Week three has come and gone! This post is two-fold!
First of all, it is officially Banned Book Week this week! When I was in college, all my lit classes would make sure to assign a book that was on the list. And they would encourage us to read as many as we could. Most often making it a contest among class members. As far as I'm concerned some of the best reads come from the Banned Book List. They are always the most interesting and the most thought provoking, which I think is the primary purpose of literature.
So I offer you a list of my favorite books that have appeared on the Banned Book List.
1) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2) Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
5) The Call of the Wild by Jack London
6) Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
7) The Giver by Lois Lowry
8) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
9) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
10) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
11) Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
12) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
13) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Even though that list feels incomplete at 13, I'm gonna leave it there because I feel like I could prolly go on and on here. I also feel compelled to get on my soapbox here and tell everyone that ALL of these books are FANTASTIC! And EVERYONE should read them ASAP!
PS: You can find out more about the Banned Book List at the American Library Association.
Second, this week I read The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
The first thing I want to talk about in the novel is the dialect. It is written from the POV of Celie. She is writing letters to God about her daily life. And she writes as she speaks and how words sound to her when says them. She lacks proper spellings ('git' instead of 'get'; 'clammed' instead of 'climbed') and basic syntax. Forget about higher level punctuation, aside from periods and occasionally a comma or two. As a grammar stickler, this would usually annoy me, but I find that the Walker's stylistic choice is completely appropriate for the novel. It allows the reader to become immersed in the culture of the time period.
In the first letter to God, Celie mentions that she is only 14 years old, and she is pulled out of school by her father. In the beginning it's rough to read, and you feel like the letter is being written by a child. Even though the content and what is happening in her doesn't reflect a very happy childhood. But I noticed as the letters continue, and Celie gets older, her writing becomes better. There are fewer spelling errors, and her thoughts are more complete as the book goes on. And that to me is exciting because it truly is like watching a young writer grow. It illustrates the idea that "practice makes perfect."
Another thing I noticed, is that Celie often talks of her sister Nettie. Nettie was allowed to stay a child, where as Celie was forced to grow up. Nettie was allowed to continue her education. Nettie and Celie are split apart by some circumstances, and Nettie promises to write. Celie never receives any letters so she assumes Nettie to be dead. Years later, Celie finds that her husband has been intercepting Nettie's letters and hiding them. Walker includes Nettie's letters to Celie, and as the reader, you see such a distinct difference between the two letter writers. Nettie's spelling is far more accurate, and she much more descriptive than Celie.
Anywho, the part I noticed...Nettie's letters truly excited me for several reasons. The entire novel is written through letters, and as the reader, you are seeing the scenes through Celie or Nettie's POV. Celie is not a very good writer, so there are holes. You have to fill in the missing information and sometimes make educated guesses about what really happened. Nettie is leaps and bounds above Celie in how she writes. The exciting part about this, is that Walker creates her characters in how they write. You can learn so much about a character...even someone in real life, just by how they write. How they remember a scene or describe a scenario. How they speak. You can go even deeper into the text, look at the styles of the two writers, and see just how vastly different they are.
On the Reading Challenge Front, I earned 15 points this week, which puts me at 30/200!
This next week, I'm going to read Gone Girl! Finally! I cannot wait to read it!
Until next time!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Inferno...Part Deux
I got in a hurry last night when I was finishing up my blog post, and I forgot to post my favorite part! I of course realized this today when I went to go and throw my notes away (Yes, I take notes as I read...It's good practice!).
Anywho, there is nothing I love more than finding quotes in literature. Especially quotes that evoke beautiful images...and ones that are repeatable, and applicable to life. So I will share two of my faves from Dan Brown's Inferno.
I close my eyes, and I can clearly picture the scene. I feel like I've seen it so many times...especially living where I do and going on the outdoor adventures that I do. And now every time I look up at the night sky, I will think about and take in the "tapestry of stars."
My second favorite quote is actually a quote of a quote. Robert Langdon quotes Dante. PS: Yes, I totally verified that Dante said it...What kind of English major would I be if I didn't get my facts right?!
I really don't think I need to elaborate on the Dante quote!
Until next time!
Anywho, there is nothing I love more than finding quotes in literature. Especially quotes that evoke beautiful images...and ones that are repeatable, and applicable to life. So I will share two of my faves from Dan Brown's Inferno.
"Outside in the newly fallen darkness, the world had been transformed. The sky had become a glistening tapestry of stars."
I close my eyes, and I can clearly picture the scene. I feel like I've seen it so many times...especially living where I do and going on the outdoor adventures that I do. And now every time I look up at the night sky, I will think about and take in the "tapestry of stars."
My second favorite quote is actually a quote of a quote. Robert Langdon quotes Dante. PS: Yes, I totally verified that Dante said it...What kind of English major would I be if I didn't get my facts right?!
"Remember tonight...for it's the beginning of always." ~ Dante Alighieri
I really don't think I need to elaborate on the Dante quote!
Until next time!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Inferno - Week 2 of Reading Challenge
Week two...Done!
So last week, I ended my post with aspirations of reading two books for the Reading Challenge...I am here to admit that I failed. Well sort of failed. I still kept on pace though and read a book.
So I will admit, I am a gal who loves to read the classics. Even more so if there's an epic slow-burn romance happening between iconic characters. I also love to read YAL novels...And I'm sure I've said this before, but I totally wish I would have discovered this genre when I was in high school! And taking nerd to a whole new level...I love to read biographies about Hollywood Legends (ie: Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor...The list could go on). Now I am generally not one to read thriller type novels. I get so immersed in the plot that I become terrified of my own shadow by the time darkness falls. BUT...I am a HUGE fan of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon (RL) series.
It started with The Da Vinci Code...then Angels & Demons...then The Lost Symbol...And finally this week Inferno.
A brief summary...I borrowed from Amazon. --> Seriously I tried to write a summary, and everything I wrote felt inadequate after I read the short, concise Amazon description.
Yes, I realize that the previous synopsis could describe most RL Adventures, but I don't want to give anything away! It's too good! Granted after I finished the novel, I immediately sent my friend a photo of my wide-awake somewhat terrified face...And of course this was after midnight when I should be relaxing. But the fear was worth it.
With this Dan Brown read, I can say I honestly wasn't sure how it was going to end. There were several unexpected twists that I most def chastised myself for missing the clues early on in the novel...or not being even the least bit suspicious. But I whole-heartedly enjoyed it. I love the pairing of the history and art. I feel like it brings a little slice of culture to my small-town Montana life.
I will admit that this RL Adventure had a very dark tone to it. In my opinion, far darker than any of the other RL novels. The novel can be quite accurately paired with Dante's The Divine Comedy. And for those of you that don't know, The Divine Comedy is an epic poem broken into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradisio. The poem is about Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. The novel focuses on the Inferno part. Dante paints a vivid and imaginative picture of what he believes hell to be. Talk about some dark stuff to be reading when you're trying to relax and get ready to go to sleep! Lol!
If you're on the fence about reading a Dan Brown, let me give you a list of things to expect!
1) TONS of History...like more than you learned in your high school Sophomore World History class.
2) Art...Paintings, Sculptures, Statues, Palaces...The list goes on and on!
*Helpful Tip* Have Google or Wikipedia at the ready to look up the various references...It makes the experience of the novel even more exciting (Well to me it does!)
3) Langdon's claustrophobia...It's expected that the poor guy is gonna get stuck in an elevator or windowless area. I will admit when Langdon starts to freak out, I get sympathy claustrophobia and have to frequently remind myself that I am in fact NOT stuck in a tight space, and can open the window!
4) Langdon's Mickey Mouse watch. LOVE THIS!
On the Reading Challenge front, I earned 5 points this week, which puts me at 15/200!
I think this week, I am going to take on the following challenge: Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, diary entries or other documents (15 points).
For this challenge, I am going to read The Color Purple by Alice Walker. I also have Fried Green Tomatoes checked out because I've never read it, and I've heard it's amazing! So maybe I'll try to find a challenge that FGT works for too! Who knows!
Until next week!
So last week, I ended my post with aspirations of reading two books for the Reading Challenge...I am here to admit that I failed. Well sort of failed. I still kept on pace though and read a book.
So I will admit, I am a gal who loves to read the classics. Even more so if there's an epic slow-burn romance happening between iconic characters. I also love to read YAL novels...And I'm sure I've said this before, but I totally wish I would have discovered this genre when I was in high school! And taking nerd to a whole new level...I love to read biographies about Hollywood Legends (ie: Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor...The list could go on). Now I am generally not one to read thriller type novels. I get so immersed in the plot that I become terrified of my own shadow by the time darkness falls. BUT...I am a HUGE fan of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon (RL) series.
It started with The Da Vinci Code...then Angels & Demons...then The Lost Symbol...And finally this week Inferno.
A brief summary...I borrowed from Amazon. --> Seriously I tried to write a summary, and everything I wrote felt inadequate after I read the short, concise Amazon description.
In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s The Divine Comedy.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.
Yes, I realize that the previous synopsis could describe most RL Adventures, but I don't want to give anything away! It's too good! Granted after I finished the novel, I immediately sent my friend a photo of my wide-awake somewhat terrified face...And of course this was after midnight when I should be relaxing. But the fear was worth it.
With this Dan Brown read, I can say I honestly wasn't sure how it was going to end. There were several unexpected twists that I most def chastised myself for missing the clues early on in the novel...or not being even the least bit suspicious. But I whole-heartedly enjoyed it. I love the pairing of the history and art. I feel like it brings a little slice of culture to my small-town Montana life.
I will admit that this RL Adventure had a very dark tone to it. In my opinion, far darker than any of the other RL novels. The novel can be quite accurately paired with Dante's The Divine Comedy. And for those of you that don't know, The Divine Comedy is an epic poem broken into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradisio. The poem is about Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. The novel focuses on the Inferno part. Dante paints a vivid and imaginative picture of what he believes hell to be. Talk about some dark stuff to be reading when you're trying to relax and get ready to go to sleep! Lol!
If you're on the fence about reading a Dan Brown, let me give you a list of things to expect!
1) TONS of History...like more than you learned in your high school Sophomore World History class.
2) Art...Paintings, Sculptures, Statues, Palaces...The list goes on and on!
*Helpful Tip* Have Google or Wikipedia at the ready to look up the various references...It makes the experience of the novel even more exciting (Well to me it does!)
3) Langdon's claustrophobia...It's expected that the poor guy is gonna get stuck in an elevator or windowless area. I will admit when Langdon starts to freak out, I get sympathy claustrophobia and have to frequently remind myself that I am in fact NOT stuck in a tight space, and can open the window!
4) Langdon's Mickey Mouse watch. LOVE THIS!
On the Reading Challenge front, I earned 5 points this week, which puts me at 15/200!
I think this week, I am going to take on the following challenge: Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, diary entries or other documents (15 points).
For this challenge, I am going to read The Color Purple by Alice Walker. I also have Fried Green Tomatoes checked out because I've never read it, and I've heard it's amazing! So maybe I'll try to find a challenge that FGT works for too! Who knows!
Until next week!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
eLibrary
I realized in my last post, I mentioned what books I was going to read this week, and that I had them checked out from the eLibrary. I'm gonna share a little slice of heaven with you all right now. Well at least Montana residents.
There is this wonderful website: montanalibrary2go.org
When you go to the website, you make an account. Your account is attached to your library card. But you can cruise the site and check out books for two weeks at a time. You can choose to read them on your Kindle or web browser. If the book you want isn't available, then you can get on the waiting list. You will receive a notification when your book is available for check out.
And the best part about this little resource. It's completely free!! And there are no late fees or having to remember to take your book back to the library! So do it to it!
There is this wonderful website: montanalibrary2go.org
When you go to the website, you make an account. Your account is attached to your library card. But you can cruise the site and check out books for two weeks at a time. You can choose to read them on your Kindle or web browser. If the book you want isn't available, then you can get on the waiting list. You will receive a notification when your book is available for check out.
And the best part about this little resource. It's completely free!! And there are no late fees or having to remember to take your book back to the library! So do it to it!
Serena ~ Week 1 of Reading Challenge
Today marks the end of Week 1 of the Reading Challenge! This week I completed the following challenge:
10 points - Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
I read Serena by Ron Rash. I have been wanting to read this book for almost two years. My initial motivations were the fact that it was being adapted into a movie with J-Law and Bradley Cooper. I mean, how could I go wrong? (PS: No idea when this movie is supposed to be released) And after excepting the Reading Challenge, I was ecstatic that the book fell under the Historical Fiction category.
So first...A quick summary. (PS: I might have borrowed the following summary from Amazon...Because I was struggling with writing a concise summary.)
The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire. Although George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, Serena is new to the mountains--but she soon shows herself to be the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness. Together this lord and lady of the woodlands ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Yet when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out to murder the son George fathered without her. Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel as the story moves toward its shocking reckoning.
My exposure to literature about the South is limited to the dream-like backdrops that Nicolas Sparks creates with each new romance he pens and Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. Sidenote: If you've never read Gone With the Wind, do so as soon as possible! It was one of the most fantastic reads EVER! Yes, it's a long one, but it is still amazing all the same! Prolly one of my most faves ever! That being said, I'd also like to take this time to admit that Scarlett O'Hara is one of my all-time favorite literary characters! (I will prolly make a post of GWTW at a later date because there is just too much to be said about the novel and Miss O'Hara).
As I was reading Serena, I found myself comparing Serena to Scarlett quite often. They possess many of the same qualities and characteristics of a strong female protagonist. They are both ambitious to a fault. Their ambition often blinds them, and they don't allow anything to get in their way. Neither of them allow their husbands too much say in how they carry themselves and what they do. They are both incredibly hands on women. Insisting that they see over all operations. Neither afraid to cut the fat when someone isn't performing at their best. They both fancy themselves to be real ladies, but they don't mind getting their hands dirty to take care of business.
The list of comparisons could really go on and on. And I noted several of them as I was reading and planning out this blog post. But today as I was finishing the novel, I began to hate myself for initially comparing Serena to Scarlett. I won't blow the end of the novel, just in case anyone wants to read it, but Serena kinda goes bat shit crazy. And I mean, CRAZY! And I don't feel that way about Scarlett at all. So I started thinking about other strong female characters in literature. And I think I found the closest comparison yet.
Lady Macbeth.
Boom.
Okay maybe I'm the only one that will see the boom since I've read both works, but I will elaborate for you all.
Lady Macbeth. Ambitious to the extreme. She rocks deception like a vandal (Ice Ice Baby...Okay...done rapping). She flat out convinces her husband to kill the King Duncan so he can earn the title, making her Queen. Like Lady Macbeth, Serena has an unbreakable hold over her husband George. She makes a decision or voices a desire, and her husband bends to her will to make it happen.
Lady Macbeth and Serena both feel a sense of duty to their husbands. They clean up the messes that the men have created. Even the messes that exist within the women's minds. Lady Macbeth has to take care of the daggers that Macbeth uses to stab the King. She plants them accordingly on their scapegoat. Serena (Again trying not to spoil it all here) takes care of what she believes to be her husbands biggest mess, and she uses his Bowie knife.
Fun fact in comparing Macbeth to Serena...The novel even has a character that claims to have visions to predict the future, much like the Weird Sisters in Macbeth.
Favorite scene from Serena...Immediately after, Serena awakens in the hospital. George and her have just lost their baby. "'It's like my body knew all along,' she said. 'And yet...' 'Your blood merged with mine,' Serena said 'That's all we ever hoped for anyway.'" I know that sounds super grotesque, but I found the imagery to be such a vivid representation of their desire to have a child of their own. I found it to be beautiful.
After reading the novel, I sought some background information on the writing of Serena (This was also after I made the Serena vs. Lady Macbeth association), I found this webpage about the author's process of writing Serena. This quoted portion makes me think I was a little on about my character comparison.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Serena. Yes it centered primarily on the relationship of the Pembertons, but the novel also offered insight on living in a timber camp during the depression. A sub plotline of the novel is the government trying to buyout timber companies to preserve land for national parks. I feel like that is something that resonates today with so many conservation groups out there trying to preserve what little land there is left. I found the novel to be fascinating and new (to me). The characters were all multi-faceted, which excites me because characters and dialogue are generally the two elements that make or break a novel for me.
On the Reading Challenge Front...I get to chalk up 10 points toward my final 200! Woot woot! I'll keep track as I go.
This next week, I am going to read Inferno by Dan Brown and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn because I have both of those checked out from the eLibrary at the moment.
10 points - Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
I read Serena by Ron Rash. I have been wanting to read this book for almost two years. My initial motivations were the fact that it was being adapted into a movie with J-Law and Bradley Cooper. I mean, how could I go wrong? (PS: No idea when this movie is supposed to be released) And after excepting the Reading Challenge, I was ecstatic that the book fell under the Historical Fiction category.
So first...A quick summary. (PS: I might have borrowed the following summary from Amazon...Because I was struggling with writing a concise summary.)
The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire. Although George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, Serena is new to the mountains--but she soon shows herself to be the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness. Together this lord and lady of the woodlands ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Yet when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out to murder the son George fathered without her. Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel as the story moves toward its shocking reckoning.
My exposure to literature about the South is limited to the dream-like backdrops that Nicolas Sparks creates with each new romance he pens and Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. Sidenote: If you've never read Gone With the Wind, do so as soon as possible! It was one of the most fantastic reads EVER! Yes, it's a long one, but it is still amazing all the same! Prolly one of my most faves ever! That being said, I'd also like to take this time to admit that Scarlett O'Hara is one of my all-time favorite literary characters! (I will prolly make a post of GWTW at a later date because there is just too much to be said about the novel and Miss O'Hara).
As I was reading Serena, I found myself comparing Serena to Scarlett quite often. They possess many of the same qualities and characteristics of a strong female protagonist. They are both ambitious to a fault. Their ambition often blinds them, and they don't allow anything to get in their way. Neither of them allow their husbands too much say in how they carry themselves and what they do. They are both incredibly hands on women. Insisting that they see over all operations. Neither afraid to cut the fat when someone isn't performing at their best. They both fancy themselves to be real ladies, but they don't mind getting their hands dirty to take care of business.
The list of comparisons could really go on and on. And I noted several of them as I was reading and planning out this blog post. But today as I was finishing the novel, I began to hate myself for initially comparing Serena to Scarlett. I won't blow the end of the novel, just in case anyone wants to read it, but Serena kinda goes bat shit crazy. And I mean, CRAZY! And I don't feel that way about Scarlett at all. So I started thinking about other strong female characters in literature. And I think I found the closest comparison yet.
Lady Macbeth.
Boom.
Okay maybe I'm the only one that will see the boom since I've read both works, but I will elaborate for you all.
Lady Macbeth. Ambitious to the extreme. She rocks deception like a vandal (Ice Ice Baby...Okay...done rapping). She flat out convinces her husband to kill the King Duncan so he can earn the title, making her Queen. Like Lady Macbeth, Serena has an unbreakable hold over her husband George. She makes a decision or voices a desire, and her husband bends to her will to make it happen.
Lady Macbeth and Serena both feel a sense of duty to their husbands. They clean up the messes that the men have created. Even the messes that exist within the women's minds. Lady Macbeth has to take care of the daggers that Macbeth uses to stab the King. She plants them accordingly on their scapegoat. Serena (Again trying not to spoil it all here) takes care of what she believes to be her husbands biggest mess, and she uses his Bowie knife.
Fun fact in comparing Macbeth to Serena...The novel even has a character that claims to have visions to predict the future, much like the Weird Sisters in Macbeth.
Favorite scene from Serena...Immediately after, Serena awakens in the hospital. George and her have just lost their baby. "'It's like my body knew all along,' she said. 'And yet...' 'Your blood merged with mine,' Serena said 'That's all we ever hoped for anyway.'" I know that sounds super grotesque, but I found the imagery to be such a vivid representation of their desire to have a child of their own. I found it to be beautiful.
After reading the novel, I sought some background information on the writing of Serena (This was also after I made the Serena vs. Lady Macbeth association), I found this webpage about the author's process of writing Serena. This quoted portion makes me think I was a little on about my character comparison.
A more conscious decision was my desire to have the novel read, at least in part, like an Elizabethan drama. I structured Serena in the manner of a four-act play. I included a chorus to comment on the novel’s main action as well as certain decisions about the rhythms and diction of the characters’ language. I did not want to make this Elizabethan aspect of the novel intrusive but hoped it might instead give a novel steeped in the particulars of depression America a more timeless feel by structurally evoking an older literature, just as thematically I wanted the novel to evoke contemporary concerns.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Serena. Yes it centered primarily on the relationship of the Pembertons, but the novel also offered insight on living in a timber camp during the depression. A sub plotline of the novel is the government trying to buyout timber companies to preserve land for national parks. I feel like that is something that resonates today with so many conservation groups out there trying to preserve what little land there is left. I found the novel to be fascinating and new (to me). The characters were all multi-faceted, which excites me because characters and dialogue are generally the two elements that make or break a novel for me.
On the Reading Challenge Front...I get to chalk up 10 points toward my final 200! Woot woot! I'll keep track as I go.
This next week, I am going to read Inferno by Dan Brown and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn because I have both of those checked out from the eLibrary at the moment.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Giver
My original plan was to hold off on blogging until after I finished rereading The Giver Quartet (written by Lois Lowry); however, I am just too freaking excited...So change in plans.
I reread The Giver this weekend. My first experience with the book was in elementary school. One of my teachers read it aloud to us. At age 9 or even 10...How much do you really retain and listen to as your teacher reads? That being said, I don't know how to convey how much I truly enjoyed reacquainting myself with the The Giver. It honestly felt like the first time. (Cue the Foreigner song right now) It is one of few books that I would honestly dub of "literary treasure." And that is not an honor I hand out very often.
In the event that anyone reading this hasn't read the book, I offer a short synopsis for you. But you must promise to go out and read the novel immediately! I mean it's only 180 pages. The novel takes place in a Utopian society. The plot primarily follows Jonas. He is about to graduate to the Twelves group. Once a person in the society reaches the Twelves group, they are given their community assignment. Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. He is to be trained to take place of the current Receiver, who asks Jonas to call him the Giver. The novel chronicles Jonas' training with the Giver. And for the first time in his life Jonas truly sees the world that he is living in for what it is.
The novel was released in 1993. With the other three being released in 2000 (Gathering Blue), 2004 (Messenger), and 2012 (Son), respectively. The novel won a Newbury Medal in 1994,("The most distinguished contribution to American literature for children"), but on the flip side was on the ALA's list of most challenged books throughout the 90's. Now I am one of those nerds, who finds a book even more desirable to read if it is on the challenged list.
Remember...This blog is merely a collection of my thoughts and opinions...No one has to agree or go along with me. And when I make blanket statements (like the one I'm about to make), I am not required to back them up with evidence of my claim because they are merely my opinions. (PS: This little disclaimer may have been for myself...After so many years of writing evidence-supported essays, I find myself having difficulty just writing my opinion without offering support.)
The Giver paved the way for many successful YAL series. (Said blanket statement) BTW, I apologize in advance if I spoil any novels for anyone, I will try my best to be vague without giving any massive plot points away. PS: This might be a slight ramble...but I'm gonna go forth just the same.
- The Giver takes place in a Utopian society where there is "Sameness." Free will is completely taken away from all the citizens. All choices are made for them. Everything from their lifelong career to the clothes they wear each day. The Elders group are all knowing. They see all that happens and rule with an iron fist, unbeknownst to the citizens of "Sameness."
- The Hunger Games series takes place in a Dystopian society, post-War. The Capital dictates what their District is established for...what goods they will produce. Each year the people are subjected to the Hunger Games, and they must watch as people slaughter each other for survival. The Capital rules with an iron fist as well. And their answer to Civil Disobedience...Elimination.
- The Divergent series is also set in a Dystopian society. There are five factions in the society that each person lives in. Their faction determines how they live, where they work, the kinds of jobs they will have, clothes they wear, etc...
Squirrel! Sidenote: After some research (for my own curiosity), I found that The Hunger Games series was on the ALA's 2013 list of most challenged books, and that the Divergent series would likely be included on the 2014 list.
All three series occur in a universe that we don't live in. They all hold similar elements of repression of the masses, where the long shot is the one to make the stand. To me, that makes for a fantastic read, and I am not alone in that opinion.
Young Adult Lit (YAL) is hot right now. So many people of all ages are cracking open books in this genre, and as soon as they devour one, they pick up another. I am included in this group. I can't get enough of them. I often wish I would have searched for YAL books when I was in middle and high school. I think I could have weathered that particular time period in my life far better than I did. It makes me happy that young people are reading, and getting excited about reading. And I think a huge reason is because so many YAL books are being adapted in film.
The Giver is the most recent to receive a film adaptation. At least it's the most recent one I have seen. And my initial reaction to the film: Solid. Beautiful. Thought Provoking.
I realize I might be getting skinned alive for saying that here, but I thoroughly enjoyed the adaptation. It mostly follows the novel, but like every film based on a book there are some differences. Some that are glaringly obvious. But on it's own, the film is amazing. You have to see it with an open mind, and not merely just to pick it apart with each compare and contrast from book to movie.
I would love to write about all the moments I loved in the film, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I think it should be seen without spoilers. So moral of the story here....Read The Giver and go see the film too. But as separate experiences!
See ya soon!
Jess
I reread The Giver this weekend. My first experience with the book was in elementary school. One of my teachers read it aloud to us. At age 9 or even 10...How much do you really retain and listen to as your teacher reads? That being said, I don't know how to convey how much I truly enjoyed reacquainting myself with the The Giver. It honestly felt like the first time. (Cue the Foreigner song right now) It is one of few books that I would honestly dub of "literary treasure." And that is not an honor I hand out very often.
In the event that anyone reading this hasn't read the book, I offer a short synopsis for you. But you must promise to go out and read the novel immediately! I mean it's only 180 pages. The novel takes place in a Utopian society. The plot primarily follows Jonas. He is about to graduate to the Twelves group. Once a person in the society reaches the Twelves group, they are given their community assignment. Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. He is to be trained to take place of the current Receiver, who asks Jonas to call him the Giver. The novel chronicles Jonas' training with the Giver. And for the first time in his life Jonas truly sees the world that he is living in for what it is.
The novel was released in 1993. With the other three being released in 2000 (Gathering Blue), 2004 (Messenger), and 2012 (Son), respectively. The novel won a Newbury Medal in 1994,("The most distinguished contribution to American literature for children"), but on the flip side was on the ALA's list of most challenged books throughout the 90's. Now I am one of those nerds, who finds a book even more desirable to read if it is on the challenged list.
Remember...This blog is merely a collection of my thoughts and opinions...No one has to agree or go along with me. And when I make blanket statements (like the one I'm about to make), I am not required to back them up with evidence of my claim because they are merely my opinions. (PS: This little disclaimer may have been for myself...After so many years of writing evidence-supported essays, I find myself having difficulty just writing my opinion without offering support.)
The Giver paved the way for many successful YAL series. (Said blanket statement) BTW, I apologize in advance if I spoil any novels for anyone, I will try my best to be vague without giving any massive plot points away. PS: This might be a slight ramble...but I'm gonna go forth just the same.
- The Giver takes place in a Utopian society where there is "Sameness." Free will is completely taken away from all the citizens. All choices are made for them. Everything from their lifelong career to the clothes they wear each day. The Elders group are all knowing. They see all that happens and rule with an iron fist, unbeknownst to the citizens of "Sameness."
- The Hunger Games series takes place in a Dystopian society, post-War. The Capital dictates what their District is established for...what goods they will produce. Each year the people are subjected to the Hunger Games, and they must watch as people slaughter each other for survival. The Capital rules with an iron fist as well. And their answer to Civil Disobedience...Elimination.
- The Divergent series is also set in a Dystopian society. There are five factions in the society that each person lives in. Their faction determines how they live, where they work, the kinds of jobs they will have, clothes they wear, etc...
Squirrel! Sidenote: After some research (for my own curiosity), I found that The Hunger Games series was on the ALA's 2013 list of most challenged books, and that the Divergent series would likely be included on the 2014 list.
All three series occur in a universe that we don't live in. They all hold similar elements of repression of the masses, where the long shot is the one to make the stand. To me, that makes for a fantastic read, and I am not alone in that opinion.
Young Adult Lit (YAL) is hot right now. So many people of all ages are cracking open books in this genre, and as soon as they devour one, they pick up another. I am included in this group. I can't get enough of them. I often wish I would have searched for YAL books when I was in middle and high school. I think I could have weathered that particular time period in my life far better than I did. It makes me happy that young people are reading, and getting excited about reading. And I think a huge reason is because so many YAL books are being adapted in film.
The Giver is the most recent to receive a film adaptation. At least it's the most recent one I have seen. And my initial reaction to the film: Solid. Beautiful. Thought Provoking.
I realize I might be getting skinned alive for saying that here, but I thoroughly enjoyed the adaptation. It mostly follows the novel, but like every film based on a book there are some differences. Some that are glaringly obvious. But on it's own, the film is amazing. You have to see it with an open mind, and not merely just to pick it apart with each compare and contrast from book to movie.
I would love to write about all the moments I loved in the film, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I think it should be seen without spoilers. So moral of the story here....Read The Giver and go see the film too. But as separate experiences!
See ya soon!
Jess
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