Oleanna by David Mamet

I read this play to fulfill my final genre requirement for the year. I find it somewhat difficult to read plays because there is a major performance component in them. When we read them in class, such as Antigone and Brighton Beach Memoirs, each character is read by a different person with the intended inflections. However, when I read Oleanna independently, it required me to not only read the play, but also imagine it being performed.

Aside from that, I was still not a fan of the plot of the play. It followed a discussion between a professor and one of his college students. I found the tone to be too angry and the plot did not really go anywhere. The discussion did not lead anywhere and I thought the ending did not really fit the rest of the story. Also, because the dialogue was only between two people, I found myself bored often. I would only recommend this book to drama lovers, who would probably be more likely to analyze the underlying discussion. I would still like to find other plays to read so that I can become more used to understanding them, rather than having to see them being performed.

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper

I read this book for the literature circle unit of English. At first, I wasn't sure that I would enjoy reading the book and discussing it with my group. But after the first meeting, I found that a lot can be added to the book through others' insight. On top of liking my group, I really loved the book. It had an excellent balance of history and memories of Liberia and Helene's life. The fact that it was a true story really amazed me. Helene is clearly a great writer, as evident from her job as a journalist. The book was well-written and really inspiring. She stressed the importance of intervening in conflict and never fleeing from home.

Helene's lesson of intervention and struggle with it reminded me of Paul from Rwanda. There was little intervention in both Rwanda and Liberia, which enhanced the conflict in both areas. Throughout the story, Helene learned the importance of facing problems, rather than saving yourself the trouble of dealing with them. The one quote I remember most clearly from the book is when Helene is nearly killed in a Humvee accident while covering the war in Iraq. At the end of the chapter she states that she shouldn't be in Iraq; if she is going to die in a war, it should be in Liberia. After running away from her family and homeland, Helene realized that the home is the most important place to be. She also demonstrates that you cannot correct prior wrongs and become a better person through your actions.

This book was very inspirational and it kept me interested through every page. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It is a great read!

Saving Henry by Laurie Strongin

I really enjoyed reading this book. The main reason for this was due to the emotion that came through the story. I came across this book because my friend's mother is friend's with the author. She even helped her to write the book. I met the author as she was promoting the book and she appeared to be a very powerful woman. Soon after reading the book, I discovered just how much of a fighter she really is. She definitely puts the 'strong' in Strongin!

The book followed her and her family's struggle trying to save her oldest son's life. From birth he was diagnosed with a very rare disease called Fanconi Anemia. In order to save Henry, Laurie and her husband, Allen, tried new and controversial procedures. The book did go into some medical details, but it was mainly about raising awareness for families in this unfortunate situation.

I found it truly inspiring how the Strongins would fight through everything with a smile, especially Henry who probably enforced this. They truly made the best of Henry's short life as they could. In English class we are currently exploring what a true hero is. This story contains many heroes. Laurie is definitely a hero for putting herself through pain in efforts to reduce pain for Henry.

This book taught me that a hero cannot always survive. A hero tries his or her very best to stand up to a seemingly unbeatable force. Of course, people love to see a hero rise above and beyond this obstacle, but sometimes he or she just cannot do it. Yet, that hero keeps fighting until the very end, and most importantly, they go down not only fighting, but with happiness in their efforts.

Genre Plans

I believe my remaining genre requirement is historical fiction. To fulfill this requirement, I plan to read The Help, as recommended by my friend.

As my first requirement, I read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Even though I didn't think I would enjoy this book, I ended up getting really into it. The suspense of the complicated plot really captured my interest, especially because it was different from what I was used to reading. I liked it so much that I continued with Dan Brown books and read Angels and Demons next.

For my next requirement, I read The Last Lecture, an autobiography by Randy Pausch. I loved this book. Before reading this book, I always associated non-fiction with boring stories that don't truly affect me. The Last Lecture clearly proved me wrong. As Randy Pausch recalled his exciting, despite his fatal disease, life I was captured by his words. I realized that his autobiography was not for other people to learn about him, but instead to learn from him.

Next, I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as my classic genre requirement. I did not really enjoy reading this book. Though I have not tried reading many, I find that I do not really like to read classic books. I find it hard to relate to the older time period settings, which makes me feel uninterested as I read. I realize that I may just have to give other, less challenging classics a chance.

My favorite book this quarter is the one that I am in the process of reading. It is called Saving Henry by Laurie Strongin. It is a nonfiction story written by a mother who did all she could to save her son from a fatal, unusual disease. This book stands out above the others because the words carry such genuine emotion. Though I cannot imagine being in her situation, I believe that I can feel Laurie's distress as I read her story.

Blog Book Review

I read a review of Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult in the Washington Post archives. I felt that this review described the book very well and gave it proper praise. I agreed with the point that the novel "presents a character who is a child instead of a disability personified". Jodi Picoult always does a remarkable job with characterization. After reading one of her books I always feel that she has brought a character to life. I loved how this review touched on that fact, and how it tied together Picoult's excellent way of describing the character's disease while not allowing it to override her personality. I also agree with the fact that "it's sometimes hard to feel much sympathy for [Charlotte]" based on her controversial decisions to continue with a wrongful birth suit. Due to Picoult's deep development of the characters, the reader usually finds themself caught in the conflict along with them. My mind would change along with the characters' minds as to sympathize with Charlotte or to accuse her of wrongdoings. In the end, I felt bad for her because though I did not agree with her decision to go through with the wrongful birth suit, she was truly trying to do what was best for her daughter. I thoroughly agree with this book review, as it highlighted all of Picoult's strengths and encouraged people to read this excellent novel.

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown

I began reading this book after abandoning a different book. I finished Pride and Prejudice and was not grasped by the next book I chose. I simply picked this book up at the library, knowing nothing about it. After reading the blurb it sounded like an interesting story and I noticed that it is a national bestseller so I decided to give it a try.

I have just began the book so the plot is still developing. So far, Janice, a housewife enjoying upper class life, has just been informed that her husband filed for divorce. In the following chapter, the reader finds out that Janice's daughter, Margaret, recently suffered a break up with her boyfriend. Both women are also victims of money troubles, as well. Janice's husband just achieved a major goal with his business that would have landed her a fortune, but after the divorce she will be left on her own. Similarly, Margaret is struggling to pay her bills because of her underpaying job. Also, her pride won't allow her to ask her family for any help with the money situation.

I found the parallels between this mother and daughter pair very intriguing. They are at completely different points in their lives, yet going through the same issues. Janice and Margaret don't seem to have gotten along well in the past few years, but I think they will bond over their problems. I am very close to my mother and love knowing that she is always there for me to rely on when I have a dilemma. I can't wait to see how the relationship between Janice and Margaret, and even Janice's other daughter, Lizzie, evolves. Maybe I will even recommend this book to my mom so when can discuss the mother-daughter story together!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I am reading this book to fulfill my classic genre requirement. Personally, I am not a fan of classics. Though these stories have stood the test of time and follow great plots, I always find them hard to read. This is mostly because of the traditional language used in these books. But the language is just one obstacle for me. Pride and Prejudice follows an interesting story of sisters trying to find love. I am interested with the plot and challenged by the writing style of it. This is a good thing, since I have to challenge myself more with independent reading,

As I read the book, I find it interesting to compare and contrast the ideals of the past with those of the present. It seems that parents, especially the mother, placed a large emphasis on their daughters getting married. Mrs. Bennet in the book strongly pushes all of her daughters to find the right man to court them. Even the father sets up meetings for the girls with approved men. Now it is much more common for people to find their own love interests and parents are not as involved in the process.

Something else I noticed is that politeness seemed more important in the past. Everyone is referred to as Mr., Mrs., and Miss, depending on their marital status. These titles would be used during friendly meetings. Nowadays, these titles are reserved for people of a higher authority, such as a teacher or boss.

Dreamland -- Post #2

I have continued reading Dreamland. The plot has picked up somewhat, though I am still not a big fan of the book. However, I am glad that the plot has changed focus from Caitlin's runaway sister to her own relationship. The side story of Cass (Caitlin's sister) running away seemed very unrealistic to me. The family spoke about her absence as if she died, while she had run away. I wondered why they didn't just go find her and order her to come home, since they did know where she was working.

Anyway, now the book follows Caitlin's relationship with a mysterious boy, named Rogerson. Their relationship is a classic abusive relationship. Because I just learned the details of domestic abuse in health class, I have kept them in mind while reading the book. Caitlin and Rogerson are past the honeymoon stage and Rogerson has began beating Caitlin regularly. He buys her gifts and messes with her mind to keep her around. Yet, she knows she should stop seeing him. At the same time, she is scared to break it off because he has caused her so much pain already. The abuse has affected all aspects of Caitlin's life. She has been kicked off the cheerleading squad and is constantly unhappy.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

This is the first book I have read this year that I do not actually like. I feel that the plot is boring and the characters are not developed well. Maybe my boredom can be accounted to the fact that it is a young adult book and possibly too simple for me. The story follows a family whose older daughter has run away and younger daughter cannot fill the empty shoes she left behind. I will continue to read this book and give it chance. I hope that the plot will uncover and become more interesting.

I decided to read this book because I have heard good things about Sarah Dessen. She seems like a good writer; I just believe that I would have enjoyed her books more a few years ago. Meanwhile, I hope to finish the book and strive to read more challenging books in the future.

Reading Over Vacation

I definitely feel that I made the most of my time off from school when it comes to reading. I took the opportunity of extra time to snuggle up with some good books. First I finished reading Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult. It was no surprise that I loved this book, since all of her pieces are among my favorites. Once again, I found myself unable to stop turning the pages while reading it and incredibly moved after finishing it.

Next, I read The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Upon discovering that the book was written by the same author who wrote The Notebook and A Walk to Remember, I knew I was in for a good love story. And that is exactly what I got. The plot followed the rebuilding father-daughter relationship between Steve and Ronnie, as well as the developing romantic relationship between Ronnie and Will.

I found it interesting that in both books, the authors switched off the characters spotlighted in each chapter. On the opening page of each chapter, a different character would be named. In Handle with Care this character would become the narrator and speak in the first person for that chapter. However, in The Last Song the character named would become the subject of that chapter and would be referred to in the third person. I found it interesting that both authors shared this technique, yet utilized it in a different manner.

Throughout the story I noticed that the evolution of these relationships was symbolized using the growth of sea turtles, which were found near Ronnie and Steve's home. At first when Ronnie arrives at her dad's house for the summer, she is clearly unhappy and takes her anger out on her dad. However, she learns to become a more caring and forgiving person during her stay there. Like the turtles in their eggs, Ronnie remained isolated for a long time. However, she learned to hatch, and open up to the world. Perhaps these similarities explained the reason why Ronnie felt so protective over the turtles. During numerous nights Ronnie slept outside to protect the turtles from raccoon attacks before their cage arrived for protection. On page 126 Ronnie even refers to the turtles as "[her turtles]," demonstrating her connection to them. Later on Ronnie visits a grown sea turtle, named Mabel, with "scars on her shell". I found it interesting that the sea turtle Ronnie visits is obviously one who has been through trauma, just as Ronnie is placed in many difficult situations herself. Even during Ronnie's hardest moments, she found comfort in remembering the miracle of seeing the sea turtles hatch. When she was overcome with grief "she wanted to turn back the clock to the moment the turtles had hatched, when all was right with the world" (318). Amazing, how this an event could have such an impact on Ronnie.

After finishing the book, I noticed that the cover depicts the newly hatched sea turtles. There are a few huddled together and one is seen speeding ahead toward the ocean. These turtles helped to portray the growth that Ronnie went through, as well as the evolution of her newly formed and reformed relationships. She learned to break out of her shell and speed toward anything, even if it is as big and intimidating as the ocean.