Autistic Planet by Jennifer Elder (ISBN 9781843108429)
A highly illustrated book, this is book is written for children, particularly those with autism. Through simple story-telling of the differences among people in the world, the book helps readers to gain a basic understanding of how autistic children feel they are different from others.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Being Gifted - for Kids and Teens
In the book, Frances O’ Connor addresses the issues concerning teenagers who are gifted. Written for adolescence, the author provides a guide to readers on coping with the pressures that comes with their talents, as well as encouraging them to make use of their abilities to expand their knowledge base and to make contributions to the society by taking appropriate actions under the guidance of their teachers. The book also provides explanations clearing up several myths that entail people associated with giftedness, such as ‘gifted persons loves studying and are often lonely’.
From the perspective of a reader, the book is a good source of basic information on the social and psychological interference resulted by one being segregated as a gifted person. Already adolescences have to face the emotional changes during puberty, and being labelled as gifted will only increase their anxieties. In this case, the book offers appropriate guidance to teenagers uncertain about their special talents and emotions.
Choking to death
Chuck Palahniuk's idea of 'Choke' is a fresh one which encapsulates the aspirations, problems and responsibilities of the contemporary man through the life of Victor Mancini, a sexually addicted medical school drop-out who lives by by gaining the sympathy of others by pretending to choke in upscale restaurants. Not one to be entirely hated by the audience for his manipulative acts, Victor is but one actor among us who put on good shows in order to support his ailing mother.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
I Went to College, and It Was Okay
I Went to College, and It Was Okay by Scott Dikkers (ISBN 0836218671)
I went to college, and it really was okay.
This Scott Dikkers' comic strips journal is about Jim's life at college. The expressionless face of Jim may be a tad boring, but Dikkers hit the point right at summarizing a college student's life, whether it is academic matters or hostel life, the comic strips reflect well on reality. The strip I like best is the one on "I did nothing today..."
I went to college, and it really was okay.
This Scott Dikkers' comic strips journal is about Jim's life at college. The expressionless face of Jim may be a tad boring, but Dikkers hit the point right at summarizing a college student's life, whether it is academic matters or hostel life, the comic strips reflect well on reality. The strip I like best is the one on "I did nothing today..."
Rereading Doubt
Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley (ISBN 1-55936-276-6)
Set in the 1960s when allegations on sexual abuse in churches were prevalent, 'Doubt: A Parable' is a play written by John Patrick Shanley challenging audience and readers alike on the power of doubt. Without any evidence or overt action or dialogue that implores Sister Aloysius being sceptical of Father Flynn's credibility as the priest of a Catholic Church and school for she suspects that he is involved in sexual activities with the one and only Negro student at the school. The young Sister James, fresh at the school as a teacher, is roped in by Sister Aloysius to clarify her doubt. However, Father James is defensive, as well as Sister Aloysius is adamant on her suspicion. "What is truth?", the characters doubt; "What is truth?", the audience question, for Shanley writes, "Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty".
Often, we ponder about the truth. When shall one believe someone or something, especially when there is no evidence to prove any of our assumptions? When one is in doubt, where do one look to? Sometimes, words cannot explain any doubt or certainty, for it may be just a feeling that only one can sense. In life, rarely do I doubt things or people around me, for I always believe that sincerity is important and it is in every person. But many a time, people fails me. However, I am more disappointed with myself at such occurrences. When things slowly reveal themselves as they are not expected to be, that is when doubt envelopes me. That is when I begin to doubt about myself and others, but things have turned tables - does it matter to have doubt and think through it at this time? Would it be better if I start doubting like Sister Aloysius ahead of time and actions?
Undeniably a good read, 'Doubt: A Parable' is still an enjoyable read even when I read it again and again, for I decided to write a paper on it as a course requirement. I wish to watch a play or film of it in near future.
Set in the 1960s when allegations on sexual abuse in churches were prevalent, 'Doubt: A Parable' is a play written by John Patrick Shanley challenging audience and readers alike on the power of doubt. Without any evidence or overt action or dialogue that implores Sister Aloysius being sceptical of Father Flynn's credibility as the priest of a Catholic Church and school for she suspects that he is involved in sexual activities with the one and only Negro student at the school. The young Sister James, fresh at the school as a teacher, is roped in by Sister Aloysius to clarify her doubt. However, Father James is defensive, as well as Sister Aloysius is adamant on her suspicion. "What is truth?", the characters doubt; "What is truth?", the audience question, for Shanley writes, "Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty".
Often, we ponder about the truth. When shall one believe someone or something, especially when there is no evidence to prove any of our assumptions? When one is in doubt, where do one look to? Sometimes, words cannot explain any doubt or certainty, for it may be just a feeling that only one can sense. In life, rarely do I doubt things or people around me, for I always believe that sincerity is important and it is in every person. But many a time, people fails me. However, I am more disappointed with myself at such occurrences. When things slowly reveal themselves as they are not expected to be, that is when doubt envelopes me. That is when I begin to doubt about myself and others, but things have turned tables - does it matter to have doubt and think through it at this time? Would it be better if I start doubting like Sister Aloysius ahead of time and actions?
Undeniably a good read, 'Doubt: A Parable' is still an enjoyable read even when I read it again and again, for I decided to write a paper on it as a course requirement. I wish to watch a play or film of it in near future.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
To be educated is to be...
Educating Rita by Willy Russell (ISBN 0413767906)
A screenplay written by Willy Russell in 1981, 'Educating Rita' summarizes the conflicts that are present in the society in terms of education. In order to fulfil her desire to be an educated person, Rita, a married hairdresser, decided to go to the Open University to study Literature under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Bryant. Rita represents the working class with her outward and direct way of expressing herself, whereas Frank is a representative of the educated class who shows aesthetic qualities and formalities in his appearance and speech.
Comedic effects are very well injected by the writer in the screenplay, with the interplay of words and famous literary works and people. As Rita becomes more 'educated' in a way that she regards literary topics as more important than her home life, Frank, on the other hand, starts to talk and curse like a working class. The clash of cultures and ambitions between Rita and Frank brings the audience to think what is an education, and what makes a person educated. For knowledge from books is important, no less of importance are the life skills that one has to learn as part of the society as a whole.
I will very much suggest the film of the same title directed by Lewis Gilbert in 1983. Though it may be old, be attentive to the dialogues between Rita and Frank as they will definitely make you laugh and think at the same time.
Talking about education and being educated, the book and film reminds me of 'An Education', the 2009 drama based on the memoir of journalist Lynn Barber in which the issue is highlighted as well. Well, until I read the memoir, so much discussion on what education is.
A screenplay written by Willy Russell in 1981, 'Educating Rita' summarizes the conflicts that are present in the society in terms of education. In order to fulfil her desire to be an educated person, Rita, a married hairdresser, decided to go to the Open University to study Literature under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Bryant. Rita represents the working class with her outward and direct way of expressing herself, whereas Frank is a representative of the educated class who shows aesthetic qualities and formalities in his appearance and speech.
Comedic effects are very well injected by the writer in the screenplay, with the interplay of words and famous literary works and people. As Rita becomes more 'educated' in a way that she regards literary topics as more important than her home life, Frank, on the other hand, starts to talk and curse like a working class. The clash of cultures and ambitions between Rita and Frank brings the audience to think what is an education, and what makes a person educated. For knowledge from books is important, no less of importance are the life skills that one has to learn as part of the society as a whole.
I will very much suggest the film of the same title directed by Lewis Gilbert in 1983. Though it may be old, be attentive to the dialogues between Rita and Frank as they will definitely make you laugh and think at the same time.
Talking about education and being educated, the book and film reminds me of 'An Education', the 2009 drama based on the memoir of journalist Lynn Barber in which the issue is highlighted as well. Well, until I read the memoir, so much discussion on what education is.
When to believe and when not to.
Not without My Sister by Celeste Jones, Kristina Jones and Juliana Buhring (ISBN 9780007248070)
The three sisters, Celeste, Kristina and Juliana, recalls their memories of being part of the 'Children of God' religious cult in which the practice of free sex and 'everyone is a family' are inculcated in them since they were toddlers. The Bible is interpreted in a way that love equals sex and the members of the cult were very much sexually exploited. It is utmost disturbing that the first hand accounts of the sisters' experience of being sexually abused were well shared in this biography which they details on how they become part of the cult and the difficulties they face to get out of it. The sisters undergo trials and tribulations to get accustomed with the outside society, the normal society.
A thought-provoking book, on the hows and whys of peoples' beliefs and change of beliefs in the religious and logical contexts, it serves as an informative book that warns others about the existence of the cult and other similar ones in the past and sadly, still in existence in today's world.
The three sisters, Celeste, Kristina and Juliana, recalls their memories of being part of the 'Children of God' religious cult in which the practice of free sex and 'everyone is a family' are inculcated in them since they were toddlers. The Bible is interpreted in a way that love equals sex and the members of the cult were very much sexually exploited. It is utmost disturbing that the first hand accounts of the sisters' experience of being sexually abused were well shared in this biography which they details on how they become part of the cult and the difficulties they face to get out of it. The sisters undergo trials and tribulations to get accustomed with the outside society, the normal society.
A thought-provoking book, on the hows and whys of peoples' beliefs and change of beliefs in the religious and logical contexts, it serves as an informative book that warns others about the existence of the cult and other similar ones in the past and sadly, still in existence in today's world.
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