Our Favorite Under-the-Radar Books Published in 2016

Our Favorite Under-the-Radar Books Published in 2016 Theres been a lot of talk around Book Riot and the bookish world in general about 2016 not being a great year for books. Although there were, for sure, some excellent books this year (see the Best Books of 2016 list), most people felt that the year was kinda meh. I am not one of those people. Personally, I read a ton of really great books that just did not get the attention/publicity/bookstore table  space they deserved. Surely, I couldnt be the only one feeling like there were great but under-appreciated books this year? I asked the Book Riot contributors what books they loved but that didnt quite hit it big in 2016. The list we came up with is varied work in translation, novels, essay collections, poetry, and more.  Itll be a good shopping list if youre picking out a last-minute gift for an avid reader. Theres a good chance they havent read one of these yet. Shelter in Place by Alexander Maksik (September 13) In a year defined by violence, politics, and feminism, Im shocked that Maksicks book didnt get more attention. In the first sentence, the narrator tells the reader that, In the summer of 1991 my mother beat a man to death with a twenty-two ounce Estwing framing hammer and I fell in love with Tess Wolff. What follows is a moving, complex novel about mothers and lovers that grapples with mental illness, how culture shapes our responses to violence, family ties, and gender. Ill admit that I was skeptical heading into this book. Could Maksik, a man, write womens anger in a believable way? Yes. The book also does an excellent job chronicling the ways that men respond (or fail to respond) to womens rage. I finished this book in early October and I am desperate for more people to read it so we can  talk about it! Ashley Bowen-Murphy   Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky (July 26) Women in Science is a slim volume of short biographies of fifty female innovators in the STEM fields. Each biography is illustrated in the signature style of Rachel Ignotofsky (who has an Etsy shop, by the way, so you can have Women in Science pillows). The illustrations are what make this book so amazing, but the biographies are great too. They are written in an accessible style, perfect for children and adults. Kate Scott   Even This Page is White by Vivek Shraya (September 13) This debut book of poetry was published by a small Canadian press (Arsenal Pulp Press), so it’s not surprising it’s not getting a ton of press, but this is really too bad because it’s such an accessible, moving collection of poems. It’s powerful and beautiful, both in its craft playing with poetic structure and different poem types and in its gut-punching content about racism. Even This Page is White is a book to read again and again. Casey Stepaniuk Describing the Past by Ghassan Zaqtan, translated by Samuel Wilder (July 15) In 2013, Zaqtan won Canada’s prestigious Griffin poetry prize, along with translator Fady Joudah. Zaqtan was also a finalist for the Neustadt in 2014 and 2016, and has been mentioned in betting for the Nobel. But when his short prose work Describing the Past, a gorgeous mapping of memory-logic, came out this summer from Seagull Books, it didn’t seem to get a whisper. Samuel Wilder’s translation matches Zaqtan move for move, and there is not a sentence that doesn’t sit right on the tongue. I was thrilled to see some excellent, under-appreciated Arabic literature get a mention in this year’s PEN Translates longlist (Hilal Chouman’s Limbo Beirut, trans. Anna Ziajka Stanton and Rabee Jaber’s Confessions, trans. Kareem James Abu-Zeid, whoop!), but the PEN judges missed Wilder’s feat of translation. Fortunately, you needn’t. M. Lynx Qualey   This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell  (July 19) Daniel Sullivan is happily married to an eccentric former movie star and current recluse, but he starts to have doubts about his life when he learns that a woman he loved decades ago is dead. When and how did she die? And is it Daniel’s fault? Through flashbacks and stories of those who know Daniel, O’Farrell slowly reveals the secrets of Daniel’s past and raises questions about his future. This novel’s complex structure gives the many characters room to breathe and feel like fully fledged individuals with lives of their own. And the book ends with a tentative hopefulness that I appreciated. Teresa Preston   Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee (June 14, 2016) When I finished reading this novel, I experienced that euphoric, giddy pulse of feeling that comes of reading something so fresh, so brilliant, and so delicately well done, that it had my head spinning. Yoon Ha Lee is well known for his mind-bending, emotionally charged science fiction, and Ninefox Gambit is no exception. The tale of a young soldier, unmatched in her mathematical precision and tactics, lieutenant Kel Cheris is ordered to retake the Fortress of Scattered Needles for the Hexarchate, the six-faceted hierarchy of empire in the known galaxy. But in order to oust the rebels and their blasphemous calendar, Kel Cheris must download the literal mind of the Hexarchates greatest hero, and greatest villain: Shuos Jedao, brilliant, cutting, and insane after ordering the massacre of an entire space station so he might not lose. What follows is a tense, compassionate, but terrifying look into the balance between these two soldiers, and how they begin to change one another over the course of their ordeals. But the secrets Jedao is harboring may do more than drive Kel Cheris insane: they may bring down the Hexarchate entirely. Smart as hell, emotionally dense and nuanced, and jam-packed with enough blow-your-mind science fiction concepts, Ninefox Gambit deserves every ounce of love it gets, and I certainly hope more people discover it in the years to come. Marty Cahill Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey (May 10) I’m obsessed with animal nonfiction, but Pit Bull tackles so much more than that and I’m surprised I didn’t see more of my animal-loving friends talk about it. Pit bull breeds once lived in the White House, starred in movies, fought with soldiers on the front lines but as time passed, they turned from Americas Dog to Americas Nightmare. Why? Browen Dickey tracks their reputation from beloved to brutal, questioning everything assumed about pit bulls in a beautiful blend of cultural observation and scientific examination. Pit Bull is eloquent and eye-opening, revealing far more about the nature of humans than the nature of dogs. Nicole Brinkley Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (July 12) I blame this summer’s killer lineup of novels. Inevitably something incredible was going to get overlooked amidst all the hubbub. I was particularly sad to see that it was this sparkling gem of a novel. Sarong Party Girls is not fluff, even if it seems that way at first. It often reminded me of Clueless, and there’s a similar story here, though it’s not as simple as a movie. Jazzy, our protagonist, certainly seems like she belongs in a chick lit romp, she and her best girlfriends shop and drink and party and look for rich white men to marry. But Jazzy’s plans start going off the rails, things begin to fall apart, and the party girl has to start figuring out who she is and what she wants. If you like novels with a strong first-person narration, this is a can’t miss. Jazzy’s voice is a huge part of the joy here, written in Singlish (Singaporean English full of new slang words) it’s also a real find for lovers of words and language. Jessica Woodbury Christodora by Tim Murphy (August 2) The minute I finished (hell, the minute I started) this book, I expected to spend the rest of the year haunted by its spectre all over social media. So you can imagine how surprised I was when the publication date came and went with little to no fanfare. Tim Murphy’s insight into the East Village in the 80s and the revolution of AIDS/HIV patients and family members was a revelation. The narrative is absorbing and the characters are at once powerful and vulnerable. Watching the gentrification of Greenwich Village alongside the medical advances in the fight against the AIDS epidemic had me alternating between hope and despair. Murphy’s writing is gritty, raw, and beautiful and I’m still surprised more people aren’t singing its praises. Elizabeth Allen Loner by Teddy Wayne (September 13, 2016) Loner was a completely chilling read, and yet, so, so addictive. You need a strong stomach to enter the mind of sociopath David Federman, Harvard freshman and social vulture. As David takes on a mission to climb the ranks of the rich and popular and bring himself closer to the woman he is infatuated with, Veronica, he will stop at nothing to manipulate and use everyone to his advantage if it will help him get what he wants. What I loved about this novel was how skillfully Teddy Wayne immerses the reader in David’s first-person narration until ultimately your own mind is being played on as David subtly shifts into truly losing his mind. But by that point, you don’t even notice how his crack up seems almost normalâ€"until it’s too late. With the twists of a riveting thriller and the emotional depth of a twisted bildungsroman, Loner is as much a mind fuck as it is brutally raw, shocking, and, ultimately, outstanding. Sarah S. Davis   Suite for Barbara Loden by Nathalie Leger, translated by Natasha Leher Cecile Menon (October 2016) In her incredibly haunting novella Suite For Barbara Loden, Nathalie Léger uses the 1970 cult classic film Wanda (which Barbara Loden wrote, directed and starred in) as a vehicle for the type of flowing, hyper-intellectualized meditations that French writers do so well. At the beginning she tells us she’s been paid to write a short entry on Loden for an encyclopedia. She then unpacks the film scene-by-scene (bringing to mind Perec’s obsessive cataloging), dissecting the story of a Pennsylvania coal miner’s wife who walks away from her husband and children. Wanda has no direction, ambition or even desires her defining emotion is apathy. You get the sense she would have stayed in her marriage, completely indifferent to her situation, had her husband not forced her to leave. Eventually Wanda takes up with an equally damaged and pitiable character, a man named Norman, who convinces her to help him rob a bank. Their story doesn’t end well. Léger pauses throughout to  insert bi ographical details about Loden’s life. She describes a television interview Loden once gave (the other guests were John and Yoko Ono). Léger appears to be trying to find/verbalize a feminist meaning behind the film searching for parallels between Wanda and Loden. I’m not sure she succeeds, but her struggle has produced a mesmerizing work of unexpected beauty. Tara Cheesman A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (October 18) Sherry Thomas’ story (the first in a planned series) reenvisions Sherlock Holmes as Charlotte Holmes, a brilliant, eccentric young woman in 1880s London. In addition to being an entertaining, well-written mystery, A Study in Scarlet Women also offers a study in feminism. Being a genius with keen observational skills â€" particularly an unmarried genius with keen observational skills â€" leads Charlotte down a different path than it does Sherlock. Watching her find ways to navigate the strictures of society is as enjoyable as watching her unravel the mysteries. Like many well-written mysteries, there are twists, turns, and lots of characters, so plan to read this one in one cozy sitting. -Trisha Brown   Mischling by Affinity Konar (September 6th) This book is a conundrum. I’m surprised it hasn’t swept more ‘Best of 2016’ lists. I’m still in awe of how Konar managed to pull off such a searingly beautiful story of hope and survival in the wake the greatest horrors ever committed by other human beings. The book is told from the dual perspectives of twins Stasha and Pearl, who have just arrived at Auschwitz. Seen as “special,” the twins are taken in by Josef Mengele, who notoriously performed horrible experiments on children during the Holocaust. Stasha quickly becomes one of Mengele’s pets after he injects her with what she believes to be immortality. With this new power, Stasha must protect her twin sister Pearl and her friends until the end of the war. But when Pearl disappears, Stasha is no longer interested in being one of The Zoo’s favorite patients. She wants revenge. Through the eyes of children, the daily horrors of the twins’ world becomes a cautionary fairytale. I imagine people might shy away from this book because of the subject matter, but I was surprised at how much hope I found in this story. It is thrilling, magnetic, and inspiring, and I have to say, the novel’s conclusion took me completely by surprise. Jan Rosenberg The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You by Lily Anderson (May 17th, 2016) This is one of the funniest YA books I’ve ever read, and it’s definitely the nerdiest. Anderson retells Much Ado About Nothing with a competitive high school for academically gifted teens as the setting. The central characters are Trixie and Ben, engaged in a “merry war” of the wits where the prize is class ranking. They’re competing for 3rd place, but when someone begins manipulating the rankings, all bets are off. The banter is hilarious and on-point, and the relationships between the many characters are realistically complicated and wonderfully nuanced. The numerous pop culture nerd references aren’t just decorationthey’re a filter through which these characters see and interpret their world. As a result, this novel is genuine nerdy fun with characters that feel like real teens, with strong opinions and obsessions. It’s an obvious follow-up for fans of Fangirl, but the story has its own distinct personality. Tirzah Price The Language of Secrets (Rachel Getty Esa Khattak #2) by Ausma Zehanat Khan (February 2) I’m really surprised this wasn’t a big mystery sellerâ€"it certainly made it onto my Best Of 2016 list. It sucked me in right from the beginning with a murder and held me tight throughout, as Detective Ghetty goes undercover at a Mosque, and had me gripping my book tightly in a super tense ending. If you’re a fan of mystery books this should be on your TBR listâ€"or currently in your hands for immediate reading. Jamie Canaves Violation by Sallie Tisdale (April 12) I love me a good essay collection, and Violation is now one of my favorites. Tisdale can find meaning anywhere and in anything: one of the best essays in this collection is on flies, and it is fabulous. You really do want to read an essay on flies! And also one on elephants! She has many essays on the natural world, and also on writing, on her family, on culture (Disneyland, dieting, abortion), and so much more. Her sentences are astounding, somehow elegant and earthy both. An essay is a place to spend time in somebody else’s head listening to their thoughts, and Tisdale’s mind is a fascinating place to be. Rebecca Hussey   Guapa by Saleem Haddad (March 8) Its not like no one talked about this book. But given how utterly fascinating and completely beautiful it is, I wanted to see this book in every readers hands, hear it on every critics lips. Because damn. This day-in-the-life of a gay man in crisis in an unnamed Middle Eastern country that is itself in crisis is incredibly good. So I expect to see you reading it forthwith. Forthwith, I say! -Derek Attig Father’s Day by Simon Van Booy (April 26) It would not be wrong to say that my tastes veer toward the dark and strange. So when I read a sweet, tender story and it makes my heart grow three sizes instead of roll my eyes, I sit up and listen, because that means the author has done a great job of skipping the saccharine nonsense and written a credible, moving piece of work. Such is Father’s Day. The story of an orphaned girl, her troubled uncle, and the case worker who brings them together, this is less a feel good novel and more a lovely tale of fragile, damaged people learning to love and trust one another. I absolutely adored it. Liberty Hardy   We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge (March 8, 2016) Charlotte Freemans family sticks out: because they speak in sign language; because theyve been tapped to teach a chimpanzee sign language, too. And in the rural town where the Toneybee Institute sits, because theyre black. Greenidges gorgeous novel shifts between time periods with skill, covering Charlottes contemporary struggles and the Institutes dark history, which is marked by racial exploitation and the denial of innate human equality. Charlotte learns that, despite Toneybees efforts to remake itself, too little has changed between then and now. The novel dances with the limitations and possibilities of communication in an elegant and heartbreaking way. It got great reviews, including from the New York Times, but this small press book that moved the critics hasnt received nearly enough attention from readers in general. Its a literary gift that no readers should deny themselves. -Michelle Anne Schingler What book did you love this year that hasnt gotten the attention it deserves? Shout it out in the comments.

The Great Gatsby - 1205 Words

English Essay Ââ€" The Great Gatsby The main theme of the novel The Great Gatsby focuses on the American Dream and it is portrayed through the life of Jay Gatsby. Through Gatsbys life we see the withering of the American Dream, a tragedy that struck Jays near finished dream. The American Dream is what many have hoped of achieving, it has existed in the past and is in the present. The American Dream gives people a goal that they can work towards, it also gives them a purpose in life. The American Dream represents luxury and wealth it believes the goodness of the quality of life. For Jay Gatsby, he was so close to achieving the American Dream. He had the wealth and the class, all he needed was his long lost love, Daisy. Gatsby truly†¦show more content†¦Generally speaking, the American Dream is mostly achieved by people of the higher class, the people who reside in the East Egg. It is a lot easier for high classed people to achieve the American Dream, because they already have the social connections from the sch ools they attended when they were young. They already have the wealth that they received through the generations. With this in mind they what your look at Jay Gatsbys life he didnt really have social connections nor the family wealthy. He learned all the skills and inherited the money from a close friend. This makes the plot of the story even more tragic because Jay is from a lower-medium classed society and if he succeeds in achieving the American Dream he would inspire many people. However, the fact he was so close but he didnt, it made his dream contemptuous. To achieve the American Dream is typical in many peoples lives. Everyone at one point in their life has wanted to be wealthy or to be happy and to have a perfect family. However, to some the American Dream is more than a dream, many have tired a lifetime in achieving it but was never able to succeed. To others they believe theres nothing to live for and if they dont achieve the American Dream, For example when Mr. Wilson lost Myrtle he gave up the hope of achieving the American Dream because he had lost one of the mostShow MoreRelated Great Gatsby1497 Words   |  6 PagesIn chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby Nick is invited to one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties. He arrives only to find he doesn’t know where Gatsby is, and then he runs into Jordan Baker. Together they set off to find Gatsby and they head to the library where they find â€Å"Owl Eyes†, a drunken man trying to get sober. After talking to â€Å"Owl Eyes† for awhile they head outside again where Nick unknowingly starts a conversation with Gatsby. After revealing himself, Gatsby tells Jordan that he would like to speakRead MoreThe Great Gatsby1168 Words   |  5 Pagesone must be born into it. Therefore in The Great Gatsby, by F-Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby fails to join the old money club because he exhibits his wealth to society. Gatsby possessions provides an indicator that he purchases items with eye appeal and flashiness which Old money typically never buys in order to impress or show off to others. They prefer to buy small non-noticeable items that skilled eyes will only know the true value of the merchandise. Gatsby on the other hand purchased a huge houseRead MoreThe Great Gatsby2449 Words   |  10 PagesI glanced seaward – and distinguished nothing except a single green light Possibly F. Scott Fitzgeralds masterpiece, The Great Gatsby is not just a magnificent story, but a lesson of societys flaws during the roaring 1920s. Fitzgeralds story creates an atmosphere of superficiality, dissatisfaction and dishonesty by the description of each character. With the economical growth, and the immoral society of the 1920’s ultimately brought corruption to desire of the American Dream and the chanceRead MoreThe Great Gatsby806 Words   |  3 Pagesthey smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money...and let other people clean up the mess they had made... (P. 179). During the 20s, many peoples American dream was to go out, party and be free, the roaring 20s. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an explanation of how people acted. People went to parties, lived in luxurious homes, criticized each other, and wanted to achieve their dream by trying to live it. The Wilson marriage is a failure because its one-sidedRead MoreThe Grea t Gatsby647 Words   |  3 Pagesunderstand the book. Endings of books are usually there to bring the novel to a close and deliver a life lesson at the end. All of the concepts and themes are in the body of the book and are well presented depending on the author. In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the American Dream was the theme that was presented, and according to the story it is unachievable and just an infant fantasy that America portrays. While reading the story, the characters’ views on how their interpretation of the American DreamRead MoreThe Great Gatsby607 Words   |  2 Pagesby the name of Jay Gatsby. Nick is the narrator who is sees a different side of Gatsby that sees him â€Å"great† aside from his wealth and corruption. Nick grew up in the Jazz age and it was replaced with the vitality, and favor of the artificial American dream. Gatsby’s life was full of winnings along with failures that followed him into death throughout the novel; never the less he achieves a form of â€Å"greatness† because of his morality in Nick’s perspective. In The Great Gatsby, Nick’s perspectiveRead MoreGreat Gatsby5612 Words   |  23 PagesThe Great Gatsby – Study Guide Chapter 1 1. Why is Nick Carraway made the narrator? The device of giving Nick the function of narrator lends psychic distance from the story. Nick is part of the action, yet he is not one of the principals. He shares some of the emotions and is in a position to interpret those of the others. However, the happens are not center on him. 2. What kind of relationship exists between Nick and the Buchanans? It is completely superficial. He speaks of themRead MoreThe Great Gatsby 565 Words   |  2 PagesIn the book The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daisy Buchanan is a perplexing character. She is charming and pretty, yet her personality is almost robotic. Daisy has no sincere emotions; she only knows social graces and self-preservation. A materialistic society makes Daisy a jaded person who lacks any real depth. Gatsby remembers Daisy as the pretty girl from North Dakota he fell in love with when he was in the military. He soon sees that she is different, although he denies it, even toRead MoreNarratology in The Great Gatsby1308 Words   |  6 PagesFitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby demonstrates what Marie-Laure Ryan, H. Porter Abbott and David Herman state about what narratology should be. These theorists emphasize the importance of conflict, human experience, gaps and consciousness, among many other elements, in order for a story to be considered a narrative. The Great Gatsby shows these elements throughout the book in an essential way. This makes the reader become intrigued and desperate to know what will happen next. The Great Gatsby is unpredictableRead MoreModernism In The Great Gatsby1728 Words   |  7 Pages Modernism in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows the story of Jay Gatsby in the Jazz Age of the United States. Although this novel tells a fictional tale, it also gives readers a window into the social and economic environment of America in the time period following World War I. For this reason, The Great Gatsby is considered one of the most important examples of Modernism in American literature. The Modernist themes in this novel come

Common Belief Of Video Game Violence - 1418 Words

Literature Review Common Belief of Video Game Violence Ever since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 (and many other incidents), there has been a belief among many people that playing violent video games causes children to commit violent crimes. These societal beliefs fall into the â€Å"moral panic† category where society believes that behavioral choices of others within a society poses a great risk to a society as a whole (Ferguson, 2008). The moral panic in this topic was a growing concern that the beginning of violent video games, such as the release of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, and â€Å"predicted† the â€Å"school shooting peak† of the late 1990’s (Ferguson, Coulson, †¦show more content†¦Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011), a United States Supreme Court case looked at the studies about the relationship between violent video game playing and aggression. The Supreme Court found no proof from the research that violent video games cause minors to become aggressive. Their opinion stated that the effect of violent video games as â€Å"small and indistinguishable from effects produced by other media (p.173).† Also, the court found the state of California’s law on sales of violent video games as a violation of the First Amendment, saying that â€Å"states cannot attempt to regulate mediums like video games that display violence separately from other mediums such as literature, television, and movies (p.173-174).† Also, separate categories of media regulation cannot be the same for children as separate categories from that applied to adults. Copenhaver points out that violent video games do not cause children to be aggressive, also we know that not all aggressive children are criminals (Copenhaver, 2015). Senator Joe Lieberman called violent video games, â€Å"a digital poison.† His focus was the Columbine massacre because the shooters Klebold and Harris played a violent video game called Doom. Doom is a mature-rated game with strong violence, and blood and gore (Copenhaver, 2015). Politicians often pay more attention to the negative side of news about violent video games over the positive news to better fit their agendas (Ferguson,Show MoreRelatedHow Video Games Cause Emotions1388 Words   |  6 Pagesis how our emotions can be elicited through the means of fictional/make belief video games. Moreover, how video games cause emotions in the player, though they are perceived as perceptual illusion. Nonetheless, this form of entertainment causes certain emotion, however Gabriele Taylor would argue those emotional responses/feelings are wrong. This is because the player is often entertained through the means of causing violence. Therefore, this essay will first focus on how these emotions are rationalRead MoreR J. R.1165 Words   |  5 Pagesexcitement from games that promotes unjustified violence. The common genre of this style game is recognized as the open-sandbox. This is where the player is given the freedom to do whatever they desire, and have no major regulating system to oppose their actions. These games offer the player to ignore the primary story of the game, and play mainly for the goal to achieve their personal amusement. The player’s amusement is often fulfilled through the means of unjustified violence. However, DJ wouldRead MoreVideo Games Encourage Teen Violence Essay1262 Words   |  6 PagesVideo Games Encourage Teen Violence A sniper perched high in a eagles nest zooms in through his scope to the head of his enemy, pulls the trigger, the enemy falls to the ground headless. This is a image that is common in the world of war, and now in the world of video games. Teens all over the world have become completely addicted to first person fighting games. With technology as great as it is today game makers are able to designed games that are so real it is truly scary. Millions of teensRead MoreViolent Video Games And Violence1203 Words   |  5 PagesAre violent video games directly correlated to teen violence? This is the burning question many researchers are dedicated to answering. The common form of the question is â€Å"Is the increase in violence in games creating killer kids?† The simple answer is no. Instead the opposite has occurred, as games became more violent, the players became calmer. The games create a â€Å"safe† outlet for any anger or angst that young people possess. Crime rates i n the teen population have lowered and violent teens admitRead MoreViolent Video Games And Violence1533 Words   |  7 PagesUnfortunately, many individuals have jumped to rash conclusions regarding the causes of such events by linking violent video games with violence in the youth population. Even more discerning individuals have also criticized the role of violent video games in encouraging people to become mass murderers. With these opinions gaining popularity in the mass media, it has become the predominant belief of society to explain why there are more shootings recently. Such claims are usually driven by opinionated reasoningRead MoreEssay about Video Games May Desensitize Youth, but Nothing More1156 Words   |  5 Pagesunprecedented access to. . . . .video games? It may seem a bit odd to place video games in the same category as the other frightening facts parents have to deal with, but in the past few years, violent acts of crime have become more and more common among teenagers. Parents looking to find a reason for this have turned to violent video games, which have also had a large growth over the past few years. Since almost every parent will have kids at some point who play video games, one of the most importantRead MoreCauses Of Video Games1309 Words   |  6 Pagesword of video games comes to mind, the word violence ties closely to video games. For example, images of children tossing their controller across the room or children breaking numerous of expensive equipment are commonly depicted in media. Therefore, countless of people, mainly parents, associate video games as a way to corrupt their children and evoke violent behavior. This leads to the belief that video games are the evil villains in the entertainment industry. However, w hat if video games are notRead MoreThe Importance Of Violent Video Games932 Words   |  4 PagesWhile video games are fun for a lot of people, violent video games have proven to lead to more than just high scores and a source of entertainment. Violent video games need to be limited to our maturing youth. First, violent video games are one of the biggest and increasing outlets for providing our youth with deranged thoughts and aggressive impulsions. Second, the use of violent video games is very prevalent amongst soldiers in the U.S. Army being ordered to play these games to keep them in a warriorRead MoreVideo Games and Youth Violence: Is There a Connection? Essay example1002 Words   |  5 Pagesis the common denominator for all of these crimes? They were all committed by an adolescent or young adult. The influences were many and the reasons are still under debate. The main contributing factor for all of this violence was originally thought to be violent video games, and the vi vid scenarios played out in them.( Grossman, DeGaetano 1999) After further investigation, that factor in itself has been proven to be untrue. Contrary to the popularly accepted belief, violent video games do notRead MoreThe Effects Of Video Games On Young Children And Growing Teenagers1610 Words   |  7 PagesInfluence of Gaming Controversy about video games continue to escalate between parents and gamers, regarding the psychological effect of simulated, realistic, and 3D violence on the minds of young children and growing teenagers. Yet, research shows that video games contribute very little to today’s everyday violence, despite complaints and concerns that games influence a child’s normal behavior. Technology is a way of life in today’s world, computers are used by toddlers, adolescents, and

Holistic Nursing Free Essays

Holistic assessments in nursing provide a unique quality of care to the individual patient. Holism in the provision of care includes assessments obtaining data about the physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, developmental, cultural and environmental aspects. It is imperative that the nurse conducting these assessments adopts methods in the nursing process that reflects the standards outlined in Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse to ensure the health and wellbeing of the patient is maximized and maintained throughout the time health care is received. We will write a custom essay sample on Holistic Nursing or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nursing processes are directed at restoring overall harmony for the patient therefore an understanding of the individual as a whole person must be assessed. During the nursing process, the nurse will perform the assessment, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the patient in an ongoing process. This essay will outline the importance of a holistic approach in nursing assessment and the importance assessment in the nursing process. ultural, spiritual and psychological aspects of the holistic assessment and the relevance of these components in the provision of care will be discussed and how AMNC standards apply to care in nursing. A holistic approach in nursing assessment establishes the patients’ physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, developmental, cultural and environmental aspects in their life. Obtaining data holistically is vital in assisting a patients’ ability to manage their symptoms and emotional status maximizing quality of life during the stag es of illness or health changes (Margereson Trenoweth 2009: 104). The aim of the holistic approach in nursing assessment is to establish the type of support and care required for the individual, developing a quality of care that assists their wellbeing as a whole person (Margereson Trenoweth 2009: 104). When assessing the patient it is important that the nurse â€Å"collects data that relates to physiological, psychological, spiritual, socio-economic and cultural variables on an ongoing basis† as outlined in ANMC competency 5. 1 (ANMC 2006, p. ). The ANMC competency is supported by, Margereson Trenoweth (2009:104), who describes the assessment process as ongoing and is determined by the changing needs of the patient, their family and their carer’s. Margereson Trenoweth (2009: 104) further describes that the holistic approach supports the patient to build psychological resilience and wellbeing, to maintain independence as well as developing care and support networks that is best suited to the individual. The holistic approach in nursing assessment provides the patient assistance in decision making, achieving goals, addressing needs and desires and can build on strengths (Margereson Trenoweth 2009: 104). Therefore, it is crucial to obtain data holistically in assessment to support and maximise the patients’ health and wellbeing. Assessment in the nursing process is an important aspect, as the information gathered enables a comprehensive response to the patients’ health status. It is important for the nurse to adopt an approach following the guidelines outlined in the ANMC, Domain 5, â€Å"Provision and coordination of care† (ANMC 2006, p. 8) to ensure preferences are met an accuracy is maintained when carrying out assessment. The nursing process is a cyclic method that involves assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating (Kozier Erb 2012: 213). Kozier Erb (2012: p. 212-213) describes the nursing process as an overlapping lapping sequence that focuses on establishing the patients social, cultural, emotional, spiritual as well as physical needs. Assessment will establish this data as well as a patients’ health history, concerns, health status and their ability to manage their own health care needs (Kozier Erb: 213). Kozier Erb (2012: 212) also maintain that data collected in the assessment phase enables the patients’ lifestyle and routines to be incorporated into the care plan. Assessment is about collecting as much information as possible enabling problem solving throughout the nursing process. Assessment in the nursing process will establish the patients’ ongoing needs and provide a quality of care best suited to the individual, to achieve a desirable health outcome. Cultural aspects of holistic assessment is relevant in the provision of nursing care as it provides the care team with an overview of cultural needs of the patient as well as providing information in which the patients’ health problems have arisen. Culture is defined as values, beliefs, artifacts, behaviors, attitudes and customs influencing and regulating interactions between members of a social group (Stein-Parbury 2010: 91; Johnstone 2006: 67). It is the nurses responsibility to adhere to the ANMC, competency 2. 3, ‘accepts individuals/groups to whom care is provided regardless of race, culture, religion, age, gender, sexual preference, physical or mental state’ (ANMC 2006, p. 4). Kozier Erb (2012: 360) discuss that cultural sensitivity, appropriateness, competency and safety are all factors that are required to be taken into consideration so that the patient can be provided with the best possible health care. Kozier Erb (2012: 360) also explain that conflicts in health care have been apparent due to cultural misunderstandings. An example of a cultural misunderstanding is the level of pain. In some cultures, it is normal to dramatically express ones level of pain whereas in other cultures people do not complain when in pain (Stein-Parbury 2010: 94). Culture is also an important aspect as it can explain nutrition, environmental and home status and level of education ( Kozier Erb: 360) which all relate to the provision of care to be given. The holistic assessment of a patients cultural aspects enable the best suitable approach in the provision of care, upholding the patients’ rights, addressing their needs and minimizing misunderstandings. Spiritual needs are often emphasized in times of ill health or other health related crisis therefore it is imperative that spirituality of the patient is understood in order to maximize provision of care. Kozier Erb (2012: 1154) define spirituality as a way in which a person lives their life, bound in beliefs and values and how their own meaning or perception is viewed. A holistic assessment will determine the spiritual needs of the patient to enable the nurse to respond appropriately to the patient whilst adhering to ANMC, competency 9. 5, ‘Facilitates a physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual environment that promotes individual/group safety and security’ (ANMC 2006, p. 12). Narayanasamy (2009:886-890), describes spirituality as a fundamental aspect in holistic assessment as it can promote the patients mind, body and spirit as well as determining there state of mind in relation to spiritual distress such as loss of hope. Spirituality is an important part of the healing process as it can provide comfort, reduce suffering and assist in the physical and mental healing of the patient (Kozier Erb 2012: 1154). Kozier Erb (2012: 1155) state that the nurse who attends to their own spiritual needs is able to assist others and have a better understanding of the patients spiritual needs. Therefore, the provision of care will be heightened and the spiritual needs of the patient can be addressed in a holistic assessment. Psychological aspects of mind-body interactions are of great importance in the holistic assessment process in order to provide provision of care. The nurse is obligated to follow ANMC, competency 5. 1 ‘Uses a relevant evidence-based assessment framework to collect data and the physical socio-cultural and mental health of the individual/group’ (ANMC 2006, p. 8). Kozier Erb (2012:345), explain that mind-body interactions can have a good or ill effect on the body for example, stress can lead to an altered body function such as an increased urinary frequency. Assessment of psychological status is imperative to establish the correct provision of care to be provided. Kozier Erb (2012: 345) maintain that the minds ability to influence health status is receiving more attention and treatments such as relaxation techniques are being more commonly used to combat symptoms of stress. Illnesses have the ability to create emotional responses as well such as fear and depression, therefore the nurse must take into consideration these variables when conducting an holistic assessment to provide quality care to the patient. Holism in the provision of care is imperative to maintain in the nursing process. Holistic assessments carried out are unique and individual for each patient. This can be obtained in the nursing process by gathering data holistically by assessing the physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, developmental, cultural and environmental aspects of the patient. A better understanding of the patients’ needs and requirements for care can be developed to provide health restoration in the best possible manner suited to the individual. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse outlines the requirements for nurses to follow to ensure health care is delivered at the highest standard. References Australian Nursing Midwifery Council 2006, National Competency Standards For The Registered Nurse, 4th edn, viewed 2 September 2012, . Berman, A et al. , 2012, Kozier and Erb’s fundamentals of nursing, Australian adaptation, 2nd edn, Pearson, Sydney. Ellis, HK Narayanasamy, A 2009, ‘An Investigation into the Role of Spirituality in Nursing’, British Journal of Nursing, Vol. 18, No. 14, pp. 886-890. Johnstone, M 2006, Bioethics: a nursing perspective, Elsevier Australia, Marrickville, NSW. Margereson, C Trenoweth, S 2009, Developing Holistic Care for Long-term Conditions, Routledge, New York. Stein-Parbury, J 2009, Patient and Person: Interpersonal Skills in Nursing, 4th edn, Elsevier, Marrickville. How to cite Holistic Nursing, Papers

Praying Essays - Fauna Of California, Mantis, Mantidae,

Praying Mantis Mantodea - most commonly known as the Praying Mantis, order mantodea is a group of about 1800 carnivorous insects which prodominatley live in tropical regions of the earth. Though certain species can be found in locations with moderate climate. With an extremely striking appearence, mantids almost have human like qualities with the ability to hold an erect stance, and arms that face forward. A very efficient killer, mantids were created for hunting and killing prey. Order Mantodea is in the subclass Pterygota. As with all classifications there can be debates on where certain orders or species belong. Historically there has been some confusion on whether Mantodea deserves there own order. Some experts have placed Mantodea in the dictyoptera order along with cock roaches (Ramel 1996, Jaques 1981, Phoenix Zoo). Others say mantids belong in Orthoptera, which consists of grasshoppers. Experts say this is due to their large pro notum (Stokes 1983, Borror and White 1970). The emerging consensus around the position of Mantodea believes Mantodea constitute their own independent order of insects. Mantids can be characterized by their triangular head, and filiform antennae. This head has the ability to turn 180 degrees. With their prominate pair of compound eyes located on Peters 2 the sides of the head, the mantis can almost see 360 degree's around. However the sharpest vision is located in the compound eye's center, for the mantis to optimaly see objects it must turn its head so that the eye is facing the object. These eyes are extremely sensitive to light, changing from light green or tan in bright light, to dark brown in the dark. The prothorax of the mantis is another aid in giving them their distintive appearence. This prothorax has the ability to bend and twist which aids in the mantids ability to see close to 360 degrees around. The two long "raptorial" front legs are adapted to seize and hold prey. The coxa connects the tibia which has sharp spines to firmly hold prey. The femur has matching groves where the spine on the tibia fold into. This creates a "jack knife" effect that allows the insect to assume it's distinctive praying position. The other four legs of the mantis are designed for locomotion. These legs can regenerate if broken, but only in the molting process. These limbs that regenerate are always smaller than they were originally. A full grown adult that no longer molts no longer possess the ability to regenerate limbs. The front"raptorial" limbs do not regenerate if broken. Because of their large bulky bodies mantids are fairly weak flyers. They have four pairs of wings. The first pair are leathery tegmina wings that lay over the inner pair. The Peters 3 mambrenous inner pair are folded under the first pair and are used for flight and to startle enemies. The large segmented abdomen houses the digestive system and reproductive organs. The male mantis has 8 segments, and the females are born with 8 segments as well. But with each succesive molt in the female the last two segments begin to overlap resulting with 6 segments left. Sixty percent of mantid species possess an ultrasonic ear on the under side of the metathorax, especially those that have wings. The mantid is an "auditory cyclops", which means it only has one ear. The ear is 1mm long with cuticle like knobs at either end and two ear drums buried inside. The ear is specially tuned to very high ultrasonic freqeuncies of sound waves from 25 to 65 kilohertz. Apparently, the ears primary purpose is designed to respond to the ultrasonic echo-location signal used by hunting bats. The mantis primarily uses its ultrasonic ears while in flight. When a mantis senses a bat's ultrasonic echo at close range, it curls it's abdomen upwards and thrusts its legs outward creating a drag and resulting in a sudden aerial stall. This flight manuever of the mantis creates an unpredictable flight pattern for the bat, and is very effective at avoiding hungry bats. There are three ways to distinguish between female and male mantodea. The male has 8 segments, while the female has Peters 4 The second is size, the female is always bigger than the male. The third is behavior, the male mantis is more prone to take flight in search of a mate, while the female often remains stationary. Mantids are extremely predacious feeders, only eating live prey, or prey that is moving, and hence appears alive. Varying on the species, you can see what diet preferences are. Some species only

Kurds - A People Without A State Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Kurds - A People Without A State Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Kurds - A People Without a State Introduction Of all the ethnic groups in the world, the Kurds are one of the largest that has no state to call their own. According to historian William Westermann, "The Kurds can present a better claim to race purity...than any people which now inhabits Europe." (Bonner, p. 63, 1992) Over the past hundred years, the desire for an independent Kurdish state has created conflicts mainly with the Turkish and Iraqi populations in the areas where most of the Kurds live. This conflict has important geographical implications as well. The history of the Kurdish nation, the causes for these conflicts, and an analysis of the situation will be discussed in this paper. History of the Kurds The Kurds are a Sunni Muslim people living primarily in Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. The 25 million Kurds have a distinct culture that is not at all like their Turkish, Persian, and Arabic neighbors (Hitchens, p. 36, 1992). It is this cultural difference between the groups that automatically creates the potential for conflict. Of the 25 million Kurds, approximately 10 million live in Turkey, four million in Iraq, five million in Iran, and a million in Syria, with the rest scattered throughout the rest of the world (Bonner, p. 46, 1992). The Kurds also have had a long history of conflict with these other ethnic groups in the Middle East, which we will now look at. The history of Kurds in the area actually began during ancient times. However, the desire for a Kurdish homeland did not begin until the early 1900?s, around the time of World War I. In his Fourteen Points, President Woodrow Wilson promised the Kurds a sovereign state (Hitchens, p. 54, 1992). The formation of a Kurdish state was supposed to have been accomplished through the Treaty of Sevres in 1920 which said that the Kurds could have an independent state if they wanted one (Bonner, p. 46, 1992). With the formation of Turkey in 1923, Kemal Ataturk, the new Turkish President, threw out the treaty and denied the Kurds their own state. This was the beginning of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict. At about this same time, the Kurds attempted to establish a semi-independent state, and actually succeeded in forming the Kingdom of Kurdiez, which lasted from 1922-1924; later, in 1946, some of the Kurds established the Mahabad Republic, which lasted for only one year (Prince, p. 17, 1993). In 1924, Turkey even passed a law banning the use of the Kurdish language in public places. Another group of people to consider is the Kurds living in Iraq. Major conflict between the Kurds and Iraqis did not really begin until 1961, when a war broke out that lasted until 1970. Around this time, Saddam Hussein came to power in Iraq. In 1975, Hussein adopted a policy of eradicating the Kurds from his country. Over the next fifteen years, the Iraqi army bombed Kurdish villages, and poisoned the Kurds with cyanide and mustard gas (Hitchens, p. 46, 1992). It is estimated that during the 1980?s, Iraqis destroyed some 5000 Kurdish villages (Prince, p. 22, 1993). From this point, we move into the recent history and current state of these conflicts between the Kurds and the Turks, and the Kurds against the Iraqis. Causes for Conflict The reasons for these conflicts have great relevance to geography. The areas of geography relating to these specific conflicts are a historical claim to territory on the part of the Kurds, cultural geography, economic geography, and political geography. These four areas of geography can best explain the reasons for these Kurdish conflicts. First, the Kurds have a valid historical claim to territory. They have lived in the area for over 2000 years. For this reason, they desire the establishment of a Kurdish homeland. Iraqis and Turks, while living in the area for a long period of time, cannot make a historical claim to that same area. The conflict arises, however, because the area happens to lie within the borders of Iraq and Turkey. Even though the Kurds claim is valid, the Turks and Iraqis have chosen to ignore it and have tried to wipe out the Kurds. Second, and probably most important, is that this conflict involves cultural geography. The Kurds are ethnically and culturally

In Quest of a Standard American Pronunciation

In Quest of a Standard American Pronunciation In Quest of a Standard American Pronunciation In Quest of a Standard American Pronunciation By Maeve Maddox American English has many regional variants, some of them more comprehensible than others. Along with spelling rules, schools once taught a standard pronunciation. The purpose was to maintain a standard speech easily understood by people in every part of the country and by non-native speakers who learn English as a second language. No one doubted that children were capable of learning the standard speech without abandoning whatever dialect they spoke at home. Now, however, a doctrine of political correctness inhibits the teaching of standard pronunciation with the result that the media has become the final arbiter. Certain pronunciations that were once considered non-standard are catching on, even when they fly in the face of rules I imagined were still being taught in the early grades. Apparently it is now possible to get out of school without learning the most basic rules for forming the plurals of nouns. I think I knew by fourth grade that the nouns life, knife, and wife form their plurals by changing the f to v and adding es. Yet I have heard an announcer on NPR use lifes as the plural of life. Ignoring the First Rule of Silent Final e (e makes the vowel say its name). I was startled to attention one day when I heard someone on the radio talking about gas-powered micro-turbans. I figured out from the context that the intended word was turbines. Another time I heard someone pronounce finite as if it would rhyme with mine it instead of pronouncing both vowels as long is. An NPR reporter once described a scene in which people were wielding staves (plural of staff). She pronounced staves as stavs. The sounds of s, sh, and zh Ive heard the word coercion /co er shun/ pronounced co er zhun, and the word resource /re sors/ pronounced rezorse. One of the most interesting drifts Ive noticed concerns the pronunciation of the noun house /hous/ and its plural houses /houz iz/. (NOTE: When the word house is used as a verb, the s is pronounced /z/.) Until fairly recently, the pronunciation of the plural houses with a soft s /hous iz/ was a nonstandard regionalism not even mentioned in the dictionary. Now, however, the pronunciation has been spread by announcers from the eastern and northern areas of the United States. (The same ones who pronounce tourist /toor ist/ as tor ist.) TV Meltdown Because actors come from different parts of the country, their pronunciations of certain words vary. I listened in fascination one evening to the actors in an episode of Numbers. The plot required them all to say the word houses numerous times. Some of them said /houz iz/ and some said /hous iz/. If I remember correctly, one actor used both pronunciations, in different sentences! Its probably time for English teachers to take a united stand for a standard pronunciation. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating Conjunctions7 Tips for Writing a Film ReviewNarrative, Plot, and Story