(#21) / Romeo and Juliet / by William Shakespeare / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Romeo and Juliet / by William Shakespeare

ISBN-13: 978-0140620931/ Bookworm /

p. 160/ $7.19 (Amazon)

Reprint 1994 / Original – circa 1595

Body of Content

Summary: Romeo & Juliet is a play centered on two teenagers from rival families – set in Italy.  The play is within the genre of tragedy – as the ending finds such a tragic turn.  Friends and family repeatedly make attempts – in both word and action – to keep the two title characters from seeing each other.  Filled with sword fights and romantic lines of poetry, Shakespeare crafts a drama filled with action and love.  Romeo first attends a banquet – in hopes of meeting the lovely Rosaline.  As the night unfolds, Romeo instead falls smitten for Juliet – despite the family issues. The couple marries in secret in an attempt to hide their love from their families.  But as the story continues towards its conclusion, both Romeo and Juliet may have to sacrifice too much – for the hope of love.   

Critique: Shakespeare’s drama still carries relevancy for many teens.  Romeo & Juliet contains many themes – but certainly, the lure of forbidden love is among them.  Teenagers can relate to this theme – as often times their dating choices may not reflect the desires of their parents.  Such instances usually do not carry the drama – or even necessary, the ultimatums – to the same extent as Shakespeare’s classic.  Still, even within the 20^th century, segregation carried the expectation of a restriction – that black and white Americans should not date/marry.  On a larger front, the taboo or restrictions on relationships may center on ethnic, racial, linguistic, economic, political, religious, etc. “reasons”.  And teenagers – caught between childhood and adulthood – face a world that may not share their worldview.

Romeo & Juliet holds that tension throughout its narrative – how two rival families kept two lovers from loving.  Since love is a social enterprise, it seems that culture often puts limitations to it.  The drama is one of Shakespeare’s most famous – perhaps in part due to a universal theme – forbidden love.      

Teaser: “How far would you go in the quest to find true love?”

Information about the Author: Shakespeare is an English writer and playwright – having lived in the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries.  He was married to Anne Hathaway – with whom he had several children.  His father, John, held a municipal position in the town of Straford-upon-Avon.  His mother, Mary, came from a land-owning family.  His father’s employment allowed for William’s education – though he would never go to the university after grammar school (A&E, 2011).

Shakespeare wrote many plays for dramatic reenactment – many of which still receive attention on modern stages and film adaptions. Some of his comedies include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night; meanwhile, some of his histories include Henry VI and Richard III; further, some of his tragedies include Hamlet, Julius Caesar, MacBeth, and King Lear (Wikipedia, 2011).

Supplemental Material

Genre: Romance / Historical Fiction / Classic

Curriculum Ties: History – Italian history / English – vocabulary, etymology, poetry 

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Two rival families feud – while two rival members choose to pursue love 2) Why do you think Romeo and Juliet receives such attention in pop culture – as opposed to his other works?

Reading Level: Primarily for ages 14-16. Interest level may rise to upper high school – but this book would have difficulty sliding to younger ages like students in junior high with the arcane vocabulary.

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book does contain some language – though it is often in the crass vernacular of several centuries past.  The book is a classic – and one dearly attributed to Shakespeare.  With those credentials, the book usually receives a pass.

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: Like many teenagers, this Shakespearean work represented my first reading experience of the English author.

Last Thoughts

References:

A&E Television Network. (2011). William Shakespeare [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323

Wikipedia. (2011). William Shakespeare [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Plumb/ Album – various playlists 

(#20) / Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days (Novel #1) / by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Left Behind (Novel #1) / by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

ISBN-13: 978-1414334905/ Tyndale House Publishers/

p. 496 / $10.19 (Amazon)

1995

Body of Content

Summary: A non-religious Raymond Steele is an airplane pilot – married to a Christian wife.  Their children reflect the attitudes of their parents, respectively – the daughter doubts, while the son believes.  When the Rapture happens – an event where believing Christians are taken to heaven, while those left behind must face the final events of history before the end of all things.  Raymond faces a dilemma – finding out first-hand about the Rapture, while flying a plane, as half the passengers vanish.  In the weeks that unfold, a world leader (Nicolae Carparthia) tries to unite those people who remain – and provide some stability to political and economic systems – and provide religious answers to the questions arising from the ramifications of the Rapture.  But as the story unfolds, Steele must decide whose side he will join – and whose side he will resist.     

Critique: The novel is based off various biblical texts – such as the book of Revelation and the book of Daniel – taking them as literal narratives for the eventuality of future events in world history.  Such views – common within dispensationalist circles – offer a view, though, that does not take the biblical texts within their historical contexts.  To extrapolate the texts as future events does not do the original texts justice – and leads to misunderstandings about theology (cf. content) and hermeneutics (cf. methodology).

The issues are complicated and nuanced – but take one major theme as an example.  Dispensationalists take the references to the Antichrist as a historical figure.  The problem is that the biblical texts likely do not support this conclusion.  Several times, the term carries an adjectival function, not a vocative title.  One text highlights the possibility of multiple antichrists (plural). 

Another New Testament text refers to the antichrist standing in the “temple of God” and declaring himself as God.  Writers like LaHaye and Jenkins take this as a reference to a future, evil leader standing in a physical temple.  The problem is that such a Jewish temple complex does not exist in Jerusalem – and in fact, one has not existed since AD 70.  Thus, their theology requires the existence of a reconstructed temple as a prerequisite for such a prophecy.  The problem, though, is that the Greek manuscripts – as that is the original language of the New Testament – contains two words for the term “temple” – one refers to physical buildings (like the Temple in the Old Jerusalem) and the other refers to the metaphorically understanding (such as the temple of one’s own body).  The aforementioned problem text refers to the metaphorical term for temple.

Overall, stronger support in the biblical texts disfavors Lahaye’s “Antichrist” (person) in favor of “antichrist” (spirit of, in general).  The source of LaHaye and Jenkins’ error is the wrong presupposition basis for the book genre of Revelation – which leads to a snowball of hermeneutic mistakes – such as the Rapture, one world government, mark of the beast, and seven-year tribulation period.  Suddenly, the biblical texts become conspiracy novels like Left Behind – instead of providing God’s view about theology and human activity overall.          

Teaser: Find out how an airplane pilot and an investigative journalist team up to beat the Antichrist.

Information about the Author: The book’s authors worked together to formulate the novel and the following (initial) 11 sequels.  Jenkins is a writer by trade, while LaHaye comes from writing and teaching backgrounds within theology.  As such, Jenkins wrote most of the novel(s) – with LaHaye’s framework and notes assisting in the creation of manuscripts.  Outside of the original 12 books in the Left Behind series – the writing duo penned a 13^th book – and 3 prequels – into the series canon.

Both writers have written dozens of books before joining as a team – with Jenkins writing largely sports-related biographies, and LaHaye writing books on family counseling and eschatology.  The Left Behind series hit markets in the mid-1990s through the Aughts and sold millions.  In 2005, Amazon even ranked the duo as 9^th on their author list of most books sold during the e-company’s first 10 years of business (Wikipedia, 2011).

Supplemental Material

Genre: Christian Fiction / Adult Crossover / Apocalyptical

Curriculum Ties: English Literature – dystopian views of future / Theology – dispensationalism, fundamentalism, eschatology   

Booktalking Ideas: 1) “It’s the end of the world – how did the whole thing get started?” 2) Have you ever wondered what would happen if the book of Revelation became a literal narrative?

Reading Level: This is an adult crossover book – some interest by late teens (16-19) – particularly those from certain religious (Christian fundamentalist, evangelical) backgrounds.  

 Challenge Issues and Defense: The book does not have objectionable material (language, sex, etc.), though violence is commonplace.  Further, the novel contains objectionable stances on various religious views and characterization of non-Christians and Catholics.  Ironically, some Christians – from more liberal and moderate positions, or even amillennialists from across various traditions – might take issue with the book on theological grounds as opposed to content issues.  Like other books, its heavy popularity is a merit.  But the book is an adult crossover – which may mean placement in the adult section versus the YA section – based on genre more than anything else.  

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: I have regrettably read too many books in this series.  During my time at an accredited college and (later at) seminary, I realized this book (and series) offers a flawed message.

Last Thoughts

References:

Wikipedia (2011). Jerry B. Jenkins [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_B._Jenkins

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Evanescence / Album – “Evanescence (2011)”  

(#17) / A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider / by Ishmael Beah / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider / by Ishmael Beah

ISBN-13: 978-0374531263 / Farrar, Straus and Giroux

p. 229 / Price $9.60 (Amazon)

2007

Body of Content

Summary: The book “A Long Way Gone” tells the autobiographical tale of a young, 13-year-old boy whose life and country become saturated with turmoil and violence with the outbreak of civil war in the country of Sierra Leone.  After the destruction of his village, and the unknown fates of his family, Ishmael travels with a group of friends – trying to escape the violence that befalls his country.  But ultimately, Beah is captured by the governmental forces that are fighting the rebels – and they enlist him as a child soldier in the conflict.  Under the sway of political propaganda and the cloudy effect of powerful drugs (mostly cocaine and methamphetamines), Beah struggles through the story – committing violence and killings as a soldier.  The story is both commentary on violence and human rights – and ultimately, a struggle of a boy trying to reclaim his humanity.  

Critique: The story is gripping, heart-wrenching, and unapologetic in its description of wartime violence. [Spoiler Alert]  But, the story does not stop there.  Although the story provides undisturbed candor into the thoughts and actions of a boy soldier, Beah’s rescue from a horrific situation leaves the reader with a paradox – the insane evil resting within humanity – and the opposite – the innocent-laden goodness within humanity.  Beah literally commits dozens of murders within the wartime novel.  But, he finally flees to America – adopted by a journalist whom he had previous met at a UN conference – and now speaks on human right issues.

Beah’s portrayal (of an innocent child – turned into a killer – and finally able to recover his humanity) is a redemption story as much as it is a survival tale.  But the duality – the paradox of humanity – is a theme throughout the book.  And that paradox – of goodness and evilness – is a theme of a French theologian by the name of Blaise Pascal.  Beah’s story is one that explores the actions possible by human beings as a race – and as an individual person.  Like Pascal, there is both great concern and great hope for the human race within A Long Way Gone.  Beah’s story touches on many subjects throughout the book’s journey, but the philosophical issue of human ontology rests as a major theme – that turns a theoretical exercise into a first-hand account of war and redemption.              

Teaser: Ishmael’s homeland is devastated by a civil war.  Suddenly, he flees his home – only to find myself conscripted into an army – as a child soldier.  Can Ishmael hope to regain what he lost?  

Information about the Author: The author, now 31 years old, was born in Sierra Leone.  During a civil war in his home country, Beah fought as a child soldier.  After the war, an American journalist adopted him – and he now lives in New York City.  Currently, Beah works for the Human Rights Watch – within a committee specializing in issues related to children.  In his past work with the United Nations, he has met with notable leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela (Wikipedia, 2011).

Upon the release of the book, Beah spoke with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.  The host reflects, “I’ve rarely read a book that’s made my heart hurt” (Daily Show, 2007).  The author responds to the fragileness of life and the ease of becoming a killer and the difficulty of returning to society (Daily Show, 2007).   

Supplemental Material

Genre: Autobiography / Historical Nonfiction / Adventure

Curriculum Ties: History – child soldiers, imperialism, African history, United Nations / Theology – ontology, paradox of humanity, Pascal, “Problem of Evil”   

Booktalking Ideas: 1) How could a child become a soldier in a national conflict? 2) Does Ishmael ever find other members of his family?  

Reading Level: This book is certainly towards the upper bracket of high school – but I contend that it is thoroughly a teenage-intended book – with a teenage protagonist, short length (229 pages), and simple writing style.  Thus, the book is best for ages 16-19.

Challenge Issues and Defense: The subject matter is raw and the premise is dark.  The best defense strategy looks at the intentions of the work – as it does not seek to glorify violence, but instead, expose it for the inhumanness that it represents.  The book also received numerous awards, including a number three mention in an article by Times for Top Ten nonfiction books of 2007 (Grossman, 2007).

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: “A Long Way Gone” is a powerful book in own right – a book that I had my high school juniors read for their European history class. 

Last Thoughts

References:

Grossman, L. (2007). Top ten nonfiction books [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com

/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1686204_1686244_1691772,00.html

The Daily Show. (14 February, 2007). Ishmael Beah [Video]. Retrieved from

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-14-2007/ishmael-beah

Wikipedia. (2011). Ishmael Beah [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael_Beah

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Sixpence None the Richer / Album – “Divine Discontent”   

(#13) / The Last Stand of the 300 / (produced) by The History Channel / (Movie)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

The Last Stand of the 300 / (produced) by The History Channel /

(directed) by David Padrusch

 ASIN: B000OIOPPE / A&E Home Video

$4.49 (Amazon) / 91 minutes

Release date: 2007 / Rating: Non-rated  

Body of Content

Summary: The Battle of Thermopylae is an event mixed with much folklore, legend, and history.  The Greek city-states sent a last ditch effort to counter a massive army of Persians, who have just landed in northern Greece – with plans to march and conquer the Greek city-states to the south.  In this full-length documentary, the History Channel presents a retelling of the theater-released action-film 300 – doing so in a way that honors the cinematography of the heavily stylistic film – but, at the same time, tries to offer a more historical presentation of the Battle.  To achieve this purpose, the documentary presents the Battle in the proper context – not as an isolated event – but as an ongoing struggle between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire.

Critique: The documentary is a well-portrayed version of the Battle of Thermopylae – helping to shine light on the historical setting of the events, as well as round out details that are often forgotten.   

Although the legend holds that 300 Spartans stood in the way of an advancing army, the film makes sure to depict the roles of other Greek city-states.  Although the Spartans did send that number (i.e. 300) into battle, other city-states like Thespiae and Thebes contributed soldiers to the campaign – with the total army numbers in the thousands.  The documentary takes time to explain military strategy and war tactics – as the Greeks purposely chose the terrain – the slight, small, cramped mountain pass at Thermopylae – as a means to stack the Persian strength (i.e. massive numbers) into a geographical weakness (i.e. funneled effect).  The film also takes note of various weapons – how the Greek phalanx formation – employed heavily by the Spartans – furthered the geographical advantage – as it served as both a defensive and offensive weapon – simultaneously. 

The documentary is entertaining – as it performs the same camera angles and stylistic colors and backdrops of Frank Miller’s 300 – though with a more modest budget.  But the treatment is full of historical context and details – and overall, it produces a solid production useable to supplement materials in first-year history courses in high school.      

Teaser: A small contingent of brave souls is all that stands between hundreds of thousands of Persian invaders and their goal of capturing the Greek city-states.

Information about the Author: The History Channel hosts a variety of programming.  While the channel now includes reality-style TV programming, the roots of the channel contain a heavy amount of historical documentaries. 

For this production, the History Channel turned to director David Padrusch – a 41-year-old filmmaker from the Queens borough of New York.  As the oft custom for documentaries, Padrusch served at all three roles – producer, director, and writer – for this documentary.  The same holds true for the following historical documentaries: Rumrunners, Moonshiners, & Bootleggers (2002), Bible Battles (2005), Aftershock: Beyond the Civil War (2006), Journey to 10,000 BC (2008), and Art of War (2009) (IMDB, 2011).  Both Journey to 10,000 BC and The Last Stand are historical documentaries written in light of and for purpose of comparison to recent blockbusters which deal with similar content.  More recently in 2009, Padrusch performed filmmaking duties for the History Channel’s TV series Battles BC, which looks at famous military battles and/or military leaders in antiquity – including episodes titled “Judgment Day at Marathon” and “Caesar: Super Siege” (IMDB, 2011).     

Supplemental Material

Genre: Documentary / Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: History – Greek city-states, famous battles, Sparta, Persia, Athens, King Leonidas

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Like many war-time battles, local geography helped shape the battle – the same was true of the Battle of Thermopylae. 2) More than 300 soldiers fought for the Greeks at Thermopylae – what was the more valid, historical number?  

Reading Level: The movie aims at presenting the material for younger ages than the movie 300.  Interest level likely falls in the range of grades 7 through 10.  

Challenge Issues and Defense: The film does depict similar events – though from a more historical view – of the movie 300.  The latter movie was a very violent R-rated film; this document is not-rated – but would probably fall into PG and PG-13.  The issue of violence might source as an issue – but the documentary is a well-trimmed version of the violent theater version.  The documentary is also produced by the History Channel – showing the intentionality of the information.    

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: During the year that I taught high school, this was one film I showed in my class given the strong visual representation of the information – as the class examined the Greek city-states in a ninth-grade history class.

Last Thoughts

References:

Internet Movie Database (IMDB). (2011). David Padrusch [Webpage]. Retrieved from

            http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1031819/#Director

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Live / Album – “Throwing Copper”   

(#1) / The Hunger Games / by Suzanne Collins / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

 The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins

ISBN-13: 978-0439023528 / Scholastic Press

p. 384 / $5.39 (Amazon)

Body of Content

Summary: Katniss is a teenage girl with adult responsibilities – caring and providing food for her family – in a fractured world set in a distant, dystopian future.  Over her small district – and 11 other districts – an authoritative government (Panem) keeps rebellion in check and fear alive by a vicious competition – the Hunger Games – a televised pageantry of violence.  All children between the ages 12 and 18 must enter the Game’s lottery – but only two are chosen – one male, one female – from each district.  Horror reaches Katniss’ heart – upon hearing her sister’s name called at the lottery.  As soldiers begin dragging her sister onto the stage, Katniss volunteers to take her place.  A childhood friend by the name of Peeta joins Katniss on stage.  Soon the Hunger Games will begin – twenty-four competitors will enter the Arena – but only one can leave alive. What alliances will be forged? What strategies will players invoke? Who will live to see their family again? Who will die in the opening moments? One thing is certain: this year’s Hunger Games will be like no other.     

Critique: The book contains themes relating a fair amount of violence.  But the dark premise is the bulk of the actual tension.  While the action is well-paced, most battle scenes are not extended – reaching completion within a few pages.  It is the “waiting” both as a reader and for the main characters that creates the suspense – of not knowing whether the turn of a page will result in the death of another person.  And death is certainly a consistent presence throughout the book.  But Collins deals with the issue with “gloves on” – as adult writers would venture into more graphic details of the action sequences.  

Still, the book is not only about violence – but about how the characters must deal with impeding death and potential loss of their self-identities.  Peeta is an enigma – both to Katniss and the reader.  But after the completion of the story, the character arc is complete – and with more certainty, the following remark holds veracity: Peeta is the anti-Career.  Peeta does participate in the Games, but not to the same extent of the other characters.  Placed in a situation where violence is the anticipated action, Peeta continually runs counter to the Games and the Empire – through a subterfuge of alliances, camouflage into the natural surroundings, and inherent trust in Katniss.  Even when the young girl died at the campfire (the opening night of the Games), the reader is left with the possibility that Peeta did not kill her. 

A telling moment – a point of foreshadowing – occurs before the Games – when Katniss and Peeta sit on the rooftop of the training building.  The movie adaption expresses Peeta’s desire – very well – saying, “I keep wishing that I could think of a way to show them that they don’t own me – that if I’m going to die, I want to still be me” (IMDB, 2011a).  Within the Games, Peeta’s actions are slight, shadowy, and subtle – but they are rebellious, seditious, and dangerous – aimed squared at an unforgiving system and a brutal government.  Peeta embodies a form of passive resistance – not to the same degree as Jesus Christ, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King, Jr. – but nevertheless, he is fighting creatively and intentionally against a context that requires violence.  Katniss embodies aspects of this approach (cf. burial of Rue, suicide pact), but Peeta stands as the character who subtlety tries to remind Panem of the inhumaneness of the Games – and the quiet resilience of the human spirit.

Teaser: Katniss enters the Arena – facing the strong likelihood of death. Will the Games turn Katniss into a killer? Or can Katniss turn the Games into something else?

Information about the Author: Suzanne Collins lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children.  Earlier in her life, Collins enrolled at a high school in Birmingham, Alabama – a school with a strong fine arts program.  Later in her education, she received a degree from New York University.  The degree reflects her writing interest, as the degree was a Master of Fine Arts in “Dramatic Writing” (Wikipedia, 2011). Collins wrote a few books before The Hunger Games, but that trilogy easily put Collins on the map – both for name recognition and money reasons.  She earned $10 million dollars for the 2010 year alone (Bercovici, 2011) – the year helped by strong sales number of the first two books and the release of the series’ final book, Mockingjay.  Further, a major film adaption of the first book hits theaters in March 2012.

Before novels, Collins worked heavily within the television industry – writing for numerous Nickelodeon shows – including story editor and/or writer duties on “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo”, “Clarissa Explains It All”, “Santa, Baby”, “Generation O!”,  and “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” (IMDB, 2011).  While The Hunger Games is aimed at a YA audience, these earlier writing duties comprised intentions towards younger audiences.    

Supplemental Material

Genre: Science fiction / Dystopian / Thriller

Curriculum Ties: Philosophy – existentialism in the midst of difficult decisions, circumstances   

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Will Peeta and Katniss lose their lives in the Competition? Will they lose their innocence?

Reading Level: Grade 7 up – deemed by School Library Journal (Amazon, 2011). The interest level, though, may reach as low as grade 5 and easily extends into high school grades.  Such is the case – based upon the age of the competition’s fighters – 12 through 18.  Even with a “rough” premise, the book is still within YA territory, as the heroes do not commit many killings. If this title were a true adult book, then the protagonists might take on more the actions of the Careers – or have more ambiguous natures/motives.     

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book is basically free from any language or sexuality.  However, some parents may take issue with the violence and adult themes – as the very premise throws children into a kill-or-be-killed environment. The best defense is noting that Collins does not condone the violence – but that she actually provides thoughtful commentary through the underdogs’ actions, which speak against the brutality and unfairness of the government’s games.

 

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: I read the book in a three-day period – finding it (not only) a well-paced thriller – but also a book with a subtle and meaningful message about violence and passive resistance.

Last Thoughts

References: 

Amazon. (2011). The Hunger Games [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-

Games-Suzanne Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321950575&sr=8-1

Bercovici, J. (2011). “The world’s highest-paid authors [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2011/08/17/the-worlds-highest-paid-authors/2/ 

Internet Movie Database (IMDB). (2011a). “The Hunger Games” [Movie Trailer]. Retrieved from

            http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

Internet Movie Database (IMDB). (2011b). Suzanne Collins (III) [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1056741/

           

Wikipedia. (2011). Suzanne Collins [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Collins

Listening to (Music): 
Artist – Soundgarden / Album – “Superunknown”