"Manhood For Amateurs: The Wilderness of Childhood" by Michael Chabon is about how childhood has compared from back when the author was a kid to now. The intended audience of this piece is for adults to make them realize how overbearing they have become. The purpose again, is about how childhood has changed and become more restricted than what it used to be. The techniques used to help support his idea is shown in this sentence: "the helmeting and monitoring, the corralling of children into certified zones of safety." The use of word "corralling" gives the impression that kids have no freedom to wander and are being herded, in which proves his point of children not having the freedom to roam like they used to be able to. Also, the sentence: "our children have become cult objects to us, to precious to be risked..." shows that parents have an unhealthy obsession with their own children, not allowing them to be able to experience things on their own and grow. This entire article is aimed to show not only parents but even young adults the difference between his childhood and the childhood children have now. The reader makes it incredibly easy to see the differences between how children are being raised.
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The author of "The Time Travel's Wife": Audrey Niffenegger is quite an interesting person. Niffeneger was born on June 3rd, 1963. She is a professor in the M.F.A program at Colombia College Chicago Center for Books and Paper Arts. Along with being a professor she is and American writer and artist. "The Time Traveler's Wife" was her debut book in 2003 and it ended up on one of People's "Top Ten Books of the Year" list. Being a lesser known author and writer I think she started out very humble, which I found to be reflected in her writing. She took genuine time and effort to describe her characters and make them feel relatable, to make them feel as if they were real people. Seven years after her book was published "The Time Traveler's Wife" was adapted into a film many readers and die-hard fans have come to love. After her first book became an instantaneous hit she continued to write, although this time she turned to graphic novels. She published her first graphic novel in 2005 titled "The Three Incestuous Sisters" and another in 2006 titled "The Adventuress". This is only a snapshot of Niffenegger's success. She continues to write. Her latest novel being published in 2013, she named it "Raven Girl". All in all, Niffenegger found wild success after she started putting out her ideas out into the world, yet has stayed humble throughout her journey, and that is reflected in her writing.
In "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger one of the main characters named Clare Abshire asks the other main character named Henry DeTamble about her future. Henry is a time traveler has first met Clare when she was six. All throughout the book as she ages Clare asks about her future: What does it hold in store for her? What happens? When do they finally get to be together? Within the text Niffenegger weaves the idea of how man is always focused on the future and how our lives play out. She also tampers with the idea of trying to change the future, although, it is impossible. Within this book, it brings to light the fundamental questioning we all have inside us.
This book makes you tamper with the ideas of love and marriage and if love can endure all. Within this book Claire and Henry try to have a child, but Henry seeing all the pain the multiple miscarriages are having on his wife, tries to change the future to tell Claire not to try anymore. All throughout this book it shows the internal thoughts of both characters and how sometimes they feel done, or hopeless, or how they want to change the future-and sometimes does. In one part of the book Henry gets the winning lottery numbers so Claire can have her dream studio, Clare felt it was wrong, but they ended up going with it. This book is a whirlwind of emotions and a roller coaster of thoughts. All throughout the book you can see the characters question their lives and thoughts and if everything is worth it. "Insects drone in the meadow under golden sun. Everything is still, and as I look across the dry grasses the air shimmers with warmth We are under a tree. Clare leans against its trunk. With a pillow under her to cushion the tree roots. I am lying stretched out with my head in her lap. We have eaten, and the remains of our lunch lie scattered around us, with fallen apples interspersed. I am sleepy and content."
I enjoy how the author Audrey Niffenegger uses the method of "showing" instead of telling. This can be seen when she says that the two main characters are under a tree, but through use of imagery you yourself can conclude that it's an apple tree. Also, she shows the feeling of sleepy and content by describing the day and how relaxing it is. She shows the feeling of being content before even saying it. The author almost puts me in that environment with the characters, she makes me imagine summer without her actually saying summer. I can almost feel the warm air and sun shining on my skin, and that sleepy feeling you get right after you've eaten way too much than what is good for your health. That is a very good signal that the writer is being detailed enough and that she paints a picture without "telling" you exactly what is happening "black and white" style. |
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