fin

I loved this class! I appreciated the way it was set up, the freedom to have choices within the books, and the energy in the classroom when we did meet up. I was kind of nervous in the beginning of the semester, but I am so glad I pushed for the A+, as really it just meant reading one book a week and meeting once a week, which really isn’t much at all, but it helped me fall into rhythm quick. Furthermore, I actually regret not being able to read all the books as each of them felt meaningful and interesting in their own way. It felt untraditional from other classes in the freedom we had and I wish more classes were like that. The only tough part sometimes was meeting on Wednesdays and wanting to finish one book’s conversation before starting another, then having a short time to read a long book. But who am I to complain about that when I have a class that gives 40-50 page readings before every class meeting. RMST202 felt like being in book club!

Having lived in Paris for half a year, I could feel the world of Nadja and Love Me Tender the most. They made me feel nostalgic for somewhere I’d been, and the energy was just different. The way they speak is different, and you could tell just reading that the original language wasn’t English. Before this class I hadn’t read many translated books. I wish I could understand all the books to the same level as Nadja and LMT. I guess I have some more traveling to do. And languages to learn.

In my introduction from way back at the beginning of the semester, I wrote “To answer the question of, “where is the romance world?”, though I have technically travelled to ‘the romance world’, or at least where their languages are found, I agree that it finds a place everywhere. Where you need it, where you look for it, it can be there for you. Reading takes you there, which sounds really cliche to say, but I truly think immersing in a good book can transport you to the world it was written for.” And I still agree with myself! I think a goal I’ll take away from this course is to read some books originally written in my favorite places abroad.

A few awards:

Most confusing (I still don’t know the characters): Money To Burn

Most fever-dream: Book of Chameleons

Most nostalgic for a place: Love Me Tender

Titles I got confused between the most: Hour of the Star and Time of the Doves

Favorite Book: Time of the Doves

And a last discussion question: what was your favorite book we read this course and why? Or if everyone ends up asking that question, did you find a theme in the books you liked and where they were from? Or out of the awards I gave out, would you choose another winner for a category (i have this feeling i missed a character who’s worth detesting more than Quimet)?

Thank you Jon and TA’s for the effort and work put into this semester! It has been truly so lovely! Was considering following the drinks pairing this week but gosh I hate beer.