Playing the Game by Frank and Stein, the streetsmart guide to graduate school, it's very tongue-and-cheek... you really need to have a sense of humor when you read this book or you'll get quickly offended... at times I did forget to have a sense of humor especially when they make it appear as if graduate school is politics or when it deemed the search and attainment of knowledge/expertise just fluff or bs... then I'd remember to laugh at myself... from this book, I'll remember the importance of planning, doing work early (even if it's painstakingly meticulous in the beginning but will save time later on), keeping in mind my objective and applying it to every class I take, making the most of grad school (my last hurrah before full time employment in the working world), and not stressing too much...
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- now I understand the allusion in James Blunt's song "Tears and Rain"... of course the song pales in comparison to Wilde's novel... I seem to have the patience for descriptions/catalogues, the greek/roman allusions and the flower symbolisms... I noticed the excess flower metaphors, and while reading the footnotes, I learned that flower symbolism were used a lot in the Victorian period... it was a captivating read and at times fantastical especially some of the plot twist (sometimes the action is so quick and sudden that it seemed at first underdeveloped but in the end it justifies itself)... the novel makes me think about art and its creator (a little piece of the creator left in the art, art as an extension of the artist, his life/personality)... it's a fast read and mind-provoking... intellectual!
New Grub Street by George Gissing, once again another fast read, it was only 500+ pages but I didn't find it difficult to read at least 50 pages a day. Besides the literary issues discussed here, the story reminded me of a soap show but not so superficial. It's more profound and novel... the ending is subtle, but the sting lingers mentally... :)
I started Brave New World and so far it's disturbing...
Posted by Michael Diezmos at July 9, 2007 11:08 PMOooo, Dorian Gray and Brave New World I read in high school--terrific books. My high school actually performed a musical version that my AP English teacher wrote and directed. It was crazy. Enjoy your books. I need to make more time for my own reading... Thanks for the reminder :)
Posted by: Karissa at July 16, 2007 6:05 PM