Gooseberries by Anton Chekhov(1898)

 rating: 9.5/10

I like 'Gooseberries' because it was preceptive and realistic simultaneously. The advice which Ivan gave to his acquaintances was obvious. 'There is no happiness. Just do good.' I partly agree with the thought. There might be someone who becomes unhappy due to our pursuit of happiness. Thus, we should consider the effect of our behavior. For instance, in this story, Nikolay only focuses on his happiness. He exploited his peasants. He desired to have some estate, and he didn't care about anything else. Can we say that Nikolay is a happy person? Though he could get his land and pretty large property, I don't think so. Likewise, I don't think it is happiness if built with other people's unhappiness. However, going against Ivan's claim, there is happiness. I gave a high rating because Chekhov also pointed out the reality. Ivan felt real happiness when he swam in the pool. Alyohin didn't bother his peasants, but he seemed to live a happy life. After reading the story, I concluded that each person has their own happiness. Thus, try to do good and respect them. I think it will lead us to happiness. (193 words)

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  1. Garrioch2022년 3월 9일 오후 5:28

    What about Borkin? We can only guess - but it seems Borkin is meant to be us as the reader. We are left to smell the pipe with him, wondering what it is that keeps us up - the smell of the truth that maybe we have happiness all wrong? Or that Ivan is annoying? This is such a great story in how it balances so many things to loosely bring the question to us as readers. Good journal!

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The Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders(2012)

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The Tower by Marghanita Laski (1955)

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rating: 8.5/10 While I read this story, I was curious about what 'the tower' means. Why should Caroline go up to the top of the tower? When she went up, I felt like she was defying her circumstances. She was to break the recognition that women should behave modestly and stay inside their husbands' barriers. Because I am a boy, I can not fully understand the stereotype or social pressure that women suffer. The only thing I can be sure of is that it is hard to draw a line between overprotectiveness and respect. If a boy learns that he should protect the woman, the boy becomes a man who wants to control everything with his wife. "Lady First" and "Gentleman" may be old trends nowadays. In the 2020s, men and women should respect and push each other rather than protect and control. Also, my grandmother came to my mind. Her thought can not be free from what she learned in her youth because she lived in an era in that women should follow men. The recognition of ...
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Bullet In The Brain by Tobias Wolff(1995)

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rating:8.5 I don't understand this story well because the message is something so philosophical and vague. The story is plotless, and the main character, Anders behaves weirdly. Thus, I focused on the feelings of the story and imagined that if I was Anders.  What will pop into my mind if I'm going to die? After I imagined it, I could slightly understand why Anders did not remember his loving people or great event in his life. If I was Anders, I also might not think of my family or influential people in my life. Of course, they were important in my life, but they can't determine my life. Though I'm young, I think life is a complex sequence of similar events and people. Too many events and too many people mess my life up. I envy Anders in this context. I haven't found some fundamental theme that integrates my life yet. It is meaningful trying to find the worth of my life. 
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