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I think that this class will always be memorable when I look back on my undergrad years. Romance studies pushed me to read novels that I would’ve never come across otherwise. As a psychology major, I am always reading textbooks where I have to take notes along the way and be sure that I remember each detail for the next exam… However, this class allowed me to sit back and truly enjoy reading. Although the reading was heavy, it never felt much like a chore – in contrast, it felt much more relaxing. Honestly, I kinda wish there were maybe a few more books assigned or that there could be a part 2 to this class in the summer. 

The grading system used in this class was definitely another bonus. Although the website at first and the whole contract system feels intimidating at the start, it didn’t take long to get comfortable with it (but maybe add a quick video to the website at the beginning of the semester going through all the little details). Something about reading to simply get what you can out of the book rather than reading fearfully that small details might appear on an exam brought me comfort. To follow, the flexible blog posts really allowed for creative comments and criticisms which I always enjoyed reading. Moreover, after attending class, I felt like I had a whole new appreciation and perspective on each of the texts. I really enjoyed our discussions in class. 

One of my favourite books we read was ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ for a few reasons. I loved how the story gradually built and we were able to form really solid opinions on the characters. Also, I think it was the novel with a narrator that I could most relate with for reasons such as being a teenager and wanting to rebel against authoritative figures. I think one thing I’ve learned is that I really appreciate a chronological storyline. Im not sure if it’s simplest for me to understand, but I think there is something nice to following characters’ story’s as they progress and evolve. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this class. I’ve certainly recommended this class to all my friends (especially with the contract system and Jon as the professor). My question to follow is how has your relationship with reading changed throughout the semester? Did you find yourself dreading the reads or looking forward to them? To answer my own question I think I feel way more inclined to read for pleasure and not when it’s just for school. Not only that but I feel more interested in choosing books that don’t follow my typical favourites, as I’ve learnt that there are so many fascinating book themes to explore!

What an interesting read! Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Although it did take quite some time to get through, I was always excited to see what came next. I will admit, I found it difficult at some points to follow the specific characters with their names as well as locations because there was a fair bit of jumping around. However, I found that as I continued to read, I began to make more sense of everything. The different aspects began to fit together and add to one another. 

Dreams: Firstly, as the title points to, dreams and ‘dreamers’. This was a huge theme in this novel. Each character seemed to have a different experience with dreams and attributed different meanings to them. A couple of quotes referring to dreaming that stood out to me were  “Dreams are always echos of something” p. (105) and  “Dreaming is rehearsing reality from the comfort of our own beds” p. (108).  This topic is fascinating to me. 

Relationships: Daniel our narrator was one that I really began to like. I found him honest and enjoyed that he seemed to do what felt right at that moment. After he went through his divorce, he seemed to enjoy his solitude at the Rainbow hotel. There was nothing holding him back from staying somewhere a little longer than intended or meeting up with new people. When he met Moira, it seemed to click. I liked her too and felt like they complimented each other well. I found that she offered an artistic yet realistic touch to Daniels’s life. Daniel’s relationship with his daughter was also interesting to read. He seemed to have a pretty laid-back parenting lifestyle with her which really allowed her to express and stand up for herself. 

Politics: This was another major theme in the book. What stood out most to me was Daniel’s daughter’s bravery along with the other young individuals that stood up against the corrupt Government. I really liked that they protested peacefully and didn’t want any violence.  A couple of quotes from this particular theme that stood out to me were “Fear destroys people. It corrupts more than money”….. “Fear isn’t a choice. There’s no way to avoid feeling fear”. P. (217) another one being,  “The men who are in power have no heart. If you open up their chests all you’ll find will be hundred-dollar bills. Wads and wads of banknotes.” p. (183) I think both these quotes speak volumes to the type of people that were in positions of power. 

I really liked how these 3 different aspects came together in the end. Daniel’s daughter’s bravery ultimately brought Daniel and his friends to the prison to in the end face the president and put him in his place. The power of the dreams affected all the citizens and perhaps created an awakening for its citizens. My question is what are your thoughts on the hunger strike the young adults participated in? Do you think this is an effective way to take a stance on an issue of this kind?