Posts Tagged ‘Philosophy’
The following is a series of interview in which the thoughts of readers on contemporary and classic literature are described to further provoke the literary appetite of young readers. I asked each reader five simple questions in a manner that best describes the literature, and any attitudes towards it.
1. Describe the atmosphere of the book.
2. What have you learned about the author through his/her style of writing?
3. Why did you read this book, and how does it compare with others of similar genre you have read in the past?
4. What can you learn from reading this book?
5. Are there any significant quotes that provide an insight to the attitude of the story?
Interview with Junior “J Vita” on Oscar Wilde’s, The Picture of Dorian Grey
1. This novel is set in England, roughly around the time of Sherlock Holmes. The novel has an air of mystery and suspense, and provides a shady backdrop for the dramatic events about to unfold.
2. Wilde writes in a very abstract manner, so it may take some thinking on the reader’s part to follow this novel. Some call it work. I call it an interactive read!
3. Dorian Grey was a character featured in the movie League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He was depicted as an immortal, which initially caught my interest. What keeps me reading are the perks and quirks that come with such a nature. Put simply, he is a cool character. It’s interesting to watch his story and observe how “true gentlemen” manage their lives. This is pretty much the standard genre for me, so I’ve read a lot of novels like it, but it thrills me every time.
4. The value of morals in modern society, relatively speaking (of history) of course.
5. N/A
Interview with Senior Eugene Fong on Randy Pausch’s, The Last Lecture
1. Positive. This is an inspirational book, and the reader is flooded with positive thoughts, and is forced to look at the bright side of things. Truly a cheerful book-even in the face of death.
2. Pausch’s writing style is relaxed, and informal. He is trying to reach the general audience since his message is directed at mankind. It is conversational, and easy to follow and relate to. But Pausch’s lesson is definitely something everyone can learn from.
3. I saw Pausch giving his lecture on television, and the first 10 minutes were absolutely captivating. The next time I went to the bookstore, I noticed his book, and grabbed it off the shelf. I am still reading this book, but what keeps me reading is because the kinds of experiences he went through are things that everyone goes through growing up, and it was extremely funny to read Pausch’s light-hearted approach to life and to learn his creative take on the seriousness of life-and death. I consider this book an autobiography, and I just don’t read those, but this book is definitely worth the struggle.
4. This is a difficult question but in general, this book makes an attempt at the age old question “What is the meaning of life,” and he writes with the sole intention of educating, so there is a lot to learn from this book.
5. “Yes, I’m a great optimist. But when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst-case scenario. I call it “The Eaten by Wolves” factor. If I do something, what’s the most terrible thing that could happen? Would I be eaten by wolves?”
Interview with Freshman Francis Taylor on Ken Kesey’s, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
1. The longing to be free is an inherent human characteristic. So is distrust of authority. Author Ken Kesey weaves both of these essential human components into his masterpiece, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
2. Few books as radical as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest can stand the passage of time with such resonance. Kesey weaves intricate symbols together with a mastery that I have seen only rarely in contemporary authors. Unless one really pays attention, it’s quite easy to get lost in the literature. Some symbols, like the McMurphy/Christ associations, are rather easy to identify whereas others will fly right over your head if you’re not careful. This intricate plot concludes in a touching ending.
3. Compared to other books I’ve read, I thought this book was much more slow moving, and specific than ever. Sometimes, it’s hard to wade your way through such thick writing, but I’ve learned to appreciate it. I had to read this book in an afterschool program, but I loved it, and more importantly, I remember it.
4. Our hero is a tragic anti-hero. He is tragic because he dies, and anti-hero because instead of good morals, he gambles, smokes, sleeps around, curses, and fights when he knows he shouldn’t. The message seems Nietzchean (Nietzsche: an influential German philosopher remembered for his concept of the superhuman and rejection of Christian values. He is considered one of the founders of existentialism). The only real people who make their own rules, supermen. The individual vs all authority. The book is well-written, and presents the story from the point of view of an inmate. It also deals with deep themes, but some answers are left flawed and lacking.
5. “Mmm…juicy fruit.”
Interview with Sophomore Brian Wilkinson on Neil Gaiman’s, American Gods
1. The atmosphere of this novel is simply dark and mysterious. It is serious, and yet, surreal. Anything else about the atmosphere is just giving away the novel.
2. Gaiman is an interesting writer. He has a lot of individual ideas about faith and mysticism, and he uses this book as a sort of commentary on the subject. Some of his ideas are very abstract and convoluted, but you don’t have to agree with him, or understand the entire novel to enjoy it. If you are interested in modern philosophy, this is a good book for you.
3. I read this book last year. Honestly, I just picked it off a library shelf. It’s a lot more thoughtful that a lot of novels I’ve read. I didn’t actually read this intending to get a philosophical new take on the world, but it was a good enough story to get me interested. I can safely say that this is my favorite novel.
4. Everyone will take something different from this book. Anything useful? Probably not.
5. “Every Ending is a new Beginning. Your lucky number is none. Your lucky color is dead.”
Interview with Junior John Chung on Paul Coelho’s, The Alchemist
1. This book is philosophical, but it is enveloped within a great story. The book is adventurous, and attempts to use the situations of a shepherd boy to comment on the meaning of life.
2. The author writes in a manner that flows, is easy-going, and easy to understand. There is drama, but the author writes in a way that makes you feel relaxed. Part of his message is that you’re never alone, and there is always someone watching over you. You get that feeling yourself after finishing the book and giving it a long hard thought. That is the beauty of Coelho’s writing.
3. I read this book because my brother convinced me to. He thought it was a great book, and there was something to learn. I read it for the story, but I see myself exploring Coelho’s idea on the world even further in my own life. I have read many similar books. I guess this is a more grown-up version of The Little Prince, but I definitely liked this one the best, and that is why I am sharing it with you today.
4. The whole point of the story was to find treasure. A shepherd boy had a dream telling him that there was treasure to be found, and so away he went. He sold everything, and made many sacrifices to find the treasure. It’s not a good idea to give the story away, but the book teaches what we are looking for in life, and how to find it.
5. “The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”
Description of Interviewee 1
I’m a friendly person who really likes watching and reading funny movies or books. My favorite pastimes would be talking and hanging out with my friends or watching funny movies, mostly drama.
What book would you recommend to High School readers?
I would recommend The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
What is The Kite Runner about?
The book is basically about Amir, a boy who grows up in Afghanistan, just before the monarchy gets overthrown and years of destruction come into being. It’s about his friendship with his servant named Hassan and how he does things with him when they’re little that affect his whole life.
What did you learn or find most interesting about the book?
I liked the book a lot because although I thought it was over hyped and wouldn’t be that good, it actually was. The best part of the book was that the main character was not someone you could like easily. A lot of times, I hated the main character but yet, I felt for him. Also, it’s not a book where things end all “happily ever after”. The ending could be called anticlimactic, but I feel there couldn’t have been a more perfect ending to it because there was a constant theme of not-attaining-catharsis.
Which character do you relate to most and why?
I think i could relate to both Baba and Amir (mostly because they were going through the same conflicts), because they both had made mistakes that they didn’t know how to correct and went about doing it wrongly for the longest time. I feel like we’ve all had that feeling, especially when we’re young. We feel that way about doing something wrong and yet not wanting to own up to it or blame someone else for it.
4. What type of person would find this book interesting or fun to read?
While I really love this book, but it is very sad, and thus I think I would recommend it for someone older. It tells you a great deal about Afghanistan and how it changed after the constant warfare began, so anyone interested in that should definitely read it.
Was the book inspiring in any way?
The book was inspiring in the way that it told me that if you messed up, and you probably have, it’s never going to be too late to fix it, as long as you own up to your mistake and do it. It wasn’t inspiring in the way that something hits you with great impact because that was a big part of the book, how things slowly begin to show their influence.
Description of Interviewee 2
I’m Greek, I’m a senior at Stuy, and I am a Big Sib Chair, and I used to be part of the speech team.
I’m outgoing and I love to have fun and make people laugh. I never really stress out, ever.
I love acting!
What book would you recommend to high school readers?
I would recommend the book 1984 by George Orwell
What is 1984 about?
The novel basically surrounds the protagonist, Winston, and his life in the country of Oceania in 1984. London is under the rule of Big Brother and is a totalitarian society. The novel follows Winston’s attempts to rebel against the party.
What did you think of Winston and his attempts to rebel?
It really had me thinking about certain things. It was interesting to place yourself in Winston’s shoes, in a society where you could only think and say what the government wanted you to, and all of your thoughts were monitored.
3. Which character do you relate to most and why?
I could relate the most with Julia, the lead female character. Her whole demeanor of wanting to rebel against the party, and acting one way in front of everyone else (the way she was expected to behave), and being her true self around Winston. I could definitely relate to her, because I have been placed in such situations.
4. What type of person would find this book interesting or fun to read?
Anyone who’s in for a good read would find it interesting or fun to read. There are a lot of philosophical matters throughout the book, and it really has you thinking. A mature individual could get more out of the book.
5. Was the book inspiring in any way?
This book was the kind of book that you read and still think about it for days after. It posed some interesting thoughts, and towards the end I was completely shocked by how the human mind works and how well George Orwell wrote the plot. I highly recommend this book, and I’m probably going to re-read it, like right now actually.
Description of Interviewee 3
I am 17 years old, currently a senior. I live in Brooklyn.
I am a unique person who is outgoing most of the time. I am a free spirit who believes that I can accomplish what I put my mind to.
One of my favorite hobbies is writing because writing allows me to release any emotions or anything that I want to say that is locked up inside of me. It allows me to express myself when I can’t in any other way.
What book would you recommend to high school readers?
A book that I would recommend to high school readers is The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.
What is The Joy Luck Club about?
This book focuses on the struggles of four Chinese mothers and four Chinese- American daughters. The mothers have to deal with the memories of their past along with the relationship with their daughters. The daughters deal with balancing Chinese and American culture and the relationships with their mothers.
As a Chinese American woman, did you find you can relate to the relationships of the four daughters and their mothers?
Yes I related to the daughters trying to balance Chinese and American culture and their struggle of living up to their mothers’ standards.
What did you learn or find most interesting about the book?
I really enjoyed this book because it was extremely relatable. The stories of the daughters and the point of views from both sides of the relationships made me think a lot about my own life. The writing was also great.
What type of person would find this book interesting or fun to read?
I believe that anybody would enjoy this book, especially females who sometimes have problems with their mom.
Was the book inspiring in any way?
I would say the book inspired me to read other books by Amy Tan and other Asian- American authors. It also made me appreciate my family more.
Description of Interviewee 4
I live in Queens.
My favorite pastimes are hanging out with friends, reading and playing sports.
What book would you recommend to high school readers?
I would like to recommend The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
What is The Old Man and the Sea about?
An old fisherman gets a gigantic marlin on the line of his fishing boat. The fish is even bigger than his small boat and it tows him for days on end through the ocean. The old man refuses to let go of the fish, because he feels it will give his respect in the eyes of the young fishermen who made fun of him. After awhile, the fish was preyed on by sharks, and the fishermen returned it to the shore, though by that point it was pretty much skeleton.
What did you think of the fisherman’s sort of stubbornness to bring back the fish?
It was interesting that the fisherman refused to give up even when he knew he wouldn’t be able to sell the skeleton of the fish. He bought it back to shore anyway, only to show that he was still an able man.
Were you able to relate to the fisherman or any of the other characters?
No, I did not relate to any of the characters.
What type of person would find this book interesting or fun to read?
I think anyone would find it interesting to read because it is simply worded and deals with things we can all relate to. However, I think it is meant more for men because it deals with traditionally male ideas like looking courageous when under pressure and the defense of one’s manhood.
Was the book inspiring in any way?
Yes it was because it showed me that perseverance can help you achieve improbable goals.
Description of Interviewee 5
My favorite pastime is spending time wit my friends and playing basketball.
What book would you recommend to high school readers?
I would recommend the book Rebound Rules by Rick Pitino.
What is Rebound Rules about?
The book is about how to bounce back from defeat or failure and it outlines the steps needed to do so.
What about the book did you find most interesting?
The most interesting part of this book to me, was the inclusion of real life stories from rick pition’s life and coaching career.
How did you relate to the book?
Everyone goes through ups and downs, so this book alluded to the mindset I need to have in order to face adversity and stepback.
What type of person would find this book interesting or fun to read?
Any person who likes philosophy, sports, or Rick Pitino.
Has this book change you?
Yes, it has changed my outlook on success and failure.
Doo Hyun Lee Ms. Chan Pd.2 / Late British Literature 4 / 26 / 09
Albert Chang: (Captain of the swim team, interested in martial arts, avid drummer)
The Stranger by Albert Camus
Q1. Is the novel as mysterious as the title makes it out to be?
A1. At first I thought the novel might be about a serial killer because the title is pretty ominous. And when I read it there actually was a murder although it was random and ended up going down a very philosophical road. However, the protagonist Meursault is very spooky.
Q2. What do you mean by “random and going down a very philosophical road”?
A2. Meursault leads a pretty happy life with a decent job and a nice relationship with his girlfriend. The death of his mother and the monotony of his life don’t really bother him. He has no motive to kill anyone. The philosophical part comes in the second part of the novel when people try to sentence Meursault for his crime. He’s not too sure of what he’s done while others try to punish him or save his soul.
Q3. Do you find the certain philosophies this novel deals with in other novels?
A3. I’m not sure but I did read a scene in a short story that was similar to a scene in The Stranger. In the short story, a boy who stresses over life finds a weird kind of relief when he gets angry and kills a guy. At the end of The Stranger, Meursault who stresses over his jail time finds an eerie relief when he goes absolutely ballistic on this religious guy.
Q4. How do you feel after having read it?
A4. This book is definitely not suspenseful or thrilling or anything like that, but you really start feeling deep because it introduces knew ways of thinking, although some of them are pretty negative like the irrationality of the universe.
Q5. Do the philosophical aspects overcomplicate things?
A5. Actually, they simplify the story because without the philosophies, you would have no idea why Meursault does the things he does.
Mikhail Goman: (Sports enthusiast who is a member of the football, lacrosse, and swim teams, currently taking Science Fiction and Fantasy)
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
Q1. What’s the plan and why is it simple?
A1. A man (Hank), his brother (Jacob), and his friend (Lou) stumble upon a great deal of money, and they decide to keep it for themselves. They plan to keep everything under wraps for a couple of months. If any news about the money comes up, they’ll return it, but if things are quiet then the money will be theirs.
Q2. Do things go accordingly or awry?
A2. I mean it wouldn’t be much of a story if things were okay. The main problem the characters face is paranoia while a minor problem is greed. Lou wants to spend a little of his money, but Hank and Jacob are afraid others will find out. Hank winds up murdering Lou, not out of greed but to protect his wife and infant son. Hank even kills his own brother in an attempt to protect his family from getting caught up in the crime.
Q3. Is there a clear-cut hero and villain?
A3. Hank does all the murdering, but he seems to be the most caring character in the novel. Lou doesn’t have any blood on his hands, but he’s a real douche bag.
Q4. Don’t you think you just ruined the story?
A4. When you read the entire novel, you’ll find out that the actual murders were more for shock value then plot.
Q5. Is suspense what really drives the story?
A5. Yeah when a man kills his own brother, you really don’t know what’s going to happen next.
Christopher Kwok: (Captain of the swim team, member of the school orchestra, currently taking Shakespearean Literature)
Prep by Curtis Sittenfield
Q1. What’s so exciting about a prep school?
A1. Nothing. This whole book probably would be really bad if it weren’t for the first-person narrator Lee. She’s a middle-class girl attending a prestigious private high school with very wealthy people. The contrast makes the novel fun to read.
Q2. What kind of contrasts are you talking about?
A2. There are the obvious contrasts like Lee who is from Indiana can’t take her eyes off anything in Massachusetts. There are the less obvious contrasts like the few poor people who attend Ault are mean and easy to anger while the rich people are kind and collected.
Q3. So the narrator is a girl. Does she talk about topics that would be uncomfortable to boys?
A3. She talks about losing her virginity. It’s probably the same for boys, but hearing it from a girl’s point of view was very uncomfortable.
Q4. If the novel is about high school kids but the author is an adult, does the dialogue sound forced?
A4. Her dialogue is free of slang and pretty simple. It’s when Lee is thinking to herself when the language gets sophisticated. Even if the dialogue doesn’t sound real, the reader can understand because the novel is an adult Lee recounting her high school experience.
Q5. Did the novel make you reconsider high school life?
A5. The only thing it helped me realize is how childish teenagers could be.
Toshihiro Noguchi: (A junior on the swim team who enjoys puzzles and classical music, currently taking Late American Literature)
The Gold-Bug and Other Tales by Edgar Allen Poe
Q1. Was this your first Poe experience?
A1. Yes. I always wanted to read the writing of this legendary horror writer, and I think his short stories are the best way to start.
Q2. How was it?
A2. When I think of horror, I expect to feel chills down my back. His short stories only gave me goosebumps because they were so disturbing. “The Fall of the House of Usher” dealt with things like incest.
Q3. What was your favorite short story?
A3. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” was the first detective story I ever read, and it actually encouraged me to read some Agatha Christie novels. Detective Dupin reminded me of Doctor House from the television show. The ending was actually funny in my opinion. I’ll just say that it has to do with monkeys.
Q4. Poe led a pretty depressing life. Can you tell from his stories?
A4. I think Poe was an alcoholic. In “The Black Cat” the narrator suffers from alcoholism. What happens because of the alcohol haunts him continuously.
Q5. So are you going to read more of his work?
A5. Yes. I heard his poetry is just as disturbing.
Daniel Slutsky: (Member of a swim team both in and out of school, member of the math team)
No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre
Q1. What does the “No Exit” refer to?
A1. The three characters find themselves in a hell with no exit.
Q2. It sounds bad. Is it?
A2. The hell refers to a room in which three complete strangers find themselves not enjoying each other’s company. In the beginning, I didn’t know how bad it could possibly be, but by the end I realized how scary other people could be.
Q3. Why, are the people jerks?
A3. One woman is a bitch, the other woman is narcissistic, and the man is a coward. I guess they make a very volatile combination. Also the one thing that makes the hell worse is that the characters have no eyelids so they can’t even fall asleep to escape each other.
Q4. What did you learn from the book?
A4. I learned how powerful another person’s opinion could be. In the end of the novel, the door to the room opens, and the people are free to leave, but they all want to change each others opinions of themselves, so they just stay in the room. Also in the room, there are no mirrors, so the people cannot judge themselves. Instead they rely on each other to judge.
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