For this book review, I am going to be talking about David Montejano’s book entitled Quixote’s Soldiers, A local history of the Chicano Movement, 1966-1981. The author’s purpose is very well explained and it is not hard to understand. The author clearly tries to explain different ideologies, individuals and organizations located in one of the Southwest’s major cities, San Antonio, Texas, during the late 1960s and early 190s.
Ray Bradbury, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is one of the most notable authors of the 20th century. Although he wrote over 30 novels and countless of other writings, his novel, Fahrenheit 451, is his claim to fame. Fahrenheit 451 is a novel about a faux utopia without books. His novel is a critical thinking piece that criticizing censorship. Ray Bradbury’s cultural significance stems from his audacious nerve to simply release his novel.
The Importance of Being Hated by Chuck Klosterman mainly focuses on the importance of having. Klosterman says that there are two types of enemies 1) “nemesis: you kind of like your nemesis, despite the fact that you despise him and 2) archenemy: you hate the archenemy so much that you try to keep your hatred a secret, for you don’t what to give your archenemy the satisfaction of being hated” (Klosterman par 2). Klosterman states that “we measure ourselves against our nemesis, and we long to destroy our archenemies” (Klosterman par 1). He also points out that people who don’t have enemies and surround themselves with allies are losers and failures in life because “they don’t realize that life is--almost without exception--an absolute
Robert Middlekauff is an intriguing historian from UC Berkeley that shares a part of history with people via his writings and lectures. In the book Benjamin Franklin and His Enemies, Robert Middlekauff does a stunning job in introducing the hectic life Benjamin Franklin. Robert Middlekauff being an amazing researcher and historian, he leaves out no nuances about Benjamin Franklin, not even the emotions. Throughout the book, Robert Middlekauff sets the setting and location allowing the reader to form a detailed image while reading the book. Robert Middlekauff explains that Benjamin Franklin was a well-spirited man with a darker side. Throughout this book, the darker side of Benjamin Franklin is unveiled through the friends and enemies he makes.
I chose The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin. I am very familiar with it because I did a project on it, so I will be able to explain it in greater detail than if I had chosen another story. It was quite enjoyable and informative, too, so I find it interesting to discuss. The Autobiography is about Franklin’s journey to become a better person. He originally wanted to become perfect, but he was never able to achieve this goal.
“It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice.” This quote by Thomas Jefferson displays the attitude that the main character, Guy Montag, of Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 has. Montag’s search for justice against the government censorship of books is a far cry from his ignorance towards the injustice at the beginning. This search leads to hardship and minor triumphs towards Montag’s ideal goal of reinstating books as a positive object in society. Guy Montag assists the author, Ray Bradbury, in showing the reader how important it is to keep literature alive in the modern world so it doesn 't die off in the fast-moving digitized years ahead.
“We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over."-ScrewTape. In this quote, God, who Lewis names the The Enemy is characterized as a selfless, giving father. While Satan, “Our Father Below,” is a self-loving, deceitful father.
George Saunders has written several short stories; however, he has only two stories that have somewhat of the same context. “The Red Bow” and “Adams” were written after the tragedy of 9/11 and was about how the United States invaded Iraq. “The Red Bow” was published on the Esquire on August 20, 2009 and “Adams” was published in The New Yorker on August 9, 2004. With Saunders’ biography in writing these two stories fit right in, with their context, and with his thinking of the United States involvement in the world.
A hero is someone who is courageous and willing to take great risks. Ultimately, the hero triumphs over danger and is successful in their quest. In literature, the hero is greater than ordinary people, which Franklin ultimately proves. Franklin Crabbe is the hero of William Bell's novel Crabbe and his life struggles motivate him to embark on a quest to discover who he truly is. Despite all the challenges he encounters along his journey, Franklin with the assistance of Mary Pallas, is able to overcome all the challenges he faces along the way. Lastly, Franklin matures in his ability to be independent and self-efficient while also securing a job. In William Bell’s novel, Crabbe, the hero myth is developed through the protagonist’s quest obstacles, and eventual maturity.
Benjamin Franklin presents a truthful and unbiased version of himself. In an excerpt “from The Autobiography” Franklin shows a pieces of his personality in actions; Franklin also admits to making mistakes. Personality traits like kindness when young Franklin offers payment to several people for the help he receives. However, because these people refuse the shilling “on account of my [Franklin’s] rowing; but I [he] insisted on their taking it” (Franklin 90). This shows that Benjamin Franklin is kind because no matter how much money Franklin possesses, he offers a portion of his money to people in exchange for help. In a different act of Franklin 's, traits like kindness and helpfulness is shown. While Franklin is taking a journey from Boston
“Ray Bradbury’s writing danced along the boundaries between mystery, sci-fi, horror and fantasy”. (Brin 1) Ray Bradbury is an Author, famous for his science fiction short stories and novels. Many of his ideas influenced the stories of Hollywood. His short story “The Veldt” is similar to that of the movie “Smart house”. His idea of childhood not being completely innocent that he establishes in “The Small Assassin” can be seen in many horror films both past and present. The ‘butterfly effect’ that Bradbury uses in his short story “The Sound of Thunder” was used in the Doctor Who episode “Father’s Day.
Robert Middlekauff starts off by introducing Benjamin Franklin as a well-mannered and civic-minded individual who is loved by everyone. Of course, Benjamin Franklin was a little bit reserved when it came to strangers, but that never stopped people from growing fond of him. His good heart and spirit lead him to amazing people like Margaret Stevenson (Polly), John Adams, William Strahan, and Thomas Jefferson to name a few. Besides from having a well-liked personality Robert Middlekauff also reveals that Benjamin Franklin was a curious man who came equipped with an outstanding resumé. Benjamin Franklin’s resumé starts from a print shop to a politician, and finally to a scientist. Having worked in different
“The Enlightenment is the period in the history of western thought and culture… characterized by dramatic revolutions in science, philosophy, society and politics; these revolutions swept away the medieval world-view and ushered in our modern western world” (Bristow). The Enlightenment is also referred to as The Age of Reason because its philosophies were mostly based on logic and reason. One important figure who introduced the Enlightenment to America was Benjamin Franklin. “Many of Franklin’s satires work through logic of inversion, taking an established idea and exposing the assumptions that implicitly frame it by demonstrating how it might appear from a reverse perspective” (Giles 48-49). A simpler way of stating how Franklin uses satire is as placing “the
There are numerous amounts of techniques authors use in their novels to project a message, and interest the reader. However, certain styles may not work due to the fact that it possibly can result in an overdoing of such style, causing the reader to get bored and stop reading. The novel “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley Is a novel about developments in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation, and classical conditioning that come together to change society. This book has a unique science-fiction theme and takes place in the future. Another book called “Alias Grace” by Margaret Atwood is a fictional book based on a true story about a girl named Grace who gets wrongfully convicted of a double murder. Brave New World is a fictional novel, with non-fictional features such as classical conditioning, which is an actual psychological experiment. Also, Alias Grace is a fictional book based on a true story, which shows some similarities between the two books.
Sir Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his friend Madame Brillon titled “The Whistle”. In the letter, he uses a parable of a whistle to bring forth his idealism. Benjamin believed that one should not indulge in luxuries or be a miser, but rather one should follow a middle path and think before he pays too much for his whistle. The entire letter is focused on the theme of going overboard to get what you want. Benjamin believed that one should not overpay for his wants but rather one should be focused on doing good.