As I neared the end of Life of Pi, the novel became more and more enjoyable. Pi and Richard Parker grow noticeably closer to each other. This is shown when Richard Parker saves Pi's life when RP is forced to kill the man that was about to attack Pi. Pi is remorseful in that the first person he'd seen in a while had to die yet grateful that RP had saved him. I think it's remarkable how quick Pi was able to forgive the man yet even more remarkable how he had done so whilst using the man's severed arm as fish bait. "I pray for his soul everyday." Pi begins showing signs of insanity when he and RP reach the island made of algae. When Pi sees the teeth in the tree, he presumes that the island is "carnivorous". I thought this was a funny tidbit.
One of my favorite quotes in Life of Pi occurs when Pi argues with Mr. Chiba and Mr. Okamato about the legitimacy of Pi's story. The two state that they don't believe Pi and Pi retorts that "love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?".
Overall I thought that Life of Pi was a very entertaining novel filled with questions of morality, religion, happiness, and other things.
Ready for Fahrenheit 451.
-Stuart
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Life Of Pi- Part 3
I am still finding it very difficult to get through Life Of Pi. It's not that it is a bad book at all, it's just very slow, for lack of a better term. It's probably just me, personally, not being a big reader and all. I believe another factor in my objectivity towards the book is the fact that I have been very busy with school, family, and other extracurricular activities to the point to where I have little time to read AND comprehend Life Of Pi simultaneously. I know that had I had more time to read the book, I would enjoy it more. I hate to sound like I'm complaining but I have been swamped with stress. Should I get more time to read, I shall. And I am sure that I will enjoy Life Of Pi.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Life Of Pi- Part 1
Before reading Life Of Pi, I was told that the book was very good by several people. But like we discussed in class, it's really slow at the beginning throughout the first several chapters. Martel begins describing the qualities and benefits of sloths which (granted, made a very good point) seemed kind of inconsistent with the book. To sum it up in a nutshell, it seems boring, for now. It is very hard to keep up with what Pi is speaking of and how the book switches from Pi's narrative to the Martel's narrative (at least I think it's Martel's narrative). It is very confusing in that it is hard to keep up with the bland flat-out boringness of his Pi's life experiences and his growing up. Maybe I'm just the type that enjoys drama more than or rather than life stories, with all due respect to life stories. But who knows? All that being said, I will heed fellow readers' advice and continue reading Life Of Pi. I won't base my entire opinion of the book on the first several chapters. I shall read on and offer my opinion on Life Of Pi once I have finished it. We'll see.
-Stuart
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Color Of Water- Part I
The Color Of Water is a loving memoir written by James McBride in honor of his mother. From the first nine chapters, I've found that this is a very beautiful and thought-provoking book. McBride uses very descriptive and precise details describing his family, surroundings, life, and friends.
McBride was a young black boy growing up in the Brooklyn projects who had eleven other siblings and was the son of a Polish woman who came to the United States because of the outbreak of WWII. McBride and his family struggled with the difficulties of living in the projects and racism.
Prior to reading The Color Of Water, I knew much about the Civil Rights movement. I just wasn't that interested in it, not to say that I didn't believe in Civil Rights. McBride's book offers both insight into what racial and religious tensions were like during the segregation era while describing his love for his belated mother.
So far, I have really enjoyed the book. James McBride does a fantastic job at putting everything in this book on such a personal level that it felt as though I almost experienced it myself, making it even more difficult to bear the thought of actually experiencing it.
The Color Of Water is a beautiful memoir that I can't wait to finish reading.
Monday, February 7, 2011
On Writing Final Essay
Although I thought that On Writing would be entertaining all the way through, that wasn't the case. It's just that it's very hard to focus the rest of the way. Stephen King goes from writing about embarrassingly funny childhood stories to this boring, almost condescending, for lack of a better word, lecture about how to be a "good" writer. Let me explain.
First of all, it's based on the reader's opinion whether he or she enjoys a writer's works or not and secondly I don't believe that there is a written formula somewhere that says, "Follow these rules and you'll be a good writer!".
In my opinion, I do not believe there is even such thing as a "good" writer. Just what the reader is able to enjoy or not. Just my honest opinion.
I believe that even though King wrote about how most autobiographies are filled with "bullshit", he fell under the same spell, with all due respect to King.
I thought the first half of the book was very enjoyable. And I know most people would say, "But Stuart! The first half of the book was filled with disgusting stories! A real reader would be able to enjoy all of the book." And it's snobby people like that that ruin art today, whether it be film, literature, music and others.
The point of my rant is for people to just try to enjoy what they read, write from the heart, and don't try too hard. Nothing can be perfect and nothing will be perfect. If you don't like it, move on.
Overall, like I said I did enjoy about the first half of the book and I disagreed with most of the rest. I do thank Stephen King for what this book has taught me. Maybe not what he intended but I did learn from it. Most who read On Writing enjoyed it although I guess that I'm one of the few who didn't.
Ready for The Color Of Water.
-Stuart
First of all, it's based on the reader's opinion whether he or she enjoys a writer's works or not and secondly I don't believe that there is a written formula somewhere that says, "Follow these rules and you'll be a good writer!".
In my opinion, I do not believe there is even such thing as a "good" writer. Just what the reader is able to enjoy or not. Just my honest opinion.
I believe that even though King wrote about how most autobiographies are filled with "bullshit", he fell under the same spell, with all due respect to King.
I thought the first half of the book was very enjoyable. And I know most people would say, "But Stuart! The first half of the book was filled with disgusting stories! A real reader would be able to enjoy all of the book." And it's snobby people like that that ruin art today, whether it be film, literature, music and others.
The point of my rant is for people to just try to enjoy what they read, write from the heart, and don't try too hard. Nothing can be perfect and nothing will be perfect. If you don't like it, move on.
Overall, like I said I did enjoy about the first half of the book and I disagreed with most of the rest. I do thank Stephen King for what this book has taught me. Maybe not what he intended but I did learn from it. Most who read On Writing enjoyed it although I guess that I'm one of the few who didn't.
Ready for The Color Of Water.
-Stuart
Thursday, January 27, 2011
President Obama's State of the Union Address
Before I begin, let me just say that I am neither conservative nor liberal. I'm more of an independent. I say this for the purpose of coming across as "less biased" if that even makes a difference. And on that note, I'll begin.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama gave his annual State of the Union speech, addressing the.. well, State of the Union.
President Obama started off by pointing out the lack of Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords in the building, still recovering from an attempted assassination in Tuscon. "Tuscon reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater. Something more consequential than party or political preference. We are part of the American family", Obama stated.
I loved that line. "American family." I'm glad that Obama pointed out with all the debates on health care, wars, and the economy, with the separation these controversial debates cause, we are still one. United.
Obama later pushed for a bipartisan effort, claiming, "New laws will only be passed by Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all." Personally, I think Obama said it as lip service, for lack of a better term, because up until this point in his presidential term, he's alienated both the Republicans and the Democrats. Whether he keeps his word remains to be seen.
Obama joked that he heard "rumors" that some disagreed with the health care bill. He stated that anything can be improved and that he is "eager" to work with those who wanted to make health care easier and more affordable, indirectly calling for a bipartisan effort. My opinion stays the same with this statement. I only believe that he's saying this to get support for the bill. I don't believe he'll care what either party has to say as long as the bill is passed.
"And in Afghanistan, we're increasing our troops and training Afghan security forces so they can begin to take the lead in July of 2011 and our troops can begin to come home. We will reward good governance, work to reduce corruption, and support the rights of all Afghans, men and women alike. We're joined by allies and partners who have increased their own commitment and who'll come together tomorrow in London to reaffirm our common purpose. There will be difficult days ahead, but I am absolutely confident we will succeed."
This quote especially caught my eye.
Although non-combat troops will still be stationed in Afghanistan, the war is "over". Maybe not the way we wanted it to end, like Iraq, but at least it's almost over. I'm glad President Obama kept to his word when he promised to bring the troops home. Nothing was to be gained out of the Afghan or Iraq Wars at this point. These controversial wars are finally over.
I don't know what to think of what Obama said overall. There were some parts where I think he was just trying to appeal to Republicans, but he was honest everywhere else. I just hope that he keeps to his word when he stated that we should stand together. Times like these it helps to stop bickering over meaningless things like school children. We need to be a United States.
-Stuart
SN: On a less serious note, did you see John Boehner? He looks like a carrot wearing a suit. Seriously. I don't know how anyone can get a tan that orange.
-Stuart, again.
I loved that line. "American family." I'm glad that Obama pointed out with all the debates on health care, wars, and the economy, with the separation these controversial debates cause, we are still one. United.
Obama later pushed for a bipartisan effort, claiming, "New laws will only be passed by Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all." Personally, I think Obama said it as lip service, for lack of a better term, because up until this point in his presidential term, he's alienated both the Republicans and the Democrats. Whether he keeps his word remains to be seen.
Obama joked that he heard "rumors" that some disagreed with the health care bill. He stated that anything can be improved and that he is "eager" to work with those who wanted to make health care easier and more affordable, indirectly calling for a bipartisan effort. My opinion stays the same with this statement. I only believe that he's saying this to get support for the bill. I don't believe he'll care what either party has to say as long as the bill is passed.
"And in Afghanistan, we're increasing our troops and training Afghan security forces so they can begin to take the lead in July of 2011 and our troops can begin to come home. We will reward good governance, work to reduce corruption, and support the rights of all Afghans, men and women alike. We're joined by allies and partners who have increased their own commitment and who'll come together tomorrow in London to reaffirm our common purpose. There will be difficult days ahead, but I am absolutely confident we will succeed."
This quote especially caught my eye.
Although non-combat troops will still be stationed in Afghanistan, the war is "over". Maybe not the way we wanted it to end, like Iraq, but at least it's almost over. I'm glad President Obama kept to his word when he promised to bring the troops home. Nothing was to be gained out of the Afghan or Iraq Wars at this point. These controversial wars are finally over.
I don't know what to think of what Obama said overall. There were some parts where I think he was just trying to appeal to Republicans, but he was honest everywhere else. I just hope that he keeps to his word when he stated that we should stand together. Times like these it helps to stop bickering over meaningless things like school children. We need to be a United States.
-Stuart
SN: On a less serious note, did you see John Boehner? He looks like a carrot wearing a suit. Seriously. I don't know how anyone can get a tan that orange.
I don't think I need to point him out.
-Stuart, again.
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Initial Experience With On Writing
When I'm assigned a book to read in classes, I usually think of it as a chore. Something that needed to be done to get ready for the next test or quiz. I began reading On Writing as the same thing. A chore. But soon, after reading a few pages, I began to enjoy Stephen King's autobiography. His stories of his childhood combined all the feelings of disgust, sadness, and hilarity. Through King's vulgar language, he conveys his true feelings about each subject that he touches on. The language gives a sense of a grotesque "purity" in his writing, if that makes any sense. As if he needed to get across what he wanted to say.
When he explains how most writers fill their autobiographies with "bullshit", it gave me a true sense that King wrote this book for enjoyment and the reader's enlightenment rather than to meet a deadline or so he could get his next paycheck. Although I caught myself cringing at the "ear" story and at many other quite disgusting parts, I really enjoyed the reading. I can't wait to finish reading King's On Writing and I believe that I'll enjoy it very much.
-Stuart
When he explains how most writers fill their autobiographies with "bullshit", it gave me a true sense that King wrote this book for enjoyment and the reader's enlightenment rather than to meet a deadline or so he could get his next paycheck. Although I caught myself cringing at the "ear" story and at many other quite disgusting parts, I really enjoyed the reading. I can't wait to finish reading King's On Writing and I believe that I'll enjoy it very much.
-Stuart
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