Reading Wishlist

1. Eleanor and Parks
2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
4. Divergent
5. Blink
6. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs

Book Talk Presentation

Book 3 Review

Love.  A complicated battle between two individuals, that tends to turn out like a high school relationship….dramatic.  Julian Barnes, in his novel, Love etc., takes a complicated theme, and turns it into an even more complicated web of love that exemplifies society.  Adding a love triangle, possible rape, and a “crazy in love” man, named Stuart, yes that was a Beyoncé reference, creates a ten times more complicated than a high school relationship, story.  Perhaps…a little too complicated.  

Gillian, who was originally married to Stuart, quickly divorces and remarries Stuart’s best friend Oliver.  Stuart who has always been a successful business man, whereas Oliver is what most readers would consider a bum, cannot comprehend why Gillian would ever leave him for a character such as Oliver.  After much disapproval from others, Gillian declares that she “loved each of them truly” (Barnes 16).  This is the epitome of the problem in Gillian’s aspect of her life, whereas Stuart has never moved on from his marriage to Gillian.  The story proceeds to describe the events of Stuart wedging his way back into Gillian’s life, and eventually he becomes closer to her...maybe a little too close.  The reality, as well as problem about Stuart, is that he has never been able to get over Gillian.  There are two very clear differences about the feelings between Stuart and Gillian, which drives the plot.  The ending results in a differing perspective on the same situation.  Stuart believes the…excuse my language, sexual activity between he and Gillian was mutual, whereas Gillian claims to have been raped.  The story reflects the true complication of love and how there really is no conclusion to love. 

Although the plot itself, love triangle and all, is a tad far-fetched for the everyday average Joes of society, the tangled web of love can easily be understood and applicable to most readers.  I applaud Barnes for taking a common theme in literature, and adding a dramatic plot twist.  As far-fetched as it is, it definitely is unique.  The writing style as well as set-up of the novel is told from three first person narratives. This easily showcases how subjective each opinion/perspective on the same situation can be.  The form is unique, appealing, and truly emphasizes each perspective, such as when Stuart says, “But I think it’s best you hear my story first” (Barnes 11). 

Barnes has always been classified as a postmodern writer and that truly reflects in his writing.  The ending of the novel, when Gillian’s mother says, “…for something [to] happen.  Or for nothing to happen” (Barnes 227), which reflects a technique of non-linear plot line, meaning there is no solid conclusion to the story, used throughout most postmodern literature.  Barnes utilizes this technique to represent the uncertainty of most relationships and love stories, in society.  Although most societal relationships aren’t as dramatic, Barnes perfectly captures the inconclusive endings of love.   

Barnes crafts Stuart and Gillian beautifully, but the character, Oliver, seems to be an underdeveloped character.  Almost as if Oliver was the middle child that got left behind, or is always forgotten.  I’m a middle child…can you tell?  Just kidding my parents aren’t really like that.  Barnes puts so much detail into Stuart and Gillian that it almost seems as if he completely forgot about Oliver.  Oliver is as deep in the situation just as deep as Gillian and Stuart are….hence the equilateral love triangle.  Towards the end of the novel, it’s almost as if Oliver fell off the face off the earth, or there’s a game of hide and go seek and Oliver is the hider….a really good one. I was waiting for someone to call out olly olly oxen free and Oliver would all of a sudden appear in plain sight, however this did not happen.  Some readers may blame it on the multiple  “mini-breakdown[s]” Oliver has had, but come on, put the emotions aside, and look after your wife! (Barnes 106).

All in all, Love etc., like many other of Julian Barnes’ novels, leaves me with some deep thinking.  Although, a little annoyed by the ending and how open-ended Barnes leaves readers, my memory of this book will consist of a mixed hate/love emotion.    

Blog Post 9: character reflection

In Julian Barnes’ novel, Love etc., there are three main characters: Gillian, Stuart and Oliver. Stuart and Gillian were married, but quickly after she fell in love with Stuart’s best friend, Oliver, forming an unbreakable love triangle.  The story is written as if it were to be written like a play.   Each character talks in a first-person narrative describing their perspective of the past and the relationships formed.  Through this narration Stuart reveals how he has never moved on from Gillian and fights to get her back into his life.  At the very end, he succeeds, however, there comes a controversial scene.  Stuart believes Gillian had consented (I’m trying to sound as PG as possible) to engaging in sexual activities, whereas Gillian believes she was raped and ultimately ends up pregnant.  Since there are three narrators, most characters seem to like Stuart up until the ending where they are confused as to whether he really is a hero or a villain.  Gillian, who is a very controversial character with readers for leaving her husband for another man, tries to justify her actions.  Oliver, I personally believe is just plain annoying…hopefully other readers have the same opinion as I do.  He’s arrogant, cocky, prideful, and honestly I believe he shouldn’t because he has nothing to brag about.

Looking at Stuart, I would say that he could be a double agent, or a hero and villain.  He tries to help Gillian and her family, getting them into a new home, better lifestyle, helping her family, etc.  But his motives at the end are controversial.  Did he really rape Gillian?  Or was it a mutual agreement? The ambiguity sort of allows him to be both the good guy and bad guy of the situation.

Something interesting that I’ve noticed is how the topic of memory becomes very controversial.  By writing in a three perspective narration style, readers are able to see the subjectivity of an individual’s recollection of memories and how varying they can be.  It blurs the line between what is real and fiction. 

My question would be: Do you think it’s justifiable to love two different people like Gillian did?

Blog Post 8: Truth in Memoir

First things first, I have to get this off my chest...who cares if Oprah is upset that David Frey stretched the truth of his memoir? Now before all the scoffs, the oh em gee's or all the reasonings that Oprah is important is because she is queen of the world (I mean she did narrate Life... but that's not the point), I'll explain myself. I mean Oprah is a popular woman in today's society. She's opinionated, kind-hearted, all the good things in life. What I fail to understand is how Oprah's opinion of a book, whether she supports it or not, affects me. I'll probably end up reading the book if she supports it or not...no offense Oprah. If it's a good book regardless, most likely I'll find my way to plant my nose in the book. To me it doesn't matter if the book is true or not. Some would beg to differ, however it's my opinion. Now say if I were to mosey down the isles of Barnes and Noble looking for an autobiography on Oprah (she's a theme of today's post) for a presentation, I would hope that 100% of the content were true. That way when I get up in front of the class to discuss my findings, I won't say something outrageous such as, "Oprah was in the 1896 Olympics". A memoir I feel is different. Let's be honest, if I were to write a memoir it would be pretty boring. "Yesterday I woke up at 5:55 a.m...went downstairs and ate a muffin....and went to school" The mundane activities of my life bleeding all over the pages. We're all the same people. No one has magical super powers, or flies on a broomstick like Harry Potter. We all live pretty mundane lives nine times out of ten. So in order to make our lives seem somewhat interesting, we have to spice it up and exaggerate. I can understand the controversy that it really wouldn't be considered a memoir anymore, but like I said earlier...we're all the same people living out the same, mundane, average lives (Unless you're a celebrity). Another interjection of thought....how in the world is it that David Shields can get away with taking mutliple portions of novels, shove them together, and call it a new book? I'm pretty sure if I did that and slapped on a very tiny citation at the very end, I would be called out for plagiarism or given a zero in the class. All I'm saying is is if this David guy can get away with it...why can't I?

Blog Post 7: Book Trailer

Post Blog 6: Readicide

Readicide is a reality. Teachers often hear the moans coming from students as they hear "next week we will be starting Hamlet.”  Why is that?  It’s because teachers force students to read books that frankly seem less interesting than a detailed book describing how paint dries.  A little over exaggerated, I’ll admit, but at times it feels that way.  Teachers every year hit students hard to look for that complexity or analysis of symbols within a stale piece of text.  I feel as though it takes even more fun out of the reading than it already has. 

Now here’s another idea.  Let’s say we do a 50/50 of literary fiction and genre fiction.  Who’s to say that in genre fiction novels there are no symbols to be analyzed or passages to be scanned for literary devices?   Plus students will be able to stay engaged with the story/plotline while having a slight decrease in annoyance to annotate and analyze the text.

 In order to keep students educated, reading needs to stay around longer.  In order for that to happen, schools need to ease up on their literary fiction reading, simply because it discourages students from outside reading.  Perhaps English classes should not be reading Twilight or other books with a pointless outline, no offense to the die-hard Twilight fans, but books that have an interesting plotline intertwined with a little complexity.  I think it’s the perfect blend