Honors Book club
For this semester of Honors Humanities, we read three books and then had seminars after reading the book. We read Cat's Cradle, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and The Monkey Wrench Gang. Afterwards we got to complete a project of our choice. We were only required to complete choice projects for two of the three books. I chose to write short fictional stories for both. For Cat's Cradle I wrote a chapter that takes place after the ending of the book, and for the Monkey Wrench Gang I wrote a short story based on events that occurred during the prologue.
Of the three books, the one that impacted me the most was The Monkey Wrench Gang. This book connected with my morals and beliefs in a way that inspired me. Because it took place in the Southwest and I've been to a lot of the places in the book, it had a bigger impact on me. I have a spiritual connection with the Grand Canyon, and hearing the characters talk about the development and they way it's changing was emotional impactful. After reading this book I want to practice civil disobedience or blow up a bridge - just do something to make a difference and protect the desert world that's home.
Being a part of the honors book club has been an amazing experience. I really enjoyed the books we read and figuring out how to analyze them. The habit of heart and mind I've embraced most through this process was perspective. Each book has given me new perspective in a different way. I did not really like Cat's Cradle, and I found the writing style confusing and frustrating, but I'm glad we read it. It has given some very unique ideas to think about, and has taught me how to critically understand challenging literature. I loved Edward Abbey's writing style and the way he makes me want to join his cause and participate. I hadn't known anything about environmental terrorists, but his book gave me perspective on a form of civil disobedience. It was fascinating to read Their Eyes Were Watching God and learn how to understand the 1900's deep South slang. The perspective I gained taught me about the culture at that time and the way of life. It gave me an inspiring story about a young woman growing into herself and finding out who she was. The perspectives I've gained form honors book club will help me to successfully analyze literature in the future.
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Cat's Cradle is a very unique book, in which the main character sets out to write a book about the day the first atomic bomb was dropped, but ends up discovering much more. After interviewing the children of the man who invented the atomic bomb, he discovers this substance called Ice-Nine that will instantly freeze all liquid water. He goes to this remote island called San Lorenzo and discovers that one of the children lives there and used Ice-Nine to bargain his way into power. After the president dies and a horrible mistake involving Ice Nine occurs, the world instantly freezes over and numerous natural disasters take place. The main character studies the local religion, Bokononism, to help him cope with the holistic disaster the survivors are faced with. |
The Monkey Wrench Gang
The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey is an environmental book published in 1975. It follows four very different individuals as they unite to take an environmental stand against development of the Southwest. They destroy bulldozers, remove new road markings, and blow up a coal plant bridge. Their larger goal is to eventually take out the Glen Canyon Damn, and free the waters of Lake Powell, but they never accomplish this goal. After near death experiences and jail time, the group falls apart and decides to live normal life under the radar. |
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God was written in the 1930's about a girl named Janie Crawford from the late 1800's -early 1900's. The story follows Janie through her three marriages and explores the relationship she has with each husband. This book is about Janie finding herself and gaining confidence as a black woman, despite the hardships she endures. She's only married to her first husband, Logan, for about a year. Then she meets Jody and falls in love with his ambition and contagious motivation, and follows him to Eatonville. He becomes mayor and builds the town from nothing into a prospering community. Over the years his relationship with Janie breaks down and he begins to mistreat her. After his death, Janie meets a younger guy named Tea Cake who treats her with respect and unending love. She leaves Eatonville with Tea Cake and they live happily together. After Tea Cake saves Janie from a rabid dog during a fierce hurricane, he becomes infected and slowly goes insane. In a life threatening battle Janie shoots Tea Cake in self defense. After the love of her life dies, she returns to Eatonville and tells the story to her old friend. |