Blog Number Four.

The good, the bad and the ugly of school assigned texts.

There are many great books, but the worst part about reading, in my opinion, is when you are forced to read a book. In New Paltz High School, I will say that the english department does a fine job at choosing a selection of books with variety, and different themes. This year in AP Literature, the books assigned were pretty good, with a few exceptions ofcourse. I personally enjoyed reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. Both books were entertaining to me, and they weren't extremely complex. I'm the type of student who doesn't understand hidden messages, and deeper meanings in books very much. I like to read books that I can relate to, and books that entertain me. I like books that answer the question presented in the beginning. I don't like books that leave the reader confused, and without any type of answer. Unfortunately, students do not always get their way in school, and they are forced to read a work of literature for a grade, whether they like it or not. This year in AP Literature, my least favorite book was Heart of Darkness. I feel it was too complex for me, and all of the biblical allusions had me confused, because I am not deeply religious. The downfall of having to read books in a class that you don't particularly care for, is that you might not understand it as clearly as somebody else does, and when it counts as a grade, it is extremely important to understand. This has happened to me in my life before, and my grades have been affected by it. On the other hand, books that you have to read in school that you do enjoy make things so much easier. It's a great feeling to understand a book 100% and then go to school and take a test on it and have confidence. Although I don't mind some books that are mandatory to read in high school, I will always enjoy reading independently, because I will always have the choice of what interests me. Reading makes you stronger in all aspects of academics in my opinion, and to me, I would rather read books that I enjoy and understand, rather than books that make no sense to me and leave me confused. 

Blog Number Three.

What exactly makes a good book? It is hard to say because there are so many different themes in literature. I personally enjoy books that are darker, like mysteries, or horrors. I feel like once you start reading a book with intensity, you always want to know what will happen next which pushes you to read more, especially when sequels are introduced. Although I love suspense, I also enjoy softer more realistic books as well. I believe these types of books have better, more realistic themes. No matter what aperson is interested in, a "good book" has to have a good plot and setting. If a book is just about how someone went for a walk one sunny afternoon, it is very likely that no body will care to read that book, because it's boring, and nothing can be learned from it. I believe books should teach a lesson and contribute to a person's values or outlook on life. A good book should be addicting, making you never want to put itdown. Each page should have something new and interesting. I love to read, because reading brings you to a new place, and it will always be something to do. Tv's break, computers lose internet connection, but books are always available. So many good books have taught me lessons on life, and I've learned manners and proper grammar just from reading too. To be able to read something for fun, and also learn a great deal from it is something, in my opinion, that is really cool.