Native Son

Native Son happens to be one of  my most favorite books that we've read this year.  I found it very interesting and it kept me on my toes.  However, Bigger's character annoyed me on many levels.  He just seem to fill the stereotypical role of the arrogant, black man.  Knowing that his father is no longer a part of their lives, he does not want to step up and become the man of the house.  He is reluctant to get a job and is ashamed of his family all due to fear.  He acts as a coward; Bigger is afraid of success so does not feel the need to try.  He fears white people, and believes that none of them are good-all just trying to oppress the black race- so sits around waiting to fail.  However, Bigger did  grow on me; after he was incarcerated, it seem like he finally begin to learn and understand life, which was of course too late. He was way too ignorant and set in his ways and didn't realize it until time was up.  All in all I really enjoyed this book and believe that it will remain one of my favorites for quite a while as Richard Wright's writing style was simply astonishing.
-Erin P

What is literature?

Have you ever read a book and were ashamed at how much you enjoyed it? I know I have. Today in class it really troubled me to think of all the extracurricular reading I do, and how none of it really fits in the highly esteemed class of "literature". When I think of that term, I really think of classics like The Pride and the Prejudice , Huck Finn, Grapes of Wrath or some other so-called timeless piece thats really a snooze to get through. So I got this crazy idea, lets redefine literature. Who says it has to have some life changing relevancy, or be filled with extended metaphors and symbolism. Why can't literature be something we just enjoy, whether its Twilight,Green Eggs and Ham, or even Snookie's Autobiography. Whatever it may be, who's to say that it isn't real literature. I just wonder who is on this 'book committee' calling all the shots (probably the same lunatics who gave that Oscar to The King's Speech)? I just challenge and really encourage all of my classmates to look away from these so-called classics and really find a book that you enjoy and read on your own for this assignment that we're getting ready to embark on.

Good Luck!

-Talor T. :)