Student Blogs

I loved how unique this book felt. It was like a story within a story filled with such rich thoughts and complex characters. To me, it was more about the characters than the actual plot. The narrator is literally talking to us. explaining how the book will go. It is such an interesting start to […] read full post >>

The novel ‘The Hour of the Star is a bit different from all the other novels that I have read in this course so far or even the ones that I have read apart from this course. This novel brought out a mix of emotions for me as neither did I like nor dislike this […] read full post >>

The narrative perspective of this book was completely unexpected to me, and this is the first time I’ve read a book where the author narrates from a second-person point of view, which definitely gave me a very strong gateway to connect with the author. This was a very new and creative reading experience for me […] read full post >>

I loved this book so much, and I will have to read the next ones. I can’t be left in such a cliffhanger! Of course, this book is an coming of age story, a common theme in the course. It takes us on a journey where we can see how a small neighborhood in Italy […] read full post >>

You are now reading a blog post of “If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller” written by Italo Calvino. Now’s the time to chill without any distractions. Focus. Clear your mind to the best of your abilities, and perhaps find a place where you can read in peace and quiet. And prepare to reply to […] read full post >>

Plata Quemada” by Ricardo Piglia is a novel that combines elements of excitement and suspense, while also invoking a sense of sentimentality. The author’s use of a journalistic approach to storytelling enhances the narrative, offering a unique perspective that adds a clever touch to the book. Certainly ahead of it’s time and revolutionary back then […] read full post >>

I was really excited about reading this book and finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It takes the number one spot for me dethroning The Time of Doves. The Lover, a novel about exploration of identity with a hint of coming-of-age, will stay with me for a while. Let’s address the elephant […] read full post >>

After finishing the book, I was left with the internal question of “What did I just read?” And then I looked up the author, and it started to make more sense. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector is yet another book that dives into the themes of identity, the search for meaning, and […] read full post >>

 Hey everyone, I hope you all had a good reading break! This week we read Time of the Doves by Mercè Rodoreda. I had a bit of difficulty starting this novel and was a bit confused at first but ended up really enjoying it. I also think that I found... read full post >>

 Hey everyone, I hope you all had a good reading break! This week we read Time of the Doves by Mercè Rodoreda. I had a bit of difficulty starting this novel and was a bit confused at first but ended up really enjoying it. I also think that I found... read full post >>

Having completed the reading of Rodoreda’s novel The Time of the Doves, I found myself deeply moved by the narrative, particularly as it is told through the lens of Natalia’s experiences in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War who undergoes hardships not only as a result of the turmoil of the war but also a […] read full post >>

Growing up I’ve always been exposed to stories or movies of great battles and heroism, and I thought those who fought in wars were so cool to the point I wanted to become an Air Force General when I grew up (that is not the case now). Along with video games where death doesn’t really … Continue reading Thoughts on The Time of the Doves read full post >>

Hi everybody, I hope that you all had a good reading week! This week’s reading was The Times of the Doves by Mercè Rodoreda and I will say, it is definitely an interesting read. It was definitely emotional, and dealt with heavy topics. While I think that we can all agree that the latter half […] read full post >>

Hello everyone, hope you all had a great reading break.  The first thing I want to point out is the complexity of Natalia’s character and her exploration of love, loss, and resilience. Like many characters we encountered so far, she remains relatable despite the extreme circumstances she goes through. Natalia’s transformation throughout the story is […] read full post >>

From only the first few pages in, I already felt the effect of Rodoreda’s writing style- many instances seem like a whirlwind or a snapshot of events, with the narration of someone who sort of seems like they’re always rushing to a get to their point yet they also seem to be constantly rambling about […] read full post >>