Happy Thursday,
I started back at University on 25th January so although this post is slightly late, I still thought I would document what I have to read for my second semester at University. For those of you that don't know I study English Literature at such a beautiful city and a friendly University.
I'll include some initial thoughts on each text though if I've already read one of the books on the list, I shall rate it and mention it in my belated January wrap up post that will be coming within the next week.
It is worth me just quickly noting that I'm taking three compulsory modules which are Reading Texts 2, Contemporary Writing and Gender and Writing. I have also picked my modules for second year which was very exciting but also a major struggle. Anyone that knows me will know that I'm a worrier, I always panic about making the wrong choices and regretting things. Plus, I am so indecisive making it all so harder to commit modules that I will not be studying until September and even January 2017!
The Oxford Book of English Verse- Christopher Ricks
6 weeks of poetry is the hell that I have to endure- I have to take some very long and deep breaths when I have to pick up this monster of a book! We have to read, compare and analyse particular poems for lectures and also analyse and read other poems for our seminars which all depends on who our lecturer is. Each week has a particular theme so it's all linked together.
I've had to read a mixture of poetry including Shakespeare, Marlowe, Drayton, Donne, Coleridge and Keats.
Wow! I have just named so many literary geniuses which massively intimidate me. I am quite thankful that (so far) I haven't had to read right at the beginning of the book because I'm pretty sure it isn't written in English or any understandable language!
Bonjour Tristesse- Francoise Sagan
I haven't read this book yet though I have had a quick look at the back cover. It's about a girl who lives with her widowed father, who eventually decides to remarry and things don't quite work out.
I have the Penguin Modern Classics edition so it also contains 'A Certain Smile' which sounds so interesting though I don't have to read that for University!
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas- Ursula Le Guin
I have never heard of this and have no idea what this is about. We have 8 weeks of the semester plus Easter break before studying this so I'm not panicking just yet. We have access to a PDF of the text so I'm guessing it's a short read so we can print it off.
The Tell- Tale Heart- Edgar Allen Poe
Again, we can read this online. I haven't yet read any Poe, but I'm really looking forward to it. From what I've heard it encompasses the gothic and horror genre plus physical disturbance which are themes which massively interest me.
At the discretion of our seminar tutor, we made have to read additional texts to compare with this text but I don't have information on that until nearer the time.
Sonny's Blues and Going to Meet the Man-James Baldwin.
One includes the themes of masculinity and music and the other will allow us to focus on Blues and New York.
Why is it that all the reading that I'm looking forward to is at the end of the semester?
Miss Julie- August Strindberg (Full review in January wrap up post)
I'm sure after studying this more and watching a adaptation, I will start to enjoy this more. It was a fairly which read which is also advantageous, but I did find the plot quite dull.
The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck
I have tried to avoid reading this novel for far too long now. I've read around 70 pages so far. I am enjoying it plus I am quite interested in the key themes of the text, but it is quite slow going, requires lots of motivation and is nearly 500 pages long (Goodbye, Weekend!)
The Fat Black Woman's Poems- Grace Nichols
I am guessing that this poetry collection is fairly contemporary compared to The Oxford Book of English Verse so that'll be a refreshing change. Actually feeling optimistic about having less reading that week after getting through Steinbeck!
The Edible Woman- Margaret Atwood
I've heard so much about Margaret Atwood and her literary brilliance. Looking forward to reading this text though the edition I've brought is not very nice. You know what they say, don't judge a book by its cover!
Trumpet- Jackie Kay
One of the last texts I will be studying during this semester and one I'll be excited to analyse and go to the sessions on. It's a book about love and the feelings of the heart so I hope it'll be a touching novel instead of a cliché.
Wall-E- Andrew Stanton
Although this is not a novel, it is one of the many films that we are required to watch and analyse for our course. Overall, I found parts of the film to drag along due to the lack of dialogue. After the seminar on it, I have fallen in love with this cute little robot and everything he stands for. As he tries to save the world, it is touching that he acts in more of a humane manner than the actual humans who become passive due to technology. This film made my perspectives change in terms of the environment and our classifications of what is human and what is not.
Zeitoun- Dave Eggers
We spent one week discussing this non-fiction novel which follows a family during Hurricane Katrina. The father, Zeitoun, who owns a contracting company, stays during the storm to try and fix the broken city and help others by going round in his canoe.
Animal's People- Indra Sinha
I haven't heard great reviews on this text but the lecture was really enjoyable and was comical but I suppose that was because of the way in which the lecturer delivered it. Context is important to consider when looking at this novel. There's some strong language included throughout and is a lengthy read.
Zoo City-Lauren Beukes
Changes have been made to our study of this text as it is increasingly difficult to source right now. Currently, this text in English, has gone out of print so there have been many people accidentally ordering the French or German version, like my friend Abby who must have sourced the book in the wrong language about 5 times.
Refugee-Sophie Nicholls
Don't really know much about this as we can access this text online so I haven't had to research into buying it and have a look into it.
In this World- Michael Winterbottom
This is another film that we have to watch. From buying the DVD, it doesn't look particularly interesting but I suppose I'll know when I buy a DVD player or Disc Drive so I can watch it.
On Black Sisters' Street-Chika Unigwe
Seems a very interesting text but also has some upsetting themes in so I will find it interesting to see how this book is focused upon in seminars and during lectures.
Enron-Lucy Prebble
I was hoping that we would be studying another text by Lucy Prebble which was focused upon psychology. Instead, this book focuses on the themes of loss and greed during a financial scandal. It does sound interesting and hopefully will not be too dry.
FreakAngels-Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield
The final text of our contemporary writing module.
If you've read this long post then I'm very appreciative.
Take care,
Mcsophwar xox
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