—Anonymous
I feel like any piece of writing can be considered a “great work” of literature depending on whose point of view it is. Not everyone will like the same thing or share the same taste in writing/reading. I believe not everything is made for everyone but for those who enjoy it! Some qualities of a “great work” that stands out to me are attention grabbers. I like books with comical, gory, and mystery themes. Some people might determine a great work based on how important it is and its effect on how people think in the future. Sometimes a great work might not be considered great at first but just like everything else, every piece of literature will have its moment to shine.
I enjoyed reading The Scholar’s Guide. The parable of the half-friend is a story that was told to me as a child, of course with a different context but generally the same idea. The parable of the half-friend is about a father explaining to his son how not everyone you call a friend is a true friend. Those who aren’t there for you when you need them the most, or in a crisis are not true friends. The son had set out to ask all his friends if they would help him bury a body and they all turned him down except for the “half-friend”. This story is relevant and can be used as a moral lesson in current times. I remember from the podcast how the professor said that she had no way to pick up her groceries so she asked a few friends who couldn’t help, then she asked Facebook. Although Facebook for many is not where you ask to pick up groceries, but in her situation, someone was willing to help. Sometimes it’s the people we least expect to be there who show us how much they care, and it’s the one we would hope to depend on who will turn a blind eye.
