Read this one all the way through. Don't skim.
16-Year Old Will be Charged as an Adult for a Drive-By Shooting
Pink noise: a steady hum that helps you sleep better
49 minutes ago
Friday, April 24, 2009
Oh, this is good! Another website I like...
Kids! Great news! The original Peanuts cartoons are being reprised as a blog! I love the commentary on the art style, too.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Quick before it goes away!-->
Boing Boing has a thing about business cards made out of meat. And if that isn't enough weirdness for you, there's a typo too!
Website of the Week for Fun
I've noticed we have photo buffs here on the blog, so I'm including a favorite site:
The National Geographic Daily Dozen
The National Geographic Daily Dozen
Justice:Childhood Love Lessons - with the grain
Ok, I don't know what period 1 did, but period 3 has read through the essay by bell hooks. This reading was the "with the grain" reading and we were to look at it from hooks way of thinking. And I must say that I agree with her 95%.
I agree that you cannot truly love a person if you are abusing them, and that is what children are. They are people. Yes, their brains are not developed and you need to show them what is wrong and what is right, but they are still people. I believe, and you probably will agree, that in order for people to develop normally they need to be shown love and care. Without it, their views on how they handle relationships and how they care for their fellow man is distorted. I think this is what hooks is really getting at. Yes, the main argument is to not physically abuse your kids, but the underlying message is to show your child love and care. Pure TLC (no abuse necessary).
Now after reading the essay, it seems like hooks stance on spanking is unclear. We can clearly see that she does not agree with violent humiliation and abuse, but what about a small smack across the bottom when the child did something wrong? In paragraph 19, she outlines steps on how to teach you child responsibility and loving discipline, and excludes information on physical contact. That is why I think, not quite sure, hooks is also against spanking. This is when I disagree with her.
Like most of you. I have been spanked. And I am not afraid to admit that I will probably spank my kids, when they do something wrong. I am willing to argue that spanking is a loving discipline, to a certain extent. When you spank your child when they do something really wrong, and only on occasion can be necessary. If you take away privileges and give your child a time-out for locking their sibling in a closet and not letting them out or playing catch with the cat the child will believe that this offense is no bigger than writing on the wall with crayons. You need a slightly bigger discipline in order to get the message across that what they did was very bad.
I am a pro-spanker who agrees with bell hooks on the morality of abusing your children. But I also believe that you just need to find that line, because it is one thing to spank your child every so often, and another to spank them everyday for simple things. That is borderline abuse.
I agree that you cannot truly love a person if you are abusing them, and that is what children are. They are people. Yes, their brains are not developed and you need to show them what is wrong and what is right, but they are still people. I believe, and you probably will agree, that in order for people to develop normally they need to be shown love and care. Without it, their views on how they handle relationships and how they care for their fellow man is distorted. I think this is what hooks is really getting at. Yes, the main argument is to not physically abuse your kids, but the underlying message is to show your child love and care. Pure TLC (no abuse necessary).
Now after reading the essay, it seems like hooks stance on spanking is unclear. We can clearly see that she does not agree with violent humiliation and abuse, but what about a small smack across the bottom when the child did something wrong? In paragraph 19, she outlines steps on how to teach you child responsibility and loving discipline, and excludes information on physical contact. That is why I think, not quite sure, hooks is also against spanking. This is when I disagree with her.
Like most of you. I have been spanked. And I am not afraid to admit that I will probably spank my kids, when they do something wrong. I am willing to argue that spanking is a loving discipline, to a certain extent. When you spank your child when they do something really wrong, and only on occasion can be necessary. If you take away privileges and give your child a time-out for locking their sibling in a closet and not letting them out or playing catch with the cat the child will believe that this offense is no bigger than writing on the wall with crayons. You need a slightly bigger discipline in order to get the message across that what they did was very bad.
I am a pro-spanker who agrees with bell hooks on the morality of abusing your children. But I also believe that you just need to find that line, because it is one thing to spank your child every so often, and another to spank them everyday for simple things. That is borderline abuse.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Here's a link..
for all those people having a hard time finding a book to read.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/explore
p.s. is there a faster way of posting besides going into google > my account > blogger > blahblahblah..?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/explore
p.s. is there a faster way of posting besides going into google > my account > blogger > blahblahblah..?
Hobbit Locket.
I do not speak/write fully informed for I have not finished the reading. From the reading we did today {the first 14 paragraphs of Justice:Childhood Love Lessons} I began to think. I started to wonder what was Hooks' argument. As of now I've mustard this: Hook is against hitting children and is convicted that love and violence can never co-exist.
I agree with the latter. Love does not call for violence--ever--rather for sacrifice. But I am under the impression that Hooks believes when a parent spanks their child the exhibit a lack of love for them. There is abuse and there is discipline. Yes I have heard the argument "There are other ways to discipline than to spank", I agree.
I've witnessed parents hit their children because they are frustrated or angered. That is the violence Hooks is talking about. I fear that she over looks the fact that spanking is a form of disciplining.
All this leads me back to Lord of the Flies. In the ninth grade we examined two theories; Hobbes' theory:humans are born bad but are only good because of laws and government; and the other is Locke's theory:humans are born with a clean slate and are a sum of their experiences. I personally believe that humans learn to be and do good. So disciplining a child through spanking is not abuse but discipline in a form the child will understand. If we as humans are born primitive and violence is primitive then a child will respectably react to primitive behavior. One can't expect a three year old to understand that throwing tantrums is bad because it is an unhealthy way to release frustration. But if one reacts primitively to the child's behavior the child will respectably understand. Parents have to continually get down to their childrens' level, literally and figuratively. Children make the connection that throwing a tantrum will lead to being spanked, and once they are older they will understand that throwing a tantrum is not a healthy way of expressing frustration and is discouraged.
Things to think about.
♥peace
I agree with the latter. Love does not call for violence--ever--rather for sacrifice. But I am under the impression that Hooks believes when a parent spanks their child the exhibit a lack of love for them. There is abuse and there is discipline. Yes I have heard the argument "There are other ways to discipline than to spank", I agree.
I've witnessed parents hit their children because they are frustrated or angered. That is the violence Hooks is talking about. I fear that she over looks the fact that spanking is a form of disciplining.
All this leads me back to Lord of the Flies. In the ninth grade we examined two theories; Hobbes' theory:humans are born bad but are only good because of laws and government; and the other is Locke's theory:humans are born with a clean slate and are a sum of their experiences. I personally believe that humans learn to be and do good. So disciplining a child through spanking is not abuse but discipline in a form the child will understand. If we as humans are born primitive and violence is primitive then a child will respectably react to primitive behavior. One can't expect a three year old to understand that throwing tantrums is bad because it is an unhealthy way to release frustration. But if one reacts primitively to the child's behavior the child will respectably understand. Parents have to continually get down to their childrens' level, literally and figuratively. Children make the connection that throwing a tantrum will lead to being spanked, and once they are older they will understand that throwing a tantrum is not a healthy way of expressing frustration and is discouraged.
Things to think about.
♥peace
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
RE: Stinky blogging stats
This blog of the month is basically explaining how bloggers are starting to make their way into the world. Many bloggers, english majors or not, obtain about 22k a year for all their posts. Well, maybe not their posts, but their visitors. The statistics may be wrong, but bloggers are still making a living.
These statistics have been alarming. It's as though we're starting to rely on the words of random people. How will we be able to tell if their research is legit? Even in this "Stinky blogging stats" they were correcting incorrect information.
Another thing I find upsetting about rich bloggers is that I feel like we're leaving out all those English majors who worked hard to become journalist. I mean, you don't need a degree to start blogging, 13 year olds do it all the time. Why should these people gain more money than those who actually train to be in that field?
I don't even understand how these people get their money. I read it once, or heard about it on a google documentary.. It's like people ask to put their links up first or their advertisments on the top of their search. Everytime someone clicks on the link, that website owes google 35 cents. I wonder if blogs work the same way. What is they're hosted by blogspot, or whoever. Does the payment work the same? Maybe someone can inform me how these bloggers get paid.
This short article really gave me more questions than answers.
These statistics have been alarming. It's as though we're starting to rely on the words of random people. How will we be able to tell if their research is legit? Even in this "Stinky blogging stats" they were correcting incorrect information.
Another thing I find upsetting about rich bloggers is that I feel like we're leaving out all those English majors who worked hard to become journalist. I mean, you don't need a degree to start blogging, 13 year olds do it all the time. Why should these people gain more money than those who actually train to be in that field?
I don't even understand how these people get their money. I read it once, or heard about it on a google documentary.. It's like people ask to put their links up first or their advertisments on the top of their search. Everytime someone clicks on the link, that website owes google 35 cents. I wonder if blogs work the same way. What is they're hosted by blogspot, or whoever. Does the payment work the same? Maybe someone can inform me how these bloggers get paid.
This short article really gave me more questions than answers.
Monday, April 20, 2009
SSR: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Back in the 3rd semester I posted a small blog about the book The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. It was a small post because I was not even half way into the book, but now I have completed it and I have more to tell you.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a novel written by David Wroblewski, 562 pages. The novel takes place is the northern middle-eastern American, near the great lakes. You are drawn into a story about a boy, who is mute, his friend (dog) Almodine, his mother, father, his uncle, and the kennel they run. To wrap up this book in a nutshell, it is an Americanized version of Hamlet.
I do not know how many of you have read Hamlet but it is an interesting story. After Hamlet's father dies Hamlet is visited by this late father's ghost and Hamlet is told that his death was actually a murder. The murderer was actually Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet is than driven to avenge his father's death. He starts acting all crazy. He stages a play reenacting the events to prove that his uncle is a murderer. He accidently kills a family confidant, and than his son wants to avenge his father's death. Ophelia, Hamlet's sister, kills herself. In the end there is this big party and everything is poisoned and everyone dies. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is not exactly like that but pretty much.
Wroblewski does a fantastic job of writing this story. The story itself has been altered and it made me mad a few times but the language itself is beautiful and captivating. It was the language that really made me like this book.
I must admit that another feature of the book that kept me interested was the relationship between man and dog. The family owns a kennel instead of a kingdom, and there is a massive presents of dogs in the book. As a matter of fact I would argue that the main character is not Edgar but instead the dogs that Edgar associates with. Through these dogs you can see who the other characters really are. The characters show their true selves to these dogs and in return the dogs do what is asked of them. There is a central idea in the novel that the trainer is not training the dog, but instead the dogs are training the trainer. I like that. I like to see animals become more than just animals. We are animals, but instead we are referred to as humans. It was nice to see animals referred to as dogs.
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not. I would only recommend it to those who enjoy the writing more than the plot. Those of you who like to compare stories, you may also want to take a gander at this novel. For the rest of you, you may not like it. But it is your choice if you want to go for it.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a novel written by David Wroblewski, 562 pages. The novel takes place is the northern middle-eastern American, near the great lakes. You are drawn into a story about a boy, who is mute, his friend (dog) Almodine, his mother, father, his uncle, and the kennel they run. To wrap up this book in a nutshell, it is an Americanized version of Hamlet.
I do not know how many of you have read Hamlet but it is an interesting story. After Hamlet's father dies Hamlet is visited by this late father's ghost and Hamlet is told that his death was actually a murder. The murderer was actually Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet is than driven to avenge his father's death. He starts acting all crazy. He stages a play reenacting the events to prove that his uncle is a murderer. He accidently kills a family confidant, and than his son wants to avenge his father's death. Ophelia, Hamlet's sister, kills herself. In the end there is this big party and everything is poisoned and everyone dies. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is not exactly like that but pretty much.
Wroblewski does a fantastic job of writing this story. The story itself has been altered and it made me mad a few times but the language itself is beautiful and captivating. It was the language that really made me like this book.
I must admit that another feature of the book that kept me interested was the relationship between man and dog. The family owns a kennel instead of a kingdom, and there is a massive presents of dogs in the book. As a matter of fact I would argue that the main character is not Edgar but instead the dogs that Edgar associates with. Through these dogs you can see who the other characters really are. The characters show their true selves to these dogs and in return the dogs do what is asked of them. There is a central idea in the novel that the trainer is not training the dog, but instead the dogs are training the trainer. I like that. I like to see animals become more than just animals. We are animals, but instead we are referred to as humans. It was nice to see animals referred to as dogs.
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not. I would only recommend it to those who enjoy the writing more than the plot. Those of you who like to compare stories, you may also want to take a gander at this novel. For the rest of you, you may not like it. But it is your choice if you want to go for it.
Black Panther #2
I, Jimmy Ohiri believe that racism still exist. It may not be as obvious as it use to be, but it is still a relevant issue. A way of emancipating racism is to understand past problems caused by it. By reading Huey: The Pride of a Black Panther, you will get a keen understanding of the Black Panther movement and the racism that took place during that time period. This book also educates people on structure and organization.
Family of chris
After searching for so long I wonder if Chris McCandlesses family eventually held a burial service on Chris assuming his was dead. Or maybe Chris left enough traces for the family to assume he was alive, and that they should keep searching. Hmmmm.....
Sunday, April 19, 2009
SSR: Bright Shiny Morning
By far one of the best fiction books I've ever read, this book by James Frey is all about Los Angeles. Rather than one person as the main character, the city is, and is the only thing constant throughout the whole book. The book consists of several stories of people's lives in Los Angeles, and there are many different characters, some who disappear after a page, and some who remain in the novel until the very end.They range from rich actors to bums, some have normal stories, while others have insanely weird and interesting stories. The stories explain how they got to LA, why they are there, and what is going on in their lives, and though there is no overall plot, there is an overall image you get in your mind after reading this book. It shows the unique personality of a huge and busy city. Along with this, there are facts about Los Angeles at the beginning of each chapter, starting with the settlement of the Los Angeles area by Mexicans to present day facts about the city.It is a unique writing style the author uses, and is hard to describe unless you read it, but is definitely one of the big reasons why this book is so interesting and unique. By the end of this book, I guarantee you will have learned a lot about the all too famous city of Los Angeles. You get a perfect image of modern day Los Angeles and all the weirdos, rich, and normal people in it. This book is raw, and has very vivid imagery which is another reason I love it. The stories are all believeable, and don't follow the typical "disney-happily ever after" style that most American fiction does. This book to me is one of a kind, and a MUST READ! So do it! It's 500 pages, not too long, not too short. "It[Los Angeles] calls to them, calls, and they cannot say no."-from Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey. A cool fact about LA from this book: If Los Angeles became its own country, it would have the 15th largest economy in the world.
LA as seen from the 101 freeway by: Me (fall 2008)
LA as seen from the 101 freeway by: Me (fall 2008)
Why Alaska?
Chris McCandless made a bold statement to the world by disowning his family and deciding to go to Alaska to find the better qualities of life on his own. But did you ever think for a second why'd did he go to Alaska. I never really figured out why he went to Alaska, there are several other places in the states that have harsh climates and scarce food supply.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
SSR: Fledgling (yeah, again)
I already know that Zikomo made a post about this, but I read some of this book too and I want to write my own opinion. Fledgling, by Octavia E. Butler, is a fiction novel about a vampire girl who wakes up in the woods unaware of who she is, how she got there and why she is there. So, Shori, is finding the answers that all lead back to how and why she was there at the beginning. She meets people who help her find these answers and struggles to remind herself that she's a vampire, to not suck their blood all the time. Out of the 310 pages, I only finished about 90-okay, now that I think about it I really didn't read that much. Still, Fledgling didn't capture my interest for long enough. It felt like it was taking too long to get to the main plot. Where I was, and who knows how much farther, it seemed like the book was going nowhere really. I had to keep forcing myself to bring this book every Monday. Besides, this whole vampire deal never grabbed me. To all you vampire-lovers, you'll probably like this one.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Ghost town
Boy is it quiet in here. I hope you folks are having a nice Spring Break So far...I know I am. It was sunny and hot out today so I drove down to Huntington Beach with my bike and spent six hours out in the sun. I have a nice case of sunburn to show for it.
I made a graph:
Click it to see it full sized.
moar funny pictures
Make your own at:
http://www.graphjam.com/
I made a graph:
Click it to see it full sized.
moar funny pictures
Make your own at:
http://www.graphjam.com/
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Just a thought...
What would Chris have done if he lived? Would he grow tired of the wild and the lifestyle or would he return home to ordinary life? It seems as if the wild would become too monotonous or too lonely after a while. McCandless was a risk taker, after a while, i think even being in the wild would be too routine. However, going back to regular life seems as if it would have contradicted the purpose of his entire journey. I can't see him taking either route, and I can't imagine he'd want to stay in the wild. It seems like death was the only way out.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Website of the Week
This is where you live. I find this incredibly comforting when I start getting a little too busy or full of my own importance. It's just a little reminder: You are stardust, baby, made out of the very same stuff as the stars. We're only here for a cosmic second. Couldn't we just give one another a break? Can't we just be KIND?
Black Panther
The Black Panther party is known for its notorious and vicious demonstrations out in the Bay Area. A lot of people called them radical or extremist in the way they fought for their civil rights. But what some people don't understand is that this organization was run by a man named Huey P. Newton, who had an idea of using the law to its own advantage and fighting civil rights with aggression but organization. He had a ten point plan which describe the whole purpose of the party and all its values. I think this organization gets a bad rep because they walked around with guns had serious run ins with the police. I just believe you can't judge a book by its cover
Dang
I'm surprised the site didn't crash! I'm looking at all the comments that were made between 5:52 and 6:00...must be at least a thousand. You kids are deadline junkies.
OK: Here's the line for 3rd Quarter...
and now we start 4th quarter...another SSR book to read, and we'll start a new unit soon that I'll want to see you talking about out here. I like this conversation among us, and I think you're all doing good work, thinking and writing and interacting with one another. What do YOU think of the blog??
SSR Book: Atonement by Ian McEwan
I first found out about this book from the movie Atonement with Kiera Knightley, the girl from Pirates of the Caribbean. It's 377 pages and the genre is fiction. The title of the book explains it all. Well, almost.
What is "atonement" you ask? It's basically the amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong. Atonement takes place around 1935 in England. It begins with 13-year-old Briony Tallis, who's an overally dramatic child that is obsessed with writing plays and stories. Based on events she sees but doesn't quite understand, she becomes the reason why Robbie is conviced of a crime that occurred on her family's estate. As she grows older throughout the book, she realizes what her "white lie/thought" has done to the her sister Cecilia's love relationship with Robbie, as well as Robbie's life. At the end of the book Briony understands what she has done wrong and who she's hurt along the way because of what she thought she saw.
The structure of Atonement is unusual than other books I've read. Yet this is probably why i love this book so much. Atonement is one of the books that examines the interpretation of truth and how we don't always understand what we see. The author McEwan manages to keep his reader unsettled, wondering at the characters’ motivations and leaving loose ends. You finally understand the whole book when the final page is turned that the reader is able to put together the whole story.
Atonement is a book I definetely reccomend to read, especially if you like the whole romance excitement stuff. Read it, watch it, and compare it. Hopefully you'll love it just as much as I do.
What is "atonement" you ask? It's basically the amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong. Atonement takes place around 1935 in England. It begins with 13-year-old Briony Tallis, who's an overally dramatic child that is obsessed with writing plays and stories. Based on events she sees but doesn't quite understand, she becomes the reason why Robbie is conviced of a crime that occurred on her family's estate. As she grows older throughout the book, she realizes what her "white lie/thought" has done to the her sister Cecilia's love relationship with Robbie, as well as Robbie's life. At the end of the book Briony understands what she has done wrong and who she's hurt along the way because of what she thought she saw.
The structure of Atonement is unusual than other books I've read. Yet this is probably why i love this book so much. Atonement is one of the books that examines the interpretation of truth and how we don't always understand what we see. The author McEwan manages to keep his reader unsettled, wondering at the characters’ motivations and leaving loose ends. You finally understand the whole book when the final page is turned that the reader is able to put together the whole story.
Atonement is a book I definetely reccomend to read, especially if you like the whole romance excitement stuff. Read it, watch it, and compare it. Hopefully you'll love it just as much as I do.
Looking For Alaska
Ohkay so when the year first started I couldn't gain ANY interest in ANY books for SSR. haha. I suppose I wasn't really trying but that's not the point. The point is I found one!!! You guys might remember when we went to the library to look at some books and listen to one of the librarians and Ms Fletcher talk about some of them. (by the way.... doesn't it seem like ms fletcher has read every book every created?) That day I checked out this book called "Looking for Alaska". I must say... it is a GREAT book. Basically it's about this guy who wants to find adventure in a boarding school, where he meets this girl Alaska. It gets waaaay deeper but I don't want to give it away, and I'm not exactly an expert on book reviews, but it's easily a 5/5 book. I read that it's in the making of becoming a movie as well. So that should be swell. Now that I'm done with that though I could go for another 5/5 book. So classmates I would like some suggestions and maybe a small review like mine, because right now I'm reading into the wild every monday and that will be over soon.
Why Did He Leave?
I would like to know what was the true reason that Chris left home. Was it just his parents? or was it a mix of everything? We know that he didn't exactly have the perfect life but I mean really? Is escaping "into the wild" the last resort? Or was that just his way of dealing with the challenges of his life ? I think that he just needed to find himself. What do you think?
pitty for chris
I really wasnt feeling bad for Chris McCandless until just recently. i though he was stupid and idiotic for walking into the harsh conditions of the alskan wilderness and deserved whatever hardships came his way - i mean he asked for them. he was irresponsible and should have been ready to accept responsibility for his actions. But when i read that he was finished in the wild... he tried to leave... he had satified the internal hole that had sent him to alska in the first place... he wanted to go home but others forces said no... you cant leave! that must have been devastating. he was trapped he couldnt get out. the river that was once small and pittiful now almost surged with immense force and was the gatekeeper basically between life and death. it didnt let him pass which basically signed away his lefe. it was a death sentence. i thought that i would think him a stupid selfish boy who left his family wothout a word and died because he was to stuborn to leave the wilderness
ssr book review
During SSR for the 3rd quarter I read a book written by Audrey Niffenegger called The Time Traveler’s Wife. This book is a romance novel mixed heavily with science fiction that has a very well put together plot that is complex and twisted. This book is 536 pages long but because it is so hard to put this book down, the read is much faster. I am not usually one to finish a 300 page book let alone a 500page book in one semester. I actually finished this book before the semester was finished to my surprise. I found this book irresistible and couldn’t wait for the next adventure or plot twist on the page to come.
Now you’re wondering what this book could be about. Well the title gives a little bit away; a 6 year old meets her future husband for the first time in a meadow by her house. The insane thing is Clare is 6 and Henry is in his forties. Henry time travels. Big problems he encounters is that he cannot take anything with him when he travels; so he finds himself randomly in an unknown time stark naked with nothing. Clare and Henry at first have a friendly relationship Henry concealing as much of the future as possible from Clare so that she may live a normal life, all the while knowing that she is his future wife and that someday they will meet in the present. The book goes on to tell how they have continued meetings in the meadow as Clare grows and matures into a teenager. And eventually Clare is no longer in the dark for when she meets Henry in the present that is around her age he is completely clueless of her existence. Their unconventional lifestyle and their undying love through all the many troubles make this book a worthy read. There are many twist and turns that I must leave out in order to not spoil the book but you will be hanging onto every one of the authors words.
This book was set up extremely different from any book I have ever read. The two main characters are Clare and Henry of course. They are the narrators. The author almost makes it like a script telling you who is relaying you a certain part f the story. What I really enjoyed is that a lot of times it would show both characters accounts, thoughts reactions to the same event. It was a very dynamic way to portray a story. And before each new event the author let you know what date and how old each character was. That was very helpful especially since Henry had a tendency to jump around in time sporadically. I really enjoyed the back and forth of who was telling the story and getting all different perspectives. It made the book a lot easier and more enjoyable to read. It also allowed for the reader to not get lost. I feel that if the author had done it any other way many readers would have gotten so lost including myself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it. I think the audience that would appreciate it would be women that enjoy a love story that isn’t so mushy and more real – even though that is kind of ironic with the whole science fiction time traveling theme.
Now you’re wondering what this book could be about. Well the title gives a little bit away; a 6 year old meets her future husband for the first time in a meadow by her house. The insane thing is Clare is 6 and Henry is in his forties. Henry time travels. Big problems he encounters is that he cannot take anything with him when he travels; so he finds himself randomly in an unknown time stark naked with nothing. Clare and Henry at first have a friendly relationship Henry concealing as much of the future as possible from Clare so that she may live a normal life, all the while knowing that she is his future wife and that someday they will meet in the present. The book goes on to tell how they have continued meetings in the meadow as Clare grows and matures into a teenager. And eventually Clare is no longer in the dark for when she meets Henry in the present that is around her age he is completely clueless of her existence. Their unconventional lifestyle and their undying love through all the many troubles make this book a worthy read. There are many twist and turns that I must leave out in order to not spoil the book but you will be hanging onto every one of the authors words.
This book was set up extremely different from any book I have ever read. The two main characters are Clare and Henry of course. They are the narrators. The author almost makes it like a script telling you who is relaying you a certain part f the story. What I really enjoyed is that a lot of times it would show both characters accounts, thoughts reactions to the same event. It was a very dynamic way to portray a story. And before each new event the author let you know what date and how old each character was. That was very helpful especially since Henry had a tendency to jump around in time sporadically. I really enjoyed the back and forth of who was telling the story and getting all different perspectives. It made the book a lot easier and more enjoyable to read. It also allowed for the reader to not get lost. I feel that if the author had done it any other way many readers would have gotten so lost including myself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it. I think the audience that would appreciate it would be women that enjoy a love story that isn’t so mushy and more real – even though that is kind of ironic with the whole science fiction time traveling theme.
SSR book: A prayer for Owen Meany
I just fell in love with another book. This book is about two bestfriends who live their adolescent years together with heartache. One of the boys named Owen Meany is a very, very intellegent guy whose family works at their granite company. He is physically small for his age and he has a sqeaky high pitched voice and people make fun of him all the time. His best friend John is a normal kid whose life makes a 180 when his mother dies. When the bestfriends were at baseball game, Owen was up to bat and no one expected someone with such a little physique to actually hit the ball and succeed. Then all of a sudden, everyones attention is directed to him when he hits the ball with extraordinary force. The hit makes an increible sound and everyones follows the ball with their eyes as it goes high into the air.Unfortunately the ball hits John's mother in her temple causing her to fall to the ground immediately and she died. Now Owen feels great remorse and the story tells about the two boys lives after this event and tells how they deal with it. Owen felt that he had a reason to be alive and that he was God's instrument. Some one who was underestimated from the start became very powerful and the book follows his story. I absolutely love this book and would highly reccomend this book to anyone who hasn't read it
Daughter of Fortune
The book that I read is called Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. In this 432 page romance novel we encounter Eliza Sommers who was abondoned at the doorstep at a wealthy home in Valparaiso, Chile as a newborn infant. The home is inhabited by two wealthy British brothers and their sister. As Eliza is growing up, she is unaware of her origins and really never questions where she comes from since she has enough love from her nanny and her aunt Rose(the British sister of the wealthy brothers). When Eliza gets older(maybe 16 or so) she falls in love with her uncle's field hand. The guy is poor and they have secret rendez vous. Eliza's lover is forced to live the country in search of gold in California. Eliza in turn goes after him. This book has lots of mysteries.
Good Luck
for all of you lastminute bloggers [[like me haha]]
good luck getting all of your work in
i'll never understand why i procrastinate :/
15 more minutes!!!!!
good luck getting all of your work in
i'll never understand why i procrastinate :/
15 more minutes!!!!!
Admiring Alexander Supertramp
I love reading Into the Wild by Krakauer because I think McCandless's story is quite interesting. I admire his independence from the world and his ambition to find a sense of adventure.
When people go out into the wild, is it just because they want to experience a sense of adventure and independence from society? I think that there are other ways to find these things, but finding it through nature is remarkable. Personally, I wouldn't leave my home and travel on foot to find a sense of adventure or independence. I just don't have the guts to risk it all like that. To those who are like McCandless and would, Hallelujah! I think it's important to take risks once in awhile and take a step out of your safety zone. However, to me, living independent from society in the wild is way too much of a big risk to take.
That's why I admire McCandless, he is a strong character who never gives up on what he wants. Even with the issue of riding a canoe down the river -a process that could take up to years in order to be approved of -McCandless disregarded everything and did what he wanted. I like his character. Some people may think he's super crazy, and at time I do too, but overall he is stunning and admirable. He relies solely on himself to live and THAT is pretty amazing.
When people go out into the wild, is it just because they want to experience a sense of adventure and independence from society? I think that there are other ways to find these things, but finding it through nature is remarkable. Personally, I wouldn't leave my home and travel on foot to find a sense of adventure or independence. I just don't have the guts to risk it all like that. To those who are like McCandless and would, Hallelujah! I think it's important to take risks once in awhile and take a step out of your safety zone. However, to me, living independent from society in the wild is way too much of a big risk to take.
That's why I admire McCandless, he is a strong character who never gives up on what he wants. Even with the issue of riding a canoe down the river -a process that could take up to years in order to be approved of -McCandless disregarded everything and did what he wanted. I like his character. Some people may think he's super crazy, and at time I do too, but overall he is stunning and admirable. He relies solely on himself to live and THAT is pretty amazing.
inspiredd.
chriss a crazzy boy who left eveerything behind to go live in the wild. i think nowadays people whould be like hey hey boy youre not for reals. i think if he hadnt left ot alaska he would have led a sad life and the boy all those people met and fell in love with wouldnt have exsisted. he would be behing a law desk somewhere suffering a life he didnt want to live. Chris doing what he wanted changed many peoples lives and is a role model for people who want to fight for the life they want to live.
Destiny or environment?
For my blog post, I want to discuss the same thing I asked in class. Is it really your environment that determines who you're going to be? If you live around horrible things will you end up doing horrible things? And the opposite for good. Chris McCandless grew up with what people usually wish for. Two supposedly loving parents, a great education, and money. He got what people dream for. Yet he still went out looking for something. He still longed for something bigger, better. Some probably think he's crazy. Some are probably like me and think the things he did were meant to happen, that he serves a greater purpose that none of us may know. He's touched at least one life greatly, Ron Franz, and he's probably deeple effected many more. Maybe that's why things worked out the way they did. So other people could benefit from his so called mistakes. I no longer believe that environment or influences are the only factors in determining the way ones life is going to play out. I now believe it's purely destiny. Whatever's meant to happen, will happen.
Into The Wild =]
I am really liking this book because it is showing me that anyone can do whatever they enjoy doing as long as you put your heart in it. Chris enjoys being outdoors and wanted to be away from society for a while to go out into the wild and experience life in a different way. I think it was very brave of him to do this because he didn't know if he was even going to survive out in the wild and he took the chance anyways. Although he does find a bus that helps him live out in the wild and some people don't consider this "living in the wild", I still think he did some amazing things for going out into the wild. Like going down a river and not having any experience on how to kayak or killing animals and skinning them in order to stay alive. ( I think this is very sad, but if this is the only way that he will survive while living in the wild than I think he has an excuse for doing this).
I am a little confused on the fact that he was living a very good life before he decided to go out into the wild. His parents were willing to do many things for him like buy him a car and pay for school. He did not want to accept this for some reason and I am still confused about why he didn't take this chance keep leaving a good life. Either Chris is a little confused about life himself or he is really looking at life in a different perspective and realizes that everyone dies someday, so he wants to die happy even if it hurts his family.
I am a little confused on the fact that he was living a very good life before he decided to go out into the wild. His parents were willing to do many things for him like buy him a car and pay for school. He did not want to accept this for some reason and I am still confused about why he didn't take this chance keep leaving a good life. Either Chris is a little confused about life himself or he is really looking at life in a different perspective and realizes that everyone dies someday, so he wants to die happy even if it hurts his family.
A Great and Terrible Beauty
Okay, so one of the series of books I read for SSR this year was "A Great and Terrible Beauty", part of the Gemma Doyle series. I honestly could not put the book down (or the series, I read 3 books in 3 days) and I was saddened when it was over. For a quick summary, I guess......
A Great and Terrible Beauty starts off with an English girl in India, Gemma Doyle fighting with her mother about going to England, her mother however, wants her to be happy in India, saying the English way of life was not for her. A strange man in a cloak bumps into the duo and her life suddenly changes forever. Her mother is killed, she starts seeing visions. Her grandmother sends her to England, but she can't leave India behind. The Rakshana follow her, the cloaked man was among the ranks and with these visions she finds out that she has magic powers that enable her to enter a different world. She's sent to an all girls boarding school, where you can imagine she already has her share of difficulties even fitting in or finding friends, but to deal with constant visions, the ethereal, a potential love interest, guilt from knowing of her mother's mysterious death and the balance of the worlds on her shoulders? It's too much.
My summaries are pretty crappy, but Anissa has the books if you want them! Haha
A Great and Terrible Beauty
Rebel Angels
The Far Sweet Thing
All are by Libba Bray.
I guess if your a cheesy romantic and stuff, the books are good. I honestly lugged around huge hardcover copies and read them in every class until I finished, that's how much I liked them! Haha
THE LOVELY BONES
I am not a kid who can say i love to read books and they generally interest me but once I saw the light blue cover of the Lovely Bones, I instantly knew that I was going to read and love that book. The book in a nutshell deals with a murder victim who is looking down from heaven at her family and what she is missing. The victim's name is Susie Salmon she is a pretty normal pre-teen living in the 1970's. She has a little brother and a little sister and lives with both of her parents. On a normal day she walks home just as always through the cornfield that is the center of all her troubles. As she walks through the field, her neighbor Mr. Harvey who until then was seen as a silent and odd person approaches her. Sadly Susie forgets about stranger danger and talks to him which leads to her untimely death. After she did not return home her parents find out that she is dead after a couple of days thanks to a forgotten elbow that Harvey seemed to forget about. Susie ends up in heaven and sees the craziness that is happening down on earth with her family and community. Since people do not expect Harvey to do what he did he lays low and watches the madness happen. Years pass and Susie sees her family dismantle quickly with her death. Her mother leaves and her dad gets obsessed with wanting to find his daughters killer. This book is about spiritual and physical growth and death is sad and yet it can make people better. Susie experiences her first time in a friends body with her first love and he knows that it was her. Even though her mother left when the father gets sick she returns after years of post cards to a family that is unrecognizable. Even though Susie can not do anything all she wants is for everything to go back to normal. It is a book that i recommend
everyone read because it will open up your eyes to death and how it can affect people.
Wild Man Alex
As the book progresses I'm beginning to like this guy a bit more and more. That seems a bit weird tho because I think it's the opposite with everyone else. I think I admire his courage. It take a whole lot of that to decide to throw away all you have, (which wasn't a small amount) and go out to find adventure and truth. I think we should all find our own version of truth as he did. It seems like everyone who met him so far says that he was a good person all around. Who knows if they're simply saying this because he's dead or if it was true, but if it is honest truth than obviously, this country would be a better place if more people would seek their own truths as he did; instead of being corrupted and folded in by the pressure of riches. But maybe that's just how I see things.
Let's all find the Alex in us. [corny? I think not.]
SSR response: 3rd quarter
A Long Way Gone: memoirs of a boy soldier by Ishmael Beah 226pages. Non fiction. autobiography.
This book is amazing, it's about a 12 year old African boy named Ishmael Beah who was forced to flea his home because of attacking rebels in Sierra Leone. By age 13 he was picked up by the government army & forced to commit terrible and cruel acts.He was one of the many children soldiers who were hopes up on drugs & wielding AK-47s .He was now being forced to do to other people the same thing that caused him to flea his home. At 16 he was released from the army to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. It was hard for Beah to cope with the memories of the war and the terrible crimes that he was forced to commit, and also to regain a normal mentality. Now at age 26 he lives to tell everyone about the horrifying truth about the life he was forced to live.
I don't want to give away too much, but it's a really good book that you all should read. I have it if anyone would like to borrow it!
This book is amazing, it's about a 12 year old African boy named Ishmael Beah who was forced to flea his home because of attacking rebels in Sierra Leone. By age 13 he was picked up by the government army & forced to commit terrible and cruel acts.He was one of the many children soldiers who were hopes up on drugs & wielding AK-47s .He was now being forced to do to other people the same thing that caused him to flea his home. At 16 he was released from the army to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. It was hard for Beah to cope with the memories of the war and the terrible crimes that he was forced to commit, and also to regain a normal mentality. Now at age 26 he lives to tell everyone about the horrifying truth about the life he was forced to live.
I don't want to give away too much, but it's a really good book that you all should read. I have it if anyone would like to borrow it!
Book Review Fledgling
Vampires ahh scary. When everyone was reading Twilight i thought what the heck let me see what this book is about. all i could read was the first chapter. So Ms. Fletcher stepped in and gave me a book about vampires that is absolutely forty times better then Twilight. that book is Fledgling.
Ever heard of a black vampire(besides Blade). the protagonist of the book is an African American vampire named Shori. She looks like shes a twelve year old girl but is really fifty three and belongs to a race of vampires known as the Ina. when the book begins its starts off as Sherri having no recollection of where and who she is. She is wounded and has burns all over her body. She later stumbles upon a burned village and feels a "connection to it". as she continues walking. a construction worker named wright picks her up on the side of road. If you read the book youll find shori was part of an experiment that provided Ina with Black skin to endure sunlight.
Ever heard of a black vampire(besides Blade). the protagonist of the book is an African American vampire named Shori. She looks like shes a twelve year old girl but is really fifty three and belongs to a race of vampires known as the Ina. when the book begins its starts off as Sherri having no recollection of where and who she is. She is wounded and has burns all over her body. She later stumbles upon a burned village and feels a "connection to it". as she continues walking. a construction worker named wright picks her up on the side of road. If you read the book youll find shori was part of an experiment that provided Ina with Black skin to endure sunlight.
Book Review Fledgling
Vampires ahh scary. When everyone was reading Twilight i thought what the heck let me see what this book is about. all i could read was the first chapter. So Ms. Fletcher stepped in and gave me a book about vampires that is absolutely forty times better then Twilight. that book is Fledgling.
Ever heard of a black vampire(besides Blade). the protagonist of the book is an African American vampire named Shori. She looks like shes a twelve year old girl but is really fifty three and belongs to a race of vampires known as the Ina. when the book begins its starts off as Sherri having no recollection of where and who she is. She is wounded and has burns all over her body. She later stumbles upon a burned village and feels a "connection to it". as she continues walking. a construction worker named wright picks her up on the side of road. If you read the book youll find shori was part of an experiment that provided Ina with Black skin to endure sunlight.
Ever heard of a black vampire(besides Blade). the protagonist of the book is an African American vampire named Shori. She looks like shes a twelve year old girl but is really fifty three and belongs to a race of vampires known as the Ina. when the book begins its starts off as Sherri having no recollection of where and who she is. She is wounded and has burns all over her body. She later stumbles upon a burned village and feels a "connection to it". as she continues walking. a construction worker named wright picks her up on the side of road. If you read the book youll find shori was part of an experiment that provided Ina with Black skin to endure sunlight.
ssr: the bell jar
i've begun to read a book called The Bell Jar,
by Sylvia Plath
this book is about a college aged girl, she goes away on an internship and meets a best friend and she is struggling between this crazy wild girl who she has fun with or the other interns who are more respectable. she had a boyfriend she didn't really like and once she finds out he had sex she thinks she should do the same to even the score. part of it is about her struggle between yes and no and finding the right someone to have sex with. the book doesn't elaborate much on this but soon switches to a part in her life where she is depressed and it dying to kill herself.
this girl, esther, is an emotional disaster and the things she thinks are interesting because they're coming from a person who feels nothing except for a desire to end her life. i hope she changes her mind by the end of the book.
it was highly recommended to me and i suggest you read it because everyone can learn a small bit from her experiences.
INTO DISAPPEARANCE
I THINK THAT CHRIS MCCANDLESS IS A GUY WHO DID NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE WAY HE WAS FEELING.SO HE RAN OFF AND CREATED A NEW LIFE,NOT CONSIDERING HOW IT WOULD AFFECT HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES IN EVERYONES LIFE WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO GET AWAY AND DETACH YOURSELF FROM EVERYONE AROUND YOU, BUT HE TOOK IT TO THE EXTREME. THE BOOK MENTIONS HOW HE USE TO TAKE TRIPS AND JUST GO AWAY, BUT AT LEAST HE HAD SOME SENSE TO INFORM HIS PARENTS THAT HE WAS LEAVING. TO JUST LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING TO ANYONE, I COULD NEVER SEE MYSELF DOING THAT BUT THEN AGAIN I DONT THINK ANY OF CHRIS' DECISIONS WOULD EVER EVEN POP INTO MY HEAD. HE GIVES HIS MONEY AWAY TO A FOUNDATION, WHICH IS REALLY NICE BUT IN MY OPINION HE WAS STUPID AND TOOK EVERYTHING THAT HIS PARENTS WORKED TO GIVE HIM FOR GRANTED. EVEN WHEN HIS PARENTS TRIED TO HELP HIM AND REACH OUT BEFORE HE LEFT FOR GOOD HE CALLED THEM NAMES AND TOOK THEIR GOOD DEEDS AND MADE THEM SEEM SO NEGATIVE. WELL I REALLY DONT KNOW THIS IS JUST HOW I FEEL AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, MAYBE ONCE I FINISH READING THE BOOK MY OPINION ON CHRIS OR ALEX WILL CHANGE.
soo confused!!
By reading the book into the wild and reading people' s blogs it has left me some what confused. in the beggining i really didnt like chris. i didnt understand how such a privaleged boy would just want to leave everything behind and go into the wild. it really made me upset. i was reading other blogs and i had realized that other people felt the same way. but there was also people who felt differently and when i read more blogs i started to realize that what he did was brave. he went out on a crazy adventure that made him happy. he did what he thought was best for him and unfortunatley he lost his life becasue of it. Julia crook's blog showed how chris was a hero and by reading her blog it made me understand chris in a different way. it kind of made me less mad but at the same time it left me confused on him. as i am in chapter 14 now i kind of cant wait to finish this book becase i am confused on what is going on. the different stories inside this one big story and going back in forth in time has got me kind of lost. this book isnt a horrible book its just not something i really would suggest or would want to read again.
"Pack your suitcase and don't bring no high-top shoes."
Life in the City is ridiculously disgusting. Disgusting because it is the product of its brainwashed citizens. Love, money, sex, power—the usuals—are the strings that pull and yank the marionettes that greet each other at the parks, the street markets, the barber shops. But everything and everyone is shrouded in a cloud of fog so thick that they themselves can no longer distinguish between truth and reality. And that’s disgusting.
The book tells the tales of a few people that were drawn from the Country, like magnets, to the City, and the fate of several because of this move. A love that blossomed down South has lost itself to a metamorphosis that can be attributed to the ills of the City; the same City the lovers believed to have helped cultivate it, like the crops they once knew and grew calluses for. But bright colors can’t hide that fact that the frogs that display them are poisonous. Ignorance is no disguise in the City. In fact, ignorance, cherished down South, means death in the City.
The plot is sick and twisted and absolutely delicious. It has the drama of a soap opera, but it’s not convoluted with plastic people with plastic cards.
Let me be blunt:
Gossip Girl ain’t got nuthin’ on this right here!
There are love triangles, jealousy, hate, pride, secrets, and more. It is REAL. So much so that I can actually believe this to happen. Really, it probably could occur if it hasn’t already, and the sad part is, no one would be shocked.
Another reason why the City is disgusting: its inhabitants are immune to all that occurs. But just because they are immune, does not mean that word doesn’t spread. Except when it wants, the City can conceal ALL from even the most low-down, trifling of dolls. The City is a beast that no one can quite defeat, and all have fallen into its alluring glow. No matter how bad It treats them, they can’t seem to leave.
The book I had the privilege of enjoying for third quarter SSR was JAZZ by Toni Morrison. This 229-paged work of fiction is a national bestseller, and I understand why. This magnificent piece of literature is of the style that I desire most. Her voice is real, and raw, and sharp, and rich, and sweet, and cold, and absolutely sensuous. It is purely seductive. The viscosity of text, the characters, and the pictures she paints just add the gripping plot.
I love this book so much. I feel, though, that I’m not doing it so much justice because if I were to divulge even the slightest of plots, the book would be ruined. You just have to read it. It’s bomb.
This book is, however, extremely racially dictated. Morrison is a black author, so much of the pictures she paints may not be understood or appreciated for its value by some readers, but still, read this book! Especially if you’re into that kind of Harlem-esque poetry-slam vibe. It’s truly amazing.
The book tells the tales of a few people that were drawn from the Country, like magnets, to the City, and the fate of several because of this move. A love that blossomed down South has lost itself to a metamorphosis that can be attributed to the ills of the City; the same City the lovers believed to have helped cultivate it, like the crops they once knew and grew calluses for. But bright colors can’t hide that fact that the frogs that display them are poisonous. Ignorance is no disguise in the City. In fact, ignorance, cherished down South, means death in the City.
The plot is sick and twisted and absolutely delicious. It has the drama of a soap opera, but it’s not convoluted with plastic people with plastic cards.
Let me be blunt:
Gossip Girl ain’t got nuthin’ on this right here!
There are love triangles, jealousy, hate, pride, secrets, and more. It is REAL. So much so that I can actually believe this to happen. Really, it probably could occur if it hasn’t already, and the sad part is, no one would be shocked.
Another reason why the City is disgusting: its inhabitants are immune to all that occurs. But just because they are immune, does not mean that word doesn’t spread. Except when it wants, the City can conceal ALL from even the most low-down, trifling of dolls. The City is a beast that no one can quite defeat, and all have fallen into its alluring glow. No matter how bad It treats them, they can’t seem to leave.
The book I had the privilege of enjoying for third quarter SSR was JAZZ by Toni Morrison. This 229-paged work of fiction is a national bestseller, and I understand why. This magnificent piece of literature is of the style that I desire most. Her voice is real, and raw, and sharp, and rich, and sweet, and cold, and absolutely sensuous. It is purely seductive. The viscosity of text, the characters, and the pictures she paints just add the gripping plot.
I love this book so much. I feel, though, that I’m not doing it so much justice because if I were to divulge even the slightest of plots, the book would be ruined. You just have to read it. It’s bomb.
This book is, however, extremely racially dictated. Morrison is a black author, so much of the pictures she paints may not be understood or appreciated for its value by some readers, but still, read this book! Especially if you’re into that kind of Harlem-esque poetry-slam vibe. It’s truly amazing.
Less Than Impressed
The past two books that've I've read for SSR have anything but "critically-acclaimed" in my opinion. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarty (the latter of which I didn't eve finish reading) weren't what I was expecting. I'd heard many reports that both books were extremely well-versed and i would greatly enjoy them. This was not the case.
A Long Way Gone was actually a very moving, insightful, 226 page non-fiction autobiography about an African boy who must flee from his home at the age of 12 from the rebels. He is on the run from the rebels for over a year, enduring everythig from being shot at, to losing friends and his brother, to starvation. When he is 13 years old, he is picked up by the government army and made to fight against the rebels. After years of violence, drugs, and other horrible acts, the army releases him to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. Things have been so bleak for Ishmael and the other boys in the army that his AK-47 and the other men the army have become his makeshift family. Ishmael actually states that he feels betrayed by the army for giving him up to UNICEF so he can resume a "normal" life. Although this was a moving story, my interest wasn't captured for most of the story because it appeared as though the same things happened over and over again in the first half of the novel. It was a continuous cycle: something horrific happens, he flees from the rebels, he's safe for awhile, repeat cycle. Although this may be the reality of living thorugh a genocide, it sometimes made for a boring read. Don't get me wrong, the problems throughout Africa should be made known. I just feel as though this novel didn't do so in the most effective of ways. But if you're looking for an inspirational read about hope and life-after-tragedy, this book would be perfect.
No Country For Old Men was a somewhat different experience. I was utterly displeased with this story that had gained fame as both a novel and movie. Everytime I wanted to return the book to the library, I would make myself continue reading for hope it'd get better. I only go to Chapter 6...The plot of the story seemed exciting: a man (Llewelyn Moss) discovers a massacre linked to a drug deal gone bad. Nearby, he finds a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. A drugdealer connected to the bad deal spots Moss and the rest of the novel is spent with Moss trying to outrun the hitman sent out to kill him and recover the money. Sounds good, right? However. McCarthy's style of writing is extremely confusing. His most annoying habit was not putting qoutation marks around someone speaking. I would read entire passages in confusion before I realized it was actually a dialogue. Fletcher said McCarthy was an acquired taste....I tasted and immediately spat it back out.
A Long Way Gone was actually a very moving, insightful, 226 page non-fiction autobiography about an African boy who must flee from his home at the age of 12 from the rebels. He is on the run from the rebels for over a year, enduring everythig from being shot at, to losing friends and his brother, to starvation. When he is 13 years old, he is picked up by the government army and made to fight against the rebels. After years of violence, drugs, and other horrible acts, the army releases him to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. Things have been so bleak for Ishmael and the other boys in the army that his AK-47 and the other men the army have become his makeshift family. Ishmael actually states that he feels betrayed by the army for giving him up to UNICEF so he can resume a "normal" life. Although this was a moving story, my interest wasn't captured for most of the story because it appeared as though the same things happened over and over again in the first half of the novel. It was a continuous cycle: something horrific happens, he flees from the rebels, he's safe for awhile, repeat cycle. Although this may be the reality of living thorugh a genocide, it sometimes made for a boring read. Don't get me wrong, the problems throughout Africa should be made known. I just feel as though this novel didn't do so in the most effective of ways. But if you're looking for an inspirational read about hope and life-after-tragedy, this book would be perfect.
No Country For Old Men was a somewhat different experience. I was utterly displeased with this story that had gained fame as both a novel and movie. Everytime I wanted to return the book to the library, I would make myself continue reading for hope it'd get better. I only go to Chapter 6...The plot of the story seemed exciting: a man (Llewelyn Moss) discovers a massacre linked to a drug deal gone bad. Nearby, he finds a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. A drugdealer connected to the bad deal spots Moss and the rest of the novel is spent with Moss trying to outrun the hitman sent out to kill him and recover the money. Sounds good, right? However. McCarthy's style of writing is extremely confusing. His most annoying habit was not putting qoutation marks around someone speaking. I would read entire passages in confusion before I realized it was actually a dialogue. Fletcher said McCarthy was an acquired taste....I tasted and immediately spat it back out.
I need your help!
So basically all year we were required to have an SSR book every Monday. every Monday i had a book but i never found a book that interest me. i know it sounds crazy but i have not finished a whole book at all this year. i look at my other classmates and there are some people who have finished 3 or 4 books already. for some reason i have not found any that interest me. Ms. Fletcher has helped me pick out many books and i have not found interest in any. a couple books do sound interesting to me by reading these blogs but its still the matter of them me reading them. i have a hard time sticking with one book because i get bored really easy. if a book isn't descriptive or catch my attention from the beginning then i most likely wont finish the book. through out my high school years and just in general i struggle with reading and finding a good book. i ask my classmates and piers to help me. i hope this blog will give you some insite on what i struggle with and maybe help me find a book for the next quarter. if you have any interesting books just let me know and i would like to try them. THANK YOU!!
Quote Analysis: Into The Wild
"Chris invented this workout he called Road Warriors: He would lead us on long, killer runs through places like farmers' fields and construction sites, place we weren't supposed to be, and intentionally try to get us lost. We'd run at a slightly slower pace until we found a road we recognized and race home again at full speed. In a certain sense that's how Chris lived his entire life." (112)
The quote told by Gordy Cucullu, a highschool teammate, has summed up what McCandless had been doing. McCandless loved to run. Maybe it was to get away from his lifestyle. I doubt it was that because McCandless once confessed to his parents how he appreciated them crying his eyes out. He also adored his sister and hardly showed anger to his family. Maybe his lifestyle, didn't include just his family, but the materialism from everyone he knew. Alex tried to go beyond what was set in stone, and nobody knew how to handle the extremeities. He hated the fact that there were limits on almost everything when he knew he could at least make some effort to improve the lives of others. The limits were set from the risk of dying, and death just wouldn't matter to him. Maybe McCandless ran for exploration, to continue to make chanllenges and accomplish them without effort. He seemed to achieve everything he wanted and quit as soon as someone told him to polish up. He quit and ran away to some other skill he had naturally. There could be many reason why McCandless run, but it never seems like a flaw to him.
Very literally, McCandless worked at farms that required physical and hard labor. He then roll around the country and soon become lost again. He would write to most he came in contact with during his trip. Although, there were gaps, making him lost to society. Eventually he'd come around, find a place he recgonized and continue to write or work again in the same places. After ALaska, he didn't. Readers can tell that his intentions weren't to stay there until he died, even friends and teammates understood that. McCandless always wanted to come back, fine a famliar ground and run home. Unfortunatly, he had to die while he was lost.
Maybe we can all relate to this. Not as highschoolers, but as almost-to-be-away freshmen in other colleges. We're going to run away with homes in mind. Still, we'll have to leave them and try and become more independent. On the way, we'll become frustrated, anxious, even bored when we lose ourselves in new territory we've been so excited about all year. I plan to come back home every once in a while, but run back where I'll probably feel lost forever.
Another intrepretation for losing ourselves and finding a famliar road again could be of ourselves! A lot of us have no idea what we want to become. We've had so many difficulties finding what colleges we appeal to and what colleges appeal to us. We worry about what we want to do with the rest of our lives and who we're going to be with, and how we're going to get there. Once we find out our true passions. Once we find a place we're famliar with and love, I sure hope that we'll run after our goal horns first. I would do everything I could possibly do to fulfill my dreams. Whether that be to make a place a better world or deciding who I want to be for the rest of my life. I'm going to "race home" and make sure I get to what I want to be as fast as possible.
Hopefully, we can interpret this lifestyle to be a positive force on our lives. We can accomplish our dreams and fight for them. We should be stubborn at the approriate times and sometimes let go of those who don't understand. I just want to make this a positive experience.
The quote told by Gordy Cucullu, a highschool teammate, has summed up what McCandless had been doing. McCandless loved to run. Maybe it was to get away from his lifestyle. I doubt it was that because McCandless once confessed to his parents how he appreciated them crying his eyes out. He also adored his sister and hardly showed anger to his family. Maybe his lifestyle, didn't include just his family, but the materialism from everyone he knew. Alex tried to go beyond what was set in stone, and nobody knew how to handle the extremeities. He hated the fact that there were limits on almost everything when he knew he could at least make some effort to improve the lives of others. The limits were set from the risk of dying, and death just wouldn't matter to him. Maybe McCandless ran for exploration, to continue to make chanllenges and accomplish them without effort. He seemed to achieve everything he wanted and quit as soon as someone told him to polish up. He quit and ran away to some other skill he had naturally. There could be many reason why McCandless run, but it never seems like a flaw to him.
Very literally, McCandless worked at farms that required physical and hard labor. He then roll around the country and soon become lost again. He would write to most he came in contact with during his trip. Although, there were gaps, making him lost to society. Eventually he'd come around, find a place he recgonized and continue to write or work again in the same places. After ALaska, he didn't. Readers can tell that his intentions weren't to stay there until he died, even friends and teammates understood that. McCandless always wanted to come back, fine a famliar ground and run home. Unfortunatly, he had to die while he was lost.
Maybe we can all relate to this. Not as highschoolers, but as almost-to-be-away freshmen in other colleges. We're going to run away with homes in mind. Still, we'll have to leave them and try and become more independent. On the way, we'll become frustrated, anxious, even bored when we lose ourselves in new territory we've been so excited about all year. I plan to come back home every once in a while, but run back where I'll probably feel lost forever.
Another intrepretation for losing ourselves and finding a famliar road again could be of ourselves! A lot of us have no idea what we want to become. We've had so many difficulties finding what colleges we appeal to and what colleges appeal to us. We worry about what we want to do with the rest of our lives and who we're going to be with, and how we're going to get there. Once we find out our true passions. Once we find a place we're famliar with and love, I sure hope that we'll run after our goal horns first. I would do everything I could possibly do to fulfill my dreams. Whether that be to make a place a better world or deciding who I want to be for the rest of my life. I'm going to "race home" and make sure I get to what I want to be as fast as possible.
Hopefully, we can interpret this lifestyle to be a positive force on our lives. We can accomplish our dreams and fight for them. We should be stubborn at the approriate times and sometimes let go of those who don't understand. I just want to make this a positive experience.
Feed the Starving by your Vocabulary Skills!
Freerice.com is a non-profit website devoted to feeding the hungry by donating 10 grains of rice for every vocabulary question you get right. By going on this website, I learned that “25,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes.” It seems so surreal to us Americans that people could actually die of starvation. We are living in a country where even the poorest of people have access to food. Sponsors are kind enough to donate the rice to the starving people around the world, most of which are children.
I made more than 400 grains of rice! How much can you get??
I made more than 400 grains of rice! How much can you get??
My superawesomeamazing Into The Wild post
I will just come out and say it, "I like this book, so thank you Ms. Fletcher." :)
At least from what I have noticed, our class is mainly divided up into two opinions; those who think of McCandless as being selfish and quite stupid or ignorant for what he did and those who see him in that group of select few who have an inner desire to push the limits on what they do. I on the other hand have decided to stray from both of those ideas, at least in part. Let me explain: I do think Chris McCandless is selfish for what he did to his family, in the way that he left them, but I also must think he is party to that select few for how he followed his "calling." Now, what finishes summing up my opinion may or may not startle you; it could be possible that on top of him being slefish and courageous he has some sort of chemical imbalance in his brain, meaning that he has a mental problem. It would not be a stretch to consider that opinion, and yes i know there is quite a bit of evidence suggesting that there isn't but there is also some evidence suggesting that there is; his childish actitude to some things and the reverse adult actitude to others, also the way his mood changes and how hard he contemplates certain things.
Of course I cannot say for certain, but for the past few days I have been looking into it and talking to a few phsychologists so soon I will have an average opinion and give all of you a final answer based on the information I find.
At least from what I have noticed, our class is mainly divided up into two opinions; those who think of McCandless as being selfish and quite stupid or ignorant for what he did and those who see him in that group of select few who have an inner desire to push the limits on what they do. I on the other hand have decided to stray from both of those ideas, at least in part. Let me explain: I do think Chris McCandless is selfish for what he did to his family, in the way that he left them, but I also must think he is party to that select few for how he followed his "calling." Now, what finishes summing up my opinion may or may not startle you; it could be possible that on top of him being slefish and courageous he has some sort of chemical imbalance in his brain, meaning that he has a mental problem. It would not be a stretch to consider that opinion, and yes i know there is quite a bit of evidence suggesting that there isn't but there is also some evidence suggesting that there is; his childish actitude to some things and the reverse adult actitude to others, also the way his mood changes and how hard he contemplates certain things.
Of course I cannot say for certain, but for the past few days I have been looking into it and talking to a few phsychologists so soon I will have an average opinion and give all of you a final answer based on the information I find.
IVAN
uhhh this is my 3rd blog in ten minutes im really knocking these out ahha...but im responding to ivans post...i totally agree that he was kinda hypocritical but a lot can change in 10 years. thats plenty of time to have your opinions change. im sure he didnt know to much about the world when he was a kid doing odd jobs. but all the hypocrisy ends when he gives away 25 g's which is 100% anti money...
SSR: (sorry no cool title)
I'm reading a book (obviously) about a man who is hired by the heads of the French mob to kill the president of France, General Charles de Gaulle. This assasin is unkown to any government or secret service in the world, he is the best in his profession, and he has never failed. He is a tall and blond Englishman, a run-of-the-mill-guy, and he goes by only one name... The Jackal. This man, this Jackal, is very prcise and meticulous in everything he does without making a single mistake or leaving any trace of his prior presence. The story goes on to describe how he gets a custom built rifle, fake passports, and how he makes his way across most of Europe and finally arrivies in Paris, France.While all of this is happening, the French Secret Police get wind of the plot to kill the president. A man by the name of Commissare Claude Lebel is told to take every open case he is working on, set it aside, and make finding the Jackal his top and only priority.So I guess I will leave it at that and let you discover what happens. I just finished reading the book and it was quite and amazing ending. Personally I am not the type to sit and read a book in one or two days, but with this one i'm sure that many of you who read it will. 'The Jackal' is a brilliant work of writing and Frederick Forsyth has created the perfect asassin and a one-of-a-kind detective that hopefully has a chance at stopping this merciless killer.
SSR book - Cake by D
My SSR book was "Cake" by D and is 180 pages long. It’s classified as African-American fiction. The narrator is nameless, which was a nice spin on things. It's the sequel to a book titled "Got" by the same author. The main character is a man with a past. A very heavy past that mainly consisted of many dirty deeds and several acts of hatred & revenge that caused plenty of blood shed. The narrator has moved to Atlanta to live with one of the two only living relatives he has left. He plans to get an education and live a "normal" life. He's done some horrible things, but on his quest to run away from them, he gets tangled up in the same mess he was trying so hard to let go of. It all begins when he meets a beauty named Jennifer who draws him in like a fish on a fishing pole and the seven days that come after that encounter are the worst of his life.
The story-line for this book was very interesting. There are so many twists and turns that it keeps you wanting to read it. I fell in love with the main character. He has such a good heart and is just stuck in some downright dirty and messed up situations. His will to keep going through all of the unfortunate circumstances is what I liked a lot. It also reminded me of Chris McCandless too. The author is someone I wouldn’t call my favorite author, but I’d keep him in mind for further books. I could tell that either he was a great story teller, or he’s experience some of it for himself. I’m going to go with the latter of the two since it hints at it on the back of the book.
The things that I didn’t like were that the book was too short. I just wanted the story to keep going. I guess since the whole thing took place in seven days, any longer would have been dragging it out. I hadn’t read the first book so I was a tad confused on things. Like Names and places that popped out of no where. There’s a slight (very slight) recap at the beginning, but not significant enough that the reader really knows what’s going on. The ending is what makes the whole book worth it. I’m really big on good endings and I even though I didn’t like this one, it was still a very good one.
I would recommend this book to anyone that can stand a little violence. It’s not your typical love story with daisies and roses. It’s gritty and dangerous which is different for me. I still enjoyed it though.
The story-line for this book was very interesting. There are so many twists and turns that it keeps you wanting to read it. I fell in love with the main character. He has such a good heart and is just stuck in some downright dirty and messed up situations. His will to keep going through all of the unfortunate circumstances is what I liked a lot. It also reminded me of Chris McCandless too. The author is someone I wouldn’t call my favorite author, but I’d keep him in mind for further books. I could tell that either he was a great story teller, or he’s experience some of it for himself. I’m going to go with the latter of the two since it hints at it on the back of the book.
The things that I didn’t like were that the book was too short. I just wanted the story to keep going. I guess since the whole thing took place in seven days, any longer would have been dragging it out. I hadn’t read the first book so I was a tad confused on things. Like Names and places that popped out of no where. There’s a slight (very slight) recap at the beginning, but not significant enough that the reader really knows what’s going on. The ending is what makes the whole book worth it. I’m really big on good endings and I even though I didn’t like this one, it was still a very good one.
I would recommend this book to anyone that can stand a little violence. It’s not your typical love story with daisies and roses. It’s gritty and dangerous which is different for me. I still enjoyed it though.
MY thought on Chris
Chris McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp. what is there to say. The man was a G. He didnt want to show off to the world. He was felt like he was bounded to the chains of society and just wanted to get away from it all. he did what had to do knowing knowing full well what the consequences were. If he hadn't died, probably none of us would have cared to hear his story and his story sends a message to me personally saying to live your dream and not what everyone else wants you to.
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
This crazy story starts off with Tony, Roz, and Charis (the main characters) meeting in a restaurant as they have been doing ever since the death of Zenia . They all went to college together and although they all have different personalities and interests, they have one thing in common: all their lives were affected by Zenia.
One day, while dining at the restaurant, they spot Zenia entering . The person that they thought that had disappeared from their lives forever and that was dead was standing right before their very eyes. In shock they all leave the restaurant in a trance-like state, each one remembering the affect Zenia had on them a few years before.
Each of these three women were affected by Zenia and each of their story is told in sections throughout the book. Tony's life was affected by Zenia when they were in college together. Zenia and Tony used to be close friends and eventually Tony became friends with Zenia's roommate, West. West and Zenia were in love and lived together. One day, Zenia ran off with all the money West and her had in their joined account. This left Tony to fend for West because he got depressed and very confused. They eventually got married and lived happily when one day Zenia arrives back, having lost all her money. West feels sympathy and love for her and moves back with her, leaving Tony to fend for herself. After a few months, he returns and Tony accepts him back, but not fully because she never knew when he might leave her again.
Charis worked as a volunteer. When she gave refuge to Billy, who had escaped from the war at his hometown. They got married and lived in peace for a few years when one day Charis meets Zenia at the yoga center she was teaching. Zenia tells her how she has cancer and is going to die soon. Overcome with pity and care, Charis invites her over to stay at her house. After a few months of staying, Zenia tells her that Billy wants to sleep with her. Charis, shocked doesn't believe a word she sayz. One morning, after working on her small farm, she goes upstairs to find both Zenia and her husband gone and all her chickens' necks cut-off. She runs to the ferry to see Billy with two strange men and after that she never saw him again.
Roz was a married woman who owned an office. Her husband Mitch had many flings with women that he thought Roz didn't know. Roz meets Zenia when she was dining with Mitch. Zenia was one of the waitresses there. She tells Roz that her father saved her life in the war. One day Mitch leaves the house and goes to leave with Zenia. After a couple of weeks, Zenia writes him a letter and goes off. Mitch follows her. When he returns, Roz refuses to take him back. Then the news came that he died on a ship by drowning. They said that since he had a life jacket on, it couldn't have been suicide but Roz knew deep down that he had the life jacket on for the sake of her children and that he did do suicide. As the three women go about, thinking about the losses in their lives because of Zenia, Zenia's in her hotel room making new plans to make their lives even more miserable.
Margarett Atwood has a gift. She is by far the best author. I really recommend you all read her books. She does this thing where she tells the story but at the same time you don't quite know what is going to happen or even what is going on at all. She creates characters that you fall in love with and others that you learn to hate. The drama, the fury, the happiness and the love is in this book. I recommend both guys and girls to read this book....go on!!!
Into the Wild: Notice the Contradictions?
Contradiction is a part of everyday life. We say we'll do one thing, then do something else. We'll promise to post on the blog, then spend four hours doing absolutely nothing, or in some other cases, on the internet, because updating your status on myspace is much more important than a grade in a class. But some of the contradictions we see in the book just don't make sense to me.
Lets start with Chris McCandless. He wanted to go out into the wild if I'm not mistaken. Well that's all well and good young man, I wish you luck in that venture. What's that you say? You're going out into the wild, but you're going to live in an abandoned bus in the middle of nowhere? Sure, if you want to, go ahead. But while you're at it why not just stay in a Motel 6? Why not just eat out at McDonald's every night. It just doesn't make sense to me. It's like putting a third wheel on a segway, it totally defeats the purpose of the idea of a segway, or in this case, living out in the wild.
While we're on the topic of Chris McCandless, I should mention that he totally rejected the whole capitalist system prominent in society today. Nothing wrong with that. Communists reject the whole capitalist system. Okay, maybe that's a bad example because no one really likes commies. But McCandless turned out to be quite the businessman. He started a door to door business, selling vegetables grown from a garden in backyard. He made quite a profit, selling cart's full of vegetables and returning with a fistfull of green.
That's only one example. At the age of twelve Chris started a copy service. He printed up fliers advertising his business. He offered free pick up and delivery with his service. He used his parent's copy machine. Chris would charge two cents less than the corner store, then give his parents a few cents for the use of the copier. In this venture he made a profit as well. Then Chris took a job from a local building contractor, canvassing neighborhoods, and doing general all around handiwork. He was so successful that the owner of the building contractor offered to pay for Chris's college education if he stayed behind and kept working for him.
In each of these business ventures, Chris was largely successful. Not exactly a model anti-capitalism spokesman then, but maybe Chris thought that his participating in the capitalist system was okay, whereas for others he raised hell. Do as I say, not as I do indeed. In the Canvassing job, he eventually had half a dozen other students working under him. With the money he made from that job, he paid for that sweet Yellow Datsun he tramped around the US in. Though I have to wonder why he never sprung for some sick rims, or a banging sound system.
Lets start with Chris McCandless. He wanted to go out into the wild if I'm not mistaken. Well that's all well and good young man, I wish you luck in that venture. What's that you say? You're going out into the wild, but you're going to live in an abandoned bus in the middle of nowhere? Sure, if you want to, go ahead. But while you're at it why not just stay in a Motel 6? Why not just eat out at McDonald's every night. It just doesn't make sense to me. It's like putting a third wheel on a segway, it totally defeats the purpose of the idea of a segway, or in this case, living out in the wild.
While we're on the topic of Chris McCandless, I should mention that he totally rejected the whole capitalist system prominent in society today. Nothing wrong with that. Communists reject the whole capitalist system. Okay, maybe that's a bad example because no one really likes commies. But McCandless turned out to be quite the businessman. He started a door to door business, selling vegetables grown from a garden in backyard. He made quite a profit, selling cart's full of vegetables and returning with a fistfull of green.
That's only one example. At the age of twelve Chris started a copy service. He printed up fliers advertising his business. He offered free pick up and delivery with his service. He used his parent's copy machine. Chris would charge two cents less than the corner store, then give his parents a few cents for the use of the copier. In this venture he made a profit as well. Then Chris took a job from a local building contractor, canvassing neighborhoods, and doing general all around handiwork. He was so successful that the owner of the building contractor offered to pay for Chris's college education if he stayed behind and kept working for him.
In each of these business ventures, Chris was largely successful. Not exactly a model anti-capitalism spokesman then, but maybe Chris thought that his participating in the capitalist system was okay, whereas for others he raised hell. Do as I say, not as I do indeed. In the Canvassing job, he eventually had half a dozen other students working under him. With the money he made from that job, he paid for that sweet Yellow Datsun he tramped around the US in. Though I have to wonder why he never sprung for some sick rims, or a banging sound system.
Twilight SSR
So basically this book is awesome! It's called twilight, which I am sure most of you have heard of, it consists of 498 pages and the author is Stephenie Meyer. This book is great especially if you are interested in adventure and ficticious types of books. It is about a girl named Bella who moves to a new state with her dad and is the new kid at school. She instantly is attracted to the other main character, Edward Cullen, who happens to be a vampire. She meets his family and this is the start of her being stuck in the family forever and not being able to spill their secret. They both fall madly in love and can't live with out each other. The problem is that Edward is a vampire and has to control himself around her or things can get ugly. This is all I am going to say about Twilight so I don't spoil any of the good stuff.
The book is targeted at young adults but it is so nicely written that it can definitely hook any and all ages. Stephanie Meyer is a great author and describes every seen so well you can not only picture what is happening but you feel like you are there in the story sometimes. I know the book is pretty long but don't let it discourage you because you will fly through the book without even knowing it. I personally am not a big reader so I know how a book can drag you along with it, but this book is different. Just give it a chance and you might be surprised like
I was. I thought I would never hear myself say this but the BOOK IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!
The book is targeted at young adults but it is so nicely written that it can definitely hook any and all ages. Stephanie Meyer is a great author and describes every seen so well you can not only picture what is happening but you feel like you are there in the story sometimes. I know the book is pretty long but don't let it discourage you because you will fly through the book without even knowing it. I personally am not a big reader so I know how a book can drag you along with it, but this book is different. Just give it a chance and you might be surprised like
I was. I thought I would never hear myself say this but the BOOK IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Incidents in the Life of a Slave girl, an American history book (223 pgs) by Harriet Jacobs, is a true and breath taking story about a Harriet Jacobs herself. Harriet was born into slavery in 1813 and never got to truly be a child for the fact that she served her owners by the age of six years old. Harriet's father was a carpenter, a well respected man who always attempted to purchase his children but no matter how much he would offer, he never succeeded. Though Harriet was a slave she never felt that she was because of the safe keeping of her parents.
It wasn't until Harriet's mother, Delilah, died that she learned she was indeed a slave. Harriet was only six years old and was sent to live with her mother's Mistress, Margret Horniblow. Margret was raised by Harriet's grandmother and was like a foster sister to Delilah. They grew up together and before Delilah's passing Margret promised her that she would make sure that her children were taken care of after her death.
Harriet enjoyed living with her mistress very much. She was never forced to do harsh work and was always more than happy to served mistress Horniblow. She loved to work for her and be around her and when the mistress felt that Harriet was tired, she would permit her to run and play. But when Harriet was just twelve years old, her mistress became ill and died. Because Harriet had loved her mistress the burden was losing her was immense; she was like a mother to her. Harriet knew she would never have such a kind mistress like Margret again. She was sent to live with her grandmother for a week while they found her a knew master.
Harriet was sold to Dr. Flint. She prepared herself for an unhappy life but what her new master does to her is something she certainly could't be prepared to face. Dr. flint sexually abuses Harriet and later taunts her when she falls in love with a freed colored man; teasing her by telling her she will nver be sold to her lover and she will never get to be happy and raise a family. Her lover attempts a few times to purchase her but Dr. Flint won't allow it claiming that Harriet is his property but that property of his young daughter and he has no right to sell her. Having had enough Harriet escapes and goes into hiding with her grandmother.
I really liked this book. There are certain chapters in this book that touch you emotionally; they make you angry, sad, and somtimes happy. Jacobs really allowed for me to visualize what she went through it was almost like a movie in my mind. I really enjoyed it and I recommend to anyone who loves reading emotional books. =]
It wasn't until Harriet's mother, Delilah, died that she learned she was indeed a slave. Harriet was only six years old and was sent to live with her mother's Mistress, Margret Horniblow. Margret was raised by Harriet's grandmother and was like a foster sister to Delilah. They grew up together and before Delilah's passing Margret promised her that she would make sure that her children were taken care of after her death.
Harriet enjoyed living with her mistress very much. She was never forced to do harsh work and was always more than happy to served mistress Horniblow. She loved to work for her and be around her and when the mistress felt that Harriet was tired, she would permit her to run and play. But when Harriet was just twelve years old, her mistress became ill and died. Because Harriet had loved her mistress the burden was losing her was immense; she was like a mother to her. Harriet knew she would never have such a kind mistress like Margret again. She was sent to live with her grandmother for a week while they found her a knew master.
Harriet was sold to Dr. Flint. She prepared herself for an unhappy life but what her new master does to her is something she certainly could't be prepared to face. Dr. flint sexually abuses Harriet and later taunts her when she falls in love with a freed colored man; teasing her by telling her she will nver be sold to her lover and she will never get to be happy and raise a family. Her lover attempts a few times to purchase her but Dr. Flint won't allow it claiming that Harriet is his property but that property of his young daughter and he has no right to sell her. Having had enough Harriet escapes and goes into hiding with her grandmother.
I really liked this book. There are certain chapters in this book that touch you emotionally; they make you angry, sad, and somtimes happy. Jacobs really allowed for me to visualize what she went through it was almost like a movie in my mind. I really enjoyed it and I recommend to anyone who loves reading emotional books. =]
TWILIGHT ;; DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT ;]
The book that has had my attention during the majority of our classroom SSR days is Twilight, written by Stephenie Meyer. How cliche right?? WRONG! Okay so at first, I had major doubts about Twilight. I thought that the whole "Twilight Scene" was over-rated and that all the people who read it [aka: Twlighters], were completely crazy. I saw the movie, and for some odd reason it caught my attention, so I decided to read the book. I have came to the conclusion that the book is pretty good. The way Stephenie Meyer writes, is so easy to read but still complex. This book is filled with 498 pages of mind blowing text along with a preface at the beginning and end of the book.
For those of you who may not know what Twilight is about, let me just tell you the basics.
BELLA- Hi, I'm Bella, and I'm an idiot, so I decided to move to Forks, Washington. There's too much green here. I'm really klutzy, did you know that? I also faint when I see blood.
Oooh, who's that? OMG, he's gorgeous. His name is Edward. It's not like I stalk him or anything, really. It's just that he's perfect, beautiful, amazing, breathtaking, and gorgeous, and also my favorite stone depends on the color of his eyes at any given moment.
And when it snows, the snow looks like the end of a Qtip. Snow isn't supposed to look like a Qtip, damn it! It wasn't so cold and rainy back in Arizona.
EDWARD- I'm Edward.
BELLA- Hi Edward! (to herself) OMG, two boys just asked me to the dance? What should I do? No! I can't go to the dance! OMG, why isn't Edward in school?
JACOB- Probably because he's a vampire.
BELLA (to Edward)- OMG, Edward, you're a vampire.
EDWARD- Yes. And you smell amazing. I can't keep myself away from you. The smell of your blood is delicious.
BELLA- Make me a vampire, Edward. Because if you don't make me a vampire, then one day, I'll die, and I won't be near you.
EDWARD- But I don't want to hurt you.
BELLA- (whining) But I don't caaaaaaaare!
EDWARD- Hey, look at my skin sparkle in the sun!
BELLA- OMG, that is so cool. Edward, I love you.
EDWARD- I know. And I keep saving your life. Plus I can read minds.
BELLA- That is so cool!
EDWARD- But I can't read your mind. I don't know why.
BELLA- How can I become a vampire?
EDWARD- I'm not telling you. Hey, wanna play vampire baseball?
BELLA- Yes!
EDWARD- FYI, we have to wait for a thunderstorm.
BELLA- That's so cool. Edward, I don't care if it hurts, I just want to be a vampire, because I am obsessively in love with you.
that's basically what the story's about without any plot spoilers because Ms. Fletcher said not to include them :] But yes, that's my sarcastic summary of the book. The only bad thing about thiss book is that nothing really goes on for the first 200 pages or so, and the word "Vampire" is not even mentioned until later in the book. But overall, the book is really addicting.
Okay thank you.
[don't hate on my book review, thanks]
-Melanie Morris
For those of you who may not know what Twilight is about, let me just tell you the basics.
BELLA- Hi, I'm Bella, and I'm an idiot, so I decided to move to Forks, Washington. There's too much green here. I'm really klutzy, did you know that? I also faint when I see blood.
Oooh, who's that? OMG, he's gorgeous. His name is Edward. It's not like I stalk him or anything, really. It's just that he's perfect, beautiful, amazing, breathtaking, and gorgeous, and also my favorite stone depends on the color of his eyes at any given moment.
And when it snows, the snow looks like the end of a Qtip. Snow isn't supposed to look like a Qtip, damn it! It wasn't so cold and rainy back in Arizona.
EDWARD- I'm Edward.
BELLA- Hi Edward! (to herself) OMG, two boys just asked me to the dance? What should I do? No! I can't go to the dance! OMG, why isn't Edward in school?
JACOB- Probably because he's a vampire.
BELLA (to Edward)- OMG, Edward, you're a vampire.
EDWARD- Yes. And you smell amazing. I can't keep myself away from you. The smell of your blood is delicious.
BELLA- Make me a vampire, Edward. Because if you don't make me a vampire, then one day, I'll die, and I won't be near you.
EDWARD- But I don't want to hurt you.
BELLA- (whining) But I don't caaaaaaaare!
EDWARD- Hey, look at my skin sparkle in the sun!
BELLA- OMG, that is so cool. Edward, I love you.
EDWARD- I know. And I keep saving your life. Plus I can read minds.
BELLA- That is so cool!
EDWARD- But I can't read your mind. I don't know why.
BELLA- How can I become a vampire?
EDWARD- I'm not telling you. Hey, wanna play vampire baseball?
BELLA- Yes!
EDWARD- FYI, we have to wait for a thunderstorm.
BELLA- That's so cool. Edward, I don't care if it hurts, I just want to be a vampire, because I am obsessively in love with you.
that's basically what the story's about without any plot spoilers because Ms. Fletcher said not to include them :] But yes, that's my sarcastic summary of the book. The only bad thing about thiss book is that nothing really goes on for the first 200 pages or so, and the word "Vampire" is not even mentioned until later in the book. But overall, the book is really addicting.
Okay thank you.
[don't hate on my book review, thanks]
-Melanie Morris
Monster!
one book i read this year for ssr was Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A Gang Member which is written by Sanyika Shakur aka Monster Kody Scott. Monster is an OG from Eight Tray who are crips.In the book Monster talks about everything from how he got into gangs to his transformation to Sanyika Shakur. This book was really interesting because its the closet most of us will ever get to understanding life in the "hood." everyone interested in gangs and things like that should definately read this!
Night
Night is written by Elie Wiesel and it is 120 pages long. The book is about a young teenage boy, named Eliezer, who is growing up in Sighet, Hungarian Transylvania. While he is in school, studying the Jewish Religion, his teacher was on a train when it was taken over by the Gestapo (the German Secret Police Force) to a forest, where they were butchered. In 1944 the Nazis took over Hungry and boarded all of the people in Eliezer’s town into cattle cars for several days until they reached their destination of Birkenau, the gateway to Auschwitz. When the cattle cars arrived in Birkenau, Eliezer and his father were separated from his mother and sisters, who the never saw again. Eliezer and his father were put through evaluations, where they see if the Jews should be killed immediately or put into a prison which is where they ended up. Eliezer is put to work in an electrical-fittings factory. All the Jews are working under slave-labor conditions and they are all viciously beaten. Eliezer had to go under the knife due to a foot injury, while he was recovering the Nazis decided to move camps because the Russians were invading the camp. After traveling over fifty miles to their destination, they Nazis decided to move to another concentration camp called Buchenwald. Throughout traveling from concentration camp to concentration camp hundreds of Jews die including his father. Eliezer pulls through all the tough obstacles that he has been put through all the way to when the Americans saved them. This is definitely a book you should read if you are interested in WWII.
CANON..Just Waiting to Explode!
While I was exploring the blogger page, feeding the hungry and laughing at the picture of the ninja squirrel, I came across the link for the quotes of the day and the last one intrigued me. It said:
“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it”(Rita Mae Brown).
It seems that Chris McCandless was aware of this. He was finally done pleasing everyone else, and wanted to get away, like the adventurers in his books. He wanted to live on the land, to fend for himself, to go out sock-less! His life was so planned and so precise and that wasn’t how he wanted to live. He read books that gave him hope to a world of adventure and self-fulfillment. A world where he was in charge and he could be free from his metaphorical cage, sheltering him from the magnificent world at his disposal. He was like a canon, building up all these ideas and conceptions that were held in so long, it was about time they all exploded out, the only warning was the lit fuse.
He had an intense thirst for adventure, that led him to do all of the crazy, unpredictable things that he had done. A couple weeks ago, Mrs. Fletcher was talking about how some people don’t have a fear receptor, which is what makes people get scared, like if someone popped a balloon, most people would flinch, or even shriek, but the people that don’t have the same brain functions that we do, wouldn’t get scared. It was brought up that perhaps he didn’t feel fear. I don’t believe this is true, but I do believe that he wanted to feel the excitement that oh so often goes along with fear. Its those butterflies you get in your stomach that some people love and others despise. He wanted those butterflies and I believe that he fought his brain that told him to be scared. He did things that he has never done before, that even experts are skeptical about, like white water kayaking and battling the Alaskan wildlife alone .
“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it”(Rita Mae Brown).
It seems that Chris McCandless was aware of this. He was finally done pleasing everyone else, and wanted to get away, like the adventurers in his books. He wanted to live on the land, to fend for himself, to go out sock-less! His life was so planned and so precise and that wasn’t how he wanted to live. He read books that gave him hope to a world of adventure and self-fulfillment. A world where he was in charge and he could be free from his metaphorical cage, sheltering him from the magnificent world at his disposal. He was like a canon, building up all these ideas and conceptions that were held in so long, it was about time they all exploded out, the only warning was the lit fuse.
He had an intense thirst for adventure, that led him to do all of the crazy, unpredictable things that he had done. A couple weeks ago, Mrs. Fletcher was talking about how some people don’t have a fear receptor, which is what makes people get scared, like if someone popped a balloon, most people would flinch, or even shriek, but the people that don’t have the same brain functions that we do, wouldn’t get scared. It was brought up that perhaps he didn’t feel fear. I don’t believe this is true, but I do believe that he wanted to feel the excitement that oh so often goes along with fear. Its those butterflies you get in your stomach that some people love and others despise. He wanted those butterflies and I believe that he fought his brain that told him to be scared. He did things that he has never done before, that even experts are skeptical about, like white water kayaking and battling the Alaskan wildlife alone .
into the wild
well im not really sure how i feel about Alexander Supertramp...in some ways i feel "alexander supertramp" is someone to admire. i feel this way because he wasnt afraid to stand up for what he believes and he is not just one of those people that talks about how messed up society is...he did something about it..for himself anyway and that counts for something....but on the other side of things i feel he is a selfish and arrogant...hes selfish because he left people that he loved behind and didnt even give them a chance to say goodbye or write. he also hurt a lot of people that helped him like that old man...he arrogant because he went into Alaska thinking he could survive with some rice and a small gun....i guess the dude was just misinformed!
The Things We do for Love
This is my second time writing this…I posted one before but I looked on the blog and it wasn’t there…=(anyways.. This book is by Kristin Hannah. Random author, I know. I usually don’t read books by people I never heard of, but my mom recommended I read this so I gave it a shot..This book tells the stories of two different people. Angela is a woman that was raised in a great household with loving parents and two sisters that always looked after her. She grew up to marry a man, and she was the happiest ever. There marriage fell through, however, when they couldn’t have a baby. That is all Angela ever wanted.Lauren is a seventeen year old that grew up raising herself. She only saw her mom when she came around to take money from Angela for her next drink down at the bar. Lauren is very smart, though, and gets accepted into a very high end school. Her only problem is paying for it.From the moment Lauren and Angela meet, they connect. Angela asks Lauren to work at their family restaurant and Lauren gladly does so. They grow close together. However, when a certain situation arises, everything changes.This book is not full of action or extraordinary events. It is very realistic, which is why I think I like it. I recommend this to any girl(boys will get bored..). It is a very heartwarming story that leaves you with a tear in your eye.
Queston: Role Models
What confused me most is why, if he was so intelligent, why would he have such DUMB role models? How could he not have known what the authors were really like?
SSR response: 3rd quarter
A Long Way Gone: memoirs of a boy soldier by Ishmael Beah
This book is amazing, it's about a12 year old boy named Ishmael Beah who was forced to flea his home because of attacking rebels in Sierra Leone. By age 13 he was picked up by the government army & forced to commit terrible and cruel acts.He was one of the many children soldiers who were hoppes up on drugs & wielding AK-47s .He was now being forced to do to other people the same thing that caused him to flea his home. At 16 he was released from the army to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. It was hard for Beah to cope with the momories of the war and the terrible crimes that he was forced to commit, and also to regain a normal mentallity.
I don't want to give away too much, but it's a really good book that you all should read. I have it if anyone would like to borrow it!
This book is amazing, it's about a12 year old boy named Ishmael Beah who was forced to flea his home because of attacking rebels in Sierra Leone. By age 13 he was picked up by the government army & forced to commit terrible and cruel acts.He was one of the many children soldiers who were hoppes up on drugs & wielding AK-47s .He was now being forced to do to other people the same thing that caused him to flea his home. At 16 he was released from the army to the UNICEF rehabilitation center. It was hard for Beah to cope with the momories of the war and the terrible crimes that he was forced to commit, and also to regain a normal mentallity.
I don't want to give away too much, but it's a really good book that you all should read. I have it if anyone would like to borrow it!
SSR: Breaking Dawn/Tender At The Bone/Into The Wild
So I re-joined ERW at the beginning of the third quarter. Before re-joining I just finished the last book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. Then when I came a part of Ms.Fletcher's first period class, it became the time to choose a new ssr book. I remember one morning Fletcher seriously set out about ten books and described each one to me and told me to choose one. The one I chose is called Tender At the Bone. And then of course it was time to buy our Into The Wild books, so I went out and bought that and started reading it the night I bought it. It kind of felt like my ssr book, which led me to not yet finishing my Tender at The Bone book, because I got so wrapped up in Into The Wild. First I guess I'll discuss a little bit about Breaking Dawn. Every single Twilight fanatic will tell you differently about this last book and some despise it while others couldn't bare to know it is the end. I am one of the people who was dreading that I was on the very last page of the book! It was everything I wanted and more. Stephanie Meyers went above and beyond my expectations with the story line! You see, I predicted that Bella wasn't going to become a vampire until the very end! Was I ever wrong about that! Right from the start it was non-stop action. I lived in the world of Breaking Dawn while reading it. My favorite thing about this book, and just the Twilight series in general is that while I am reading it, there is a vivid movie that plays in my mind for each book. That is when I know I am really into the book and it's story! The main thing I always hear about this book is how some people hate the ending, and others love it. Some people are talking about how the ending is way too happy and cliche. I think the ending to the series is perfect and fitting! Yes, it is extremely a "happily ever after" ending, but how else would someone want it to end? The ending made me so happy and it was simple and sweet. Edward + Bella + Renesmee= A life all happy together with no worries of the Volturi bothering them again! As for Tender at The Bone, I got exactly to the middle of the story. So far what I read is really entertaining, clever, and witty. Ruth Reichl uses her love of food to tell her story of growing up with her mother, who cannot cook to save her life, and her father. They live in the Manhattan area and with her mother lacking so many kitchen and cooking skills, this forced Reichl, in a good way, to become more dominant in the kitchen. She becomes quite the cook and tells stories about her childhood life, high school life, college life, and even her days in Quebec where she attended an all-girl fluent speaking French school. Her writing style is really laid-back and makes you feel at home. She even includes recipes in her book as well. So far what I am getting from this book is that it is about growing up with the influence of being a good cook and having good food as a part of her life. She tells you her stories as if you were right there with her. That is my favorite part about Reichl's writing so far.
I'm reading a book (obviously) about a man who is hired by the heads of the French mob to kill the president of France, General Charles de Gaulle. This assasin is unkown to any government or secret service in the world, he is the best in his profession, and he has never failed. He is a tall and blond Englishman, a run-of-the-mill-guy, and he goes by only one name... The Jackal. This man, this Jackal, is very prcise and meticulous in everything he does without making a single mistake or leaving any trace of his prior presence. The story goes on to describe how he gets a custom built rifle, fake passports, and how he makes his way across most of Europe and finally arrivies in Paris, France.
While all of this is happening, the French Secret Police get wind of the plot to kill the president. A man by the name of Commissare Claude Lebel is told to take every open case he is working on, set it aside, and make finding the Jackal his top and only priority.
So I guess I will leave it at that and let you discover what happens. I just finished reading the book and it was quite and amazing ending. Personally I am not the type to sit and read a book in one or two days, but with this one i'm sure that many of you who read it will. 'The Jackal' is a brilliant work of writing and Frederick Forsyth has created the perfect asassin and a one-of-a-kind detective that hopefully has a chance at stopping this merciless killer.
While all of this is happening, the French Secret Police get wind of the plot to kill the president. A man by the name of Commissare Claude Lebel is told to take every open case he is working on, set it aside, and make finding the Jackal his top and only priority.
So I guess I will leave it at that and let you discover what happens. I just finished reading the book and it was quite and amazing ending. Personally I am not the type to sit and read a book in one or two days, but with this one i'm sure that many of you who read it will. 'The Jackal' is a brilliant work of writing and Frederick Forsyth has created the perfect asassin and a one-of-a-kind detective that hopefully has a chance at stopping this merciless killer.
Don't make excuses for your brother Carine
How can Carine not feel hurt by the fact that her brother never tried to contact her? I don't believe that their relationship was as strong as the book portrayed it to be. My sisters and I have a stronger bond than anything else in this world and if any one of them were to ever wonder off without letting me know how they're doing, I would be so upset and hurt. I believe that Carine is making excuses when she says that she understands why Chris never sent her any mail and that she was not hurt. When we lose someone special, we make up excuses and senarios to make conclusions that never emerged beacause of the death to make ourselves feel at peace because we all feel better when we know why things happened the way they did. So, let me know, do you believe that Carine is making excuses to make herself feel better about the situation?
BASICally:
I commented on one of Tiffany Smith's older posts. She was discussing Krakauer's use of the term pilgrim to describe McCandless. But when I finished, I realized "Dang! This could totally be a post." So here it is: my thoughts for anyone who thinks Chris is/was crazy.
When I came upon this passage, I analyzed it such to discover validity in Krakauer's claim. I did. Easily. The type of pilgrim with which I, and just about everyone who has passed elementary school, am familiar is the type that came to America from England in the 17th century. These people were fleeing from religious and political persecution done unto them by those in authority.
Why America? Because it was far enough away that it was an unadultered immensity where they could start anew, governed by their own principles. And thus, Chris was correctly deemed a pilgrim.
In his eyes, his parents were the authorities who were imposing their capitalistic ways on him. So he fled to Alaska to chart his own journey, and on the way, he met some helpful, providing friends (the equivalent of Squanto in essence).
Sure, go ahead and think McCandless as crazy. He's a pilgrim, and people thought pilgrims were crazy. The same holds true with Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Shakespeare, even MLK. People destined for greatness, especially when they are different than normal, are often labled crazy. To me, McCandless crazy= crazy-good. Like pop-tarts...
Or Mr. Nguyen.
When I came upon this passage, I analyzed it such to discover validity in Krakauer's claim. I did. Easily. The type of pilgrim with which I, and just about everyone who has passed elementary school, am familiar is the type that came to America from England in the 17th century. These people were fleeing from religious and political persecution done unto them by those in authority.
Why America? Because it was far enough away that it was an unadultered immensity where they could start anew, governed by their own principles. And thus, Chris was correctly deemed a pilgrim.
In his eyes, his parents were the authorities who were imposing their capitalistic ways on him. So he fled to Alaska to chart his own journey, and on the way, he met some helpful, providing friends (the equivalent of Squanto in essence).
Sure, go ahead and think McCandless as crazy. He's a pilgrim, and people thought pilgrims were crazy. The same holds true with Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Shakespeare, even MLK. People destined for greatness, especially when they are different than normal, are often labled crazy. To me, McCandless crazy= crazy-good. Like pop-tarts...
Or Mr. Nguyen.
I'll tell you about an awesome book!
I don’t know if any of you guys have read Beloved by Toni Morrison or have seen the movie, but I love this book. Actually Toni Morrison is one of my favorite writers, I’ve read a couple of her books and I love her unique way of writing. Beloved is an amazing story, it’s about a mother who comes together with her daughter after fifteen years. The thing is that the daughter had died as a baby, and the way the little girl dies is the most disturbing way it could’ve happened. The book is so interesting I highly recommended if you have not read it.
Finished Into The Wild. Don't Know Where I Stand..?
I recently just finished Into The Wild on Monday and I still cannot figure out where I stand on how I feel about the book. In all honesty, this is the first time a book has ever been able to do this to me. Throughout reading the book, I had mixed feelings while reading through the chapters. I feel as though in the beginning of the book I couldn't put it down. I really liked how it took off and how my attention was caught right away. Then towards the middle of the book, it was to the point where if I was reading it at night time and was enjoying it, I could put it down because my interest level in it was decreasing. What I really liked about the book was the different points of views there were from the several different people McCandless came across while in his travels. As the book started nearing to the end, it was getting plain boring and some of the content was becoming almost ridiculous with the whole Krakauer talking about his own climbing stories and such. Besides that, the more I learned about Chris McCandless, the more I was convinced he was not crazy. Through the first couple of chapters of the book, I have to say I was thinking that McCandless was some crazy, adventure-hungry man who just wanted to show-off how tough he was by going out into the world and hitchhiking/traveling from place to place. Now I realize that he was not CRAZY...but I am stuck on as to what I truly think of Chris McCandless. I think it is amazing that he made it as far as he did and lived as long as he lived the way he was going about. He did something that no one would do. He literally ditched society and created a life of his own. The life he wanted to live. He saw himself living in the presence of nature and a life free from the rules and regulations of society. Unfortunately, he didn't live to be able to tell his own stories of his travels from his point of view. Have you ever heard that one question people ask, if you could chose a person who has died to sit down and eat dinner with and talk to and ask questions, who would it be? Well my person would be Chris McCandless. Then I could truly know where I stand on how I think he is.
Haha...funny stuff :D
Soooo...I just got back from Boing Boing. I think that website was one of the most webpages I've ever seen. From Los Pikadientes De Caborca - La Cumbia Del Río to Guitar Hero to bottled holy water (say whattttt???). But it was fun..a nice break from ACTUAL work (i.e. writing about Into the Wild and our SSR books). I actually really like all of the random posts. They made me feel more "aware"...and on top of that, I like little random blurbs :)
Like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA
he's a little slow...but still cute :)
Like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA
he's a little slow...but still cute :)
What if Chris Survived?!?
I was excited when i first heard that we were reading Into the Wild. I was interested in finding out Chris McCandless' story, but as i started reading the book i really couldn't get into the book. One of the questions that have popped into my mind the most is What If Chris McCandless didn't die? I feel that not many people would be so interested in his story & we probably wouldn't be talking about it today. If Chris survived yes, I am sure that he would have written a book about his journey & surviving his "Alaska Odyssey" but that would probably be it.
I'm kind of getting the feeling that McCandless is a bit inconsiderate. I don't really know about anyone else but i am really close to my mom & I could never go years without letting her know if i was doing well or if I was even alive. Although the relationship with his parents was not that good I think that they had a right to know where he was.
I'm kind of getting the feeling that McCandless is a bit inconsiderate. I don't really know about anyone else but i am really close to my mom & I could never go years without letting her know if i was doing well or if I was even alive. Although the relationship with his parents was not that good I think that they had a right to know where he was.
Free Rice!
I love the freerice.com website because every time you answer a question correctly, they donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. The UN donates the rice to starving kids across the world. You can choose your best subject whether that is english, math, geography, chemistry, art, or foreign language. If you get an answer wrong, the next question will be easier and they will have that same question you missed again. Everyone needs to participate in this wonderful website because it not only helps your vocabulary but it also feeds hungry kids.
Christopher McCandless...
I had made up my mind that McCandless was doing what he was doing to get back at his parents for what they had done to him. I also thought to myself that he was overreacting because he resented his parents for not being around all the time because they had to work so much in a business that was ruining their marriage. As I read more I became to realize that what McCandless was doing had nothing to do with his parents, it was all for him. He wanted to be free from society and all the crazy rules that restricted hi liberty. He wanted to be just him no one else, no judgments no critics…nothing, just him and the earth alone.
The Wedding
From My favorite author Nicholas Sparks. If your not familiar with his work you should be.. The Notebook the most amazing novel/movie in the world! If you love romance this is the book for you. Preety much this is a book you read after the notebook. Basically after like thirty years, Wilson Lewis is forced to hear that his wife Jane is not in love with him anymore and Lewis knows its all his fault. He has been working to hard and has no time for his wife. Unlike his in-laws Noah and Allie (from the notebook) the cutest couple ever and the kind of relationship everyone wants in there lifetime. Wilson is unable to express his true feelings. He just can't get away from the office. His daughter is about to get married and his wife is debating whether to leave him or not? But Lewis is sure that he will not lose his wife and with the help of noah's past stories to win allie back he will do the same.
I really love this book and i suggest anyone who is a fan of the notebook should get this book and fall in love with it like i did! :]
I really love this book and i suggest anyone who is a fan of the notebook should get this book and fall in love with it like i did! :]
The OWL website- my favorite part of it!
The Owl website is like one I've never seen before. As I was looking through all of its' content (there is almost an overwhelming amount of it!), I came across "Writer's Block/ Writer's Anxiety" under The Writing Process under Navigation. This caught my attention immediately because this is a topic I can relate to. When I was about to open it, I was thinking to myself there would probably only be a little information, and probably something that would make me feel even less hopeful about getting writer's anxiety from time to time. Instead, when I the page popped up I was more than pleasantly surprised. There were six different "symptoms" and "possible cures" for writer's block/anxiety. And they are extremely helpful! I am definitely going to be referring to this website when I am in need of some writing advice and tips!
The World's Gig.
I've been reading the 133 paged Whirligig by Paul Fleishchman. Bret, the main character, has moved various times;so he never really has enough time adjust or get comfortable. One fateful night he attends a party, makes a fool of himself, and punches the most popular guy at school. In a rush to flee embarrassment Bret drives of and falls asleep on the wheel while driving home, and kills a girl named Lea Rosaliea Santos Zamora. A judge sentences to some counseling and allowed Lea's mother to give him a task. Being the kind women that she is she simply asks that Bret go to the four corners of the U.S., build and place Lea's favorite item:a whirligig, then take a picture of them stating where they are place in the back of the photo.
This gig around the world, well around the country changes Bret. In the process of learning a new art, of working with his hands he contemplates on the greatness that can be. He meets new types of people that shape him and the gifts of whirligigs Bret leaves behind changes people as well.
As a reader, I would say it is a quick read and it is quite descriptive. It definitely makes me want to build whirligigs--just to try it out at least.
♥peace
This gig around the world, well around the country changes Bret. In the process of learning a new art, of working with his hands he contemplates on the greatness that can be. He meets new types of people that shape him and the gifts of whirligigs Bret leaves behind changes people as well.
As a reader, I would say it is a quick read and it is quite descriptive. It definitely makes me want to build whirligigs--just to try it out at least.
♥peace
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