SoS2

I find Guitar's murder club weird. I can't recall why, but such a violent idea seems really familiar. Maybe I'm just thinking of that saying "an eye for an eye", but the kind of group sounds familiar. Regardless, though I understand the logic, it's obviously wrong. I think the level of ridiculousness in the racial prejudice is shown by Morrison to the extreme degree that it is brought out at. Yes, four little girls would mirror the unfair deaths, but it's four innocent young girls. I think that the immorality of it is shown through his concern of money rather than life. Also (in a much deadlier degree) it's incredibly childish and doesn't solve anything. It's like when a sibling steals something some you steal something of their and you both keep on stealing from each other and both of you are missing things and nothing is solved. As dumb an analogy as that sounds, it parallels the ineffectively and negative effects of the point the group is attempting to get across.

SoS 1

I really like Toni Morrison's style in terms of her imagery and scenes. Her flashbacks are so craftily woven in, but so obviously flashbacks through small but important details that make it much easier to follow with and know (sort of) that it's a flashback rather than something going on simultaneously (I'm comparing this to something like Sound And The Fury). This might just be a personal thing, but I notice and like the huge stretches of imagery and action going on versus constant dialogue also. The amount of detail is something I find impressive.

P&P2

Despite not really liking Austen's writing style, I do like the story. The sharp criticism is nicely presented and I do love the rebellious nature of Elizabeth (although getting married is the happy end, the rebel getting the good ending is something I like). This book is incredibly episodic and runs like a television series though, that much becoming even more apparent in the latter half. I do find it interesting how the characters really remain true to their archetypes, the only "changing" ones being Darcy and Elizabeth (but that was bound to happen considering the nature of many romance novels).

P&P

So, despite some of the criticism and subtle attacks at the culture that I'm sure I've missed, I can say that I do like the attacks Jane Austen has made on the culture that she's stuck in. Having had to read a biography on her and watched Sense and Sensibility (which was similar in some respects), it is a bit easier to understand where she's coming from. Though some of the language and situations are rather confusing, she still conveys her message. What I really find interesting is how Jane Austen calls out pride and prejudice within the book. I like how she throws her own opinion through characters but also balances it against the views of the majority of the time.

Epic Spring break

I managed to watch four and a half seasons of Game of Thrones, three of which were finished in under three full days. It was productive.

PH 3

It is interesting how the story of the tortoise's cracked shell comes up again. I know it is in direct correlation and covers very similar topics (such as the tortoise's greed and his falling from the sky) but it's not the same story.  I wonder if that's due to the area in which each author lives, or to keep from plagiarism issues but I find it interesting how this story changed. The sacrifices and the mothers' acceptance is what I find disturbing. That wasn't a part of the tale in Things Fall Apart and I wonder if it's to mimic the notorious events occurring in Nigeria with the military government.

PH2

Eugene is so controlling, and it's really starting to bother me. His children are like dogmatic followers and I want to know why. I understand he does not want them to be near "ungodly" or "heathen" things/cultures, but his demands are so extreme and ridiculous. Kambili is called a snob because she is not allowed to be late on her way home, or despite having a TV she is not allowed to watch because he father did not put it in her schedule. And yet she practically worships him. She is hungry for his approval (which he never seems to truly give) and it's just a very unhealthy relationship, only exacerbated by her brother's evident awareness of the extremism of their father.