Reading Recommendations from Stuyvesant Students!
Name: Anonymous
Grade: 12
Interests: Model UN, Economics, Baseball,
Ethnicity: Asian
Career Plans: Economist
Book: Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Why did you pick this book?
I really enjoyed Catch 22 because of it satirical nature, which was witty but not offensive. The language was very easy to comprehend, as Heller did not add any superfluous language. The style reminded me of Hemmingway, whose work I also enjoy immensely. Upon completion of the novel, I noticed how the paradoxical concept of Catch 22 was evident throughout the novel, not just in idea but in character descriptions as well, which I thought was very clever.
What about the character descriptions were paradoxical or interesting or simply set it self apart from those in other books?
Many of the characters were developed to be ridiculed by the reader, yet still believable. For example, the character of Nately’s Whore is a paradoxical one. She refuses to have a proper relationship with Nately, and when having sex with Nately, will appear cold and mechanical. However, when Nately finally gives her a night of sleep, she falls madly in love with Nately. Although she loves him dearly, he dies soon after.
The events surrounding Nately’s Whore is one filled with ridicule. Why would she suddenly fall in love with Nately because of a good night’s of sleep, even though she has rebuffed his efforts previously? Yet, when Nately’s love is reciprocated, he soon dies, which is again filled with irony. Catch 22 is filled with examples like this, which makes it different from the other novels.
Has this book expanded your knowledge or experience with international politics or economics?
Not really. However, it did introduce the concept of Catch 22, which is present in many places in the world. For example, in the world of international politics, there are many choices that a nation can take, but the likelihood of the nation taking the choices are often zero. For example, in the Kashmir region near India, UN peacekeepers currently reside in the are to prevent any disputes. However, India believes that the peacekeepers are no longer necessary, as they’ve been there for 37 years. While India has the right to petition for the peacekeepers to be removed, it will not do so. Because there has been no petition to remove the peacekeepers, the UN can not remove them either, creating a Catch 22.
Would there be a specific age group that you would suggest the book to?
I’ll recommend it to high school students or college students as they are of the age where they’ll understand the points that Heller is trying to make. However, it’s a fine read to anyone.
Would being well versed in a specific subject help the reader understand the point better?
Although the novel is a historical novel about World War II, there isn’t much that the reader needs to know about the actual war itself to understand the book. One of the reasons why I really enjoyed the book was because of its simplicity as the author does not try to intentionally confuse the reader with the terms. However, it would be beneficial if the reader has some knowledge of other literary canons such as the Iliad, the Bible or text, as many of the references in the novel refer to characters in those works and it would help understand the character development much more if the reader had some previous knowledge.
Anonymous
Grade 12
Interests: Writing, human behavior
Chinese
Career Choice: Obstetrician.
Book / Author: Sum of Our Days / Isabel Allende
How did you stumble across this book?
It was in the banned books section of Barnes and Noble, the one a few blocks away from school.
Oh really? Why was it banned?
… .. Good question, I have no idea. o_O’
Why do you speculate it was banned?
Probably because it supports the union of a lesbian couple.
Since you like human behavior, was this book insightful in any way?
. .. .. No. xD It was just interesting.
Why did you find it interesting?
I found it interesting because Isabel Allende is a very honest and revealing writer. She’s come across very unique experiences and she’s not afraid to get personal with her writing. You start to feel like she’s confiding in you as a friend more than narrating her life. People like that. People like to feel like they’re trustworthy.
Since you’re a female and the book promoted the union of a lesbian couple, what was your initial reaction?
I wasn’t really appalled, first off because I’m a liberal, and second, because of the way she presented the idea. The baby they were going to adopt was so sickly she would need two mothers, and so you’re forced to sympathize with the child that you don’t really mind they’re lesbian. And you feel it’s right, because they’re loving people dedicated to taking care of the child, and there’s nothing morally or ethically wrong about it.
Charles Leung
12
I enjoy swimming, basketball, tennis, badminton, chinese language, asian films, piano, music, composing, beatboxing
Career plans: I hope to be a chemical or environmental engineer within the next 5 or 6 years, and have a stable job in New York City
Asian
Book: King Lear / William Shakespeare
Did you read it on your free will or at school?
I read it on my own free will
What motivated you to read it on your own?
I was watching the japanese movie Ran, which based itself off the book so I was interested in reading it.
Why did you pick this book over others to suggest?
Because the other books I read are for school. And they kind of suck since King Lear included many themes and displayed many values that many other goody two shoes books don’t.
Well what themes and values?
Some themes were family “Blood is thicker than water” and betrayal. Betrayal was a huge theme, with multiple characters suffering the from the same problem.
Wait doesn’t King Lear show that Blood isn’t thicker than Water?
Yeah, but it’s a theme. Like say, it explores it. Is it true?
So would you say it’s a bit more realistic compared to other books?
No, but its more courageous in presenting it darkly.
Have you learned anything from King Lear then?
Well, I learned what makes a great Shakespearean tragedy. There’s not much I can learn from stories nowadays.
Diana.
Twelve.
Guard. Choir. Creative Writing. Art.
Pacific Island/Taiwanese.
Career Plans? Hm… Unsure.
Book:
I can’t think of anything else that would be very ‘good’ at the moment. Wait… Take this one if I’m allowed to add something that isn’t good for you.
Mists of Avalon’
What does “isn’t good for you” mean?
There are books that will enlighten you. Then there are books that are like candy. Candy isn’t good for you, but it’s fun anyways. Twilight isn’t candy. It’s cavities without the pretty color coating that at the very least candy has.
How did you stumble upon Mists of Avalon?
I came across this on my sixteenth no… seventeenth birthday. My friend gave it to me for a present, suggesting that I should read it.
What makes Mists of Avalon fun compared to other books?
Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the standard Arthurian mythology except from the females’ point of view. It has an very authentic point of view of the actual religion side of things and takes great care to utilize the actual history of that time and how the different politics interacted to create a semi-realistic telling that interweaves the legend with decent fact and tradition. At the same time, it does not carry a softened ending so it seems more touching. By the same token, to keep the historic feel, the ‘magic’ used is not the same as usual ‘magic’ and has a more hypnotic effect that makes it seem less like the “magic” that it is usually called and more “insight” and “manipulation.”
Actually that sounds very enlightening to be honest. Have you learned anything about creative writing through the reading of this book?
What I learned is nothing all that special. In those books, they are known to change narrators. I myself was having issues prior to this about how I was able to convey all the events in a story that needed to be known if I had to stay with one character since that can be very limiting. This author has a tendency to change back and forth to the different important characters, shuffling through several but managing to keep one main character.
I also liked the idea of interweaving a deep history into the work to make things more meaningful. Even if some of the history has no proof or backing or whether or not I’m completely supporting the story with a created history, I think it is nice to involve the rest of the world and how it interacts with the main story that I am trying to tell.
Do you feel that the fact that the story is told through a female viewpoint has affected your interest in it in anyway? If so, is it because of your own gender?
I like most Arthurian books. Even if it was told from a male perspective I’m sure I would have liked it since I’ve read the same author write different books write from both male and female perspective. I am sure that I would have liked it all the same, and I think it is the author’s style.
However, my outward of opinion rather than interest is raised because its told mostly from a female perspective. Most stories are told from Lancelot, King Aurthur, and so forth… Who hears it from Morgan Le Fay, the apparent evil most of the story, who suddenly gains sympathy through the tale? Gwen pops in from time to time. It even starts in with Morgan’s and Arthur’s biological mother and the initial Lady of the Lake.
I think the book is made that much greater because it is told from a perspective you do not hear from. It is both a female and the usual antagonist of all the stories. I will not deny that being female has not affected my opinion since it likely has. I am human with human bias especially toward things like myself. However, it is not always going to be true that I like the female side of things more than the male since I do like reading from the other perspective as well.
Grade 11
Interests Science, Education , Literature
Ethnicity Hungarian- Caucasian
Career Plans Get into college and find out what supports me as well as keeps me entertained
Book / Author : : A Lost Lady – Willa Cather
How did you come across this book and why did you suggest it?
It was a school assignment. It depicts the manner in which social climbers become the established wealthy
Aren’t there plenty of books that have this theme? What makes this one different?
No this one depicts it in an old-fashioned but uncommon manner
And what would this manner be?
It is stereotypical and not very feminist.
Not very feminist?
The lost lady is a dumb girl that buys things and lives off of her husband and the protagonist idolizes her.
So from your experience this book is rather unique?
Yes, very.
This is a satire, am I right?
Yes
What are the themes in this book?
Childhood fantasies, adultery and social mobility.
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!