Book review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Book review - Essay Example This example is simple and profound. The following excerpt from the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel has relevance to the above example. Pi writes "I left town and on my way back, at a point where the land was high and I could see the sea to my left and down the road a long ways, I suddenly felt I was in heaven. The spot was in fact no different from when I had passed it not long before, but my way of seeing it had changed. The feeling, a paradoxical mix of pulsing energy and profound peace, was intense and blissful. Whereas before the road, the sea, the trees, the air, the sun all spoke differently to me, now they spoke one language of unity. Tree took account of road, which was aware of air, which was mindful of sea, which shared things with sun. Every element lived in harmonious relation with its neighbor, and all was kith and kin. I knelt a mortal; I rose an immortal. I felt like the center of a small circle, coinciding with the center of a much larger one. Atman had met Allah."(p. 59-60) This example elucidates what mystical experience is all about. In this paragraph the sentence â€Å"I suddenly felt I was in heaven† is significant. Heaven is the place where dualities and conflicts of the life on Planet Earth are not there and the perception capacity of an individual is limitless. ‘Heaven’ is the state when an individual has transcended the limitations of mind, meaning reasoning is non-existent there. When an individual transcends the hurdles of reasoning he reaches the conflict-free zone that is the state of bliss. That is the state of permanent happiness. The concept of secularism is the gift of his parents to Pi as they have no interest in dogmatic religion. The important message of Pi is love and he sees unity in diversity and marvels at the cosmic unity in existence and in functioning of everything. He loves the essence of every religion and when the local leaders come to know that he practices Christianity, Islam and Sufism, they ask him

Film Review of The Last Picture Show Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film of The Last Picture Show - Movie Review Example The small Texan town is characterized by huge amounts of dust and its perception is that of a dying town. It lacks many inhabitants and the streets are short of vehicles. Majority of the few inhabitants are seemingly older and retired or clinging to the few jobs that offer a better income. The younger generation present is only there for a particular reason and is probably interested in leaving for greener pastures in another area. The three teenagers together with other minor cast members execute the themes intended perfectly. This is supported by the many nominations, awards and critics approval accorded to the movie. In this film, the audience finds a moving, interesting and a knowledgeable presentation worth every attention. In addition, the movie provides a historical feel by taking the audience back in time to experience the happenings of that period. Historical Accuracy of the story, Feel and Entertainment Value The setting of this film falls in the early 1950s and depicts the condition of the America as at that time. The film accurately presents what was going on in terms of development (infrastructural and economic development). Poor development is shown by the struggles of the people particularly the two friends Sonny and Jock in making the best out of their lives. Theirs is a seemingly futureless life. They are high school seniors, friends and members of the high school’s football team who share a house and a beat-up old pickup truck. The small Texan town is short of progress, something synonymous with most remote towns of the time. The boys’ dreams of having a breakthrough as football players become less attainable by each passing day. This condition reigns; more so as attention to development is overshadowed by the Korean war. Despair is all over and every individual waits for the start of a better life while also trying to secure for oneself the best in the meantime. (Bogdanovich et al.1991, par 1) In the events of this movie, one ca n feel the historical accuracy and presence being aired. The director and scriptwriter balances the emotions expressed in this film. This is through presentation of a time of great despair and moral decadence in America while also introducing an element of hope at the long last. The time chosen as the best time to set this film does the accuracy of events great justice. Sonny and Duane attributes especially in relation to their social life complements the historical depiction of the Texan town. It is seen as a way of getting out or seeking solace for all that is not going right. Their sexual escapades contradict the bible-thumping and catholic adherence nature prevalent in the times. Nevertheless, â€Å"The Last Picture Show† contrasts the way that people hold the moral occurrences of the fifties. In an insightful manner, the issue of sexuality and morality, as compared to the current times, may seem less minimal in the period in which the film is set. This is contrary to tha t notion thus makes the film more intriguing and captivating to watch. Naturally, one would think that there was less prevalence of moral decadence and casual sexual escapades in the fifties but the film provides