The Odyssey
Homer/translated by W.H.D. Rouse
1937
I found this book in the stash of goodies my uncle gave to me. I had heard stories about the book and I was interested with how the book could possibly so good. I also knew the general plot and conflict the book brought forth but I was not familiar with the details. For all of these reasons, I thought I might enjoy this book and so I chose to read it. I expected a good, classical, gory and romantic story that fantasized ad brought mythical creatures and events to life. I wanted the book to draw emotions from me and place me into the world that the book lived in. I had such high expectations for this book primarily because it is a classic. Classic books tend to have higher expectations because they have been so popular and successful in the past. The Odyssey, being one of the most infamous classics ever, had an even higher expectation for me than other classical books.
So far, The Odyssey has lived up to my expectations immensely. This book fills the reader with wonder at the possibilities of such magical and unearthly events. Also, the book draws tension and emotion from the reader by creating conflicts and epic battles for the main character to conquer. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and hope it will prove to be an excellent read throughout.
Mar 30, 2010
Feb 17, 2010
Fight Club
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
Chuck Palahniuk takes the tone of his main character in this book. Palahniuk writes this book from the first person view of his main character who has split personalities. Only, Palahniuk does not write in first person about both personalities. He presents the book from only the real guy, not the created personality, Tyler Durden. This take on the book is interesting because the character does not discover his split personality is himself until the end of the book. Before his discovery, he just believes Tyler Durden is a friend. Durden actually comes awake at night whenever the main character falls asleep. This is completely insane. It does not ever happen. So, to match his characters insanity, Palahniuk takes the tone of an insane man.
Palahniuk writes his book with short sentences, throwing in crazy unneeded phrases and words. This tone confuses the reader and they are actually pulled in by the insanity of the way this book is written. Instead of pushing the reader away, Palahniuk pulls the reader in using his insane tone that matches the way his character acts in this story. I consider this one of the best books I have ever read and I believe Chuck Palahniuk is a genius.
Fight Club
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
Chuck Palahniuk uses a form of communication that is most odd and almost never used by normal authors anywhere. Then again, Chuck Palahniuk is no normal author. Palahniuk, instead of connecting himself with his reader, as most authors do, he connects his reader directly to the content of his book. Palahniuks shocking way of introducing the reader to his book pulls his reader into his books content and character right away. The reader then is able to freely connect with Palahniuks wonderful creation of a dark, violent side of life that no one has ever experienced. By connecting his reader with his books content right away, Palahniuk is able to hook the reader well enough to keep them the entire book.
Next, Palahniuk connects himself and his way of writing not to his reader, but to his books content. Palahniuk writes in a crazed, insane way. This allows him to identify himself with his books content, therefore indirectly linking himself with his reader. This long, stretched relationship allows the reader to enjoy Palahniuks writing without ever having to make the reader identify himself with the author himself. This is an interesting and successful way to draw Palahniuks readers in because it focuses more on the content of the book and less on the author, making the book more powerful and influential.
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
Chuck Palahniuk uses a form of communication that is most odd and almost never used by normal authors anywhere. Then again, Chuck Palahniuk is no normal author. Palahniuk, instead of connecting himself with his reader, as most authors do, he connects his reader directly to the content of his book. Palahniuks shocking way of introducing the reader to his book pulls his reader into his books content and character right away. The reader then is able to freely connect with Palahniuks wonderful creation of a dark, violent side of life that no one has ever experienced. By connecting his reader with his books content right away, Palahniuk is able to hook the reader well enough to keep them the entire book.
Next, Palahniuk connects himself and his way of writing not to his reader, but to his books content. Palahniuk writes in a crazed, insane way. This allows him to identify himself with his books content, therefore indirectly linking himself with his reader. This long, stretched relationship allows the reader to enjoy Palahniuks writing without ever having to make the reader identify himself with the author himself. This is an interesting and successful way to draw Palahniuks readers in because it focuses more on the content of the book and less on the author, making the book more powerful and influential.
Fight Club
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
Chuck Palahniuks most common use of persuasion/hook in this book is his use of shock. Palahniuk draws up a story that defys American standards and crosses the boundaries of any moral guidelines the world ever had. This exposure to another side of life, this breaking of the perfect bubble that we live in shows the reader that life can be different. Life can be insane, life can be violent, life can be knocking someones teeth out, and life can have "space monkeys." Palahniuk seeks to stick a needle in our covering to this more real world and to shatter any bonds we may have with our old lives. This new world is full of hideous wonder, full to the brim with crime violence and evil. Readers are curious about this side of life Palahniuk gives us. They want to learn more. So Palahniuk provides their curiosity with more of this dark side. He gives more intensive violence, fighting, and crime.
Another form that Palahniuk uses in his book Fight Club is his use of emphasis. Chuck Palahniuk uses short sentences, common phrases, and jumping around language to make his book seem like his character. With both Palahniuks character and book seemingly insane, he shows the reader that thier life is not perfect. They could end up like this too.
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
Chuck Palahniuks most common use of persuasion/hook in this book is his use of shock. Palahniuk draws up a story that defys American standards and crosses the boundaries of any moral guidelines the world ever had. This exposure to another side of life, this breaking of the perfect bubble that we live in shows the reader that life can be different. Life can be insane, life can be violent, life can be knocking someones teeth out, and life can have "space monkeys." Palahniuk seeks to stick a needle in our covering to this more real world and to shatter any bonds we may have with our old lives. This new world is full of hideous wonder, full to the brim with crime violence and evil. Readers are curious about this side of life Palahniuk gives us. They want to learn more. So Palahniuk provides their curiosity with more of this dark side. He gives more intensive violence, fighting, and crime.
Another form that Palahniuk uses in his book Fight Club is his use of emphasis. Chuck Palahniuk uses short sentences, common phrases, and jumping around language to make his book seem like his character. With both Palahniuks character and book seemingly insane, he shows the reader that thier life is not perfect. They could end up like this too.
Fight Club
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
I chose this book for a variety of different reasons. First, many, many of my friends and relatives had suggested to me this book. They said it was a thrilling, suspenseful, and a very good read. However, they also warned me against the graphic violence this book demonstrates throughout its entirety. Another warning presented to me was the message the book gave out. Fight clubs purpose is to shock the reader and show them the violence, hatred, and insanity one person an reach. Second, I saw the movie fight club before I had even heard of the book. The movie was a huge success and I enjoyed it very much. It was one of my most favorite movies of all time. All of these outside influences led me to believe that this book would shock me to my core and make me change my beliefs on how I view my seemingly perfect life.
This book so far has given me all I have expected and more. The violence, thrill, insanity, and split personality surprises have all proved to be excellent uses Palahniuk creates in order to draw the reader into his book. The main character presents excitement and new ideas to those who are innocent and pure to the violent side of life.
Chuck Palahniuk
1996
I chose this book for a variety of different reasons. First, many, many of my friends and relatives had suggested to me this book. They said it was a thrilling, suspenseful, and a very good read. However, they also warned me against the graphic violence this book demonstrates throughout its entirety. Another warning presented to me was the message the book gave out. Fight clubs purpose is to shock the reader and show them the violence, hatred, and insanity one person an reach. Second, I saw the movie fight club before I had even heard of the book. The movie was a huge success and I enjoyed it very much. It was one of my most favorite movies of all time. All of these outside influences led me to believe that this book would shock me to my core and make me change my beliefs on how I view my seemingly perfect life.
This book so far has given me all I have expected and more. The violence, thrill, insanity, and split personality surprises have all proved to be excellent uses Palahniuk creates in order to draw the reader into his book. The main character presents excitement and new ideas to those who are innocent and pure to the violent side of life.
Feb 2, 2010
The Professor and the Madman
The Professor and the Madman
Simon Winchester
1999
Simon Winchester uses a variety of different methods of communication. He is able to connect to his readers in these different ways so that it is not confusing, but helpful to the reader as they file through this book. Winchester first uses definitions at the beginning of every chapter in this book. These definitions first of all establish Winchester as a reliable author because it represents that he know what he is writing about. Second, they give a precursor as to what is going to happen in the chapter; Winchester is setting his audience up. The second form of communication that Winchester uses is narration. Winchester narrates the stories of William Minor and James Murray. Then he goes on to describe their inevitable meeting. These narrations present us with a very curious and interesting story that readers want to read. The last of Winchesters forms of communication lies with his use of others texts. He presents official articles in his book that others have written about the stories of Minor and Murray. Such passages reflect on Winchesters character because they show that he is knowledgeable of others opinions and how they may think about the characters lives. Examples of this are the official diagnosis of Minors health conditions etc.
Simon Winchester
1999
Simon Winchester uses a variety of different methods of communication. He is able to connect to his readers in these different ways so that it is not confusing, but helpful to the reader as they file through this book. Winchester first uses definitions at the beginning of every chapter in this book. These definitions first of all establish Winchester as a reliable author because it represents that he know what he is writing about. Second, they give a precursor as to what is going to happen in the chapter; Winchester is setting his audience up. The second form of communication that Winchester uses is narration. Winchester narrates the stories of William Minor and James Murray. Then he goes on to describe their inevitable meeting. These narrations present us with a very curious and interesting story that readers want to read. The last of Winchesters forms of communication lies with his use of others texts. He presents official articles in his book that others have written about the stories of Minor and Murray. Such passages reflect on Winchesters character because they show that he is knowledgeable of others opinions and how they may think about the characters lives. Examples of this are the official diagnosis of Minors health conditions etc.
The Professor and the Madman
The Professor and the Madman
Simon Winchester
1999
I chose this book from my teacher, Ms. Cassells class. I was in need of a nonfiction book and my teacher had just acquired a new collection of books that she felt were appropriate for her class. As I checked the new set out, this particular book caught my eye. It may have been the title, the color, or something else, but I became immediately interested in what the book could possibly contain.
As I inevitably dove into the book, I put my heart and soul to the hope that it would be one of the best books I had ever read. (I tend to do this every time I read a book, but sometimes I am disappointed.) However, this is a book that satisfied me from the very start. It began with a fabulous hook and it led me to an interesting and intellectual body. However, I was a little disappointed with the ending of this book. The ending was not near suspenseful or exciting as the beginning and it shattered my hopes. I expected the end of this book the way I did because I wanted it to be as exciting as the beginning. I expected the book to be exciting in the first place because of the title. This title makes anyone who come across it inquisitive as to what might lie behind the cover. Also, the colors are dull and slightly red. They give off an air of mystery. I expected greatness from this book, and I got almost all of it.
Simon Winchester
1999
I chose this book from my teacher, Ms. Cassells class. I was in need of a nonfiction book and my teacher had just acquired a new collection of books that she felt were appropriate for her class. As I checked the new set out, this particular book caught my eye. It may have been the title, the color, or something else, but I became immediately interested in what the book could possibly contain.
As I inevitably dove into the book, I put my heart and soul to the hope that it would be one of the best books I had ever read. (I tend to do this every time I read a book, but sometimes I am disappointed.) However, this is a book that satisfied me from the very start. It began with a fabulous hook and it led me to an interesting and intellectual body. However, I was a little disappointed with the ending of this book. The ending was not near suspenseful or exciting as the beginning and it shattered my hopes. I expected the end of this book the way I did because I wanted it to be as exciting as the beginning. I expected the book to be exciting in the first place because of the title. This title makes anyone who come across it inquisitive as to what might lie behind the cover. Also, the colors are dull and slightly red. They give off an air of mystery. I expected greatness from this book, and I got almost all of it.
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