New Years Resolution-first books

It may be a little early, but my mother has given me a new years resolution. To document how many books I read in one year and my review of these books. She will also be doing the same thing so that we can share our opinions about the books we read (since we read the same books most of the time).

Although, I am a bit early in starting my blog I am already reading two books and probably won't finish them before the new year. They are Great American Speeches by Gregory R. Suriano and Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. I started both of these books on Dec. 26. Two completely different novels, but I find both interesting in different ways.

I borrowed Great American Speeches from my eldest brother. It is a compilation of great speeches in America throughout our history. It starts with Patrick Henry's-Liberty or Death (1775) and ends with Jesse Jackson-Democratic Convention Speech (1992). They are political, scientific, social, and moral speeches. I have read 15 speeches so far and find the historical significance very interesting. From speeches on independence, to states rights, slavery, and women's rights. I particularly find the civil rights speeches most moving such as the rights of women and of blacks. This may be because sexism and racism are still alive in our society today or possibly because I take for granted the rights that women before me had to fight to obtain-while now they are an accepted part of my life (like the right to an education). To read the words of American history really brings it alive in a way that I haven't really experienced in other history courses. I will convey more of my thoughts on this subject when I finish reading the book and I get closer to modern history.

The second book-Reading Lolita in Tehran, was borrowed from my mother. She recommended it to me, which she does frequently since we tend to enjoy the same taste in books. It is a memoir of a Iranian woman who started a underground literature course with several of her best female students. After the revolution-when censoring of western literature and more conservative views on women were replaced, this woman resigned from her job as a teacher at a university and started this underground class. They met every thursday morning to discuss famous works of literature (western and non-western). The book also follows the lives of these women and how the literature they read is connected to their real lives. I have read the first 11 chapters in part 1 and am still getting a grasp on the characters and the overall message of the book. I am enjoying it though and does make me think of the world outside of my western views.

In summary, I am enjoying both of these books and I am excited to see how I will react once I finish them.