Sofia's Virtual Bookshelf

Sofia's Virtual Bookshelf

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket

This is the first series I ever really got into. My mother would read it to me constantly in addition to me reading it myself. Even though I had a mother, I grew up without a father so I felt I could identify with the Baudelaire children in the sense of missing parental influence. Of course, my living situation was not as horrifying as their constantly changing one. It was especially fulfilling to see Violet Baudelaire as this powerful older sister who cared for her siblings. She was able to get them out of countless sticky situations to escape the intentions of Count Olaf. Each kid has their own role/special skill that gives them this creative individuality. This was my first encounter with a work that really highlighted children. I now have a baby sister that is 12 years younger than me, so more than ever the relationship between the sisters applies. Over the series, one can see the siblings grow as individuals, and because of this, I now watch my sister very closely. I can see every way she is always changing. The book connects to some overall ideas we talked about in this course. For example the theme of trauma we talked about in Beloved through Sethe. The Baudelaire children went through a similar trauma with the loss of their parents. This book started the interest with strong female characters as well, thanks to Violet.

2. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games continued my connection to female leads who had to overcome their challenging situations. This one I read when I was a bit older and so it was the first series I really was able to get into on my own. This was also the real first book collection I ever read that basically revolved around a female character. Furthermore, Katniss is a character that portrays an incredible amount of emotional and physical strength. So much so, that it is the type of strength that is always given to male characters. She is so different than how many female characters have been portrayed which gives her this element of individuality that I admire. Perhaps that is why Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games, to give an identity to such a strong female character. I know as an individual that Katniss has inspired me and made it known that the world for women may change as we know it. In class, we read Beloved, which I feel portrays a strong female lead as well. Despite how much the death of Beloved controlled Sethe's life, she still continued to live. In a way, her decision to take her child's life shows just how strong she was, in the sense that she wasn't going to let a horrible world dictate her child's future. As a female, I love to read literature that sheds light on what women can really accomplish.

3. Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison 

This is a book that was assigned to us as summer reading. Like all students, I loathed having to spend my free summertime reading. That changed when I picked up Invisible Man. This time, not a female lead, but a black man who lives in the south during the early 1900s. I was inspired by this nameless character who traveled from the south to Harlem where he was able to eventually take a low-wage job. As somebody who aspires to work in a field that requires a lot of public speaking, I connected with the narrator, who holds the gift of gathering attention. He was able to rally crowds to work with him and inspire people. Ralph Emerson himself said that the narrator was a spokesman for African Americans during this time. When considering the question of 'why write literature?', Emerson was writing a book of protest. One that commented on the political atmosphere regarding African Americans. Despite being a man of the people, one who represents them, he is socially invisible. Is this because at this time African Americans were socially invisible? That is the type of question that would always keep me reading further. I am very interested in politics of this present era as well as the past, and so, this novel mixed political atmosphere with a storyline and that kept me very interested.  

4. Animal Farm, by George Orwell

Continuing with the theme of political commentaries, Animal Farm was something I actually encountered at a young age. Perhaps it was my first political commentary. Animal Farm portrays a farm in which there is a boar who shares his dream with the other animals of a world free of human control.  Some younger pigs take over this plan after the boar's passing and they form a philosophy called Animalism. Moving forward, eventually, the pigs began to take on many of the human characteristics that were once viewed as evil. More so, this single-party system of pigs running the farm fails them. This is Orwell's not so subtle way of criticising communism, of which he was a strong advocate against. He was against the ruling of a totalitarian regime, and so, wrote Animal Farm to critique totalitarian communism. I have learned to enjoy this novel by reading it a second time, as when I was younger many of the concepts flew over my head. As I became more interested in politics as well as history everything clicked. I feel like as an individual this novel as made me more open to other's ideas that are different from my own. Instead of thinking my one-way mind is always right I am eager to cooperate and find a solution that helps the most people possible when it comes to nearly any issue. This novel also reminds me a lot of when we talk about why authors write, and how often times their own experiences or beliefs mold their works. 

5. Beloved, by Toni Morrison

Reading Beloved in this class was not my first encounter with the novel. I read it in high school and got way less out of it than the second time around. Every time I come across that text I find more and more themes and motifs. But beyond the literary devices, I love this work. Before reading this, I didn't experience something that really described life after slavery. Reading about a woman who experienced the extreme horrors of slavery, only to not be able to escape it after freedom was very dark. In another way, reading this novel was eye-opening. Realizing that Beloved could be a representation of the horrors that all slaves witnessed really emphasized to me the tragedy of slavery. Instead of getting statistics as to who was affected, we got the face of a child who died in order to escape slavery. In addition, we got a mother who still suffers from the trauma. Toni Morrison wrote this to depict the horrors of slavery and the wide span of people that it has affected and still does to this day. This novel was an experience like no other for me as now I consider how past traumas stay with people for a very long time.

Madison's Virtual Bookshelf

 

These 5 books are pictured and described in chronological order of when I read them, as each one created a step in the staircase leading to who I am today. From fantasy to humor to stories of racism, these texts led to the accumulation of my respect for literature and my understanding of the world. Each book led to a more heightened perspective.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This was the first difficult read I tackled. My dad prompted me to start the Narnia series when I was in third grade, and the rest of my elementary school reading experience centered around Narnia. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most famous book in the series, and captured my interest in literature. The wardrobe acts as a portal to an alternate world in which things are seen in a different light, and the opportunity of discovering new things in Narnia is endless. A reason we read is to escape our own world and discover another. These are themes we have seen in our course through magical realism, and have translated into my life since I read the novel a decade ago.

Flush

Transitioning into middle school, I saw my dad reading Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen. He told me I would like the author because he's funny and writes about Florida, so I borrowed Flush from a friend. I've read many of Hiaasen's books since Flush, but that was my first experience with one of my favorite authors. A couple kids take it upon themselves to expose a ship for dumping their waste in the water illegally by "flushing" dye in their drains to prove where the waste was coming from. This book explores deception, greed, and the bringing to justice of these moral infringements. Through humor and mystery, all of Hiaasen's books are fun reads, and enjoyment is a big reason why we read literature. 

The Old Man and the Sea

This is another book that my dad told me to read one summer in high school. We had visited the Hemingway house in the Keys on vacation and he brought up The Old Man and the Sea. The theme of this book that resonated with me is perseverance and the respect for mother nature. An old man fights a fish alone in the open ocean, and the battle between the two is out of respect for their equal but opposing efforts. It's a short book, but it thematically very deep and led to introspection on my part as the reader. Perseverance is a huge theme of the literature in this class, as pushing through obstacles strengthens a character as they go through struggles in life. Hemingway, as an author, writes to convey moral messages, and as the reader we read his literature to take away life lessons.

The Poisonwood Bible

I read this book for my AP Literature class my senior year, and it became my favorite book I had read to date. Racism, prejudice, and privilege are all examined when a southern Baptist family from Georgia moves to the Congo. The moral symbols and the development of each character were so striking to me, I remember the whole 546-page book vividly. There were thematic parallels between this book and Beloved, where white supremacy and brutality is challenged. Barbara Kingsolver writes to highlight racial injustice, which is one of my favorite things to read about. Reading stories of the horrors of colonialism and slavery is important. Bringing light to an issue raises awareness and puts things into perspective that we as a society need to grow and learn from our blemishes in history. Although it can be difficult and sad to read, this leads to healing and understanding of other perspectives.

Beloved

As soon as I read the short summary of this book, I was excited because it seemed similar to The Poisonwood Bible. Like Barbara Kingsolver, Toni Morrison speaks to injustices that morally challenge the audience. Morrison also writes literature as a healing process for her, as writing is an outlet for her to grow and enjoy life. Not only does Beloved have thematic weight, but Morrison had internal motives to be a writer. The importance of Beloved to the audience and to the author make it a source of reflection for me, that literature can serve many purposes in enriching our lives, including healing and consideration for others.
 

These 5 books affect who I am today. The diverse combination of thematic elements create a holistic moral base that I carry with me through life. Literature affects how we grow up and see the world, and reading more books only adds to your mental capacity.

Teddy's Virtual Bookshelf

1. The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders was the first book that I read after moving to Florida at the beginning of my junior year in high school. I was able to connect to many of the Greasers from the story as I felt like an outsider in a place that I didn't yet consider my home. Although the Greasers had many bigger problems to deal with, including low socio-economic status, gang life, and abusive family members, I still was able to connect with Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Dally because I felt alone in a world where I was not yet accepted. Not only did this book help me through the move, but it also made me thankful for all of the things I did have compared to the high school characters. I always had a great place to live, care from my family members, and safety, which is much different from the Greasers, who could have been attacked by the Socs at any moment just because they were from the wrong side of town. I believe one of the reasons Hinton wrote The Outsiders is to show that people that do not have a high financial status and live in a bad area are not inherently evil or any less human. This idea can be shown by the scene in which Ponyboy and Johnny help save the kids trapped in a fire just because they are good, decent people. This novel helped me get through a tough time when I thought I was alone and helped me realize that I will always fit in somewhere.

2. Fablehaven By Brandon Mull

Before I started middle school, I was not very interested in reading and only did so when I was forced to by school and my parents. I never got into any books until I started reading the Fablehaven series and it served as a catalyst for my transition into reading for enjoyment. The fantasy genre has always been one of my favorites and this jumpstarted me into reading more famous series, such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Life on the Larsen nature reserve was an escape for me to a place of magical creatures and a storyline that featured fast-paced action when it came to defeating evil beings that Kendra and Seth, the main characters, always had a way of finding. Fablehaven became more than just a book series to me, it helped introduce me to the importance of family and doing anything it takes to protect the ones you love. It helped give me the reassurance to reconnect with my grandfather, who had been estranged from my family for many years. I used this series to help repair a relationship that I thought might be lost and now I see my Grandpa Mike every year for Christmas. We read books and literature to take us to places we have never imagined and to escape reality, but we use what we learn to do better in our own lives.

3. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation By Joseph J. Ellis

This non-fiction book helped me realize how difficult it was to establish the United States of America and stand up for the rights to freedom that the British did not allow. It also gave me a sense of pride in my country because of the hardships our nation has overcome to be one of the most successful in the world. Ellis gives us a look into the personal relationships of many of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and how a few certain events impacted our country for the next couple centuries. This book has inspired me to explore the field of political science at college as it is fascinating how our country was built and continues to grow on the basis of our past leaders. Coming from a military family, I have always taken deep pride in my country, but Founding Brothers helped me discover the importance of standing up for my rights as an American and becoming a leader that helps others understand their freedoms across the world. Ellis writes Founding Brothers to show the personal lives of the people most influential in the foundation for the United States. It gives the audience a clear message that these men were just as flawed as the everyday person, but they were able to overcome their own mistakes and shortcomings to build something great.

4. The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

I started reading Tolkien's works in the beginning of high school and absolutely could not stand it. I attempted to read The Hobbit and just gave up as I thought it was so dense and too detailed to be interesting. I decided to give it another try a few summers ago and fell in love with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and it was all of the detail and imagery that made it work for me. One of the main themes of Tolkien's novel is the growth in Bilbo's character from a shy and fearful Hobbit to a strong leader in the group attempting to save Middle-Earth. Before moving to Florida, I was pretty reserved and did not often take many chances. This novel, although completely fantastical, helped me step out of my comfort zone and become more confident in taking calculated risks. This led me to try out for my school's football team and eventually win a state championship. Without The Hobbit, I never would have realized the need to take some chances in order to improve my own life and accomplish things I never thought possible. Tolkien initially wrote his first novel as a source of entertainment for his kids and it became one of the most famous series of all time. People read literature to experience the lives of the characters and through them learn how to improve their own lives for the better.

5. Beloved By Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison's novel is considered one of the best American works due to its connection with the African American community and use of magical realism to show how the characters move on from their lives as slaves. As a high school student I learned a lot about the horrors of slavery, but I never discussed life after slavery and how hard it must have been to recover after being owned by another person. This gave me a different perspective into those people who had to continue their lives and remember all of the mistreatment and degradation that they endured. I had just assumed that the African American community got stronger and recovered after being freed, but never took into account that it is impossible to forget the past and move forward without more pain. Toni Morrison wrote Beloved in order to reveal a healing process for African Americans and to show how to move on from the hardships of the past.