Life: Rereading "Oedipus the King" or "How I learned to loathe English as a major"

I am finishing up a 9-month English course I have been taking online. While the class has been pure torture I have to say that I feel like I have learned a little more about myself and what I love and dislike about the English field overall. I am not a grammar Nazi by any means. If you can't tell I do not edit most of my postings because I like to go with my original thoughts and processes, but in my homework I do edit because it is a grade and what a teacher expects from me. I also have discovered that I uncomfortable critiquing the way that most English majors need to be able to do. I feel more comfortable stating what I liked or disliked about something I read, even if I am so off base that someone scuffs at me. The beauty of reading is we each form our individual opinions on what we read and if it is something you got from the reading then it had to be something in it that drew that out of you. Most teachers do not appreciate that because they believe in a singular answer or believe certain things must be addressed in the English field. It simply is not for me. I am glad that I took the course, however, because I would never have discovered this.

My point of this though is to say that I have noticed recently that my understanding of reading has changed as I have read more and more this last year. This became the most apparent to me while reading "Oedipus the King". I read this my first semester at my university, but did not understand most of what was going on in it. I finished it again for this class a few days ago and understood it completely. This is not because I read it previously, but because I could place characters easier. I could also understand the language in a way that I was not previously able to do. Has anyone else had this experience with anything that they have read? Feel free to comment about your experience if you have.

I also am working on getting regular content back up and running. The hope is to start on the first. I have already posted four reviews in the Graphic Novel category, so I know that at least one new review will come a week in that particular field. The desire though is to get at least three a week done before October 1. I am not going to stick to any one particular field at this current time, but I will be posting more regularly if I keep it down to just three times a week. This will give me a chance to also get future weeks done in advance as well. I am finding the right schedule for me instead of trying to fit into what I think other readers may want. It feels nice to be a little more concerned with my own reading habits.

Past Shelfari Reviews: Messenger by Lois Lowry

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be written in the same language as regular postings due to being intended for a different audience in its original context.

Messenger (Book 3 in The Giver Trilogy)

by Lois Lowry

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is the third book in the "Giver" trilogy. This book takes the first took books and finally brings them together. At the beginning of the book it appears Lowry doesn't want you to fully understand that we are dealing with the characters from the first books and then she suddenly opens it up that these are those characters. This story focuses largely on Matt (Matty here) from the 2nd book in the series. This book is my favorite of the three because of how Lowry blends the three characters from the books together. She does so seamlessly. There is no moment in this book that you feel that she is trying to force characters into actions that make no sense, which sometimes happens in a book that is part of a trilogy because the author wants certain characters to end up somewhere together. Lowry is able to make it seem organic that they all meet because of the stories that she has told in the previous volumes. 

I admire the social commentary aspect of these books because Lowry is able to tell the reader that as a society we need to care for each other without necessarily beating us over the head with it. She does so in a subtle fashion that makes you almost think it is your idea to want to change the world while reading this book. Lowry often in the series shows us that we have to have our feelings, skills, and desires, but that we should use these things to help other people that we come across. She does all this while creating a fantastical world that one wishes that they could explore. I admire Lowry for creating a book series that can teach young readers that values are important and that each life has an importance regardless of age or ability. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: All For One by Ryne Douglas Pearson

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be written similarly to regular postings on the site due to being originally written for a different audience. 

All For One

by Ryne Douglas Pearson

available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. (Not available at Half Price Books)

This wasn't one of those "OH THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ" type of books, but it was entertaining. Sometimes a book doesn't have to be a high-brow read. Sometimes it is a book that you just want to read for a bit of downtime between something more serious. The main issue I had with this book was that the writer made it fairly obvious from almost the beginning what was going on. I predicted what had happened almost 5% into the book and even told my partner so that someone would know I wasn't making up that I figured it out that early on.

The steps to get to understanding why the individual did what they did in the book though is interesting and part of what makes this a fun read. It isn't ever going to be a classic by any means, but who needs every single book they read to be a classic. Sometimes I just want to read pure mystery drivel. A book that you are on the edge of your seat wondering "WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?" and this book does that. You want to know what is going to happen and where the story is going to ultimately lead to.

I would not recommend this book to everyone, but anyone that wants to read a mystery that is easily solvable, but has interesting characters should definitely give this book a shot. I was going to see what else this author has written, but it appears that they have primarily wrote a lot of government thrillers, which is simply not my cup of tea, but this one is anything but that.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Gathering Blue

by Lois Lowry

Available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is the second book in the "Giver" trilogy. Most trilogies have a very specific connection through every single book, but this book seems like it does not connect to the original book "The Giver", but that does not make it a bad book. In my opinion this book is actually in many ways superior to the other because this has more approachable characters. The characters here seem to be genuinely nicer and not as melancholy as the characters in "The Giver", but this is largely due to the differences between the two cities that are the focus points of each. In this one we are in a more wooded, secluded type of town than what is in the other.

Lowry is able to create a world of secrets, intrigue, lies, and hope that seldom is fully expressed by lesser authors. Here she is able to make us believe every single moment and we feel we are taken on the journey with Kira into becoming the caretaker of the robe. I also love the character of Matt in this book. He is a fun character and one that is full of heart. I admire him in the story because he is obviously someone that shows a lot of love and concern for his friends. He is something that I hope to be in all of my encounters with people.

Gathering Blue is a book about discovering your true talents and how you can change the world. It is also about learning that not everyone that you think tells you the truth does and that sometimes you have to look under the surface to discover what someone truly is. This book truly showcases the human experience and would be a great read for anyone that takes it on.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

On my last day...

While I was waiting on my flight I purchased two more books to read. The flight was greatly delayed, but at least I had some great reading material between these and some of the other books I had bought on the trip.

The two I purchased were:

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

and 

Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce

I already started Flora Segunda because it sounded like an interesting read. They both can be purchased  at whatever bookstore website you prefer. :-)

Past Shelfari Reviews: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

*Note*- Past Shelfari reviews may not be written in the same language as regular postings due to originally being published for a different audieince.

The Joy Luck Club

by Amy Tan

Available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Book

Tan creates endearing stories about mothers and daughters in this book. She takes us into the minds of chinese women in a way that I have never been previously exposed to in writing, which makes it very interesting to read about. The elements that she gives each character is such a human truth that you don't instantly think of the fact that these are chinese characters, but that they are people that you could bump into at the supermarket on a daily basis. Many times while reading this book I forgot that I was reading a book and not peering into the lives of actual people. To be able to create a world so focused and fine-tuned that one feels it is real is something only a skilled author can do and that is what I feel Amy Tan is.

The book takes us through many journeys of China from rich families, families broken up due to war, and to those coming to America for a better life. Each story is wrapped up beautifully, but also adds to the depth of the overall story of these women. If you want a story that speaks about powerful women without trying to intentionally make them powerful then this is a book to read because these women are real. They have true emotions and live true lives. Never do you question the motivation of any of the characters.

Tan doesn't describe scenes in my opinion, but gets us to understand the actions of the characters. She is able to make you understand to a pinpoint why a character is saying what they are in the book. Also you get a better understanding of an older generation vs. a younger generation because of this book. This truly is a gem and I look forward to reading some of her other works.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: The Giver by Lois Lowry

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be written in the same language as regular postings due to being intended for a different audience in its original context.

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Book

This was one of those books that I had heard about for some time but never got around to reading until now. I had read Lowry's "Number the Stars" for the Holocaust Literature course I was in during the 2012 Spring semester at Ball State University and found it to be a great read. This book, however, was far superior to that book. What Lowry is able to create here is a world that simply could be the future. She makes us believe that it is possible without being overly fluffy with her words. She choices small feelings to give to the main character through most of the story, which makes it approachable for children. It also has some rather big concepts in it about war, being the same, and other stuff that an adult would also be able to enjoy.

This book is part of a trilogy of books, which I intend to read the other two as well. This book sets the stage for a wonderful world of dealing with emotions, dealings with differences, and dealing with the humanity in all of us. Any reader who takes on this book will be challenged to look at their own belief system because they will wonder if parts of them are "sameness".

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may be written in different language than other blogs as these were written before the writer started blogging officially. These were originally written for friends on the shelfari site.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!