Happiness, Revenge, and the Count of Monte Cristo

Looking for a story of romance, revenge, and a triumphant return, all wrapped neatly in the setting of a nineteenth-century European drama? Well, look no further than Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. The story begins with its hero, a thriving young man named Edmond Dantès, enjoying the best that his little hometown has to offer. The popular young Edmond works a steady job, has many good friends, and even finds a fiancée, Mercédès. But things quickly change for Edmond. Several local men—Danglars and Mondego—find themselves murderously jealous of Edmond’s life, career, and soon-to-be-wife. The men, with the help of a powerful man named Villefort, frame Edmond for committing treason, and Villefort sentences him to life in prison on his wedding day.

Officials promptly incarcerate Edmond. There, he meets the elder Abbé Faria, who takes Edmond under his wing. Faria and Edmond become fast friends, and during their time together, Faria gives Edmond two precious gifts. First, Faria educates Edmond until he knows how to handle life beyond a small town on his own. And second, Faria makes Edmond memorize the location of a legendary hidden treasure, located on the remote island of Monte Cristo, so that when Edmond escapes from prison he can claim it as his own. Faria dies, and Edmond uses his clothing as a disguise; Edmond then acts as the dead Faria, and his jailers throw him into the ocean beside the prison. He swims to shore and locates the untouched hoard on Monte Cristo, becoming its sole owner.

The remainder of the book follows Edmond, now operating under the title “The Count of Monte Cristo,” as he uses his almost limitless amount of money to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. Edmond’s ultimate goal throughout the book rests on revenge against Danglars, Mondego, and Villefort, who betrayed him and ruined his life well over a decade prior. In an attempt to refrain from spoiling this classic novel, suffice it to say that Edmond becomes a far cry from the kind young man readers meet in the first pages of the story. What occurs after Edmond’s years-long period of waiting to meet these men again is over, I will leave for the reader to discover.

This novel significantly impacted me when I first read it. The story itself could be compared to the biblical story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, a favored young man being betrayed by trusted men in his community and rising to power in a new part of the world, only to meet the traitors once again later in life. But while we all know how Joseph’s story ends, The Count of Monte Cristo takes a different turn. Edmond’s character changes dramatically over the course of the story, and by the time it comes to a climax, I felt entirely unsure of what choice Edmond would make. And as the story ended, I wondered what I would have done in Edmond’s place. This novel is more modern version of Joseph’s story, albeit somewhat twisted, which makes it more relatable. I placed myself in Edmond’s shoes, which caused the story to affect me all the more.

The conclusion of the story brings many questions to mind. Are traitors worthy of forgiveness, or are they worthy of revenge? After Edmond’s wonderful life is ripped away from him, what role does money play in the correction of that happiness? Alexandre Dumas explores all aspects of these themes throughout his story. Ultimately, he intended this novel to teach the reader that forgiveness is the greatest end; it is not man who will make all things right, but God. In the meantime, forgiveness remains the healthiest choice for body and soul. I highly recommend The Count of Monte Cristo. The lessons I learned from this book helped me immensely in situations, large and small, that called me to forgive. Dumas’ work taught me to live life with a looser grasp, to let go of fear, and to dispense anger sparingly. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys classic tales of love, turmoil, and the price of morality.

Written by Jessica

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Twilight: A Saga

In the world of the early 2000s and even going into the 2010s, few things were as universally controversial, or universally mocked, as Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling book series, the Twilight Saga. These books spawned movies, rocketed actors into fame, and overall, caused mass hysteria. Websites dedicated to hating and trashing the franchise popped up just as quickly as posts with adoring fans freaking out at premieres. While the series was popular, there was vicious hate towards the books, with many people voicing problems with the series. As this series has faded and others have taken the limelight position, it is time to have a critical discussion about the books. Should teenage girls read Twilight for years to come? Or is this vampire fantasy novel best left in the dark?

Many psychologists and media critics have a long-standing criticism with Twilight’s apparent depiction of an abusive relationship between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. In a Psychology Today article, Dr. Wind Goodfriend talked about how Twilight normalizes Edward’s over-the-top protective, abusive behavior while glorifying those actions through the flowery narration of the victim, Bella. Goodfriend lists several actions Edward takes towards Bella, including separating her from her friends and even stalking her. She also points out Bella’s character, including her low self-esteem and complete obsession with her relationship, as textbook for abuse victims. Critics of the series say that it is unhealthy for people, especially young girls, to see such relationships portrayed as positive and desirable.

In a strong defense of Twilight, look at the good it has done for its readers. Many girls found their love of books because of the saga. The series has been criticized for simplistic writing, but that’s exactly what makes it so easy to read. No book series suits everyone but there is a reason that Twilight was so popular. The books are thrilling and romantic, and Bella and Edward’s relationship is fun to read about. Edward’s snarky yet chivalrous personality has become the blueprint for beloved YA love interests. He and Bella have great chemistry and will make readers laugh one moment and sigh the next. The BookTube community, a corner of Youtube dedicated to discussing books and book franchises, is filled with young women spanning ages 16 to 30, almost all of whom credit Twilight for their addictions to literature because it introduced them to the joy of reading.

If Twilight, an enjoyable but flawed book, inspires girls to continue reading other books and broadening their perspectives, then is it not doing its job fantastically?

 So, should girls read Twilight? Is it a bad influence; does it morph people’s perspective too far? Perhaps a comparison to other literature might help make the reaction to Twilight clearer.

 In the first Twilight book, Meyer continually compares the kindling love between Bella and Edward to the romance of Heathcliff and Cathrine from Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights,  a favorite text of Bella’s and an inspiration for Myer.  BBC writer Hephzibah Anderson, in her essay “Heathcliff and Literature’s Greatest Love Story Are Toxic,” accurately discusses Heathcliff’s nature. She interviews many people who loved the storyline of Wuthering Heights.

Author and Brontë buff Samantha Ellis recently struck a chord with an article titled How Heathcliff Ruined My Love Life. A self-described ‘recovering Heathcliff addict,’ she says Heathcliff was her ‘gateway drug.’ After him came Rhett Butler, Rupert Campbell-Black, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Spike, Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell… Unfortunately, they were accompanied by real-life bad boys: ‘As I hit my teens, I actively chased bad men… In my twenties, I went out with men who were not always honest to me, or nice’ (Ellis qtd. in Anderson).

This is one of the fears many Twilight critics have. The literature of youth affecting perception of the present. This story really did change how people saw romance, in a negative and harmful sense. Heathcliff is a terrible person and has a destructive relationship with Catherine, no matter how much they claim to love each other. They go out of their way to do things to hurt each other as well. It is obsessive, repulsive, and toxic. However, many would not say that it is the same dynamic at all as that of Twilight. Edward and Bella have an unhealthy relationship; they always try to do what is best for each other, though often in the wrong way.

 However, Twilight still might be harmful to younger teens if they have not been educated on healthy relationships, which according to studies such as Making Caring Common, are not being reliably taught in many teen’s opinion. Yet, if used properly, Twilight might be a tool for just that.

 When kids find something complicated or easy too misunderstand in school or in activities, adults do not stop teaching it. Math is still taught in schools despite most kids declaring their confusion. What does a parent or school do when they want to explain something to a student? They get a teacher. A guide. Choir directors do not expect the students to teach themselves how to sing; after all, they would probably teach themselves incorrectly. Media, literature— Twilight—are not squeaky-clean pieces of art that have nothing but good morals and upstanding role models. Parents and guardians use them as a way to share ideas and then teach through them. Twilight is fun to talk about, whether it’s the plot holes or the vampire fights or which bad boy is cuter. This is a powerful advantage when trying to open discussions about relationships, healthy and unhealthy. Bella Swan is such a blank-slate audience surrogate that any situation can be easily superimposed upon the reader. While Twilight’s purpose is not to be a conversation starter, it does a really good job of it. Of course, at some point teens and children will mature and be able to go out into the world without their parents on their shoulder, but those who were prepped best beforehand will have the clearest path.

Written by Robyn

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Works Cited

Anderson, Hephzibah. “Culture – Heathcliff and Literature’s Greatest Love Story Are Toxic.”BBC, BBC, 30 July 2018, http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180725-heathcliff-and-literatures-greatest-love-story-are-toxic.

Bates, Robin R. “How Jane Eyre Is Not Twilight.” Better Living through Beowulf, 11 June 2014, betterlivingthroughbeowulf.com/how-jane-eyre-is-not-twilight/.

Goodfriend, Wind. “Relationship Violence in ‘Twilight.’” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers,9 Nov. 2011, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychologist-the-movies/201111/relationship-violence-in-twilight.

Learning How to Read the Bible

Learning how to read the Bible can be a daunting task, especially for new Christians. Despite its challenges, learning to interpret and digest Biblical text in an effective way is arguably the most important part of the Christian life. God uses the Bible to speak to us, and we as Christians will never be able to understand who God is if the only time we hear Scripture is during church. One big reason that people step away from the truth is because people are told false truths by people they trust, such as pastors or well respected Church members. In order to combat the lies Satan puts in the heads of believers, Christians must read Scripture for themselves so they can distinguish God’s truth from falsehood. Although the importance of studying the Word is often stressed by the Church, new Christians are often left without a clue where to begin.   

This is a guideline of how to begin reading through Scripture and understanding it as God meant for it to be interpreted. Keep in mind, that this is not a foolproof method. Every person learns differently; there is not a standard method for learning about the Bible. This is just a starting point for those who are looking to learn more and dig deeper into the Word!

1. Pray over your time in the Word and ask God to speak to you. It is important to remember that ultimately, it is through the Holy Spirit that humans are able to understand the Word of God to begin with. His Word is alive and never returns void.

Therefore, we must remember that it is ultimately not our interpretation that matters, but what God reveals to us in our studies.

2. Read the text several times. It is important to read the text several times because it helps you process what you are reading. I find that sometimes reading the text more than once helps me focus on the text what it is intending to say. 

3. Consider reading the texts in several different translations. This allows the reader to gain perspective when reading a biblical text. Some translations are closer to word for word translations from the Greek. This means that each individual word was translated from the original language to the language of the reader. This can help a reader gain clarity on the exact words that were used in the text, but the downside is that readers may lose the connotation of the words in translation. This is where thought for thought translations come in. Instead of translating a word directly, thought for thought translators decided the text made more sense if the idea as a whole was translated. This perspective can be helpful because it allows the reader to see what the general theme of the text may have been. Both translations are great and incredibly helpful for studying the Bible. 

4. Brief yourself on the historical context. Sometimes it helps the reader understand the text when they also know what was going on at the time it was written. 

5. Read from the beginning of the book or chapter so you understand the context of the passage. This is helpful because it allows you as the reader to understand what God was saying in relation to what was going on at the time. 

6. Determine the genre of literature the section of the text is. The Bible contains many genres of literature, and it is important to understand that while poetry or parables may have metaphors, law and historical contexts will not have as much figurative language. This would influence how the reader interprets the text. For instance, Jesus telling sinners to chop off a hand if it causes them to sin is not intended to be obeyed literally, but it calls a believer to recognize that it is better to lose something that seems good than to continue living in sin.

 7. Read the text from the perspective of the people originally reading it. Although it is important for Scripture to be applied to our lives, not everything needs to be made into a devotional. Sometimes, in order to apply the Scriptures to our lives we must first understand what God was saying and the weight it carried to the people he was speaking to at the time the Scripture was written. 

8. Compare the passage to other passages in Scripture. Comparing the passage you are currently reading to other Scripture allows you to gain even more context on the subject you are reading about. 

9. Ask God what He wants you to do as a result of the truths in the passage. Does God want you to fix a habit? Repent? Adopt a new mindset? Embrace what the Lord is telling you!

This may seem overwhelming, but remember that none of these things are requirements for understanding the Word of God. These points are just ideas to help you start looking deeper into God’s Word. It is important to remember that Scripture is a large part of the Christian life. Studying God’s Word allows a believer to draw close to God and experience his love in new and fresh ways. Although interpreting the Bible comes with its challenges, studying the Bible is never in vain because God comes through every time.

Written by Karina

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Got Stress?

Stress is a major part of our college lives. As college students, we stress about school, work, finances, food, social gatherings, family events, and the process of balancing it all out. Stress can be really unhealthy when it persists for an extended amount of time. Chronic stress can harm our sleep patterns, immune systems, and digestive processes (National Institute of Mental Health). For this reason, it’s extremely important to find ways to relieve that stress. Even if we have something going on every hour of every day, we need to find time to give ourselves a break.

I myself came to the realization of my workload and stress level last semester when I became engrossed in homework every single day and rarely did anything but go to class, go to work, read numerous books, and write extensive essays. During this time, I explored several different ways to relieve my stress which could benefit anyone experiencing a similar situation.

One way to relieve stress is reading. It’s a great way to escape reality for a bit. We can get involved in another story rather than our own. Whether it be poetry, fantasy, history, or dramas, reading forces us to focus on that idea instead of the things that give us stress. However, maybe you’re tired of reading. Maybe you’ve simply read too many books to be able to enjoy reading right now.

Instead of reading, you could try writing. I know, I know. “But I’ve just finished writing three 2-5 page essays!” you may say. Well, writing about our passions is loads more fun than writing academic essays for school. Trust me. Writing can help us focus on something specific and get our minds off whatever has been bothering us or stressing us out. For example, composing poetry can hone our senses on certain details about objects, people, or ideas. If poetry is a little out of your comfort zone (as it is for me), fictional writing is a good alternative. Much like reading, writing fiction can immerse us in another world, but this world is our own. Through fictional writing, we can create an entire world full of interesting characters and stories and use it as a temporary escape from reality.

However, if your enjoyment does not reside in writing, maybe you’d prefer something a little more artsy. Sketching, drawing, or painting can be considered leisurely activities, which may sound fun and peaceful to you. But my personal favorite type of art is coloring. It may sound silly, but coloring is a great way to relieve stress. It’s such a calming and pleasant exercise. It reminds me of the simplest time of my life: kindergarten, when the most difficult decision was deciding which crayon or marker to use. I think we as stressed out college students need to revert back once in a while to those more manageable stages of our lives in order to stay sane. So don’t feel awkward about going to the store to buy a coloring book and some colored crayons or pencils. I myself have to buy a new coloring book and some newly sharpened pencils every now and then.

One of the easiest things that I have done in order to reduce the stress in my life is simply taking a walk. Last semester when I was drowning in school work, I took up to an hour to walk around the DBU campus once a week. It may not sound like much, but it helped me out a lot. It gave me time to clear my head and get my thoughts in order. It was hard at first, forcing myself to do nothing when I knew that I had so much to do. But eventually, I came to love it and couldn’t go a week without taking my evening stroll.

I know that you may feel as if you do not have any time during any day of any week to take a break. But I implore you to make time for it. It doesn’t have to be every day; your break could be only a couple times a week. It doesn’t matter. What matters is your state of mind. Don’t let the stress of life consume all of your thoughts. Sit in your bed and read a chapter of that book that’s been on your reading list forever. Chill out on the couch and color while you listen to your favorite tunes for half an hour. Take a leisurely walk around the block. If you have time to stress, then you should make time for relaxation.

“5 Things You Should Know About Stress.” National Institute of Mental Health, 2018. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml

Written by Taylor Hayes

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Spiritual Spring Cleaning

Fresh flowers blooming on the side of the road; a cool breeze ensuring that by the time you get to class, you’re a disheveled mess; and a symphony of sniffles from seasonal allergies. Sound familiar? Yup, everyone’s favorite time of year: spring. We’re almost there, folks, and despite the negatives that come with the changing seasons, spring is a good thing. In literature, springtime usually represents rebirth. In life, we associate it with the birth of cute baby animals and spring cleaning. So, what’s the connection between all of these things? Newness. Spring is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. However, it’s not just our messy houses that need a seasonal revamp. Sometimes we forget that our spiritual lives need one, too.

I’m sure we are all familiar with the feeling of having a dry spell in our spiritual lives. Things get busy, the nights get later, and time alone with God gets put on the back burner. Sooner or later, we realize we can’t remember the last time we earnestly prayed or engaged in a personal Bible study. More than that, we realize our fire for God has dwindled to a few smoking embers. The good news is, it’s not too hard to stoke the fire and get the flames blazing again.

Recently, I fell into one of these slumps, and when I realized it was talking a toll on my life, I did some research and worked on getting my relationship with God back on track. Now, to save you from the burden of having to go through the whole process yourself, I’m going to share some of what I learned from that experience with you.

Getting a Bible study routine down is one of the most important parts of maintaining a healthy and growing spiritual life. It can be hard to carve out time in a busy day, so I usually wake up a bit early to do it in the morning. However, if that’s not an option for you, pick a time in the day when you can sit down alone and dedicate time to God. The key is to stick to your guns and not let anything else take over that time slot. Finding a good study to do can be another good way to kick start your study time. While it’s also important to learn how to navigate the Word on your own, a Bible study program or book can help you get started or be a nice change in your routine now and again, before you go off on your own. A couple of good books I can recommend are Mark Batterson’s Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge and A Modern Girl’s Guide to Bible Study by Jen Hatmaker. Both are helpful for establishing good habits in your spiritual study time.

Another trick I have found that helps strengthen my spiritual life is turning to God in prayer the moment that anything gets tough. I’ve had a lot of drama come up in my life lately, and I’ve begun to train my brain to immediately go to God in prayer as soon as I feel myself getting frustrated or run-down. I will be the first to admit that I am still far from being as patient as I should be, but it has definitely helped me cope with struggles better, and it has made me rely on God more than I ever have. If I can turn to Him in even the most difficult moments, it makes it easier to keep up my faith in the good times as well.

I am by no means an expert on spiritual matters. I’m just beginning to try to figure it all out for myself, and I will probably spend the rest of my life doing so, but hopefully some of my experiences will give you inspiration. The most important thing I think I’ve learned in recent months is that it’s never too late to get right with God. He is always there for you, waiting patiently. As it says in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Even if you feel like your spiritual life isn’t as rich or deep as your peers, remember that it doesn’t matter to God – He just wants you.

Written by Taylor Hayden

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Why Do We Love Movies that Make Us Cry?

Why is it that we humans willingly submit ourselves to the pain of a sad story? We spend hours watching movies like A Walk to Remember and reading books like The Fault in our Stars, even if we already know the plot is going to end badly. Moreover, tragic characters themselves seem to have a certain appeal. We find ourselves secretly rooting for their redemption. Many times I have caught myself longing for the kind of story line that I have just mentioned, and it got me to thinking, “why?”

Tragedy has a special power over us. Writers create these stories because they know they can influence our emotions in ways that comedy may not. The most common tropes of tragedy – the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or the character that is beyond salvation – leave every fiber of our being screaming out for something better, something happier. Because we are created in the image of Christ, the idea of perfection is ingrained deep within us. Our world is fallen, but our souls cry out for more. When we see something sad, we subconsciously know it isn’t meant to be like that; it’s a result of the eternal striving for heaven that God created in us. The typical reaction to tragedy is twofold: usually, we cry or get upset first because the inherent wrongness of the situation irks us to the core. Then, we seek change. We plot how the story might have turned out if the characters had just done this or that instead. For this same reason, when we do watch happy movies or read happy books, we feel a sense of satisfaction when the story has a happy ending.

The wonderful thing about literature, including tragedy, is that it mirrors the real world. However, in the real world, we do actually have some power to create change. There are some things that we simply cannot conquer in our fallen world, like death and sin, but we, unlike fictional characters, have the freedom of choice. We can learn from the mistakes made by these characters so that we don’t have to make them ourselves. This is why I think we continually submit ourselves to tragedy: it can inspire change. When a writer brings a problem to our attention that leaves tears running down our faces, we can and should do something about it.

Written by Taylor Hayden

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How to Become a Better Academic Reader

As a student, a large portion of my homework revolves around assigned, academic reading, and as an English major, that is increased tenfold. As much as I love reading, I don’t usually enjoy the topics I’m reading about in those assignments, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. However, over time, I have discovered a few tips and tricks that have helped me with academic reading and to make it slightly less painful to endure.

One lesson about reading that I have repeatedly learned the hard way is to avoid procrastination. I’m sure we are all familiar with the mad dash to finish two weeks’ worth of reading in the space of one evening and promising ourselves we won’t put it off this long next time, only to repeat the same process the following week. The best solution to the problem of procrastination is to schedule out the reading over the course of the assignment time. If you have fifty pages to do in five days, do ten pages per night instead of all at one time. For people like me who may have trouble sticking to this schedule, I’ve found the best thing to do is to block out a chunk of time in the day to do that specific assignment and to not do anything else until the reading is done.

Another common problem that comes with reading textbooks is getting bored easily. The temptation to check my phone or talk with my friends increases exponentially with my distaste for the particular topic I’m studying. I can spend hours reading my favorite novel but, after five minutes of reading a history book, I have checked out completely. To help combat the boredom, I try to make the assignment fun for me in some way. Either I will reward myself for reaching certain milestone in the assignment (i.e. eat a piece of chocolate every time I finish a page), or I will choose colored pens or highlighters and use them to mark and annotate in my book. It seems like such a silly, little thing, but using the various colors gives the task a fun element that makes it more enjoyable. Whatever way you can come up with to help you enjoy the assignment will take some of the edge off of the monotony.

When I find myself struggling to focus, I will also sometimes take notes to help focus myself and ensure that I don’t miss anything. While this method may not work for everyone, some people may find it helpful for keeping their concentration. Also, similar to the highlighter technique mentioned before, making your notes colorful or artistic can be another useful trick in having a more pleasant experience. However, be careful to not get too caught up in the note making and lose focus on the actual reading. Do what you need to do to stave off boredom while still getting work done efficiently.

Because textbooks and academic reading are just a fact of life when we’re a students, we have to learn how to use them in a way that will best work for us individually. Whether you’re super artistic and make the most colorful and decorative notes or you prefer to go in cold turkey and read the whole book in one sitting, it’s important to make the experience the best it can possibly be. So, next time you have a reading assignment get out the gel pens, grab a bar of chocolate and ready your notebook. Happy reading!

Written by Taylor

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“Around the World in 80 Days” in One Afternoon

One of the best ways to relax after a long day of class is to read a good book, and Around the World in 80 Days is a delightful way to see the world from the comfort of your own home. Written by Jules Verne, this work has been beloved by many ever since its original publication in 1873. So here are a few quick reasons why you should definitely check it out:

Nostalgia. If reading Around the World doesn’t bring you back to your childhood love of adventure and imagination, I don’t know what will. Follow the stuffy, indubitably British Phileas Fogg as he bets his club members that he can travel all the way around the world within precisely eighty days. Joining Mr. Fogg are his French manservant, Passepartout, and a dogged but at times misguided agent of Scotland Yard.

It’s short. Clocking in at 159 pages, Verne portrays an infinitely charming and intriguing story without overwhelming the reader. You can knock it out in an evening or two!

Adventure. Duh. How can you say no to travel, especially on such glorious sources of transportation such as elephants and wind-powered sledges, or merry chases involving Sioux Indians, India Indians, angry Japanese circus masters, and a stuffy British detective? You can’t, I tell you.

Jules Verne’s one-liners. “Moreover, it is safe to say that, when Americans, so casual as a rule, show signs of caution, it would be the height of folly not to be cautious too.” Or “Passepartout stuck on the animal’s back and, receiving directly the full force of every jolt, was all the time trying to remember his master’s recommendation and to keep his tongue from getting between his teeth, as in that position it would have been bitten in two.”  Verne’s dry sense of humor gets better and better.

Delightful stereotypes. The antics of a certain hot-blooded Frenchman contrasted with cool, calm, and collected Phileas Fogg are incredibly entertaining, and the ensuing chaos from such a decided clash of cultures is hilarious. (Sidenote: is there anything Passepartout can’t do?)

Also: how do you pronounce “Passepartout,” you ask?

…Good question.

Phileas Fogg’s thought processes. “Oh, you don’t believe I can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, old chap? Allow me to bet my entire fortune on the fact that I can, and knowing you have nothing better to do with your life and your money, you’ll take my bet.” He is literally surprised at nothing; unless of course his latest manservant in a long line of manservants brings his shaving water to him at 82 degrees instead of 84 – truly shocking.

Finally, Verne’s love for travel, technology, and other cultures comes to life in such a delightful and humorous way that one can’t help but laugh, smile, and go along for the ride. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Written by Carilee

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3 Reasons Why You Should Read Junie B. Jones

I grew up reading Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones books both at school and at home. Throughout elementary school, I devoured the series. As a six year old, my reading level was challenged by the books and my love for literature ignited. When I was ten, Junie B. Jones was a source of entertainment, and I loved that I could read a whole book in half an hour. A blissfully hilarious half hour, at that. Nowadays, I revel at the opportunity to read one of the books to a younger friend or cousin. I’m convinced this world would be a more relaxed, jolly place if everyone knew about Junie B. Jones and wasn’t shy about reading the books, no matter what age they are. Why are these books so beloved by me and readers around the world? I’m glad you asked.

1. They’re clever and well-written

Though these books are filled with hilarious exploits and charming life-lessons, they aren’t on the low end of literary intelligence. The plot, the characters, the jokes, and the writing itself are all cleverly constructed. They are appealing to every age group. If anything, the series, though intended for children, contains humor more appropriate for adults. Junie B.’s honest outbursts and childish thinking patterns are detailed in an attention-getting, yet light-hearted manner which charms both children and adults.

2. They’re funny

I’ve already mentioned this point, but it’s worth elaborating on. Both deliberately and unintentionally, Junie B. Jones is a hoot. From her candid reflections on kindergarten life to observations on relationships and beyond, she tells things as she sees them. I think one of the reasons people are so enchanted with this young character is because she says the things many have thought yet are too afraid to express out loud. One of my personal favorite quotes by Junie B. Jones concerns her feelings regarding clowns. I’m pretty sure all children loathe clowns. I certainly did, which is perhaps why I thoroughly enjoyed her saying, “I don’t even like clowns. Clowns are not normal people.”

3. They’re timeless

I was surprised when I learned that the first book in the series was released in 1992. When I first started reading them in around 2003, fresh books were being cranked out every year or so. It’s a series that transcends the bonds of time or place. Are you at home? Are you at school? In first grade? In college? Doesn’t matter. It’s Junie B. time. Even now, if I happen to be at my local library or am walking past a bookshelf that belongs to someone younger, when I see a Junie B. Jones book I feel compelled to pick it up and start reading. As a nineteen-year-old college student who has studied bits and pieces across the whole literary spectrum, this series still applies to my life and never fails to make me laugh. I’m convinced that in twenty, fifty, or a hundred years, those fortunate enough to stumble across the Junie B. Jones stories will be just as amused as the readers who delighted in the series upon their publication.

Since I probably have all of you convinced by now, allow me to recommend the perfect story for beginning your new reading adventure, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. So what are you waiting for? If you don’t want to live a happier, funnier, more joyous life, then by all means, don’t read these books. It’s summer time. What else are you doing? Go to your local library and if people look at you funny for wandering around the children’s section, just hold up a Junie B. Jones book. They will understand.

Written by Karoline

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Writing Pet Peeves

While I certainly haven’t read every book under the sun, I’ve come across various types of written works during my journey as a reader. From stumbling through Dr. Suess as a five year-old to dissecting ancient Greek plays as a college student, I have witnessed a plethora of writing types, styles, and mechanisms. Though the wonderful, vast world of literature has greatly enriched my life, along the way, I’ve picked up on multiple things that I disdain, too. Yes, I really do have writing pet peeves. Most readers probably know what I’m talking about. When I was in high school English, one of my often-expressed pet peeves was, “If Charles Dickens goes into another four page monologue AGAIN…I’m going to throw this book in the bird feeder in hopes that the crows ravage it.” I interviewed a few of my co-workers in the University Writing Center to get a few outside opinions, and I think we compiled a pretty convincing list of complaints. I hereby declare that if any author includes one of the following literary nuisances into his or her work that they shall be banned from the creative world. Because that’s what creativity is all about, right? Conforming to one idea and squashing out all outside opinions…no? Oh well; I’m still going to share my pet peeves anyway.

1. Using fragments excessively (see what I did their…I mean THERE. We’ll talk about that later, I’m getting ahead of myself.)

My friend, Alfred, described to me a reading experience in which the author was so prone to beginning new chapters and scenes with small sentence fragments that he was too annoyed to finish reading the story. I know what he means. We’ve all stumbled across that YA suspense novel that’s attempting to twist every emotion inside us by throwing grammatically nauseating half ideas at us.  It might read a little something like this,

Darkness. Can’t see. Hands sweat. I grip again. Nothing. All is lost. Where am I? Oh, that’s right. Work again. Burger King at four in the morning. Simply mind-numbing. I can’t stand it. This blasted job. The sizzle of the fries rings in my ears. No hope. Just carbs. Woe is me.

2. Over-poeticizing

Similar to sentence fragments, the attempt to come across as deep and poetic can often appear as just the opposite. The author might think that those hard-hitting, three word sentences can’t possibly grow old, but let me tell ya, readers catch on fast. Maybe at first we released a dreamy sigh when we saw that darling metaphor, something probably akin to, His eyes sparkled as a forgotten ship still dreaming of sailing in glory, which now rests at the bottom of the vast azure sea. Yet, when these types of pathos-infused sentences are consistently written throughout a story, it’s tiring. It can even be annoying, and in my personal experience, it may entirely turn the reader off to the point of the story. Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing, concerning this.

3. Using the wrong word

My coworker, Nathan, presented this pet peeve as well. There’s nothing more frustrating, especially when texting or emailing, when our dear friends, whom we love despite their flaws, can’t seem to grasp the concept of using the correct “there” or “to” or “your.” I’d like to take all of these offenders on a friendly picnic which includes both a quaint wicker basket full of bite-sized sandwiches and a grilling grammar lesson. My hope in this endeavor is that they would walk away informed and determined to not cause further literary confusion in their writing. You’re welcome. See? It isn’t so hard to get the hang of it.

4. John Green

*Listens to sound of teenage girls banging my front door with pitchforks as I sip coffee safely indoors* No, you didn’t that read that wrong. And YES, I am a warm-blooded, fully-human, teenage girl. I am John Green’s target audience, and yet, I cannot stand his writing. I know he means well and that his stories have harped the heart strings of millions of adolescents worldwide. However, I just can’t take it seriously, and I find it a little humorous that I am supposed to find his stories serious. To be fair, I have only read two of his novels. I tried to read The Fault in our Stars when it was at the height of its literary fame. I mean, everyone was talking about it and my friends begged me to read it. I gave it a whack. I pretty much gagged through the whole first chapter. I mean, Mr. Green, I know you’re trying to be relatable and all, but neither Hazel Grace nor Augustus Waters were believable to me. Sorry, but my peers don’t engage in philosophical conversations which end up not being philosophical in the slightest. I’m down for reading about thought-provoking ideas, but not when they are presented through ludicrous scenarios. I’m merely saying that as a teenage girl, I would find it more weird than romantic if a boy confessed his love to me and immediately followed it up with, “and I know that love is just a shout into the void.” Then like…why say it, moron?

Though these annoyances have merely scratched the surface, I’d like to think they cover some of the most grieving irritations to be found. However, don’t let these get you down. Reading has a lot to offer. Chances are, you aren’t as cynical as I, and you will probably learn a great deal from your reading experiences. But if you do happen to notice any writing habits that really burst your bubble…*evil grin* tweet meeee! Let’s be friends.

Written by Karoline Ott

Personal Twitter: @Karoline_Ott

UWC Twitter: @dbu_uwc

Image credit: https://thecreativecavern.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/everyone-is-a-reader-some-just-havent-found-their-favorite-book-yet.jpg

Works Cited

Goodreads Inc. “A Quote from The Fault in Our Stars.” Goodreads. Goodreads Inc., 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.