Parisa writes:
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is a novel written by Thomas Hardy which is very strongly driven by plot. Starting with the death of the Durbeyfields’ horse, which plunges the family into crisis, and then continuing with Tess’ meeting with some rich relations, the book moves from event to event swiftly. Every chapter provides the reader with further drama. The basic plot of the story is Tess’ life. The novel is a true cliffhanger, and cliffhangers revolve around plot to keep the suspense up. Tess’ life contains many ups and downs, and reversals of fortune. A major climactic scene and twist in the plot is when Alec D’Urberville seduces Tess. Hardy uses the plot to demonstrate the difference between rich and poor, and the differences in opportunity, how the poor were exploited, how there was this double standard about sex and women. He doesn’t talk about the oppression of women or about the horrifying way some people are treated, but he makes readers feel the agony by having the main character go through certain experiences. Plot is a very important element in this novel right up until the shocking ending, which I will not reveal, on the grounds that it would spoil the story for anyone wanting to read it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Dracula
Golshan writes:
Dracula by Bram Stoker starts off by introducing Jonathan Harker, one of the main characters. He is a solicitor who is going to Dracula's castle for business purposes. At first Count Dracula seems really nice, but after a while weird things start happening. Jonathan notices things like he is locked in the castle and there are no servants. When Jonathan was shaving, the Count's reflection didn't show up in the mirror, and once, when he fell asleep in a room, he saw three beautiful women who wanted to kill him. He is afraid for his life and crawls out the window like he had seen the Count do many times. Then the novel introduces the other characters like Mina, Jonathan's wife and Lucy, her best friend. Lucy writes a letter to Mina saying that she was proposed to by three men in the same day and explains the men a little. The one she decided to marry is Arthur Holmwood, and is very upset about turning down the others (Quincy Morris and Dr. Seward). This novel is written as a diary for the characters, and in Dr. Seward's diary, he talks about a patient named Renfield. Renfield has an obsession with consuming lives. He collects flies, feeds them to spiders, then feeds the spiders to birds. He asks Dr. Seward for a kitten but when he refuses he eats the birds raw and gets sick. When Mina and Lucy are together, Mina notices that Lucy began to sleepwalk and one night she walks to a park and sits by a bench. When Mina found her she saw a strange skinny old man with red eyes next to her. When she got closer he disappeared, but there were two little red wounds on Lucy's neck (which Mina thought they were made by a pin). Eventually Lucy gets sick and Arthur calls Dr. Seward who calls Van Helsing. They find out that Lucy has lost a lot of blood and decide to give her blood transfusions. This happens four times. Van Helsing has mysterious ways of trying to get Lucy better which include rubbing garlic all over her room. There are many mysterious things that happen including many things that go wrong with Lucy's treatment. I'm going to stop here because I don't want to give too much away. Dracula seems like it is going to be one of my favorite novels because of its exciting plot and characters.
-Golshan
Dracula by Bram Stoker starts off by introducing Jonathan Harker, one of the main characters. He is a solicitor who is going to Dracula's castle for business purposes. At first Count Dracula seems really nice, but after a while weird things start happening. Jonathan notices things like he is locked in the castle and there are no servants. When Jonathan was shaving, the Count's reflection didn't show up in the mirror, and once, when he fell asleep in a room, he saw three beautiful women who wanted to kill him. He is afraid for his life and crawls out the window like he had seen the Count do many times. Then the novel introduces the other characters like Mina, Jonathan's wife and Lucy, her best friend. Lucy writes a letter to Mina saying that she was proposed to by three men in the same day and explains the men a little. The one she decided to marry is Arthur Holmwood, and is very upset about turning down the others (Quincy Morris and Dr. Seward). This novel is written as a diary for the characters, and in Dr. Seward's diary, he talks about a patient named Renfield. Renfield has an obsession with consuming lives. He collects flies, feeds them to spiders, then feeds the spiders to birds. He asks Dr. Seward for a kitten but when he refuses he eats the birds raw and gets sick. When Mina and Lucy are together, Mina notices that Lucy began to sleepwalk and one night she walks to a park and sits by a bench. When Mina found her she saw a strange skinny old man with red eyes next to her. When she got closer he disappeared, but there were two little red wounds on Lucy's neck (which Mina thought they were made by a pin). Eventually Lucy gets sick and Arthur calls Dr. Seward who calls Van Helsing. They find out that Lucy has lost a lot of blood and decide to give her blood transfusions. This happens four times. Van Helsing has mysterious ways of trying to get Lucy better which include rubbing garlic all over her room. There are many mysterious things that happen including many things that go wrong with Lucy's treatment. I'm going to stop here because I don't want to give too much away. Dracula seems like it is going to be one of my favorite novels because of its exciting plot and characters.
-Golshan
Brave New World
Meaghan writes:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is the independent reading book I am currently reading now. It is a very hard book to get in to, but once some interesting facts are stated, the book heats up quickly. Brave New World is a difficult book to read, mainly because the language is so complex. Many times I have had to look plenty of words up in the dictionary.
In the novel, Huxley talks about many new scientific discoveries. In the first chapter Huxley states many times about parent conditioning, how a child should act, and human cloning. Human reproduction is also a key factor that Huxley talks about over and over. In the second chapter, the director separates many newborn babies, infants, and toddlers into different rooms, with all different signs on the children’s doors. Many people observe the children, and watch them all the time, to notice if there is anything they notice differently. The director and many nurses’ test out various experiments to see what the young children will do. For example, they hold up flowers to the kids’ faces to see what reaction they have. Also, they ring an alarm clock to see how the children will react. If the children don’t like the nurse shoving flowers into their faces, they will have a hatred for flowers. This system will determine any future technologies from kids.
There hasn’t been many characters introduced into the story yet, but so far we have the director, and many nurses.
One can never really tell with this book what is being explained or what peoples private thoughts are. There are several inappropriate terms Huxley’s story; therefore, that’s why the thoughts are in peoples head, in their own private thoughts. This story is all about the future, what will happen next. This novel is very unpredictable; sometimes I am shocked about what I just read. Many different chemical names are mentioned, since the director constructs many experiments to see what will happen.
“Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn't do without Epsilons. Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one...” (49) This quote is relevantly important in the novel. It shows how people in the building constructing different ideas can help people and how the office can’t do work with out any one. Each and every person is a special part of his or her living.
In conclusion, Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World will take me some time for me to actually make a solid decision if I love the book or not. In the meantime, I am looking forward to see what else Huxley has in mind for the future!
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is the independent reading book I am currently reading now. It is a very hard book to get in to, but once some interesting facts are stated, the book heats up quickly. Brave New World is a difficult book to read, mainly because the language is so complex. Many times I have had to look plenty of words up in the dictionary.
In the novel, Huxley talks about many new scientific discoveries. In the first chapter Huxley states many times about parent conditioning, how a child should act, and human cloning. Human reproduction is also a key factor that Huxley talks about over and over. In the second chapter, the director separates many newborn babies, infants, and toddlers into different rooms, with all different signs on the children’s doors. Many people observe the children, and watch them all the time, to notice if there is anything they notice differently. The director and many nurses’ test out various experiments to see what the young children will do. For example, they hold up flowers to the kids’ faces to see what reaction they have. Also, they ring an alarm clock to see how the children will react. If the children don’t like the nurse shoving flowers into their faces, they will have a hatred for flowers. This system will determine any future technologies from kids.
There hasn’t been many characters introduced into the story yet, but so far we have the director, and many nurses.
One can never really tell with this book what is being explained or what peoples private thoughts are. There are several inappropriate terms Huxley’s story; therefore, that’s why the thoughts are in peoples head, in their own private thoughts. This story is all about the future, what will happen next. This novel is very unpredictable; sometimes I am shocked about what I just read. Many different chemical names are mentioned, since the director constructs many experiments to see what will happen.
“Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn't do without Epsilons. Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one...” (49) This quote is relevantly important in the novel. It shows how people in the building constructing different ideas can help people and how the office can’t do work with out any one. Each and every person is a special part of his or her living.
In conclusion, Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World will take me some time for me to actually make a solid decision if I love the book or not. In the meantime, I am looking forward to see what else Huxley has in mind for the future!
Cider House Rules
Caitie writes:
I am reading the novel Cider House Rules by well known author John Irving. Cider House Rules is about Wilbur Larch a doctor that works at an orphanage but also performs illegal abortions. Women come to him offering him sums of money to remove the fetus growing in their stomach. Dr. Larch takes a liking to one of the orphans named Homer Wells by Nurse Angela. Homer can’t seem to find a family that is a good fit for him. When he was a baby he did not cry, a foster family thinks there is something wrong with him so they bring him back to the orphanage. The next family forces him to cry by torturing him giving him a fear of the slightest movement or touch. Homer is now unable to stop from crying so most families don’t want him. Homer grows up in the orphanage and befriends Dr. Larch and the nurses. Dr. Larch tries to find a family for homer to try out but when he finally does they get killed when they take Homer on a camping trip. After this disturbing event Dr. Larch stops searching for Homer Well’s perfect fit. Homer grows up in St. Cloud’s orphanage. He even gives Homer chores around the orphanage such as doing the nightly read-aloud and taking out the trash. One day when Homer is taking out the trash he finds a human fetus among the debris. He recognizes it as what was a living creature so he takes it to Dr. Larch and asks him what it is. Dr. Larch realizes he has to reveal his occupation. He even starts training Homer to be an abortionist. Over a period of a few years Homer is almost ready to perform an abortion by himself. When the day comes that Dr. Larch can not make it home in time to perform an abortion Homer is put to the test. He has to perform his first abortion without Dr. Larch there in case anything was to go wrong or Homer becomes overwhelmed during his first attempt at a complex medical operation. How he does will decide weather he is fit to be an abortionist or not.
The setting of Cider House Rule is very dark. The orphanage is depressing, and St. Cloud’s Maine is portrayed as a dreary town. It is a logging town, the residents are missing limbs. It always seems to be cloudy and stormy and dull. At the orphanage there are characters such as Fuzzy Stone that add to the misery of the setting. Fuzzy Stone is constantly on a breathing apparatus and sleeps in a tent like structure to protect his sensitive lungs from dust. Fuzzy’s mechanical lung makes so much noise that Homer usually has trouble falling asleep at night. Homer stays up thinking all night. He is a complex character. Homer befriends Melanie, the only other orphan left that is his age. She lives in the girl’s division of St. Cloud’s. She desperate for affection and he meets her needs. He isn’t really attracted to Melanie but he feels that he should be so he goes along with her antics. He does find comfort in having a friend at the orphanage. Dr. Larch doesn’t think that Melanie is a good influence on Homer but doesn’t want to take away his only friend his age.
Dr. Larch is also a complex character. He is a doctor with an addiction to ether. He knows the perfect amount to go into a daze but not kill him. This helps him have the perfect touch when it comes to the amount for ether he gives the patient. This is why some people prefer him to other doctors but the main reason is the cost. Dr. Larch works very cheap, unlike places like “off Harrison” who charges a large amount of money. Dr. Larch is mainly concerned in the safety of the patient which makes him a more caring doctor. The characters Homer Wells and Wilbur Larch really interact well together. They really complete the whole mood of the story. Dr. Larch is like a father to Homer because he knows that every child needs to be loved to grow into a functional adult. The chemistry between the characters is like a father and son, but it still has a slight awkwardness to it, making it a very realistic relationship.
I am really enjoying this book, and find it very exciting. I like the way John Irving creates the characters. I am really excited to see how the characters develop through the rest of the novel.
I am reading the novel Cider House Rules by well known author John Irving. Cider House Rules is about Wilbur Larch a doctor that works at an orphanage but also performs illegal abortions. Women come to him offering him sums of money to remove the fetus growing in their stomach. Dr. Larch takes a liking to one of the orphans named Homer Wells by Nurse Angela. Homer can’t seem to find a family that is a good fit for him. When he was a baby he did not cry, a foster family thinks there is something wrong with him so they bring him back to the orphanage. The next family forces him to cry by torturing him giving him a fear of the slightest movement or touch. Homer is now unable to stop from crying so most families don’t want him. Homer grows up in the orphanage and befriends Dr. Larch and the nurses. Dr. Larch tries to find a family for homer to try out but when he finally does they get killed when they take Homer on a camping trip. After this disturbing event Dr. Larch stops searching for Homer Well’s perfect fit. Homer grows up in St. Cloud’s orphanage. He even gives Homer chores around the orphanage such as doing the nightly read-aloud and taking out the trash. One day when Homer is taking out the trash he finds a human fetus among the debris. He recognizes it as what was a living creature so he takes it to Dr. Larch and asks him what it is. Dr. Larch realizes he has to reveal his occupation. He even starts training Homer to be an abortionist. Over a period of a few years Homer is almost ready to perform an abortion by himself. When the day comes that Dr. Larch can not make it home in time to perform an abortion Homer is put to the test. He has to perform his first abortion without Dr. Larch there in case anything was to go wrong or Homer becomes overwhelmed during his first attempt at a complex medical operation. How he does will decide weather he is fit to be an abortionist or not.
The setting of Cider House Rule is very dark. The orphanage is depressing, and St. Cloud’s Maine is portrayed as a dreary town. It is a logging town, the residents are missing limbs. It always seems to be cloudy and stormy and dull. At the orphanage there are characters such as Fuzzy Stone that add to the misery of the setting. Fuzzy Stone is constantly on a breathing apparatus and sleeps in a tent like structure to protect his sensitive lungs from dust. Fuzzy’s mechanical lung makes so much noise that Homer usually has trouble falling asleep at night. Homer stays up thinking all night. He is a complex character. Homer befriends Melanie, the only other orphan left that is his age. She lives in the girl’s division of St. Cloud’s. She desperate for affection and he meets her needs. He isn’t really attracted to Melanie but he feels that he should be so he goes along with her antics. He does find comfort in having a friend at the orphanage. Dr. Larch doesn’t think that Melanie is a good influence on Homer but doesn’t want to take away his only friend his age.
Dr. Larch is also a complex character. He is a doctor with an addiction to ether. He knows the perfect amount to go into a daze but not kill him. This helps him have the perfect touch when it comes to the amount for ether he gives the patient. This is why some people prefer him to other doctors but the main reason is the cost. Dr. Larch works very cheap, unlike places like “off Harrison” who charges a large amount of money. Dr. Larch is mainly concerned in the safety of the patient which makes him a more caring doctor. The characters Homer Wells and Wilbur Larch really interact well together. They really complete the whole mood of the story. Dr. Larch is like a father to Homer because he knows that every child needs to be loved to grow into a functional adult. The chemistry between the characters is like a father and son, but it still has a slight awkwardness to it, making it a very realistic relationship.
I am really enjoying this book, and find it very exciting. I like the way John Irving creates the characters. I am really excited to see how the characters develop through the rest of the novel.
John Irving
Caitie writes
John Irving
John Irving was born in Exeter New Hampshire on March 2nd 1942. His Parents got a divorce during his mother’s pregnancy. He was born John Wallace Blunt Jr. but became John Winslow Irving at age six when his mother remarried a Russian history teacher. He wrote his first three novels, but Irving still made a living from teaching. His fourth novel The World According to Garp, sold many copies. It sold 4,000,000 copies in English and 4,000,000 copies in other languages. Five of his novels have been made into films; The World According to Garp, The Hotel New Hampshire, A Prayer for Owen Meany (as Simon Birch), The Cider House Rules, and A Widow for One Year (as A Door in the Floor). Irving wrote the screenplay for The Cider House Rules, it took him thirteen years. The movie is similar to the book but the screenplay is only the same as the first chapter. He then wrote an auto biography about his experience in the movie business and how difficult it was to turn a novel into a two hour movie; My Movie Business, a Memoir.
Irving’s The Cider House Rules was considered controversial to some because the main character was an ether addict and he preformed illegal abortions. The book was also pro-abortion. Irving believes that women should have the choice to terminate their pregnancy if it is needed, he does not think it is a good thing but sometimes is necessary. His novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, made the list of BBC’s most loved American novels right above Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Irving has also been inducted into the wrestler’s hall of fame.
He attended four universities and now has three sons. He has achieved such awards as; The American Book Award for Life According to Garp, and is on the academy of achievement. He faces the challenge of Dyslexia, but still managed to write eleven well known novels. John Irving is one of the best authors of our time and is responsible for some of the best literature of our time.
John Irving
John Irving was born in Exeter New Hampshire on March 2nd 1942. His Parents got a divorce during his mother’s pregnancy. He was born John Wallace Blunt Jr. but became John Winslow Irving at age six when his mother remarried a Russian history teacher. He wrote his first three novels, but Irving still made a living from teaching. His fourth novel The World According to Garp, sold many copies. It sold 4,000,000 copies in English and 4,000,000 copies in other languages. Five of his novels have been made into films; The World According to Garp, The Hotel New Hampshire, A Prayer for Owen Meany (as Simon Birch), The Cider House Rules, and A Widow for One Year (as A Door in the Floor). Irving wrote the screenplay for The Cider House Rules, it took him thirteen years. The movie is similar to the book but the screenplay is only the same as the first chapter. He then wrote an auto biography about his experience in the movie business and how difficult it was to turn a novel into a two hour movie; My Movie Business, a Memoir.
Irving’s The Cider House Rules was considered controversial to some because the main character was an ether addict and he preformed illegal abortions. The book was also pro-abortion. Irving believes that women should have the choice to terminate their pregnancy if it is needed, he does not think it is a good thing but sometimes is necessary. His novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, made the list of BBC’s most loved American novels right above Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Irving has also been inducted into the wrestler’s hall of fame.
He attended four universities and now has three sons. He has achieved such awards as; The American Book Award for Life According to Garp, and is on the academy of achievement. He faces the challenge of Dyslexia, but still managed to write eleven well known novels. John Irving is one of the best authors of our time and is responsible for some of the best literature of our time.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Kayla writes:
One element of fiction in my novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is characterization. The main character, Jose Arcadio Buendia founded the village of Macondo. WhenJose Arcadio Buendia first founded the village he was very social and helped the community with theirhouses, work, and animals, then he becomes fascinated with the wonders of the world, especially
alchemy. For a period of time the people of the village consider him to be crazy because he spends dayand night in the solitude of his laboratory. His madness stops, but he still wants to invent things in orderto improve Macondo and the lives of its people. Ursula Iguaran, his wife, is a very active, hard worker,who doesn’t stand for her husband’s silly ideas. To gether they have three children, two boys and onegirl. The eldest son, Jose Aracadio, is physically like his father, but he lacks his father’s imaginationand curiosity. Aureliano the second son is quiet and his phenomenon’s always come true. He workswith his father in the laboratory and is gifted in the art of silver. Their youngest child is baby girl named
Amaranta.
One element of fiction in my novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is characterization. The main character, Jose Arcadio Buendia founded the village of Macondo. WhenJose Arcadio Buendia first founded the village he was very social and helped the community with theirhouses, work, and animals, then he becomes fascinated with the wonders of the world, especially
alchemy. For a period of time the people of the village consider him to be crazy because he spends dayand night in the solitude of his laboratory. His madness stops, but he still wants to invent things in orderto improve Macondo and the lives of its people. Ursula Iguaran, his wife, is a very active, hard worker,who doesn’t stand for her husband’s silly ideas. To gether they have three children, two boys and onegirl. The eldest son, Jose Aracadio, is physically like his father, but he lacks his father’s imaginationand curiosity. Aureliano the second son is quiet and his phenomenon’s always come true. He workswith his father in the laboratory and is gifted in the art of silver. Their youngest child is baby girl named
Amaranta.
Ethan Frome
Kristina writes:
The novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is a story about Ethan Frome and his
forbidden love with his wife's cousin. In the beginning of the story we are
introduced to the three main characters Ethan, Zeena, Ethan's wife, and Mattie
Zeena's cousin. Ethan is a very intelligent person and went to school, but had to
quit because of his marriage to Zeena. He has an interest in learning and that is
why he finds an interest in Mattie because she is also very smart. Mattie is said to
be a beautiful girl, and very humorous. Ethan is not very found with Zeena. He
married her because he thought it was appropriate because she helped him take
care of his sick mother. Ethan in the novel explains that Zeena is much like his
mother, because she said very few words.
So far in the story Zeena has become very "sickly" and the doctors have told her not
to do any housework. Zeena comes up with the idea to "hire" Mattie to come and
live with her and Ethan so she can do housework. Mattie is not paid but in return
she is offered food and a place to stay. From the moment Mattie had arrived Ethan
thought she was beautiful and became very fond of her. Zeena has noticed and she
does not like it at all. She wants to send Mattie away so she hires a new
housekeeper. So far the story has been good. I really like the plot line and can't
wait to finish it.
The novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is a story about Ethan Frome and his
forbidden love with his wife's cousin. In the beginning of the story we are
introduced to the three main characters Ethan, Zeena, Ethan's wife, and Mattie
Zeena's cousin. Ethan is a very intelligent person and went to school, but had to
quit because of his marriage to Zeena. He has an interest in learning and that is
why he finds an interest in Mattie because she is also very smart. Mattie is said to
be a beautiful girl, and very humorous. Ethan is not very found with Zeena. He
married her because he thought it was appropriate because she helped him take
care of his sick mother. Ethan in the novel explains that Zeena is much like his
mother, because she said very few words.
So far in the story Zeena has become very "sickly" and the doctors have told her not
to do any housework. Zeena comes up with the idea to "hire" Mattie to come and
live with her and Ethan so she can do housework. Mattie is not paid but in return
she is offered food and a place to stay. From the moment Mattie had arrived Ethan
thought she was beautiful and became very fond of her. Zeena has noticed and she
does not like it at all. She wants to send Mattie away so she hires a new
housekeeper. So far the story has been good. I really like the plot line and can't
wait to finish it.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Hannah writes:
I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. The main character of the novel is Edmond Dantes, an impeccably brilliant and clever young man. The novel begins with Edmond returning from overseas on a boat he was working aboard. When he returns he greets his father, who is very happy to see him. He then proceeds to see the love of his life, Mercedes. Edmond’s boss, M. Morrel also decides to promote Edmond as captain for the next trip. Mercedes and Edmond decide to get married, However, Fernando, who is secretly in love with Mercedes, becomes extremely jealous. Completely disregarding the fact that Mercedes only loves him as a friend, Fernando comes up with a plot to stop the marriage without killing Edmond. He and his two friends come up with a plot to falsely accuse Edmond of a crime he did not commit and to arrest him. During the wedding ceremony, Edmond is arrested and taken away. Edmond is taken to a man named Gerard de Villefort. Villefort asks Edmond if he is carrying a letter and Edmond responds yes and shows him the letter. Villefort realizes that the letter is addressed to his father, and scared that his father would be arrested, he accuses Edmond and sends him to prison. While Edmond is in prison, Villefort travels to visit his father and warns him about the letter. His father then shaves and changes his clothes so the police will not be able to recognize him. The letter is about how Napoleon was back to seize power, so Villefort travels to warn King Louis XVIII about the letter. However, Napoleon seizes the throne. Since the charge on which Edmond was arrested is no longer illegal, he has the chance to be released, except Villefort never releases him. Edmond is trapped in prison for many years, and get tired and hopeless. However, Edmond discovers a way to visit another person on the other side of his cell by carving a hole through the wall. The other prisoners name is Abbe Faria. Over the years they are together, Abbe educates Edmond, making him a more brilliant and wise person. They figure out that Edmond had been set up, and now he seeks revenge on Villefort for falsely imprisoning him. Abbe also tells Edmond about secret treasure hidden on the Island of Monte Cristo and says that it belong to himself, but also to Edmond because of their bond. As the two plan to escape, Abbe dies. Edmond then manages to escape and ends up on a boat. The boat reaches the Island of Monte Cristo, and Edmond stays on the island alone. He then searches and finds the greatly large amount of treasure that he inherits. He then reunites with the crew and asks his friend to see how his dad and Mercedes are. His friend comes back to inform him that his father had passed away and Mercedes is missing. Dantes decides to go back home, disguised. He visits Caderousse, who was one of the men who arrested him in the first place. He finds out what has happened to his friends and his dad while he was gone for so long. He is also informed that Mercedes married Fernando because she thinks Dantes is dead, and they now live in Paris. Dantes decides to give Caderousse a large portion of the treasure.
So far I have read up to this much, and it is making me very apprehensive as to what will come next. The plot is very involved and changes very frequently with drastic twists. This novel so far has been keeping me on my feet.
I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. The main character of the novel is Edmond Dantes, an impeccably brilliant and clever young man. The novel begins with Edmond returning from overseas on a boat he was working aboard. When he returns he greets his father, who is very happy to see him. He then proceeds to see the love of his life, Mercedes. Edmond’s boss, M. Morrel also decides to promote Edmond as captain for the next trip. Mercedes and Edmond decide to get married, However, Fernando, who is secretly in love with Mercedes, becomes extremely jealous. Completely disregarding the fact that Mercedes only loves him as a friend, Fernando comes up with a plot to stop the marriage without killing Edmond. He and his two friends come up with a plot to falsely accuse Edmond of a crime he did not commit and to arrest him. During the wedding ceremony, Edmond is arrested and taken away. Edmond is taken to a man named Gerard de Villefort. Villefort asks Edmond if he is carrying a letter and Edmond responds yes and shows him the letter. Villefort realizes that the letter is addressed to his father, and scared that his father would be arrested, he accuses Edmond and sends him to prison. While Edmond is in prison, Villefort travels to visit his father and warns him about the letter. His father then shaves and changes his clothes so the police will not be able to recognize him. The letter is about how Napoleon was back to seize power, so Villefort travels to warn King Louis XVIII about the letter. However, Napoleon seizes the throne. Since the charge on which Edmond was arrested is no longer illegal, he has the chance to be released, except Villefort never releases him. Edmond is trapped in prison for many years, and get tired and hopeless. However, Edmond discovers a way to visit another person on the other side of his cell by carving a hole through the wall. The other prisoners name is Abbe Faria. Over the years they are together, Abbe educates Edmond, making him a more brilliant and wise person. They figure out that Edmond had been set up, and now he seeks revenge on Villefort for falsely imprisoning him. Abbe also tells Edmond about secret treasure hidden on the Island of Monte Cristo and says that it belong to himself, but also to Edmond because of their bond. As the two plan to escape, Abbe dies. Edmond then manages to escape and ends up on a boat. The boat reaches the Island of Monte Cristo, and Edmond stays on the island alone. He then searches and finds the greatly large amount of treasure that he inherits. He then reunites with the crew and asks his friend to see how his dad and Mercedes are. His friend comes back to inform him that his father had passed away and Mercedes is missing. Dantes decides to go back home, disguised. He visits Caderousse, who was one of the men who arrested him in the first place. He finds out what has happened to his friends and his dad while he was gone for so long. He is also informed that Mercedes married Fernando because she thinks Dantes is dead, and they now live in Paris. Dantes decides to give Caderousse a large portion of the treasure.
So far I have read up to this much, and it is making me very apprehensive as to what will come next. The plot is very involved and changes very frequently with drastic twists. This novel so far has been keeping me on my feet.
In Country - Element of Fiction
Tim writes:
In the novel In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason, One element of fiction that plays a big part in the novel is the characters’ conflicts. The main character is a 17 year old Sam Hughes. She lives in the small town of Hopewell Kentucky and the story takes place in 1984. She is living with her uncle named Emmett who was a Vietnam War veteran. Her father was also in the war but unfortunately he was killed. Now Sam is trying to figure out more about her father and what type of person he was before and during the war since she was only a baby when he was killed. The conflict in this novel is not really a conflict between two or more characters but more of a conflict because there is something missing between her and her knowledge of her father.
It is very difficult for Sam to find anything out about her father but she still tries hard to find ways. Her main source is her uncle Emmett. The bad part is he is a radical person who tries his hardest to put Vietnam behind him and doesn’t like to talk about it. Once in a while when they are having conversations, she will bring up the subject about Vietnam and her father and try to squeeze as much information out of her uncle as possible.
So Far, she really hasn’t gotten enough information to know who her father really was and be able to put her self in his shoes and experience Vietnam’s environment first hand. The main problem is that her father isn’t there to be with her and she has to get all of her information second hand from her uncle unless she can find other sources which I’m sure she will.
In the novel In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason, One element of fiction that plays a big part in the novel is the characters’ conflicts. The main character is a 17 year old Sam Hughes. She lives in the small town of Hopewell Kentucky and the story takes place in 1984. She is living with her uncle named Emmett who was a Vietnam War veteran. Her father was also in the war but unfortunately he was killed. Now Sam is trying to figure out more about her father and what type of person he was before and during the war since she was only a baby when he was killed. The conflict in this novel is not really a conflict between two or more characters but more of a conflict because there is something missing between her and her knowledge of her father.
It is very difficult for Sam to find anything out about her father but she still tries hard to find ways. Her main source is her uncle Emmett. The bad part is he is a radical person who tries his hardest to put Vietnam behind him and doesn’t like to talk about it. Once in a while when they are having conversations, she will bring up the subject about Vietnam and her father and try to squeeze as much information out of her uncle as possible.
So Far, she really hasn’t gotten enough information to know who her father really was and be able to put her self in his shoes and experience Vietnam’s environment first hand. The main problem is that her father isn’t there to be with her and she has to get all of her information second hand from her uncle unless she can find other sources which I’m sure she will.
Madame Bovary
Erika writes:
The novel Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, is a very interesting novel that takes place in France. The novel begins with a man named Charles Bovary’s wife passing away and so he decided to marry a young women named Emma who he is very attracted to because of her beauty. He asked for her father’s permission and knowing that Charles is a doctor and makes good money he accepts and allows him to marry Emma. Charles is very happy with his wife and does and buys anything she asks for so he can please her. Charles thinks she is happy with where she is but deep down Emma is very miserable and wishes she never went along with the marriage. She feels that if she waited she would have fallen in love with someone better and fit for her.
Soon Charles and Emma have a daughter together who they send to a wet nurse to be taken care of. Emma still displeased with her life accompanies Charles to dinner one night and meets a man named Leon. They talk for hours, after that night they meet up and walk around together both talking about there lives. Emma seems to be falling for Leon but to her disappointment he moves away to find better things in his life. Emma is once again miserable with nothing in her life to brighten it up in till she meets Rodolphe. They are automatically are attracted to each other. Rodolphe likes her for her beauty and Emma likes him for how he treats her. He always tells her how beautiful she is and respects her. Charles has no idea that Emma is in love with Rodolphe but thinks as him as a friend of the family, while most of the town suspects differently. He has no idea they are having an affair and will soon be planning a trip to run away together. Emma does not dare speak of running away because she loves Rodophe very much and does not want anything to change there plan. Unfortunately a day before they are going to leave Emma gets a letter in a basket with fruit, that explains how he (Rodolphe) can not take her away from her life and that it does not feel right so he is leaving without her. When Emma sees the letter she cries uncontrollably and faints. Charles is very worried about her and he has no idea why she fainted but thinks that she is very sick. Emma, now extremely sad lies in bed for a long time and Charles prays that she will be okay.
Overall something in novel always seems to happen to Emma which makes you want to keep reading to see how she will handle the next situation that comes into her life. Madame Bovary is not only a interesting novel but it is a very well written book making you always wanting to know what’s going to happen next.
The novel Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, is a very interesting novel that takes place in France. The novel begins with a man named Charles Bovary’s wife passing away and so he decided to marry a young women named Emma who he is very attracted to because of her beauty. He asked for her father’s permission and knowing that Charles is a doctor and makes good money he accepts and allows him to marry Emma. Charles is very happy with his wife and does and buys anything she asks for so he can please her. Charles thinks she is happy with where she is but deep down Emma is very miserable and wishes she never went along with the marriage. She feels that if she waited she would have fallen in love with someone better and fit for her.
Soon Charles and Emma have a daughter together who they send to a wet nurse to be taken care of. Emma still displeased with her life accompanies Charles to dinner one night and meets a man named Leon. They talk for hours, after that night they meet up and walk around together both talking about there lives. Emma seems to be falling for Leon but to her disappointment he moves away to find better things in his life. Emma is once again miserable with nothing in her life to brighten it up in till she meets Rodolphe. They are automatically are attracted to each other. Rodolphe likes her for her beauty and Emma likes him for how he treats her. He always tells her how beautiful she is and respects her. Charles has no idea that Emma is in love with Rodolphe but thinks as him as a friend of the family, while most of the town suspects differently. He has no idea they are having an affair and will soon be planning a trip to run away together. Emma does not dare speak of running away because she loves Rodophe very much and does not want anything to change there plan. Unfortunately a day before they are going to leave Emma gets a letter in a basket with fruit, that explains how he (Rodolphe) can not take her away from her life and that it does not feel right so he is leaving without her. When Emma sees the letter she cries uncontrollably and faints. Charles is very worried about her and he has no idea why she fainted but thinks that she is very sick. Emma, now extremely sad lies in bed for a long time and Charles prays that she will be okay.
Overall something in novel always seems to happen to Emma which makes you want to keep reading to see how she will handle the next situation that comes into her life. Madame Bovary is not only a interesting novel but it is a very well written book making you always wanting to know what’s going to happen next.
Jude the Obscure
Nick writes:
Characters, in life and in novels have a lot to them. Everybody
is a character who acts in a certain way in certain situations.
In the novel Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy the characters are
very well drawn. From what is known in the novel so far Jude, is
a boy of many different aspects. The word Obscure is very suiting
for him because he's just an average person who feels
extraordinary yet sees the goodness in life's simplicity. For
example as a boy Jude was seen by the farmer feeding the crows
with his food. This got Jude into trouble and lead to the loss
of his job along with a smack from the farmer. On the way home
leaving the farm an upset boy still took the time to make sure he
killed not a single worm in a mud patch. These two things show
Jude's kindness from the very start of the novel. Probably the
most reinforcing part in the novel to this point is the scene
where the butcher shows up late. Jude's wife expects him to kill
the pig slowly, but Jude knows the pig trusted him. The pig had
the ability to make Jude guilty which is than can be said for
most. The scene with the pig really shows his sense of humanness,
and as a reader there is a feeling of sadness as if you where
Jude looking into the eyes of a pain filled friend. Another
aspect that is seen in Jude along with to the rest of his family
is the inability to seek a respectable husband or wife. His first
and current wife was only married to him because she lied.
Clearly a relationship based on lies could never have worked and
inevitably she moved away to Australia. The most prominent
aspects of Jude's character is his intelligence, and work ethic.
He stays up late to read so that he could eventually move to
Christminister, and be a respectable scholar like his old
teacher. His work ethic is seen in his constant strive to become
the scholar he has always dreamed of being. His interest in books
sparks his want to be a scholar, and his intelligence gives him
the ability. Everybody has different aspect to their character as
a whole, and once you take the time to get to know people most of
the time you'll find they are a good person or at least have some
good in them. Thomas Hardy's display of Jude is very well thought
out, and even as far as halfway as a reader you have to feel a
connection with him.
Characters, in life and in novels have a lot to them. Everybody
is a character who acts in a certain way in certain situations.
In the novel Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy the characters are
very well drawn. From what is known in the novel so far Jude, is
a boy of many different aspects. The word Obscure is very suiting
for him because he's just an average person who feels
extraordinary yet sees the goodness in life's simplicity. For
example as a boy Jude was seen by the farmer feeding the crows
with his food. This got Jude into trouble and lead to the loss
of his job along with a smack from the farmer. On the way home
leaving the farm an upset boy still took the time to make sure he
killed not a single worm in a mud patch. These two things show
Jude's kindness from the very start of the novel. Probably the
most reinforcing part in the novel to this point is the scene
where the butcher shows up late. Jude's wife expects him to kill
the pig slowly, but Jude knows the pig trusted him. The pig had
the ability to make Jude guilty which is than can be said for
most. The scene with the pig really shows his sense of humanness,
and as a reader there is a feeling of sadness as if you where
Jude looking into the eyes of a pain filled friend. Another
aspect that is seen in Jude along with to the rest of his family
is the inability to seek a respectable husband or wife. His first
and current wife was only married to him because she lied.
Clearly a relationship based on lies could never have worked and
inevitably she moved away to Australia. The most prominent
aspects of Jude's character is his intelligence, and work ethic.
He stays up late to read so that he could eventually move to
Christminister, and be a respectable scholar like his old
teacher. His work ethic is seen in his constant strive to become
the scholar he has always dreamed of being. His interest in books
sparks his want to be a scholar, and his intelligence gives him
the ability. Everybody has different aspect to their character as
a whole, and once you take the time to get to know people most of
the time you'll find they are a good person or at least have some
good in them. Thomas Hardy's display of Jude is very well thought
out, and even as far as halfway as a reader you have to feel a
connection with him.
The Mill on the Floss
Katherine writes:
George Eliot's classic The Mill on the Floss includes well
drawn and realistic characters that bring the story to life. So
far, about halfway through the novel the characters are
beginning to reveal to the audience their traits and
personalities.
Sitting in her special corner of the attic, sulking, Maggie
Tulliver can't seem to please anybody. Her mother, a self -
conscious character, thriving on the ridicules of her sisters
that constantly put down her two children, is never satisfied
with Maggie's flaws. Maggies brother Tom, a moody pre -teen is
either affectionate or extremely cross with his sister. Poor
Maggie is just in a self conflict of being a kid and living up
to the expectations of her loved ones. The only character who
truly accepts Maggie, and values her for who she is, her
father, is a gentleman who isn't afraid to speak his opinion.
"But while he was speaking, Mr. Tulliver, who had by no means
said enough to satisfy his anger, burst out again."(79) Mr.
Tulliver, when the time is nessescary speaks his mind, and
protects his daughter Maggie from the scorn of others.
Through her detailed and vivid characters, Eliot truly
personifies her characters and creates an enticing story that
well deserves it's spot among the Great Classics of all times.
George Eliot's classic The Mill on the Floss includes well
drawn and realistic characters that bring the story to life. So
far, about halfway through the novel the characters are
beginning to reveal to the audience their traits and
personalities.
Sitting in her special corner of the attic, sulking, Maggie
Tulliver can't seem to please anybody. Her mother, a self -
conscious character, thriving on the ridicules of her sisters
that constantly put down her two children, is never satisfied
with Maggie's flaws. Maggies brother Tom, a moody pre -teen is
either affectionate or extremely cross with his sister. Poor
Maggie is just in a self conflict of being a kid and living up
to the expectations of her loved ones. The only character who
truly accepts Maggie, and values her for who she is, her
father, is a gentleman who isn't afraid to speak his opinion.
"But while he was speaking, Mr. Tulliver, who had by no means
said enough to satisfy his anger, burst out again."(79) Mr.
Tulliver, when the time is nessescary speaks his mind, and
protects his daughter Maggie from the scorn of others.
Through her detailed and vivid characters, Eliot truly
personifies her characters and creates an enticing story that
well deserves it's spot among the Great Classics of all times.
Emma
Maeve writes:
For my independent reading book this quarter, I am reading Emma, by Jane Austen. Emma is a work of historical fiction that takes place in Regency England, the period between 1811 and 1820. The novel is about a young, beautiful and vivacious girl named Emma Woodhouse, who lives in the village Highbury in Surrey. Emma likes nothing better than matchmaking, and already prides herself in what she considers to be a marriage arranged and thought up by herself, the wedding of her old nurse and friend Miss Taylor to the estimable Mr. Weston. This successful match gives her a rather high opinion of herself as a matchmaker, and she therefore sets out to find her new friend, Harriet Smith – a young, pretty and rather naïve girl – a suitable husband. She steers Harriet towards the young vicar, Mr. Elton. I have just reached the part in the story where Harriet begins to fall for Mr. Elton, leaving Emma with a feeling of immense satisfaction. I have a feeling that something is about to go wrong, however, seeing as I’m only on page 100 and the story is around 475 pages long. I’m interested in seeing what happens.
I do have to give a brief opinion of the novel as I have read it so far: I’m aware that I’m not very far into the story, but I find the novel pretty dull. This makes me sad, because I’m generally a fan of Austen’s works. I’m finding Emma very hard to read at the moment. A story about happily giggling as gossiping girls is never one that I have related to or enjoyed, and this particular girl just meddles in other people’s business, really. Everyone likes Emma in the story, but I find her annoying. I’m hoping that the novel and Emma will get more interesting and bearable as it continues on.
For my independent reading book this quarter, I am reading Emma, by Jane Austen. Emma is a work of historical fiction that takes place in Regency England, the period between 1811 and 1820. The novel is about a young, beautiful and vivacious girl named Emma Woodhouse, who lives in the village Highbury in Surrey. Emma likes nothing better than matchmaking, and already prides herself in what she considers to be a marriage arranged and thought up by herself, the wedding of her old nurse and friend Miss Taylor to the estimable Mr. Weston. This successful match gives her a rather high opinion of herself as a matchmaker, and she therefore sets out to find her new friend, Harriet Smith – a young, pretty and rather naïve girl – a suitable husband. She steers Harriet towards the young vicar, Mr. Elton. I have just reached the part in the story where Harriet begins to fall for Mr. Elton, leaving Emma with a feeling of immense satisfaction. I have a feeling that something is about to go wrong, however, seeing as I’m only on page 100 and the story is around 475 pages long. I’m interested in seeing what happens.
I do have to give a brief opinion of the novel as I have read it so far: I’m aware that I’m not very far into the story, but I find the novel pretty dull. This makes me sad, because I’m generally a fan of Austen’s works. I’m finding Emma very hard to read at the moment. A story about happily giggling as gossiping girls is never one that I have related to or enjoyed, and this particular girl just meddles in other people’s business, really. Everyone likes Emma in the story, but I find her annoying. I’m hoping that the novel and Emma will get more interesting and bearable as it continues on.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Nick writes:
Thomas Hardy
Born on June 2, 1840 Thomas Hardy's life was lived as a poet,
novelist, and even play writer. Thomas's life was not much like
the lives of his characters in his stories, but there are some
underlining similarities. He, like Jude in the novel Jude the
Obscure is a stonemason who dreams of being deeper in the
literature world. And even more similar he specializes in the
reconstruction of churches exactly like Jude does. Thomas Hardy
lived, and grew up in Dorchester, and was brought into
architecture by his father after his mother paid for his
education. Thomas Hardy always considered himself a poet rather
than a Book writer, and in some occasions wrote books more for
financial gain than for the love of writing. He wrote sixteen
novels, nine short stories collections, six plays, and many many
poems. Some of these poems include poems written in letters to
his love up to 40 years after her death. When Thomas Hardy was in
his prime he lived with his wife in London writing many novels.
Towards the end of Hardy's years he returned to his true love of
poetry and happily finished his career with these additions of
literature. Thomas Hardy a Poet at heart wrote novels poems and
short stories loved by many. Novels like Jude the Obscure make it
easy to see why people love his novels
Born on June 2, 1840 Thomas Hardy's life was lived as a poet,
novelist, and even play writer. Thomas's life was not much like
the lives of his characters in his stories, but there are some
underlining similarities. He, like Jude in the novel Jude the
Obscure is a stonemason who dreams of being deeper in the
literature world. And even more similar he specializes in the
reconstruction of churches exactly like Jude does. Thomas Hardy
lived, and grew up in Dorchester, and was brought into
architecture by his father after his mother paid for his
education. Thomas Hardy always considered himself a poet rather
than a Book writer, and in some occasions wrote books more for
financial gain than for the love of writing. He wrote sixteen
novels, nine short stories collections, six plays, and many many
poems. Some of these poems include poems written in letters to
his love up to 40 years after her death. When Thomas Hardy was in
his prime he lived with his wife in London writing many novels.
Towards the end of Hardy's years he returned to his true love of
poetry and happily finished his career with these additions of
literature. Thomas Hardy a Poet at heart wrote novels poems and
short stories loved by many. Novels like Jude the Obscure make it
easy to see why people love his novels
Erika writes:
Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist who lived from 1821-1880. It is said that he wrote off of “observed facts and events”. Gustave Flaubert was born in Rouen, France. He lived with his father who was a doctor and his mother who was a physician’s daughter. He also lived with his sister and his brother. Sadly his sister died while giving birth and Gustave and his mother took her daughter in and raised her together. When Gustave was fifteen he married a girl named Elisa Schlésinger. Unfortunately Gustave had a brain disorder and had seizures, because of this he quit his legal studies and decided that he would concentrate on his writing, where he could always find peace. Later on in his life he died of cerebral hemorrhage which is bleeding in the brain tissue. Some novels you may know by Gustave Flaubert are Madame Bovary, A Sentimental Education, and Three Tales.
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Fi-Gi/Flaubert-Gustave.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/flaubert.htm
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Fi-Gi/Flaubert-Gustave.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/flaubert.htm
Araz writes:
The House of Spirits By Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende was born in Lima, Peru on August 2, 1942. She is a Chilean-American novelist and is best known for her novel The House of the Spirits. In 1962 Isabel Allende married Miguel Frias and had a daughter; Paula a year later. She also travels around Europe with her family for a couple of years and finally she returns back to Chile to give birth to her son; Nicolas. From 1964 to 1974 Isabel Allende was the on the editorial staff for the women’s magazine Paula, and also the editor for the children’s magazine Mampato. She was also on many television shows and wrote two children’s books called The Grandmother and Lauchas y Lauchones. In 1972 her first stage play El Embajador is performed in Santiago. In 1981 she receives the news that her 99 year old grandfather is on his death bed and decides to write him a letter that soon becomes one of her notable works; The House of Spirits. In 1982 The House of Spirits was published in Plaza y Janes, Barcelona. She has taught literature in University of Virginia, Montclair College, and University of California. Isabel Allende has written 16 novels along with 3 plays. The novels that she has written are called: The House of Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, Stories of Eva Luna, The Infinite Plan, Paula, Aphrodite, Daughter of Fortune, Portrait of Sepia, City of the Beasts, My Invented Country, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon, Forest of the Pygmies, Zorro, Ines of My Soul, and The Sum of Our Days. Most of her novels have been published in different parts of Spain. Her books have been translated in over 27 languages and have been bestsellers in USA, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. Today Isabel Allende lives in San Rafael, California with her husband Willie Gordon.
Isabel Allende was born in Lima, Peru on August 2, 1942. She is a Chilean-American novelist and is best known for her novel The House of the Spirits. In 1962 Isabel Allende married Miguel Frias and had a daughter; Paula a year later. She also travels around Europe with her family for a couple of years and finally she returns back to Chile to give birth to her son; Nicolas. From 1964 to 1974 Isabel Allende was the on the editorial staff for the women’s magazine Paula, and also the editor for the children’s magazine Mampato. She was also on many television shows and wrote two children’s books called The Grandmother and Lauchas y Lauchones. In 1972 her first stage play El Embajador is performed in Santiago. In 1981 she receives the news that her 99 year old grandfather is on his death bed and decides to write him a letter that soon becomes one of her notable works; The House of Spirits. In 1982 The House of Spirits was published in Plaza y Janes, Barcelona. She has taught literature in University of Virginia, Montclair College, and University of California. Isabel Allende has written 16 novels along with 3 plays. The novels that she has written are called: The House of Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, Stories of Eva Luna, The Infinite Plan, Paula, Aphrodite, Daughter of Fortune, Portrait of Sepia, City of the Beasts, My Invented Country, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon, Forest of the Pygmies, Zorro, Ines of My Soul, and The Sum of Our Days. Most of her novels have been published in different parts of Spain. Her books have been translated in over 27 languages and have been bestsellers in USA, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. Today Isabel Allende lives in San Rafael, California with her husband Willie Gordon.
Greg
Daniel Defoe (approx. 1660 – 1731, dates are speculation for the most part) was an English novelist, journalist, and more – He was nearly everywhere in his era's literature world! Defoe was forced to endure some of the worst events in British history during his early years. In 1664, when Defoe was only a small child, he sat through the Dutch attacking London, the plague killing thousands of people, and the Great Fire of London. All of which occurred in rapid succession over the course of about three years. Later in Defoe's childhood – close to teenage years – he began studying at Charles Morton's Academy in London for the ministry. Much to the disdain of his father, James Foe, Defoe soon abandoned that path of education so as to pursue his passion of politics, literature, and trade – three relatively unrelated things.
Defoe's literary fame got its first big push in 1701 with his publication of the poem “The True Born Englishman”. That was the start of his literary fame. His literary infamy came with his publication of the pamphlet, “The Shortest Way With Dissenters” short after his poem's publication. The pamphlet greatly angered many for its satirical yet shamed views on the High Angelic Tories. As punishment for this, Defoe was forced to spend three days in a pillory, and a later imprisonment in jail.
After a great number of literary works, Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe in 1719. In my opinion, Robinson Crusoe is Defoe's most famous and best (in all senses of the word) literary work ever published. Robinson Crusoe is a fictional novel about a young man's voyage to sea, and his subsequent shipwreck, in which he is the sole survivor.
On a more personal note, Daniel Defoe was married to Mary Tuffley in 1684, with whom he had seven children. Defoe, originally named “Foe”, believed himself to be of a higher class of person, renaming himself “DeFoe”.
Daniel Defoe was able to serve as an inspiration for many of history's literary masterminds to come. Yes, this was partially because of his time period, but much more because of his bold, innovative style of writing as well as his popularization of the nonfiction genre. His works will definitely withstand the test of time.
Defoe's literary fame got its first big push in 1701 with his publication of the poem “The True Born Englishman”. That was the start of his literary fame. His literary infamy came with his publication of the pamphlet, “The Shortest Way With Dissenters” short after his poem's publication. The pamphlet greatly angered many for its satirical yet shamed views on the High Angelic Tories. As punishment for this, Defoe was forced to spend three days in a pillory, and a later imprisonment in jail.
After a great number of literary works, Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe in 1719. In my opinion, Robinson Crusoe is Defoe's most famous and best (in all senses of the word) literary work ever published. Robinson Crusoe is a fictional novel about a young man's voyage to sea, and his subsequent shipwreck, in which he is the sole survivor.
On a more personal note, Daniel Defoe was married to Mary Tuffley in 1684, with whom he had seven children. Defoe, originally named “Foe”, believed himself to be of a higher class of person, renaming himself “DeFoe”.
Daniel Defoe was able to serve as an inspiration for many of history's literary masterminds to come. Yes, this was partially because of his time period, but much more because of his bold, innovative style of writing as well as his popularization of the nonfiction genre. His works will definitely withstand the test of time.
Aimee writes:
For the third quarter, my independent reading book is Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 and died on January 11, 1928. He thought of himself as a poet, and wrote novels to help him financially. The term “cliffhanger” came from one of his novels, A Pair of Blue Eyes. His poems were first published in the 1850s. After he published his first novels, his critics accused him of being too pessimistic about humanity’s place.
Hardy was born at Higher Bockhampton, Dorset. His father was a master mason and builder. His appreciation for music came from his father. Hardy did not start attending school until he was eight years old, after one year he transferred to a school in placeDorchester. At 16, he assisted his father with architectural drawings; architect James Hicks noticed Hardy’s skill. He later moved to CityplaceLondon to work with architect Arthur Blomfield; he also started writing but was rejected by many people. In 1870, he met Emma Glifford, who encouraged his writing, they later got married. Emma died in 1912, and during that time Hardy wrote some of his best poetry. He remarried in 1914 to his secretary, Florence Dugdale.
Desperate Remedies was his first published book in 1871. The following year, he published Under the Greenwood Tree which made Thomas Hardy popular; this novel included real places, such as the school he had first attended. His following novels were, A Pair of Blue Eyes, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Woodlanders, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. After his novel Jude the Obscure caused many problems, he turned back to writing poetry, producing Wessex Poems.
Hardy was born at Higher Bockhampton, Dorset. His father was a master mason and builder. His appreciation for music came from his father. Hardy did not start attending school until he was eight years old, after one year he transferred to a school in placeDorchester. At 16, he assisted his father with architectural drawings; architect James Hicks noticed Hardy’s skill. He later moved to CityplaceLondon to work with architect Arthur Blomfield; he also started writing but was rejected by many people. In 1870, he met Emma Glifford, who encouraged his writing, they later got married. Emma died in 1912, and during that time Hardy wrote some of his best poetry. He remarried in 1914 to his secretary, Florence Dugdale.
Desperate Remedies was his first published book in 1871. The following year, he published Under the Greenwood Tree which made Thomas Hardy popular; this novel included real places, such as the school he had first attended. His following novels were, A Pair of Blue Eyes, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Woodlanders, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. After his novel Jude the Obscure caused many problems, he turned back to writing poetry, producing Wessex Poems.
Talia writes:
My classic Wuthering Heights is by the famous author Emily Bronte. She was a British novelist and poet and lived from 1818 to 1848 in Thorton, Britian. Emily was the second oldest in the three of the famous Bronte sisters. The other Bronte sisters Charlotte and Anne were also famous writers; and all family members are well known for their work.
At the time she lived females weren’t allowed to publish books so she had to write under the masculine pen name of Ellis Bell. Her other two sisters took Bell as their last name also because of the prejudice against women. The whole family was interested in poetry, even their father Patrick Bronte who wrote several books himself.
The only novel published by Emily Bronte was Wuthering Heights, published only a year before her death. It is sometimes said that her novel is a biography of her life, personality, and beliefs. Many=2 0of her poems are also connected to the novel because of their similar use of romance, mystical sense, and certain beliefs. Much is still not known about Emily Bronte because she kept mostly to herself, and spoke mainly through poems but she destroyed many of them right before her death. Even though Emily lived a short life, she will still always be remembered for her remarkable works of literature.
At the time she lived females weren’t allowed to publish books so she had to write under the masculine pen name of Ellis Bell. Her other two sisters took Bell as their last name also because of the prejudice against women. The whole family was interested in poetry, even their father Patrick Bronte who wrote several books himself.
The only novel published by Emily Bronte was Wuthering Heights, published only a year before her death. It is sometimes said that her novel is a biography of her life, personality, and beliefs. Many=2 0of her poems are also connected to the novel because of their similar use of romance, mystical sense, and certain beliefs. Much is still not known about Emily Bronte because she kept mostly to herself, and spoke mainly through poems but she destroyed many of them right before her death. Even though Emily lived a short life, she will still always be remembered for her remarkable works of literature.
Tim writes:
The author of the book I am reading called In Country is Bobbie Ann Mason. Growing up in Mayfield Kentucky in 1940 Bobbie Ann Mason loved books so her parents made sure there were always enough around for her to read. She grew up on a dairy farm with brother and sister and worked hard in the field.
In 1970 while she was teaching journalism at Mansfield State College in Pennsylvania, She started to write some short stories showing her observations of life. Some short stories she wrote included Shiloh and Other Stories which won several rewards in 1983 to Midnight Magic: Selected Stories of Bobbie Ann Mason.
In Country, a novel about a 17 year old girl who wants to find out more about how her father died in the Vietnam War, was Bobbie Ann Mason's first novel written in 1985. She went on to write more novels and people say she is one of the countries leading fiction writers.
In 1970 while she was teaching journalism at Mansfield State College in Pennsylvania, She started to write some short stories showing her observations of life. Some short stories she wrote included Shiloh and Other Stories which won several rewards in 1983 to Midnight Magic: Selected Stories of Bobbie Ann Mason.
In Country, a novel about a 17 year old girl who wants to find out more about how her father died in the Vietnam War, was Bobbie Ann Mason's first novel written in 1985. She went on to write more novels and people say she is one of the countries leading fiction writers.
Parisa writes:
Thomas Hardy
Familiar with the phrase “Cliff Hanger”? It was invented about Thomas Hardy who left a character literally hanging from a cliff.
Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in England. He was not born into a wealthy family, his father was a stonemason, and he went to college as an architect. Although he won prizes as an architect, he was mainly a poet and novelist. He lived during the Victorian Era, where people did not talk about things like sex and girls were made out to be like porcelain dolls, but he wrote about women who were unchaste, destitute, or had committed adultery, which was very shocking and revolutionary. His books, which very often did have sex or things that were considered unmentionable, were censored and even burned by some people in outrage. Once an insulted woman sent Hardy the ashes of one of his books to show how much she hated it. He wrote his first novel in 1867 but couldn’t find a publisher, so he destroyed the manuscript. He was encouraged to try again by a friend and published his first two novels anonymously. Hardy is most famous for his language and the portrayal of his characters. He shows you all levels of society from top to bottom and all the corruption that goes on in life, he doesn’t hold back the weaknesses, shortcomings and villainous activity of people or prettify things like people of the Victorian Era tended to want. He designed his books to be honest which also made things seem rather bleak, and he shows you the injustice of society and the Victorian system, how the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, and a girl like Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles never can get a break from anybody.
Thomas Hardy fell in love with a woman, Emma Lavinia Gifford, married her, and then they separated. However he always still loved her and her death had a real impact on him. Even when he married a woman 37 years younger than him, Florence Dugdale, he still wrote poems about his first wife. His heart was buried with his first wife and his ashes were buried in Poets’ Corner in a famous London cemetery.
Familiar with the phrase “Cliff Hanger”? It was invented about Thomas Hardy who left a character literally hanging from a cliff.
Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in England. He was not born into a wealthy family, his father was a stonemason, and he went to college as an architect. Although he won prizes as an architect, he was mainly a poet and novelist. He lived during the Victorian Era, where people did not talk about things like sex and girls were made out to be like porcelain dolls, but he wrote about women who were unchaste, destitute, or had committed adultery, which was very shocking and revolutionary. His books, which very often did have sex or things that were considered unmentionable, were censored and even burned by some people in outrage. Once an insulted woman sent Hardy the ashes of one of his books to show how much she hated it. He wrote his first novel in 1867 but couldn’t find a publisher, so he destroyed the manuscript. He was encouraged to try again by a friend and published his first two novels anonymously. Hardy is most famous for his language and the portrayal of his characters. He shows you all levels of society from top to bottom and all the corruption that goes on in life, he doesn’t hold back the weaknesses, shortcomings and villainous activity of people or prettify things like people of the Victorian Era tended to want. He designed his books to be honest which also made things seem rather bleak, and he shows you the injustice of society and the Victorian system, how the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, and a girl like Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles never can get a break from anybody.
Thomas Hardy fell in love with a woman, Emma Lavinia Gifford, married her, and then they separated. However he always still loved her and her death had a real impact on him. Even when he married a woman 37 years younger than him, Florence Dugdale, he still wrote poems about his first wife. His heart was buried with his first wife and his ashes were buried in Poets’ Corner in a famous London cemetery.
Sasha writes:
Kurt Vonnegut is thought of as one of the greatest modern American novelists, a title I can think of no other author more worthy of receiving.
Vonnegut was born on November 11, 1922 to Kurt (another one, and there are more to come) and Edith Vonnegut, in Indianapolis Indiana.
Vonnegut attended Cornell University, the Carnegie Institute of Technology and The University of Chicago. As well as being a writer, Vonnegut also enjoyed painting and wood-carving.
He was married twice, the first time to Jane Marie Cox, who he married on September 1st, 1945 and divorced in 1979. Later that year he married Jill Krementz. Between the two marriages Vonnegut had seven children, two of whom were adopted and another of whom was named Kurt.
The most famous works of Kurt Vonnegut are of course Slaughterhouse V, a WWII novel that mixes Vonnegut’s own war memories with the outlandish time travel adventures of Billy Pilgrim, and the novel that I have been assigned, Cat’s Cradle a theological romp through the true meaning of society, organized religion, and god.
Vonnegut has won a number of awards for his work including an Emmy. In 2001, he was named the official author of New York State.
Kurt Vonnegut died on April 11, 2007.
Citation
Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2009. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. February 22, 2009.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
"Kurt Vonnegut." Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 44. Gale Group, 2002.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. February 22, 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
Vonnegut was born on November 11, 1922 to Kurt (another one, and there are more to come) and Edith Vonnegut, in Indianapolis Indiana.
Vonnegut attended Cornell University, the Carnegie Institute of Technology and The University of Chicago. As well as being a writer, Vonnegut also enjoyed painting and wood-carving.
He was married twice, the first time to Jane Marie Cox, who he married on September 1st, 1945 and divorced in 1979. Later that year he married Jill Krementz. Between the two marriages Vonnegut had seven children, two of whom were adopted and another of whom was named Kurt.
The most famous works of Kurt Vonnegut are of course Slaughterhouse V, a WWII novel that mixes Vonnegut’s own war memories with the outlandish time travel adventures of Billy Pilgrim, and the novel that I have been assigned, Cat’s Cradle a theological romp through the true meaning of society, organized religion, and god.
Vonnegut has won a number of awards for his work including an Emmy. In 2001, he was named the official author of New York State.
Kurt Vonnegut died on April 11, 2007.
Citation
Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2009. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. February 22, 2009.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
"Kurt Vonnegut." Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 44. Gale Group, 2002.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. February 22, 2009 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
Golshan writes:
Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula and many other short stories and novels, was born
in Clontarf, Ireland on November 8, 1847. He had 6 siblings and was sick very often as a child. When he got older, Stoker went to Trinity college in Dublin, Ireland and majored in mathematics. He later joined the Civil Service like his father had. Stoker wrote screenplays and met many actors. He married Florence Balcombe, an actress, and moved to London, England. Stoker died in London on April 20, 1912. Some other novels by Bram Stoker include, "The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903), The Man (also titled The Gates of Life 1905), Lady Athlyne (1908), The Lady of the Shroud (1909), Famous Impostors (1910), and The Lair of the White Worm (1911)".
Website used: [ http://www.online-literature.com/stoker/ ]http://www.online-literature.com/stoker/
-Golshan
in Clontarf, Ireland on November 8, 1847. He had 6 siblings and was sick very often as a child. When he got older, Stoker went to Trinity college in Dublin, Ireland and majored in mathematics. He later joined the Civil Service like his father had. Stoker wrote screenplays and met many actors. He married Florence Balcombe, an actress, and moved to London, England. Stoker died in London on April 20, 1912. Some other novels by Bram Stoker include, "The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903), The Man (also titled The Gates of Life 1905), Lady Athlyne (1908), The Lady of the Shroud (1909), Famous Impostors (1910), and The Lair of the White Worm (1911)".
Website used: [ http://www.online-literature.com/stoker/ ]http://www.online-literature.com/stoker/
-Golshan
Hannah writes:
The Count of Monte Cristo was written by Alexandre Dumas. Alexandre Dumas pere was born on July 24, 1802 just outside of Paris, France and died in Pyus, France on December 5, 1870. His grandmother was a black slave, however this did not cause much trouble in his career. He grew up with his family in France. After his dad died in 1806 when he was only 4 years old, his family became very poor and life was hard. Dumas never had the opportunity to attend a college. When he grew up, he worked as a famous writer for magazines, plays, and novels as well as a historian. He also worked in the National Guard for some time. He married Ida Ferrier in 1884, however he continued to see other women. Because of his multiple partners, supposedly he was father to over 500 children.
Dumas started his writing career by writing magazine articles and plays. After being successful with writing plays and articles, he began to write novels. The novel he is best known for writing is The Three Musketeers, which was published in 1844. Dumas’s books were very popular when written and he became very famous. He was also well known for his exciting, action packed work that many authors cannot produce. He is also now known as one of the most talented writers of the 19th century.
The Count of Monte Cristo was published in 1844. It is one of his most famous pieces of work of all time. It is so popular that it is one of the most sold books ever. There are some suspicions that Dumas took the story line from another’s work of art, however nothing has been proven yet.
Dumas started his writing career by writing magazine articles and plays. After being successful with writing plays and articles, he began to write novels. The novel he is best known for writing is The Three Musketeers, which was published in 1844. Dumas’s books were very popular when written and he became very famous. He was also well known for his exciting, action packed work that many authors cannot produce. He is also now known as one of the most talented writers of the 19th century.
The Count of Monte Cristo was published in 1844. It is one of his most famous pieces of work of all time. It is so popular that it is one of the most sold books ever. There are some suspicions that Dumas took the story line from another’s work of art, however nothing has been proven yet.
Maeve writes:
Jane Austen was an English novelist, and she is one of the most widely read and beloved author in English literature. Her writings are centered on her use of realism, crisp social commentary, irony, and free indirect speech.
Austen was born in England into a small family on the edge of the English high social class. She was educated mainly by her father and older brothers, although she learned much through reading on her own. After she finished her studies, during which she experimented with many different forms of writing, she published four novels, with which she gained recognition and success as a published writer. The novels were Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816). She then wrote two more novels, both published in 1818 – Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, and began writing a third, Sanditon, but died before she could complete it.
During her lifetime, Austen preferred to publish her novels anonymously. It was only in 1869 when her nephew published A Memoir of Jane Austen that she became widely known to the public, as opposed to just members of the literary elite.
Austen’s works are now very famous, and have been adapted into everything from audio-books to movies.
Austen was born in England into a small family on the edge of the English high social class. She was educated mainly by her father and older brothers, although she learned much through reading on her own. After she finished her studies, during which she experimented with many different forms of writing, she published four novels, with which she gained recognition and success as a published writer. The novels were Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816). She then wrote two more novels, both published in 1818 – Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, and began writing a third, Sanditon, but died before she could complete it.
During her lifetime, Austen preferred to publish her novels anonymously. It was only in 1869 when her nephew published A Memoir of Jane Austen that she became widely known to the public, as opposed to just members of the literary elite.
Austen’s works are now very famous, and have been adapted into everything from audio-books to movies.
Mairian writes:
I am reading A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. This was the novel he wrote in 1908, written at about the same time as a few of his other novels, and also inspired by his trip to Italy and cruise to Greece. Forster was born on January 1, 1879 in London. He was raised by his mother and his aunts after his father’s death. He didn’t like the English public school system because he didn’t have good experiences at the Tonbridge School and he suffered in school compared to the happiness he felt at home. However he was able to pursue his interests in philosophy, literature and Mediterranean civilization, at King’s College, Cambridge, and he was determined to devote his life to writing. A Room with a View was his 3rd novel. His 4th novel Howard’s End was his first major success. He visited India in 1912-13 during WWI and that sparked up his most celebrated novel: A Passage to India. This was probably the best novel about India written by a foreigner. Forster also lived through WWII. He was honored after the war for his resistance to any form of tyranny and totalitarianism. He was also awarded a permanent fellowship to King’s College in 1946. He lived the rest of his years at Cambridge writing and teaching. He died on June 7, 1970 in England
Kristina writes:
Edith Wharton was born on January 24, 1862 in New York City, New York in
1862. Her parents were George Fredric Jones and Lucretia Rhinelander. When Edith
was four years old she and her family moved to Europe and traveled all over.
Throughout her childhood she was taught by private tutors, who taught her many
subjects, her favorite being art.
In 1877 Edith published her first book, which was a collection of short stories
and poetry. Her debut in the world of literature and society happened in 1879, but
soon went traveling again in Europe with her family. In 1882 Edith's father died,
and Edith moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. This is where she met her lifetime friend
Walter Berry. In 1885 Edith married Edward "Teddy" Robbins Wharton. For the next
20 to 30 years Edith published more than 15 short stories, novels, and poems.
During this time she purchased a house, which later became a historic landmark,
and in 1913 Edith got a divorce with her husband. Later in Edith's life she helped
with WWI by raising money and building schools for hostels.
On August 11, 1937 Edith Wharton died of a stroke. In Edith Wharton's lifetime
she published more than 50 works of literature. She captured people's eye by
writing about upper class people and their values, and traditions, while including
some irony and wit.
1862. Her parents were George Fredric Jones and Lucretia Rhinelander. When Edith
was four years old she and her family moved to Europe and traveled all over.
Throughout her childhood she was taught by private tutors, who taught her many
subjects, her favorite being art.
In 1877 Edith published her first book, which was a collection of short stories
and poetry. Her debut in the world of literature and society happened in 1879, but
soon went traveling again in Europe with her family. In 1882 Edith's father died,
and Edith moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. This is where she met her lifetime friend
Walter Berry. In 1885 Edith married Edward "Teddy" Robbins Wharton. For the next
20 to 30 years Edith published more than 15 short stories, novels, and poems.
During this time she purchased a house, which later became a historic landmark,
and in 1913 Edith got a divorce with her husband. Later in Edith's life she helped
with WWI by raising money and building schools for hostels.
On August 11, 1937 Edith Wharton died of a stroke. In Edith Wharton's lifetime
she published more than 50 works of literature. She captured people's eye by
writing about upper class people and their values, and traditions, while including
some irony and wit.
Katherine writes:
Mary Ann Evans Cross was born on November 22, 1819, in
Warwickshire, England. To readers, she is known as George Eliot,
her male pen name chosen to ensure that her works were taken
seriously.
Female writers were allowed to publish under their own names,
however were ridiculed and merely portrayed as writers of
romance. To eliminate this scrutiny, Cross was smart to associate
as George Eliot when publishing her novels, and if she hadn't
perhaps her incredible pieces of work, such as "The Mill On The
Floss", would have been simply and carelessly overlooked due to
gender.
After a devout childhood of religious pietism, Evans Cross got
her first break while working as assistant editor of the
Westminster Review. She meets George Henry Lewes, editor of The
Leader, and so begins a twenty four year involvement, he as her
advisor and companion. Lewes, a married man and father left his
mistress stricken and lonely when he dies in 1878. And so ends
the scandalous relationship, and the man who chiefly influenced
Evans Cross's novels.
The year of her passing, 1880, Lewis marries John Cross. She is
remembered as an author of realism and psychological
perspicacity, and as one of the leading writers of the Victorian
Era. Her books reflect charming provincial England, and are
extremely well- written, to this day proving that George Eliot is
a classic and an exceptionally talented author.
Warwickshire, England. To readers, she is known as George Eliot,
her male pen name chosen to ensure that her works were taken
seriously.
Female writers were allowed to publish under their own names,
however were ridiculed and merely portrayed as writers of
romance. To eliminate this scrutiny, Cross was smart to associate
as George Eliot when publishing her novels, and if she hadn't
perhaps her incredible pieces of work, such as "The Mill On The
Floss", would have been simply and carelessly overlooked due to
gender.
After a devout childhood of religious pietism, Evans Cross got
her first break while working as assistant editor of the
Westminster Review. She meets George Henry Lewes, editor of The
Leader, and so begins a twenty four year involvement, he as her
advisor and companion. Lewes, a married man and father left his
mistress stricken and lonely when he dies in 1878. And so ends
the scandalous relationship, and the man who chiefly influenced
Evans Cross's novels.
The year of her passing, 1880, Lewis marries John Cross. She is
remembered as an author of realism and psychological
perspicacity, and as one of the leading writers of the Victorian
Era. Her books reflect charming provincial England, and are
extremely well- written, to this day proving that George Eliot is
a classic and an exceptionally talented author.
Kayla writes:
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The author of my independent reading book One Hundred Years of Solitude is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In 1982 Gabriel Garcia Marquez was awarded the Nobel Priz e for literature and he received his first glimpse of international fame from his well-written classic One Hundred Years of Solitude. He is known as “Gabo” to many of his readers and many people consider him to be one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Garcia Marquez has written over fifteen works of literature and uses magical realism to convey his emotional and unpredictable stories.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in Aracataca, Colombia on March 6, 1928. He was born during the end of the banana boom when over one hundred strikers were shot. His parents were poor and having a hard time so his grandparents raised him. Colonel Nicolas Ricardo Marquez, his grandfather, and Tranquilina Iquaran Cotes, his grandmother, were very important influences to the way Gabriel grew up and they also influenced his novels. His grandfather was an interesting man who helped found the village Aracataca, told excellent stories, and taught Gabriel many lessons that he would later put into his stories. His grandmother and her many sisters that lived in the hou se were superstitious and no matter how strange and unrealistic the stories were, she always made it sound like they were the exact truth. Growing up Gabriel was not close to his parents. His mother was spirited and his father was not very well liked by the community or his grandparents so they went to live in Riohacha.
When Gabriel Garcia Marquez was eight years old he moved in with his parents because his grandfather had died and his grandmother’s blindness was increasing. He was sent to a boarding school and was a shy boy who liked to write poems and draw cartoons. When he was twelve he received a scholarship to a school for gifted students. During his time in school he developed a love of literature and after graduating he attended the Universidad Nacional in Bogota as a law student. He met his future wife Mercedes Barcha Pardo during this time and they got married fourteen years later. Garcia Marquez did not like his studies and started slacking in his classes. He sta rted reading and writing more than ever and stopped his studies as a law student. Finally in January 1965 he discovered his tone for his novel. He locked himself in his room for eighteen months writing and smoking. His famous novel was published in June 1967 and at the end of the week 8000 copies had been sold out. Soon after he became the famous writer he is now and his novels are translated internationally.
Sources:
[ http://www.themodernword.com/gabo/gabo_biography.html ]http://www.themodernword.com/gabo/gabo_biography.html
The author of my independent reading book One Hundred Years of Solitude is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In 1982 Gabriel Garcia Marquez was awarded the Nobel Priz e for literature and he received his first glimpse of international fame from his well-written classic One Hundred Years of Solitude. He is known as “Gabo” to many of his readers and many people consider him to be one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Garcia Marquez has written over fifteen works of literature and uses magical realism to convey his emotional and unpredictable stories.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in Aracataca, Colombia on March 6, 1928. He was born during the end of the banana boom when over one hundred strikers were shot. His parents were poor and having a hard time so his grandparents raised him. Colonel Nicolas Ricardo Marquez, his grandfather, and Tranquilina Iquaran Cotes, his grandmother, were very important influences to the way Gabriel grew up and they also influenced his novels. His grandfather was an interesting man who helped found the village Aracataca, told excellent stories, and taught Gabriel many lessons that he would later put into his stories. His grandmother and her many sisters that lived in the hou se were superstitious and no matter how strange and unrealistic the stories were, she always made it sound like they were the exact truth. Growing up Gabriel was not close to his parents. His mother was spirited and his father was not very well liked by the community or his grandparents so they went to live in Riohacha.
When Gabriel Garcia Marquez was eight years old he moved in with his parents because his grandfather had died and his grandmother’s blindness was increasing. He was sent to a boarding school and was a shy boy who liked to write poems and draw cartoons. When he was twelve he received a scholarship to a school for gifted students. During his time in school he developed a love of literature and after graduating he attended the Universidad Nacional in Bogota as a law student. He met his future wife Mercedes Barcha Pardo during this time and they got married fourteen years later. Garcia Marquez did not like his studies and started slacking in his classes. He sta rted reading and writing more than ever and stopped his studies as a law student. Finally in January 1965 he discovered his tone for his novel. He locked himself in his room for eighteen months writing and smoking. His famous novel was published in June 1967 and at the end of the week 8000 copies had been sold out. Soon after he became the famous writer he is now and his novels are translated internationally.
Sources:
[ http://www.themodernword.com/gabo/gabo_biography.html ]http://www.themodernword.com/gabo/gabo_biography.html
Meaghan writes:
Aldous Huxley in his adult years.Aldous Leonard Huxley was a famous English novelist who wrote the book, Brave New World in 1931, and it was published in 1932. Huxley had a very thrilling life, writing poetry, scripts, short stories and novels. He was born on July 26, 1894 in the Southeast of England and died on November 22, 1963, when he was 69 years old. He was an English writer in the Huxley family and had three brothers. He was close with his family because he had a large group of family members who cared so well for him. Aldous was very close with his grandfather, Thomas Huxley. When Huxley was fourteen years old, his mother sadly passed away from cancer. Later, when Aldous was just around twenty years of age, his brother, Trevenen, committed suicide. Huxley’s life turned around completely since the death of his loving mother and brother.
Aldous lived in the United States for a while, but moved to Los Angles in 1937 to experience other opportunities. In his middle years he spent most of his time as a farm laborer. Aldous traveled around a lot. For example, he went to Taos, New Mexico and wrote one of his famous books, Ends and Means, which was published in 1937. Huxley attended a high-class school and liked it, until a medical concern affected his learning. At the age of sixteen, an eye infection caused him to be nearly blind and he had to leave school. At school, he enjoyed literature and science the most. Years later, he attended Oxford University in which he graduated in English Literature.
Something I found very interesting about the life of Aldous Huxley was that he adapted Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland to a screenplay, thinking he would get recognized for it, but, Walt Disney rejected his script saying his vocabulary in the screenplay was too complex. I think Lewis Caroll’s work is what really started him off as a novelist.
Since Huxley was so smart, he tried his absolute best to make the script as advanced as it could be. Little did he know, the group in Walt Disney wasn’t looking for something that difficult.
“Every man's memory is his private literature” was a famous quote of Aldous Huxley’s. It explains him well because in most of his novels, there are a few pieces of background information of his life. He connects two things together in the novel I am currently reading now, Brave New World. He connects the future with the past and everything in the story is in the future. He adds bits and pieces of his past life to make the future of his story great.
In conclusion, Aldous Huxley’s life was very interesting to learn about and I’m looking forward to reading more of Brave New World. .
Some websites where I got my information from:
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ahuxley.htm
http://mural.uv.es/~mifepra/biohux.htm
http://www.enotes.com/salem-history/aldous-huxle
http://www.answers.com/topic/aldous-huxley
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