Yay! This is my final blog post, and I’m feeling bittersweet. I really enjoyed this class, and I think our classroom discussions sparked many meaningful conversations that were different from my usual classes. In my other classes, we typically just attend, listen, do our work, and leave. With this class, I’m very glad I had … Continue reading WOOO MY LAST BLOG WOOOO
I am happy to say that I have read all the 11 books for this course. But the bad news is that after reading this week’s book, I AM SO CONFUSED. I’ve managed to get through 100 pages of the novel over the course of 3 hours. Now, I’m starting a blog to delve into … Continue reading Faces in the Crowd: This Was the Hardest Book I’ve Read So Far but at Least I’ve Got an A+ (Mar 30)
I. Loved. This. Book. Although a quick Google search might call this novel a “murder mystery,” I think that’s quite a stretch. By the halfway point, I felt the book was leaning more towards fantasy because of its whimsical, mysterious, and somewhat unsettling tone (I’ll explain this more later!). However, towards the end, it shifted … Continue reading The Book of Chameleons: Kafka if He Were a Gecko (Mar 25)
Hey everyone. This week has been a real struggle for me. Even though March is coming to an end, I still have two midterms looming over me. Why does it feel like midterm season never ends? 🙁 Anyway, let’s talk about the book. As a big thriller fan, I was eager to dive into “Money … Continue reading Money to Burn: The Morally Gray (Mar 18)
I feel SUPER strongly about this book. Parting from my usual neutral stance in my usual blogs, today I’ll be sharing my very biased and personal viewpoint on “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras; specifically regarding its commentary on power dynamics and agency within relationships that have significant and inappropriate age gaps. A. He Has the … Continue reading The Lover: And the Victim (Mar 12)
Mid-course Update We’ve had ~7 weeks of readings by now. I feel like this class is the one thing that’s keeping my brain intellectually stimulated because I usually just consume random media outside of school. For example, these past few weeks I’ve been watching the bachelor and it’s been sooo much fun, but I always … Continue reading Hour of the Star: Nonhaving or Having? (March 5)
A. Initial Thoughts This book has quickly become my favorite among the ones we’ve read in class. While both novels explore the lives of women, I find myself deeply in love with “Time of the Doves” and Natalia’s journey, far surpassing my like for “The Shrouded Woman.” There’s something about the raw, beautiful writing of … Continue reading Time of the Doves: I Actually Liked Quimet (Feb 24)
A. Initial Thoughts “Black Shack Alley” ruined me. I felt very sentimental as this was the first novel where I felt a connection with the novel’s protagonist, José. Specifically, his relationship with his grandmother, M’man Tine—a figure of strength and hard work to provide opportunities to José—demonstrates the hardships parents or parental figures go through … Continue reading Black Shack Alley: Sacrifices Made for Us (Feb 13)
A. Initial Thoughts This is probably an unpopular opinion but I actually quite liked this book. Moravia’s straightforward writing, reflecting the post-WW2 shift to realism discussed in lecture, really appealed to me. It felt fresh, especially compared to the more decorative language in “Combray”. Additionally, I appreciated that the book primarily used internal monologue instead … Continue reading Agostino: The Cost of Adulthood (Feb 6)
A. Initial Thoughts I appreciate having the opportunity to read “The Shrouded Woman” by Maria Luisa Bombal, a novel written by a female author, which was refreshing compared to other texts I’ve read so far like “Combray” and “Mad Toy.” Although most books I’ve read are by women, Bombal’s perspective still felt very insightful to … Continue reading The Shrouded Woman: The Unfortunate Life of Women (Jan 28)
