Week 1: Independent Study

I ask myself: as members of today's society are we even able to define ourselves as who we are without listing what we do for a living, what we own/wish to own or what we do for entertainment?

Week 1: Calvino

Really really looking forward to this one. Looks like a decent class size with people who will talk. Also, very excited by the syllabus-- 4 books, but only selections, and minimal papers, with short page length requirements. Very excited. Love Calvino, this is sure to be a great class and a great quarter.

Thus far, I have only read If on a winter's night a traveler but I loved it. If you like reading, and especially enjoy a new experience in reading -- such as post modernist works-- I highly recommend it.

Final Papers: Cervantes

My final paper for this class was not emblematic of anything, except perhaps the fact that I was unable to focus. I am sure my grade will suffer as a result of my non-existent argument in this final paper. This non-connectedness, however, was not entirely my fault.

While writing this paper, (I was right in the middle of the "establishing my argument" introduction portion) I was informed that my father (who lives in Tennessee) was admitted to the hospital for suffering from a heart attack. As overcome with worry as I was, I still proceed to write my paper, as I got to the middle (quoting other educated professionals on the topic to prove my point) I was informed that he had suffered another mild heart attack while in the hospital. As I moved on to quote another critic and relate all this to the overall theme of my paper, I was informed that my father had a blood clot that moved and filled his lungs with fluid. And, finally, as I was sitting on pins and needles awaiting the call to tell me if the operation of implanting the first stint in his artery was successful-- I concluded my paper on Don Quixote. Needless to say, my final paper may not have been as impressive as I was hoping.

However, the thing to remember about this class is this: Don Quixote is a great read. Yes, it is long. But, it is funny. very funny. try it. you'll like it.

Final Papers: Intro to Graduate Study

I finished my final paper, with a short extension granted by the professor due to my family emergency. It was on the topic of Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler which I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys reading. I discussed in my final paper how Calvino uses the second person pronoun "you" to draw the reader into the story, essentially making him or her a character.

This was my first taste of Calvino and I have been very impressed. Next quarter, I am enrolled in the Calvino class-- and looking forward to it!

Week 3: Cervantes

I was out sick.

I'm really frustrated with being sick. And it is unfortunate that I had to miss a class I enjoy because I overworked myself with my 12 hours of work and my coughing was out of control. I am sure the others in the class are glad I wasn't there to annoy/infect them. I am looking forward to next week. Hopefully I am better.

Week 3: Intro to Graduate Study

This week we discussed critical approaches to literature and how developing our interpretive skills allow us to grow as a reader. This was actually a great discussion, and I would have liked to participate, if for no other reason than to argue the opposing point (that all this interpretation is BS). But, instead I coughed.. and coughed... and coughed... and left early.

Week 2: Cervantes

We discussed, at length, Daphnis and Chloe. It is an old Greek novel which illustrates a pastoral love story of two very naive teenagers.

Also I think I may have agreed to give my 20 min presentation on this topic. Oops.