Words

I love all things written: books, poetry, magazines, newspapers, blogs, you name it.

Being in college, fantastic literature is frequently thrown my way. This happens so often, it's hard to keep all the titles and authors straight. This page is my effort to not only keep them straight, but help me remember. As someone who wants to be a teacher I want to make sure I remember ALL the good stuff (as well as why I diliked other things).

I add to the list often, so come back every now and then. Enjoy!

Go Ask Alice
Annonymous (edited by Beatrice Sparks)

Go Ask Alice is the harrowing story of a fifteen year old girl, and her descent into the world of drug use. It is written in the form of a diary, and is supposedly based on fact (but there is suspicious evidence that would suggest Beatrice Sparks, the editor, fabricated the novel).

Like The Catcher in the Rye, this novel has many graphic passages and has been subsequently banned and censored by many schools and libraries. Passages such as, "Oh, to be stoned, to have someone tie me off and give me a shot of anything...I wish I had enough anything to end the whole shitty mess" explains why some would be concerned about who is exposed to this kind of hopelessness. On the other hand, perhaps open communication and awareness is the key to saving the thousands of adolescents that are caught up in the "rabbit hole" of drugs.

 Nonetheless, the story Go Ask Alice offers is one of classic adolescent struggle, and provides significant and startling insights into the world and mentality of drug users. It's ultimate message is significant.

June 2011

The Catcher in the Rye
Salinger

The unique voice of seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield has made The Catcher in the Rye an anthem and guide for adolescents behavior. His story and surprisingly perceptive view concerning the transition from childhood into adulthood "phoniness" is one that resonates well with youth. While the story is valuable, some parts of the book, including a chapter where he hires a prostitute, and his excessive use of vulgarity, has been deemed inappropriate for Salinger's targeted deomographic. For this reason, many schools and libraries have censored and banned the novel.

June 2011

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants follows Jacob Jakowski in the wake of his parent tragic death, and details his struggle to find himself in a turmoltuos Great Depression stricken america. Present day Jacob is old, an finds himself unhappy in a nursing home, through a series of flashbacks he tells his story. This gives the book a fascinating plot line, and keeps it quick paced. His knowledge about the circus gives the book an authentic feeling. There's plenty of action and a dash of romance.

My only qualm with this book happens in one scene where Jacob is basically molested by a stripper/prostitute. This one passage is overly graphic and unecessary. I would recommend this book to anyone, but would also suggest you skip over those few, unecessary pages.

May 2011

Selected Poems
Auden

So Po-Mo. I love poetry but often find myself struggling with Post-Modernism. Surprisingly, Auden really speaks to me. Many of the poems from the book are marked and annotated heavily in my book. I really enjoyed it.

....an excerpt coming soon!.....

March 2011

Regeneration
Pat Barker

If you're interested in the psychological effects the First World War had on civilian soldiers-this is your book. It is a historical Fiction and interestingly enough, all of the soldiers are famous WW1 poets. Definitely worth the time, tons to analyze.

January 2011

The Awakening
Kate Chopin

Honestly, I was somewhat upset by this book and I cannot stop thinking about it! You should read it, it's all about feminism and the role of women in the home.


Collected Poems
Langston Hughes

A fantastic African-American poet. Very assecible. Anyone could read his poetry, and appreciate/understand it. His most common theme is racism and the African-American identity. I recently read all of his written poetry and fully enjoyed every moment. poets.org has an awesome recording of Hughes reading his poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"

I, Too, Sing American (probably his most popular poem)

I, too, sing America.


I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

Pamela

Richardson

Pamela is a Shamela. ;) The only reason why I'm glad I read this, is because I can now legitimately make fun of it. To be fair, this is the first novel (romance novel at that) EVER WRITTEN (in Enlgish). During it's time it was a massive success and I would argue that is the only reason why it's still cannonized. But if you do have the misfortune of having to read it, read Fielding's "An Apology for the life of Shamela".

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe

Ah, the classic story of a man washed up on a deserted island (long, long, long before LOST ever aired on ABC). It was a huge hit during its time, and is still a focus of much scholarly debate. It's interesting to think that Robinson Crusoe was the forerunner of the first English novels. Up to this point in English history, the idea of a novel seemed too reminiscent of peasant stories for the upper classes to bother. It wasn't until the 18th century, when the printing press got going and literacy spread, that the novel was born.

Among many themes, one of the most prominent is the clash between God's will and man's. John Locke's theory concerning human reason and Thomas Hobbes' concerning the state of nature seem to play a vital role in this clash. Defoe strongly suggests that it does NOT take a powerful government to subdue the natural, evil, state of man kind (like Hobbes would suggest). But that men, through their own reason can come to a reasonable understanding that doing what is right is not only the good and decent thing to do, but the most rewarding (like Locke would suggest). Crusoe, a largely wicked man was pressured to be good for many years but never seemed to care. It wasn't until he washed up onto a vacant shore line, where he had all the opportunity (something like thrity+ years!) to apply his own reason. It was then that he decided to become a good, religious man.

While this book leaves a lot to talk about, it has long lulls in it that are pretty darn boring. Like previously mentioned, this was pre-novel. Meaning, authors weren't totally sure how to write a super captivating plot. Defoe spends way more time than necessary explaining the technicalities of building fences, and boats, and uses super super long sentences that leaves you gasping for air. If you love literature, it's a must. If you want to be entertained...not so much...

September 15th, 2010

The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo

Larson Steig

Ah...What to say? Well...it's definitely a fascinating murder mystery with a very unexpected twist. I couldn't put it down BUT this is definitely PG13. I won't spoil much to say it deals with women, the way they're treated, and this culminates in a specific character who's a victim of sexual abuse. It's pretty candid about her abuse and extremely descriptive, so if that doesn't appeal to you don't read it! I do find the feminist theme quite compelling. It also takes place in modern day Sweden which I found equally interesting. Compelling enough that I picked up the second novel in this trilogy,  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. I wasn't as impressed by this second novel as the first. The first one's goal is cracking a murder mystery that's several decades old, it's quite unique. It's uniqueness is largely lost on the second novel. Not to say it's not interesting, it's quite interesting but not as believable.

Random Tid Bit-The author, Steig Larsson is from Sweden and has a unique Swedish view of the world. But even more interesting is that fact that after submitting these three books to and editor he passed away. Given the editor had to work alone without Larsson's guidance, what we see may or may not be what Larsson intended.

September 2, 2010

The Reckoning

Kelly Armstrong

Just finished it! Took me three hours to read. :) After a semester of applying critical theories it was nice to simply sit back and enjoy the ride!

The Reckoning is the final installment in a trilogy-The Summoning, and The Awakening being the first two. The story's about a girl named Chloe who has the ability to see and raise the dead and her adventures figuring out who she is and her past. I would categorize this tale somewhere between sci-fi and romance.

I originally picked up the book in an effort to find something my younger sister, Brianna, would enjoy. Myself, my mom and other sister, Kristen, are constantly discussing books and exchanging ideas but Brianna often gets left out. I found this book and immediately knew it would be a perfect fit for a junior high aged girl. Though is has a couple scary/disturbing scenes (people committing suicide, rotting corpses crawling around) the romance is definitely PG.

As far as a critical analysis goes-the piece lacks substance. The final book is particularly unbelievable-the conclusion lacks catharsis, and loose ends are left untied. But it is pretty captivating, and again excellent for young readers.

May 6th, 2010

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

I was introduced to this poem in my Critical Theory class-I feel it could apply to more than one theory but given that Dunbar was African-American the most obvious connection is African American Theory. Even without a theory the poem is interesting...

We Wear the Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,-

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myraid subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Emily Dickinson's short life was one of extreme seclusion. She never married, never left her parents home, and spent most of her life writing locked up on her bedroom. Towards the end of her life she refused to see anyone and conversed with her few friends almost entirely through letters alone.

During her lifetime her work was scoffed and highly criticized. Today she is viewed as one of the greatest writers of all time. I personally adore Dickinson's work. The depth you can find is amazing. This is one of her most popular pieces.

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.