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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26 comments:
Wuthering Heights-3.4
I gave this novel a 3.4 rating because it was very well written but the story did not progress very fast. I really enjoyed the novel all together but it did take some time too really get into it. In the beginning there is a long introduction or narrative that carries into the main story and that was hard to get through. This book was a little slow and the characters were hard to keep straight because many of them had the same name, but all in all I would say it was a well written piece of literature. This is why I gave the novel Wuthering Heights a 3.4. I would recommend it to those who enjoy old english language and romantic novels.
I read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and I would give it a 3/5. Although I didn’t hate the novel, I think that many people would find it boring because of the long descriptions, and some nuances of the plot may be hard to understand. Also, if you do not enjoy Gothic literature, I would suggest that you read another book. The novel has some tragic elements to it, although it is not without some happier moments. Overall, though, I thought that the novel was fairly easy to read, despite a few moments of confusion due to the different style of language, and had an interesting story. I think that girls would probably enjoy this novel more than boys, but that is just my opinion.
Wuthering Heights- 3.0
I am very beige about this novel. I truly believe that Emily Bronte was a very gifted writer of her time. I just wasn't very fond of her writing style and technique. The novel contained lengthy and, in my opinion, often unnecessary descriptions of seemingly unimportant aspects of the setting, characters' features, etc. As Mackenzie mentioned, there were few names for the characters that were interchanged quite frequently, causing deliberate confusion. Though I'm sure Bronte had very clear intentions for this choice, the plot moved too slowly for me to really care and ponder at length just what those intentions were. I also had a very difficult time with the death of one of the main characters. It was entirely uncharacteristic, completely against all of the characters' motives and his progression throughout the entire novel. To it's credit, I do think it was beautifully written, and depicted a very bold love story for it's place in history. There were parts that I did enjoy, such as Gothic settings and the often eerie tone throughout the novel. I also thought that Bronte portrayed the eternal love between the two main characters, Catherine and Heathcliff, in a very interesting manner that was seen as quite scandalous when it was first published. So, would I recommend this novel? I probably wouldn't, but I do think it has a rightful place in English literature.
I read The Once and Future King, by T. H. White and I would give it a 4. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. The novel follows the exciting legend of King Arthur, telling the story of how an orphaned boy became a great king and built the impressive Camelot. White adds to the appeal of the novel by introducing his own creative details that create a colorful and imaginative story that captures a reader’s attention with action and emotion. In addition, each character is complex and fascinating, as they weave their own tortuous webs of guilt, passion, and hate. Although the novel is entertaining, I found the beginning difficult to get through. I didn’t see how each event was significant to the story and struggled to get past seemingly unnecessary points. Nevertheless, I found The Once and Future King to be engaging and intriguing and I recommend it.
Book: The Once and Future King
Author: T.H. White
Score: 4.5
I personally really liked this book. Although the first part, The Sword in the Stone, was slow and bog-like sometimes, T.H. White used the animals to portray humans in a different, interesting life.
It is a very complex second half with a lot of emotions (love, hate, patriotism, treason) and complexity involving issues of family, friends, spouses, and lovers. There are also dealings with the glorification of war along with the quest...Right vs. Might.
I really enjoyed it, but I recommend taking it on a trip where you will have time to really get into the book and get past the fairly slow beginning.
I read the Once and Future King by T.H. White as well, and I would give it a 4.5. It is the Arthurian legend, but white takes a few liberties to make it more of a moral and ethical guide than just a good story. That is what made it a great book, instead of a good book. Like all good books, it had a good plot and good characters, but it also had messages and advice on a code of how to act and lead. These universal messages are what made it a much better read.
Frankenstein 5 out of 5
I would definitely recommend Frankenstein to anyone selecting another book. It has a well crafted and satisfying plot.
Like many classics it starts out slowly, but as the story picks up, the plot becomes more interesting and intriguing.
The language can be hard to understand at times, but it lends a feeling of gravity to the book.
The entire book touches on timeless themes, such as the the relationship between parent and child, creator and creation, and the meaning of life itself.
This book's messages are very recognizable for anyone who is a fan of science fiction. But for anyone it is certainly worth reading, and will give you a better perspective on other literature.
Book: A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Rating: 1.7
Personally, I did not particularly enjoy Charles Dickens's book, A Tale of Two Cites. Although it was a wonderfully written book, the writing style of Dickens is not one which I can easily follow and in a way frustrates me. Dickens would skip around with his stories. He would write a chapter and then the next chapter would be about a completely different person; therefore piecing the story together was very difficult for me. I would lose track of what was going on with all of the characters. However, at the end of the book he put everything together and it kind of overwhelmed me. He also has such a vast vocabulary, that I believe that some of the story was lost to me because I was trying to figure out what he said. Although I did not particularly enjoy the book, I do believe that it is a true work of art and deserves it's place among the greatest literary works of all time.
I read Wuthering Heights and unlike most of the people who have read this I loved it and give it a 4. Yes, the writing style was a bit hard to get into in the beginning, but it picks up and is easily understood after a while. The characters in this book are so complex and they stirred so many emotions in my mind. The two lovers, Cathy and Heathcliff are selfish and evil but you can't help but sympathize with them. This book is very emotional and dramatic and sometimes can drag a bit. But I think it's worth reading because it is very romantic and it is written beautifully! I definitely enjoyed reading this book (although it was boring at times) and the characters are very original.
Book: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Rating: 4
This magical story follows young Arthur beginning with his childhood to his final days as king. The plot moves a little slow at some points in the book. White occasionally rambles on about meaningless objects in a room or people gathered on the street. The plot is well developed and introduces many complex motifs and characters. The themes of this book are interesting to think about, especially the conflict between good vs. evil and the existence of war in our society. The text is easy to understand and doesn’t use old English terms. After reading this novel, I had much to discuss. The only downside is the length of the book, which was 767 pages in my copy. If you are too busy to really read this book, I would suggest picking a shorter one.
I read The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I would give this book a 4.5 rating. This novel contains very complex characters and ideas that have to be pondered and understood to become an enjoyable read. For me, I especially enjoy intricate and deep themes and plots, but it was hard to understand at some parts. Dickens uses difficult language and I often had to look some words up in the dictionary. Dickens brilliantly writes in a way that all the characters develop a separate plot line that later becomes entangled with every other character. It is set during the French Revolution and brings up many themes dealing with the capacity of humanity to be good or evil, sacrifice, secrets, and deceit. It is a great novel to read but requires some effort. I would definitely recommend The Tale of Two Cities to other students.
Gulliver's Travels By Jonathan Swift
1.5/5
Gulliver’s Travels is a fake travelogue that chronicles Lemur Gulliver’s four journeys to imaginary lands. Each journey represents several things about society that Swift wishes to satirize.
I honestly didn’t care for this book. I found it sluggish and hard to read. This impression was not helped by the complete lack of dialogue in the book. It reads much like a textbook; its purpose is strictly to “inform,” not to entertain.
Additionally, the lack of dialogue means that the only perspective the reader receives is Gulliver’s. Gulliver’s “holier than thou” attitude put me off a bit, especially towards the end where some of his ideas become outlandish.
I would not recommend this book as a light read. If you want to read a classic example of Juvenalian satire, this would be a good book for you. However, be prepared for slow book that may offend you.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
rating=3
Unlike Ben, I had a harder time reading Frankenstein. I felt that there was frequent unnecessary description of setting, which became redundant and took away/distracted from the plot. At some points, the plot seemed to really drag, while at others, it seemed much more intriguing. After completing the novel, and after reflecting upon it, I do think it is an excellent piece of classic literature and I believe it successfully illustrates many important themes (dangerous knowledge, creation of life, revenge, fear, etc.). However, I do not think it is the most exciting or interesting book, as a whole. At some points, the characters (one in particular) really annoyed me, and it seemed like for most of the novel he was just whining, non-stop. I have to guess, though, that Shelley probably wanted the reader to feel some of these emotions towards the character. Overall, I was a little dissatisfied with Frankenstein, and perhaps that is because it was nothing like I had expected it to be. But I do think it is an important read. I would recommend it to people who, as Ben mentioned, are interested in science fiction, but I don't think it would be a book I would read again for fun.
Gullivers Travels-4
Over the course of the summer i read Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift. I enjoyed the book very much, it had very well thought out plot lines and an always expanding story line which kept my eyes glued to the pages. The only downside to this book was that after the initial chapters that are packed with excitement from discovering a new land the story doesnt vary much from the standard "oh i've found a new culture i'll learn their language". When the book settled in to a new area it sometimes got lengthy. On a good note the pages are brimming with thuroughly exciting adventures and inscribed with creativity. With very indulging writing backing strong and ever eventfull plots i think Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift was a fine read and do recomend it.
Book: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
Rating: 3.5
I struggled at the beginning of this novel and various parts throughout, but overall the novel was very enjoyable. The letters in the front and the first three chapters were very slow, and I had to re-read them several times in order to understand what was happening. Once passing that, I really was drawn into the book until I came upon a very long speech by the monster which lasted several thick chapters to say the least. Yes, his speech was very important to the plot of the story; however, I thought that the monster didn’t need to go into that much detail, describing every single thing he did right down to the time when he slept and the time he ate. I felt as if Shelley could have gotten the same effect and point across in a highly condensed manner. Also, at times I found myself fighting with the main character, Victor, because of his conduct regarding many of the situations. Regardless, I did like reading Frankenstein and the overall plot and ending (which I will not give away). I would recommend it to pretty much anyone and everyone who can endure the “tough” parts I mentioned, but who really wants to be connected with a novel, and find that they are physically arguing with a fictional character.
I read Wuthering Heights also, and I would give this novel a four. I actually agree with Sally when she said that after you get past the beginning, the reading becomes easier. After the beginning, the story actually seems fast paced in some notions because of all of the conflict in the story. This detail was necessary to understand the future of the story. I also agree with Sally in how interesting the conflict between Cathy and Heathcliff is and how their love exists with all the trouble they create and live with. When I read the story, many times I would hate and like characters throughout the book, and that was one thing that I enjoyed that made me keep reading.
I read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and I would rate the novel as a 3.5. The entire novel is divided into three different books and for me, it was hard to get into reading until the final book. The first two books are about completely different topics and although I figured Dickens would bring them both together it was hard to continue reading for a while. The novel can be dry at points and then extremely enticing, especially towards the end. I would recommend this book but I think to understand all the themes and allusions and to grasp all that Dickens intended, the novel should be read more then once so that the reader is not wrapped up in understanding the way he writes.
Frankenstein - 3.5
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is a classic that should be read by fans of science fiction. Assuming you enjoy the genre, Frankenstein should be an enjoyable read. If not, another novel might be a better selection. Frakenstein has very intricate plotwork as the reader is put in to many different 'frames' throughout the novel. The novel is slow to start and much of the novel is unimportant to understanding the ideas and criticims Shelly puts forth in her novel. These details make the novel slow to read at times and the novel has no real climax, making it a rather dry read if you are looking for a novel with a compelling story.
Wuthering Heights-2.5
Over all I think this novel was pretty mediocre. I have no doubt in my mind that it qualifies as a classic, but I just didn’t find it very captivating. I agree with Christa that it would interest girls more than boys; after all it is a love story. I still wouldn’t recommend it though. The story loses its flame far before the end and it gets difficult to pick it up and finish. Bronte wrote the story very well, but it could have been much shorter and gotten the same point across. I’m sure it was a fascinating novel for it’s time.
Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights: 3
Like most of the other posts before me, I would give Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights a 3. It by no means was a horrible book, but it was pretty lengthy considering the ideas it was expressing. I felt like there was pages of unecessary detail, and the messages that were being expressed were simple and didn't need that explanation. Also, the predictability of the characters made it uninteresting. However, I am glad that I chose to read this book because its themes of class separation and desire vs duty are very common and important themes throughout literature. I have already been able to make connections to Wuthering Heights this year in what we have been reading, and I'm sure I will continue to do so.
I read Dracula by Bram Stoker and appear to be the only one to have done so. I would rate Dracula at 3.8.
The plot was all right, but was expecting a little more excitement than I received. In truth, the plot was my least favorite part. At times it dragged and was very hard to focus on, although sometimes it was page-turning fast.
I was impressed by the literary brilliance of Stoker. If you like dichotomies, this is a great book to study. The characters are a very interesting part of the book as well, and could be looked at from a feminist point of view. One thing that annoyed me, though, is that they all behaved in the same ways over and over; it was another aspect of the novel that made it slow.
Despite my criticism of the plot, due to the fact that I was never legitimately frightened while reading it, I do recommend this book.
A Tale of Two Cites- 4
Charles Dickens is a particularly strange author, in my opinion. He writes with much detail, and sometimes it can seem a bit useless. However, the plot of this novel is so intricate and beautifully woven. It was difficult to understand at times and I'd have to go back and try to figure out what had happened. It didn't take long to get into which was a big plus for me. The twists in the plot make it a very interesting read.
This summer I read Jane Austin’s Emma and I would give this book a rating of 2.5. I would not recommend this book to another reader because it does not have a lot of action. This is because the main character Emma was not faced with any physical fights but all of her struggles were mental and not something she could solve by punching someone in the face. Because Emma’s struggles were not something she could solve by a fight it made the book seem dead as if it did not have a plot but just the long story of a young woman’s love life and the emotional struggles that are involved with choosing the right guy.
The Once and Future King - 3.85
I gave The Once and Future King this rating because I thought it was an interesting take on the original King Arthur legend. White threw in quite a few modern references and alluded to multiple modern political events. Usually I like to keep my thoughts in the time period that the story is supposed to take place, but I thought T.H. White incorporated these references in quite well. The only reason I didn't give this novel a 5 was because I felt like its pace changed a bit sporadically. It would move at a very quick pace for a few chapters, and then the next few would be significantly less exciting. But as a whole, I thought it was a good read and I would surely recommend it.
I read The Once and Future King by T.H. White and I give it a 5/5. It is long, and it gets tedious at times but the substance is worth the grind. White goes through the life of Arthur, from when he is a child to when he is an old man ready to die in magnificent detail. In the book, philosophical questions having to do with war, and man's nature to fight (Might vs. Right) are pondered through various lenses. White portrays characters that are some of the most human I have ever seen. White shows that everyone is flawed, and that it is our flaws that shape us to be who we are, how we work around our flaws, how we bury them deep inside ourselves, how we make up for them. This book was great and I recommend that you read it, whether it be for your second independent study novel or on your own.
Frankenstein- 4.5
I read Frankenstein and I gave it a 4.5, it was an AMAZING book with an amazing lesson but it was slow to start. I think that this is a book that most people would like, or at least not hate. It was an easy read but not so easy that I got bored. It was interesting, there was a lot to hold your attention and it moved well. This book really made me stop and think about how I was living my life and if I could someday be proud of who I am and what I'd done with my life. This book was very sad, but it was a good tale all the way through. I felt very connected with the emotions of all of the characters and for me that's an important part in a book. I would totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
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