Uh so I just finished reading a sad scene..
Earlier I mentioned how Liz's dad died because he fell off of a roof
Well the scene in a memory
Liz and her father are up on a roof..
And well everything seems okay but he's attempting to fix something while Liz is drawing with chalk.
Two girl.
Her and a friend.
They're never the same, maybe because Liz doesn't really have any friends..
Maybe Liz is really lonely. She misses her mother almost every day and she wished that her mom was home(flashback).
I really hope that Liz is okay though because things seem to be looking worse for her as the hospital says.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Paris to the Moon (part 3)
I was curious about what there is to do for children in Paris (since Gopnik moves with his son). I found a little website that has like playgrounds and parks and kid-friendly stuff that families can do whilst in Paris. I thought it was kind of interesting.
Falling Into Place #3
So Liz definitely follows most of the symptoms of major Depressive Disorder-
Take a look at them here
Depression Diagnostic Criteria and Severity Rating
But then again, not all of them (like 3,4,6 and 8 aren't present to the reader (yet or at all)).
Whenever the book flashes back I can tell that she has changed a lot and how depression might be affecting her. I would say that she either has moderate or severe depression because she tried to kill herself, but then again, maybe it was so people would care about her again..???
Take a look at them here
Depression Diagnostic Criteria and Severity Rating
But then again, not all of them (like 3,4,6 and 8 aren't present to the reader (yet or at all)).
Whenever the book flashes back I can tell that she has changed a lot and how depression might be affecting her. I would say that she either has moderate or severe depression because she tried to kill herself, but then again, maybe it was so people would care about her again..???
Alice in WOnderland
So I'm only part way through it, But I'm reading "Alice;s Adventures in Wonderland." Here's where I bought it. It's got really nice illustrations and high quality paper.
I love how you could read it to a child, but it is still just as good to non-children. The illustrations match the tone of the text really well.
I've wanted to read this for a long time as it has always been one of my favorite movies and am glad I am finally getting around to it. There are certain chapters that have parts that weren't in any of the movies. Other parts, the movies match it perfectly. Like when she falls down the hole and the events immediately following. In contrast, there's a whole scene where she talks to some animals and races them that I don't remember from the movies at all.
I love how you could read it to a child, but it is still just as good to non-children. The illustrations match the tone of the text really well.
I've wanted to read this for a long time as it has always been one of my favorite movies and am glad I am finally getting around to it. There are certain chapters that have parts that weren't in any of the movies. Other parts, the movies match it perfectly. Like when she falls down the hole and the events immediately following. In contrast, there's a whole scene where she talks to some animals and races them that I don't remember from the movies at all.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Looking for Alaska (2)
As I get deeper into the story, I start to love it more and more. Green does a great job of creating "suspense" and twists throughout the story, that in turn reveal a lot about each of the characters. For example, when Alaska was a young child, she saw her mother die right in front of her eyes, which says a lot about her character and how she isn't like a normal girl her age, and how she somewhat lives on the edge. Green makes Miles' time at his new boarding school not at all what he thought his "Great Perhaps" would be, with the "Weekday Warriors" who always bully him and his bad experience with girls (Lara), but, slowly, Miles starts to fall in love with Alaska, and I think that that will be his Great Perhaps. Although, the new school and his new friends are changing him and how he lives, I think the root of his feelings and habits won't go away and he will fight for the greatness he wants, especially since Alaska already has a boyfriend.
This quote says a lot about the book and Miles as a character, how he thinks and how he feels towards Alaska.
This quote says a lot about the book and Miles as a character, how he thinks and how he feels towards Alaska.
Paris to the Moon (part 2)
Hugh commented about the picture in my last post, but pictures can't be put into the comments. The painting is only found in the beginning of the book and is the only picture in the book. Gopnik describes it kind of looking like the style of Daumier. Honoré Daumier was a french printmaker, painter, sculptor, and caricaturist (I will attach a link to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the pieces of his that are featured there). Gopnik often describes the architecture of Paris in detail, and a painting I found by Daumier kind of resembles how I picture it. Titled Der Künstler vor Notre-Dame, the painting shows people moving around the Notre Dame de Paris, which is a cathedral. Gopnik talks about the tall buildings in the city, and the buildings in the painting remind me of the descriptions in the book.
*link to Daumier's artwork* https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_daumierhonorevictorin.htm
The Stranger - careless or evil?
The further I read into this book, the more appalled I am by the way the main Character acts. I already knew that nothing really mattered to him; I did not realize, however, that if a person does not care about anything, then they basically have no morals. Meursault just does things that he is asked to do or wants to do without even considering that it is wrong or hurtful to others. It goes to the extent of him helping out his new friend Raymond to commit domestic abuse to his girlfriend. This really made me aware of the amount of awareness and passion it takes to truly make the right decision.
A Brief History of Everything
The book I am currently reading, A Brief History of Everything by Bill Bryson, is a historical description of discoveries in the field of astronomy. He begins with an explanation of the big bang, a mind blowing concept, with a focus on the scale of this event. He describes how in less than a second there was a change from nothingness to a universe full of matter, millions of miles in diameter. Bryson then goes on to explain other astronomical phenomena such as supernovas and the journey of light through space. He continues with a description of the solar system, putting the distances between planets into perspective. I am currently at the point where Bryson is explaining the discoveries of the scientific revolution, and specifically the idea of gravity. This book is already a medley of many ideas and concepts, and I'm not very far into it. I have a hard time imagining that there will be a lot of unity and cohesiveness between ideas presented in this book, but Bryson may tie it all back together.
Overall, I am interested in the subject matter, but the book seems a little dull. I think this is because he is covering so many topics and providing little detail for each one. I guess I should have expected this by the name of the book; each subject is briefly talked about, and while it is not a history of everything, it seems like he touches on everything astronomy related. I am curious to see Bryson's end goal with all of the subjects presented in the beginning of the book and how he will bring all of these together. I have read A Walk in the Woods by him, and his writing style seems consistent: a mixture of humor and fact that make for an intriguing story. I believe Bryson may be able to pull the book's subjects together, but I'll just have to wait and see.
The Stranger
After reading Perks of Being a Wall Flower, I decided to read one of the books that the main character had referenced. I had looked up several of the books he mentions but this particular book, The Stranger by Albert Camus, really stuck out to me. The main character of this book was described as careless and disconnected, the kind of person that doesn't care about anything. He believes that the world is meaningless and that is not worth trying in anything. I was instantly interested because most books involve a character that is over concerned and discontent with their current life while this one just does not care.
This point was expressed as soon as I started reading. The beginning of the book took place at the main character's mother's funeral. He does not know when his mother died, how old she was, that she had a boyfriend, and did not want to see the body before it was buried. I was fascinated by this perspective. I consider myself to be a realist who try to disregard anything that will cause drama but has no overall effect on a persons life; yet Meursault's view is so extreme that he instantly becomes a hated character. I can easily see how his awful mind set could have effected Charley in Perks of Being a Wall Flower, as he was in such a miserable and vulnerable mindset to begin with.
This point was expressed as soon as I started reading. The beginning of the book took place at the main character's mother's funeral. He does not know when his mother died, how old she was, that she had a boyfriend, and did not want to see the body before it was buried. I was fascinated by this perspective. I consider myself to be a realist who try to disregard anything that will cause drama but has no overall effect on a persons life; yet Meursault's view is so extreme that he instantly becomes a hated character. I can easily see how his awful mind set could have effected Charley in Perks of Being a Wall Flower, as he was in such a miserable and vulnerable mindset to begin with.
Pride and Prejudice
I have not seen the movie yet or finished the book, but here is the Pride and Prejudice trailer if you all want to check it out :)
The families and characters in Pride and Prejudice are proper and good families. They just want the best for their daughters. Little things such as manners or hints about liking someone are very different than nowadays. They are more soft spoken and not up-front about it. They hint at it and basically say in a proper way that if a woman likes a man, she has to "help" him see that. For Jane, she likes Mr. Bingley and had supper with him for nights in a row. The mothers do not think Bingley can tell that Jane likes him, but Jane's sister, Elizabeth, disagrees. She argues that if Jane were merely eating dinner with him she would not have learned much about him, however, much can happen in four evenings spent together. The family debates about happiness and marriage in their posh way, and I cannot help but pick out the differences between then and now. It's all so different.
The language contributes to the "old" yet traditional feel of the novel as well. For example, Austen writes "it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together"(19). Also, "They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation" (19). Of all the recent books I've read that were written in this millennium, none read quite like this. It has a proper tone and way of stating things. Their meanings are more in-depth and have to be interpreted more so than the newer pieces of literature that just plainly states what the protagonist is thinking.
Also, I think it's funny that Austen writes that her characters go to parties. I can't help thinking about parties nowadays and what parties then would be like. This novel takes place in the late 1700s to the early 1800s. Parties then compared to now would most likely be ballroom dancing with champagne, and maybe a couple "ruffians" may stay up all night and then leave drunk on a horse whereas compared to now, we may get drunk and drive cars home. People get drunk at a party and do crazy stuff that should never get posted on social media... but it does. There's most likely loud music, parents are out partying too, and the kind of dancing that is happening is certainly not ballroom dancing to make it plain.
Overall, I like how the novel is taking it slow with the relationships. People then like to get to know the person before anything life-changing happens. It was more personal then because they did not have the technology that we have today. They could not text their husband or wife or girlfriend or boyfriend. Instead, they actually had to rise from the sofa and ride on horseback if they wanted to see each other. The lack of technology also strengthened their communication skills because they had to plan in advance.
The families and characters in Pride and Prejudice are proper and good families. They just want the best for their daughters. Little things such as manners or hints about liking someone are very different than nowadays. They are more soft spoken and not up-front about it. They hint at it and basically say in a proper way that if a woman likes a man, she has to "help" him see that. For Jane, she likes Mr. Bingley and had supper with him for nights in a row. The mothers do not think Bingley can tell that Jane likes him, but Jane's sister, Elizabeth, disagrees. She argues that if Jane were merely eating dinner with him she would not have learned much about him, however, much can happen in four evenings spent together. The family debates about happiness and marriage in their posh way, and I cannot help but pick out the differences between then and now. It's all so different.
The language contributes to the "old" yet traditional feel of the novel as well. For example, Austen writes "it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together"(19). Also, "They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation" (19). Of all the recent books I've read that were written in this millennium, none read quite like this. It has a proper tone and way of stating things. Their meanings are more in-depth and have to be interpreted more so than the newer pieces of literature that just plainly states what the protagonist is thinking.
Also, I think it's funny that Austen writes that her characters go to parties. I can't help thinking about parties nowadays and what parties then would be like. This novel takes place in the late 1700s to the early 1800s. Parties then compared to now would most likely be ballroom dancing with champagne, and maybe a couple "ruffians" may stay up all night and then leave drunk on a horse whereas compared to now, we may get drunk and drive cars home. People get drunk at a party and do crazy stuff that should never get posted on social media... but it does. There's most likely loud music, parents are out partying too, and the kind of dancing that is happening is certainly not ballroom dancing to make it plain.
Overall, I like how the novel is taking it slow with the relationships. People then like to get to know the person before anything life-changing happens. It was more personal then because they did not have the technology that we have today. They could not text their husband or wife or girlfriend or boyfriend. Instead, they actually had to rise from the sofa and ride on horseback if they wanted to see each other. The lack of technology also strengthened their communication skills because they had to plan in advance.
Four-ging his toughness
I've been commenting on my previous comments before about the new sections I've been reading. But I guess I can't put links on comments so...new post.
Throughout the majority of the Divergent series, I always assumed Four to be a tough, almost unbreakable human. At times, we see when he is weak, however, even when he is weak, he's still above average. In Divergent, the only true time Four was weak was when he was in his fear simulation:
Throughout the majority of the Divergent series, I always assumed Four to be a tough, almost unbreakable human. At times, we see when he is weak, however, even when he is weak, he's still above average. In Divergent, the only true time Four was weak was when he was in his fear simulation:
After reading the book Four, I truly enjoyed learning Tobias's history before Tris came and his perspective on certain events. In Divergent, some things were briefly mentioned in the book. Many of these things, however, were explained in more details and had an explanation for in Four. For example, in Divergent, Tobias briefly tells Tris that there were a few changes made to the Dauntless initiation test the year she came. I did not think too much about it while reading Divergent. In Four though, Roth writes the reason behind why the initiation process was altered: Eric suggested the competition aspect of initiation to Mark in his leadership training session. Although I may have simply looked over it while reading Divergent, it was comforting/interesting to discover the reason behind events in Divergent.
The book exceeded my expectations because of these reasons. I originally assumed that Four would be about mainly the events which took place when Tris arrived, however in Four's point of view. I 'twas quite happy that Roth proved me wrong. The book is still written nicely with amazing reading font and book cover (Don't lie to yourself. We all judge books by their cover). Of course it wasn't as good as Divergent mainly because there are major time jumps at times like the huge 2yr jump from the time Tobias declined the leadership job and when Tris became an initiate but...it is a "spin-off" book of Divergent so...Four served its purpose. It did indeed serve its purpose well.
I will Four-give Veronica Roth for the faults in the book. I can't hold this grudge Four-ever...please Four-get that I ever made these puns :)
The book exceeded my expectations because of these reasons. I originally assumed that Four would be about mainly the events which took place when Tris arrived, however in Four's point of view. I 'twas quite happy that Roth proved me wrong. The book is still written nicely with amazing reading font and book cover (Don't lie to yourself. We all judge books by their cover). Of course it wasn't as good as Divergent mainly because there are major time jumps at times like the huge 2yr jump from the time Tobias declined the leadership job and when Tris became an initiate but...it is a "spin-off" book of Divergent so...Four served its purpose. It did indeed serve its purpose well.
I will Four-give Veronica Roth for the faults in the book. I can't hold this grudge Four-ever...please Four-get that I ever made these puns :)
where it began #3
Soooo she lives, yay, lol of course I mean what's a book (I like) if it doesn't have a happy, romantic ending? So her rich boyfriend (she is not rich) did not call her or text her at all while she was in the hospital and Gabby got super mad and worried that something had happened to him in the car accident as well. Not true tho :) Even thought they are of opposite social classes, they find each other in a park and talk it out. It all works out and while she does get in trouble with the cops because she told them she didn't remember what happened (because she really didn't), she goes back to school and "lives happily ever after." Overall, I found a lot of cynicism in the book but also suspense, teenage "humor" and insight into a corrupt system not necessarily confined to the rich and lastly, I love love stories, books and/or movies like this that are about teenage life, because that's what I'm going through right now.
Interpreters of Maladies Part 2
I read two new short stories last night and I want to talk about the one I thought was the most interesting, Interpreters of Maladies. A family of five goes on vacation to India and they go on a guided tour with a man named Mr. Kapasi. As the tour proceeds, Mr. Kapasi falls madly in love the wife on the tour, Mrs. Das. When he saw her for the first time, he was said to "believe that all was right with the world, that all the struggles were rewarded, that all of life's mistakes made sense in the end" (56). Mr. Kapasi gave Mrs. Das his address in hopes they would write letters. But as they grew closer, Mrs. Das reviels that she has had an affair and that her husband does not know that one of their sons is not his. For Mr. Kapasi, this revelation makes his affection for Mrs. Das subside. After this, Mr. Kapasi sees his address float away in the wind.
This story was so interesting to me because it was similar to a Disney movie or fable, but for adults. Sometimes it can be difficult to look at an event clearly when emotions are high. Mr. Kapasi could barely drive his car while thinking of Mrs. Das, but as soon as she revealed her secret, he immediately snapped back into reality and found wrong in his situation. The author was also trying to show that sometimes problems can work be resolved without intervention. Mr. Kapasi thought that a new woman would be better than his current wife because of his first impression, but he later realizes the cliche lesson, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
The tour that Mr. Kapasi was giving was set in the Konarack Sun Temple in India, one of the seven wonders of India. I did some research to see what the importance of the location of the tour was and found Daharmapada's Tale. This legend says that when the king was building the temple, he met his 12 year old son who he had never seen before because the king left his pregnant wife. The Tale foreshadows Mrs. Das's secret that she shares with Mr. Kapasi and adds an interesting background to the story. Here is a photo of the temple and its architecture.
I am enjoying this book because each chapter has new stories and lessons with unique characters and Indian culture. I am excited to keep reading.
This story was so interesting to me because it was similar to a Disney movie or fable, but for adults. Sometimes it can be difficult to look at an event clearly when emotions are high. Mr. Kapasi could barely drive his car while thinking of Mrs. Das, but as soon as she revealed her secret, he immediately snapped back into reality and found wrong in his situation. The author was also trying to show that sometimes problems can work be resolved without intervention. Mr. Kapasi thought that a new woman would be better than his current wife because of his first impression, but he later realizes the cliche lesson, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
The tour that Mr. Kapasi was giving was set in the Konarack Sun Temple in India, one of the seven wonders of India. I did some research to see what the importance of the location of the tour was and found Daharmapada's Tale. This legend says that when the king was building the temple, he met his 12 year old son who he had never seen before because the king left his pregnant wife. The Tale foreshadows Mrs. Das's secret that she shares with Mr. Kapasi and adds an interesting background to the story. Here is a photo of the temple and its architecture.
I am enjoying this book because each chapter has new stories and lessons with unique characters and Indian culture. I am excited to keep reading.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Inherent vice 3
I've noticed that Pynchon also paints the end of the sixties as a turning point from innocence and pure recklessness, to serious suspicion and turmoil. Pynchon talks about the events of Charles Manson: "End of a certain kind of innocence...No more of that, I guess." The atmosphere seemed to have shifted from a very groovy feel to a whole new sense of paranoia. People had to finally come to grips with reality.
Inherent vice 2
And it's this exhaustive rambling that I had mentioned before that starts to bring up similarities. The style and content of Pynchon's novel seems to be a cross between a book that would be by the late Hunter S Thompson and a Coen brothers movie. Of course this book seems to be a bit more humorous and lighthearted than the obsurd ridiculousness of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. How Pynchon is able to capture the essence of a certain time and place,such as LA at the tail end of the sixties, is an impressive feat.
Inherent vice 1
I love thomas pynchon's writing style. Every sentence just rambles on forever and ever you feel like you're out of breath by the end of the sentence. Also doc just seems to stumble into every event in this story in a nonchalant pot-filled haze
Falling Into Place #2
And this is what Liz's car probably looked like after she crashed (HER NICE MERCEDES). She doesn't even car about the car's condition from the beginning and maybe that has a double meaning like how Liz doesn't care about her well being either?? She let's it get scratched up all the time (on mailboxes and poles). What a nice car (a gift from her mother who works and doesn't car about her like #rude).Falling Into Place #1
So far I really really like this book. It's mad dark though.. I've read a lot of it and at first I had a lot of questions like why did Liz purposely try to crash her car. It all makes sense though and I'm realizing this as I read. There are still unanswered questions like sometimes the book changes to a first person point of view and I want to understand who is speaking. It can't be Liz, I mean it could be, but that just wouldn't add up completely because the person speaks of Liz like she's changed over time.
Alright let me explain to you guys who are reading this Elizabeth Emerson is a pretty popular girl and people are like "yo why did she crash her car" and from the sounds of the "I"(the first person that I talked about above) it sounds like Liz(her nickname) tried to kill herself. But this was definitely on purpose. And probably stop cause lol I'm going to spoil stuff. So- Liz is depressed. There is no other explanation. She tells people she doesn't like drinking or partying or any of it. She is probably only doing these things for attention. I mean she purposely spills alcohol on her mother's expensive couch in hopes that she would see it when she returns briefly from work(she travels). Her dad's dead, and Liz speaks about him so often.. she misses him. I feel horrible especially once you find out that he dies because he falls off a roof.. And that's where I left off.
Aside from that Liz has a couple of friends. One really close one. When they explain how they became friends I still don't even understand it. It all seemed sugarcoated. Liz became Julia's friend because she was jealous of her, which is why she bullied her when Julia first moved into town. It's weird..
But it's better than her being bullied because from the sounds of it bullying takes a bad turn in this book. Maybe Liz feels bad about bullying Julia and getting her hooked onto drugs...?
There was a chapter in the book that discussed how bullying lead to suicide. Mackenzie "the popular girl" from elementary school bullied a girl named Melody (because Mackenzie was lowkey jealous that Melody was taller than her(and had the same initials)). Liz participated in bullying her and said the worst thing that actually sent Melody running into the bathroom(at school) crying her eyes out. Liz followed but did nothing. She killed herself and someone with the same initials as her just so happened to say how nice of a girl Melody was at her funeral..
Ugh.
This book is so sad but it's so touching. I really like it a lot though. Anywaysss~
Alright let me explain to you guys who are reading this Elizabeth Emerson is a pretty popular girl and people are like "yo why did she crash her car" and from the sounds of the "I"(the first person that I talked about above) it sounds like Liz(her nickname) tried to kill herself. But this was definitely on purpose. And probably stop cause lol I'm going to spoil stuff. So- Liz is depressed. There is no other explanation. She tells people she doesn't like drinking or partying or any of it. She is probably only doing these things for attention. I mean she purposely spills alcohol on her mother's expensive couch in hopes that she would see it when she returns briefly from work(she travels). Her dad's dead, and Liz speaks about him so often.. she misses him. I feel horrible especially once you find out that he dies because he falls off a roof.. And that's where I left off.
Aside from that Liz has a couple of friends. One really close one. When they explain how they became friends I still don't even understand it. It all seemed sugarcoated. Liz became Julia's friend because she was jealous of her, which is why she bullied her when Julia first moved into town. It's weird..
But it's better than her being bullied because from the sounds of it bullying takes a bad turn in this book. Maybe Liz feels bad about bullying Julia and getting her hooked onto drugs...?
There was a chapter in the book that discussed how bullying lead to suicide. Mackenzie "the popular girl" from elementary school bullied a girl named Melody (because Mackenzie was lowkey jealous that Melody was taller than her(and had the same initials)). Liz participated in bullying her and said the worst thing that actually sent Melody running into the bathroom(at school) crying her eyes out. Liz followed but did nothing. She killed herself and someone with the same initials as her just so happened to say how nice of a girl Melody was at her funeral..
Ugh.
This book is so sad but it's so touching. I really like it a lot though. Anywaysss~
Wild (post 3)
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
where it began #2
Probably what the car crash looked like - Woaahh, car crashes are some crazy stuff in life. Makes me scared to get my license cause I don't easily trust other people! In this section of the book, Gabby (she finally is told her name by her mom) has constant flashbacks of random moments in her life. However, the last flashback was the 30 seconds before her car crash and she did not even recognize that it was that until it was over and she jumped a little at the actual car crash. She realizes that her flashbacks are all of before and she says "with not a clue or an inkling, that I am even going to get an After."
While all this stuff is frightening and suspenseful and interesting and I do like the book so far, I do wish there were to be more action and hope there will be, cause right now it's all just stuff that happened or is going through her mind and about teenagers. I wanna know what's going to happen to her!! (too bad I have 5 hours of other homework so I won't be finding out tonight :'))
The Girl on the Train
I am enjoying Paula Hawkins' writing style and how this book is set up. Each day, the same people take the train and watch outside their windows. It starts with Rachael and goes through her ride that day splitting it into what she saw in the morning and then what she saw at night. Then it goes to Megan. Lastly, we see Anna's point of view before it goes back to Rachael. Megan has not been as big of a character though as the others. I, additionally like how suspenseful the book is. I won't give anything away incase others want to read this book!
Four-ever Remembered
 |
| Make the most of each moment. Unless you're Four, you can't relive the same thing twice. |
Quality quote that probably gets skipped over by most people while reading.
Another Day
Over break I read "Another Day" by David Levithan. It is a sequel/companion to his book "Every Day" which I read a couple years ago. It tells the same story from another character's perspective.If you haven't read these books and plan to, you should stop now because here comes the plot. The basis of the story is that one character (the narrator in the other book), known as A, switches bodies everyday. While inhabiting the body of Justin, A falls in love with Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon (the narrator of this book). A reveals his secret to Rhiannon and they try to figure out how to make some kind of relationship work.
I enjoyed the first book significantly more than I did this one. Maybe my standards were just lower. The whole concept of it is what intrigued me. The idea of being a whole person but without a body, without a gender.
With this book, I found the characters much less likable. A now comes off to me as selfish for expecting Rhiannon to completely change her life just to be with him/her. Also, for significantly changing the lives of the people whose body he inhabits. For example, he makes one person's body miss a flight to Hawaii, and then that person would have to deal with the consequences the next day. With Rhiannon, while I don't blame her for wanting to cut off ties with A, much of her reasoning is that she can't handle being around, and especially not being romantic with, A when A's body doesn't fit her "type." I would put a quote here but I already brought the book back to the library, whoops. Basically, she just struggles with seeing past A's physical being when they A is a girl or ugly. It comes off as very shallow.
While I didn't like this book as much as its companion, I did enjoy reading it. I would definitely recommend this series.
Here's a video of the author, David Levithan, talking about the first book in the series.
Looking For Alaska
I've been reading Looking For Alaska by John Green, and so far, I really like it! I love Green's writing so I thought I would give this book a shot and I really like how he introduces his characters. The main character, Miles, is introduced in an unusual way as it starts off with talking about his unusual talent of memorizing peoples' last words and how he was an unpopular guy during high school. I also really like how Green focuses in the small things and makes them big such as the theme of Miles' "Great Perhaps" which is the whole reason he wants to go off to boarding school, to find something bigger and better. When Alaska and Chip were introduced Green dove right into them and how Alaska wasn't your typical high school girl.
I can't wait to keep reading farther but at the moment, it seems like the reader can do some foreshadowing that Miles starts to really like Alaska, but will be in a sticky situation since she already has a boyfriend. Green highlights Miles' unusual experience at his new boarding school and I am eager to see how he describes Miles' hunt for Alaska and how he will win her over in the end.
This quote just really stuck out to me and I enjoy how it's a reoccurring theme so far
I can't wait to keep reading farther but at the moment, it seems like the reader can do some foreshadowing that Miles starts to really like Alaska, but will be in a sticky situation since she already has a boyfriend. Green highlights Miles' unusual experience at his new boarding school and I am eager to see how he describes Miles' hunt for Alaska and how he will win her over in the end.
This quote just really stuck out to me and I enjoy how it's a reoccurring theme so far
Monday, January 4, 2016
Paris to the Moon
So far, I like the book. Gopnik's life story is fascinating and progressing nicely. I cannot wait to read more.
Interpreter of Maladies
I finished Winter Street, but did not find anything interesting to write about. The book ended with a small cliffhanger that did not add to the plot and there was no real action hat progressed throughout the book. It was a great free read, but not the best for blogging. I moved onto Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and I am loving it so far!
Each chapter is a different short story about Indian culture and people who are living in the United States in the 1990s. These stories are fiction, but they evoke racism, discrimination, and new Indian culture that are true and prevalent in the Untied States. I finished the second mini story and prefer the second story, so I am going to focus this blog post on it.
Lila lives with her parents in New England and her parents invite an Indian nature observer from Dacca in East Pakistan to have dinner with them a few nights a week while he is studying at a nearby college. This man has seven daughters and a wife that home and is worried about their safety because of the religious conflict in East Pakistan and India. The controversy and war is fascinating to me because we have never talked about it at schools, even though it is so important to the history and culture of Indians and Pakistanians. Lila is also fascinated by her heritage and the controversy in India, but her school does not share the interest. Here is an interesting video on the Partition, Overview of East Pakistan India Partition. She is constantly sheltered and scolded for being interested in the war and reading about it at school. She writes about her history work at school, "I could do it with my eyes closed"(27) and she also writes that every year she learns about the Revolutionary War, but never gets anything out of it. When she becomes interested in Pakistanian culture, she is prohibited from reading it in the library at school (33). Her teacher shows disrespect and took the book on culture in Pakistan and "lifted the book by the tip of its spine as if it were hair clinging to my sweater" (33).
This book is making me rethink how school teaches students. We do not get to choose what we read about and sometimes the most important current events and topics go untaught because they are not in the curriculum. I think that Lahari is sending a message about public education and that students need to learn about their interests so they can develop passions and try to build a career by helping topics they believe in and things that effect them. I am excited to see what the next short story will say about education and racism in America because that was only briefly discussed so far.
Each chapter is a different short story about Indian culture and people who are living in the United States in the 1990s. These stories are fiction, but they evoke racism, discrimination, and new Indian culture that are true and prevalent in the Untied States. I finished the second mini story and prefer the second story, so I am going to focus this blog post on it.
Lila lives with her parents in New England and her parents invite an Indian nature observer from Dacca in East Pakistan to have dinner with them a few nights a week while he is studying at a nearby college. This man has seven daughters and a wife that home and is worried about their safety because of the religious conflict in East Pakistan and India. The controversy and war is fascinating to me because we have never talked about it at schools, even though it is so important to the history and culture of Indians and Pakistanians. Lila is also fascinated by her heritage and the controversy in India, but her school does not share the interest. Here is an interesting video on the Partition, Overview of East Pakistan India Partition. She is constantly sheltered and scolded for being interested in the war and reading about it at school. She writes about her history work at school, "I could do it with my eyes closed"(27) and she also writes that every year she learns about the Revolutionary War, but never gets anything out of it. When she becomes interested in Pakistanian culture, she is prohibited from reading it in the library at school (33). Her teacher shows disrespect and took the book on culture in Pakistan and "lifted the book by the tip of its spine as if it were hair clinging to my sweater" (33).
This book is making me rethink how school teaches students. We do not get to choose what we read about and sometimes the most important current events and topics go untaught because they are not in the curriculum. I think that Lahari is sending a message about public education and that students need to learn about their interests so they can develop passions and try to build a career by helping topics they believe in and things that effect them. I am excited to see what the next short story will say about education and racism in America because that was only briefly discussed so far.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Zoo
The whole purpose of choosing this book for my free read was to compare it to the new television show that came out based on this book by James Patterson. I read up to the point that the series leaves off of for season 1 which is a little more than half way through the book. There were some parallels between the book and the show, however the books seems more rushed. Usually I have experienced that when books are turned into tv series, the series seems to be dragged out. In this case I felt like the series contributed more to the overall concept than the book.
First, the characters are all different between the book and the series. The tv series added two more main characters and established more of a reason for their connection than the book. The book kind of just threw the characters together pretty sloppily and would just throw out names at random, such as when Jackson, the main character, and Chloe, a scientist he met in Africa that he took spontaneously to America with him, and they met a whole other gang of super scientist in D.C. and all decided to squad up and get arrested together. Needless to say, the connections are a little lost when it comes to the characters relationship.
Also, the reasoning for the animals change is very skewed and not translated well from tv series to book. I say from tv series to book even though the book came out first because I feel the series did a better job of expressing reasoning for the overall biological changes in the animals than the book. The book often throws out observable behaviors for the different types of animals, which the series does as well with the added bonus of scientific explanation of the factor altering the animals. The series brings in fictional theories such as the defiant pupil and also the concept of a "mother cell" which gives the observer a reasonable explanation for the events unfolding.
Although there are many differences, the dialog of the series stays true to James Patterson's style and some scenes are only a little bit altered. The tv series emits the same level of intellectual banter and sarcastic remarks that he is known for. The tv series also pulled direct scenes from the book such as Abe's "death" in chapter 22 and Jackson's encounter with Chloe in chapter 28, both of which was only altered by minor details, such as Abe actually being dead and replacing Chloe's predators with lions instead of Nile crocodiles.
If I had to chose, the tv series would definitely be the way to go on this one. The book lacks the thrill and intellectual quality that the series captures.
Winter Street (Post #2)
As the book is progressing, I am realizing that all the characters are connected through the mom, Margaret. She is a FOX News reporter and nationally famous. She has been harassed online by an anonymous blogger and I think it is her ex husbands new wife, Mitzi. The username is Quinine229 on the blog and Mitzi's birthday is on the leap day. I also think that Margaret is connected to the family because she is physic and has a feeling that her ex husband's son, Bart, is in danger in Afghanistan. A few hours later, she gets a call saying that there is a missing platoon in Afghanistan.
I am enjoying this book because the Quin's seem like a wealthy, New England family from Nantucket, but they have underlying, twisted problems that make the plot more interesting. Patrick is the most interesting to me because he has been working on Wall Street for over 10 years, but gets himself into deep trouble because he took bribes and invested over $25 million in a cancer curing drug. He always mentions how much he loves his wife, but then goes to a Playboy mansion (270, 76). Patrick is also the most successful of the Quin children, but is also the most unhappy. He was the role model of the family until he messed up. He has 3 kids, a large pad in NYC, and a prestigious job, but is always crying, taking drugs not prescribed to him, and drinking. "He married the right girl, bought the right house, fathered three, noisy, beautiful sons" (201). "Patrick is crying, but to say he's crying doesn't begin to describe it. He's sobbing, bellowing, howling" (195). Patrick makes me rethink what success really means. Patrick may be the wealthy son, but his siblings are always glowing with happiness, singing, and laughing. I am interested to see how Patrick's problems are resolved and how his siblings react to his massive mistake.
I am enjoying this book because the Quin's seem like a wealthy, New England family from Nantucket, but they have underlying, twisted problems that make the plot more interesting. Patrick is the most interesting to me because he has been working on Wall Street for over 10 years, but gets himself into deep trouble because he took bribes and invested over $25 million in a cancer curing drug. He always mentions how much he loves his wife, but then goes to a Playboy mansion (270, 76). Patrick is also the most successful of the Quin children, but is also the most unhappy. He was the role model of the family until he messed up. He has 3 kids, a large pad in NYC, and a prestigious job, but is always crying, taking drugs not prescribed to him, and drinking. "He married the right girl, bought the right house, fathered three, noisy, beautiful sons" (201). "Patrick is crying, but to say he's crying doesn't begin to describe it. He's sobbing, bellowing, howling" (195). Patrick makes me rethink what success really means. Patrick may be the wealthy son, but his siblings are always glowing with happiness, singing, and laughing. I am interested to see how Patrick's problems are resolved and how his siblings react to his massive mistake.
where it began - Ann Redisch Stampler
I love the beginning, how it starts off with a teenage girl, in high school, not knowing where she is or what happened, it definitely got me hooked to read more. The line that stood out to me and kept me suspenseful was "My life, which, by the time I wake up on the ground clutching the car keys with my head bashed in, is pretty much over. Only I don't know that right away" (22,23). That quote also shows how it is written in first person, where in this case helps emphasize her feelings and thoughts going on in her head. Further throughout this part, it was really interesting to (basically) get to know what it's like after a car accident. I've never been in one and never experienced a traumatic brain injury, so it definitely has me scared if one were to happen in my life. Lastly, based on her thoughts running through her mind, I have come to the conclusion it happened at a party where someone was drunk driving and hit a tree, which further shows how dangerous parties can be and especially drunk driving. Overall, I loved the beginning and I hope she (she has been asked by doctors but does not know her name yet so I don't know it either) lives!! (Just for me - up until chapter 6)
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Wild (post 2)
The book has finally gotten into the trail and Cheryl's actual journey and there are two things that seem important right now. One is physical- her hiking boots are too small and as a result her feet are suffering really bad. So far she has lost four toenails and doesn't have access to new boots for 18 more miles. In the prologue of this book there is kind of a flash-forward, so I know that she accidentally loses one of these boots of the side of mountain, throws the other one away, and goes on without them. The fact that this is probably the biggest focus of the past few chapters, along with finding water, and getting from one place to another without running out of food, brings me to the other important topic/theme. Her problems right now are kind of primal, based solely around survival. As a result, the emotional issues from her past life have started to let up. Why would you worry about your guilt about a failed marriage when you literally have to find water before you die. No point regretting your unfinished education when you can barely walk and have to reach a new pair of shoes before your supplies run out. She realizes that she hasn't cried once on the trail, even though apparently she was quite the crier before this (173). This seems like a major perk to long distance hiking, that your social and emotional issues take a backseat while you have to prioritize survival.
Included is a picture of someone with similar feet issues after hiking. This is not the grossest picture that comes up when you google "pacific crest trail feet" so you're welcome.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Book Cover Connection
So, I was staring at the cover recently and I noticed it was a Ferris wheel. Shocking. I know. However, as I was reading about Four's major fear of heights, it dawned on me that the Ferris wheel on the cover of the book probably symbolizes the wheel mentioned in Divergent. In Divergent, Four climbed a Ferris wheel with Tris in order to get a better view of their surroundings for capture the flag. In the scene, Four was facing one of his worst fears: heights. The wheel on the cover of the book helps establish Tobias's other name of Four. The name Four symbolizes Tobias's 4 major fear. A Ferris wheel symbolizes Tobias's fears, and in a way, it symbolizes Tobias's itself.
It occurred to me that I could add a link to the Ferris wheel scene in the movie Divergent. Technology nowadays
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