<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:”";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
|
Jeffrey Cheung
Title: Wuthering Heights
What is the book about? |
|
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? |
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.
|
|
Not really; but, like the main character, I do hate snobby people that are stuck up.
|
|
No, but that was because the harder stuff and vocab was explained on every page.
|
Is the book inspiring, or does it have any positive messages for readers? |
It might inspire readers to be more open-minded towards different people especially the lower class.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
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!