After reflecting on each chapter, I either felt a sense of loss or weight. I believe the author wanted the reader to not have an easy time reading the novel. Ernesto observed his surroundings like a curious child. He saw things that one may perceive to be insignificant; however, in the end, they ended up […]
At the beginning of the book, I was immediately hit by the environment and emotions of Andrea who was arriving in Barcelona with lots of hope. Soon after arriving the harsh atmosphere of the home created by her relatives became clear. The home was small, but was heavy with tension that I found myself finding […]
One of the first things I noticed about The Shrouded Woman is how abruptly it begins. There’s no buildup or explanation, we’re immediately inside Ana María’s consciousness as she lies in her coffin. What surprised me most was how calm and reflective this perspective is. Death isn’t portrayed as frightening or chaotic, but as quiet […]
While reading Mad Toy, one of the first things I noticed was how uncomfortable and raw the novel feels. Arlt doesn’t try to make Silvio Astier likeable or heroic, and that actually made the story more interesting for me. Silvio is intelligent and imaginative, but he’s also resentful, impulsive, and often self-sabotaging. Instead of a […]
Reading the first chapter of Swann’s Way honestly felt like being stuck inside someone’s thoughts at 2 a.m. when you’re half asleep and everything is weird and blurry. At first I kept waiting for something to actually happen, but it’s more like Proust just lets you float around inside the narrator’s head. I didn’t really […]
Hi everyone! My name is Jasmine and I’m currently a double major in Political Science and Sociology. To be honest, one of my biggest expectations for this course is that it’s going to be challenging for me. I’m not naturally a huge reader, and I know this class is going to involve a lot of […]
