Monday, August 10, 2009
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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My book was Dracula. Personally, I give it five stars. It's an interesting book in that it sort of probes the subconciousness of humans and brings up a sort of wellspring of emotion. You can't help but admire Dracula's powers while at the same time being revulsed by his bizarre, childish, hateful nature. I like the hero's qualities; Dr. Van Helsing's open-mindedness and knowledge, Quincey Morris being so alert, and the general dedication and care all the companions show for each other. Also, the attempts of humor, such as an entire paragraph in which Dr. Van Helsing replaces the words "bloody" and "blooming" with "of much blood and bloom." They're still somewhat hilarious. It's no wonder this is Bram Stoker's most famous work.
ReplyDeleteHey guys!
ReplyDeleteThe book I read over the summer was Wuthering Heights. I would give this book a 4.5 out of five, for a couple of reasons. One potential turn-off is the fact that there the language may be tough to follow for some people, and the writing has many references that are difficult to understand. It wasn't a problem for me because of the footnotes and endnotes, but if you have tons of trouble with "Old English" type writing, it might distract you and take away from the plot. Another reason to be wary of this book is the confusion with names. Many of the characters have either the same name, change names to that of another character, switch last names, take the last names of their previous family as their first name, or have children who's first names sound like last names. It's a lot to swallow! It makes sense once you get to know the personalities of the characters, but be forewarned that this isn't a book you can skim through and understand. Finally, I think the book is a bit bogged down by the existence of an unnecessary narrator who has nothing to do with the plot. On the other hand, this is a love story, yet I find that it applies to both genders quite easily. I adore it because it certainly isn't your typical love story with a fantasy-like plot. The twists and turns of the plot are fascinating and unexpected. Much of it is actually a hate story. These conflictions provide the characters with fuel for their emotions. Never have I HATED one character with every fiber of my being and then fallen in love with him all over again. To me they were real characters, with emotions I could relate to. This is what I base my rating on. I would say definitely read Wuthering Heights, you won't be dissapointed!
-Mac
I read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for my summer reading novel. In my opinion I would give the book four out of five stars. The plot was unique and captivating, and my view of the villain and the hero switched around until the very end. In addition to the story itself, Mary Shelley exposed unpleasant truths. A few include, human’s need for acceptance, the danger of knowledge, and despite be told otherwise, the inability to not “judge a book by its cover”. Overall I really enjoyed the book, however at certain points the plot became quite predictable.
ReplyDelete'Sup my fellow English literature fanatics? ^_^ So over the summer I had the privilege of reading Emily Bronte's exquisite novel, Wuthering Heights. Not exaggerating in the slightest, it is the best classic novel I have ever read. My first choice to read was the Once and Future King. I read about three pages before I was bashing my head against my wall and asking why in the name of all that is good and pure I had chosen that book. Needless to say, I selected a different novel, and I certainly made the right choice. Wuthering Heights is unlike any romance novel that I have ever read in that the two lovers who were truly fit for each other were the worst natured of humans. In fact they did not even end up together. I felt that the plot kept me guessing, especially in the case of Heathcliff, the dark and brooding gypsy gentleman of Wuthering Heights. If you read this book, you will experience an extreme range of emotions pertaining to this man from pity, to admiration, to sheer loathing. Despite his animosity, Heathcliff is now my favorite character ever; I might even go so far as to say that I have become a fan girl of his…Okay, maybe not that far, but he still rocks my socks off!! As Mac mentions in her blog, the plot can be somewhat difficult to follow because of names and the old English used by some of the characters. With translations at the bottom though, the newer versions really aid the reader in what’s going on. So for all of you dark, ambitious readers, pick up Wuthering Heights. Without a doubt, you will adore this 5 star novel.
ReplyDeleteI read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein over the summer. It was an amazing read; one of the best works of literature I have ever read. The story serve to prove many points and answer many questions about humans and humanity, including things such as 'How far should man take science?', 'Should the natural laws of life and death be tampered with by mortal man?', 'Does one's ability to do something give one the right to do it (whether that be man or monster)?', and many others. There is by no means a lack of things to write about or discuss pertaining to this book. Possibly my favorite part is how my sympathies changed so frequently. At times, the reader is meant to sympathize with Victor Frankenstein, and at other times he is meant to sympathize with the monster. Sometimes, I found myself feeling sorry for both, and sometimes I wanted both to go die in a hole. At the end, I honestly did not know whether or not to feel sorry for either of them, or to hate both of them. Don't get me wrong, the ending is absolutely amazing, but it leaves the reader with mixed emotions (to say the least). One thing I feel is worth mentioning is that this is not the Hollywood-style Frankenstein that many first think of when they hear "Frankenstein". No groaning, green, flat-headed monster with bolts in his neck. So if that is what you were expecting, forget it. In fact, the monster speaks as eloquently as anybody would in the early 1800s. Another noteworthy point is that if you have trouble with old English, or are not really into the book and the story, it may be tough. There were times when I was reading, but had something else on my mind (other than the book), and read pages and pages without taking in a thing. The footnotes and endnotes are very helpful, and some of the endnotes are incredibly in-depth and deep, some referencing other works and Shelley’s life. The story can be very slow at parts, but once you get past them, you are rewarded with incredible, exciting plot experiences. Overall, Frankenstein is an amazing, and I would give it 4 out of 5.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. In my opinion I would give this book a 4 starts out of 5. This is for various reasons. As other bloggers mentioned, this book deals a lot with science and as Jeff put it, "how far should man take science?" Not only do I completely agree with that logic, but I also think the book is almost hinting at what occurs when you attempt to 'play God'. Much like Bruce Almighty, Victor Frankenstein completely failed at playing God when he tried to create a human. This book is hard to understand at some parts, which is where the footnotes become a major help. There are many references to towns that existed in the 1800s that are no longer on the map, so it was hard for me to create a visual of where everything was located. I also did not enjoy how long Mary Shelley dwelled upon Victor's grief. It seemed like he wallowed in self pity and horror for most of the plot. I wanted answers about why he was so driven to create a human in the first place, which I did not recieve. The most intersting part for me to read was when 'the monster' told his life story, and how this book revealed so much about human nature and how likely we are to quickly judge. Overall, this plot enticed me and I wanted to know what was going to happen. Constantly, I found myself asking questions about various events that occured. This book lead me on a roller coaster of emotions where I experience anger, laughter, and intense sadness during some parts. I highly recommend reading it for your enjoyment, and so that you may become more literate!
ReplyDeleteThis summer I had the great pleasure of reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Overall, I would have to give it 3.75 out of 5. I know that seems like a random number however through the many different aspects of the book I felt it was above a 3.5 but definitely below 4 hence 3.75. Anyways, I loved the provoking questions Mary asks through her characters like Jeff pointed out in his blog. I also really enjoyed how she showed the characters’ obsessions turned them into the monster they are at the end of the book. However the first few characters were dull and filled with excess information that at times took work to get through. Once past those chapters Frankenstein picked up with love, death, obsession, hate, and of course confusion. The confusion was delivered on both sides, characters in the book and the audience. I found myself hating Frankenstein and his monster but at the same time I took pity on the both of them. So whether you are a guy or a girl I would recommend the read if you can get past the first few chapters. Oh and the ending was my favorite part for Mary did an amazing job at giving the book a perfect ending.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I read Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, I would give it a 4. Overall this was a good book, but not one of the best books I have read. The story is pretty interesting, an at some points it does get slow, but since the story is set up into different parts it keeps changing, so it does a good job keeping your attention. The writing of this story is not too complicated, so it a fairly easy read with a couple difficult parts including the first chapter, this is mainly because it hard to keep your attention on this part because this is a more boring part of the story. But this is a good book, and I would definitely recommend this story to anyone!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa
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ReplyDeleteOver the summer I read Graham Greene’s classic novel The Power and the Glory, which was a thought-provoking and challenging experience. Taking place in 1930’s Mexico, the plot follows one of the last free-roaming Catholic priests and the efforts of the lieutenant searching for him in a time when religion has been outlawed. The priest is not meant to be a sympathetic character; he has faults and fears are very clearly exposed to the reader. He is real – not a perfect hero or a perfect villain. The priest’s struggle with his religion and other characters’ beliefs raised interesting ideas for me about how faith shapes peoples’ lives, and how it is often a struggle to retain it. Greene also raised interesting ideas about and exposed unique perspectives of death, life, faith, fear, guilt, pride, and peace, among many other universal themes. I really enjoyed this novel because it made me think, and offered different perspectives on ideas that I took for granted. I would give The Power and the Glory 5 out of 5 stars; it conveyed powerful messages and themes through characters who could walk among us today.
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone!
ReplyDeleteThis summer I had the pleasure of reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. And by the looks of everyone else, so did you! I really enjoyed this classic novel, as it was the second book I chose (the first being Emma), I was glad I had made the switch. Emily Bronte does an excellent job blending romance with suspense all set in the late 1800’s. I eagerly waited for what was to happen in the plot of her well loved characters; Heathcliff and Catherine. Throughout the novel I found myself at odds with Bronte's beloved character, Heathcliff. I was puzzled at whether to hate him or love him. From the outsider's point of view I was drawn to hate him, and yet when he told his side of the story I felt pity for him. The romance between Heathcliff and Cathy was very powerful, and I was amazed at how deep it went, as to stretch many decades. The death of these characters comes at a shock at first but when the reader realizes that their deaths were unavoidable, it seems somehow fitting. Even up to their dying days, this couple still loved each other. The way that Bronte uses the narrator, (a servant in the kitchen) to tell the majority of the story, is clever. Her character, I found, also plays an important role in their lives. Even at times, she holds the fate of their relationships in her hands, which she uses carefully to bring Heathcliff and Cathy together, while also paying attention to the feelings of both lovers. The legacy of Cathy’s daughter was very curious, as she played the quiet lamb, which had a way of winning over everyone’s hearts; including the spiteful Heathcliff. In the end, Bronte leaves readers with the message that love triumphs over everything, not even death can stop it.
Despite the dialect of the 1800's, which can be rather difficult to understand I would still give it 5 stars. ~Caitlin
This summer I chose to read Jane Austen's novel Emma. Being a fan of love stories of any shape or form, I was completely in raptures with this story. However, despite my enjoyment of it, I feel the need to give it only 4/5 stars. I wanted to give it a four point threem but since I'm biased, lets just round that to four. This story is about a well respected and socially superior girl named Emma who thinks herself to be the most knowledgable and in control woman on the topic of love (though, admitedly, she thinks quite highly of herself in most other departments too). And while attempting to make matches amung her friends, she startles herself by discovering that she herself has fallen into an unforseen love. As I have mentioned, I will never say no to a story of courting and romance, but this story could prove to be very unagreeable to other sorts of readers. First of all, if you are either not familiar with or simply detest traditional writing styles from the early 1800's then this novel would be a struggle to tackle. The sentence structure is difficult and there is an awful lot of 'fluff' to sift through in some cases to get the the meat of what is trying to be said. Often times words and certain phrases are used that are not commonly heard any more, so it takes time to figure out what is trying to be said. Another aspect of this novel that may bother some people is the fact that sometimes it will take the characters pages to make a single decision, or they will ramble on and on about something rather mundane, like the weather. I would encourage anyone who chooses to read this book to use these parts to their advantage rather than to scowl at them, look into the excess words and search for hidden attachments between characters, look for the underlying feelings of those interacting, try to feel how the room would feel if you were there! The was one of my favorite aspects of Emma, the fact that there was so much you could detect if you just looked beyond the words and into the sly little actions that undoubtedly Austen slipped in there purposfully. This book has a knack for opening up all of your senses when you read it, and for that reason I would recomend it to anyone wanting to read a love story built on so much confusion, hidden feelings and mystery that you would expect Sherlock Holmes to enter the pages at any moment and finally put all the pieces together.
ReplyDeleteI read the novel The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. If I had to, I would give this novel a 4 or perhaps better. It is very difficult for me to produce a simple 1 to 5 rating for this novel. Now, do not be mistaken, this is a very well written novel, and despite the slow start, the story keeps you reading. That having been considered, I would only recommend this novel to a certain type of individual. A great deal of focus is upon morality and what is sinful and the role of the priest in the Catholic Church and the role of the Catholic Church itself. Personally, this summer provided me a thorough amount of deep thinking due to the novel I completed. Being a Catholic and an individual who enjoys the contemplation of morality, this book appealed to me. Someone who is not interested in the faith or morality or a slow introduction to a storyline or even a historical event (considering this novel occurs during the 1930s when the dictatorship in Mexico all but eradicated the Catholic Church) may not appreciate this book as much. On another note, this novel is intense. A morose and sorrowful mood hangs over the much of the book with an aura of suspense continuing through the very end of the novel. It also includes a number of particularly disturbing scenes. Now for the good news: again, this is wonderfully written with challenging vocabulary and plotline, which ties together very nicely at the end. It is always questioning morality and the Church, and the reader develops such an emotional bond with the main character that you almost feel that it is you contemplating these decisions the main character makes and their moral nature. In addition, this novel does a wonderful job contemplating human nature and what drives people to make certain decisions and how they deal with the repercussions of those actions. To anyone who enjoys a good story, history, and/or contemplating life like I do: it’s a great book.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there are some words and phrases that are in Spanish. So, it is helpful to have taken Spanish and/or to have something to reference while reading.
I read the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. I would give this novel 4.9/5 stars, but with a side note. I don't like the way this book is written. It is in the form of diary entries, and is some times confusing because it tends to jump around a lot. It is so well written and the characters are developed so well, I can't help but give it almost 5 stars. It is also fairly long, my version was 500 pages exactly, and the language is fairly challenging, but the plot is amazing. Any one who likes horror/adventure with a little bizarre romance mixed in would love this novel. The plot of this novel seems to differ extensively from most Hollywood film versions, and the ending was a definite shocker. I give this book two thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteI, as well as what seems like another half of the class, read Frankenstein by Mary Shelly off of a recommendation by Alex Morrall. After reading, i would give the book a solid 4/5 stars. The book is rich with symbolism and really challenges the readers morality, all the while amusing him/her with a simply exquisite plot. Frankenstein's personality is really unique, and I feel, as AP Lang students who have little to no lives ourselves (well, at least me), the battle between his relationships and his passion of science is easy to identify with. This book, however short, requires a decent amount of brain-explosives to blast through the thick language and to keep up with all of the different themes, yet it is defiantly worth it in the end. Overall a very enjoyable read.
ReplyDeleteI read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte over the summer. Many of you also had the pleasure of reading this novel, so I will keep my review short. I would give this novel a 5 out of 5. I do not generally believe in awarding perfect scores; however I make an exception in the case of Wuthering Heights. This novel, though admittedly a challenging read, is simple in terms of human behavior and weaknesses. It explores passion and melancholy in a tone that seems vast and deep, yet recedes quietly back into the pages once you close them. It turns the novel into a reality, so believable and heart breaking when reading, yet simply someone else’s life when not. I highly recommend reading this novel. However, be prepared for the old English writing style as well as the dark, gothic themes of love and vengeance.
ReplyDeleteI too read Frankenstien by Mary Shelly. While I tend to be pretty critical of classic literature I would have to give this book 4/5 stars. While the first chapter or so was filled with what feels like excessive information, it all becomes relevant later on. And once the action picks up, it does clip along at pace that is easy to follow and very entertaining. Throughout the story, Shelly challenges the reader's conception of right and wrong making it difficult to determine who is acting as the hero and who is acting as the villain. At certain points, the narration does get a bit dry and the plot is fairly predictable, but overall Shelly keeps the narration fresh and authentic and will hold your attention throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteI read The End of the Affair by Graham Greene over the summer. I think I would give this book about 4.5 out of 5 stars. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did it was a great read. The book starts sort of in the middle of the story and reveals more about the characters' pasts the more you read; that made the first chapter slightly confusing, but it was worth it. Graham Greene explores human emotion through several dysfunctional characters. The main character is so deeply in denial where his beliefs and feelings are concerned, that it is almost laughable. Greene's writing style made this book a pleasure to read and the foolish characters kept the story interesting the whole way through.
ReplyDeleteI would rate Dracula by Bram Stoker a 4/5. This novel was very entertaining in that it keeps one in suspense for almost the whole book, especially in the beginning when the character John Harker realizes that his so-called business partner, Dracula is holding him prisoner in his castle. Stoker has the unique ability to create images in one’s mind that sends little shivers down the spine. I wouldn’t say this book gave me nightmares however, its not a horror, its more uncanny. Stoker almost makes it seem possible for vampires to exist in the familiar world we inhibit. He makes the familiar unfamiliar. However this is not just a “scary” book. It reveals very interesting things about human desires and wants and what happens when these are repressed. It also can be read as a Christian allegory, with Dracula being descended from the Devil, and everyone against him representing all that is pure and holy. This too was intriguing. The reason I would not give this book a five was that some of the characters were (as Mrs. Ferrill would say) flat and one-sided. They were either really pure, good characters or malicious and heartless, and never a combination of the two. Quincey Morris, for example, was a gallant, brave American and Dracula was always one step ahead of his antagonists so that he could implement his maleficent deeds all over London. Stoker may have done this to distinguish the evil from the bad but in doing so, he made the characters seem unreal. The falling action of the book was long enough that the reader started to lose the fear and suspense they felt after reading the climax, so the end of the book feels very anti-climactic. However, I do not discourage you from reading this book; I guarantee it is not like anything you have read before.
ReplyDeleteI read Emma by Jane Austen over the summer. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. I'm a big fan of Jane Austen & other classic romantic stories, so Emma was a good pick for me. The book is about Emma, a 21 year old girl who says she will never marry, so instead she devotes her time to making matches for other people within her community. Two big themes in the novel are marriage and the confining rules of the class system in early 19th century England, which were both fascinating topics to read about. I liked the novel, but it's not my favorite Austen story. While there were some parts where I absolutely couldn't wait to turn the page & see what happened next, there also were many parts that were bland & boring and just seemed to go on for too long. Austen once said, “I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like,” & I must say that I did find Emma to be extremely unlikeable at times. There's little action in Emma, but it’s a good display of human character and relationships.
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ReplyDeleteOver the summer, I read Emma by Jane Austen. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because personally, I love Jane Austen’s novels but I know it isn’t for everyone. I hate to be sexist but I wouldn’t recommend this book for guys. Let me tell you why: the story begins with a girl named Emma who is 21 years old. She is a part of higher society in 19th century England and believes that marriage would ruin the life that she has . Instead of finding a nice man for herself, she sets up her friends on dates and hopes that they will live ‘happy ever after’ and get married. Through many balls, heart aches , and personal triumphs, she realizes that the love of her life has been with her all along and that she too can be happy while married. While this fact may be debatable, the book reminded me of a typical day at high school, with all of the drama and girl stuff that does take place. The actual book itself it well written but can be dull at some points. The characters are well thought out and explained, each serving his or her own purpose in the plot line. The setting are easy to picture in the mind, being both beautiful and breath taking. Be warned, this book is in old-ish English so if your looking for a quick read, you will not find it by reading Emma. And if have nothing to do on a Friday night, gather some of you friends and rent the movie. Trust me, it’s good. Emma is a delightful read that many teenagers can relate to and it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling when you finally finish the last chapter. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteOver the summer, I read Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and I think I'd give it 4 stars. The novel had many interesting concepts but it was divided into about four sections so the setting and characters change every 100 pages which is slightly confusing. At certain points, it is very slow; I wont deny falling asleep many times but that might have been me, not the book. The slow sections usually only last 10 pages so it really isn't that bad. The first 20 or so pages are a bit difficult because you have to get into the rhythm of the writing style but after that it's fine. I reread the beginning so it made more sense. The main character is a man, but I could still relate to him if that's ever been an issue for the ladies. I really connected with the harsh but true moral of this story and found the book interesting and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI read Dracula by Brahm Stoker. I would have given this book a five out of five were it not for the ending. For the ending I give it a 4 out of five. The suspense was built up magnificently in the first part of the book with Johnathan Harker suck as a prisoner in Dracula's castle with his thirsty wives, and was carried on well throughout the rest of the novel. Mina Harker was, in my mind, one of the strongest women I have had the pleasure of reading about. Her struggle between the future that awaits her and her faith was poetic. However, the ending was predictable and anticlimatic but the writing of the rest of the book made it worth while in the end. I truly enjoyed this book.
ReplyDeleteI read the novel Dracula by Brahm Stoker. Based on my opinion I would rate this novel four out of five stars. I gave it this rating because I really enjoyed the format of this book which was excerpts from various diaries and letters. It made it a lot easier to read and throughout the whole story you learned different points of views and facts which made the story even more suspenseful. Also, this at times may sound like a boy’s book but girls, intertwined with action and suspense is a story about relationships and love. Clearly there is something for everyone to enjoy in the novel Dracula!
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ReplyDeleteThis summer I had the great pleasure of reading T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, which I would easily give 4/5 stars. The book spans the life and legend of King Arthur, beginning with his childhood lessons and adventures with Merlyn, and ending with the demise of his great kingdom. Every aspect of a well-rounded novel appears somewhere throughout the story line with emphasis on forbidden romance, magic and war, and a hint of comedy, creatures of every fashion, and murder. It is a rather lengthy novel, my copy was about 680 pages, but never fear. Though there are what I felt to be some rather dreadfully boring parts of the book, they are almost always redeemed in the next chapter. However due to language, humor, and writing style, it is best to read when you are at least part of the way conscious, for it can be quite tedious. Overall I found it to be a very enjoyable reading and I would recommend to anyone up for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I read The Once and future king and I would give it 3 stars. This is because, in all, it was a very good book. It was chalk full of adventures and classic stories of the famous King Arthur and Lancelot. But because of the length (677 pages), there was so much going on, it was terribly difficult to keep all the events and characters straight. This also made it more of a task than a pleasure to read. So I would suggest it, just the reader has to be prepared and determined to finish it. Plus, no matter how slow the first half feels, the end is SO entertaining. Basically it has equal pros and cons so that is why I gave it three stars.
ReplyDeleteI read Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and I liked it in some ways, and didn't in others. Overall I would give this book probably a 3.5-4 star rating. Like Mackenzie said above, the language used and the way it was written can be hard to follow and get used to. It would take me a while to through each chapter so that way I could walk away with an understanding. And, also as Mackenzie said, the plot can get rather confusing because of the characters that flood in and out of the story line. It is told from different perspectives, so that aspect is sometimes hard to differentiate between who is speaking. But, after getting through the first few chapters, it gets easier and I adapted to the style. I truly believe that if/when I reread this book, there will be so much more to the plot that I will catch. The first time through was a slight struggle simply keeping everything in line while I read, but I can tell this book has so much to offer and analyze between the lines.
ReplyDeleteOne part to this book that I really enjoyed was the characters. Each character had many sides, and were very complex. One minute I would be totally thinking the main character, Heathcliff was a horrid man, and the next my heart would melt from hearing the pain he was feeling and how it dominated his life. The characters truly made the book for me. Each time I thought I had each one figured out, they would turn around and completely change my thinking.
I also enjoyed the complexity of the plot. The love story that begins the novel never leaves the story line. Traces of the love between Heathcliff and Catherine can be followed throughout the entire story. I loved how it was all connected in such deep levels.
This book really was a great book, but it will be a while before I read it again. It takes time and energy, but is definitely worth it. I would love to read it again because I know there is so much still for me to get out of it.