Kishma’s Comments (group member since Feb 17, 2014)

Kishma’s comments from the Should have read classics group.

I am about half-way through the book and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It is obvious that the reader will feel sorry for Charlie. His dilemma is something no one would want to experience. It makes you feel happy for your own state of mind. Honestly, what can I complain about after reading Charlie's flashbacks and realization of the cruelty of his "friends", mother, and sister? I love that his dad seemed to be the only person that stood up for him. I'm excited to continue reading but I'm guessing from the comments above that Charlie's intelligence will dwindle back to what it was in the beginning of the story (I don't want that for him but I'm not the author).
I requested the movie "Charly" from the library. I plan to watch it after I finish the book. I think I will also read the short story version because if it is appropriate I would love to read it with my seventh graders.

Hello everyone,

I just finished reading The Metamorphosis! This story is awesome. I felt so bad for Gregor. I think he is the most selfless person I have read about. Given his situation (transforming into a huge bug) all he could think about was the disposition of others given his current state. He loved his family and I thought it was ridiculous that his family saw him as a burden. I do understand that having a huge beetle in the house is scary, uncomfortable and even disgusting, but that was their brother/son.
Do you all think his family was justified in treating him the way they did?

I will be reading this book. Did you know they are turning it into a movie? I believe it is coming out in August of this year.

Hello everyone,
I just started reading this book. This is my first time reading the book, though I feel as though at some point I was probably required to read it and never did.

Anyway, I actually like Holden. I am a teacher so Holden reminds me of the many "lost souls" who seem to find no success in a classroom setting. Honestly, some of those students are the smartest kids you'll ever meet but they are unmotivated, don't care about much, and rather be doing anything but school work. Holden gives you a first-person POV of that one kid in school (or several kids depending on what school you went to) who seemingly care about and do nothing.

The booked roped me in when Holden went to visit Mr. Spencer before leaving for NY. How awesome was his perspective on his teacher? Holden knows his teacher cares and he knows he's been a failure in school but he understands that school is just not in his immediate interest. To be totally honest, there are many people like this. As a person (nevermind me being a teacher for a minute) I can't seem to understand what a person like this is thinking. You get a free education and you don't want to take advantage of it? But, Holden allows you to see what is floating around in his head (though troubling at some points, it is insightful).

His rambling is kind of hard to follow sometimes because he goes from one thought to the other, but I think that makes him authentic.

Also, I like the use of vulgar language because what would Holden be without some vulgarity? He wouldn't be the "misfit" the author makes him out to be.

My favorite line so far, "You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it."
I think this is also true for Holden!