Um, I think I bit off way more than I can chew. But I will prevail she says as she frantically grabs her book...
I have finally made it past page 100. I have until 11:59:59 PM EST on Thursday to finish Dave Egger's What is the What
I cannot think of another book I have ever read in which I have felt myself so emotionally invested in a character. I feel like I am watching this main character and so often want to cry out "Wait! Achak! Don't go into the forest! Duck, Achak! Those are guns. Run!!!!"
My goal is to read 100 pages today.
Showing posts with label Dave Eggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Eggers. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Of British accents, cool points, and Harry Potter
News: I got food poisoning last night. I was afraid I'd be set back a bit (and maybe I was) in completing the first task on my list, but I am happy to say I read a little tonight and plan on reading a bit more. This book is fantastic! Not in the entertaining kind of way, but in the socially conscious, makes-you-think kind of way.
Harry Potter is on. I wish I talked like the British. "Turn out your pockets." "It's just a bit of parchment." That is so much cooler than "Show me what's in your pockets, brat." "Dude, it's just a crapload of paper. Chill." This is why I must promptly move to England, acquire a British accent, and gain about 1,000 cool points. I have been seriously lacking in cool points recently. A British accent might help in that area.
Now I am just rambling. That's all for now.
Harry Potter is on. I wish I talked like the British. "Turn out your pockets." "It's just a bit of parchment." That is so much cooler than "Show me what's in your pockets, brat." "Dude, it's just a crapload of paper. Chill." This is why I must promptly move to England, acquire a British accent, and gain about 1,000 cool points. I have been seriously lacking in cool points recently. A British accent might help in that area.
Now I am just rambling. That's all for now.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Task #5: Read an entire book in a week
Task #1: Read a book in its entirity (without skipping any chapters or pages) in one week (must be at least 150 pages).
Well, dear readers (all two of you), I have often been deemed an overachiever by my friends and family. I often try to deny any such accusations, but today, I have proven them all true. My book of choice is Dave Egger's "What is the What." I bought it today and did not look at the page count. 535 pages. I have until 11:59 PM on Thursday to complete it. I am about 26 1/2 pages in, after an hour or two. I have my work cut out for me. I picked this task for this week because it will most likely be the least-grad-school-filled week for the rest of the year (except maybe the end of December, which I'm saving for the more difficult,complex tasks). I should not have much homework due this week. Watch all my professors decide to assign a paper a piece due next Thursday. Lovely.
Anyway, I chose this seemingly overwhelming book on purpose (even though I was oblivious to its length). I could have chosen a 150-pager out of the teen fiction section, but what would I have achieved by that other than getting frustrated by realizing the crap that teenagers are being enticed by nowadays? If I see another vampire-teenage-romance, I might vomit. Seriously. Old-school vampires are the only way to go. (Interestingly enough, I'm currently listening to the original cast recording of Dracula the Musical. Thanks to my friend Creaves for introducing me to it.) Moving on from my vampire rant...
Of the 26 1/2 pages that I've read of "What is the What," all of them have been intense, emotional, and incredibly poignant. The novel is based on the true story of a Sudanese man who was a refugee as a result of the wars in Sudan. Because he could not remember all of the facts and conversations that took place in his childhood, the book was deemed a novel, although most of it is indeed factual. The book opens with the main character, Valentino, being robbed. He is beaten and wakes up later to find himself bound by a telephone cord, his mouth taped shut by packing tape. "My voice and movements are restricted by the things I own" (Eggers, 26). That sentence really speaks to me. I am intrigued by this book and will write a review once I finish it by next Thursday.
So, my quest for getting out of the ol' comfort zone has begun! Pop open the champagne (or the Pringles, for those of you who are more conservative)!
Note: I know this task is technically #5 on the original list. Since I'm completing the tasks out of order, I will enumerate each one in the order I complete it. So, this week's task is now #1. Also, my weeks are going to be Friday-Thursday, to get a jump start with the weekend. I will have to double-up tasks one week since I have already lost the first week of January.
Well, dear readers (all two of you), I have often been deemed an overachiever by my friends and family. I often try to deny any such accusations, but today, I have proven them all true. My book of choice is Dave Egger's "What is the What." I bought it today and did not look at the page count. 535 pages. I have until 11:59 PM on Thursday to complete it. I am about 26 1/2 pages in, after an hour or two. I have my work cut out for me. I picked this task for this week because it will most likely be the least-grad-school-filled week for the rest of the year (except maybe the end of December, which I'm saving for the more difficult,complex tasks). I should not have much homework due this week. Watch all my professors decide to assign a paper a piece due next Thursday. Lovely.
Anyway, I chose this seemingly overwhelming book on purpose (even though I was oblivious to its length). I could have chosen a 150-pager out of the teen fiction section, but what would I have achieved by that other than getting frustrated by realizing the crap that teenagers are being enticed by nowadays? If I see another vampire-teenage-romance, I might vomit. Seriously. Old-school vampires are the only way to go. (Interestingly enough, I'm currently listening to the original cast recording of Dracula the Musical. Thanks to my friend Creaves for introducing me to it.) Moving on from my vampire rant...
Of the 26 1/2 pages that I've read of "What is the What," all of them have been intense, emotional, and incredibly poignant. The novel is based on the true story of a Sudanese man who was a refugee as a result of the wars in Sudan. Because he could not remember all of the facts and conversations that took place in his childhood, the book was deemed a novel, although most of it is indeed factual. The book opens with the main character, Valentino, being robbed. He is beaten and wakes up later to find himself bound by a telephone cord, his mouth taped shut by packing tape. "My voice and movements are restricted by the things I own" (Eggers, 26). That sentence really speaks to me. I am intrigued by this book and will write a review once I finish it by next Thursday.
So, my quest for getting out of the ol' comfort zone has begun! Pop open the champagne (or the Pringles, for those of you who are more conservative)!
Note: I know this task is technically #5 on the original list. Since I'm completing the tasks out of order, I will enumerate each one in the order I complete it. So, this week's task is now #1. Also, my weeks are going to be Friday-Thursday, to get a jump start with the weekend. I will have to double-up tasks one week since I have already lost the first week of January.
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