E.M. Forster once wrote, "The only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves." I think that Forster means that a book can't influence you unless you are interested in it. I also think that Forster is saying that the book should be related to your life in someway. If it is, then it will interest you and it will be easier for you to be impacted. For example, if you read a book that is centered on a topic that is foreign or boring to you, then you probably won't care very much about it. But if you are open to the topic, and the book connects to your life, then you are open to being influenced. When Forster says, "...and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves" he addresses another good point. Books that impact us may show an example of how our future will be, or what may happen if we follow our current path (if the book relates to something in your life). The book could serve as an awakening or as comfort, showing that either everything will turn out okay, or it won’t and you need to change what you’re currently doing. The book could even help you feel that you are not alone (“someone” else is going through what you are). Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer, influenced me, but not in this exact way.
The main plotline of this novel is a search for Augustine, a woman in an old photo. Jonathan, Alex and Grandfather (along with their deranged dog) set out to find her in Ukraine, and to search for a long lost town of Trachimbrod. I feel that the general focus of the book is searching for elements of the past, to help explain things. Going along with Forster’s definition of an influential book, Everything is Illuminated would not influence me, because it doesn’t continue the path of my life. While everyone at some point thinks about the past, I feel that I’m more focused on the future.
I may not be connected to the search for the past, but one portion does connect with my life. The character of Alex seems to continue the path that I am on. Alex doesn't know what to do with his life. He deeply desires to go to America, but realizes that that won’t ever happen. Similarly, I have realized that some of my dreams won’t ever happen. His story does “go a little farther” down my path. In the end of the book, Alex is content with his life (even though his dreams have been “crushed”). This impacted me, and showed me that even if your dreams don’t work out, life will be ok.
Although Everything is Illuminated doesn’t match with Forster’s definition of an influential book for me, it still influenced me. The men did not find the actual Augustine, but they were still content that they had learned about Trachimbrod and about the past. Their search for the past may not be similar to my life, but it showed me that things often end in unexpected ways. That difference isn’t any worse than what was hoped for. I guess what I’m trying to say is that although things don’t always end the way you thought they would, they still can end well. So... I think that Forster is wrong. Just because you aren’t “ready” for a book, or don’t follow a path similar to the characters’, doesn’t mean that the book can’t influence you. Even though I am not connected to each of the characters, through Everything is Illuminated’s messages about hope and reality, I was influenced.

Everything Was Illuminated

Well, I just finished "Everything is Illuminated", and I thought the best way to end my outside reading posts would be to write a general reflection of the book (however boring that may sound).
Basically, I liked this book. It definitely had its twisted parts, but I enjoyed most of it. I especially appreciated Safran Foer's use of different writing styles and formats. Those really added to the book, and made it easier to read (so did the short chapters). I would suggest "Everything is Illuminated" to you for these reasons.
Also, I thought I'd compare the book to its movie. Before reading, I watched the movie of this novel. Both are good in their own ways, but I enjoyed the movie more (don't worry about the movie giving away the story, because the movie includes only about half of the book).
I can't seem to find a good quote for this entry, so I turned to a random page and found this. It's kind of interesting.
"Ifice: Ifice is that thing with purpose, created for function's sake, and having to do with the world. Everything is, in some way, an example of ifice" (202).
I think this is kind of interesting because it reminds us that everything in the world has a purpose and is made for that reason.

Why Not?

"...If we are to be such nomads with the truth, why do we not make the story more premium than life? It seems to me that we are making the story even inferior. We often make ourselves appear as though we are foolish people, and we make our voyage, which was an ennobled voyage, appear very normal and second rate...We could even find Augustine, Jonathan, and you could thank her, and Grandfaher and I could embrace, and it could be perfect and beautiful, and funny, and usefully sad, as you say...I do not think that there are any limits to how excellent we could make life seem" (179-180).
This long quote from Alex (in a letter to Jonathan) brings up a good point. If books are fiction, why aren't they happier? I understand that they aren't for plot reasons and theme, but I still think it's an interesting point. Specifically in this story, Alex's suggestion would make the story more fulfilling.

Prediction

In the coming portions of the book, I have no idea what to expect. Even thought I've read over half of the book, I feel like either nothing much has happened...or that nothing else could happen. The only portion that is open for predictions is Grandfather. He seems to be keeping many secrets, and my guess is that they will be revealed (well, at least some of them).
So here's my prediction:
Grandfather will somehow be connected to Trachimbrod, and has kept that part of his past hidden...like a secret identity.
The following passage led me to this prediction...
"The man standing next to me was our best friend, Herschel. Herschel was a Jew. And he was my best friend. And I murdered him" (228).
Now how's that for some soap opera drama? Even better, that was the last sentence of the chapter.

What Time is it?

Besides the "present day" portion of Everything is Illuminated, I'm kind of confused. You see, at the beginning of the book the past portion was focused on Jonathan's great-great-great-great-great grandmother, Brod.
It first followed Brod and her father, then in the next segment her father was suddenly dead, and it focused on her marriage to the Kolker (hey, great name) who got a saw stuck in his head...and had the occasional rage outbursts.
I think the storyline would be a little smoother for the reader if Safran Foer explained more in between, instead of jumping to the next plot. For example, when I began to read one of the flashbacks, the story had suddenly shifted to Jonathan's grandfather.
Although these stories are entertaining, the jump seemed pretty sudden. What happened in all of those years in between?

In the passage about his grandfather, I found an interesting quote that I thought I'd put into this entry.

"He knew that what he was doing was right, more right than anything he saw anyone do, and he knew that doing right often means feeling wrong, and if you find yourself feeling wrong, you're probably doing right" (170).

I'm not sure that I believe this, but it's a nice thing to think about. It's like an excuse for feeling wrong.

My, How Mate has Changed

Mate has evolved with age, but still is a little immature. She's definitely moved past the stage of drawing clothes and talking to her diary, but there are still hints of immaturity in her character. In prison she always seemed weak (alright, she did feel sick), and she liked to tell riddles. I was so glad when she finally admitted that she had never really desired to join the revolution on her own, but joined because Minerva and Palmino/Leandro were involved. Ok, so this really isn't a good entry, but hopefully you understand what I'm trying to say...

Minerva's Change in Spirit

During the last chapter, I found it interesting that Minerva's attitude had changed. She entered prison as a strong woman, totally devoted to the revolution. She even seemed this way while she was serving her sentence. I mean, how many prisoners do you hear of that conduct "school" while in prison so they don't forget anything? And then she laughed off her increased sentence. Typical Minerva.
But when she was placed under house arrest, she seemed like a totally different person. Instead of seeming proud, she acted like she wasn't sure of herself. At the start of the book it seemed like she was moving faster than everyone else, but now its the opposite. For example, when people congratulated her, etc. she put on a fake smile, unsure of what to do.
I personally liked the "old" Minerva.

Grandfather

Alex's grandfather is the driver in Everything is Illuminated. I guess I should probably give you some background on the story. The main character is Jonathan Safran Foer (ironically, the same name as the author...Coincidence? I think not). Jonathan recieves a picture of a girl named Augustine (stading with his grandpa) and decides to go on a journey to find her. So, he flies to Ukraine and inlists the help of Alex and his crabby granfather as his translator and his driver. Together the set out to find Augustine.
The character of Grandfather is mysterious. He starts out not wanting to be involved at all, but has to because its his job. Grandfather claims to be blind and has his own "seeing eye bi***" who "helps" him. This dog is totally deranged...which I think is pretty funny. Anyways, once Grandfather sees the picture of Augustine, he becomes devoted and interested in their "rigid search" for her. Hm...interesting. On many occasions Alex sees his grandfather crying late at night and looking at the picture.

"The second night he was crying he had the photograph of Augustine in his hands. The weather program was on, but it was so late that they only presented a map of planet Earth, without any weather on it. 'Augustine,' I could hear him say. 'Augustine,'" (102).

My prediction is that Grandfather knew Augustine in some way... or else she may just bring back memories of his past. I guess I'll just have to read and see.

Guilelessly, Alexander

One of my favorite characters in this book is Alexander. He is a Ukrainian translator who tells the part of the book that occurred in the near past, he also writes letters that analyze his own writing (its kind of hard to explain why). One of the most charming traits of Alex's writing is his broken English. He "writes" pretty well, but his love for the thesaurus makes his writing fun to read.

"I hanker for this letter to be good. Like you know, I am not first rate with English...my second tongue is not so premium. I undertaked to input the things you counseled me to, and I fatigued the thesaurus you presented me. I will preserve to toil on it until you are appeased," (23).

Alex uses the phrases "to manufacture Z's" and "I must eat a slice of humble pie" often. His writing adds to the humorous parts of this book...especially when he describes them.

hm...Very similar

In my last entry, I compared the formats of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...not only are these stories similar in format, but in their plots and characters. First, both novels include portions that are in the present as well as flashbacks/storylines that are in the past. In ELIC the past portion pertains to Dresden and the grandparents' lives. In EIL, the "flashback" is the story of the main character's great-great-great-great-great grandmother. I think that Safran Foer uses this technique to add an additionally plotline that brings depth to the story. The second similarity includes the presence of old men. In ELIC, Oskar and Mr. Black help each other. In EIL, Brod (the great-great-great-great-great-grandmother) and her 80 year old "father" (Yankle) help each other get through life. Yankel is not Brod's real father, but she doesn't know that.

"Yankel didn't have the heart to tell her that he was not her father, that...it was her real father at the bottom of the river with her name," (77).

These similarities show how Jonathan Safran Foer transfers his writing styles and ideas to each of his books.

The Beginning of the World Often Comes

For this quarter's outside reading, I have chosen Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer (I chose this book because I enjoyed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and I enjoyed the movie Everything is Illuminated). Many parts of this novel are similar to Safran Foer's other book. First, alternative formatting is used for dialogue.

"The good gefiltefishmonger Bitzl Bitzl R watched the commotion from his paddleboat, which was fastened with twine to one of his traps. What's going on over there? he shouted to shore. Is that you, Yankel? Is there some sort of trouble?" (8)

While some dialogue is written in italics, other speakers are signified by writing in all capital letters. Safran foer also uses a different format for the descriptions of dreams. These passages have all the print centered in the page, like it was a piece of a newspaper article that was cut out and pasted into the book.

I usually get bored reading books with long chapters and classical format, so these diverse writing styles really makes the story more interesting to read.

The Revolution

During the first chapters of the book people rarely spoke badly of Trujillo because his spies might've been listening. So I was wondering...if the government has such a close watch on the citizens, how come they haven't noticed the underground revolution? I mean, I know the people involved use code words, but still, you'd think the government would notice that something is going on. Maybe Trujillo actually did know it was happening, but Julia Alvarez hasn't written about it yet.

In the Time of the Butterflies: Maria Teresa

For my first post for this book, I thought I'd write about Maria Teresa. I found it interesting that Mate was one of the first of the sisters to join the revolution (along with Minerva). Since she's so much younger than the other three I suspected that she would be the last to join. At the beginning of the book, I felt that she wouldn't be very connected to the lives of her older sisters because of the large age difference. This event proved me wrong and showed that Mate is still closely connected with her older sisters.

Act 5

I'd have to say that this resolution was much happier than that of Romeo and Juliet! I found it interesting that as soon as Hero's innocence was proven, the duel between Benedick and Claudio was forgotten. I mean, he still denounced her and caused her to "die". Speaking of that, I was really pleased that this play's fake death didn't go awry like Juliet's...which makes sense seeing that this was a comedy. Overall, I actually liked Much Ado About Nothing.

Act 4

To refresh your memory, in Act 4 Claudio denounces Hero, and Benedick agrees to fight Claudio in a duel. As I predicted, Claudio didn't trust Hero, but did trust Don John. I found it interesting that the movie of the play added so much rage and violence to Claudio's denouncing of Hero. I thought he'd be weak and just glare at her...
Additionally, I didn't think that Beatrice would be in tears over the event. I thought that she would find some bit of humor in it. Oh well.