Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: The Awakening – Finale

Posted on June 21, 2007 by susan

Finished this novel last night, being a bit surprised by the ending but wondering as I came close how Chopin would wrap things up in a few pages.  Unfortunately, I felt that it was done with the same lack of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Awakening – Character and Story Development

Posted on June 20, 2007 by susan

Chopin had the opportunity for–and in fact has been credited with–raising the consciousness of her readers of the time regarding the subservient position women held in their own households.  Perhaps it is my own mistaken notion that her protagonist is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Awakening – Sociological & Historical Reference

Posted on June 20, 2007 by susan

It is easy to see why this novel, written by Chopin in 1899 might have caused such an uproar.  In such times, the life the protagonist, Edna, leads is very much in keeping with the norms of society, that is, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Awakening – Conflict and Story

Posted on June 19, 2007 by susan

Well I’ve gotten halfway through this novel of Kate Chopin’s without posting so far but felt I should keep to my tradition of commenting as I read. While there’s no special moments that struck me particularly on the writing, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – More on The Circular Ruins

Posted on June 18, 2007 by susan

I’ve read a few paragraphs of the next story in Borges’ anthology and yet come back around to this story. Patterns, looking for patterns.  I come up with circles: birth and death and rebirth, sleep and wakefulness in an endless … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – The Circular Ruins

Posted on June 18, 2007 by susan

I’ve read this short story twice and still feel that I’m missing something and just don’t have it quite right. The story is about a man who travels to a site of what was once a sacred spot dedicated to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Next Up – Kate Chopin’s The Awakening

Posted on June 17, 2007 by susan

The Awakening should be very different from what I’ve been reading lately, and quite a contrast to my ongoing foray into the mind of Borges.  This novel should also call for additional reading powers: noting historical and social significance beyond … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked This Way Comes – Finale

Posted on June 17, 2007 by susan

I’ve mentioned in prior posts my admiration of Ray Bradbury’s writing: terrific imagery; great buildup of story via foreshadowing; excellent character development using dialogue, interaction, point of view insight; excellent form implementing plot that constructs blocks of relative traits of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE:Something Wicked.. – STYLE!

Posted on June 16, 2007 by susan

I’ve been planning a post on a phantasmagorical story by Borges, but this, this must come first… An action-packed scary dark night battle between boy and witch; boy on a rooftop, witch in a balloon-hanging basket.  Exciting as all get-out.  … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked… – Simile & Metaphor

Posted on June 16, 2007 by susan

Ever on the alert for the mellifluous metaphor, the sizzling simile that strikes to the heart, runs upstairs to the brain, finds a corner and settles in forever, I find Bradbury to be generous of creative use in smoothing the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked… – Well-Rounded

Posted on June 15, 2007 by susan

It’s easy to see why Bradbury is held by so many in such high esteem as a writer.  The particular brand of horror he brings to story would have an appeal to a diverse group.  I believe that horror is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – Pierre Menard, Author of Don Quixote

Posted on June 13, 2007 by susan

The amazing audacity of it: the concept of rewriting Cervantes’ Don Quixote exactly word for word without referencing, and yet come up with different meaning.  This is the premise of Borges’ story. For me the glory is not in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked… – Metaphor or Symbolism

Posted on June 12, 2007 by susan

I’m not as familiar yet with Bradbury (though I recall now that I did read, several years ago, The Illustrated Man and many short stories) so I don’t know his use of metaphor or symbolism in story, but it’s pretty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Something Wicked… – Tension

Posted on June 12, 2007 by susan

Bradbury, fifty pages into this novel, is still setting up the scene for something quite dreadful to occur.  We know that it will be tied in with a strange carnival coming to town.  We know that Will, his father, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Ficciones – The Approach to Al-Mu’tasim

Posted on June 10, 2007 by susan

Hmmm.  Have you ever read something and realized that you missed the whole point of it? This story was easier to follow than the previous, and yet I know I’m just not getting it.   The story line seems simple enough, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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