Friday, November 14, 2014
Identity
My book is entitled, Old School, by Tobias Wolff. In his senior year at a preparatory school, the main character takes part in a competition in which the seniors submit a piece of writing to an author/writer visiting the school. The winner is granted a private interview with this writer. During this time, the main character struggles to find his identity, struggles to advance himself, and tries to fit in. Eventually what happens is that the main character plagiarizes a piece of writing and submits it. When the school finds out about this later, he is expelled from the school, his admission to Columbia University is retracted, and in general he receives a bad name. Throughout this story, this main character attempts to find his identity through writing after this situation. I am really enjoying this book right now because the plot is more straightforward than that of other books I have read. In addition, it moves along at a nice pace, leaving you very satisfied.
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Search for Identity also plays a large thematical role in my book. I am reading Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. The main character (narrator without a name mentioned) is on the move frequently through the beginning of the novel. He travels lightly carrying few clothes to make it easier to pick up and move again. He and a friend form a fight club for men around the area to find themselves. The fighting allows for these men to see what their body's can withstand and what obstacles in their lives can be easily overcome. The idea behind the fight club they form is interesting, but strangely enough the book is actually more about the mindset transition and development of characters, and has little to do with the fighting.
ReplyDeleteThe main character, 9 year old boy Oskar, in my book "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Foer, struggles with his identity. His father died in the attacks on 9/11 and he has struggled with his identity ever since. Most of his memories are of his father. Reading to him at bedtime, walking around in NYC with him, teaching him. His father obviously had a big impact on his life, arguably more than other family members. Oskar seems lost in life without his father to guide him.
ReplyDeleteThe search for Identity is also a large theme in "Perks of Being a Wallflower." Charlie has anxiety and depression all due to past experiences of his life. He has completely loss touch with himself and who he really is. Throughout the book he has been trying to find himself through his friends, reading, and music but is still being affected by his depression because he can not simply control it. He believes his music and his friends are his sanity. He is a misfit in high school and struggles to surround himself with people similar to him. But it is very interesting to see how Identity is a huge theme in all of our books.
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