TRIPLE BLOG DAY- Part III Narative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Whew! Last blog of the day! I had to read this book as one of my first assignments for AP English, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Written by Fredrick Douglass, a freed American slave, an adamant abolitionist and a symbol of African-American freedom, he became a legend in American history. With his Einstein-esc hair and brilliance with words, Douglass inspired a nation with his strong words and set the nation on a course of freedom for all people. His first novel, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave Written by Himself, became an instant bestseller soon after it was published.

Characters: Frederick Douglass: a slave in the 19th century/escaped slavery from his controlling masters/never knew his birthday or for certain who his father was
Mr. Hugh Auld: Douglass's last master/the master who attempted to take his wages that he earned/the last master Douglass ever had
Mistress Sophia: the originally kind wife of his master/allowed herself to be corrupted by slavery/was Douglass's master in Baltimore
Mr. Covey: the slave-breaker who was in charge of Douglass/almost made Douglass give up on his dreams of escaping slavery/master of Douglass for a full year

The Plot: Enter the world of the southern plantation. Enter a world of constant fear, oppression, sickness, and death. Enter a world where your word means nothing against the words of your superiors. Enter the world of slavery in the 1800s. Young Fredrick Douglass knows very little about himself; his birth mother was separated from him at a young age, his father may or not be the plantation owner, and he isn't even sure of his birthday. By the age of seven, he has experienced more horrific tortures and killings than most people see their entire life. Ferried from master to master, Douglass begins to see more of the world and as the evils of slavery become more obvious, he begins to strive to break out of his bonds. He teaches himself how to read with the help of urchin boys in the streets of Baltimore, and how to write with his master's spelling books. Along the way, the reader sees the evils of slavery through a slave's eyes, making it a revolutionary book that would change the face of America forever.

What I liked: It was so real. I know that sounds really redundant and not particularly intellectual, but it is the absolute truth. Every image, every word, every moment catapulted the reader hundreds of years in the past into a world so unlike our own. Douglass creates an image of his own personal hell, filled to the brim with demons so horrific; it’s hard to believe these creatures of the past could possibly be real. However, with every horror he presented, every injustice he was faced with, he never seemed bitter. I don't want to say that Douglass accepted his station, but in a way he did. He accepted that he would never amount to something greater if he allowed himself to be bullied into submitting. Douglass's strength was showing us how so many slaves lost their hope, and that he was one of the only ones who had enough strength to get beyond the oppression. Not because he wished to brag about it, but because he wanted to show us how remarkable and unrealistic it truly was: these slaves were not going to be able to save themselves, someone was going to have to help them. Without ever mentioning this theme, it cuts you to the core every time you turn a page; you feel the injustice almost radiating off the page and you are filled with a sense of disbelief that these events ever happened. Also, his projection of religion in the south was brutal and sickening. While he frequently references this in the novel, the appendix shows the extent of his disgust for these so-called devotees of God. For me, this was the part that hit home. How could someone who sings the praises of God enslave another, beat their brothers until they are senseless and sell families apart for the master's own economic benefit? If you read nothing else in this novel, read the poem at the end of the appendix.

What I didn't like: Douglass didn't tell us how he escaped from slavery when he was under Master Auld. I understand that he couldn't tell us because it could have alerted slave masters to other alleys of escape; however I really wished that I could have learned the secrets to his daring departure.

Overall: 10 out of 10. Books that change history don't come around very often. In fact, when you think of literature that changed the world I can think of a few pieces: the Magna Carta, Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence. In my mind, Douglass's brilliant novel ranks up there because it did exactly what these momentous pieces did: it changed the opinion of a population and forced them to examine themselves and who they really were as a people and how they were treating each other.

TRIPLE BLOG DAY- Part II How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Part two time! Back story behind this: I had to read this book as part of my AP English summer assignment and decided to review this as part of my blog shortly after reading it. So here goes! How to Read Literature Like a Professor (HTR for short) by Thomas Foster!

Characters: HTR is more of a avid readers guide to understanding the wide-world of literature as opposed to an actual story, so there are no characters to be found, minus the ones Foster references throughout the novel.

The Plot: Again, there really is no plot, but I can give you the premise of the book. Thomas Foster is a professor of English at the University of Michigan-Flint, and has written several novels about literature in general. HTR is the one of these novels and was created as a basic guide to understanding literature at a higher level. Foster has divided the chapters in a way that you would organize a how-to guide. Some of the chapters are related, some are not; however common themes stretch throughout the entire novel. More on that in a moment. At the end is a fabulous appendix, which has Foster's recommended books list. As the nerd that I am, yes I am a nerd I wouldn't be writing this blog if I wasn't, I was a little overly enthusiastic about the appendix. I was almost convinced to go straight to my library and put several of the books on hold but then I remembered that school started in one week. Never fear, I shall not remain thwarted for long-Christmas break isn't far away.

What I liked: Let me first start off by saying that I was a little bit of a skeptic. I honestly didn't believe that there was really a deeper meaning when you read literature. In part, I blame my seventh grade Language Arts material: it was drab at best and I was often unable to find a so-called deeper meaning in those unfortunate memories. I still shudder a bit whenever I see a copy of The Outsiders. Regardless, from that point forward, I didn't believe in symbolism or a underlying reference to something else: I thought they were the made up stories of desperately cruel English teachers, searching for away to make us lose points. A series of somewhat unreliable English teachers fueled my growing cynical view of deeper meanings. Professor Foster (I feel compelled to call him this based off the title) changed all of that. In AP English, we discussed the importance of establishing ethos, a relationship with the reader that makes them believe and trust what you say. I have never liked a person more than Professor Foster while reading this novel. With intellectual humor and well thought out explanations, I believed him the instant I read the book. As soon as my mind began to express a "no way that's not intended", he jumps in with a "haha but it is and here is why based off this classic piece of literature". Professor Foster could have easily focused on the well-known classic authors such as Mark Twain or William Shakespeare but he didn't: while showing us the true meaning of water, he references obscure novels and enthralling scenes that make you wonder what the rest of the novel looked like. In case you were curious, water can be a variety of things, including but not limited to, death, cleansing, renewal, and danger. I still am a little bit of a cynic, but Professor Foster opened up a whole new side of literature with this accessible book that I had never seen before, and I have no doubt that I will reference this book in the future.

What I didn't like: Occasionally, Professor Foster would jump from subject to subject a little to quickly for my taste. I would have liked to have a little more focus on a few areas, but I do understand that the point of this novel was supposed to be a general guide.

Overall: 9 out of 10. Honestly, the most fun I've had reading a book for class in a long time.

TRIPLE BLOG DAY- Part I A Walk To Remember

Long time no-see blogosphere! Well it has been almost three weeks since I have last written on my blog, so I feel kind of guilty for leaving all of you avid readers hanging. However, I have an excuse: AP classes - they are killing me here! Seriously, I have the Junior Year Blues. Just kidding that's not real, but I have been getting slack on the blogs so I am going to make it up to you by having a triple blog day! I am going to review three books (two of which I have read for AP English, and one I just finished (literally I just took out my bookmark) that I got for my birthday). Narrative Life of Fredrick Douglass, a Free Slave, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, and A Walk to Remember. First up, A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, an adult fiction writer.

Characters: Landon Carter: child of a North Carolina Congressman/high school student of Beaufort High/doesn't really think of anyone but himself
Jamie Sullivan: child of the Reverend/one of the smartest girls at Beaufort High/spends all of her free time volunteering for the poor and the orphaned
Reverend Hegbert Sullivan: Jamie's father/writer of "A Christmas Angel", the high school play/doesn't like Landon's family at all
Eric Hunter: Landon's best friend/star football player/constantly makes fun of Jamie
Worth Carter: Landon's father/doesn't understand Landon at all/is hardly ever around due to his job in Washington D.C.

The Plot: Landon Carter is a senior at Beaufort High School with no extracurriculars, no worries and he wants to keep it that way. Sure, he isn't too close with his dad who only talks to him when he needs to be hard on Landon, but he is relatively popular with somewhat reliable friends. But when Landon becomes student council president, and gets stuck in drama, his whole world unravels because of Jamie Sullivan, the Baptist church Reverend's daughter. Saintly, kind, and strange, Jamie has been the running joke of the Beaufort High teenagers since elementary school. But when Landon ends up going to Homecoming with Jamie and starring along side her in the school's Thanksgiving play, he ends up getting stuck with a girl he never thought he could like, let alone love. No matter how hard he resists it, Landon learns that there is more to life then what is right in front of you. Sometimes you just have to have a little faith.

What I liked: A Walk to Remember was a truly remarkable story because of the characters. Any character written differently than how Sparks wrote Jamie and Landon would have just fallen flat. In the case of Jamie, she could have come across as unreal in a bad way: so holy and perfect that it was unrealistic to relate to her. But every now and then, Sparks would inject a bit of vulnerability, showing Landon, and the readers that no matter how firm her faith is, even she can be scared and confused like any other teenager. It made Jamie real and lovable which became important when we found out Jamie was sick. When the Reverend told the families at the church that Jamie was sick and everyone began to cry, a part of the reader was crying too. She was so strong and so kind, but at the same time she was only a kid: she didn't deserve the hand that fate dealt her. Landon could have very easily made the reader mad: Sparks was extremely clever in his writing of Landon because he could have come across very poorly. Early in the novel, the reader's sympathies clearly lie with Jamie but you are still unsure about Landon. By not making Landon too much of a "bad boy" it prevented us from hating him outright. He had sparks of brilliance and true compassion, such as when he tried to cheer Jamie up when the head of the orphanage rejected her play...that made you think that it was possible they could deserve each other. The truth in the novel was that Jamie and Landon needed each other. Landon needed Jamie to teach him how to grow up, and Jamie needed Landon to be her miracle. I don't believe that she would have survived as long as she did without him and I think that was Sparks's point. When a miracle happens, it is not just a miracle for one person. It is a chain of events that pull people in until they too are a part of a miracle, otherwise it is just good luck. A miracle transformed the town of Beaufort...from Jamie and Landon to the Reverend and Eric, this miracle changed their lives forever. In that way, this novel became more than a story about Landon and Jamie; it turned into a story about a sleepy little town that experienced its own little miracle in the face of devastating tragedy. Lastly, I loved the title. Absolutely brilliant. The reason behind the title was not revealed until the very end, and I won't spoil it for future readers, but I thought it symbolized the whole novel in one moment.

What I didn't like: This was a beautifully written novel. Each scene flowed seamlessly into the next. There is nothing I would change and I challenge anyone to find fault with this novel.

Overall: 10 out of 10. Sparks's mastery of storytelling is exemplified in this amazing novel.

The Host

Hey everyone! Well it has been awhile since I've written on my blog due to my extensive amounts of AP homework and just general junior year craziness. But when I looked through my old posts, I noticed that I had been pretty critical of the Twilight series and Stephenie Meyer in general. While I stand by my previous statements about the Twilight series and Meyer's writing in that series, Meyer has written other books that better showcase her abilities as a writer. So, I decided to review my favorite Stephenie Meyer book, The Host.

The Characters: Melanie Stryder: taken over by Wanderer but refuses to fade away/sibling of Jamie and in love with Jared/knows the location of the resistances's hideout
Wanderer: the alien who has taken over Melanie/has been to numerous other worlds which have been taken over by aliens/has never been resisted by a host before
Jared: man who loves Melanie/is afraid it isn't really her and that it is some elaborate plot to hurt his family/is trying to protect Jamie
Jamie: Melanie's brother/the only person who likes Wanderer/looks up to Jared
Ian: brother to Kyle/in love with Wanderer/wants Wanderer to stay in Melanie's body

The Plot: Enter a world where the human race has been completely overrun by aliens. But these aliens you can't even see. These aliens attach themselves to the brains and spinal cords of humans, and take over the minds of the humans they possess. Over time, the human's soul fades completely away and the alien takes over the human body. No resistance, no means of defense. Until now. Melanie Stryder refuses to be taken over by the Wanderer, the alien who has entered her mind. As part of a secret group of free humans, Melanie is desperate to get back to her brother and her friends and she is determined to make it back with Wanderer's help. But even if they make it to the secret hideout, will Melanie and Wanderer be able to overcome their differences and learn to live together?

What I liked: The Host was a mesmerizing read. All of my complaints about Meyer's previous novels don't hold true in The Host. Instead of flat one-dimensional characters, you have the amazingly complex and gripping characters in Melanie and Wanderer. Melanie is torn between her desire to see her family, and the realization that they will never accept her because they don't believe she still exists. Wanderer is torn between her expectations as a alien and her strange attraction to this new world and people. The writing was flawless, and the plot was intense. When you read The Host, you are drawn into a read that touches you on a level beyond just reading. The Host forces you to consider what it would be like if the body of the person you loved was still there, but the spirit of the person was completely gone, replaced with the person who had taken your loved one away from you in the first place. To top that, Melanie and Wanderer each fall in love with different people, which raises the question whose body is it anyway and whose life is it now? It would be easy to side with Melanie if Wanderer was cruel, but Wanderer isn't. She is a kind soul who had never really considered the lives that were lost in the process of the alien takeovers. More importantly, you are left with a sense of originality that was lacking in the Twilight series. Meyer has a cast that doesn't leave you bored or irritated, and keeps the twists coming. The Host keeps you hooked from beginning to end, and unlike Twilight, you aren't left wondering why you picked it up in the first place.

What I didn't like: Honestly, I thought the whole novel was flawless. I absolutely loved it. As opposed to the other Meyer novels that were brimming with flaws, The Host had none. It almost makes you wonder how the novels that were written after The Host still have the flaws present in the pre-Host novels. My guess? That Meyer wrote Twilight when she wasn't very experienced as a writer, and when she went to write Breaking Dawn (final Twilight novel written after the release of Host) she was still stuck in the same ruts and had no way to get out. The Host was a clean slate, and Meyer could do whatever she wanted, unrestricted by the limitations of Twilight. If I was her, after writing The Host, I don't know if I would have been able to finish the series. Perhaps that is why she didn't seem to be as into her last novel, Breaking Dawn. When you read Breaking Dawn, you don't feel like it is even Stephenie Meyers writing and that maybe a direct result of her boredom with the Twilight series.

Overall: 9.5 out of 10. Stephenie Meyer gives me hope that she truly belongs on the New York Times Bestseller List.