and readers around the world. Also known as Stuy Bookshelf/Book Box. Submissions are open—click on register below!