The Student, By Anton Chekhov (1894)

 The Student, By Anton Chekhov (1894)

Ratings: 8/10

 The plot of this story is very simple. The main character Ivan finishes his hunt, visits a family of two widows, tells them a story, and leaves. However in this short, simple series of actions, Ivan learns something immensely complex and important. What I liked about the story was that Ivan's recognition wasn't caused by something drastic and fancy. Instead, it started with simple everyday actions with simple everyday people. I think the author wanted us to understand that life and it's beauty is able to be found everywhere every moment. Chekhov emphasized this even more by Ivan finding out the meanings and beauty of life not from dramatic and important events, but from a humble experience. What I found a bit awkward about this story is that Ivan's enlightenment is based strongly on Christian faith. Although I knew what his story was about, having read the bible, I found the whole escalation of feelings unnatural. Still, I think the final lesson about human life and the positive feelings were very understandable for unbelievers too. Thus, I rate this story eight out of ten. (184 words)

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"Araby" and stage 4 of the hero's journey

  In the stage four of the hero's journey, the hero of the story meets a mentor who provides the hero with wise advises and various forms of guidance. In this particular story of Araby, it is hard to specify a certain character as a mentor. The lesson is learned at the end of the story, and the hero stumbles into it without any guidance or help from other characters.   Still, the absence of a mentor is not a negative element. Instead, it maximizes the whole point of the story. The lamentable parts of life can be learnt only by experience. No mentor could teach it to us before we face it ourselves.
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The Second Bakery Attack, By Haruki Murakami (1981)

 The Second Bakery Attack, By Haruki Murakami (1981) 9/10 Only after re-reading the story one more time to check whether there are any parts I might have missed, I realized that everything that happened in this story is unbelievably illogical. Waking up in the middle of the night in severe hunger is surely possible, but how in the world did that conclude into robbing a McDonalds and taking thirty bigmacs? It’s amazing how the author was able to make the situation seam logical and smooth. It was quite strange how what the couple did was a crime, but is still so humorous. Something about Haruki’s ways of explaining details such as the sleeping customers and paying for the drink makes even the most intense situations feel comical than serious. It gives the whole story a magical atmosphere. My favorite part of the story was how the narrator explains his feelings like floating on the ocean right above a volcano. It was very wholesome when the narrator decides to let the waves take him w
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A Mother, By James Joyce (1914)

 A Mother, By James Joyce (1914) 7/10 It was interesting to see how Joyce tweaked what might have been a very cliché situation. In most situations where a mother protests about her daughter’s rightful. payment, she would seem brave and righteous. However, Mrs. Kearney seemed like the opposite of righteous. This may be because instead of protesting for her daughter, Mrs. Kearney is fighting for her pride. Unlike most good parents, Mrs. Kearney sees her children only as a tool to improve her social value and keep her pride. It was sad to see Kathleen not standing up to her mother, who might have just ruined her one chance of becoming a professional singer. Four guineas are not worth a lifelong job, let alone a dream coming true. This also reminded me about how big are the influence parents have on their children’s life. My favorite part of the story was how Mrs. Kearny blames Mr. Holohan and others. But the real reason she faced such humiliation was her own stubbornness. I rated th
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