Category: Senior Literary

The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson is about a teenager who finds himself interested in the Mormon religion. When he is asked to write an essay for class, he stumbles across a series of articles about a murder committed by a Mormon. Shortly after reading about this, he and his half-brother get caught in a web of secrecy of a violent murder.

This book accurately captures a dark story of a Mormon teen. We are able to see his mind deteriorating throughout the book as he starts to form into the murderer himself. When the story starts off, Rudd is just a normal teenager but he was described as “troubled”. His dad died at an early age. We see him being troubled in the early parts of the book when he is looking at his “dead father’s dead things”. I found this really helpful in realizing that he wasn’t healthy in his own mind. Apparently his father was obsessed with murder as well, and that helped speed the process up as to realizing why exactly Rudd turned out the way he did.

The story is split up into specific sections. The first section being particularly in Rudd’s point of view in which he describes all that is happening around him. His half- brother is talked about often and we see him forming into his half- brother’s personality. His half brother is scary and controlling and he doesn’t believe in fear. He steps out and takes every conflict head- on and likes to challenge things. The writer of this book caught this in a way that it was easy to understand that Rudd had a need for validation and he liked to mimic other people. The second section was of Lyndi, one we didn’t really get much of an explanation for. We can see that Lyndi has importance in the development of Rudd’s character because he really is incapable of love but he is also capable of brainwashing those around him to think that he is. Incorporating Lyndi was the perfect way of showing that. The last section was Hooper, the murderer himself. The author included Hooper to show how much Rudd thought of himself as Hooper and how his personality slowly changed to match him.

This book was very dark and mysterious. I loved how well it brought me into the happenings of the story and I felt my own mind being confused throughout the book when Rudd was confused by his thoughts. I felt as though the book was meant to encompass me and amerce me into feeling and thinking in an uncomfortable way. I wanted to quit reading it, and be away from the story itself but the way that the story builds on itself made me want to continue reading. The authors need to show family, pain, loss, and the need to belong was well incorporate through the book. I think that the darkness of this book showed an overall view on the concept of the dark age of Mormon religion.

When I decided to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, for the first time, I knew going into it that it would be a hard book to fully absorb due to the level of reality and blunt, teenage, mentally ill mentality that it expresses through the main character’s point of view, in the format of letters written to an unknown targeted audience. The book explores the narrator’s transition into adolescence and young adulthood during early high school years. The book focuses mainly on the life of one teen and shows the struggle of growing up and living through high school years under the pressure of mental illness, peer pressure, and finding yourself in a mentality far away from anyone else.

One of the main, most looked over conflicts in the book is Charlie’s, the narrator’s, devolving and dissasociated mental state in the letters, compared to how he appears to his friends and classmates, most of whom overlook him entirely or take him to be in a stable mindset. Since the narrator had been so overlooked throughout his life, even by family, he was never able to feel like he fit into any community, but after meeting Sam and Patrick, he realized that being a wallflower might not be such a bad thing after all. With his newly found acquaintances, Charlie explores his adolescence and personality in a way that he never had before. He was able to attend parties, experience his first real kiss, and deconstruct what it means to be a true high schooler, all while feeling very distant in his emotions. While realizing that this feeling of distance might not be normal, the narrator experiments and explores his boundaries, human connection, and even a first love. Slowly, Charlie becomes okay with being not okay, and over time, develops a sense of belonging with his new friends while he accepts that he might never be above average. In my experience, most teenagers can relate to the narrator, in that everyone, at some point in their lives, feels like they do not belong, and that feeling is much stronger with some than with others. Teenagers can relate not only because we, as teenagers, sometimes do not belong, but we have to learn to be content with ourselves as people and the things that we cannot change, including out mindset, loves, and hopes, which was one of Charlie’s biggest mental obstacles throughout his high school years.

To me, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, as a whole, is even more than an extremely powerful book. I personally believe that every person, teenagers and adults alike, should have the opportunity to read this book at some point throughout their lives, because everyone will undoubtedly take something away from this book, even if it’s only to write letters to themselves sometimes, or to put their emotions, troubles, loves, and grievances onto paper as a means to express themselves and let their feelings flow freely to someone who will never judge.

What are all the places on the body you can wear a ring?

The question may seem completely random, which it is. The statement is simply an interesting question I formulated brought from the simple topic, rings. If I were given the topic “rings,” I would have no idea where to begin with in general, however after reading this article, I’ve approached the topic with a completely different mindset. I’ve personally found great success so far in the process. This is a perfect example to deliver for my suggestion of a great read for all writers, as well as students who have a difficult time with figuring out the perfect attention catching sentence.

The article, “How to Write Interesting Content for a ‘Boring’ Topic,” written by Pratik Dholakiya is a phenomenal and interesting read that shakes the concept of a such thing as a “boring topic”. Based on the initial read of the title, I expected a somewhat to do list fashioned article; however, it was nothing of my expectations. Dholakiya states that a topic is not the issue of building a good read, it is the use of the “right questions” being used to make the content interesting.

In my opinion, I believe the article is very beneficial, especially for me being a writing student who deal with writing essays every week. It becomes very frustrating searching for the perfect sentence to begin a work, and even though this article focuses on “titles for blogging and article writing”, I believe it is beneficial to all writing. As I said previously, this would be very beneficial for all students.

Prati Dholakiya did a wonderful job with providing the information in an interesting manner while also remaining on topic. He in no way drifts from the purpose of the article itself, which is more than likely a bonus for readers who enjoy a writer being blunt and straight to the point. He brings forth great topics and explains each of his points as well as providing facts of data behind his suggestions from recent views of other topics that may be seen as uninteresting or extremely vague.

The article is not to be mistaken as a step by step guide to what to do when there is a feeling of being stuck with content the writer does not find interesting, so if the reader is looking to find a step by step guide then they will be disappointed. Dholakiya simply gives off clearly suggestions and advice to improve the view point of a topic. The article also shows places the writer in the eyes of a reader approaching a work of a writer, and the things that people normally pay attention to being things relating to themselves.

If I was forced to bring forth any negative comments, it would only be that I wish there were more examples brought from the author. However, in the writing world, wanting more from a passage is commonly when in the right context, a very good thing.

To read this work click here.

Lord of the Flies is a book that is a perfect example of pure taboo. No parent wants to have the thought that their kids are dead or stranded on an island with no supervision of a guardian or adult. In the book about twenty-five twelve year old boys from Britain ended up on an island because of a plane crash. The book features main characters such as: Jack, Ralph, Simon, Piggy, Roger, Sam, Eric, etc.

The book is a perfect example of society. Ralph is the character that shows respect to people and respects order. He represents the government of society, could be looked at as a controlling person. He made sure that all of the little ones in the tribe who were six and up would get food. He was respected by most in the tribe. Piggy could represent a secretary. He was the brains of the tribe and the right hand man of Ralph. He was bullied by others because he was different and because of his weight, asthma, and inability to do physical activity. I personally look at Simon as someone who is just a citizen. He’s the guy who stays back and is affected by everything that happens. Simon is quiet and observes. He values his time alone and doesn’t try to bother anybody. Sam and Eric can represent businesses that are controlled by the government. Sam and Eric are twin brothers that always finish each other’s sentences or speak at the same time who is in charge of keeping the fire ablaze. They do what they are told by Ralph.

Jack could represent an anarchist. He does not respect what Ralph is doing on the island and he wants to be free, hunt, and take power over the island. Jack is an alpha and a leader. Roger represents the court. In society, many people dread court, even hate court. Court can be completely unfair and gives out punishments. In the book, Roger is a bully that likes to give unfair punishments to other people.

I love this book because it has so many different ways that it could represent. It has some aspects of religion in it, it represents society, it is all a book that can relate to taboo. It can also be looked at as a dog eat dog world kind of thing. In the book, it’s Jack versus Ralph. The government versus the anarchist. Jack does not stop causing trouble. Jack wants to be in control. This book could represent something like a social experiment. If you put a group of kids on an island who have to fend for them self and have absolutely no parental supervision.

I highly recommend this book. It can give the reader a whole different look on society or maybe a whole different perspective from me. It can give the reader a roller coaster of emotions. Lord of the Flies may be one of the best books I have ever read and I highly recommend people to read it.