For my non-fiction novel, I chose to read one of Mr. Kunkle's recommendations, The Liar's Club by Mary Karr. Karr's writing style is laid back and I couldn't help but get comfortable with it by the second page. She manages to tell such hard truths about her, at most times, horrid childhood. Karr manages to bring humor into almost every chapter, and though she shares some quite saddening stories she still manages to get us laughing by the end.
Although I cannot relate to the dark side of her childhood, there were many other little connections I could make between me and Karr. Most all of them were regarding her relationsip to her sister. The most obvious one to me is extremely subtle, and is only mentioned quite briefly. In Chapter three Karr writes, "..but Lecia had a way of grabbing ahold of me with a look that shut down any of my whining in a heartbeat's time...She could always nail me with that look, make me stop mid-sentence." I can relate all to well. As children, her being four years my junior, if I was to be scolded it would mainly be through "the look" my sister would give me. It would drive me crazy, and it still does, but I know she'll always be able to stop me in my tracks. Mary and Lecia had a strong relationship, and it was wonderful to read a story of sister's and know that my sister and I held a similarly close bond.
Karr's simple yet effective writing style pulled me into her writing. Further, her anecdotes were quick, funny, and at times quite inspiring. Karr truely wrote a phenomenal memoir and I would not hesitate to tell anyone who has had a childhood to read The Liar's Club.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Prevailing Opinion of a Sexual Character Discussed
Mary Wollstonecraft wrote in a different era, and it shows in her writing. I could barely wrap my head around the first paragraph, and I started to dread the next 18 pages. Surprisingly, once I got reading it wasn't that hard to understand her thoughts. Not only did Wollstonecraft pull me in with her strong words, I could sense the passion behind them.
While reading Wollstonecroft's essay I found a few similiarites between that period of time and present day. She writes, "Children, I grant, should be innocent; but when the epithet is applied to men, or women, it iis but a civil term for weakness." I find this to be true today; a child is supposed to hold on to innocence as long as possible. Though when you grow old, if you are "innocent" you are perceived as naive (weak). One sentence in particular really stuck out to me; "In fact, if we revert to history, we shall find that the women who have distinguished themselves have neither bene the most beautiful or the most gentle of their sex." She makes a great point. Still to this day, women often have to prove themselves in society, and these women are usually not percieved as the most beautiful nor the most gentle.
Another point that Wollstonecraft mentioned in her essay was that women should not have to build themselves to please their husbands, suitors, etc. She states, "She will not model her soul to suit the frailities of her companion, but to bear with them." So true! No one should "model his/her soul" to please another. Before women were allowed to receive the same education as men they were more or less silenced by their inadequate education on math, science, literature, etc. Wollstonecraft writes,"That a proper education; or, to speak with more precision, a well stored mind, would enable a woman to support a single life with dignity." A woman living by herself, back then, would have been looked down on. In AP Euro we talked about how if a woman never married, or was widowed and never re-married, she was looked upon as a "witch".
Even though it seemed to drag on, this essay was a great read. Wollstonecraft's views and opinions were extremely compelling, and she put true power into her writing.
While reading Wollstonecroft's essay I found a few similiarites between that period of time and present day. She writes, "Children, I grant, should be innocent; but when the epithet is applied to men, or women, it iis but a civil term for weakness." I find this to be true today; a child is supposed to hold on to innocence as long as possible. Though when you grow old, if you are "innocent" you are perceived as naive (weak). One sentence in particular really stuck out to me; "In fact, if we revert to history, we shall find that the women who have distinguished themselves have neither bene the most beautiful or the most gentle of their sex." She makes a great point. Still to this day, women often have to prove themselves in society, and these women are usually not percieved as the most beautiful nor the most gentle.
Another point that Wollstonecraft mentioned in her essay was that women should not have to build themselves to please their husbands, suitors, etc. She states, "She will not model her soul to suit the frailities of her companion, but to bear with them." So true! No one should "model his/her soul" to please another. Before women were allowed to receive the same education as men they were more or less silenced by their inadequate education on math, science, literature, etc. Wollstonecraft writes,"That a proper education; or, to speak with more precision, a well stored mind, would enable a woman to support a single life with dignity." A woman living by herself, back then, would have been looked down on. In AP Euro we talked about how if a woman never married, or was widowed and never re-married, she was looked upon as a "witch".
Even though it seemed to drag on, this essay was a great read. Wollstonecraft's views and opinions were extremely compelling, and she put true power into her writing.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
After just reading the title, I already agreed; or atleast I agree that the internet is making us stupid. Instead of studying/researching a topic, we can search it on Google and copy and paste it into an essay. People don't take the time to read into a topic, they easily become distracted by facebook or twitter and they've already forgotten the short paragraph they've just read. I won't lie, I am definetly guilty of this, but I like to think I'm wise about my internet use. Though I can spend an hour aimlessly surfing the web, I rarely do so. Also, in Carr's esssay he mentions that our knack to become distracted easily on the internet forms a lack of concentration while reading. Once you read a page or so your mind wanders, you can't focus. I find that this happens to me often while reading on the computer. I also admit facebook is a huge part of my distraction.
Many of my friends hate to read, and that is really sad. I love to read, and I love books. What the internet is doing is slowly making books obsolete. Carr talks about a writer, Scott Karp, who confessed that he'd stopped reading books altogether. Techonology is growing so fast, I don't doubt that one day books will no longer be printed on paper. Between the Kindle and the Nook millions of people are already reading books on an electronic device. Personally, I have tried to read off a Kindle and it's just not the same as a book. Though it is more convenient, and it minimizes space needed to keep a bunch of books, I don't see myself ever purchasing one.
Something that really freaked me out in this essay was the mention of Google wanting to create artificial intelligence. Google's creators, Brin and Page, have seriously thought about creating an "artificial brain". In some aspects having a direct link to every bit of information sounds awesome, but replacing your brain with an artificial one? I have no interest in that.
Many of my friends hate to read, and that is really sad. I love to read, and I love books. What the internet is doing is slowly making books obsolete. Carr talks about a writer, Scott Karp, who confessed that he'd stopped reading books altogether. Techonology is growing so fast, I don't doubt that one day books will no longer be printed on paper. Between the Kindle and the Nook millions of people are already reading books on an electronic device. Personally, I have tried to read off a Kindle and it's just not the same as a book. Though it is more convenient, and it minimizes space needed to keep a bunch of books, I don't see myself ever purchasing one.
Something that really freaked me out in this essay was the mention of Google wanting to create artificial intelligence. Google's creators, Brin and Page, have seriously thought about creating an "artificial brain". In some aspects having a direct link to every bit of information sounds awesome, but replacing your brain with an artificial one? I have no interest in that.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Skunk Dreams
"Skunk Dreams" was a wonderful read. Louise Erdrich has a unique voice, and her essay was extremely captivating. Throughout the reading I found myself making about a million connections and one in particular really stuck with me. Erdrich talks about how she acquired and shuffled her beliefs and doubts about life after death. I too have often found myself in a giant web spun with a mess of different afterlife theologies. Since I was raised Lutheran, all through my childhood I held the beliefs my parents and sunday school teachers relayed to me. As I grew up I began formulating my own opinions, and they still constantly change to this day. Honestly, I don't think any one person (myself included) is right or wrong on the topic. I'm sure I will never make up my mind on the matter, and that is alright with me.
Later in the essay Erdrich writes, "I wanted to see." Such a simple sentence, but it really reached out to me. Growing up in such a small town, I've always wanted to see more, and my sense of adventure can hardly be satisfied here. There's so much I want to experience, so I plan to leave as soon as I can. I'd love to move to a different state, preferably coastal. Once I've saved up for a while I'm going to travel around the world. I hope to see parts of Europe, Asia, South America, and possibly Africa.
In "Skunk Dreams" Erdrich focuses on dreams (hence the title). She states, "I had dreamed of this place in St. Thomas, or it had dreamed me. There was affinity here, beyond any explanation I could offer, so I didn't try." Dreaming is such a curious thing. Dreams can be so unexplainable and that's what I find them so fascinating. Even the science behind dreams is fuzzy. She also shares a time where she actually experienced a dream she had. I have heard similar stories where individuals have dreamt something and a version of the those events happened in real life. Personally, I'm not that superstitious but I do believe in the supernatural.
Later in the essay Erdrich writes, "I wanted to see." Such a simple sentence, but it really reached out to me. Growing up in such a small town, I've always wanted to see more, and my sense of adventure can hardly be satisfied here. There's so much I want to experience, so I plan to leave as soon as I can. I'd love to move to a different state, preferably coastal. Once I've saved up for a while I'm going to travel around the world. I hope to see parts of Europe, Asia, South America, and possibly Africa.
In "Skunk Dreams" Erdrich focuses on dreams (hence the title). She states, "I had dreamed of this place in St. Thomas, or it had dreamed me. There was affinity here, beyond any explanation I could offer, so I didn't try." Dreaming is such a curious thing. Dreams can be so unexplainable and that's what I find them so fascinating. Even the science behind dreams is fuzzy. She also shares a time where she actually experienced a dream she had. I have heard similar stories where individuals have dreamt something and a version of the those events happened in real life. Personally, I'm not that superstitious but I do believe in the supernatural.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Talk of the Town
I really enjoyed this piece of writing, and it hit me on a strong emotional level. The first section, written by John Updike, gave me a much stronger sense of understanding for the emotions one must've felt watching the collapse of the twin towers. On September 11, 2001 I had only just turned seven and had just started second grade. Though I had been told by my father of the events that took place, I did not begin to comprehend them until a few years later. We have talked about 9/11 in the classroom, at home, with friends, but it's completely different to see it first hand. This essay really opened my eyes to the intense destruction and sorrow. Further, Updike's use of vivid descriptive words helped me form a faint picture of what he and his wife witnessed. Not only did he successfully capture me through emotion, his writing style was great.
The second section, written by Susan Sontag, had a totally different feel. It didn't necessarily reach me on an emotional level as Updike had, but Sontag brought up the political aspect of 9/11; which coincided with Updike's emotional essay quite nicely. Sontag's piece in "Talk of the Town" was very powerfully written and she conveyed her message quite clearly. She talked about the naivety of the public at the time and the near silence of the government and it's adminstrations. She writes, "But the public is not being asked to bear much of the burden of reality." Which was true at the time, and I also feel many of us don't attempt to bear it either. Many would rather sit back and allow themselves to be uneducated on the happenings of the United States.
Overall, both contributions got me thinking; which, in my opinion, makes a good essay. The contrasting writing styles of Updike and Sontag was refreshing and the topic was intriguing. I'm interested to see where our class discussion on "Talk of the Town" will lead.
The second section, written by Susan Sontag, had a totally different feel. It didn't necessarily reach me on an emotional level as Updike had, but Sontag brought up the political aspect of 9/11; which coincided with Updike's emotional essay quite nicely. Sontag's piece in "Talk of the Town" was very powerfully written and she conveyed her message quite clearly. She talked about the naivety of the public at the time and the near silence of the government and it's adminstrations. She writes, "But the public is not being asked to bear much of the burden of reality." Which was true at the time, and I also feel many of us don't attempt to bear it either. Many would rather sit back and allow themselves to be uneducated on the happenings of the United States.
Overall, both contributions got me thinking; which, in my opinion, makes a good essay. The contrasting writing styles of Updike and Sontag was refreshing and the topic was intriguing. I'm interested to see where our class discussion on "Talk of the Town" will lead.
About Me
Hi I'm Erin Campbell and I will be a senior at McFarland. I have a wonderful sister, Lauren, who is my worst enemy and my best friend. She goes to the UW and I hope to join her there next year. Currently, I have three loud black/chocolate labrador retrievers; Drake, Jazz, and Rio. I've lived in McFarland my whole life (a phrase I find useless for those under 20 years old, I mean you haven't lived long enough for that saying to create significant emphasis). One day I hope to move away from Wisconsin entirely, probably to a warmer state.
I have many interests but only a few hold real importance to me; with art is the main one. I love to make art, look at art, talk about art, etc. My favorite medium is pencil but I can also work with acrylic and sometimes oils. Realism and impressionism are by far my preferred styles, and it probably goes without saying but my most beloved painter is definetly Claude Monet. Though I do dable in impressionistic painting, my real focus is realistic portraits and some landscapes. Further, I have participated in numerous sports throughout my lifetime. As of now, I play tennis and lacrosse and love it. I've played tennis for years and have been a part of the MHS girls team going on all four years of high school. It has definetly been, and will be, a highlight of my high school career. Lacrosse I picked up my sophomore year and played on a club team for Verona; however, I switched over my junior year to play for the Lafollette Lancers.
Music and movies are another story. In regards to music, The Beatles are hands down my favorite band. They always have been and always will be, my parents listened to them when I was a kid and I have continued to listen and love them. Other than that, I'm can listen to a variety of music, but I am still partial to Classic Rock bands. If I had a favorite movie, which I think is impossible, it would have to be The Sound of Music, and yes I do know it's a musical. My other favorites would have to be Donnie Darko, Fight Club, the LOTR series, 127 Hours, and of course the HP series. Books are another story, I love reading, but I have written about myself for too long so I think I'll just end this here.
I have many interests but only a few hold real importance to me; with art is the main one. I love to make art, look at art, talk about art, etc. My favorite medium is pencil but I can also work with acrylic and sometimes oils. Realism and impressionism are by far my preferred styles, and it probably goes without saying but my most beloved painter is definetly Claude Monet. Though I do dable in impressionistic painting, my real focus is realistic portraits and some landscapes. Further, I have participated in numerous sports throughout my lifetime. As of now, I play tennis and lacrosse and love it. I've played tennis for years and have been a part of the MHS girls team going on all four years of high school. It has definetly been, and will be, a highlight of my high school career. Lacrosse I picked up my sophomore year and played on a club team for Verona; however, I switched over my junior year to play for the Lafollette Lancers.
Music and movies are another story. In regards to music, The Beatles are hands down my favorite band. They always have been and always will be, my parents listened to them when I was a kid and I have continued to listen and love them. Other than that, I'm can listen to a variety of music, but I am still partial to Classic Rock bands. If I had a favorite movie, which I think is impossible, it would have to be The Sound of Music, and yes I do know it's a musical. My other favorites would have to be Donnie Darko, Fight Club, the LOTR series, 127 Hours, and of course the HP series. Books are another story, I love reading, but I have written about myself for too long so I think I'll just end this here.
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