Rebels Read

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is about a society where women are controlled by fundamentalists, and used only to give birth. This book is an inside look to such a society through one woman’s point of view. Through this book we are shown the empowering story of a woman who learns to overcome her situation and make the best of it and let go of the past. We were inspired by this book and would highly recommend it to others.

By: Laini D. and Ariana E.

This magnificent book emotes the tyranny that’s occurring.

Overall, we think 1984 effectively captures the effects of totalitarianism. This book also represents what the effects of tyranny and dictatorships bring upon individuals. The effects are most apparent in the event of this book through the characters’ actions.

Rick F.: I believe this book is inspiring through its vision into what society should not become. This book made me appreciate our society and made me come to a stark realization that society is made to change.

Antonio D.: This book is inspiring indeed. It reveals the effects a totalitarian leader has on the people. Not only it demonstrates the overwhelming power they seem to posses, but also how the people are somehow mind controlled by the propaganda showed to them by their own “comrades.”

Mark G.: This book motivated me to become a better person. It made me realize that you can not trust anyone, you can only trust yourself. If you trust other people, you would be crushed, just like Winston in the novel.

By: Rick F., Antonio D., Mark G.

In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, she creates a world where there is no individuality within a person. The character she creates, Equality 7-2521, struggles constantly with conforming to society’s wishes. He struggles because of his desire for knowledge and for freedom to act outside of what his society forbids. Because he lives in a world where everyone is supposedly equal, he uses terms to describe his actions being done not by himself, but by the community as a whole. He only uses the words ‘we’, ‘they’, ‘ours’, etc.

The book is easy and fast to read although sometimes confusing because of how Rand characterizes Equality and how he narrates the story through his own point of view. However, this is why the whole novel is interesting, Rand keeps the readers wanting to find out how Equality will eventually overcome his burdens imperfect world.

By: Maggie A. and Katrina L.

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is an exploration into a utopian society that operates, for better or for worse, as a singular entity. The book follows the lives of characters who do not fit into this monopolistic society and are persecuted for failing to assimilate. Huxley aptly describes a world that does not seem to far off, involving genetically controlled birth, frequent substance use to control emotions, and a lack of attachment to people. Life is largely controlled though everyone believes they are “free”. Brave New World is a gaze into the frightening reality of a perfect ‘utopia’.

By: Johnny L. and Billy M.

In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 explores the dystopian society where knowledge and individuality are oppressed and technological advances are reversed.  Solitude is condemned and control is mandated.  After showing natural curiosity at a young age, he is relieved to be assigned the role of a street sweeper, emphasizing this society’s ability to tyrannize individuality.  His own natural curiosity drives him to remake a basic discovery of electricity and his dissatisfaction with the scholars responses drives to independence.  Throughout his journey, Equality discovers the meaning of knowledge, love and uniqueness.  We found Anthem to be a very engaging story.  The novel is short enough for an appealing fast read, but contains the details necessary for an interesting journey.

By: Susan L. and Sammy M.

Fahrenheit 451 highlights the dystopia apparent in the futuristic society in which Montag lives.  This society, controlled by a government bent on enforcing conformity and eradicating literature, exists to control its citizens and to end individuality.  However, at the beginning of the novel, Montag, like his fellow citizens, blindly conforms to the government’s rules as a firefighter, who burns books instead of putting out fires.  Yet, Montag’s view of his world changes when he meets Clarisse McClellan, his teenage neighbor.  Through Clarisse’s unconventional ideas about individuality, Montag begins to question the government’s policies and ultimately his own job as a fireman.  His curiosity for books grows, leading him to defy the laws in search of his own purpose in life. 

While we don’t want to spoil the ending of this book for you, we assure you that the author fully captures the erratic state of the society that serves to put down the individual in favor of the happiness of all.  We found this book to be very interesting in both the ideas that it presents and its method of presentation.  The ideas of this book, while metaphorical, relate to the problems that we face in society today.  This book is a warning to all readers of the consequences of losing individuality and the human connection to our increasing dependence on technology.

By: Olivia T. and Wesley O. W. 

One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, follows the lives of the members of the Buendia family through four generations of love, loss, and change in the mythical South American city of Macondo.  Although each generation faces new challenges as technology and other ideas of the west regin to invade their town, the family’s experiences are all surprisingly similar and repetitive.  Upon further analysis, it becomes apparent that the family is living through a cycle and that each family member is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past generations.  Despite the seemingly depressing aura of the novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a beautiful story told with incredible detail and vivid language.               

I was especially impressed by Marquez’s use of literary devices throughout the novel to engage the reader and paint a picture of life in Macondo.  This book is not for beginning readers, but I encourage everyone to take on this challenge.  There are slow sections, but each passage is important to the outcome of the story.  Furthermore, it is important to consider the context in which Marquez writes this book, especially the continuous civil wars that plague Latin America.  In addition to being an excellent work of fiction, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a gripping social commentary on the conditions of
Latin America. 

By: Wesley O. W.

Sin City- A Hard Good Bye by Frank Miller is a graphic novel from a series of graphic novels telling stories of inhabitants of Basin City who all have their story to tell. This series involves a character named Marv. For those who watched the movie Marv was played by Mickey Rooney. Marv is portrayed as dim witted,ugly, and obviously Mr. Universe contestant who is trying to find the only women who he fell in love with.  Over time there are men that constantly attempt to murder him.  Marv eventually finds his lover’s murderer.  Well of course a graphic novel doesn’t tell a full story as a written novel but there are so many different styles of story telling in a graphic format. Frank Miller goes far beyond super hero in tights and tells about the lost people in life that stray far from normality. He simply tells about what people should do when they follow their human instincts and rival those who challenge it. I know I’m not old enough read this novel but after I read it I compared it to a book I read in English Class called Romeo and Juliet. There’s not much complexity in these stories but the way it’s told just makes you imagine that some where someone is in the exact same situation. So yeah I recommend this book. I’m sure this isn’t the best novel ever and for those who say nah I saw the movie. Just (if you plan to just myspace all day) go to borders or some comic store and take a peek. If you like it read it if not go on with your life and if you took all this time to read my review of a black and white book of drawings than you need time to escape. Why not see someone do something you would do if you had nothing left to live for.

Holden Caulfield tells us about the couple of days he journeys after he is expelled from Pencey Prep, the 3rd school he’s been expelled from because of his flunking grades and lack of effort. Holden undergoes a lot during those days like phonies, money, school, sex, and depression. He finds a problem with everyone, but the biggest problem is himself and he doesn’t know it. Holden only considers a few people not phony and one of them is his little kid sister Phoebe. He likes talking to her and feels like she is the only one he can relate to. Thinking about running away from it all and excluding himself from people, he decides to stay because of Phoebe. Now, Holden stays in a mental or psychiatric institution until he goes back to school next September.  

This book is a really good book. I loved this book and I think other people who haven’t read this book, they should go read it. This book you can get into very easily, like you don’t want to stop once you pick it up.  

By: Trang N.

Born Blue is a story about one girl’s struggle through numerous challenges and obstacles in order to achieve her dream of becoming a famous singer. Born to a drug addicted mother Janie was put into foster care, when she realized just how incredible her voice was and the high she got from singing. Her troubles begin when her mother comes back into her life, and later exchanges her daughter to some “friends” for drugs to feed her habit. Setting off somewhat of a domino theory, Janie’s life seems to run out of control. From getting involved with strange men, taking drugs and becoming pregnant all before she’s 16, she seems to be following her mother’s footsteps.

By: Jesica J.