Reading/Writing Reflection #1

Reading Reflection:

I’ve been plugging away at Metro 2033, by Dmitry Glukhovsky for a couple weeks before I started taking notes, so I don’t have any initial questions or predictions, but in this book the questions come constantly. After escaping from 24-hour latrine cleaning service, Artyom, our main character, escapes to the closest station and hides out metro equivalent of a ditch. He smells like nasty, doesn’t look much better, but he’s approached by a stranger offering help. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in the Metro, at least not often. It’s a world where everyone is out for themselves and doesn’t have the time to aid strangers, so immediately I’m a little sketched out by this fellow. My initial thoughts were that he’s either a religious zealot or a cannibal. He was a zealot; go figure! He took Artyom into ‘The Brotherhood’, a group of survivors with their own fully-furnished rail car and running water. Running water! I knew these people were too good to be true. They turned out to not be a sinister group, just a gathering of pushy Jehovah’s Witnesses, so Artyom made it out better than I expected.

This book really keeps me on my toes, and there are more noted in my head than I have time to take down if I’m trying to read effectively. It’s difficult note-taking with my Kobo because I have to write them separately on a sheet of paper, but this method’s been no less effective. The notes have definitely helped me organize my usually muddled thoughts, and it’s probably something I’ll keep on with for books I’m re-reading or trying to analyze.

Writing Reflection:

Doodling, much to my chagrin, is a surprisingly effective way of organizing thoughts and ideas, and giving me an excuse to draw dumb things. I kind of wish we did the Digital Footprint Doodle before the actual write-up, as I was able to better organize what exactly my footprint looks like when I drew it all out. On a more constructive note, I need to work on my WRN way more than I am right now. I really enjoy putting in my personal additions when I do, but actually pulling out the duo tang and throwing something in there, well, it’s a big hump to get over, an annoying, and lazy mental block. Whatever, I’ll fight through that and throw some cool things in there. Promise!