I have found my new obsession. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a three-part series that tells the story of Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is a member of District Twelve, the poorest District in the future North America called Panem. There are 12 Districts, all ruled by a vicious and powerful capitol. Each year, this capitol holds the annual hunger games where volunteers from each district are chosen to fight to the death in an arena for the Capitol's entertainment. Katniss' sister is chosen and she volunteers to take her place, and is sent to the Hunger Games.
While reading the book, I could not help but notice the common theme of rebellion. From the smallest of things to the largest, everything that Katniss does represents this theme. The most noticeable, perhaps because it is even talked about in the book, is Katniss' final act in the Hunger Games. By attempting to commit a double suicide, thereby securing a victory for both her and Peeta, Katniss defied the Capitol and showed that their rules could be broken. She had done this same thing before when she covered Rue's body with flowers. She showed to the people of the Capitol that Rue meant something to her and was not just another pawn in a game, but a real human being. Another final noticeable symbol is the symbol of the mockingjay. The mockingjay, a mutant bird that was created outside of the Capitol's control, symbolizes everything that Capitol cannot control, and everything that it fails realize. By wearing this symbol in the arena, Katniss herself becomes like a mockingjay. Because she defies the Capitol with every act, and continues to survive no matter the odds, she herself becomes the new mockingjay, the new symbol of rebellion.
Another subtle reference that speaks to the theme of Rebellion is the Thirteen Districts. The Thirteen districts are eerily similar to the Thirteen colonies of the British Empire in North America. Just like the original thirteen colonies, the ones in the Hunger Games were each created to serve the Capitol (England), supply it with goods, and be obedient. This subtle reference puts a frame on the theme of rebellion from the beginning of the novel and cleverly foreshadows what is to come in the other two books.
As an aside, I personally loved the book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the last one (since i read book two the day after). I think that Collins cleverly holds you in suspense throughout the entire novel, and each little detail is important, nothing is negligible, which makes the book interesting and captivating. Collins also sets up each book very carefully to lead into the next one, making you believe one thing will happen, when another does (when in fact, after you read what does happen, it all makes sense, you just didn't realize!). I give the book by itself a 10 out of 10 and the series (so far) a 9 of 10. I think its safe to assume that I'm hungry for more Hungry Games!
Keep Calm and Blog On
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Water for Elephants
"Age is a terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back. It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse." (p. 12)
This is a quote from the book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Throughout the novel, the narration switches points of view from the narrator as an old man to him as a young man.This structure is, firstly, parallel to the quote. This is because, just when, in the story, you think you know what will happen, you discover something, and then the point of view switches and leaves you in suspense. However, it is not just suspense for suspense's sake, the points of view give complimentary views ans facts that help you piece together an accurate picture of the man and the plot line. It also reveals a greater depth in the views and motivations of the characters.
This quote serves to illustrate Gruen's message for the novel. That life is unpredictable, and not all will ever go as planned. The structure of the novel helps to emphasize the theme illuminated by this quote. When the story is being told from the point of view of him as an old man, he is reflecting on how these things have changed him, whereas this is the opposite of him as a young man - confident, and sure of what will be, or at least sure of what he wants. The reflection serves to not only give conclusion onto what happens into the story, but show the more calm and reflective side of the man. He recognizes that these changes were now meant to be, whereas at the time, he might not have recognized their significance.
on a side note- The message is artfully executed, I liked how she almost plainly stated her message at the beginning so you can reflect on it as you are reading, and realize how each of the plot devices and even the structure flow together. A good read- 7 out of 10.
This is a quote from the book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Throughout the novel, the narration switches points of view from the narrator as an old man to him as a young man.This structure is, firstly, parallel to the quote. This is because, just when, in the story, you think you know what will happen, you discover something, and then the point of view switches and leaves you in suspense. However, it is not just suspense for suspense's sake, the points of view give complimentary views ans facts that help you piece together an accurate picture of the man and the plot line. It also reveals a greater depth in the views and motivations of the characters.
This quote serves to illustrate Gruen's message for the novel. That life is unpredictable, and not all will ever go as planned. The structure of the novel helps to emphasize the theme illuminated by this quote. When the story is being told from the point of view of him as an old man, he is reflecting on how these things have changed him, whereas this is the opposite of him as a young man - confident, and sure of what will be, or at least sure of what he wants. The reflection serves to not only give conclusion onto what happens into the story, but show the more calm and reflective side of the man. He recognizes that these changes were now meant to be, whereas at the time, he might not have recognized their significance.
on a side note- The message is artfully executed, I liked how she almost plainly stated her message at the beginning so you can reflect on it as you are reading, and realize how each of the plot devices and even the structure flow together. A good read- 7 out of 10.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Brave New World Quote Analysis
As I was reading Brave New World, one quote in particular struck me - "What man has joined, nature is powerless to put asunder."
Throughout the whole novel, Huxley emphasizes his message of the dangers of over-industrialism and the troubles our world will face if we continue on our path. In the fictional world of the story, every single person is engineered to be exactly who they are at the moment. From before birth they are subliminally trained to be whatever they are assigned to be. Through this quote, Huxley suggest that the characters have become overconfident in their ability to control nature. However, their illusion of totalitarianism is completely skewed because they believe they have conquered nature, but without nature, nothing and no one could exist. What they fail to realize is that for all the supposed control over nature, nature had been silently engineering the same thing since the beginning of time, giving people the characteristics they need to survive, and selecting those which have proved most useful.
Huxley also uses this quote as a way to get the reader thinking on his theme. Because this was said, the reader is led to believe that Society thinks itself unconquerable. However, this cleverly sets the reader up with a little bit of foreshadowing, because the confidence of the statement hints that the Society might not be as all-powerful as they believe. Because Huxley is trying to give a message, this quote could be used as warning to the reader and our society, not to think to much of ourselves. Not to think that we are greater than nature, because the created cannot exceed the creator.
(On a side note, I am still reading the novel, so if the Society turns out not to be conquered, and that Huxley is saying that they can't be toppled, this could all be just mindless ponderings, but, from the foreshadowing, I really son think, and hope, that's not going to happen)
Keep Calm and Blog On
Throughout the whole novel, Huxley emphasizes his message of the dangers of over-industrialism and the troubles our world will face if we continue on our path. In the fictional world of the story, every single person is engineered to be exactly who they are at the moment. From before birth they are subliminally trained to be whatever they are assigned to be. Through this quote, Huxley suggest that the characters have become overconfident in their ability to control nature. However, their illusion of totalitarianism is completely skewed because they believe they have conquered nature, but without nature, nothing and no one could exist. What they fail to realize is that for all the supposed control over nature, nature had been silently engineering the same thing since the beginning of time, giving people the characteristics they need to survive, and selecting those which have proved most useful.
Huxley also uses this quote as a way to get the reader thinking on his theme. Because this was said, the reader is led to believe that Society thinks itself unconquerable. However, this cleverly sets the reader up with a little bit of foreshadowing, because the confidence of the statement hints that the Society might not be as all-powerful as they believe. Because Huxley is trying to give a message, this quote could be used as warning to the reader and our society, not to think to much of ourselves. Not to think that we are greater than nature, because the created cannot exceed the creator.
(On a side note, I am still reading the novel, so if the Society turns out not to be conquered, and that Huxley is saying that they can't be toppled, this could all be just mindless ponderings, but, from the foreshadowing, I really son think, and hope, that's not going to happen)
Keep Calm and Blog On
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
A Brave "Not So New" World
I am currently reading A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, is a book about a so-called perfectly engineered society. Every person is give a pre-determined destiny. Everything from occupation to social class. Even from fetal development, they are molded to become what they need to be, whether that entails flipping them upside down so as to be better astronauts, or heating them up so they like warmer temperatures and move to South America.
While Reading this book, I did have to complement Huxley on his extraordinary vision into not only the minute workings of the world, but his vision of industrialized society. Many of his predictions about biological developments are correct. However, while reading the book, I could not help thinking of everything that would now be done by computers. This is something I think Huxley, or anyone from his time. could not have predicted. So, as contemporary readers of Huxley's A Brave New World, I see the reader as seeing this as completely plausible. However, one must consider that at the time written, in 1932, it would have been considered extremely fantastic, similar to War of the Worlds when it was published.
So, I think while reading this book, I must keep in mind a Historical Literary context and read it as a reader in 1932. Where this information was not commonly known, and the piece would have been considered fantastic (in the impossible meaning of the word).
Keep Calm and Blog On
While Reading this book, I did have to complement Huxley on his extraordinary vision into not only the minute workings of the world, but his vision of industrialized society. Many of his predictions about biological developments are correct. However, while reading the book, I could not help thinking of everything that would now be done by computers. This is something I think Huxley, or anyone from his time. could not have predicted. So, as contemporary readers of Huxley's A Brave New World, I see the reader as seeing this as completely plausible. However, one must consider that at the time written, in 1932, it would have been considered extremely fantastic, similar to War of the Worlds when it was published.
So, I think while reading this book, I must keep in mind a Historical Literary context and read it as a reader in 1932. Where this information was not commonly known, and the piece would have been considered fantastic (in the impossible meaning of the word).
Keep Calm and Blog On
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Fading to Dust
I command an army
Built from blood and sweat
And tears.
I’ve made my Kingdom
From battles and triumphs
And failures.
But from wins and from losses
From work and from pleasure,
Comes dust.
The dust of Kingdom once great
Shattered
By the words upon a page thrust
Into unwilling hands and
Read by unwilling eyes.
And all the world’s a mockery
Laughing and judging
A failed Kingdom
As the walls and armies fall
To pieces upon the ground.
With greedy eyes and hungry hearts
All eyes watch as I,
The porcelain King, falls
Upon a crystal throne
In a castle built of sand
In a Kingdom fading
To Dust.
Built from blood and sweat
And tears.
I’ve made my Kingdom
From battles and triumphs
And failures.
But from wins and from losses
From work and from pleasure,
Comes dust.
The dust of Kingdom once great
Shattered
By the words upon a page thrust
Into unwilling hands and
Read by unwilling eyes.
And all the world’s a mockery
Laughing and judging
A failed Kingdom
As the walls and armies fall
To pieces upon the ground.
With greedy eyes and hungry hearts
All eyes watch as I,
The porcelain King, falls
Upon a crystal throne
In a castle built of sand
In a Kingdom fading
To Dust.
Turkey Day !
Happy turkey day everyone, I hope you all have a good one and eat as much as you can because it's the only day you won't get judged for it(:
Keep Calm and Blog On
Keep Calm and Blog On
Friday, November 18, 2011
Resistance Was Futile
So, I've delayed becoming a blogger as long as possible, but I guess I've finally had to cave-in! My blog will be mostly about literary critiques, reviews, and, of course, obsessions. As my first blog post (yay!) I'll give you a little information on what I'm gonna try to do. Just like me, my blog will change with the seasons, I can never stay the same, and the seasons greatly affect me, so I'll so the same on my blog. Well, here I go, into the unknown world of anonymous comments, and unknown viewers, a world of crazy but wonderful things.
Look forward to my first critique/insight -- Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (yes, I am an obsessive fan)
P.S. -- Mrs. Healey, that animation in the corner is for you if you remember my poem(:
Look forward to my first critique/insight -- Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (yes, I am an obsessive fan)
P.S. -- Mrs. Healey, that animation in the corner is for you if you remember my poem(:
Inheritance - Realism, or Just Real Dissapointment
First off -- SPOILER ALERT -- If you haven't read Inheritance yet, as I know many of you are fans of the series, you might not want to read this yet, because I'm going to be giving away some major plot points and endings.
Now, about the book. I'll first start off by saying, that my anticipation probably almost matched that of Harry Potter (a hard thing to do) only because this has been the longest wait between books in a series like EVER. I'll say that I enjoyed reading the book, but to what end, I'm not sure. It was a good read, and it had thrilling moments, making me laugh and gasp, but I was still left feeling disappointed. I'm not sure if the enjoyment came from the excitement of finally having the book and finishing the series, or from the quality of the book I was reading. I know that I'm not the first to say this, and definitely not the last, but the ending was a huge let down. In the series, it was foretold that the main character, Eragon, would have an epic romance before leaving the land forever. But at the end of the series, that romance was tallied up as a few moments alone, a sharing of names, and a hug. A HUG. Really?!? Disappointment. However, this brings me to my point of discussion. After reading the novel, I wanted to reflect on Paolini's purpose and message in the hole series, and whether he was trying to convey this message through utter realism.
Throughout the entire cycle, Paolini sets up his characters to their fates through a series of trials that every hero must go through. The call, the refusal of the call, the supernatural powers, etc etc. However, Eragon's journey was different in that by a few chapters into the first book, his entire future was foretold, and many of the events that would come to pass were given in the beginning. Being a fantasy novel, these aspects are obviously not involved in the Realistic nature of the novel. However, the fact that makes this a Realism novel is the fact that after all the characters go through, they get the fate that was rightfully deserved, even if it was not what the reader necessarily wanted. For example, Arya, after all her work to promote peace among all peoples, and working so closely to restore the dragons to a prospering species, rightfully deserved to become the next Dragon Rider. It also make sense because of all her close work with dragons, and her extreme want to keep peace and help her people. These are all valid reasons why it would choose her. The same goes for probably the biggest disappointment in the cycle, Eragon and Arya's relationship.
The couple have shared many intimate moments from their first contact to the most recent enthralling endeavor against King Galbatorix (who was FINALLY killed). However, not only their roles and duties separate them, but also their ages. No matter how one tries to justify their relationship (be it with Eragon's immortality or their ability to share thoughts), the two are simply to different in experience, maturity, and age to be able to hold a working relationship. They are each destined for different people, if any, ones who match or complete them. Their parting was just because each had their own responsibilities, that, in reality, they would have had to do in order for the world to remain at peace. Each had a duty greater than themselves, and had to overcome whatever they wanted to achieve the greater purpose. There lies Paolini's purpose, I believe. Throughout the whole series, he tests the characters, and sometimes they pass and sometimes they fail. However, they always earn their right to continue on through hard work, and they arrive at the right path, even if it was not the one they originally or still wanted. Paolini tells the reader that what one wants is not always what one needs, and that you must look beyond yourself to the needs of the whole, so that balance, order, and peace can be achieved.
As an aside, I do believe that each of the characters had Realistic endings, but I'm not sure Paolini gave them Realistic trials and solutions. For example, in Eragon's defeat of Galbatorix, I do not believe that in reality, Eragon would have won. I think that is one place that was compromised, because Galbatorix was written as such a powerful character, and Eragon such an underdog, that, even though one roots for the underdog, they do not win. Some other spots such as the Vault of Souls, Cuaroc, and the fact that so many dragon eggs escaped seemed a little outlandish, and almost written as if Paolini just wanted certain parts of the story to turn out for the best, instead of realistically. But, overall, Inheritance and the series was well written and is exciting, witty, and thought-provoking. I would rate the book individually as a 3 out of 5 and the series as a whole as a 4 out of 5.
Keep Calm and Blog On.
Now, about the book. I'll first start off by saying, that my anticipation probably almost matched that of Harry Potter (a hard thing to do) only because this has been the longest wait between books in a series like EVER. I'll say that I enjoyed reading the book, but to what end, I'm not sure. It was a good read, and it had thrilling moments, making me laugh and gasp, but I was still left feeling disappointed. I'm not sure if the enjoyment came from the excitement of finally having the book and finishing the series, or from the quality of the book I was reading. I know that I'm not the first to say this, and definitely not the last, but the ending was a huge let down. In the series, it was foretold that the main character, Eragon, would have an epic romance before leaving the land forever. But at the end of the series, that romance was tallied up as a few moments alone, a sharing of names, and a hug. A HUG. Really?!? Disappointment. However, this brings me to my point of discussion. After reading the novel, I wanted to reflect on Paolini's purpose and message in the hole series, and whether he was trying to convey this message through utter realism.
Throughout the entire cycle, Paolini sets up his characters to their fates through a series of trials that every hero must go through. The call, the refusal of the call, the supernatural powers, etc etc. However, Eragon's journey was different in that by a few chapters into the first book, his entire future was foretold, and many of the events that would come to pass were given in the beginning. Being a fantasy novel, these aspects are obviously not involved in the Realistic nature of the novel. However, the fact that makes this a Realism novel is the fact that after all the characters go through, they get the fate that was rightfully deserved, even if it was not what the reader necessarily wanted. For example, Arya, after all her work to promote peace among all peoples, and working so closely to restore the dragons to a prospering species, rightfully deserved to become the next Dragon Rider. It also make sense because of all her close work with dragons, and her extreme want to keep peace and help her people. These are all valid reasons why it would choose her. The same goes for probably the biggest disappointment in the cycle, Eragon and Arya's relationship.
The couple have shared many intimate moments from their first contact to the most recent enthralling endeavor against King Galbatorix (who was FINALLY killed). However, not only their roles and duties separate them, but also their ages. No matter how one tries to justify their relationship (be it with Eragon's immortality or their ability to share thoughts), the two are simply to different in experience, maturity, and age to be able to hold a working relationship. They are each destined for different people, if any, ones who match or complete them. Their parting was just because each had their own responsibilities, that, in reality, they would have had to do in order for the world to remain at peace. Each had a duty greater than themselves, and had to overcome whatever they wanted to achieve the greater purpose. There lies Paolini's purpose, I believe. Throughout the whole series, he tests the characters, and sometimes they pass and sometimes they fail. However, they always earn their right to continue on through hard work, and they arrive at the right path, even if it was not the one they originally or still wanted. Paolini tells the reader that what one wants is not always what one needs, and that you must look beyond yourself to the needs of the whole, so that balance, order, and peace can be achieved.
As an aside, I do believe that each of the characters had Realistic endings, but I'm not sure Paolini gave them Realistic trials and solutions. For example, in Eragon's defeat of Galbatorix, I do not believe that in reality, Eragon would have won. I think that is one place that was compromised, because Galbatorix was written as such a powerful character, and Eragon such an underdog, that, even though one roots for the underdog, they do not win. Some other spots such as the Vault of Souls, Cuaroc, and the fact that so many dragon eggs escaped seemed a little outlandish, and almost written as if Paolini just wanted certain parts of the story to turn out for the best, instead of realistically. But, overall, Inheritance and the series was well written and is exciting, witty, and thought-provoking. I would rate the book individually as a 3 out of 5 and the series as a whole as a 4 out of 5.
Keep Calm and Blog On.
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