Some Final Thoughts

Having finished reading "A Farewell to Arms", I can say that it was completely different than what I was expecting. When I signed onto it in February, I expected a gripping memoir of combat written by one of the most interesting, larger-than-life characters that ever lived. When I did some background research, I expected "the worst" -- a purely romantic novel. Both were wrong. Instead I got a gripping tale of personal commitments, struggles, triumphs and failures; set against a backdrop of warfare and romance.

Not to sound too poetic or philosophical; this novel took me on an "adventure" across Italy and Switzerland, and gave me a feeling of what it was like to be in that area during the First World War. With only one WW1 veteran still with us, and with him being expected to pass away before the end of the summer, we are about to lose an important historical link. Novels such as these can help the population to understand "The Great War" - not so much the chronology, but the emotions and feelings that drove it. The novel was written during the heart of the 1920s, with its own mixture of emotions and social factors. The writing style of the novel offers insight into this. Soon most of those alive during this time will also pass on, and we will lose another link with history.

In conclusion, this novel isn't just a great storyline, it is a link with history. Regardless of your personal tastes in literature, I think anyone would appreciate - and enjoy - this work.

An Anti-War Novel?

One of the perceived key themes, if not the key theme of "A Farewell to Arms" is its strong anti-war undertones. World War One was an extremely harsh conflict, the likes of which will likely never been seen again in our lifetime. But most of the focus on the conflict relates to the Western Front, home to waist-deep mud and trenches filled with fecal material and disease. This novel is set along the Isonzo Front, in the Alps of Northern Italy. By all accounts, this front didn't have the later problems, but it produced something else: a harsh climate, and harsh terrain. As most would know, the Alps have a very harsh winter season, have valleys several thousand feet deep, and mountains that reach through the cloud bank. While initially more "romantic" and "glamorous" than the contemporary WW1 Fronts of France and Russia, you must keep in mind that these climates are better suited to adventurers, not a solider born before the turn of the 20th century. Hemingway likely was attracted to the front for this "adventure" factor. But as does the main character in the novel, Hemingway likely realized rather quickly that this is no place for war. This seems straightforward, as the book is anti-war, and this implies that Hemingway himself followed a similar ideology.

However, here is the catch: Hemingway himself wasn't an anti-war person. Indeed, 20 years later in WW2, Hemingway served as a freelance correspondent and had exploits including hunting for German U-Boats in a rigged up fishing boat off Cuba, leading a village militia in France, and attaching himself to army units led by his personal friends (seen in the photo in the top right) and staying at the front lines -- he even received the American Bronze Star for bravery under fire, only three medals below the Medal of Honor. This doesn't seem to match his perceived anti-war image.

I believe the answer is this: Hemingway liked the "classic" image of war - the one of glory on the battlefield, the average man becoming a hero, immense victories. WW1, especially the Italian Front, offered none of this. From this thought, I have been led to believe that the theme of anti-war in the novel isn't anti-war at all, but more anti-WW1.

Regardless of whether my thesis is right or wrong, as I have hopefully demonstrated, this novel provokes stimulating thoughts that are not just limited to the plot line.

Parallels?

One of the things that struck me while reading "A Farewell to Arms" are the correlations between the main character, Lt. Henry, and Ernest Hemingway (pictured, to the right). Both were wounded in a similar way, both recieved the Silver Medal for Bravery, both had a relationship with a nurse in a Milan Hospital, both were involved with ambulances -- and all while they were stationed along the same [Isonzo River] front. Does this mean that we can accept Henry's thoughts and feelings are being similar to Hemingway's? We will never know the answer for certain, but I think we can. Initially, Henry is pro-war and is looking for adventure. This is likely how Hemingway felt, as he volunteered to go and serve. As the novel draws on, Henry grows weary of the war and in the end is fully opposed to it. Again, Hemingway, likely felt the same way; if he did not, then why would he author an anti-war book.

This novel makes an interesting study: not only is the plot line one of the classics of literature, but it also is strongly inspired by the exploits of the author, almost in an autobiographical fashion.

City of Thieves: 3

WOW, WOW, WOW! Finished the book! WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK. This book was my favorite books of all time. I don't read a lot of books but this one was amazing! Mrs. Ford was so right! In one of the last chapters I got choked up when one of the main characters died! I was extremely impressed. Please all of you, read this book! It is worth every single minute!

Life of Pi #3- The Power of Choice

The ending for this book is so unique and interesting. It was the very last part of the book that made me decide I liked the book. Religion is a very important theme in this book that appears throughout the whole novel, there are a few important quotes in Life of Pi about believing and not believing in god. For example, “I can well imagine an atheist’s last words: “White, white! L-L-Love! My God!”—and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeast less factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, “Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain,” and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story.” (p.70) This quote is crucial to the story. It explains way Pi does not like agnostics, because they do not make the ultimate choice.

After telling the story with the animals, the author Yann Martel, puts a twist in the book when Pi is explaining his story to the two officials from the Japanese Ministry of Transport, they do not believe him so than Pi tells another story replacing the animals with people, a cook instead of a hyena, a sailor instead of a zebra, his mother instead of the orangutan, and of course Pi as Richard Parker.

"'So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can't prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?'” (p.352) The ending is so unique because YOU have to decide what story you believe in. Its very similar to Inception, is he living in reality or is he dreaming?

Life of Pi #2

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but after reading a little bit of Part II I’m starting to change my mind. After the ship sinks, Pi ends up being stranded on a life boat with a orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg, and a hyena (at this point he does not realize that Richard Parker my favourite character is onboard the ship). After a couple days on ship the hyena finally decides to attack the zebra, so for many pages its just rambles on about a poor zebra suffering for many days, I found this to be very disturbing and I really wanted to skip pages. This also happens with the orangutan. And than finally Richard Parker shows up and puts an end to the evil Hyena.

Life of Pi #1

At the beginning of Life of Pi, Pi’s father takes him and his brother Ravi to watch Richard Parker devour a goat. He does this to teach Pi, and Ravi a lesson of how dangerous animals can be. This is ironic because the whole story is about Pi living alone with Richard Parker on a small lifeboat. In act II, Pi makes a reference to what is father taught him: “Truly I was to be the next goat. I had a wet, trembling, half-drowned, heaving and coughing three-year-old adult Bengal tiger in my lifeboat.” (p.110) From the way Pi describes Richard Parker we can see he his terrified for the adventure he is about to experience and how the lesson his father taught him has had an impact on him.

City of Thieves: 2

The book is getting good! I'm enjoying the story line. The 2 main characters Lev and Kolya are really interesting. Lev is a young Jewish Boy and Kolya is a Red Army soldier. Very interesting how their friendship is growing. We will see how this novel ends. Will they find the eggs??

Meant to be.

Coming away from this book, I realize I didn’t initially appreciate Austen’s writing style and the brilliance in the way she puts life to each and every one of the characters. I definitely enjoyed the book much more in the end than I had anticipated I would halfway into it. This classic love story gives us the emotionally satisfying ending that all of us desire. It powerfully addresses marriage, true love, and happiness and explores the idea of all these emotions coming together and overcoming the prejudices of class. This conveys that social structure is insignificant to love, but what I found very interesting is that although Austen dismisses prejudices among social ranking, it seems as if she accepts them and also believes they are inevitable. Austen also proves that one is only capable of loving when they have found a balance in pride. She also suggests that true love cannot be stopped if it is meant to be. No one and no societal pressure is capable of ruining Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship. It withstands the worst of the worst; Mrs. Catherine’s sabotage attempt, Mrs. Bingley’s self-indulgence, Mrs. Bennet’s irrationality, and Wickham’s deceitfulness.

The Golden Mean Never Fails

At this point, I am about half way through the book and it still feels as if nothing is really happening. Yes, the characters are beautifully developed and the story is retold with exceptional imagery and detail, but nothing much has happened in the storyline. However, what I have been enjoying is the fact that the story seems to be continually developing thematically. Deception/misunderstanding has more recently become an evident theme with Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth and the lies that she believes to be true about him. She has clearly been blinded by her ignorance in believing Wickham and the inflated pride she has in herself. Another interesting aspect has been the contrast and fine line that Austen draws between having pride and being arrogant. The word “civility” comes up very frequently which has made me think of its connection to The Odyssey and how it may relate to pride. Being civil means being proud to a healthy extent and being able to find the golden mean between self-hate and hubris. Finding this balance is key to achieving both happiness and love, things every girl, but especially Elizabeth, desires.

Pride and Prejudice

My initial impression of Pride and Prejudice is not quite as great as I had hoped. Although nothing substantial and page turning has happened so far, key themes, motives, and characters have been clearly established and distinguished. The setting and time period itself has been talked about repeatedly along with the idea/importance of marriage, but more specifically marrying into wealth. These first few chapters have specifically foreshadowed the battle between the Bennet sisters’ minds and hearts that are bound to unfold. I've also picked up on both the words "pride" and "prejudice" which are continually brought up over and over (which is no surprise). Our first impression of Mr. Darcy is nothing but sheer arrogance and interestingly enough, Elizabeth also appears to be a very strong-willed, head-strong, proud woman. The prejudice of social class is also extremely obvious because of the premium that is put on marrying the wealthy. I predict that in the end each sister will face a decision where they must choose between happiness and true love vs. an empty marriage and wealth. It will just be interesting to see which sisters have hearts deeper than their pockets.

City of Thieves: 1

Mrs. Ford recommended this book to me. I wasn't exactly sure what is was about. She said "it is one of my favorites! It is really action packed! I think you will enjoy it!" So going into this book, all I know is that it is about 2 men looking for eggs! How weird does that sound?? We will see what happens.

Sethe's comforter

At the end of the book once Sethe is free from Beloved's control, its interesting that Paul D comes back to take care of her. He was the last person I would think to want to care for Sethe. It's ironic how he reassures her that she is of great value when he has been insecure and plagued with internal conflict throughout the book. He even left her once he found about about the infanticide. Maybe his time away helped him come to terms with his feelings and realize his own true worth.

Murderer or Thief

One odd thing i have noticed about the circles of Hell is how Dante ordered the sins. For example murderers are in the seventh circle, the violent circle, and thieves are in the eighth circle, the fraud circle. Sins are ordered by how contradictory they are to god's will (unconditional love), but still I guess it's worse to steal from your neighbour rather than kill him.

Fitting Punishments

I have noticed that there is a bit of ironic humor in The Inferno. The punishment for certain sins are very fitting, punishment does fit the crime. For exapmle gluttons spent eternity wading in and eating human excriment, violent people are forced to headbutt and bite eachother waist deep in mud...makes you think.

Souls Leaving Hell

Onle on one occasion have people been able to leave Hell. Since Christianity was "founded" after the death of Jesus prominent old testament figures were in Limbo because they did not have the chance to have faith in Jesus, thus they could not go to Heaven. Angels were sent down to Hell to bring these souls to Heaven, Moses for example.

Denver's rage

"I can't live here. Nobody speaks to us. Nobody comes by. Boys don't like me. Girls don't either....It's not the house. It's us! And it's you!" (p.17)

Denver's raging tone is clearly evident in her accusation of her mother. The author uses syntax to emphasize Denver's anger towards her situation. She is fed up with living in isolation and being hated by everyone she knows. She blames herself for this, but most of her furry appears to be directed towards her mother. Her statement illustrates the importance of community and being surrounded by other social beings. It implies that a person is not an island but needs other people not only for company, but also for support and growth as a person. I feel the importance of community is a major theme in Beloved which the author hopes to show through the plot.