Review 2: Ch. 10-20

In my most recent reading of The Legend of Bagger Vance we are really introduced to Junah's mystic caddy, Bagger Vance. In many ways in the book I feel that Junah should be the protagonist, however Bagger really demonstrates the qualities in a "hero". In these chapters Junah, the so called hero of Savannah, is first convinced to play in the tournament only when Bagger says that he will caddy for him. In chapters ten through tweleve we can really learn to love Bagger he really does become the protagonist. While Junah is drunk sleeping around the night before the tournament, Bagger takes young Hardy to walk the course with him. When Bagger could tell that Hardy was getting cold, he puts his arm around him to make him feel warm. This just shows that even though Bagger, who is preparing for a huge tournament, still notices and cares about little Hardy. He never takes him for forgranted. Even as the tournament begins we still see Bagger as the hero. Junah is stressed and wants to quit even though he hasn't teed off yet but when Bagger goes and talks to him Junah is ready to go play. Even other characters in the book see Bagger as an extraordinary man. Bobby Jones legendary caddy O.B Keeler is really fascinated by him and actually picks his brain for an entire chapter. Keeler is so fascinated by him he actually takes notes on what he is saying. So while Junah is supposed to be our so called Savannah hero I believe that is safe to say that that role belongs to Bagger Vance. While Junah goes out and drinks his anger away, puts his head down when anything goes wrong, and acts like a child Bagger is always there with his kind wisdom and motivational speeches.

Reflection 3: What is a book?

A book is a hamburger. It’s loaded with a ton of different things, characterization, conflict, and hidden meanings, which only make it better. Reading a juicy book is as enjoyable as sinking your teeth into a delicious burger. Once you start it you have no choice but to finish it. It doesn’t matter if you are reading on an electronic device or reading a paperback. You are still reading the same material. You will still get the same feeling from reading on either of those. The change that people are making to electronics is just showing our society is advancing. It doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy reading as much. I don’t really think a book’s smell matters at all. I don’t think you get a better experience reading a book whether you are flipping through pages or just sliding your finger. In this day in today’s world getting a book is truly just an inconvenience and burden on yourself to have go to a library or waiting days for it to come by mail when you can get it instantly on an e-reader. Not to mention books are harder to keep in good condition but you don’t have to worry about a book being ruined if you have it on an electronic device. 

Is literary fiction relevant?

I really don’t believe that literary fiction is relevant to our current culture. Maybe in the 1950’s where the literary world was a lot larger than it is now was relevant to current culture, but I don’t believe it is now. What we read today in school doesn’t necessarily prepare us for the job markets most of us will enter, but they can teach you  morals. Such as in the Great Gatsby just because the Toms and Jays of the world succeeded with money it doesn’t mean that they can do whatever they want, and we can realize that by reading the book. We don’t necessarily read books about economics or medical books in English classes, so I really don’t believe it prepares us for life. I think that modern day English classes teach us how to read and what to read for, but it is mostly boring so the only purpose would be to read for a grade.

Review 1: Chapters 1-9

“The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Steven Pressfield takes place during the times of the Great depression. When the novel starts it describes how a wealthy business owner from Scotland is flourishing and wants to design America’s first great golf course, but when the stock market crashes the man kills himself with the course one year from being finally finished. He leaves his great creation to his daughter Adele. She is planning to host a two man golf tournament between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen in which the winner will receive 20,000 dollars, which was absurd during this time period. In the book the town’s people talk about how the tournament will be good for the economy of Savannah (where the book takes place). I feel like the book, although is fiction, has historic accuracy describing how bad the economy is. Everyone in the town wants the tournament to happen because they said it will restart the dead economy. It describes how bad the local businesses have been doing, and how only the “old money” is doing alright. Small business owners stress the importance of this in a town meeting saying the golf tournament is necessary for them to succeed. The mayor of the town feels as if Adele is just using the nice city. One man convinces the mayor it will be good to have the tournament because they can charge for every little thing, parking, housing, and food. He finally agrees that it will help them get out of a rough time and agrees to host this huge golf tournament in Savannah as long as a local competitor is allowed to play, and Adele agrees.

Reflection 2: Best Sellers can be popular

When a book is a best seller it means a myriad of things. Best Sellers constantly have the same characteristics making people want to read them. I think that some of the recent best sellers are a little skewed because they are not really as deep as other books that have won in the past. Some of the connotations for books like Twilight that have won are, teen romance. These books have no deeper meaning and are only popular because of their movie. If you think about the old classic books like The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, or A Brave New World they all have a deeper meaning that we can relate to or makes us think about how those novels can relate to the real world. I don’t think that these books are necessarily bad, but a best seller novel should have some relevance to the world.

Reflection 1

I read for many reasons. I read for enjoyment, information, and for class. I definitely enjoy reading for myself more than for a class. I don’t enjoy reading as much when I have specific pages to read for a deadline and then have to take a test over it. It’s hard to read and remember all of the details to recall later. When I can read for fun I can read at my own speed. I don’t just read for concept questions, but instead I understand the whole plot and appreciate the book more. I also like books that relate to me and my life.