Author Archives: jerry wang

The Last and Final Post

No book readings this week! After a long three-four months and 11 books later, the course is hitting its final stretch. Whatever the reason, this semester felt like it went by in the blink of an eye. It was shocking to me to realize that it was the last week of class! While I do want summer break to come so, I can relax and enjoy my free time, but at the same time, it feels weird not having to read a book every week. It’s almost as if reading a book a week has become a habit of mine, and this is very surprising for me because I’m not an avid reader. I don’t know whether or not I will be keeping up with this a book a week habit of mine but I certainly enjoyed it while it lasted.

This course was very interesting as it was done in a completely different format from all of my other courses. In the beginning, I was unsure of how this course would turn out since I’d only heard from a friend of mine that this course is reading and writing heavy, but soon I realized that I had no reason to worry since the way this course is done is really forgiving, with how there is no set rubric on the 400-500 word blog post and also the contract grading scheme not to mention the multiple options of books we got to choose from each week.

With all the books that were given to us, there were bound to be books that I enjoyed more than others. Some of them are Money to Burn by Ricardo Piglia, Black Shack Alley by Joseph Zobel, and Mad Toy by Roberto Arlt. While the books that I did not enjoy were Agostino by Alberto Moravia and Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli, mainly because the two books were harder to read and understand for me compared to the other books in the course, especially Faces in the Crowd. An honourable mention would be Death with Interruptions by José Saramago; while this book was not my favourite but to me, it definitely was the most unique and topic heavy book I’ve read this term, and it is one of those books that I would definitely not read on my own time if I was not assigned to it.

It has been a great experience taking this course; on my own, I would not even have known the existence of the books that were given to us. This experience of reading the book, writing about it, and then meeting in person to discuss it further really helped me understand the book better, but also, at the same time, it allowed me to connect with others and see how differently they understood the book from me.

Discussion Question

Of all the books you’ve read in this course, which one had the most impact on you?

Faces in the Crowd – Valeria Luiselli

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With this being the last week of reading for this course, I’ve read 11 books throughout this which greatly surprised me since I am not an avid reader in any way and still the books here some I found fairly interesting. Back to this week’s reading, Valeria Luiselli’s novel “Faces in the Crowd” offers an unconventional storytelling approach through its fragmented narratives that mix the lines between reality and fiction. However, this did not occur to me till more than halfway through the book and because of this, it made me extremely confused about what was going on. The book speaks about the stories of an unnamed female writer juggling her creative ambitions with family obligations as a wife and mother, and Gilberto Owen, a Mexican poet and diplomat from the 1920s.

As the stories progress, the author and character’s narratives become interlinked through a “horizontal novel, told vertically”. For example, Owen contemplates writing about a “woman locked in her house,” mirroring the protagonist’s confined experiences. This meta-fictional element got me thinking about the correlation between the psyches of creators and their creations.

The non-linear, fragmented structure reflects the messy nature of memories and the protagonist’s conflicting roles across different times and places. I found the way Luiselli merges the plotlines made it unclear if the ghosts haunting the woman are real or manifestations of her psyche. Even after watching the lecture which helped explain the book’s motivations for jumping around timelines, I still struggled in certain parts to fully connect the two narrative threads.

As the semester’s final reading assignment, “Faces in the Crowd” made me realize just how challenging and confusing a literary work can be, but that’s not a completely bad thing since for this book trying to figure out the two different story timelines while also trying to understand the plot was a different but also interesting experience for me.

From this book, I’ve realized that the description of the book relates to how we exist in our own minds differs from how we exist in the minds of others. We constantly retell our own stories in fragments, picking up memories, slightly changing them with each retelling, and relating them to our present situation. Everyday life does not go on smoothly in a linear progression, it’s more like subconsciously ordered fragments of memory that are connected to the present.

Discussion Question:

Are Owen’s glimpses of her on the subway truly happening or conjured by her fascination with him?

Death with Interruptions – José Saramago

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This week’s book was Death with Interruptions by José Saramago and it really got me thinking about the topic of death, thinking about mortality in a whole new way. The story describes what would happen if people simply stopped dying, something that seems like it would be celebrated at first. But Saramago shows how the absence of death would actually lead to a lot of problematic situations across society. Without deaths occurring, this whole system of monitoring life starts to break down rapidly. Hospitals are overrun, state benefits become unsustainable, and shady organizations even start transporting the undying elderly out of the country.

I think It’s an interesting perspective that necropolitics are the ones that get to control who lives and dies, to the point where it’s crucial to have sovereignty and administer the living. When death takes a break, the governing powers become threatened by this loss of control over mortality.

The second half of the book is where it got really interesting for me, when death itself becomes this bureaucratic figure, writing notifications to people to let them know their week has come. Weirdly, death’s prose style mirrors Saramago’s own rambling writing voice. It makes you think about how writing itself is almost an act of imposing boundaries and finality through sentence structure and punctuation An interesting twist is when Death itself is characterized as a human-like woman who falls in love. Yet for all the rules and paperwork death tries to establish, there’s one man who just refuses to die on the prescribed schedule. When Death encounters this cellist’s special musical performance, she ends up getting seduced by it. This made it seem like It’s almost as if art can achieve a form of resurrection that writing alone cannot. It made me rethink the role of death, is it simply a force of nature we should make peace with, rather than something to be feared?

From my perspective, I agree that death is what motivates us and gives life its special meaning. If we truly lived forever with no end in sight, there would be little desire for growth, creativity, or leaving a legacy. Permanent death, while it is saddening, reminds us to cherish our finite lives while we can and enjoy every little moment of it.

To me, the biggest takeaway from this novel is that death isn’t something to simply fear or cheat. Mortality turns out to be mixed into the very essence of how we live, work, create, and find meaning. Without that inevitability, human existence devolves into something meaningless and unsustainable.

Discussion Question:

What is your take on the personification of death? Does it make the novel more confusing or does it help with the understanding.

Money to Burn – Ricardo Piglia

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This week’s reading really caught my attention as I’m a big fan of thriller movies and books, I was interested to check out Ricardo Piglia’s “Money to Burn” based on the real 1965 bank heist in Buenos Aires. While I expected a classic crime story, Piglia took the novel in some thought-provoking directions I didn’t anticipate.

The book follows a group of robbers with very different personalities and backgrounds – from drug addicts like Twisty Bazan to intellectuals gone rogue like Mad Malito. But the heart of the story is the bond between Kid Brignone, who left his privileged upbringing for crime, and the troubled Blond Gaucho Dorda. Their contrasting paths yet profound connection form the core narrative.

It was hard for me to fully empathize with the characters’ criminal actions at times. However, Piglia does an interesting job of blurring the moral lines between who is truly innocent or guilty. For example, the scene where Commissioner Silva brutally tortures the underage Blanca Galeano to get information was very disturbing to me as it exposed the abusive tactics normalized within law enforcement. Piglia provides nuanced psychological portraits of complex figures like Dorda – a paranoid man who hears voices and has faced sexual assault in prison, fueling his resentment of corrupt police. The author tries to focus on the troubled backgrounds and societal neglect that can contribute to criminality. While I appreciated the author’s skill in blending gritty crime storytelling with factual research, the issue of constant sexist overtones portraying women as nothing more than disposable objects for the male characters’ depravity did not sit well with me.

One theme that really resonated with me in “Money to Burn” was its commentary on society’s fixation with wealth and capitalism. When the gang burns the heisted cash, it feels like such a pointed rejection of the material values society constantly reinforces. For outcasts like Dorda who never benefited from the system, destroying something that most people would sacrifice so much for was an act of personal liberation from money’s control over our daily lives. It reminded me that at the end of the day, money is just an imaginary thing made by humans, something that we’ve allowed to dictate so much of how we think and behave. It made me reflect on how obsessed our culture is with the pursuit of riches rather than more fundamental characteristic needs like dignity, purpose and community. Piglia used an anarchic criminal act to issue a sobering wake-up call about our misguided priorities.

Discussion Question: Did the book change how you view the role of money and capitalism in society?

The Trenchcoat – Norman Manea

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This week’s reading was an interesting yet difficult book to read as it was more focused on the backgrounds of war, with similarities to George Orwell’s 1984 which I’ve read in the past. After finishing “The Trenchcoat,” I was left with a feeling of, “Well, that’s that.” nothing, no deep feelings of emotions—just a quiet contemplation. Comparing it to George Orwell’s “1984,” there are similarities: the big themes of surveillance and the dread it brings. But “The Trenchcoat” is more like a whisper compared to Orwell’s shout. It’s subtle, filled with a kind of foggy plot and language that really makes you work for understanding. And yet, after a bit of reflection, I began to appreciate this approach. It’s like Manea is saying, “This confusion, this lack of clarity? That’s the point.” Honestly, though, I can’t say I was thrilled with the novella. It was an okay read—not bad, but not great for me. I struggled to connect with the characters and the whole mystery of the trenchcoat didn’t really captivate me as I hoped it would.

But having said all this, I can’t help but respect what Manea tried to do here. It’s a novel that makes you think, that makes you reevaluate your understanding of a time period I thought I knew pretty well. To me, it’s not about the dramatic twists or deep character backstories; it’s about the atmosphere, the subtle undercurrents of fear and control. In drawing parallels to my own experiences and the broader world, “The Trenchcoat” gets you thinking about how easy it is to get caught up in fear, in suspicion of your neighbor, and how those feelings can be manipulated. It’s a quiet reflection on the power of government and surveillance, still relevant in many ways today. A scene I remember specifically is that there’s a part where Manea describes a dinner party, and it’s pretty well done. He uses a lot of detail and repetition to show how much everyone is enjoying the food and drinks, almost like they haven’t eaten in a long time. It’s one of the more vivid parts of the book. Reading about this part feels unsettling because it hints at wrongdoings and manipulations behind the scenes. The contrast is clear: they’re enjoying a fancy meal while discussing societal issues. Compared to other Cold War narratives, I think “The Trenchcoat” offers a very unique perspective by highlighting the personal experiences of its characters against a backdrop of political turmoil.

Discussion Question

In what ways does “The Trenchcoat” make you rethink your understanding of the Cold War era and its themes of fear and control?

Week of “The Hour of the Star”

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This week’s reading was “The Hour of the Star” by Clarice Lispector, this read was very unique, despite it being a relatively shorter book with only around 70 pages, the story and the characters within the book were very enjoyable to read. Not only that but the themes of feminism and poverty through the eyes of a male narrator offer a unique perspective on these complex issues that I found extremely interesting to read about since normally it wouldn’t have been told from a male’s perspective.

The book’s depiction of poverty also resonated deeply with me. Through the eyes of the narrator, I was confronted with the uncomfortable truth of societal indifference toward the saddening state of the impoverished. Lispector’s portrayal of Macabea, a woman with simple desires and a resilient spirit, changed my preconceived assumption of happiness and fulfillment. I found myself quickly questioning the value of material wealth and the true meaning of success in the face of hardships. Also, I feel like the grand narrative of Lispector’s own role as a writer added another layer of complexity to the story. As I reflected on the inequality in access to literature and education, I felt great sympathy for those who could not have access to opportunities such as education and other societal essentials.

Another aspect of the book that particularly struck me was its portrayal of silence. Lispector’s ability to combine together literal and metaphorical silences, almost as if it’s highlighting the struggles of women like Macabea whose voices are often overlooked and marginalized in society due to unequal treatment. It really lets us readers reflect on the pervasive nature of gender inequality and the importance of amplifying the voices of those who are silenced, where everyone needs to have the chance to be heard.

The book’s themes really got me thinking about how fair treatment and fair chances at opportunities should go hand in hand. Lispector’s portrayal of Macabea’s story made me think about how some people face more challenges because of how society works. It made me see that not everyone has the same access to things like education and jobs, and how important it is to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to succeed. It made me realize that we need to work towards creating a level playing field where everyone. The narrative reminded me that fairness isn’t just about how we treat each other—it’s also about how we structure our society to give everyone a fair shot.

Discussion Question

Do you think anything would be different in the story if the male narrator was female instead?

Should the book be longer to allow more plot development to be done?

Week of “The time of the doves”

Black Shack Alley’s Week

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This week’s reading was one of the better reads I’ve had, where “Black Shack Alley” by Zobel is a story about figuring out who you are and where you fit in. The main character, José, goes on to understand himself and the world around him. Right from the start, José feels pressure to do well in school and fit in with his classmates. But he’s not sure if that’s really what he wants. He struggles with feeling different from everyone else and wonders where he belongs. I feel everyone could have a connection with this to a certain extent where you are expected to do well and fit in however sometimes you just feel lost and uncertain of what you want to do.

From reading the story, I felt that José basically lives in two completely different worlds. On one hand, there’s the simple relaxed life at his grandma’s house. On the other hand, there’s the busy world of school and city life. Where José feels torn between these two worlds, not sure which one is the best one for him. Not only that but what I also found interesting is that in the book, José learns that it’s okay to be different and that he doesn’t have to pretend to be someone he’s not. He discovers that true happiness comes from being true to yourself, even if it means standing out from the crowd. This part connected with me really deeply because personally, I find that being true to yourself even if it makes you stand out is a courageous thought process where you would have to not think about what others think and just do what you want to do.

Parts of the story may seem slow to me sometimes, but I think it makes you think more about the important things. It reminds us to be kind and understanding to others who may be going through hard times. It also shows us that everyone deserves a chance to be themselves and find their place in the world. At the same time, it also made me think about issues of how people are treated differently because of their race or how much money they have. Where education people receive can help them understand these inequalities better and truly make a difference.

I feel like this book written by Zobel really captures the nature of the human experience and individual growth, where throughout reading this book I was constantly reflecting on my own self.

Discussion Question:
1. Do you think education can affect individuals to challenge unfair norms and create positive change?

2. Does José’s struggle with identity and belonging connect with experiences you’ve had?

Agostino’s Week

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The reading for this week was definitely not your average reading, for me, this book is practically screaming the Oedipus complex at me, although reluctant but I still tried to give the book a fair chance and it went similar to what I expected. Similar to the first book we read Proust’s Combray, it starts off with a boy named Agostino who has a strong sense of bond with his mother however as I kept on reading what seemed to be a normal bond between mother and son turned out to be very different. When Agostino realizes that his mother’s love was not exclusively shown to himself but to others as well, as a result, he becomes almost jealous of others and fears that others could take his mother away from him.

The narrative for this book was done in a way that through the first-person way where Agostino’s emotions such as fear, loneliness and desires are all brought out and made easier to understand. The book explores Agostino’s growth as a boy as the 13-year-old boy starts to transition from childhood to adolescence, where he is filled with questions and curious thoughts to the point where it seems like he is at a dead end unsure of what to do. From what it seems, Agostino had a very rough childhood where he experienced being left alone or even abandoned by people around him. For example, when the boys were playing cops and robbers Agostino asked if he could join in any play but instead, he was told “We only let our friends play” (pg. 17) which left him feeling left out. Not only that but he was continuously made fun of and eventually found solace in the company of his mother, who became his primary source of comfort and companionship.

Reading this book got me reflecting on my own life growing up, where the process of coming from childhood innocence to adult understanding is actually a journey that we all have to experience once in our lifetime but how it happens can vary for everyone. Ultimately, in the end, the experiences that we get around us will shape how we behave and who we are, and in Agostino’s case because of the people around him, he is left with the complexities of desire, identity, and the search for belonging to discover.

Discussion Question:

How does Agostino’s desire to fit in with his peers contrast with his longing for connection with his mother?

The Shrouded Woman’s Week

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‘The Shrouded Woman’ by María Luisa Bombal was a very unique and interesting read for me since it is done in a style that I’ve never seen in a book, where the main character starts off dead and tells the story of her past experiences and memories of different things and people.

One interesting thing I found about the book is how Ana Maria talks about her memories. When I think of stories most of them are told in a way that makes me think about why someone is telling the story. But in this book, Ana Maria’s memories feel more raw and true to life. This might be because she’s looking back on her life after she’s died. Almost as if she’s trying to remember and honour the complicated life she lived.

A big takeaway from this book for me is that the book is about how women are shown and how they connect with each other. Ana Maria goes through a tough time early on in her life when she has her heart broken by a guy named Ricardo. This made her feel connected to him forever, which reflects the old ideas about how women in love are always tied to their men. The book also shows Ana Maria sometimes competing with other women, like her sister, but also at the same time understanding and feeling sorry for women dealing with insecurities. It explores how, in every part of Ana Maria’s life, there’s a man who’s a big part of it, whether it’s Ricardo, her husband, or her sons. The book also talks about how society and rules affected Ana Maria’s life. Her marriage with her husband is almost like a symbol of what people thought was the social norm back in the early 1900s. It shows how women had limits and the husband was seen as the “boss”. Ana Maria struggles with this and wishes for a life where she can be more free and do what she wants.

As mentioned before, I feel like what made this book interesting is that Ana Maria is telling us about all these things after she died. It’s a very different way to tell a story, and it really made me think about life, love, and what lives on in my memory. Even though Ana Maria has passed away, her memories still shape how we see her life, and I wonder if it will be the same case for us if it ever happened.

Discussion Question:

As this book is about memory, my question is what would you consider as important memories that you would want to remember forever.