Astrid Winterstein > Recent Status Updates

In the first part of the poem, Beowulf comes to Denmark, and before his victory, boasts of his previous victories. This gives the reader the impression that his victory is not as assured as he thinks it is, even though this assumption is incorrect. The structure and language of the book is hard to get used to, but it did not end up hindering my general comprehension of the story.

At this point, Poppy and Alex have finally had their "breaking down and confessing their love" moment. But it happened almost simultaneously with a pregnancy scare years before with another man. This juxtaposition truly highlighted the happiness the two feel with each other, and how much their getting together is fate. The transition from platonic to romantic feeling was also riveting

This is the second book I've read in the past few months that centers around female characters in The Odyssey, and a theme constant in both of them is that Odysseus was not the hero that the original epic would have you believe. Telemachus and Telegonus both face the fallout from his PTSD, adding fascinating layers to the original story. Their mother's willingness to protect them is also in contrast to Odysseus.

The true loneliness Circe has in her exile seems to symbolize addiction. She will get a brief respite from her exile, with nymphs or men, but when they leave, her loneliness is magnified. Odysseus was the only one who didn't make her depression worse, as when they were together, she felt heard, and afterwards, his child was with her. Even then, I think she's just beginning to realize how oppressive her exile is.

The concept of "freedom from" and "freedom to" that is presented in the first few chapters is intriguing. The Handmaids are under constant surveillance, but they no longer have to worry about being sexually assaulted or taken advantage of. This is a concern that faces every woman today, but the tradeoff does not seem worth it in my opinion. The ability to choose, go to school, and have your own life is important.

The distinction between mortals and gods has become even more clear in the past 50 pages, and I think it represents the credibility lent to men in real life that is not granted to women. When Circe was with her mortal lover, he was dismissed, but with Hermes, the gods turn a blind eye. In her mortal form, Circe is ignored, but in her brother's form, can sway Scylla. In society, the same thing happens to women.

The past 40 pages have been opening the door to the sexism Circe faces. Her life seems so far to be a clear metaphor for how men/society treat women who are not conventionally attractive. Circe, by her own admission and the criticism of the gods, was not pretty in the way she was expected to be, as the daughter of a Titan. But after being exiled, away from those expectations, Circe flourished in her own true way.

The first thing I noticed was the exquisite diction and syntax of Madeline Miller's writing. It is detailed and far from cliched, with language you do not often see in modern writing. While I do not find it overly difficult to understand, it matches the craftsmanship of books written in the 1800s, the likes of Jane Austen. The plot itself is also quite rich, with a weaving storyline that is still coherent.

The finale of the book ends with multiple shocking twists of betrayal. The diction of both narrators placed me in their mindset, so I felt like I was the one betrayed. In addition, the chapters became much shorter, adding to the frantic, anxiety inducing atmosphere. Overall, the entirety of the book was very much a thriller, and the brief moments of levity only increased the pace afterwards.

Identity and worldview are quickly becoming a theme in Ace of Spades, shown on the stage of Niveus Academy. Devon and Chiamaka are exploring their sexualities while their worlds are being clouded by their pasts. The issues of racism and homphobia that provide the basis for the conflict in the book intensify the foreboding atmosphere. I have found myself getting genuinely frightened, and even paranoid.

The author has been slowly ratcheting up the suspense, with the events and pacing mirroring each other. She also uses repetition frequently, between the narrators and the flashbacks, almost making the book seem like poetry. The constant uncovering of clues is set back by more questions, but I get the impression that the narrative cannot keep going up without a more significant plot twist.

Ace of Spades immediately begins with a commentary on being different. The two main characters, Devon and Chiamaka, are the only black students in a privileged white school, and Devon is ostracized further when he is publicly outed. The dynamics they have with other characters add to the tension and perspective on being part of the minority.

Bad dreams seemed to be the main theme of the last section of The Bell Jar. Esther, in her eternal, tortured inner monologue, as well as her mother seemed to view the entire book as a bad dream, and it appeared in a similar way to the reader. The whole book seemed dreamlike, with Joan's suicide being cut off, like a dream you can't go back to. It does reflect Sylvia Plath's own life, and a dream is how her life felt.

After attempting suicide, Esther is moved to a hospital, then an asylum. While there, she is determined to prove that she is not as crazy as the other people, and, it seems, succeeds in it. I think that Esther may be an unreliable narrator because everyone else grows more wary of her, though she says she's getting better. This section was also when we were introduced to "the bell jar."

The past 50 pages have been the first introduction the reader had to Esther's descent into insanity. She attempted suicide multiple times, but each time, she was unsuccessful. In her account, she wants to die more than anything else, but I wonder if she truly doesn't. She is written as an unreliable narrator, so I think that deep down, her subconscious wants her to stay alive.

The majority of the book that I read today seemed to be a discussion on the difference between how society views men's and women's sexual lives. Esther was nearly coerced into into having sex with her boyfriend, and was later sexually assaulted by a different man. While her experience with her boyfriend was vastly better, Esther came to the conclusion that she should never marry to avoid commentary on her "pureness."

So far, Esther Greenwood is at her peak; going to events in the city, detailing her academic accomplishments, etc., but I get the feeling that I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop because the high can’t last forever. The narrative is also very interesting as I feel like I’m looking into her actual thoughts, not just a story of her experiences in the city.

The suspense in this book has significantly increased over the past 100 pages, to the point where Pippa, the main character, has desisted from her project out of fear for her life. I think this is an interesting development because she had originally started to save others, so her changed priorities show how her experience has changed her.

From the start, Holly Jackson has crafted a town that appears to be small minded and racially biased. I immediately noticed that in descriptions of dynamics between characters, the people of the town are chilly towards people of color, and they do not want information about the murder in the town to be spread, creating a hostile atmosphere.