I'm big on books so this is really hard for me, coming up with three influential books is like picking my favorite child. I like them all. The first would have to be Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go" and this book is influential because when I was four and didn't know how to read, that was my favorite book to read with my mom. Eventually I flipped through the pages myself and decided to take inspiration upon myself by making my own book. I stapled printer paper together and had my mom write out the story and I drew pictures just like Dr. Seuss. Now my Broadcasting Journalism major requires the love of writing in everything I do.
The second book that has influenced me is Pride & Prejudice. Jane Austen taught me how to use distinguished vocabulary in a way that captures the reader and specifically affects the writing itself. My favorite thing is how her main character's live happily ever after. I read this at a vital age where what I read affected my writing and how I would be writing in the future.
The last book that has influenced me is Kate Chopin's "The Awakening". I adore everything about this book. It instilled feminism in me that women felt in times of sexism and oppression in history (women's rights) and at the age that I read it it was necessary. It's a coming of age piece of literature which was perfect because the gangly teenager that read it felt confident enough to become a young woman and be satisfied with herself.
Good choices. It's interesting how books written long ago can influence how we live now. Use links!
ReplyDeleteTry this one: http://www.seussville.com/
Oh, "The Awakening" is an interesting, uncommon choice for a personal favorite.
ReplyDeleteI read it a few years back and thought that Edna's climactic choice to leave the mansion was less of a feminist decision and more like that of a spoiled child, leaving somewhat of a bitter aftertaste (especially considering the book's ending).
At some point, I felt as though it became difficult to tell where Kate Chopin was compromising with society at the time with the liberalities she was writing in. I found Edna's character to be weaker than I wished her to be (and much weaker than many modern female characters) and I felt that her unfortunate end was somewhat of a cop-out.
As a whole though, I'm curious to know what you liked about Ms. Pontellier as a character and what she did that made you feel more confident.