I remember first reading Poe's work when I was in ninth grade. I remember that I was 100% uninterested with any of his stories. That's not to say that I disliked Poe specifically; I was 100% uninterested in anything that involved ninth grade.
Chuck Palihnuik is one of my favorite authors. Mostly because the things he writes about are totally twisted and demented. It makes you wonder what has happened in his life that he could create such stories. After reading Cask of Amontillado for this class I read a few more of his stories that I was familiar with. It gave me the same sense of wondering what may have happened during Poe's life to inspire his writing.
I've enjoyed using some of the analytical skills we've learned so far in class to view both Poe's and Palihnuik's writings in a different way.

Weird

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

English 111

In the story "Powder" by Tobias Wolff the father figure in the story drives past a barricade and on down the windy ski resort road that is covered with snow deep enough that the state patrol closed the it. He claims to be an excellent driver. He tells his son that being a great driver is not a virtue, it's just a fact. He warns him that he should never try this on his own. He then goes on to credit the car that he's driving as part of his great skill. That car is an Austin Healy and to drive it in such conditions is pure stupidity.

Having driven an Austin Healy and having driven in terrible snowy conditions, (never at the same time), I can say that to attempt such a stunt with his son in the car hardly showcases his driving ability.

Would you drive this car on a ski trip?