Thursday, August 28, 2008
Summer Reading Review
This summer you had the pleasure of reading a novel or play from the recommended list of titles in your AP Language acceptance letter. Since you must choose one more independent study novel to read this semester, you need feedback from your classmates assessing the novels they read. Out of five stars, how would you rate the book you read this summer (5=high, 1=low)? List the title you read, follow it with your rating, and explain why you would or would not recommend your choice to another reader. Your responses may be brief, but please be specific and edit your work!
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Book~ Dracula by: Bram Stoker
Rating~ 5
Why?~ I found Dracula to be a supremely creative novel. It is hard to remember, in a time when hoards of teenage girls are swooning over a certain teenage vampire and re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer can still be seen on very early morning TV, but vampires weren't always such cult figures. Dracula really was the novel that brought them into the spotlight, and defined their characters forever, creating compelling creatures for generations of readers to enjoy in different ways. The character development, too, is fantastic; the switching viewpoints make Dracula an exciting story to read, and all characters are "round" with their own passions and desires along with their larger goals. Although the language tends towards the flowery style that come classic novels embrace, it is full of action, and I think male or female readers would find it equally enjoyable.
Book: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Rating: 3.5
When I first picked up Frankenstein, I was very excited because the author, Mary Shelley, was only 18 (I think!) when she wrote the story, and I wanted to read the story she came up with. I was very disappointed for most of the novel, because the character of Frankenstein was very predictable and annoying. Frankenstein was excessively irresponsible in every aspect of his life, and I found it very difficult to feel sorry for him. On the other hand, I loved the character of Frankenstein's monster. The chapters in which the monster told his story were very entertaining, and also raised many questions about humanity and what it means to be human. I really enjoyed dissecting the monster and Frankenstein in terms of what it takes to be human. Unfortunately I had to read almost 20 chapters about Frankenstein in order to find out about his monster. I also enjoyed the monster's chapters so much because he referenced many famous poems, and haunted the annoying character of Frankenstein until his death.
I did not approve of the methods that the monster used to destroy Frankenstein (murder), but it was refreshing to see Frankenstein finally get what he deserved. The last half of the book made the first half worth the agony.
My literary adventure was the illustrious The Once and Future King by T.H. White. I'd rate it around a 4.23867 out of 5. It's actually a series of four novels clumped together in a grand saga, the story of King Arthur. The first of these, The Sword in the Stone, was extremely tedious and repetitive. Essentially, the story consisted of Arthur learning a variety of morals by being turned into different animals by wizard Merlyn. The story is told in a very humorous manner, and fortunately, the pace of the plot really picks up in the last three books. Some similar character names caused a bit o' confusion, as did some obscure vocabulary for animals (especially birds) and medieval architecture. The last three books are done in great high fantasy fashion, and despite the book's incredible heft, it soon became difficult to put down. Despite minor shortcomings with the beginning and my lack of knowledge of the time, I found it to be a simply scrumptious work of literature that I would recommend to anyone with a heap of time to truly enjoy it.
Book: Withering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rating: 3
Withering Heights is a flowery but entertaining novel; however I was not particularly fond of the characters. For example one of the primary characters is a fellow named Heathcliff, who is extremely cruel, evil spirited, and self centered. Throughout the plot, all he desires is revenge on another man who stole his childhood sweetheart, Catherine. The novel, similar to many classics, is eloquently written but has a better ending than expected. I would not recommend this to anyone who enjoys action novels because there is none. However, if you enjoy novels with drama and many unexpected twists Withering Heights could be a great book for you.
Book Emma by Jane Austen
Rating: 7
We all know that Jane Austen is an exceptional writer. Her Pride and Prejudice was stupendous so i automatically assumed Emma would live up to my expectations. Even though the novel is very ironic and engages the reader till 11: 30 in a summer night (Ya i did that), the excessive detail that Austen uses gets really annoying every once in a while. If you are the type of person that loves analyzing every single word on a novel you should definitely read Emma. But if you are like me that only analyzes quotes that you find intriguing, then you must have ALOT of patience to finish this book.
Book~ Gulliver's Travels by Johnathan Swift
Rating~3
Gulliver's Travels was an interesting novel, but at parts I found it very hard to read. Much of it was very difficult language, but not terrible. I also really did not understand the character of Gulliver. He had a strange personality and I thought it was interesting how his view of humanity changed dramatically at the end of the novel. This would not be rated as my favorite book, but it is definately a classic that everyone should read once in their lifetime. There are many metaphors, symbols, character traits, and adventures in this novel that would be beneficial in essays, projects,and analyzing. Overall, it was entertaining.
Book - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rating - 3 (maybe a 2.5)
Why - I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I felt like there were no characters that I could relate to. None of the main characters (the angelic Elizabeth, the idiotic Victor Frankenstein, nor the vengeful monster) was able to really capture my attention for that long. I really struggled to get through it (although that is probably due to pure summer laziness) and the only part that I found mildly interesting was Frankenstein's first meeting with his monster. Other than that, I felt like the bulk of the novel was Frankenstein wallowing in self-pity about the situation that he brought upon himself. The one thing that I actually enjoyed about this book was the language. It was eloquent and flowery yet still fairly simple and understandable, which made identifying main themes and connecting them to the plot easy.
Book: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Rating: 3.5
I looked at all the choices on the summer reading list before I choose one. I settled with The Once and Future King because it is a fantasy book and those are the kinds I love. The Once and Future King is actually a series of books conjoined into one, all about King Arthur. I was also drawn to the book because I know some about King Arthur. The first book was really enjoyable for me because it was humorous and I made tons of connections. I love anything Disney and the first book had so many similarities to Walt's work. The other books were a fast read and reminded me some of the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It was also fun to read because there were many familiar characters such as, Sir Lancelot, Merlyn, Guenever and of course, King Arthur. I enjoyed this book greatly.
Book: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Rating: 5
The Once and Future King is the complete story of King Arthur. It consists of four parts (The Sword in the Stone, The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Made Knight, and The Candle in the Wind) put together in one book. Frankly, I thought that this book was too long. 677 pages? With annotations? It was almost too much for me to handle (I can’t focus on one book for as long as this one took me). However, from a more literary perspective this book provides a fantastical tale that anyone would enjoy. It contains humorous antics, drama, romance, revenge, tragedy, war, and so much more. While the first part (The Sword in the Stone) was very slow and tedious to read, it was worth the wait. The other three parts captured my interest; they became more complex, but also more exciting and interesting. White gives a very interesting perspective on a very old story. He spends time to develop each character, and how that character affects Camelot and Arthur. Instead of a typical story of knights and valor, he digs deep into the issues of morality and the turmoil that besieged Camelot. It is one of a kind. So, if you're not a fan lengthy books, then I would suggest you pick something else. However, if you are willing to choose this book, it is definitely worth it.
Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rating: 2.3
On rare occasion, I am assigned a book to read for class that pleasantly surprises me in a way that I actually look forward to reading it every night. This was not one of those books.
In order for a literary work to capture my attention, there needs to be constant variety and action.
Wuthering Heights lacked considerably in both these departments. Although the novel spans over about 30 years, the location of action is limited to two stuffy Victorian manors that are only about four miles apart. While the majority of Bronte's characters are dynamic, I never felt much empathy for any of them. Each of them seemed to have a major flaw in their personality that prevented me from truly sympathizing with their suffering.
And to be blunt, there was a plethora of suffering in this novel. Whether it was heartache that edged on mental illness, abuse, or anger management, there was always a battle for happiness. However, the constant repitition of these dreary events caused them to lose their potency. By the time the leading soap star's daughter grew up to face her own struggles, I was so turned off from hearing about her mother's hardships that I could barely focus on her own storyline.
I am sure that some people out there adore Bronte's florid ways of exposing endless human suffering. But for the rest of us who enjoy a high speed car chase every once in a while, this book was nothing but a yawn.
Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Rating: 4
Warning: Not suitable for the faint-hearted or easily disturbed.
Works by the Brontë sisters tend to be dark, twisted, and utterly morbid. Wuthering Heights was no exception. The devastating love story of Catherine and Heathcliff, tainted with the typical human faults of jealousy, revenge, passion and hatred, was pushed to the verge of absurdity. The cause of this, predictably, is the characters themselves; specifically Catherine and Heathcliff whose dependency on each other is a trifle unnatural. Each of these literary individuals are imperfect, frustrating, and altogether human.
Perhaps this is what makes such a disturbing story so appealing. I myself was pleasantly surprised at the frankness in which Brontë deals with the trials of the human soul: lonliness, longing, inadequacy and discovery. What was compelling about this novel was not simply the setting, the eloquent language, or even the tragic love story. What struck a chord in my heart was the unpredictable mirror the characters created of my own inward struggles.
Book: Emma by Jane Austen
Rating 5
Why? This book was a hard, slow, mentally draining read but I really enjoyed the story. When I took the time to read it slowly I saw so much more than what was just written on the pages. I was truly able to visualize the novel, and more importantly, I was able to put myself in the shoes of Emma. I would recommend this book to girls. Most guys would not enjoy this book due to the plot and would be incredibly bored while reading it.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rating: 2.5
I found that Frankenstein was not necessarily a "horror" story as claimed in the summary, but rather a long tale of Victor Frankenstein's mental instability and the monster's self pity. It was a decent book, but not what I expected it to be. I was looking for something more thrilling and captivating, which was the main reason I chose this book, but it did not turn out the way I had expected. Overall, it was a well written novel, but not at all intriguing
Emma by Jane Austen
Rating:3
Jane Austen is an exceptional writer and intrigues the reader to finishing the novel. The character Emma enjoys setting up couples in a society where it is expected that all young women marry. The book is difficult to follow and is mentally challenging but enjoyable. It's a great story but hard to keep reading.
Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rating: 4
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has captivated the interest of its readers ever since it was pupblished. It's high-level vocabulary does make this novel more time consuming than its two-hundred containment, but once the reader gets passed the unique style of writing this book examines the classic controversy of evolution. Frankenstein questions its readers through the main character of Victor. Victor Frankenstein embodies the uncertainty of creation vs. corruption when he is faced with defeating his own obsession, a disfigured inhumane monster. Everything that he loved and cherished was quickly taken from him. Any reader can empathize with Victor and his creation, Frankenstein. The book overall was very intriguing. It gave a new meaning to the longing of acceptance and the inner turmoil that it creates.
Book- Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Rating-4
The storyline of this book is excellent. The plot, the characters and the setting are all well developed and play well into this intricate story. Mary Shelley does an excellent job writing this novel. However, I would have to agree completely with Julia. The first third of this book is probably the hardest thing I have ever read. Mostly because it is uneventful and boring. Although this is the part of the book that the creature comes alive in, Shelley doesn't even describe in detail what happens. These chapters are well written, but incredibly dull. The next part of the book, where the creature tells his story to Frankenstein, and the last part, where the creature gets revenge, are both very interesting. They develop the characters even more and are an easy read because the plot moves quickly. I gave this book a four because there is no way that the first third of this book can go unnoticed, even though I was satisfied with the ending.
Book: Dracula, by Bram Stoker
Rating: 4.5
In my humble opinion, I thought Dracula was a highly sophisticated and entertaining novel. Although I found myself somewhat frustrated towards the beginning of the novel as the reader is continually one step ahead of Stoker's characters, it was this very element that compelled me to read further. Stoker doesn't disappoint in his classic thriller as the novel incites consuming sensations of suspense and excitement with each climax it presents. The characters introduced fit seamlessly into Stoker's creation, accompanied by their own passions and opinions. These are highlighted in the switching viewpoints, a unique aspect of this composition that tinges it with a hue of reality. However, I must advise you to keep an open mind should you choose to read Dracula, for it is somewhat different than the vampire tales we are exposed to today (Twighlight perhaps?). Generally though, I believe a variety of readers would enjoy Dracula.
Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rating: 4
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was like nothing I expected. When I first thought of "Frankenstein" I automatically thought of a big monster that (in most hollywood recreations) is flat headed and green. But this book did not have anything of that sort. Although the creature that Victor Frankenstein creates is vaguely close to that description, it is far from the mumbling, clumsy monster that is in all of our heads. The monster has more human qualities: he speaks, comprehends and even thinks. His character was probably the most interesting in the book, even at times questionable. The monster speaks English fluently with incredible vocabulary and has unbelievable knowledge of the world within a time period of only a year.
I recommend this book to those who are intrigued with science and stories of revenge. Although a little tedious in details, it was a book that kept me up all night to try and find out what's next. Frankenstein is a classic novel that both males and females will equally enjoy.
Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rating: 2
Honestly, I think the overall idea of this novel is brilliant, but the execution of how it occurs is boring beyond belief. In essence, this book is one of the classic tragic love stories we all hear so much about. However, the difference between this story and works like Romeo & Juliet is definitely the characters. Suffering is found throughout the novel, but it is so hard to sympathize with the characters if you don't like any of them. At times I was almost happy when bad things would happen because I felt they deserved it. This book also completely lacks any action what so ever. Wuthering Heights is more for those who enjoy analysing every word that is said and why certain things occur.
Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rating: 3.5
Frankenstein was a more a tragic tale of hardships in life then a horror story. It was a well written book that I enjoyed, but it was not what I was expecting. From movies, Halloween and what I had interpreted, I expected the novel to be horrific and gruesome. It was quite the contrary. Although there are parts that could be interpreted as gory, it was a very sad story. It is a good read because it makes you realize how people really judge by appearance and not my content of character.
This is an excellent book if you are looking for a story about social contradictions, but not if the book you desire depicts a scary movie.
Dracula, by Bram Stoker
5 Stars
I rate the book "Dracula" with five stars because of the messages that were conveyed through Bram Stoker's creative writing. For me, these messages included purity, and how purity can be corrupted very easily, the rewards that come with the exertion of courage, and keeping an open mind in order to overcome problems. I loved the way Stoker used blood as a simple, but very powerful motif for his message of purity. Once Count Dracula, a wonderful villain, had sucked blood from a victim, they lost their purity to the point that they would themselves become vampires. In order to make this even more shocking, Stoker made Dracula's victims beautiful, wise women. Also, I enjoyed this novel because of the fact that it explored evil in a very interesting way. While some stories make evil very black and white, this story made evil almost appealing. Dracula has mystical powers that draw in his prey as well as the reader, and even a sexual appeal is added as the Count has three seductive vampire women that are often described as "voluptuous." They are often possible for men to destroy because of their seductive qualities, though they are a path to destruction for those who fail.
I would recommend this book to other readers. The ideas mentioned above would be compelling for anyone who is interested in the ideas of good and evil, what differentiates the two, and why mankind has a weakness to be allured into evil. Also, the book is very realistic, which I did not expect, and is told from many narrators; this enables different points of view for the story, which I enjoyed.
"Dracula" by Bram Stoker
5 Stars
I recommend "Dracula" because of the uniqueness of the novel. It is written in a diary form which traces the main characters and the events in their lives. The story comes about from reading all of their entries showing how interconnected they all are. This feature is relate able to today's life as there are many different sides to any given story. I enjoyed how the main female character, Mia, took on a larger role as the novel progressed. She showed her worth both as a character and as a female. There are many references to this novel in today's society and I am glad that I now know the text. Last year I read the novel "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova and it was a very confusing book, as I did not know about "Dracula" and what they were referencing. Now that I have read this novel I feel that I have gained the experience of reading a great novel while having a fun time reading it.
THIS is a test. : )
YEah it worked!!
Novel- The Return of the Native
By: Thomas Hardy
Rating: 4.5
Why?
Thomas Hardy centinely has a gift for scandal!! The Return of the Native is a book based nearly entirely on false love, and possession. Hardy writes with somewhat of flowerly language, which at times can be dry and hard to understand, however once the reader makes it past chapter three, the action begins to pick up. And a story of selfish gain, and scandalous affairs had me glued to the book. Hardy's uses beauty and personal gain to create one of his main characters; Miss Eustacia Vye, his queen of the night. Although beautiful she is twisted, lacking morals and dignity. Hardy's novel reminded me of a particularly juicy episode of Desperate Housewifes. I loved it.
Females would most likely enjoy this book more then males but, perhaps not.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rating: 2
Unfortunately, this book didn’t really get my attention, nor did it make me want to continue reading. The plot is a continuous description of relationships that after about the first 50 pages never really has a climax. It would have been more enjoyable if at least one of the characters had been likeable. They all seemed to be weak, ignorant, or cruel. If anyone was to enjoy this book it would most certainly not be boys, it revolves around love and its sometimes disastrous consequences and would not be very appealing to the male gender. Overall, nothing very exciting happens and it doesn't get you emotional involved in the plot.
Emma
By Jane Austen
Rating-3
I would reccomend Emma with reservations to a reader. To really enjoy this book the reader needs to enjoy good dialogue and not crave action to keep it moving. The dialogue and the plot were interesting but the society it is based in, and the social status of the characters involved, mean that not a lot of interesting things happen. On a normal day the characters visit each other. And that's about it. They seem to have no real problems to overcome or work to do. While this is part of Austen's criticizm, it also makes the book difficult to get through without decided effort. For this reason, I would really only suggest this book to those who enjoy vivid description and do not require an action filled, page turner to keep their attention.
When I finished reading Emma I was satisfied by the ending found the book well written, funny, and full of satire. I enjoyed the book. To the right reader, Emma is a wonderful book.
Book: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Rating: 4
Frankenstein, while not being the type of novel that I really expected, is still a very captivating story of Victor Frankenstein and the monster that he created. While modern twists of the story usually involve torch wielding villagers and gruesome scenes of horror, Shelley also manages to tell a tale of true tragedy while Frankenstein watches the “project” he obsessed over for so long eventually kill everyone that he loved. Shelley also deals with man’s ability to play G-d and whether he has a right to do so, as well as the line between love and obsession.
The novel, while portraying both the internal and external struggles of its protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, also lives up to the reputation that it has been given since it was written in the early eighteenth century. Mary Shelley is not only able to tell of the tragedy of the scientist, but is able to do so in a way that i believe strikes fear into the reader and keeps them hanging on until the end. It is her innate ability to do this which solidifies Frankenstein as one of the true horror stories of all time.
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