Learning to Read

Sufjan Steven's introduction to The Best American Non Required Reading was certainly different. But I enjoyed reading it. I think what I liked the most about it was how honest he was. Sharing that he didn't learn to read until he reached the third grade is a tough admission to make. If I had experienced the same thing, I'm not sure I'd be able to share that with so many people. But his admission didn't make me think any less of him. Looking at his writing, I would have never guessed that, at one point in his life, there was a possibility that he would never become literate. I would have never known without his admission. 

Some people have criticized the way that Steven's learned to read. Which was by studying the labels found on food at the grocery store. But in his story, Steven's wrote about the excitement he felt to go to the grocery store with his father so that he could examine all the soup cans, cereal boxes and coupons. Previously, Steven's had never felt that excitement, that desire to learn. He was lucky to have had a teacher who could stir up in him an inclination to become literate. The focus of the readers thoughts should have been on the celebration of his accomplishment, not on criticizing the method in which he learned. 

Dimension

I found Alice Munro's short story Dimension difficult to get through. I wasn't crazy about the style the author wrote it in. It also seemed to read really slowly and I just had a horrible time getting through it. In fact, I got so frustrated with it at one point that, with only five pages to go, I had to set it down for the rest of the day and come back to finish it later. It's a good thing I came back too, because once I hit the last three pages it actually began to pick up. 

I'm not sure what I found so difficult about the story. I think it was probably the characters. I don't know what to think about Doree. I feel sympathy toward her of course. How could you not? But at a certain point, I just have to say enough is enough. She's letting her husband Lloyd continue to manipulate, while he's in prison. It's hard to imagine someone having so strong of a hold on me that, even while they aren't a part of my daily life, they can control most of what I say and do. 

As for Lloyd, I feel no sympathy for him at all. And I'm a little frustrated that Munro didn't give an explanation for his being found criminally insane. Yes his character was a little off, but criminally insane? I'm not sure I'd believe that. He should be tried, take full responsibility for his actions and face the consequence. After his being put in prison, what really irritated me about him was the mixed messages he was purposefully sending to Doree. When she would come to visit him he would tell her that he didn't expect her to keep visiting him, that he could understand completely if she didn't come. And then, he proceeds to send her letters, sharing just enough information with her to come and see him again. To ask him about his letters in person. I can't believe the grip he as on Doree after what he did to her. 

Another part of the story that kind of irritated me was at the very end of the story. When Doree and the bus driver see the boy drive his truck into the ditch and fly out of the cab of the truck. I couldn't understand the drivers anger at the boy, who was lying close to death on the road. And then after Doree helped save his life, the driver immediately wanted to leave, to get back on schedule. How hard it is to wait for an emergency vehicle to get there and ensure the boys life? That really angered me. 

In the Shadow of No Towers

When I read through the syllabus for this course and saw that we had been assigned a graphic novel, I was slightly surprised. And, to be honest, not really looking forward to reading it. After I bought it, I threw it up on my shelf without looking through it and left it there until I needed to begin reading it. 

Once I started reading In the Shadow of No Towers my only goal was to finish it as quickly as possible. Which meant I did have to go back and reread parts of it to get a better understanding of what was going on. Still, after I better understood what Spiegelman was trying to say, I didn't like it anymore than I had before. I just wasn't interested in the story at all. Whether or not this was caused by my reluctancy to read it is something I have yet to determine. Though I'm certain it played a part. 

I will say though that were a few things that I liked about Spiegelman's work. As it was a graphic novel, I liked that Spiegelman often made the reader analyze his drawings more than his text to gain an understanding of the story he was trying to tell. I also liked that he included some of the comics that he drew inspiration from at the end of the book. I enjoyed looking through them and then flipping back and forth between them and Spiegelman's own work and drawing comparisons.

Other than that, there isn't much more I could say for it. I just wasn't that into it. On the flip side though, I never would have picked up and read a graphic novel on my own time. 

My Sister's Keeper

For the final project my group decided on the novel My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I'll admit I was a little hesitant to read the novel, but I breezed through it quite quickly. And it ended up being a really good read. 

There is no challenge when it comes to reading this novel. Definitely no foreign languages that have to be dealt with. But while the novel is easy to get through, the actual plot that Picoult has created is quite intricate. 

The novel focuses on the Fitzgerald family. Mainly the two daughters, Anna and Kate. Kate is dying from Leukemia, in fact she should already be dead. But thanks to her perfect donor match of a sister Anna, Kate has beaten the odds and is still alive. 

Anna's parents created her for a purpose. To help save their daughter Kate. No harm was meant to come of Anna, but as Kate continued to relapse, riskier donations were needed of Anna. But now, as Anna is a teenager, she begins to question her purpose and existence. She's not sure if she wants to continue here life as a donor for Kate. And her ultimately her decision will have a life or death result.