Student Blogs

Hi, everyone! Happy weekend! Welcome to my fourth blog. I am so excited since I have already read four books. This week's book is kind of special, I have a lot of thoughts to share with you. This week we read a book called "The Shrouded Woman... read full post >>

The Shrouded Woman is centered around the perspective of a dead woman, who, though dead, still sees and hears her family and friends who come to her coffin, which plunges the woman into memories of her time spent with these people. The memories triggered by the sequential appearance of her daughter, her old nanny, her […] read full post >>

To say that this was a tough read would be an understatement, however, I can say that it was thoroughly enjoyable and by the end of it, I found myself not wanting to let go. Proust’s reputation often precedes him, with many dreading to read his work due to the complex nature of his writing […] read full post >>

Having a dead person tell the story is not an entirely original concept. This has happened in “The Book Thief,” where Death narrates the tale. It also happens in “Epitaph of a Small Winner,” where the protagonist narrates his death, funeral, and journey to the afterlife. But has that ever tired me of continuously reading […] read full post >>

I am mixed. On the one hand, I feel guilty about asking that question of whether it is real “literature.” Of all the readings this has been by far the easiest, and the cheapest, going for shock value and chaos. … Continue reading → read full post >>

 Welcome to my third blog! This week I read the novel named "Mad Toy", written by Argentine writer Roberto Arlt. The story follows the life of Silvio Astier, a young man growing up in the urban environment of Buenos Aires at the beginning of the 2... read full post >>

 Welcome to my third blog! This week I read the novel named "Mad Toy", written by Argentine writer Roberto Arlt. The story follows the life of Silvio Astier, a young man growing up in the urban environment of Buenos Aires at the beginning of the 2... read full post >>

“The Shrouded Woman” by María Luisa Bombal, follows a woman named Ana-Maria takes over the book with how she is the symbol of femininity and, in today’s world, is pleasing to the “male gaze.” It definitely may not be intentional, but she does end up being a vocation for three men. As seen in this […] read full post >>

I really really enjoyed this reading. I think it’s my favourite so far. I loved how much information was packed into the 60 pages, and how much we learned about the shrouded woman, Ana Maria’s life. The more I read, the more I realized it wasn’t just about the life of Ana Maria but was […] read full post >>

Nadja by Breton is a fever dream. I was a few pages into the lecture transcription and stopped. The lecture provided too many answers to my questions; I want to try and elaborate a bit on my own first. This is my first time reading a surrealism book. As usual, I avoid learning about the […] read full post >>

Hi everyone,    For week three of the course I read the novel Mad Toy written by Roberto Arlt. This novel is about a young criminal and his life in poverty as he grows older. In comparison to Proust’s Combray I found it to be a faster, more enjoyable, immersive read. If I was rating […] read full post >>

Impression   For this week’s reading, I read Mad Toy by Robert Arlt. The thematic elements of this literature includes friendship,politics, betrayal, and thievery. It was one compelling read, especially in contrast to Combray, where the literature was more difficult to read and indulge in. I like how the book really gets you to think […] read full post >>

The beginning of the novel was a little confusing to me. Right from the very start, it was explained to the reader why the narrator felt that the only way to fully understand a person is by comprehending what they haunts. Moreover, throughout the novel, the narrator uses several complex words. He also uses  sentences […] read full post >>

André Breton’s Nadja was on interesting take on this part of his life that included this relationship. As he told the recollection, I felt as if I was metaphorically holding his hand through the journey of unpacking his encounters with Nadja. I could really feel the tangible distance he had with these memories as he […] read full post >>

After reading Mad Toy I was left with feelings of awe, like I had been transported to another world, but also a deeper connection of what it means to be human. Unlike many of the stories I have read, Mad Toy did not need grand events or life-changing trauma to evoke a feeling of significance … Continue reading Thoughts on Mad Toy read full post >>