Persepolis Reaction

After reading the first half of Persepolis, I have found Satripi's graphic novel to contain many interesting elements. For me, the most interesting element of the story is reading about another culture in a crisis. This time in Marji's life is a very influential one and I found it particularly interesting to follow. It is something that I have very little knowledge in.  I think that my lack of knowledge in this subject only contributes to the naive narration of Marji. I also enjoyed the reading experience of Persepolis. The graphic element of the story really helps the reader understand things that only words couldn't. I also like the quick flow of the story. The panels really help the reader get into the pace of the book. I would recommend that Persepolis remains part of the curriculum in College Lit. Graphic novels are really on the rise and it would be a shame to leave McFarland High School without ever being taught one. It is a reading experience all of its own and I believe that it should be taught in the future.

I am the Messenger

For the choice novel unit, I read I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.  It is the same author that wrote The Book Theif, for those who read that book. Zusak is from Australia so his writing style is a little different, but I think that this only ads to the book. I think that he does a particularly good job of appealing to a wide audience. Not only does it appeal to young readers, but it also appeals to older audiences as well. Zusak adds so many nuances that even an advanced reader will find this book interesting. The humor and suspense are elements that readers of all levels will enjoy. I am the Messenger has continued to prove why it won the Pulitzer Prize. Markus Zusak did a brilliant job of depicting Ed's influential journey. I loved how Zusak taught the reader 12 individual messages while sticking to the overall themes. I know that not everyone in our class got to read I am the Messenger, but I would highly recommend it to any one who didn't read it for class.

Persepolis

After starting the graphic novel, Persepolis, I thought it would be interesting to read a little into the background of the setting. The title comes from a middle eastern ceremonial capital. The Achaemenid Empire lasted from 550- 330 B.C and Persepolis was the capitol of this Empire during its height. It is located in present day Iran; about 70km northeast of Shiraz. This graphic novel clearly has ties to the middle east just by its title. The connections continue on the first page. The main character is constantly dealing with the outcomes and consequences of the Islamic revolution. This revolution, which the book points out, started in 1978 and lasted through 1979. Also mentioned in the book, the goal of this revolution was to overthrow the Shah and the Iranian monarchy. Revolutionaries, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, wanted to replace the monarchy with a republic. Strikes and demonstration during 1978 paralyzed the nation and after the Shah left the country in January of 1979, millions of Iranians rejoiced as a republic was implemented. This was a very complex issue that effected the middle east for many years. It is clear that it would be difficult for a young kid to understand the complex issues of this event. It will be interesting to see how the main character will respond to the results of the revolution throughout the rest of the book.   

Jane Eyre Reflection

After reading Jane Eyre, I have formulated multiple opinions about the 493 page beast. I really liked all the motifs in this book. I thought that this part of the book really worked. I enjoyed discussing the various motifs that appear throughout the book. I think that this book taught the reader a lot about Victorian women and society.There were many useful things in this book/ unit. I enjoyed learning about the Bronte sisters and how they lived in the Victorian Age. One thing I thought could be modified about this unit was the gender PowerPoint. I feel like most people just put down stereotypes without actually researching things. One think I didn't like about the actual book was too perfect ending. I it was too happy and perfect for me. I do think that this book should be retaught because it offers a great insight into the Victorian era. It is a classic work that many people will face at some point in there life anyway so why not in high school. The only thing negative is the length. It is tough to get through in such a short amount of time. Overall there were both positive and negative aspects to this unit but the book was enjoyable, in general.

Differing Points of View

When reading a story, we as readers tend to read from a biased view point. We consider the view point of the main character and that characteronly. A lot of times if we are told a story from a different point of view, our entire perception of the story changes. Jane Eyre is one example of this type of story. There have been many different retellings of this story from different view points. Adele: Jane Eyre's Hidden Story, The Story of Adele From Jane Eyre, and Rochester: A Novel Inspired by Jane Eyre  are all examples of this. I think that Catcher in the Rye would also be a great story told from a different point of view. There are so many minor characters in that story that would be great to hear from. Pheobe, his parents, and Stradlator would all make great stories of Holden. I think one interesting view point would be that of the various taxi drivers. Holden finds himself many times in the back seat of a taxi. Every time he seems to be a different person. I think if the various taxi drivers voiced their opinions of Holden, it would make a great book. Overall, both Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre have been great stories from Holden and Jane respectively, but may be they would be even better told from a different eye.

Jane Eyre Movies

Jane Eyre has long been considered a classic. So much so that it has been made into a movie multiple times. In fact, since the first one in 1910, over ten movies have been produced under the Jane Eyre title (countless more have similar archetypes inspired by Jane Eyre). It is quite surprising to me that this story has been made into a movie so many times. I guess directors think that since it was such a successful book that it would also make a successful movie. Why do you think they keep remaking this movie? You would think that one would realize that after the first few movies that the American public just wasn't going to get into the Jane Eyre story.

The latest release is set to come out in the spring of 2011 and it will star Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. This up coming movie looks actually promising considering its trailer. (http://www.focusfeatures.com/video/jane_eyre_the_trailer). Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the previous versions of the movie but they just have never been hugely successful. In fact, if I hadn't read the book I would probably have very little interest in the movie. Do you think that people that have never read the book will buy into the Jane Eyre story? I think people are missing out to, by not seeing it. This story, although slow to get going, is full of twists and turns. It has been such a good book for a long time, but a lot of times that just doesn't carry over into the cinema (maybe that is why Salinger never let Catcher become a movie). Lets hope that the public finally gets some sense and latches on to the Jane Eyre bandwagon in 2011.

Ghost World Reaction

After watching Ghost World this week, I found it to, overall, be a pretty good movie. I had never heard of Ghost World before this week, much less seen it, and I thought the critics got it right. The girls' egotistical and almost Gothic approach to life, makes the viewer almost hate the two main characters at the beginning. This is one element of the movie that was extremely bold, but seemed to pay off at the end. Not many producers will create main charters that the viewer hates, but Zwigoff did it and did it well. I think that because we hate the Enid and Rebbecca at the start, we like them more at the end. The way Enid grows throughout the movie really reminds me of Holden's growth. They both start out as misguided teens that have very few positive things in life, but by the end of their stories they have grown up and started adulthood.

Like Catcher, Ghost World leaves many unanswered questions. Where does Enid go to on that bus? Do Enid and Seymour meet up again? Do Rebbecca and Enid ever meet back up? The viewer can't answer these answers. They can only speculate and I think that is what makes it so successful. As we saw in Catcher in the Rye, and open interpretation only enhances our opinions of the story because we can think what we want. In the end, Ghost World was a success to me because of its likability of its characters and its open ending.