In the short poem, poet Sir Philip Sidney wields his literary talent and uses extensive poetic devices to tell a story of recognizing, facing, and trying to combat one’s desires. Throughout the first four lines of the poem, Sidney begins by directly addressing desire with second-person pronouns “thou,” adding a dose of intimacy andContinueContinue reading “Poetry explication: Thou Blind Man’s Mark–Sir Philip Sidney”
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Angels in America—what a Gay Fantasia reveals about America
Under the current COVID-19 pandemic, the reading of the AIDS epidemic becomes especially thought provoking and resonating. During special times like this while everything around us is changing, readers cannot help but notice the progress and changes that the play is hinting at. In the 1980s, it was the worst of times, but it wasContinueContinue reading “Angels in America—what a Gay Fantasia reveals about America”
The shadow of neocolonialism: how a book with “righteous” purposes can backlash and hurt the journalism subjects and the potential trust between countries –book review of Without You, There Is No Us
The shadow of neocolonialism: how a book with “righteous” purposes can backlash and hurt the journalism subjects and the potential trust between countries –book review of Without You, There Is No Us Under the pandemic when reading has turned into one of my biggest comforts and books continue to act as my sanctuary, I findContinueContinue reading “The shadow of neocolonialism: how a book with “righteous” purposes can backlash and hurt the journalism subjects and the potential trust between countries –book review of Without You, There Is No Us”
Nonviolence, injustice, and change–March
Book introduction: March is a graphic novel that vividly presents a first-hand account of John lewis’s lifelong struggle for civil and human rights. The inspiration of the book was drawn from the 1958 comic book Martin Luther King that inspired generations. Now, March becomes one of the books to inspire others by telling a greatContinueContinue reading “Nonviolence, injustice, and change–March”
A healing story of race and motherhood–The Secret Life of Bees
“Nobody around here had ever seen a lady beekeeper till her. She liked to tell everybody that women made the best beekeepers, ’cause they have a special ability built into them to love creatures that sting. It comes from years of loving children and husbands.” Book introduction The Secret Life of Bees is about theContinueContinue reading “A healing story of race and motherhood–The Secret Life of Bees”
The myth of a wandering soul—Realism or Romanticism? — Signs Preceding the End of the World
book introduction: The book is about the migration journey of Makina, a young woman who knows only too well how to survive in a macho world. The book explores the crossings and translations people make in their minds as they move from one country to another, especially when they realize that there is no comingContinueContinue reading “The myth of a wandering soul—Realism or Romanticism? — Signs Preceding the End of the World”
The power of authentic stories and new journalism—Hiroshima
Book introduction: Told through Hersey who interviewed six survivors of the Hiroshima atom bomb, the journalistic masterpiece tells what happened on the day and forty years after the incident. Using new journalism techniques, the book powerfully tells a different side of the story. Book recommendation: The book is very touching and “stirs the conscience ofContinueContinue reading “The power of authentic stories and new journalism—Hiroshima”
Unhappy new year
It was again the day before the Chinese Spring festival. Everyone has their favorite day of the year: some people love birthdays when the mere attention is stored on the ones celebrated, others like the traditional New Year when resolutions were made, written on a brand new calendar. For me, the special day is andContinueContinue reading “Unhappy new year”
A tale of the past, present, and future— The Handmaid’s Tale
Book introduction The book is set in the future where the United States is taken over by the Republic of Gilead. Under the regime, women and men live under horror and bizarre consequences, and women are especially demoralized to birth-giving machines. The book is fascinating and written brilliantly. The unique point of view and narrationContinueContinue reading “A tale of the past, present, and future— The Handmaid’s Tale”
The power of faith–The Nickel Boys
Book introduction In segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis is a high school senior ready to go to college. However, one innocent mistake reverses his fate and brings him to the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reformatory and a grotesque chamber of horrors. In the Academy, Elwood is constantly inspired by the words of Martin Luther King toContinueContinue reading “The power of faith–The Nickel Boys”