elliott's reading blog
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
War of the Worlds concluded
I think that the rest of this book was quite a bit better than the first half. The story really picked up,and I found myself enjoying the climax quite a bit. i also enjoyed it more after learning that the book was in fact based on the concept of manifest destiny. You see, Mr. Wells was really against the whole invading other less developed places and survival of the fittest. So the book is really an analogy, where the aliens are the invading english, and earth is a less developed nation.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
War of the Worlds
To be honest, I'm quite disappointed with the legendary HG. Well's literary masterpiece that is War of the Worlds. The word choice and description, while sometimes creative is often insubstantial. but more importantly, the author seems to disregard the old writing rule of show don't tell. It seems like mr. Wells only tells this story through bland, straightforward statements. MAybe it will get better, but as of now, I am again quite disappointed.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Countdown 1
This book set in early 1960s America follows a young girl trying to cope with both the threat of nuclear warfare, and her own emotional problems. What is interesting about the book to me is how the girl (named Franny)'s internal issues and family trouble plays out almost like an annalogie to the wartime struggle of the town as a whole. Granted the parallel isn't perfect, you won't see each family member correspond to a certain nation involved or anything so specific, but in general tone and progression within the story, I did feel like there were similarities. to me, the biggest parallel was
Franny's mentally unstable uncle, who the whole family acts like is just fine, when really, everyone's just eating for him to crack, and be taken away. Similar to how everyone in the town is trying to live a normal life, whilst "just waiting around for a bomb to fall."
Franny's mentally unstable uncle, who the whole family acts like is just fine, when really, everyone's just eating for him to crack, and be taken away. Similar to how everyone in the town is trying to live a normal life, whilst "just waiting around for a bomb to fall."
Monday, April 21, 2014
Lunchbox dream part 2
This book continues to hold my attention quite well, and really captures the delicate child psychology that has to be so prominent in a story like this. Bobby is often subjected to things that he can't quite grasp and comprehend. It is at these times when we are reminded that he's still a very young child. But what I really like about the book is the setting. Both what it is, and how the author describes it. As a big fan of the 1950s in all of its consumerist glory, this setting was one of the biggest reasons that I picked up this book in the first place. And the way that the author matter-of-fact-ishly mentions the various quirks and trends of the era is very well done.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Lunchbox dream part one
By Tony Abbot
This book centers around a young child named Bobby. Bobby lives in the late 1950s in the midst of many civil rights issues. Over the course of the story, the child learns to put his assumptions and prejudices aside, as he finds the truth about race. Early on in the book, you can feel the evolution beginning to occur, as the boy's predisposition begins to shift. The character of Bobby is a bit of a blank slate, mainly there to observe and react to all of the things happening. But they do give him enough character to be believable, and it is interesting when he is exposed to something that he can't quite understand. So far, I would recommend it to anyone with even a vague interest in the issues explored here.
This book centers around a young child named Bobby. Bobby lives in the late 1950s in the midst of many civil rights issues. Over the course of the story, the child learns to put his assumptions and prejudices aside, as he finds the truth about race. Early on in the book, you can feel the evolution beginning to occur, as the boy's predisposition begins to shift. The character of Bobby is a bit of a blank slate, mainly there to observe and react to all of the things happening. But they do give him enough character to be believable, and it is interesting when he is exposed to something that he can't quite understand. So far, I would recommend it to anyone with even a vague interest in the issues explored here.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Hillucinations
This is quite an interesting nonfiction book that mainly deals with different types of delusions that occur because of medical conditions or deficiencies. one of the most interesting things in the book was the concept of auditory or even smell or taste related hallucinations. The writing style is informative, but not pretentious, and keeps your attention very well. I would recommend the book to anyone who is even vaguely interested in the subject.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Commercial
Staring at the screen
My brain cells do devolve
learning of the issue that
this product somehow solves.
they sure do look quite happy,
those picturesque, beaming folks,
I need this thing to be content?
so what, it makes me broke.
I can not bear to live without
my precious, perfect thing
"must be 18 or older to call"
the lady quickly sings.
O please, my dearest only friend,
your products I may flaunt,
throw out originality
and tell me what I want.
And so you see, these ads are more
than what they at first seem.
capitalism, feed the pigs,
the new american dream.
My brain cells do devolve
learning of the issue that
this product somehow solves.
they sure do look quite happy,
those picturesque, beaming folks,
I need this thing to be content?
so what, it makes me broke.
I can not bear to live without
my precious, perfect thing
"must be 18 or older to call"
the lady quickly sings.
O please, my dearest only friend,
your products I may flaunt,
throw out originality
and tell me what I want.
And so you see, these ads are more
than what they at first seem.
capitalism, feed the pigs,
the new american dream.
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