The Red Apple v The Janissary Tree

Feels good to be done with The Red Apple! I thought that the colloquiom went well. It was interesting to hear how my classmates interpreted the book. I have a love/hate relationship with The Red Apple. The historical facts were easy to digest because the writing was simple. It was an undoubtedly easy read (which was convenient because I had a lot of homework!). I engulfed it quickly and without much thought. I definitely enjoyed the book, I just have a few qualms with it. The story itself was weak and felt rushed. I believe Levitan tried to comprise a poingnant story enriched with history... but fell a little short. I still think Ibraham should have died defending Constantinople!
I started reading The Janissary Tree. I am on chapter five or six and it is already apparent that the writing is superior to The Red Apple. Jason Goodwin's writing is more creative and captivating. I was quickly drawn into the story and am excited for more of the mystery to unfold! I thought that The Janissary Tree was just going to be another account of a Janissary's life. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is set in the 19th century - well after the Janissaries fall from grace. Jason Goodwin's novel is also not going to be such an easy read. His writing is more advanced and I have had to look up a few words and historical events. Perhaps towards the end of the novel I will be longing for the simplicity of The Red Apple.

Conclusion of Peace, Propaganda, and the Promise Land

I did a little research on one of the organizations that the movie had mentioned, Seeds of Peace. When I saw the name Seeds of Peace listed, it immediately struck a chord. In the summertime I work as a camp counselor in southern Maine. There are several other camps in the area, one of them being Seeds of Peace. Working at my camp for four years, I have come into contact with a few counselors and campers from Seeds of Peace. The campers all come from regions of conflict (Palestine, Israel, Egypt, the Balkans, etc). For the summer, the campers (and counselors) come together, away from their home countries, and live and work together. Relationships are fostered and a seemingly ironclad barrier of prejudice, religion, and hate is crossed.
"Founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace is dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and coexistence." If you have a chance, take a look at the Seeds of Peace website. It is chock full of information, some very similar to what Peace, Propaganda and the Promise Land discusses.