Reaction to "Disgrace"

I found the novel, "Disgrace" to be quite entertaining and enlightening to the paramount issues in South Africa such as the racial segregation caused by the Apartheid legislation. The events were laconic and interesting in most parts of the book which motivated me to read further. The novel touches upon the racial discrimination that was occurring in South Africa in the 90s through some of its characters. This troubling issue and call for awareness, I admired most in the story. Though despite the sensitive topics discussed, I don't see how, based on my understanding of the theme(s), this novel acquired international acclaim. When I heard that it was so famous, I knew that there had to be a deeper meaning in the book's context than just cliché racism issues. Also, I do not think it should be one of the few books we study to gain academic knowledge. I would recommend it for reading for fun but not part of a course's curriculum. I don't mean to be a pessimist about the overall theme and its influence on the audience but I found myself not moved by the negative ending the author has chosen.

Is William Shakespeare overrated?

William Shakespeare has written numerous plays and sonnets that gained global interest. The question is: Does he deserve all that attention? Well he certainly did not want it, since documented that he refused his sonnets to be published and read by the general public! It was quite obvious from their content that the only audience should have been none other than the person that the sonnet was written to. Although he has dealt with so many humanitarian issues in both his plays and sonnets that are definitely noteworthy, it still doesn't justify is unnatural fame. There were many playwrights and poets before and after him that deserved the same amount (if not more) of attention. I truly admire many of his plays like "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," and "Macbeth" however, I fail see how they are renowned above, more or less, all the plays ever written, with respect to their substance. In the end I strongly believe that Shakespeare is truly a genius and should be rewarded for that but not to this extent because it comes at the expense of other great writers.

Don't you dare laugh!!!

Odyssey to Glory

Defeated, I lie in a miserable state,
As I linger in silence left to wonder,
How to write a potential sonnet, which I hate,
Perhaps I should search somewhere yonder.

Troubled, I try to juxtapose words that rhyme,
Sadly, they do not form harmony.
Does thyme go with lime or dime, or even crime?
In the world of poets, this would be such blasphemy.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day,"
Such poetic grace.
Shakespeare I am nay.
For, lo and behold, escapeth me his pace.

Never will I encounter glory,
Alas, this is my story.

3. What is your reaction to the novel so far? Can you identify any themes that the novel is exploring?

I found the novel indeed interesting and fun to read. Because it is so concise, the writer's thoughts were brief and to the point. Some parts were very action packed and full of suspense like the part when the three crimials abuse David and supposidly rape his daughter, Lucy. The theme is still unclear but I came to the conclusion that the theme of what I read till now is possibly how David Laurie's "disgraceful" conduct led to circumstances affecting his beloved daughter along the way. As they say,"what goes around, comes around," which accurately explains the theme, in my opinion.

Sonnets

I personally don't enjoy reading sonnets especially shakespearian because I feel they are too hard to udersatnd. Though, i noticed that if i reread multiple times i can get the gist of the poem. After I finished reading shakespeare's 3oth sonnet, I was surprised to find it slightly intertaining for their hidden meanings that are unclear in our time. I find the structure a bit limiting because I don't see how proper ideas can be expressed in fourteen lines that should rhyme. Therefore, I don't feel that sonnets as a type of poem is the best way to express sentiments like longer peoms do.