(no subject)

[elle_white]

 Next week I start studying again for the year. This will be the last year of my degree! 

This trimester, I'm doing a unit in Contemporary Poetry, and another called Driven to Write. It's a unit where we pick a genre of YA fiction, then research and write in that genre for the rest of the trimester. I've already picked fantasy. We're required to read a few books in that genre for the unit. This will give me an opportunity to read books I've been wanting to for ages. I've started reading Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, which is rather slow but still enjoyable. It has interesting world-building so far, and a lady protagonist who already seems like a dynamic and amazing character. I plan to (finally) read Howl's Moving Castle next, and then The Last Unicorn. So, I'm feeling pretty excited about uni so far this year, 'cause I'm doing things that I really love. Although I probably be stressing hard and wishing it was all over by the time I get towards the end. 

Comments

[arcanelegacy]

I've been trying to read Dragonflight for ages - I always end up getting through the first few pages and bailing, though. Partly because I find it to be some strange sort of sci fi book and I usually pick it up when I want a more fantasy bent (and there are far better books with dragons in them that are decidedly more fantasy, I think) and partly because I don't much enjoy Anne McCaffrey's political views, and knowing them tainted me on the series.

HMC is a lovely book, though. I reread it at least once a year.

[elle_white]

Oh, I'm not familiar with her political views. Is she very conservative?

I have read a broad section of fantasy novels for my unit, even if I don't agree with the opinions expressed in them. Fantasy novels often have values expressed in them I don't necessarily with. But I need to look at many different values expressed in fantasy for my unit so I can dissect and maybe even try to deconstruct them.

[arcanelegacy]

She has a very....interesting take on homosexuality that is reflected in the way she writes her later novels. Other people have explained it far, far better than I ever could.

I agree; reading things from other people's points of view is key to having a broader understanding of both the world and the opposing opinion. I'm very much in favor of reading the works of controversial writers. Personally, though, I have to be in the right mood for them, so I can better put their expressed opinions into the right context. I have a similar issue with the Ender's Game series.

[fairy1234]

I hope you do well in school and congrats on it being your last year to get your degree. :D

[elle_white]

Thank you very much! *hugs*