1. Hocus Pocus,
2. The book is about a Vietnam veteran's notes while meditating in jail for a crime that he did not commit. He reflects on his life, his beliefs, society and religion. He HATES religion especially Christianity because he believes it manipulates people more than help them become better people. He is involved and affiliated with a jail breakout and he can no longer live, "freely". The book then takes place after the breakout
3. The more meanngful parts of the book is when the jail break is commensed and the exileration he feels, yet sense of immorality. And the second is where he has an epiphany that the world is simply an unfair place. The theme is that there is no such thing as justice, only chance.
4. My favorite character has to be the unamed Vietnam vet. He is the only character who can have a in depth analysis, and I relate to him because he is a man that wishes that the world is perfect, and wishes that people behaved like in a utopian society, yet suffers from constant reminders that nad things happen to good people. My favorite passage in the book is when he describes being free from jail, but not really being "free" because it is hard for him to ascend the guilt he feels from escaping justice.
5. I would reccomend it to a friend because it is complex yet simple, is clear and concise and gives people a new perspective.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Brothers Kazmarov
1. The Brothers Kazamarov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, published by the Russian messenger 1880, reaslitic fiction.
2. Fyodor is a forty year old man who lives in a Russia and is enticed by guilty pleasures: sex, drugs and booze. He has four sons, one with a blind, mentally disabled woman, but abondoned them at infancy. Years later, they have all been coincidentally reunited. Only one of the sons accidentally discovers the truth about their father in interesting circumstances, while Fyodor is beginning to grow fond of them, to the point he evens questions confessing.
3. The more meaningful moments in the book is when Sergei accidentally overhears the truth after forgetting to invite Fyodor for drinks, where he hears Fyodor talking to one of his friends in his house. Baffled, Sergei puts his hands on his mouth and slowly falls to a kneeling position, because you can feel the nerves. The other most meaningful moment is when, for the first time in his life, Fyodor has emotional connection with someone when he gives his son advice about girls.
4. I didn't like any of the characters in particular, but if I did, it would probably be Sergei, because he was an honest, charming benevolent guy and all he wanted to do is connect with his father, even when he thought Fyodor didn't want to connect with him. I didn't idnetify with him because I did not have a such harsh upbringing.
5. My favorite passage of the book is when Fyodor opens up and tells Sergei how he had a horrible childhood and used his addicitions as a source of relief. He also admits that throughout he was not the person that he wanted to be, but that his miniscule sense of self worth changed him for the worse.
6. No. because it is graphic, depressing and very cynical. Also, I think that after the books we have read, it may be better to read a book that portrays a postive functional family.
2. Fyodor is a forty year old man who lives in a Russia and is enticed by guilty pleasures: sex, drugs and booze. He has four sons, one with a blind, mentally disabled woman, but abondoned them at infancy. Years later, they have all been coincidentally reunited. Only one of the sons accidentally discovers the truth about their father in interesting circumstances, while Fyodor is beginning to grow fond of them, to the point he evens questions confessing.
3. The more meaningful moments in the book is when Sergei accidentally overhears the truth after forgetting to invite Fyodor for drinks, where he hears Fyodor talking to one of his friends in his house. Baffled, Sergei puts his hands on his mouth and slowly falls to a kneeling position, because you can feel the nerves. The other most meaningful moment is when, for the first time in his life, Fyodor has emotional connection with someone when he gives his son advice about girls.
4. I didn't like any of the characters in particular, but if I did, it would probably be Sergei, because he was an honest, charming benevolent guy and all he wanted to do is connect with his father, even when he thought Fyodor didn't want to connect with him. I didn't idnetify with him because I did not have a such harsh upbringing.
5. My favorite passage of the book is when Fyodor opens up and tells Sergei how he had a horrible childhood and used his addicitions as a source of relief. He also admits that throughout he was not the person that he wanted to be, but that his miniscule sense of self worth changed him for the worse.
6. No. because it is graphic, depressing and very cynical. Also, I think that after the books we have read, it may be better to read a book that portrays a postive functional family.
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