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1MaliaLP5
The fictional novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is about courage, and reveals that with great strength one can overcome and stand up to whatever they may believe in. After a summer party gone wrong, Melinda ends up starting her freshman year off “clanless”. Although many people blame her for calling the police, no one knows the purpose behind her actions and the secret she is hiding; she was raped at the party and hasn't told anyone. Although her situation may only be relatable to a select few, there are still connections the reader develops with Melinda which keeps the book interesting and personal.
Anderson’s craft is a casual, yet descriptive and relatable writing style that, through Melinda’s voice, is distinct and witty. Anderson’s writing sustains a tone of pain, loneliness and heartbreak which holds the reader's’ empathy from beginning to end. The author’s character choice of an innocent, yet immensely flawed character, has made it amazing accessible for the reader to connect with Melinda. Even though her disposition may have been far from reality for many people, her reactions and choices were similar to our everyday behavior.
I enjoy this novel profusely, yet I do have some things I would change. Melinda is viewed through almost the entire book as a pitied victim, even by herself. I think if her disposition had changed, then she would be more approachable and open to meeting new people; even as she still made an effort to reconnect with past friends. She deserves more credit for what is thrown her way; I believe it to be a rather large assumption that everyone but two people in her school loath her. Even though I do I have a couple disagreements with the author and her choices, I do like many components to her novel. One of them being the character traits of the protagonist. Even though Melinda knows she is a lonely person, she is not eager to please all the time. In fact, often her responses are quite short and sharp. She has repeated attempts to shut the world out, yet at the same time rebuild a trusted relationship with someone of whom she can tell the truth to; this is one of the most interesting internal character conflicts I’ve ever read.
Anderson’s craft is a casual, yet descriptive and relatable writing style that, through Melinda’s voice, is distinct and witty. Anderson’s writing sustains a tone of pain, loneliness and heartbreak which holds the reader's’ empathy from beginning to end. The author’s character choice of an innocent, yet immensely flawed character, has made it amazing accessible for the reader to connect with Melinda. Even though her disposition may have been far from reality for many people, her reactions and choices were similar to our everyday behavior.
I enjoy this novel profusely, yet I do have some things I would change. Melinda is viewed through almost the entire book as a pitied victim, even by herself. I think if her disposition had changed, then she would be more approachable and open to meeting new people; even as she still made an effort to reconnect with past friends. She deserves more credit for what is thrown her way; I believe it to be a rather large assumption that everyone but two people in her school loath her. Even though I do I have a couple disagreements with the author and her choices, I do like many components to her novel. One of them being the character traits of the protagonist. Even though Melinda knows she is a lonely person, she is not eager to please all the time. In fact, often her responses are quite short and sharp. She has repeated attempts to shut the world out, yet at the same time rebuild a trusted relationship with someone of whom she can tell the truth to; this is one of the most interesting internal character conflicts I’ve ever read.
22wonderY
You probably meant to post this in another group: http://www.librarything.com/groups/honors92014
