The Sound and the Fury

This book is interesting. Faulkner, yet again, explores the theme of southern aristocratic values and the south's inabilty to forget the past. The South entered a changed reality after the war. Faulkner masterfully uses stream of consciousness to reveal the thoughts of four individuals who were dealing with that change. It's amazing how Faulkner exposes a situation through so much complexity. The difficulty of the book may keep readers away but it is truly a great book and an accomplishment once it's completed.

LORD OF THE FLIES

The well-known plot of boys lost on an island has not been deemed an original idea because of the many adaptations of it that have been written and published. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, however, does not fall under the category of another children’s adventure story. Considered one of the Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century, Lord of the Flies is built on complex themes of human brutality, structure of society, tyranny versus democracy, and many others. Golding has a pessimistic view toward mankind and human nature, which has made the book controversial for many. There are innumerable critics who have written about the novel, two in particular, Bernard F. Dick and Kathleen Woodward. World War II played a large role in influencing the novel, as did William Golding’s life.
When the book was published in 1954, it was an instant bestseller in England and then rapidly gained popularity in America. Due to its widespread success, translations were made throughout Europe, Russia, and Asia. Soon it became “one of the most familiar and studied tales of the century” (Baker, James R. 1). Over time, however, two general opinions have formed in response to the novel. Some critics and readers felt that it was insightful on the past and predicted the future in the hands of mankind. Others regarded William Golding’s observations on human nature as pessimistic and antiquated.
Bernard F. Dick was one such critic that compared Golding’s works with Greek tragedies. While Dick agreed with many of Golding’s thoughts on human nature, Dick also made many arguments against Golding’s opinions. While he discussed Lord of the Flies, Dick made constant arguments for or against Golding’s themes. Bernard F. Dick argues that the “suppression of the Dionysian”, or “brute” side of man causes the societal breakdown in Lord of the Flies. Dick agrees with Golding that “evil is indigenous to the species” (Dick 15).
Another critic is Kathleen Woodard, who also comments on Golding’s underlying themes in the novel. While Dick argued that the “suppression of the beast within leads to its eruption” (Dick 13), Woodward argues that the indulgence of it does. In her article, “The Case for Strict Law and Order,” Woodward argues that Lord of the Flies presents a convincing argument for the “imposition of strict law and order to suppress violent behavior” (Woodward 93).
The question of human nature has been debated for centuries, and through the development of the novel, readers discover Golding’s opinion of mankind. The ending of the novel appears to be predictable, which may imply our own acceptance of original sin. By observing the interaction between Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, readers see the struggle for power develops because of the boy’s fear of being weak. Survival of the fittest is what drives the boys to becoming savage and murderous, because they fear of becoming the underdog. Golding’s observation of original sin is not as off base as some critics perceive, because the themes in Golding’s novel were apparent in the world around him after WWII, and have been common themes in novels and stories for ages.

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison’s bestselling novel Beloved is said to be one of the best books of all time because it brilliantly encapsulates the passion, the horror, and the magic of what African Americans endured during 1800’s America, a time period when slavery was a fashionable institute of United States culture. Although it is the twenty-first century and slavery is often viewed as a tale of a nation’s past, the memory of slavery still plays a fundamental role in the way ethnicities of American society function today. Therefore although it may be difficult to recognize some of the most warped foundations that actually helped establish the United States decades ago; Morrison proves through her story Beloved, the benefits of acknowledging the past in order to be freed from its memories in the future, which ultimately helps one grasp a better understanding of self-identity and culture.
Beloved serves as one of the most profound novels of American Literature because of Morrison’s unique use of literary devices such as diction, fanciful imagery, and remarkable shifting angles of opinion to transform a nightmare of American history into a beautifully written story of growth, love and the magic of the human soul. Truly understanding slave stories can be difficult at times, especially when most people haven’t the slightest idea of what the gravity of life for African Americans was like before the Emancipation Proclamation. Nevertheless, Morrison does a fantastic job of depicting the toils of life in the past, through the eyes of free-slaves recollecting memories of when they were literally worked to the bone, raped, beat and mercilessly killed arbitrarily. Despite the negative connotations that encompass slavery, Morrison provides a novel with an underlining positive tone, using the story of Beloved as a way to embrace the flaw of a nation’s past. Beloved inevitably becomes such a powerful book because not only does it function as a literary movement for African Americans, but also as a memento of what life in the past was like, and how every American (despite race) can appreciate the present due to the previous mistakes of the nation.


By: Rachel V. Tolbert

*** goodbye foxcroft - Yay for College***

"I, Claudius" by Robert Graves

Graves has created an unlikely hero in his chosen narrator of the Emperor Claudius. Born of the Claudio-Julian line, he is both handicapped and has a severe speech impediment making him the whipping boy of his family tree. While deceit, murder, and cruelty plague his family, friends, and the Roman Senate Claudius manages to survive and record the lives of three emperors until his own ascension into power. His keen eye and detached tone serve him well as he watches the tumultous history of his family play out before him; none suspect that "poor Claudius" will ever amount to anything. Graves re-makes the autobiography of the actual Claudius into an enthralling as well as realistic landscape, breathing life into ancient Rome.

Michael Babus

Catch-22

the story takes place in a fictional island called Pianosa during the time of WWII.
Catch-22 does not flow with the sequence, but the story rather proceeds according to lives of each character described in each chapters. In short, Catch-22 is an overall story of soldiers who are lunatic and insane--desperately trying to avoid the military services. Their only goal is to survive. Heller uses a great deal of gags and satires to portray the ugliness of the war. In that, readers feel the horror in the middle of their ecstatic laughs--this condtraditory juxtaposition nonetheless distinguish Catch-22 as one of the best novels of the 20th century. Each soldier is the embodiment of cowardice and absurdity--their lives full of lunatic incidents. However, as the protagonist Yossarian encounters theses minor characters, he learns the life lesson. Yossarian used to be such full of midiocrity; he fakes illness to be out of military activities. In the end, however, his interactions with other midiocre characters teach him the value of humanity--life is not winning or losing. it rather is accumulating experience gained through interactions and interconnection between people. in that, even though Yossarian desperately wanted to be out of military service, he chooses not to take the upper power's offer since he would have to betray his other friend soldiers if he had taken the offer. From a man whose only desire is to survive and getting out of serving military therefore, Yossarian transforms into a man of humanity and compassion. in short, Heller definitely warns the people of futility and horror of the war in Catch-22. however, he further delineates the most important value in our lives.--YJK

The Ginger Man -- J.P. Donleavy

The Ginger Man is the story of Sebastian Dangerfield and his adventures through Dublin.  Dangerfield is an appealing character that has many devious habits, drawing the reader into the novel.  The book deserves to be on the Top 100 Books of the 20th Century because it shows a raw lifestyle, uncensored in every approach.  Although the book had difficulty being published, J.P. Donleavy was able to stand by his work and ultimately be the author of a successful novel.  J.P. Donleavy's life is reflected in the novel through education, culture and beliefs.  The Ginger Man was not one of my favorite books, but nonetheless contains a unique protagonist within a humorous story. EAM

God's mercy

On the wild

Ginger Man.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Huxley's Brave New World is a novel about a corrupt "utopian" society called the World State. It follows the story of Bernard (the "outcast"), Lenina (the stereotypical World State citizen), and John (the "savage"). There is also Mond, the corrupt government official. Huxley's use of irony (for example, the higher officials are the most corrupt) and vast array of characters (each shows a different view of the World State), makes the novel one of the best 100 novels. Huxley's characters are easy to become attached to and the way the utopian World State functions is intriguing and keeps the reader's attention (babies are grown in bottles, promiscuity and orgies are encouraged, and the people frequently take a drug called soma to keep them agreeable).

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in the class. It is a good story, as well as interesting. A good read! (HCS)

1984

George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 is the epitome of this functional literature. It fully illustrates the imaginary circumstances in 1984, which is about 30 years after the book was written. In 1984, former Great Britain, Oceania is taken over by an oppressive government that does not allow any freedom to its people in order to prevent uprisings. People are always being watched and heard by cameras and radios controlled by the government. They cannot keep documents, marry someone whom they really love, nor study the past. While most citizens are brainwashed by the system and they absolutely believe in the rectitude of the government, the protagonist, Winston Smith, regrets the helpless reality. He even keeps a diary and secretly visits an antique store that sells forbidden goods from the past. Although he knows in his heart that the government should not be allowed to subjugate its people, he hides his feelings for a fear of being “evaporated.” One day, while he was disposing of the documents from the past, he finds a piece of propaganda poster. While he is still hesitant to face the government, Julia, a revolutionary coworker at the Ministry of Truth triggers his will to stand against the corrupted government. The two of them share their opinions on the foul system and try to make a change. There seems to be no problem in their plan to overthrow the government until the very last moment and they even win a sponsor. In the end, however, it turns out that the shopkeeper at the antique store was an employee at the government and that he has been observing the two all along. Even the sponsor turns out to be a member of the government staff. Winston and Julia finally succumb to the inevitable fate.

The Catcher in the Rye

J. D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye is one of the best fictional works of the Twentieth Century. The novel discusses various aspects of teenage life through the author’s main character, Holden Caulfield. Throughout the novel Holden experiences common elements of teenage life such as alienation, nostalgia and depression. He, like many young adults struggles with the transition from adolescence to adulthood finding security in only one part of life, for him it was protecting the innocent. Concepts such as these support various literary strategies within the work such as mythology and teenage culture. Critics have also accepted the novel as a tour de force emphasizing specific aspects as coming of age, Odyssey-like characteristics and the need to defend the innocent. Components such as these support the novel’s timeless excellence and literary appeal. The Catcher in the Rye is Salinger’s magnum opus and by far one of the most influential works of the Twentieth Century providing readers with various universal and personal interpretations to draw them in.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Nominees for the best novel of the 20th Century

To the AP Scholars of 2008: Please add your nominee for literary greatness (your book) to this blog. You can take a look at the short story posts that last year's class did. (Relax: yours can be shorter.) Your entry should be no more than a paragraph or two about your book. You should focus on why you think it is great and or readable. If it has drawbacks, explain those and then, you should tell us if you would recommend it and to whom. Add a graphic if you would like, but it is not required. This will be your note for posterity- your very own AP English time capsule for the ages. Have fun with it!