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Tiyler Hart

Ethics and Family Relationships in My Sisters Keeper - 2 views

shared by Tiyler Hart on 12 Dec 11 - No Cached
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    Argument: Helena Silva, in her literary criticism of "My Sisters Keeper" argues that the advancements in biotechnology and genetic research are raising ethical questions of scope and the limits of genetic intervention. Claim: Silva argues that the advances in biotechnology and genetic research presented in Picoult's "My Sisters Keeper" are allowing doctors to intervene in the human genome preventing diseases. This intervention is raising concerns in the scientific community that might soon be able to take biological evolution into its own hands. Almost "playing God" in a sense. Evidence: "Playing God" is an expression commonly used to refer to this self-transformation of the species which, from the evidence, might soon be a reality" (Silva). "Jodi Picoult, an American novelist has been devoting her writings to several present-day events and controversial issues such as genetic engineering and the prospect of "savior siblings" with all its ethical implications" (Silva). "Anna wasconceived for a specific purpose and can't be forgotten because she is expected always to be ready for the welfare of her sister" (Silva).
lindsey shields

Powells.com From the Author - Yann Martel - Powell's Books - 0 views

  • most books come from the same mix of three elements: influence, inspiration and hard work.
  • was about a zoo in Berlin run by a Jewish family. The year is 1933 and, not surprisingly, business is bad. The family decides to emigrate to Brazil. Alas, the ship sinks and one lone Jew ends up in a lifeboat with a black panther
  • the book fatigued Updike but it had the effect on my imagination of electric caffeine. I marvelled.
    • lindsey shields
       
      Martel took Scliar's book and made it his own, perhaps creating a novel he thought this critic would approve of?
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Was it that the allegory marched with too heavy a tread, the parallel between the black panther and the Nazis too obvious? Did the premise wear its welcome out? Was it the tone? The style? The translation?
  • brilliant premise ruined by a lesser writer
  • I was in need of a story. More than that, I was in need of a Story
  • theme that reality is a story and we can choose our story and so why not pick "the better story"
  • religion and zoology would make a good mix
  • the novel emerged fully formed: the lifeboat, the animals, the intermingling of the religious and the zoological, the parallel stories.
  • India, where there are so many animals and religions, lent itself to such a story
  • tensions simmering just below my level of consciousness were probably feverishly pushing me to come up with a story
  • The other animals in the lifeboat ? the zebra, the hyena and the orang-utan ? arose naturally, each one a function of a human trait I wanted to embody, the hyena cowardliness, the orang-utan maternal instincts and the zebra exoticism.
  • no matter how the novel would fare, I would be happy with it, that it helped me understand my world a bit better.
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    Argument: This article simply gives background to Martel's influences and mindset behind the writing of the novel. Written by Martel himself, he describes the mix of three elements in which books come from: influence, inspiration, and hard work. Claims: Martel writes that most books come from the same mix of three elements:influence, inspiration, and hard work. His influence for this novel was an interest in a novel after reading a somewhat skeptical review over it. Seemingly, Martel became enveloped in the critic's reasonings for such a harsh review. He was disappointed that such "a brilliant premise [was] ruined by a lesser writer", therefore suggesting he could have done better. While in India, the remembrance of this review he read came to him, and while observing Indian ways, all aspects of the story flowed to him. In a place with many animals and various religions, Martel created Life of Pi. All aspects didn't come easily though; he found himself spending over a year doing extensive research and observations in order to create the memorable novel Life of Pi became today. Evidence: "most books come from the same mix of three elements: influence, inspiration, and hard work" "brilliant premise ruined by a lesser writer" "the novel emerged fully formed: the lifeboat, the animals, the intermingling of the religious and the zoological, the parallel stories" "theme that reality is a story and we can choose our story and so why not pick 'the better story'?"
Sydnee Arnson

EBSCOhost: Exodus Inverted: A New Look at The Grapes of Wrath - 0 views

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    Argument: This article is about the second book I am reading. In this abstract it talks about religion. Sometimes religion can be controlling. Control is what I am writing about for my paper. Claims: Control can be found in many aspects of life. I would research different religions and find controlling things about them. Evidence: "The Grapes of Wrath has been read typically as a period of social activism". "...emerging from a self-satisfied and legalistic moralism into a new ethos of universal love in pattern of Christ".
Nicole DeSimone

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - 0 views

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    Argument: This article provides an interview with Jodi Picoult and her reasoning behind the consroversial themes of her novels. The interview also asks particular questions reguarding nineteen minutes and Picoult's resoning behind writing such a dark novel. Claims: Most of Picoult's novels pertain to controversies and that Nineteen Minutes required a lot of research. The Picoult also claimed that Nineteen Minutes and My Sister's Keeper are similar books in the interview. Evidence: "Nineteen Minutes to My Sister's Keeper I see them as very similar books - they are both very emotional, very gut-wrenching, and they're situations that every parent dreads" "I think that sometimes when we don't want to talk about issues that are hard to discuss or difficult to face, it's easier to digest it in fiction instead of nonfiction" "Fiction allows for moral questioning, but through the back door. Personally, I like books that make you think - books you're still wondering about three days after you finish them"
Miki Clark

Fantasy & Science Fiction - April 1990 - Books to Look For - 0 views

  • Asimov presents ideas to his audience in such a way that each idea has been perfectly prepared for; so that even as it surprises us, we already understand the context so well that we grasp the new information instantly.
  • In second-rate fiction, the cosmic and personal stories are irrelevant to each other -- we get "characters" solely to be witnesses of the cool stuff that happens on a cosmic level, or we get "ideas" thrown in only to make standard adventure or character stories seem like science fiction. In the best sf -- like Nemesis -- the two stories absolutely depend on each other. Resolutions of the problems posed by Nemesis depends on Marlene and her family, resolutions of Marlene's needs, and the needs of her parents, absolutely depend on the ideas and discoveries in the cosmic story.
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    Argument: Asimov's knack for story telling relies on the style with which he presents his characters, and the way he makes the cosmic story of the book as much a relevent character to the plot as the humans. Claims: That his style is a very plain yet very clear one, that his characters are often plain with a touch of peculiarity, and that he can weave a story that is both surprising and not unexpected in the least. Evidence: Highlighted.
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