Book Report and Review: After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned

这个是一篇关于《After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned》的书评和摘要

Book Report and Review: After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned

The renowned story After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned, published in 2001 from the book How We Are Hungry, is written by Dave Eggers, specializing in using different perspectives to attract the attention of the readers. The story revolves a dog named Steven, being interested in running and loving to run with his friends but being unable to understand the squirrels and the man, with a view to manifesting the ideal life. The author aims at making readers indulge in contemplation through the death of the dog, thus emphasizing the theme.   
   The setting of this story mainly takes place in the woods and rivers. After Steven was thrown in the river and before he drowned, there is a time of meditation. The story uses its own way to create vivid characters. 
Steven is the major character while squirrels, the man and other dogs are minor characters. It is all about the story of a dog, which uses his mind to taste a different life. The squirrels are always laughing at him when he was jumping. The man is the killer of him. The other dogs are running companies. Among them, protagonist is Steven. The man and squirrels turn out to be antagonists. The squirrels seem to be static. Steven is always dynamic.
At the very first beginning of the story, Steven introduces himself and regards him as a fast dog. He expresses how he loves running over and over again. It describes as the trees like a missile, he loves to run with his claws reaching and grabbing so quickly. The conflict happens when the fisherman lifts him from the water, and then takes him to the place with cages. Steven likes running to the woods and racing Edward arrives at the rising action. He feels good and does not know why the squirrels do not run and jump. Instead, the squirrels are making fun of them.
The climax is a little bit dramatic. The dog races Susan. Accidentally, Susan does not manage to make a perfect jump. Her leg is broken and bleeding from the joint. However, the squirrels are still laughing. Franklin becomes very angry crush them in his jaws. Later, squirrel-killing happens again while racing.
The falling action appears after the dog’s death. He does not expect so many things happened. He is still there and inside his body for a long time and could not understand why the man was kicking him. Also he could not understand the squirrels do not jump.
The resolution comes to the end. Steven still likes running and keeps great attitude of living in freedom. He believes God is the sun.
 A charismatic dog in life, Steven plays an outsized role in pursing the happiness of freedom and running. He has such a sweet heart and treats others well. I will strongly recommend this book to my friends due to a lot reasons. I just love the way of how the story proceed .There is no point in denying that it is a state of the art story, which has a unique perspective. The meaning of life lies in the story. 
My overall response to the book is interesting. Mr Dave Eggers is capable of using the funny expressions to describe a happy dog’s life and confusion. The words of the self-introduction at the beginning can easily catch readers’ hearts.
The strength of the book is that it takes a different perspective to tell the meaning of life. While from what I can tell, the weakness of the story is that the sentences are sometimes overlapping. It mentioned once and twice. Later, it mentioned over and over again. I do hold the view that many readers will get bored when they spot many fast dogs in the story.
As far as I am concerned, the part I thought was great was the last five paragraphs. After his death, we can get a lot of thoughts from the dog. The description is detailed and subtle. 
Here, I want you to know that the story is not just telling a dog’s life. It can really reflect our human beings lives. Try to realize what you really love and go for it. Like the former CEO of Apple Company, Steve Jobs famously remarked, the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you have not found them, keep looking, do not settle. The dog likes running. Running is his happiness. We can understand and just live our lives like the dog. Be happy. Do not look around the others. No matter how others view your love and dream. Even make fun of them. Do not lose faith. Because only by this way can make your life a true one.
 After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned is such an amazing story. It is my inspiration down the road.