Election

Election was one of those books that, minus the sex scenes, I could see my 15 year old sister reading and loving. Unfortunately, the satire in this book was almost completely lost to me. I mean, once you see the movie (which was worlds better) the satire pops right out. But that's the thing...I shouldn't have to see something in film form in order to get it. At first, I thought I was stupid for not picking up on it. And then I started to realize that it was because the book was written in such a way that the satire wasn't obvious. In other words, Perrotta didn't do a great job.
Like we all said, the movie was way better. I wholeheartedly agree. I liked Election for being a fast read and an interesting book, but so much more could have been done with the narrative. Perrotta could have written a different tone for each character, making each character more distinct, but for some reason he didn't. He also could have put a bit more time into explaining each character. But the worst part, was the ending. He really copped out there. It ended too abruptly, and to weirdly.
All in all, Election was a good idea. It just wasn't executed well.

Slaughterhouse-Five

-We've talked plenty about stereotypes this semester. How are stereotypes used in this novel? Are they used? How are the Germans portrayed? The Russians? The English? The Americans?


I've always loved Vonnegut. I have, in fact, read this book prior to this class. It's one of my favorites.
Stereotypes in this book are certainly prevalent. Once Vonnegut gives someone from a certain country an identity, he keeps that identity for all other characters in the book who are from that country (unless they're a main character, that is)
For instance, Germans are generally portrayed as brutal, ugly and insensitive. Russians all look the same; they're faces like radium clocks, he said, and they wander about like wisps of human beings. The English are all robust and loud, full of life and rosy cheeked, ready to welcome anyone, though they do seem to be in their own little world. And then there are the Americans. Most of the Americans are lumped together as a quiet, sad, lonely, not well equipped group. However, the Americans that stick out, other than Pilgrim, are often portrayed as loud and stupid, fat and ugly, and generally unlikeable characters.
All in all, Vonnegut has a very unkind view of the human race. I remember watching that interview with him in class where he said we should all stop reproducing. I think that's why nobody in the book is written very pleasantly.

Day of the Locust

I love anything about old Hollywood, so I was really excited when I started reading "The Day of the Locust". However, excitement soon turned to boredom. I have respect for this writing style, I just can never get 'into' it.
The character that spoke to me the most in this book was Faye Greener. I'm not entirely sure why...I think it was her apparent sadness. I'm not the happiest of people, so I can always relate to distraught characters. Granted, she was a complete bitch. She wouldn't even give Tod a chance, simply because he lacked money and good lucks. In that way, I do not relate to her.
Out of the whole book, the only scene I really remember that well is the first one. The old men sitting outside talking. I think this stuck with me so much because they seemed to have lived their lives, they seemed done. I find that the most interesting place to be in, in life.

The Importance of Being Earnest

I enjoy anything that pokes fun at people who are better off than me. I suppose that part of it is that I resent them for having more money than I do, but another part is certainly that most of them are incredibly stupid, and don't know it. Pieces like this point that out, and, for those of us who are not as well off, it's quite funny.
Jack and Algernon and the picture perfect aristocratic team. Money, women, and multiple identities. They've gotten so caught up in these things that they've forgotten who they are. They're lost, like most people in their situation. When everything is handed to you, there's no point in doing any work. Especially not to find yourself, as most of us end up having to do.
The end of the play caught me off guard a bit. Things ended too happily and it all came together too well. There was irony, sure, but not enough to make me think 'wow...that was an unexpected ending'.

A Modest Proposal

I first read this piece my junior year of High School. My teacher, very cleverly, decided not to tell us that it was satirical. As a result, most of us thought it was a real proposal. I was incensed until I realized how ridiculous it was. As I read, I started laughing, aloud, in class. Most of my classmates still thought it was real...so they thought I was nuts.
I think the line that made me realize that Swift wasn't being serious was "They shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing of many thousands." There was no way he was seriously suggesting that we wear things made of baby skin. Once we reached the part about where Swift listed the various ways a child could be cooked ("stewed, roasted, baked or boiled") the whole class was in on it.
To me, the most interesting part of this essay is the fact that Swift, while being extremely funny, also addresses a serious issue. Comedy that deals with social issues is my favorite kind; it's funny, but it makes you think. This made me think. There really was a problem with hunger back in Swift's time, and nothing was being done about it. Why not eat babies? What else were they going to do? I think that was his point, 'we're stuck. we've got to resort to ludicrous solutions if they government doesn't do something to help us'.