Well, this is it, the end of the line but the beginning of more journeys through novel reading and such. Although I dropped the ball with this course I still had a memorable experience and learned so many things with novel reading. More importantly, it gave me a newfound love for reading, and authors like Bolano, Cercas, Agualusa, and Fuentes really got me to be “romantic” with novels. Even though I wasn’t fully present physically and mentally most of the time, reading the books was always euphoric and I will definitely read all the other books that I did not choose throughout the summer.
I really didn’t know what to expect with this course, and I came in with no expectations but I was really wowed by the content and how deep we went into each and every single book. This entire class was very meaningful as we got to talk about war, trauma, escape, and culture, and unravel them through word clouds, music, quotes, and discussion. History can always be found through Google searches and Wikipedia articles, but truly understanding firsthand and getting into the nitty-gritty really involves some creative literature in which romance studies have taught me.
The grading system was very unique and new and It really eased my consciousness knowing that I can honestly focus on the learning and enjoying part without having to constantly worry about being perfect and going on those Redbull runs just to get a measly A+++. However, I was a victim of being complacent and I did take it for granted at times which severely cost me, but it is what it is at the end of the day.
Old Gringo has to be my favorite read as I’m just a sucker for a person’s last stand type beat. This novel really reminded of movie Logan, in which old man wolverine was in his last stand as he’s been through hell in his life and he keeps on fighting and dies on his own terms just like the main character in the Old Gringo.
Overall, I am truly excited to unravel more novels throughout my lifetime and pick out themes, compare them to other books, and to immerse myself with the truth, the fiction, and the meaning behind each novel.
My final question of the semester is did you thrive with this new grading system? Should it be implemented more so we can further emphasise on learning and understanding the course as a whole or is it still all about the GPA?
Live Long and Prosper,
Xyrus Ramos Aparri