I like to read things that are real "feel good" stories. Real life sorties of inspiration and success. I love stories where someone overcame great obstacles, where the underdog wins. Some of my favorite books are, "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, "The Scarlet Tread" or anything by Francine Rivers. Also, I like a few Ann Rule books. I like self help books. I feel like there is enough hurt, pain and drama in the world so I don't like drama, or anything like that. I asked a few people what they like to read and why. Here is what that said:
Friend #1: I like to read inspirational true stories... Because I love them! And I have enough drama at work, I don't need to read about it! I hate to sound cliche, but Eat, Pray, Love is one of my favorites... Another book that I love which is fictional but short and oh-so-sweet is The Giver... You would love it!
Friend #2: I like to read because it is like an out of body experience. It takes me to a difference place and I stay there sometimes even after I finish the book. I really get caught up in what I read.
Former student of mine #1: I like to read intense books. Ones that can keep you guess. Because other books I get lost and bored with, but with intense books your always on the edge of your seat.
Former student of mine #2: Action books. There well scripted. And tons of details to picture it in your head. My favorite author is Daniel Defoe.
Thank you all for your help! It's fun to see what different people like to read. :)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Response to "A Rose For Emily" by William Faulkner
"A Rose For Emily" by William Faulkner, did not end how I thought it would. I thought maybe I didn't understand it right, so I read it again. I am still confused by some of the details that I think must be important. I thought for sure we(the readers) would find out in the end that she had been killing people and that they would find several dead bodies in her house, not just one. Did she kill H.B.? Why the need for Aresnic? What was the terrible smell?
Also, I love the way this story ended, "Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaned forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair."(Falkner, pg 35)
She finally found love and she was not going to let it go. She would not even let death come between them. It was important to the story to hear that it was an "iron-gray hair" which means it was from Emily's head recently.
GROSSSSS YES! But you can understand her not wanting to let go.
Also, I love the way this story ended, "Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaned forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair."(Falkner, pg 35)
She finally found love and she was not going to let it go. She would not even let death come between them. It was important to the story to hear that it was an "iron-gray hair" which means it was from Emily's head recently.
GROSSSSS YES! But you can understand her not wanting to let go.
Response to "A&P" by John Updike
"In walk three girls in nothing but bathing suits."(Updike, pg 16) "I looked around for my girls.." (Updike pg 20)
I chose these two nonconsecutive lines because I feel that the transformation that his mind is going through is very interesting. He notices the girls shortly after they enter the store, and throughout their quest for the herring snacks. We don't know how long they were in the store, but it couldn't have been long. After all, they were only after one thing. He notices several details about them, so much so, that you(the reader) can feel his one-way connection with them growing stronger by each line read. By the end of the story, he feels strong enough for them that he quits his job on their behalf, because he feels so embarrassed for them. He thinks he is going to be their hero, and in his mind, they might be so impressed with his heroic act that they will wait for him to come out of the store and live happily ever after. After all, they were now HIS girls in his mind.
I think he knew it was the wrong decision and he was trying to be really careful about it. His boss was a family friend and he knew that word was going to spread to his parents. The fact that he folded the apron and put it on the counter and put the bow on top(pg 20) shows the respect. He could have ripped if off and threw in on the floor, but he didn't. He know this was not a good choice and he was stepping lightly.
Do you think the last line, "...I felt how hard the world was going to be to me thereafter." is about him realizing that he let the pretty girls get ahold of his emotions (unaware is they were), and he allowed himself to get so carried away? Like men/women often do.
I chose these two nonconsecutive lines because I feel that the transformation that his mind is going through is very interesting. He notices the girls shortly after they enter the store, and throughout their quest for the herring snacks. We don't know how long they were in the store, but it couldn't have been long. After all, they were only after one thing. He notices several details about them, so much so, that you(the reader) can feel his one-way connection with them growing stronger by each line read. By the end of the story, he feels strong enough for them that he quits his job on their behalf, because he feels so embarrassed for them. He thinks he is going to be their hero, and in his mind, they might be so impressed with his heroic act that they will wait for him to come out of the store and live happily ever after. After all, they were now HIS girls in his mind.
I think he knew it was the wrong decision and he was trying to be really careful about it. His boss was a family friend and he knew that word was going to spread to his parents. The fact that he folded the apron and put it on the counter and put the bow on top(pg 20) shows the respect. He could have ripped if off and threw in on the floor, but he didn't. He know this was not a good choice and he was stepping lightly.
Do you think the last line, "...I felt how hard the world was going to be to me thereafter." is about him realizing that he let the pretty girls get ahold of his emotions (unaware is they were), and he allowed himself to get so carried away? Like men/women often do.
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Start of Something New
My books came today via UPS. I am very excited for the start of this new chaper in my life. Now, I'm going to make myself some coffee and get to work. I don't function well without it. Usually, I would say "go for a run, then coffee", but two of my toenails fell off last night, so I will not be running today. More info than you all needed to know, I'm sure.
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