Student Blogs

Please use categories and/or tags when writing your blog posts. Use categories to indicate the author (Proust or Arlt etc.), and tags for key concepts or topics covered. Remember also to include a question for discussion.

Check out the Blog Post Awards 2026 or the Blog Post Awards 2024 for further inspiration.


Welcome to the Roast of Macabéa (The Hour of the Star) – Clarice Lispector

Posted by: Gaby Hdez

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs, Lispector

Time of the Doves – Mercè Rodoreda

Posted by: Lauren McKay

 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 >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with: ,

Time of the Doves – Mercè Rodoreda

Posted by: Lauren McKay

 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 >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with: ,

Unpacking symbolism in “The Time of the Doves”

Posted by: Alexandra MacPhee

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs
Tagged with: , ,

Thoughts on The Time of the Doves

Posted by: Jonathan Xu

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs
Tagged with:

Time of The Doves

Posted by: haileygillian

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs
Tagged with: , ,

Reflecting on “This Time of the Doves” by Merce Rodoreda

Posted by: ren1130

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with:

The Time of The Doves

Posted by: chia chi ou-chin

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 >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with: , , ,

NEGLECTED WIFE OVER SOME BIRDS????? sigh make it make sense

Posted by: Sam Makkar

Hey everyone! I just finished reading “The Time of the Doves” by Merce Rodoreda and it was a ROLLERCOASTER. It is honestly very thought-provoking and I’m excited to discuss it this week!  The book surrounds Natalia’s journey which really made me have a lot of empathy for her. She works so hard to make ends […] read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda

“The Time of the Doves”- Rodoreda

Posted by: Arissa Naumann

Hi everyone, this week’s reading was “The Time of the Doves” by Mercè Rodoreda. I found this book a little slow but reading about wartime from a female perspective was interesting. The descriptions of war were heartbreaking; when Natalia almost felt s... read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs
Tagged with: , , ,

“The Time of the Doves”- Rodoreda

Posted by: Arissa Naumann

Hi everyone, this week’s reading was “The Time of the Doves” by Mercè Rodoreda. I found this book a little slow but reading about wartime from a female perspective was interesting. The descriptions of war were heartbreaking; when Natalia almost felt s... read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs
Tagged with: , , ,

The Time of the Doves: Colometa

Posted by: Farahnaz

While reading this book I couldn’t help but wonder why Natalia was so clueless and naive to the world. Perhaps its because I am coming as a woman, but I really was confused on why Natalia did not immediately spot the red flags in Quimet. The author at the start of the novel sort of […] read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with:

war from the ground floor

Posted by: jack mosher

A wonderful little vlog convo for a rainy Sunday (Tuesday) night. Enjoy! Merci! Apologies for the poor video quality, zoom kinda blows.     My question for viewers is what do you think of the ending of the book and Natalia’s view of her life and the apparent shift in her feelings? did you find […] read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs, Rodoreda
Tagged with: , ,

Time of the Doves

Posted by: Julia W

Hey Everyone!I hope you all could unwind and relax during the reading break. As we return to our classes, Time of the Doves by Merce Rodoreda stood out as a thought-provoking novel. When I first started reading this novel, I was a bit confused. The sen... read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs

Time of the Doves

Posted by: Julia W

Hey Everyone!I hope you all could unwind and relax during the reading break. As we return to our classes, Time of the Doves by Merce Rodoreda stood out as a thought-provoking novel. When I first started reading this novel, I was a bit confused. The sen... read full post >>
Posted in: Blogs