Well well well, we've reached March! That means the AP (and graduation!) is only two months away!
So. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is what's up. Each time I read one of these AP books there's all this meaning that comes out of nowhere but it's especially true this time. Because it really did come out of nowhere, and nothing. But trust me, it's there!
On the cover of the book there's that quote from The New York Times. "This is a remarkable play. Very funny. Very brilliant. Very chilling." I applaud them for their great use of repetition and the rule of threes, but I'm not sure I agree with them on that one.
Yes, it's funny. Maybe it's just me but I was laughing out loud for some parts of the movie, and laughing in my head during the first read through. Not extremely comical or happy, but there's something about what they say and do -- the childlike plot to trap Hamlet, that they're best of friends, their play on words -- that's just funny.
Brilliant? Hmm. I mean, kudos to Stoppard for taking these minor characters and making us love them. And he threw in a bunch of trippy big-time questions about life in a really subtle/obvious way.
But I wasn't that chilled. Like, that's strange that they didn't know what was going on. That's sad that they were basically enslaved with no other way to live life. But chilling? Maybe if I also believed life was meaningless it would scare me... Nah. It's going to take more than this to creep me out!
And now we are on to reading Ceremony! I know it seems like I just can't be happy with any of these books but I'm not sure of this one so far. I find it really sad. I'm just hoping that things improve for Tayo at this point!
Hey Kenzie! I didn't think Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was all that great either! I could see humor in it, but it defnitely wasn't "Very funny." I didn't think it was all that brilliant or chilling as well, so we're on the same page there! As for Ceremony, I think it's really sad too! All the things Tayo has to go through, like losing his family and going off to war! It seems like I can't be happy with any one of the AP books either!
ReplyDeleteHi Kenzie! Personally, I enjoyed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but I agree that it wasn't as brilliant or chilling as the critics led me to believe. It was pretty depressing how oblivious the two were. Ceremeny was pretty sad; Tayo goes through too much! And you say you can't like any of the books, so I hope you find Fifth Business good!
ReplyDeleteHey Kenzie! I totally understand where you're coming from when you say that you didn't like the play that much. Personally I thought the play was really good and I enjoyed it a lot.
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