Completion Date: Unknown :'(
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: HHG - 215, REOU - 208, TOTAL - 423
Most Memorable Quote: Since I'm reviewing two books here, I'm just going to do one quote for each book.
Hitchhiker's Guide:
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
"Very deep," said Arthur, "you should send that in to the Reader's Digest. They've got a page for people like you." - The only thing I can think to say about this quote is: LOL.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe:
"'Have some sense of proportion!' she would say, sometimes as often as thirty-eight times in a single day.
And so he built the Total Perspective Vortex — just to show her.
And into one end he plugged the whole of reality as extrapolated from a piece of fairy cake, and into the other end he plugged his wife: so that when he turned it on she saw in one instant the whole infinity of creation and herself in relation to it.
To Trin Tragula's horror, the shock completely annihilated her brain; but to his satisfaction he realized that he had proved conclusively that if life is going to exist in a Universe of this size, then the one thing it cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion."
-- I would love to be in Douglas Adams' brain for 5 minutes. How on Earth does he even think of something like that? I'd imagine my brain would probably explode if I saw "the whole infinity of creation and myself in relation to it." I'm thinking I'll build a Total Perspective Vortex next Tuesday, what do you think? :P
Aaanyway. Those quotes were mostly just to show how clever and wonderful these books are. Because seriously, they are freakin' hilarious.
Hitchhiker's Guide and Restaurant at the End of the Universe are kind of mind blowing, I'm not going to lie! With all the made up words and species and confusing terminology, this guy created his own universe that I've spent 2 books trying to understand. I sometimes have to read over things 3 or 4 times to finally comprehend what is trying to be said.
I really love the characters in these books. You've got a snobby British guy; a pompous, arrogant guy with two heads; a depressed, self-loathing robot; an alien hitchhiker; and one SEMI-normal girl; and they're all stuck together on a spaceship that makes the most improbable things happen. Absolutely genius.
I love the ship and the talking equipment. Every inanimate object speaks and has feelings in these books. One of my favorite parts of Hitchhiker's Guide was when Arthur tried to explain tea and get the ship to work with the drink maker to create it. The ship had to shut down and focus it's full attention to the task, almost killing them, until it finally figured it out. Arthur described the final product as "the best tea he'd ever drunk." The ship was very self-satisfied.
I was amazed at the extreme randomness of these books. Going through the thought process of a whale as it's plummeting to the surface of a planet from space is not something you see in every book; appealing to a foreign alien's desire for independence in order to prevent them from throwing you into the deep abyss of space is not an idea authors normally consider. Douglas Adams simply went where no one else COULD have gone and it astounds me. WHAT WAS HE THINKING WHEN HE WROTE THIS?
If you love sarcasm and dry humor and hate logic, you will love these books. Luckily I do, and I was laughing 95% of the time. But along with the hilarity, this series (thus far) is just absolutely BRILLIANT. The syntax, the word choice, the metaphors, the symbolism...it's all in there and it makes the books remarkable.
Wow, this is a choppy entry. haha. I just can't eloquently describe why these books give me so much joy. Probably because these books aren't eloquent. But they are still fantastic and I vote EVERYONE reads them. I'm sure they had their flaws, but I was too busy laughing to notice them.
So, with that, the answer is 42. :)
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P.S. The reason I'm writing this now and combining these two books in the series is because I will not be reading the next one in the Hitchhiker's series for a while. With English books and my own personal reading, I just don't have time to hit up the next one yet.
P.P.S. I don't have the completion date on here because my dad threw away my list of completed books that I had written down on paper. I had the date on there...but now it's lost and gone forever. :'( I'm very upset about it. Worst thing to ever happen to an OC, let me just say...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, September 24, 2010
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Completion Date: 09.21.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages:359
Most Memorable Quote: "Fiddling with the damp terragon left me so intensely irritated that when I was done I had to stick the ramekin/mise bowls back in the fridge and go watch both the episode where Xander is possessed by a demon and the one where Giles regresses to his outrageously sexy teen self and has sex with Buffy's mom, just to get over it." -- I think we all know why I love this quote. It's because it mentions Buffy. Also because it portrays Julie's eccentric, bizarre personality and writing style quite well -- straightforward, to the point, slightly unstable, and simply funny.
You know, that quote up there isn't the only quote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that book! In fact, Julie mentions it quite often, which rocks. That's probably why I love it so much. I always have another Buffy quote to look forward to. And hey, she even referenced Firefly once! She must be a Whedonite. That fact made me love her, even before I learned how seriously funny and insane she is.
Aside from the Buffy-ness of the book, I really liked Julie and Julia. It was great. It made me literally laugh out loud. OUT LOUD. It has been such a ridiculously long time since I've laughed so hard at a book. Granted, that's because I've been reading thrillers and serious, intense books lately, but still. I was so pleased.
Julie Powell has an awesome writing style. It's just so...honest. She doesn't beat around the bush, sugar coat things...she said a couple of things that were awkward enough to make me squirm a little, which is quite impressive. She doesn't hold back. She puts her entire personality on the page, saturating it with witty, unstable goodness.
I was really shocked at how interesting this book was. I mean, it's about an average New Yorker making a blog about cooking a lot -- but the humor and other little side stories made it worth getting through the stuff that I didn't comprehend in the least.
For a book about cooking, there was a tonnn of swearing and sexual references, so be warned. I mean, honestly, it adds to the charm of the book; without the stream of swears and awkward cooking vs. sex comparisons, it just wouldn't be the same! However, this may make it so that it's not for everyone.
Talking about the story, it's pretty awesome, what Julie Powell did. I know I couldn't cook 524 French recipes in 365 days. That's just silliness. She pulled it off though, which is certainly commendable. And now she's all famous, with a book and a movie. Just goes to show, it doesn't matter what situation you're in -- set goals and accomplish them. You never know what could happen.
Well, I liked it. Mostly for Buffy, but for the rest of it, too. ;)
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages:359
Most Memorable Quote: "Fiddling with the damp terragon left me so intensely irritated that when I was done I had to stick the ramekin/mise bowls back in the fridge and go watch both the episode where Xander is possessed by a demon and the one where Giles regresses to his outrageously sexy teen self and has sex with Buffy's mom, just to get over it." -- I think we all know why I love this quote. It's because it mentions Buffy. Also because it portrays Julie's eccentric, bizarre personality and writing style quite well -- straightforward, to the point, slightly unstable, and simply funny.
You know, that quote up there isn't the only quote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that book! In fact, Julie mentions it quite often, which rocks. That's probably why I love it so much. I always have another Buffy quote to look forward to. And hey, she even referenced Firefly once! She must be a Whedonite. That fact made me love her, even before I learned how seriously funny and insane she is.
Aside from the Buffy-ness of the book, I really liked Julie and Julia. It was great. It made me literally laugh out loud. OUT LOUD. It has been such a ridiculously long time since I've laughed so hard at a book. Granted, that's because I've been reading thrillers and serious, intense books lately, but still. I was so pleased.
Julie Powell has an awesome writing style. It's just so...honest. She doesn't beat around the bush, sugar coat things...she said a couple of things that were awkward enough to make me squirm a little, which is quite impressive. She doesn't hold back. She puts her entire personality on the page, saturating it with witty, unstable goodness.
I was really shocked at how interesting this book was. I mean, it's about an average New Yorker making a blog about cooking a lot -- but the humor and other little side stories made it worth getting through the stuff that I didn't comprehend in the least.
For a book about cooking, there was a tonnn of swearing and sexual references, so be warned. I mean, honestly, it adds to the charm of the book; without the stream of swears and awkward cooking vs. sex comparisons, it just wouldn't be the same! However, this may make it so that it's not for everyone.
Talking about the story, it's pretty awesome, what Julie Powell did. I know I couldn't cook 524 French recipes in 365 days. That's just silliness. She pulled it off though, which is certainly commendable. And now she's all famous, with a book and a movie. Just goes to show, it doesn't matter what situation you're in -- set goals and accomplish them. You never know what could happen.
Well, I liked it. Mostly for Buffy, but for the rest of it, too. ;)
[CHECK]
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Completion Date: 09.07.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages:569
Most Memorable Quote -
"All faiths are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable...with faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do, looking beyond the ritual of these walls, they would see a modern miracle...a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control."
-- This is when Camerlengo Carlo Vestra is speaking to the world about the Illuminati and the faults of science. This quote is actually quite accurate about the nature of religion, I find. There isn't a religion on the Earth today that is perfect -- men spin in prejudice, politics, weakness . . . no man is infallable, and religious organizations and opinions are formed by men. However, perfection is not what's important in religion. Religion is a moral compass; it is a source of hope, of love, of service . . . despite all error or uncertainty, religion is the root of so much good in this world, and is beautiful.
So, uh. Yes. That is my religious thought of the day. Does that have anything to do with Angels and Demons, the book? No, not really.
On a more related note, I quite enjoyed Angels and Demons! At first I thought I was going to like The DaVinci Code better, as that one's about the history of art, which I find fascinating. However, as I read myself deeper into the Angels and Demons symbology, plot twists, and pure action-packed-goodness, it simply encaptured me.
Now, let me clarify, this was not the best book I've read in my life. Not even close. I know that last paragraph was raving (and goodness gracious, YOU try to come up with as intricate a work of fiction while mixing in so many hard facts and detailed history -- I mean, seriously!) but there were plenty of flaws with this book. Dan Brown is a freaking genius when it comes to the storyline -- the detail, the twists and turns, the characters -- it's all top notch! I simply find that he could probably find more eloquent ways of putting across the mass amounts of information that he shoves into your face. I mean, you hardly notice this because the plot is enough to excite you and keep you enthralled, but his writing style is certainly simple.
Angels and Demons is altogether a good book. Is it my favorite? nah. But it's really, really good.
As a final note, I really wish I could think like Dan Brown. He must be such a smart guy. Sadly, however, my intellectual level is probably about the same as a puppy. Eh, but such is life. Maybe I'll just write a book about what it's like to be completely, utterly, ridiculously ordinary.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages:569
Most Memorable Quote -
"All faiths are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable...with faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do, looking beyond the ritual of these walls, they would see a modern miracle...a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control."
-- This is when Camerlengo Carlo Vestra is speaking to the world about the Illuminati and the faults of science. This quote is actually quite accurate about the nature of religion, I find. There isn't a religion on the Earth today that is perfect -- men spin in prejudice, politics, weakness . . . no man is infallable, and religious organizations and opinions are formed by men. However, perfection is not what's important in religion. Religion is a moral compass; it is a source of hope, of love, of service . . . despite all error or uncertainty, religion is the root of so much good in this world, and is beautiful.
So, uh. Yes. That is my religious thought of the day. Does that have anything to do with Angels and Demons, the book? No, not really.
On a more related note, I quite enjoyed Angels and Demons! At first I thought I was going to like The DaVinci Code better, as that one's about the history of art, which I find fascinating. However, as I read myself deeper into the Angels and Demons symbology, plot twists, and pure action-packed-goodness, it simply encaptured me.
Now, let me clarify, this was not the best book I've read in my life. Not even close. I know that last paragraph was raving (and goodness gracious, YOU try to come up with as intricate a work of fiction while mixing in so many hard facts and detailed history -- I mean, seriously!) but there were plenty of flaws with this book. Dan Brown is a freaking genius when it comes to the storyline -- the detail, the twists and turns, the characters -- it's all top notch! I simply find that he could probably find more eloquent ways of putting across the mass amounts of information that he shoves into your face. I mean, you hardly notice this because the plot is enough to excite you and keep you enthralled, but his writing style is certainly simple.
Angels and Demons is altogether a good book. Is it my favorite? nah. But it's really, really good.
As a final note, I really wish I could think like Dan Brown. He must be such a smart guy. Sadly, however, my intellectual level is probably about the same as a puppy. Eh, but such is life. Maybe I'll just write a book about what it's like to be completely, utterly, ridiculously ordinary.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Completion Date: 05.03.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 158
Most Memorable Quote:
"When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun." -- I love this quote because it describes, in essence, if you look at each part of that quote, the whole theme of the book. It's a very eloquent way of saying that life really isn't as complicated as it is generally made out to be.
I absolutely loved this book; it is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of all time. It's exceptionally different from most books that I've ever read.
Taoism is a very seldom understood way of life. Many find that the only ones that can fully understand or explain it are those old Chinese philosophers who often seem too distant and impossible to relate to. Benjamin Hoff took the task to explain some fundamentals of Taoism through the beloved and well-known Pooh Bear and all his friends in the 100-acre woods.
In this book, everything from the basics of what Taoism is to the principle of the Uncarved block is explained in terms that I could relate to exceptionally well. I discovered that, whereas it's a beautiful belief system, etched with simplicity and harmony with the Universe, I would suck as a Taoist. A quote from the book simply made me giggle, as it explained me so well:
"The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much."
That...is me. I think. And I think. And I over think. And I over think my over thinking. And honestly, you will never meet some one more tense, I'm almost incapable of relaxing; awkward, I suck at making conversation and being around people; and confused, I'm pretty sure my mind is permanently boggled by things like religion, politics, and boys; and I can definitely see that it's my need to think about things through and through that's to blame. I would love to be a Taoist, but my very nature seems to be against it.
The point in all this rambling about how much I would suck as a Taoist is that I have a lot that I can learn and take from a book like this. Whereas I can't call myself a Taoist, I can attempt to apply Taoist principles to my life to make myself happy, and a book that can help me understand how to do so in simpler terms is a great book.
"Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got."
Knowledge, and wisdom, and skepticism isn't everything in the world. It's important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, and not get all caught up and stressed over things that are going on. According to Taoism, the pieces will fall where they may and worrying about it serves no one. Sometimes, every now and then, you don't need to figure everything out and you need to just accept things for what they are.
"Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about."
I loved this book so much. It was just so...good. Read it.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 158
Most Memorable Quote:
"When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun." -- I love this quote because it describes, in essence, if you look at each part of that quote, the whole theme of the book. It's a very eloquent way of saying that life really isn't as complicated as it is generally made out to be.
I absolutely loved this book; it is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of all time. It's exceptionally different from most books that I've ever read.
Taoism is a very seldom understood way of life. Many find that the only ones that can fully understand or explain it are those old Chinese philosophers who often seem too distant and impossible to relate to. Benjamin Hoff took the task to explain some fundamentals of Taoism through the beloved and well-known Pooh Bear and all his friends in the 100-acre woods.
In this book, everything from the basics of what Taoism is to the principle of the Uncarved block is explained in terms that I could relate to exceptionally well. I discovered that, whereas it's a beautiful belief system, etched with simplicity and harmony with the Universe, I would suck as a Taoist. A quote from the book simply made me giggle, as it explained me so well:
"The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much."
That...is me. I think. And I think. And I over think. And I over think my over thinking. And honestly, you will never meet some one more tense, I'm almost incapable of relaxing; awkward, I suck at making conversation and being around people; and confused, I'm pretty sure my mind is permanently boggled by things like religion, politics, and boys; and I can definitely see that it's my need to think about things through and through that's to blame. I would love to be a Taoist, but my very nature seems to be against it.
The point in all this rambling about how much I would suck as a Taoist is that I have a lot that I can learn and take from a book like this. Whereas I can't call myself a Taoist, I can attempt to apply Taoist principles to my life to make myself happy, and a book that can help me understand how to do so in simpler terms is a great book.
"Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got."
Knowledge, and wisdom, and skepticism isn't everything in the world. It's important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, and not get all caught up and stressed over things that are going on. According to Taoism, the pieces will fall where they may and worrying about it serves no one. Sometimes, every now and then, you don't need to figure everything out and you need to just accept things for what they are.
"Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about."
I loved this book so much. It was just so...good. Read it.
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Sunday, March 28, 2010
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Completion Date: 03.17.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Completion Date: 7/10/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Completion Date: 6/18/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
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