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Reading Recs

Posted on the April 8th, 2009 under Recommendations by DanGit

Danny Gitelman
Period 10
4/8/2009


Interviewee Details
Gender: Male
Race: Russian
Grade: 12
Favorite Subject: Math
Main Extracurricular: Math Team

Book Details
Title: The Last Unicorn
Author: Peter S. Beagle

  • In as few words as possible, describe the effect this book had on you.
    This book was the funniest ones I’ve ever read, and other than making me crack up at every other page, this book opened my eyes to all of the kinds of struggles the different characters had to go through. For example, the unicorn was looking for more of its own kind and the magician was trying to stop failing at magic, because he really loved it.
  • What literary elements/techniques made you enjoy this book?
    It would definitely the characterization. Beagle uses seemingly quotidian characters but gives them little quirks that keep the book interesting. There was also a great deal of satire and irony that I personally really enjoy.
  • How did you feel immediately after reading this book and why?
    I was in hysterical laughter. The ending was as ridiculous as I expected it to be.
  • What other book/movie/play/song/anything can you compare this book to?
    I would call this a post-modern Wizard of Oz, with a lot of satire thrown in, because a group of characters with all sorts of flaws go on a journey to fix them.
  • What character did you most relate with and why?
    In a way, I related to the unicorn most, because at times, mostly in my neighborhood, it was difficult to find people that were interested in the same things as me, so I had to go on a similar journey, but not really.

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Interviewee Details
Gender: Female
Race: Chinese
Grade: 12
Favorite Subject: English
Main Extracurricular: Fencing

Book Details
Title: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Author: Michael Chabon

  • In as few words as possible, describe the effect this book had on you.
    It was a humorous read that also gave a sense of life during that time period. It had superheroes too, and that’s every kid’s dream come true.
  • What literary elements/techniques made you enjoy this book?
    It would be the perverted humor and perverse symbolism. Also there were two parallel stories going on in the book, which I really enjoyed.
  • How did you feel immediately after reading this book and why?
    It was a humorous break from reading books by really old, pompous authors.
  • What other book/movie/play/song/anything can you compare this book to?
    A Justice League comic, because it has superheroes.
  • What character did you most relate with and why?
    What made this book so appealing was that I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters.

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Interviewee Details
Gender: Male
Race: Polish
Grade: 11
Favorite Subject: Computer Science
Main Extracurricular: Girlfriend

Book Details
Title: Ender’s Game
Author: Orson Scott Card

  • In as few words as possible, describe the effect this book had on you.
    A loss of innocence. Taught a moral; you don’t have to lose your childhood, even if you are forced to grow up.
  • What literary elements/techniques made you enjoy this book?
    The deep themes and character development were the strong points of the book.
  • How did you feel immediately after reading this book and why?
    I think I cried. I remember it being a happy ending pointing to a brighter future.
  • What other book/movie/play/song/anything can you compare this book to?
    I can’t compare this to anything.
  • What character did you most relate with and why?
    Definitely Ender. We all hope to be the genius he is so we can make an impact on the world.

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Interviewee Details
Gender: Female
Race: Chinese, sort of
Grade: 12
Favorite Subject: Techie stuff – Physics and Engineering
Main Extracurricular: Arista Head Person

Book Details
Title: All the King’s Men
Author: Robert Penn Warren

  • In as few words as possible, describe the effect this book had on you.
    It was a philosophical awakening of sorts; everything happens for a reason, your experiences make you who you are.
  • What literary elements/techniques made you enjoy this book?
    There was a lot of deep symbolism and parallelism between the two main characters.
  • How did you feel immediately after reading this book and why?
    I hoped what happened to Jack wouldn’t happen to me, but I knew it was inevitable.
  • What other book/movie/play/song/anything can you compare this book to?
    All the King’s Men: The Movie
  • What character did you most relate with and why?
    Jack Burden, because I make the same sorts of mistakes he does.

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Interviewee Details
Gender: Male
Race: Beijing
Grade: 12
Favorite Subject: Liberal-Artsy, no preference
Main Extracurricular: Fencing, General Art

Book Details
Title: The Moon and Sixpence
Author: William Somerset Maugham

  • In as few words as possible, describe the effect this book had on you.
    This book presented a new philosophy of life; how to enjoy life, how to express talent and choose opportunities.
  • What literary elements/techniques made you enjoy this book?
    I don’t look for that kind of stuff when I read for pleasure.
  • How did you feel immediately after reading this book and why?
    I had an urge to pursue my inner desires. The book is about a man who leaves behind his life in London, and goes to Tahiti and becomes one of the most famous painters of the twentieth century.
  • What other book/movie/play/song/anything can you compare this book to?
    The message is similar to Yes Man, the movie with Jim Carey.
  • What character did you most relate with and why?
    Definitely the painter, Paul Gauguin, because he followed what he believed in and went to do what he really wanted to, kind of like what I’m doing for college.