Written By: Delaney Norris, Staff Writer
REVIEW: An unqualified teenage girl voices her opinions on pretentious books she read over summer that inflated her ego in the form of mediocre book reviews.
Possible spoiler warning.
“The Odyssey” By Homer
A classic tale told by the influential author Homer, “The Odyssey” recounts Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War, which is over the course of more than ten years. While the book has about four chapters that really stand out such as Book IX and Book X, I found that it was a chore to get through some chapters. Chapters focused on Telemachus and Penelope were uninterested and I wish that the book put more focus on Odysseus’s journey. Despite my slightly subpar opinion on this epic tale, I would still recommend it as it is an important figure in Greek mythology and a great story to have knowledge of when writing essays in class (anybody else scrambling to find allusions in every piece of literature?)
“Lord of the Flies” By William Golding
Even though this book reminds me of a sixth-grade boy in the worst way possible, it is undeniably an amazing piece of literature. If you were ever forced to read this for school purposes and hated it, please reread and base an opinion on the book, not on the fact that you couldn’t get your participation points on the Socratic Seminar. The Lord of the Flies follows a group of preteen boys stranded on an unknown island after their plane crashes. No adult survives the crash (or possibly were never even present on the plane) leaving the boys to fend for themselves on the uninhabited island. Of course the boys’ original plans for survival all fall apart and the constant power struggle between them causes the boys to return to…primitive instincts to say the least. A unique commentary on the savagery mankind possesses and the lengths one will go to for power, “Lord of the Flies” is a must read. The only thing I have to say is that if that plane was filled with girls the contents of the book would not have happened, and I stand by that.
“Little Women” By Louissa May Alcott
(Disclaimer: Although I am one of the many who are forever sad that Jo and Laurie do not end up together in this book, that does not make me an Amy and Laurie hater. Love my girl Amy.)
There is no denying the fact that “Little Women” is a great book. It follows the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up together during the Civil War. The first 350 pages of the book are a five star from me, as I loved watching each sister grow and develop, and I especially enjoyed Jo and Laurie’s relationship. Alcott gives each sister the spotlight and the reader is able to make a connection with each one throughout the book.The last 100 pages of the book are what drives me mad. I truly cannot stand Friedrich Bhaer and his development from Jo’s acquaintance to her lover; it felt forced and unnatural to Jo’s character. We got him when we could have had Jo and Laurie, lifelong friends who had an entertaining dynamic and could help change each other for the better?! Despite this I understand that Alcott was pressured to end the story with Jo having a special somebody, it would have been infinitely better to leave Jo single as Alcott supposedly originally planned to. In the end all you can blame is the publishers. We hate you publishers.