Flattery and the Case Against it - A blog post on The Picture of Dorian Grey

[I haven't finished the book yet, but this post is based on what I have read so far.]

The Picture of Dorian Grey, a very complicated, compelling book about an artist, and his job. There are a lot of different ideas, and opinions in this book, like inspiration, flattery and people's souls. One of the most interesting ideas that is not quite presented to the reader, but presented to the characters, is about flattery.

In the beginning of the book, Basil Hallward, a painter, is on the finishing touches of his latest portraits. Lord Henry, an acquaintance of Basil's, sees the portrait and is amazed by the beauty of the subject who was painted. Lord Henry asks the meet the model, and Basil refuses saying he doesn't want him to meet Dorian, (the model), because he doesn't want Henry almost contaminating him with compliments. My thesis on why he doesn't want Henry to meet Dorian is because flattery can give people a false sense of themselves. If Dorian gets flattered he may think he is too good to be painted and could be doing other things than modeling for a painting. 

To conclude, The Picture of Dorian Grey is a very worthwhile book to read, and I know this already and I'm only in the first fourth of the book. The book is a good way to bring in new opinions on things such as inspiration, like is being inspired by something, stealing the idea or not; if you're inspired by something it's not original is it? This can relate to life, as well. Flattery of course, has it's uses, especially if people don't think much of themselves, but should we flatter? Could it have a negative outcome rather than the positive one we want?

The Juvie Three - A blog post about messing up

I chose to read this book because I used to read a lot of Gordan Korman in Elementary school. Something I see Korman do a lot is use kids instead of adults to do what adults usually do. Plan and execute heists, and driving getaway cars. But also a reader of his work, can see that there is always a lesson to be learned, at the end of his books, such as in this one.

The Juvie Three is a novel by Gordan Korman, about three juvenile delinquents who get a chance of redemption. Gecko Fosse, getaway car driver, Terrence Florian, who ran one of the worst gangs in Chicago, and Arjay Moran, charged with murder. All these convicts are chosen to paricipate in an experiment, to live in a halfway house in New York, run by former delinquent, Douglas Healy. Like Cornling in his novel I am the Cheese, Korman chooses a very interesting way of telling the story, from all the character's point of view, to give multiple points of thought.

Teenagers can relate to The Juvie Three because most teenagers have been given a second chance, when they have messed up. Especially in middle school where there are a lot of chances to mess up. I know from personal experience from being the procrastinator I am, that you can mess up a lot on schoolwork. And sometimes you are given second chances, and it is wise to give them to people at this age, because being a middle schooler.

Another example reoccurs throughout the book as well. It is making the right decisions. Whether to do what you are told or to do what you think is right. At one part in the story, Gecko is in a relationship with the daughter of one of the most wealthy men in New York City. When the father finds out, he sends a police officer, who is a friend of his, to tell him to break up with his daughter. Gecko must choose to do what he is told, rather than what he thinks is right, to stay with her. Teenagers can relate to this because there are many times where we are under pressure to do something which seems like the right thing to do, (for instance being peer pressured into doing something wrong), and we have to choose whether to do what we think is right or what we are told to do.

Overall, The Juvie Three is a worthwhile book to read. As well as having an excellent, and well crafted storyline, teenagers can learn quite a few lessons from Gecko, Terrence and Arjay. This is a definite good read

I May Or May Not Be The Cheese - A post about I am the Cheese by Robert Cornling

Though this book has a strange title, it has nothing to do with cheese. 

I heard about this through an article by author Megan Cox Gurdon where Gurdon talks about how inappropriate Young Adult novels are today. She says that the first book to trigger this trend of "inappropriate" novels was I am the Cheese by Robert Cornling. So I decided to, like I always do, to disregard what people say, and do what they specifically told me not to do, and read the book.

Wise decision.

I must warn people that want to read this book that there are spoilers in this post. If you're the type of person who likes knowing the ending before you get there read along.

The main character, Adam, (or so you think) is on a journey to find his long lost father. You do not know his history, but in every epigraph there is a interview in the future with what seems like a psychologist, about his past. This was a very interesting choice for Cornling to make, telling the story from both the future, past and present.

Teenagers can relate to I am the Cheese, because a lot of teenagers go through confusion and denial after losing a loved one. For instance throughout the whole book, Adam is on a journey to find his father, who may or may not be alive. He does not believe that he saw his mother die right in front of him, even though he saw exactly that. I can relate to this, and I'm sure that others can too. Someone I knew passed away, and I was in denial for a long time, and believed I still saw him walking around when it was my mind deceiving me.

Another example of this also reoccurs throughout the book as well. It is finding yourself through an adventure. Throughout this whole adventure of going to find his father, he realizes he has certain traits, like his relentlessness to continue his journey. When he is riding his bike and a car pushes him into a ditch, and leaves him there, he gets up moments after being unconscious and continues on his way. Most teenagers go through a life changing moment, journey, or adventure where they realize something about themselves that they never knew, so this book may encourage this to happen.

All in all, this book should be a book that all teenagers should read. You should disregard Megan Cox Gurdon's opinion completely. This book is influential in a good way, and will help teenagers if they have gone through problems like Adams, and can help them find things they did not know about themselves.

My Reading Life

Hello. Welcome to my blog. 

This blog will be about my reading and my thoughts on the books that I have read. My favorite books to read are horror and thriller novels. Mainly works of Stephen King. I also enjoy the works of Cory Doctorow: such as Homeland, Little Brother, and Pirate Cinema. I hope that maybe this year I'll be able to expand my reading life.. See you later!