My active reading so far is going about as can be expected for someone who doesn't read or write at all. I have managed to trail along, not getting to far behind but being sick this past week has cost me some valuable time. I approve the use of highlighting and the marginal notes. It helps the story stick in your head and for me that is a good thing. I can actually say I'm enjoying it to an extent. There hasn't been to many words that I don't understand and that makes it tough to pull words out if there aren't any. If I read one book a year that is more than I used to so I am benefiting already in my mind.
I feel that the two books fall into categories THOMS is more for women and a long way gone is more for men. Both books are great if you enjoy books although I almost feel that Cisneros writing style is almost juvenile or a little uneducated. I don't really have an opinion on strengths and weaknesses. Who am I to judge something I don't have any real knowledge in. I feel I should probably read a book before I talk about something like that. I prefer a long way gone over THOMS. I'm not in to emotions or feelings and hate to talk about things of that nature.
A theme I noticed in a long way gone is loneliness.
Clayton, you are always honest in your posts and that is actually a rare quality in this world and I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteOn vocab, I encourage you to look up words that you already know but you feel they are important, or you want to remind yourself of even the second or third definitions that a word has.
Of course I feel for Esperanza and Ismael, the clear, honest portrayal of feelings and emotions is essential. There is a theory that whatever stays hidden for too long can eat a person alive, and the honest expression of feelings and emotions, for some people, is actually life saving. That's my bias of course, but take it for what it's worth.