- Cart, Chapters 4-5
Books
- Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus
- Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Film
- Pump Up the Volume (1990)
Textbook
I could lie and say I read these. I'm not entirely sure what happened this week, but I didn't get as much done as I should have. As such I don't have much to talk about on this point. I need to do some serious catching up at some point. This class is pretty intense reading-wise and I've already fallen behind in this regard which is unfortunate as the textbook is really enjoyable.
Books
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus
I loved this book. I would have loved it as a teenager too. Paranormal/Urban Fantasy novels really didn't take off until I was an adult. When I was younger, the only stories like this were by Piers Anthony.
What separates Blood and Chocolate from a lot of urban fantasy stories is the main character, Vivian. Vivian is a werewolf, but unlike a lot of stories, she doesn't hate what she is. She embraces her differences. She's beautiful and she doesn't need some guy to make her feel that way.
This isn't to say that she doesn't have her moments of insecurity, because she does, but rather that she has no problem stalking her prey (so to speak). She falls in love with a human boy, but unlike most stories, he rejects her and even attempts to "save her." Except she doesn't want to be saved. She embraces her life and who she is.
I think a lot of young girls would benefit from reading this.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
I literally read this book in two hours. The story is compelling and highlights the rampant racism inherent in our judicial system. Very appropriate given what has been going on in the country lately. In this book, Steve Harmon gets put on trial for murder. In reality, his only crime is being black and knowing the people involved.
I've read only one other story that was written in the fashion of a screenplay. I enjoyed both of them. I think I would have enjoyed this as a teen. I know I did as an adult. It's an important novel to read. It says a lot with very little.
Film
Pump Up the Volume
You would think the movies would be the easiest things for me to do, but the reality is, I usually put them off because I prefer reading more. So instead of talking about Mallrats, I'll be discussing my feelings on Pump Up the Volume.
I've seent his movie several times and the first time I watched it I was a teenager. It was dark, funny, but it exposed the ugly behind the facade of American education system. Like Chocolate War, we are presented with a school that has more invested in its image than its students. However, in this case, students are not beaten or abused, but anyone who is considered "undesirable" is expelled. Mark is a complex character that most teens would enjoy (I know I did). Quite and shy student during the day, shock jock of a pirate radio station by night.
No comments:
Post a Comment