I don't think "In Our Time" is in OUR time any longer...

So i just finished reading "In Our Time" by Ernest Hemingway (just in the knick of time!). Unfortunetly i was not as in love with this book as i was with Cuckoo's Nest. I found the layout pretty slow and the dialogue/way the book was written was flat out boring. The first few "short stories" followed the life of Nick Adams through his time in WWI, and his various experiences in the war as he slowly, oh so slowly, grows up. If i had to pick one of the short stories that i somewhat enjoyed it would be the one, "Soldier's Home". This was about a soldier, named Krebbs, who was fighting in the war and came home a little too late for anyone other then his family to care. His stories were already heard, and his lies about the war were not good enough lies. He likes to admire the local girls, but doesn't feel that he wants to marry any of them. With a plot line like this, i was expecting an exciting ending, especially when there is a minor confrontation with his mother at breakfast when he tells her he cannot find love, and answers "no" when she asks if he loves her. I thought maybe in an ironic twist, he leaves after telling her this, and then gets killed some minor way, ironic because he survived the war and would be killed by something so petty. Although harsh, this would make an exciting ending....but no. It ends with him going to his sisters softball game that he was invited to earlier. This story at least made me hope for an exciting ending, and altough just a tease, it was better then the others, where i knew it would be boring throughout. Overall, i was not a major fan of this book.

I Went Cuckoo For One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I LOVED OFOTCN (thats the abbreviation). It was by far the best book i have read all year. I will admit that at first it took some getting used to, with the weird narration of Chief Bromden, constantly flashing back to memories of his childhood, but, as the story progressed, i felt attached to the characters, really visualizing McMurphy and the Chief and Billy Bibbit and Harding and the whole gang. I found the symbolism easy enough to understand too, without all the detailed analysis of the class next year. I can not wait to see the movie now, which apparently swept the Oscars in 1975, being only the second movie ever to do that. The first i do not know, but the third was Silence of the Lambs. Anywayyyy, really loved the book, and i am glad i did not have to drag it out to a class pace, over analyzing until i lose interest, like most class books, except for a select few like Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies, where i found the analysis interesting. I was almost sad when i was through, because of the connection i felt with the characters, and the way the story ends. It was disheartening to see MsMurphy after his lobotomy, such a difference from the fun loving, gambling large Irish jokester i came to know. It was also sad that Billy had to kill him self and everyone else leave the ward, but it all came together at the end when the Chief "flys the coop", in the way his dear friend had taught him.

The Kite Runner Revisited

Dear Readers,

Since this past year i have been struggling with book choices, only finding books that i some what enjoy rather than all out love, i decided that this quarter, mostly over vacation, i would revisit some old favorites that i read when i might not have understood everything, and because i never want to forget them. The first book for me was the Kite Runner. Re-reading the Kite Runner was a great experience for me. I won't forget, the fist time i read it, i was sitting on my bed right before going to sleep, not wanting to stop, but finally putting it down after the rape scene. This was the first real conflict i had read in a story, and my whole mind was a-twitter that night, horrified yet slightly amazed at what i had just read. The feeling the second time around was the same. Although many changes have happened to me since 7th grade, my reaction to that part of the book stayed exactly the same. Overall the plot of the story itself is unbelievable in the most realistic sense of the word. Feeling like i was standing right next to Amir in all of his horrific and amazing scenarios was not uncommon. The scene at the end of the book, when Amir is standing on the green with Hassans son, flying the kites, was tear-jerking, which is why i included that on the cover of the postcard. I saw the movie when it came out and remember it not giving justice to the book, but still being nice. It helped me visualize the ending scene even more for me. Overall reading this book again was just what i needed to help me remember how much i loved it forever (i know thats cliche but its true!).

Until next time...

Fishster 41

End of Second Quarter Continued

Hi Ms. OB...so here are two reviews on Portnoys Complaint that i thought summed it up pretty good. "PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT has been first published in 1969. Alexander Portnoy is a jewish boy who has lived most of his childhood in the Newark jewish neighborhood of New-Jersey. He was a brilliant student admired by his parents. But Portnoy, from his childhood on, has been obsessed by women and sexuality. The clash between his secret thoughts and the morals of his jewish education is too violent. Soon Guiltiness and Rebellion are fighting a terrible battle in his mind. A masterpiece." Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar

"This is a story about Alexander Portnoy, a Jewish boy with a big nose and big ego who loves sex. Unfortunately, he was brought up in an extremely strict household with high expectations, and as a result has strongly conflicting feelings regarding the world of sex. Portnoy has a strong sex drive, and though there is nothing more that he wishes for but a normal, loving family with kids, he knows he could never settle down because of his wandering libido. He loves kinky sex but feels guilty doing it, and relates this problem through several anecdotes regarding his early childhood and teenage years, hoping to help the doctor reach a conclusion about his problem." Suzie, Resident Scholar

So, you asked us to comment on the reviews, and i feel that both outline the book perfectly. I really loved this book. I found it to be very relatable. A lot of the stuff that Alex talks about going through, i have gone through, or know that i will go through it in the future. The way it was written was what really got me. It was basically Alex, in the future, sitting in a pshycologists office "complaining" about the things that happened in his rough childhood that led him to where he is today. This was a great book and i look forward to reading more by Philip Roth

Until next time,

Fishster 41

End of Second Quarter

Alrite, well, we have come to the end of another wonderful quarter. I am going to talk about the book i finished first, Deadly Design by Marion Moore Hill. As you recall, this is the book by the author that i met in Philly. At first, i felt that i should read it just because i had met the author, and was not too excited about reading it. However when i started reading i really began to enjoy it. I really got a connection to the characters, especially Millie, the main character. The emotions she went throught with her son Danny, and various issues throughout the book, i felt like i was experiencing them too. Mrs. Hill did a great job of developing her characters. The mix of mystery and intelectuality was perfect, and i actually learned a lot about the Jefferson era and the other founding fathers. Overall i really enjoyed this book.

Until next time,

Fishster 41

OK

So, i know this has had a long time coming to it, but here it is! My blog. So for the break, i have desided to take a short break from Deadly Design, and have picked up Portnoy's Complaint, by Philip Roth. My dad wanted me to read it, and he thought i would really enjoy it, and so far he is right. I only started 2 days ago, and i am already on page 100, which as you know is unlike how i ussually read. This book is very enjoyable. The main plot is that this man is talking to a doctor, probably a psychiatrist (spelling?) of some sort, talking about his life, growing up in New Jersey under 2 jewish parents who he has very strong opinions about. The book is writen as sort of a rant that this man is going on about his childhood. It reads very quickly, but i am not saying that it is easy. What it is, is funny. I am looking forward to reading more, and i am declaring (yes, declaring!) that i will finish this book by the time we are back at school, and get more into Deadly Design. I also have another book waiting for me that i got for Chanukah. It is not a novel, but more of a autobiographical information book, talking about the value of working with ones' hands. It seems very interesting and i can't wait to get into it after my other books. PLEASE COMMENT :)

Until next time, (which will be sooner than the time between the last, and this),

Fishster 41

New Book

Today i am starting a new book called Deadly Design. I met the author while in Philly so i got the book. It is a political myserty, meaning having political themes worked into the story. It should be really good. I started it last week but only got to about page 10. I look forward to reading it further.


until next time, fishster 41