Genre Fiction Questions and Answers
Q: How can classifying books into genres be helpful for readers? How can it be problematic to writers?
A: I think that organizing books into genres is helpful for readers because they can get a quick sense of what the book will be like from the genre. For example, if its under comedy the reader will know its supposed to be humorous, so they can start to decide if they want to read into that book or look at a different genre. Genres can be problematic to writers I think because they might see their book as many genres, so it can't be put into just one category, but readers looking in a specific genre don't know that book could be considered multiple genres, which could affect their unfair initial opinion of the book.
Q: Argue whether or not publishers should use genre labels for books.
A: Publishers should use genre labels because even though it could give an unfair initial bias, it still helps the majority of the books to be broadly categorized. With so many books out there, it would be extremely hard to try and find a book that fits your taste, since most people favor one or two specific genres. Genre labels just give a general sense of what a book will be like to a reader, and these genres are easy to use and are the same everywhere that you go.
Q: Why do you think there is such a difference between some books' commercial success and their critical success?
A: I think there is a difference mainly because commercial success is based on the publics opinion, and the public mostly reads books to be entertained or compelled in some way. Critics dwell on each text, and compare it to earlier great works. They want to find all of the meanings and try to interpret each sentence. If a book has great commercial success, this means that the general population loved it and it can be read by "everyone". For this reason it might not have a great critical opinion because it isn't as challenging or full of great meaning so that everyone can read it, enjoy it, and understand it.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Post for Billie Letts
Dear Billie Letts,
My name is Arden Zink and I would love to turn your
book into a movie! I think that a movie adaptation would be best because of the
style of the book and the story line. It could almost be a TV series, but it
would be hard to make more than a few episodes. It will be somewhat challenging
to create a movie because of the time lapses that occur in your book, but I
believe we can get through that obstacle by using fading and showing the exact
dates on the screen, like many other movies have done before. Of course all of
the scenes are important, but there were a few that really stood out. We definitely
need to focus on the scene where Willy Jack dumps her at the Walmart, from
their fight in the beginning to her running out of the store and knowing he was
already gone. We also should focus on the scene where Willy Jack gets arrested,
because it is so important to his story and how he turns out. Another important
scene would be when Novalee first sees Forney, to slightly foreshadow what is
to come just like in the book. We need to put emphasis on the people she meets
and how she takes their pictures and how that camera is so important to her. We
should also make an emphasis on the buckeye tree throughout the movie. In the
scene where Forney decorates the library with candles and cooked for Novalee,
we need to pay close attention to all of the details, and go from close ups to
scanning and pick perfect music. This is possibly the most romantic scene in
the book, so we really need to get it right. Another big moment is of course
when Novalee has her baby on the Walmart floor. When Novalee thinks of a name
for her baby, Americus, should be emphasized as well. These are only some
scenes from the beginning, but I will now tell you a few small scenes that we
could most likely do without. The biggest thing would be to try and chop down
the extra stuff when she is in the Walmart. We need the part at first and maybe
for the first day and night, but she is there a very long time and we can use
fading and show the dates to shorten this up. Another scene could be when
Novalee meets Forney’s sister, because we already get a feel for the sister
without meeting her and it isn’t a significant part to the storyline. Finally,
we can talk about casting. I have a few ideas for who could play Novalee,
Forney, and Willy Jack. For Novalee, I picture someone like Shailene Woodley.
For Forney, possibly Johnny Depp or Ben Affleck. And for Willy Jack maybe a
younger Mark Wahlberg. Hopefully we will get in touch soon!
Sincerely,
Arden Zink
Friday, September 11, 2015
Book Review #1: Room by Emma Donoghue
Book Review #1: Room by Emma Donoghue
Room is about a boy and his mother. They live in an 11x11 foot room and he has been there his entire life; he doesn't think that "outside" is real. The mother was kidnapped at 19 by a man that they call Old Nick. He brings them food every week and sexually assaults the boy's (Jack) mother. When the mother finally thinks that Jack is old enough, she creates a plan to escape the room she has been in for 7 years. (Don't want to spoil the rest) Emma Donoghue has written 16 books, with Room being her second most recent novel. The book isn't a part of a series but it is an international bestseller, with over 2 million copies sold.
I loved the beginning of the book where you were just being introduced to the scenario through the perspective of a 5 year old boy who had always been in an 11x11 foot room. He didn't know what grass or wind felt like, and there was the suspense of if he and his mother would ever get out and beat the sick and twisted man, Old Nick. They had a tv in the room so he knew what things looked like, but he didn't think that they were real. Its crazy to even imagine only knowing a small room and thinking that is the only thing in the world! I also liked how brave he was when he escaped to save both of their lives at only 5 years old, especially since he had no concept whatsoever of the world outside.
Jack is the main character and the narrator so he is a very strong character. You read how he thinks and speaks, so that you feel like you know this funny and curious 5 year old boy. His mother is another strong character because of all the characters Jack describes her the most, so you also feel like you know her and her personality. A weaker character would be Old Nick, just in comparison to Jack and his mother because Jack doesn't see much or interact much with him. All we know is that Old Nick is a mysterious old man that brings them supplies and takes advantage of his mom.
One big idea that this book is dealing with is the bond of a mother and her child. The mother is very clear that she was saved by Jack instead of thinking negatively and about Old Nick. She does everything that she can to raise Jack; she reads to him, she has 'gym' class with him, they draw and work on vocabulary. She keeps him away from Old Nick as much as she can in that small room, and makes him brush his teeth and eat healthy. It is amazing that she can do so much with such a small amount of resources. Another big idea is how great justice is. When the police find the secret shed and rescue Jacks mom, you feel so much relief and joy. You feel even better when they catch Old Nick and he is sent to jail.
Using your brain and being patient instead of sudden violence in a tricky situation is always the better way.
I would describe this books genre as partly dramatic because it is about a horrible kidnapping and events that don't usually happen in our lives. The writing style is first person narrator, Jack. Two words to describe this writing style would be blunt and somewhat optimistic, because Jack actually likes the room and doesn't see the problem with it yet since he is so young. "“Goodbye, Room." I wave up at Skylight. "Say goodbye," I tell Ma. "Goodbye, Room."
Ma says it but on mute.
I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.”" In this quote Jack and his mother have returned to the room because Jack wanted to get some of his belongings. He doesn't understand how hard it is for his mother to go back to the place she spent 7 years trapped in . This quote shows the writing style because it is all from a 5 year old boys point of view; it shows the way he talks and thinks since he is very young.
Overall I give this book an 8 out of 10. It was very suspenseful and sad in the beginning, thrilling during the escape, and heartwarming in the end when they were free and met the mothers family and got their own apartment to start their new life.
Room is about a boy and his mother. They live in an 11x11 foot room and he has been there his entire life; he doesn't think that "outside" is real. The mother was kidnapped at 19 by a man that they call Old Nick. He brings them food every week and sexually assaults the boy's (Jack) mother. When the mother finally thinks that Jack is old enough, she creates a plan to escape the room she has been in for 7 years. (Don't want to spoil the rest) Emma Donoghue has written 16 books, with Room being her second most recent novel. The book isn't a part of a series but it is an international bestseller, with over 2 million copies sold.
I loved the beginning of the book where you were just being introduced to the scenario through the perspective of a 5 year old boy who had always been in an 11x11 foot room. He didn't know what grass or wind felt like, and there was the suspense of if he and his mother would ever get out and beat the sick and twisted man, Old Nick. They had a tv in the room so he knew what things looked like, but he didn't think that they were real. Its crazy to even imagine only knowing a small room and thinking that is the only thing in the world! I also liked how brave he was when he escaped to save both of their lives at only 5 years old, especially since he had no concept whatsoever of the world outside.
Jack is the main character and the narrator so he is a very strong character. You read how he thinks and speaks, so that you feel like you know this funny and curious 5 year old boy. His mother is another strong character because of all the characters Jack describes her the most, so you also feel like you know her and her personality. A weaker character would be Old Nick, just in comparison to Jack and his mother because Jack doesn't see much or interact much with him. All we know is that Old Nick is a mysterious old man that brings them supplies and takes advantage of his mom.
One big idea that this book is dealing with is the bond of a mother and her child. The mother is very clear that she was saved by Jack instead of thinking negatively and about Old Nick. She does everything that she can to raise Jack; she reads to him, she has 'gym' class with him, they draw and work on vocabulary. She keeps him away from Old Nick as much as she can in that small room, and makes him brush his teeth and eat healthy. It is amazing that she can do so much with such a small amount of resources. Another big idea is how great justice is. When the police find the secret shed and rescue Jacks mom, you feel so much relief and joy. You feel even better when they catch Old Nick and he is sent to jail.
Using your brain and being patient instead of sudden violence in a tricky situation is always the better way.
I would describe this books genre as partly dramatic because it is about a horrible kidnapping and events that don't usually happen in our lives. The writing style is first person narrator, Jack. Two words to describe this writing style would be blunt and somewhat optimistic, because Jack actually likes the room and doesn't see the problem with it yet since he is so young. "“Goodbye, Room." I wave up at Skylight. "Say goodbye," I tell Ma. "Goodbye, Room."
Ma says it but on mute.
I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.”" In this quote Jack and his mother have returned to the room because Jack wanted to get some of his belongings. He doesn't understand how hard it is for his mother to go back to the place she spent 7 years trapped in . This quote shows the writing style because it is all from a 5 year old boys point of view; it shows the way he talks and thinks since he is very young.
Overall I give this book an 8 out of 10. It was very suspenseful and sad in the beginning, thrilling during the escape, and heartwarming in the end when they were free and met the mothers family and got their own apartment to start their new life.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Post #2
"Today I am 5." My initial thought to the first sentence was- the book is told in first person and they are very young.
The good guys would be the teller of the story, Jack, and his mother. The bad guy would be the man that keeps Jack and his mother hostage in a room. Jack calls him Old Nick.
I chose this book because I love mystery and the plot sounded interesting to me. So far I think it is a great book and I love how the story is told from a five year olds perspective. I can't wait to see how the book ends and if the mother and son will escape the room.
The good guys would be the teller of the story, Jack, and his mother. The bad guy would be the man that keeps Jack and his mother hostage in a room. Jack calls him Old Nick.
I chose this book because I love mystery and the plot sounded interesting to me. So far I think it is a great book and I love how the story is told from a five year olds perspective. I can't wait to see how the book ends and if the mother and son will escape the room.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Post #1: Why I Read
Sometimes I read to learn new things and expand my vocabulary. I like to challenge myself and love books with words that I have never heard of before or don't know exactly what they mean. I read to get away from reality and go to different places and time periods around the world. I read to be intrigued and to be forced to think about the world and everything that happens on it and what could happen on it if certain things were different. Books about the future and past are especially interesting because the past shows how we got to where we are today and the future is really anybodies guess. I also love reading books about animals and how they evolved into the animals that we know about and see today, including ourselves. I also like to read romance novels. I have read a lot of the popular ones, such as the twilight series, The Fault in Our Stars, A Walk to Remember, etc. They aren't my favorite to read, but I like leaving my reality and going into the books and character's world. The only thing I don't like about romantic novels is that they can be too "goopy" or sad. For example, The Fault in Our Stars was a great book but it was too sad for me.
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