Hello everyone! My name is Gabby, and I’m super excited to be a part of this class with all of you. Growing up, I was a huge reader, but nowadays, I have no time to sit down and read. While I am taking this class as a literature requirement, it is also an elective that interests me.

I plan on majoring in English and GRSJ, which allows me to approach literature with a creative perspective while exploring its interpretations within social, economic, and political contexts. I try to stay consistent with learning new things, which usually ends up with me reading non-fiction essays on the bus, hoping I look mysterious. If anyone is interested in any book recommendations or wants to have a chat about their favourite books, let me know–I am always curious to learn more about everyone’s curated tastes.

Within the course, I hope to gain a newfound appreciation for authors outside the Western world. I can’t wait to read these novels and find new favourite ones. Exploring literature from non-Western authors can offer us the unique opportunity to delve into diverse perspectives, rich cultural nuances, and unique storytelling traditions. Many of the narratives presented in this novel are ones that I am excited to write critically about. I aim not only to broaden my literary horizons but also to deepen my understanding of the global human experience

My goal is to develop a genuine connection with the characters, themes, and settings presented in these novels. Having this emotional engagement will help make my reading experience more profound and allow me to speak from an authentic critic. I hope to leave this class with a wider view of literature, one that transcends geographical boundaries and celebrates the universal power of storytelling.

The lecture today was structured uniquely, which fostered a sense of collaboration. The “flip classroom” wasn’t something I’ve experienced–it was refreshing to have a change of pace in a lecture. I enjoyed the communication between students sharing their personal ties to novels–even if people weren’t “readers” per se, they could articulate their thoughts and perhaps insecurities about such a thing. I cannot talk about how often I have heard people say that they don’t like reading. While this is a very fair point, it’s interesting to dive into the role of literature in many different media; you cannot create a movie without a script.

I hope we all have a great semester!

Gabby

Enjoy this little painting called “Waterfall at Mont-dore” by French painter, Achille-Etna Michallon