Independent Reading Assignment Post #3

Jack Blanchard

One particular chapter of Robinson Crusoe caught my eye, my readers eye that is.  That specific chapter is called The Journal.  I liked this chapter not only because it was different than the other, but because it had a type of rhythm that the others didn't.  The author, Daniel Defoe, organized it as if Crusoe had taken his journal and transplanted it into the book.  This type of organization gives the reader great insight into what Crusoe's life really was like.  It also gives the reader a sense of the time that passed as Crusoe remained marooned on his godforsaken island.  At the end of the chapter I thought to myself, 'wow he was there for an extremely long time'.  This feeling is a direct result of telling Crusoe's story day by day instead of jumping ahead three weeks, which gives the reader little to no feel as to what the character is really experiencing.
One particular sequence made me chuckle, "December 24.  Much rain all night and all day: no stirring out.  December 25.  Rain all day.  December 26.  No rain, and the earth much cooler than before, and pleasanter" (Defoe 77).  Ok, so maybe it didn't make me chuckle, but it definitely drew my interest.  Why, if Crusoe has such deep religious beliefs, does he not even mention Christmas?  The biggest Christian holiday of the year!  Is it because he has been on the island for so long that he doesn't even realize that it's Christmas, or is it just not worth mentioning?  In addition, he goes through three days in less than 50 words, but spends over 500 words describing one day.  I guess the island life really does vary.  On page 88 as Defoe describes Crusoe's battle with illness, I can feel myself getting a fever, "June 20.  No rest all night; violent pains in my head, and feverish...June 22.  A little better, but under dreadful apprehensions of sickness.  June 23.  Very bad again, cold and shivering, and then a violent headache.  June 24.  Much better" (Defoe 88).  The way Defoe puts the reader in Crusoe's shoes creates a connection between reader and character that is vital to the success of the piece.  I have the utmost respect for Robinson Crusoe after all that he has been through.  In books of this type, I think that some sort of journal section is necessary in order to engulf the reader in what the characters are experiencing.
I am in love with this book.  It is everything I dreamed it would be and more.  If Ms. Romano were to go back and look at my proposal, I like this book for the exact same reasons that I expressed in that proposal.  It is exciting, well-written, well-organized, beautiful, descriptive (but not too descriptive), engaging, and fun.  Yes, fun.  This is the most important trait.  Because if a book isn't fun, it is very hard to have any effect on the reader.