Angello's Virtual Bookshelf

Angello's Bookshelf

1.     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – J.K. Rowling

A choice many will make, this book peaked my curiosity at the power of the human mind. The books of Harry Potter reveal a world of wonder in words that you then create inside your head. While reading, the creation of places such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Little Whinging were created effortlessly and subconsciously. Once I put the book down for the first time, I realized I had created a world inside my head, one which contained my own version of the shade of red for Gryffindor, my own interpretation of just how high the seats at the quidditch game were, and my own vision of how old Albus Dumbledore really looked. Literature is written for many reasons, and one of those is to entertain. Throughout this course, we’ve learned that there does not have to be a reason why an author writes a book other than they simply wanted to, but I believe J.K. Rowling wouldn’t have written her seven installments if not for her then situation. I believe this fueled her imagination and in turn, peaked mine. Nevertheless, I first read Harry Potter to keep myself busy, and ended up reading all seven books because I was hooked on the joy of wonder.

2.     Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was just as much fun to read as any Harry Potter book, however this book shaped my way as a scholar more than anything.  The creativity of the story, along with the dynamic characters are what captivated me, but what really hooked me onto the book was the huge role of Greek mythology in the story. Every small detail written into the plot was an allusion to a Greek God or myth, a personification of some Greek monster, or a direct quote from Greek epics or myths. This book addresses the big picture question of what we can learn from books, and for me, this book taught me to appreciate Greek mythology’s various tales, epics, and heroes. Riordan set out on a quest to entertain with the writing of Percy Jackson, but also made it his mission to teach and educate the youth about a series of heroes and legends that should never be forgotten about. 

3.     1984 – George Orwell

George Orwell’s 1984 was a reading assignment introduced to me about 5 years ago. Before then, books were simply a way to pass time and indulge myself in worlds of wonder. This book was a game changer. I was tasked with identifying and analyzing the intents and actions of the protagonist, Winston Smith. My book was riddle with sticky notes full of predictions that were ultimately wrong. Instead of getting frustrated, I found myself fascinated at the way Orwell indulged us into a political conversation that boggled our brains throughout the story. This book was an example of political commentary that spoke volume about its time, and future times to come. I began reading this for a grade, but ended up reading it because of its ability to shed light on political conspiracies. It has shaped how I carefully approach books, and how effective I am when it comes to breaking down passages. Throughout our course, we have discussed how authors use their platform for political commentary, such as with Dante's Inferno, and this book is no exception. The same approach was used, but with Orwell's being more obvious and direct towards his government. The result for me, however, was the same; I was fascinated and shaped into understanding a viewpoint that helped me question my own political standpoint. 

4.     Stiff – Mary Roach

Mary Roach’s Stiff was another high school assignment from previous years. From all the choices, this piece of literature singlehandedly has shaped who I am today the most. The book is simply a record of Roach’s observations with human cadavers, but offers so much more. From the sarcastic tone, to the medical jargon, to the descriptive imagery; this book has it all. The fascination that instilled Roach with cadavers was transferred to me. This book showed me I was a closeted medical student. Because of this realization, I applied to all the best medical colleges, joined HOSA, and began volunteering at hospitals. Simply put, the simple assignment to finish this book was a one-way ticket to my eventual destiny. As with Persepolis, Mary Roach’s Stiff was written to shed light on an important topic. Persepolis was written to showcase the horrors of Iranian life during times of war, and Stiff was written so more people would donate their bodies to science to help supply the much-needed cadaver storage for medical research. My purpose for reading the entirety of the book, which wasn’t necessary, was simple; her figurative language, sarcastic tone, and her purpose kept me hooked all the way until the end.

5.     Because I Could Not Stop for Death – Emily Dickinson

Last but not least, I came across Dickinson’s poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death as a homework assignment, but ended up, for the first time, enjoying the process of picking apart a poem, dissecting each line, and actually understanding the purpose of each element, and ultimately, the poem. I was never a fan of poetry, but this specific poem made me read more poems in one week than my whole high school career. I didn’t find a connection between the author’s words and my own experiences, but I could understand the message Dickinson was trying to portray. Her purpose, as far as my understanding goes, was to inform readers of the inevitable, and let us know that accepting our fate is sweeter than resisting it. After digging into her figurative language, it became clear to me that there was no other purpose for her to write this poem. After reading it countless times, I came to realize that most poems have such strong purposes for being written, and those purposes show everyone a strong message to be delivered; each different and each as important as the reader makes it. This poem exemplifies why we write and read literature; we write to convey our feelings, emotions, and ideas, and we read to make connections to others who share ideas, emotions, and feelings.