Essay
Facing the Enemy How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship
Barbara Krasner has written a youth novel about friendship between two friends one Christian and one Jewish and some decisions that friends had to make during that hate ran rampant and will Benjy and Tommy remain friends and learn to listen and try to make friends and family happy then.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Utopian Concept of Gender Equity
There is a thin line of disparity between self-respect and arrogance that most people err in their lifetimes and cannot distinguish when the time arrives. I wonder how Indian society finds it appalling for women to be assertive and bold in their stance as they try to voice out their opinions on what they believe in. While I respect our culture of virtue, values and morality, it is baffling how patriarchal our society is, as it still perceives women through the fragile glass lens of being demure, nurturing, soft and family-oriented while she is working and expects her to be silent in her stance when men of the house are talking.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Critique
The Unreal of Preservation
How can one think of preservation in terms of what is real? I think this while sitting in the main reading room of the Abbot Library at the University at Buffalo. I had been meaning to come to this library for some time after seeing a picture of it. Books are a passion of mine and thus so are the repositories of knowledge that we simply call libraries. Gone, it seems however, are the days of the beautiful library. Filled with grandeur and craftsmanship to be an edifice of thought itself imbued in structure. A space in which one can think, connected to the history of Mankind. A space that could anthropologically be called a place; that is, imbued with history, emotion, tradition. I could just as easily now be writing of the strangeness I experienced walking through the very modern, yet not all unpleasant, 39th Street Stavros Niarchos Public Library in New York City that felt the need to display photographs of the world’s most beautiful libraries on their walls. A strange display of the past in a space in which the past is abandoned, if only preserved within the books themselves, and yet, how real is the copy of Flaubert’s Madame Bovary or Joyce’s Ulysses that is printed in 1994, covered in its protective plastic laminate? In fact, the main 5th Avenue library that is imbued with history and beauty has lost its practical purpose and has become a museum that is its own relic.
By Daniel J. Guercioabout a year ago in Critique
Critique Ideas
Starting tomorrow I am planning to post many short 50-word critique blurbs of the many book reviews that I have written for the two book review sites that I work for as a volunteer. There are children's picture books, youth and teenage novels along with many adult novels I have reviewed over the past few months. All of these books cover the gambit of emotions that we all have felt or are feeling at various times of our growing up and into our adulthoods. Some are just downright cute while others well are just. Hoping to get feedback on this.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Deuteronomy 19
In reading a section in Deuteronomy titled 'Witnesses' there are few famous lines that have been used many times in many circumstances like 'an eye for an eye', 'a tooth for a tooth', hand for a hand', and a 'foot for a foot'. What if today we would do this literally to various criminals depending on the offense. Do you think the rate of various crimes would decrease and purge the evil from whomever. We must remember not to give false testimony for one never knows when it will come back to bite you in the but when least expected.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Going to War
In reading Deuteronomy 20 in a section entitled 'Going to War' I wonder how many soldiers actually took this advice before fighting in any battles. What would happen to the military of today were posed these situations like "if you built a new house make sure you live in it', if you planted a crop make sure you enjoy what you grew, and if you pledged to a woman make sure to marry her before going to war and letting someone else enjoy the fruits of your labor and not you. Now I know why the military asks for volunteers.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Deuteronomy 19
In reading a section in Deuteronomy titled 'Witnesses' there are few famous lines that have been used many times in many circumstances like 'an eye for an eye', 'a tooth for a tooth', hand for a hand', and a 'foot for a foot'. What if today we would do this literally to various criminals depending on the offense. Do you think the rate of various crimes would decrease and purge the evil from whomever. We must remember not to give false testimony for one never knows when it will come back to bite you in the but when least expected.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Game
I was watching my one grandnephew playing one of his computer games that he plays on his television where he has to complete missions or various activities. To me it looked kind of interesting for there were a variety of colors and designs that I may want to try and draw a few of them one. The game just seem to move so fast that one would have to be quick on the draw to complete whatever needed to be done to move on to the next level. I was not good at video games except for SpaceInvaders back when.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Snicket #11
'The Grim Grotto' is another adventure of the Baudelaire children, and they are all coming of age and beginning to wonder. They are now volunteers for VFD in their own ways. They have made a few friends that have helped when needed. They meet Fiona in this adventure and are still learning what needs to be done without putting each other in dangerous situations the best they can. The Baudelaire's really find out what family is all about as well as a few strangers that know them, but they do not know them. The Baudelaire's are making various connections now.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Deuteronomy 14
In this Chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy is titled 'Clean ad Unclean Food'. It reminds me of a health lesson that tells someone what to eat and not to eat to stay healthy like certain meats, fish, fowl and even vegetables. It said not to eat an animal that chews its' cud, and what do we do in today's society by eating steak or 'cow' that chews it cud or eating pork which to them a pig was unclean. Today, I know that some people do eat roadkill if still fresh today, but back then it was not done.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Numbers 35
In reading Numbers Chapter 35 there is a section titled 'Cities of Refuge' and to fit this in with society today it mentions that if anybody kills accidently, they can go to that city and be safe till they have a trial to determine guilt or innocence. Not sure this reminds me of sanctuary in various locations now-a-days. It goes on with the idea of if one murders the murderer should be put to death by an avenger like a prosecutor. One must prove intentionality and enmity with more than one witness, and it finishes with not accepting ransom.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
