Friday, May 30, 2008
The Giver (Post #4)
He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo. This boy must have been so brave, to travel alone to elsewhere when you have just found out that this place even existed. Even on top of that he as a 12 year old he has to save a new child, Gabriel. This boy had a heart for something he knew nothing abo0ut yet. He changed his entire community, practically on his own. When he hears the singing he just knew what it was, he was intrigued. The whole ending oif the book is so interesting you can't pu the book down! You want to keep reading and see if Jonas has enough courage to keep on even though as a little boy i'm sure he was very much frightened caring for a baby at the same time. This still amazes me, and not to spoil the book, but theres a sequel, can't wait to read it!
The Shining (Post #4)
“He ran full-tilt into the outside door of 217, which was now closed. He began hammering on it, far beyond realizing that it was unlocked, and he had only to turn the knob to let himself out. His mouth pealed forth deafening screams that were beyond human auditory range. He could hammer on the door and hear the dead woman coming for him, bloated belly, dry hair, outstretched hands-something that lain slain in that tub for perhaps years, embalmed there in magic. The door would not open, would not, would not” (327).
Danny, the little boy went to one of the hotel room, room 217. He was told not to go in there by the owner and he told him that he would not. Well Danny had broken his promise to the owner and he went into the room. He took the key to the room and he unlocked it and went in. He looked around and then he went into the bathroom. He looked at the shower and pulled back the curtain, and their was this dead woman!! When I was reading that part, I thought it was kind of creepy. It said that the woman’s eyes were fixed on Danny’s glassy and huge eyes that were like marbles. I thought that was kinda creepy that a dead woman’s eyes was looking at him. But then all the sudden the woman got up and started to chase Danny. WOW! O my gosh!
THAT IS CRAZY!! I did not want to stop reading this part. It is so weird how that happened, I could not believe it! After I read that chapter, I HAD to read more! I mean it is getting near the end and that is when it is suppose to be good because I saw the movie and that is when it gets good!! I can not wait to read more!!!
Danny, the little boy went to one of the hotel room, room 217. He was told not to go in there by the owner and he told him that he would not. Well Danny had broken his promise to the owner and he went into the room. He took the key to the room and he unlocked it and went in. He looked around and then he went into the bathroom. He looked at the shower and pulled back the curtain, and their was this dead woman!! When I was reading that part, I thought it was kind of creepy. It said that the woman’s eyes were fixed on Danny’s glassy and huge eyes that were like marbles. I thought that was kinda creepy that a dead woman’s eyes was looking at him. But then all the sudden the woman got up and started to chase Danny. WOW! O my gosh!
THAT IS CRAZY!! I did not want to stop reading this part. It is so weird how that happened, I could not believe it! After I read that chapter, I HAD to read more! I mean it is getting near the end and that is when it is suppose to be good because I saw the movie and that is when it gets good!! I can not wait to read more!!!
The Stand (Only Post)
"Show me a man or a woman alone and I'll show you a saint. Give me two and they'll fall in love. Give me three and they'll invent the charming thing we call 'society'. Give me four and they'll build a pyramid. Give me five and they'll make one an outcast. Give me six and they'll reinvent prejudice. Give me seven and in seven years they'll reinvent warfare. Man may have been made in the image of God, but human society was made in the image of His opposite number, and is always trying to get back home."
(?)
The Stand by Stephen King is one of my top 5 all time favorite books. The plot is ok, but the character development and the world Mr. King paints for the reader is no less vivid than had the reader actually known the character or seen the places described. The way King relates the characters to the reader is through the way the characters think, speak, and act. The above quote is from sociology major, Glen Bateman, who is discussing his view of human nature.
Glen is the type of guy you’d like to run into at a bar after he’s had a few. He shows a high level of intelligence but not an overbearing elitist “I’m going to hold my brilliance over your head” type of intelligence. It’s more of a let’s have a couple beers, watch the football game, and argue the validity of .999999999 = 1 (If you’re not familiar with this “trick” ask Mr. Reys). This is just one example of the intricate ways Mr. King employs that helps develop vivid and lifelike characters. Read the book and I can almost guarantee that you will find yourself drawn into the decimated world that Mr. King populates through the stories of these robustly depicted individuals.
(?)
The Stand by Stephen King is one of my top 5 all time favorite books. The plot is ok, but the character development and the world Mr. King paints for the reader is no less vivid than had the reader actually known the character or seen the places described. The way King relates the characters to the reader is through the way the characters think, speak, and act. The above quote is from sociology major, Glen Bateman, who is discussing his view of human nature.
Glen is the type of guy you’d like to run into at a bar after he’s had a few. He shows a high level of intelligence but not an overbearing elitist “I’m going to hold my brilliance over your head” type of intelligence. It’s more of a let’s have a couple beers, watch the football game, and argue the validity of .999999999 = 1 (If you’re not familiar with this “trick” ask Mr. Reys). This is just one example of the intricate ways Mr. King employs that helps develop vivid and lifelike characters. Read the book and I can almost guarantee that you will find yourself drawn into the decimated world that Mr. King populates through the stories of these robustly depicted individuals.
Black Hawk Down (post #4)
"'Don't shoot,' Spalding shouted. 'She's got a kid.'
At that moment the woman turned. Holding a baby on one arm, she raised a pistol with her free hand. Spalding shot her where she stood. He shot four more rounds into her before she fell. He hoped he hadn't hit the baby. They were moving fast, and he didn't get to see whether he had. He thought he probably had hit the baby. She had been carrying the infant on her arm, right in front. Why would a mother do something like that with a kid on her arm? What was she thinking?" (pg. 106).
When i read this quote all i could think about was how terrible that soldier had to feel. The image of the woman falling, from rounds he had fired, with her baby in her arms must still be running through his head today. Thats just one of those things that would probably never cease to haunt your dreams.
Despite what a terrible incident this was, it had to be done. If the soldier would have held his fire, then the woman probably would have ended up killing him or one of his comrades, or maybe even more.
At that moment the woman turned. Holding a baby on one arm, she raised a pistol with her free hand. Spalding shot her where she stood. He shot four more rounds into her before she fell. He hoped he hadn't hit the baby. They were moving fast, and he didn't get to see whether he had. He thought he probably had hit the baby. She had been carrying the infant on her arm, right in front. Why would a mother do something like that with a kid on her arm? What was she thinking?" (pg. 106).
When i read this quote all i could think about was how terrible that soldier had to feel. The image of the woman falling, from rounds he had fired, with her baby in her arms must still be running through his head today. Thats just one of those things that would probably never cease to haunt your dreams.
Despite what a terrible incident this was, it had to be done. If the soldier would have held his fire, then the woman probably would have ended up killing him or one of his comrades, or maybe even more.
13 REASONS WHY (post 3)
“But all Jessica heard was me accepting blame. She rose up beside her chair- glaring down at me- and swung. So tell me Jessica, which did you mean to do? Punch me, or scratch me? Because it felt like a little bit of both… Like you couldn’t really decide. And what was it you called me? Not that it matters, but just for the record. Because I was too busy lifting my hand and ducking-but you got me!- and I missed what you said. That tiny scar you’ve all seen above my eyebrow, that’s the shape of Jessica’s fingernail… Which I plucked out myself.”
“ I noticed that scar a few weeks ago at the party. It was a tiny flaw on a pretty face. And I told her how cute it was.”
This has to be one of the most intense stories this girl has told. Apparently, that Jessica chick’s boyfriend was checking Hannah out and it blew up into this big fight. This book just keeps getting better. I’m really scared to find out why the narrator got these tapes. So far he hasn’t seemed like a bad person. I don’t really know how this girl got to that point at school. She was brand new, and she was already having a rough time. It’s just amazing how people’s actions can affect someone. All of this drama happened and it’s only the first tape… I have twelve tapes to go. If the book is this intense already I can’t imagine how much it will progress further on in the book.
I just think girl fights are funny. They try to seem all tough, but once they actually start to fight they block their faces and start scratching at each other like little cats. When I think of fights I think of like, real legit fights.
I feel for this girl though. It’s unfortunate that the teasing and taunting from being new effected her to the point to where she took her own life to stop from being teased. Instead of doing something so drastic, she could have gone to a counselor or just told people how their words made her feel.
“ I noticed that scar a few weeks ago at the party. It was a tiny flaw on a pretty face. And I told her how cute it was.”
This has to be one of the most intense stories this girl has told. Apparently, that Jessica chick’s boyfriend was checking Hannah out and it blew up into this big fight. This book just keeps getting better. I’m really scared to find out why the narrator got these tapes. So far he hasn’t seemed like a bad person. I don’t really know how this girl got to that point at school. She was brand new, and she was already having a rough time. It’s just amazing how people’s actions can affect someone. All of this drama happened and it’s only the first tape… I have twelve tapes to go. If the book is this intense already I can’t imagine how much it will progress further on in the book.
I just think girl fights are funny. They try to seem all tough, but once they actually start to fight they block their faces and start scratching at each other like little cats. When I think of fights I think of like, real legit fights.
I feel for this girl though. It’s unfortunate that the teasing and taunting from being new effected her to the point to where she took her own life to stop from being teased. Instead of doing something so drastic, she could have gone to a counselor or just told people how their words made her feel.
The Year of the Hangman (Post 4)
"It's General Arnold! Peter replied frantically. He's gotten himself into a duel" (131).
Since the last time Creighton had visited his uncle he learned a lot for the British cause. He had secretly decoded secret Patriot letters being sent out to the rebels. But his uncle was still not proud because he remained in bondage and he needed Creighton to steal a pistol from someone. So Creighton remained low on the scope until he could get his hands on a pistol. It was just then when Peter walked in and talked to Mr. Franklin about Arnold getting himself into a dual. But the best part was that Peter had Arnold’s pistol strapped to his waste. So the gang went and watched the dual but Mr. Franklin ended up stopped the dual by threatening to with the other people put to death. After the dual they headed home and Creighton pretended to fall and snatched Peter’s pistol from him without him realizing. So that night, Creighton stepped out of the house at like three in the morning and headed to bust out Mr. Gower from his captivity. When he got there Creighton realized that the pistol wouldn’t fit through the hole. So when Creighton tried to push the gun through the gun went off and the guards started attacking the prisoners. So Creighton busted down the door and tied up the Spanish Guards. Once the prisoners were untied Creighton tried to bargain with them into letting him go with them to where ever they are going. At the end Mr. Gower disagreed and hit him on the head with a pistol.
Since the last time Creighton had visited his uncle he learned a lot for the British cause. He had secretly decoded secret Patriot letters being sent out to the rebels. But his uncle was still not proud because he remained in bondage and he needed Creighton to steal a pistol from someone. So Creighton remained low on the scope until he could get his hands on a pistol. It was just then when Peter walked in and talked to Mr. Franklin about Arnold getting himself into a dual. But the best part was that Peter had Arnold’s pistol strapped to his waste. So the gang went and watched the dual but Mr. Franklin ended up stopped the dual by threatening to with the other people put to death. After the dual they headed home and Creighton pretended to fall and snatched Peter’s pistol from him without him realizing. So that night, Creighton stepped out of the house at like three in the morning and headed to bust out Mr. Gower from his captivity. When he got there Creighton realized that the pistol wouldn’t fit through the hole. So when Creighton tried to push the gun through the gun went off and the guards started attacking the prisoners. So Creighton busted down the door and tied up the Spanish Guards. Once the prisoners were untied Creighton tried to bargain with them into letting him go with them to where ever they are going. At the end Mr. Gower disagreed and hit him on the head with a pistol.
The Joy Luck Club : Post Four
"Five months ago, after a crab dinner celebrating Chinese New year, my mother gave me my life's importance, a jade pendant on a gold chain. The pendant was not a piece of jewelry I would have chosen for myself. It was almost the size of my little finger, a mottled green and white color, intricately carved.To me, the whole effect looked wrong: too large, too green, too garishly ornate. I stuffed the necklace in my lacquer box and forgot about it."
This reminds me of the times I would have with my family during Chinese New Years. It's always a celebration with family during mid-February. The children would always get gifts, no matter the age. Even my mom got things from my grandma and great grandma. My mom would always get jewelry and she would never wear it, but just cherishes it. Sometimes she would tell me how valuable these rings or necklaces are. Getting fake jade is very common, and is replicated by glass, but getting true jade is hard. Jewelry is a good gift to give, because it can last for lifetimes. There are many family artifacts that my mom carries in her box of jewelry.
This reminds me of the times I would have with my family during Chinese New Years. It's always a celebration with family during mid-February. The children would always get gifts, no matter the age. Even my mom got things from my grandma and great grandma. My mom would always get jewelry and she would never wear it, but just cherishes it. Sometimes she would tell me how valuable these rings or necklaces are. Getting fake jade is very common, and is replicated by glass, but getting true jade is hard. Jewelry is a good gift to give, because it can last for lifetimes. There are many family artifacts that my mom carries in her box of jewelry.
Best Foot Forward (Post # 4)
“Over the next three days, Mrs. Gladstone had an idea that turned into a full-fledged brainstorm. (75)”
The full-fledged idea that Mrs. Gladstone came up with was call “best foot forward”. She asked Jenna what she thought about the idea and what it meant. Jenna smiled and said that her grandma used to say that to her every year on the first day of school. She told her to put her best foot forward and try to do her best. “Best foot forward” was going to be the slogan when Gladstone shoes and Warehouse shoes merge. Mrs. Gladstone and Jenna were ready for the two companies to merge and make a new start to get back on track. i think that they can get back on track and start getting a lot of business when Gladstone Shoes and Warehouse Shoes merge.
The full-fledged idea that Mrs. Gladstone came up with was call “best foot forward”. She asked Jenna what she thought about the idea and what it meant. Jenna smiled and said that her grandma used to say that to her every year on the first day of school. She told her to put her best foot forward and try to do her best. “Best foot forward” was going to be the slogan when Gladstone shoes and Warehouse shoes merge. Mrs. Gladstone and Jenna were ready for the two companies to merge and make a new start to get back on track. i think that they can get back on track and start getting a lot of business when Gladstone Shoes and Warehouse Shoes merge.
Firestorm (post 4)
“I didn’t do it?” She got out of bed and walked over to the window. “I found your damn path and I settled into your damn influence center and zilch.”
Kerry was now trying to go into Silver’s mind so when she was encountered with Trask she could get him to do what she wanted. A very important piece of information was given to Kerry. Silver told her to suggest to him to do what he wanted, like if you wanted him to jump into a lake, you could suggest you were hot and that you wanted to cool off. Kerry was getting frustrated because she was trying to hard to break through Silver to learn and she had yet to succeed. What you have to do is find a path, in which there are a million. Then once you find a path that isn’t blocked, which is the trick, you have to break through it like it is a barrier. This is the hardest part and it was the part that Kerry just was at and couldn’t break through. Kerry is becoming a bit obsessed with trying to learn how to control Trask. She is also becoming very close to Silver. With all there time spend at the lake, the lake is the idea Silver plants in her head to distract her from stressful things. There she finds him very handsome and is becoming a bit attached to him. We will see what happens…
Kerry was now trying to go into Silver’s mind so when she was encountered with Trask she could get him to do what she wanted. A very important piece of information was given to Kerry. Silver told her to suggest to him to do what he wanted, like if you wanted him to jump into a lake, you could suggest you were hot and that you wanted to cool off. Kerry was getting frustrated because she was trying to hard to break through Silver to learn and she had yet to succeed. What you have to do is find a path, in which there are a million. Then once you find a path that isn’t blocked, which is the trick, you have to break through it like it is a barrier. This is the hardest part and it was the part that Kerry just was at and couldn’t break through. Kerry is becoming a bit obsessed with trying to learn how to control Trask. She is also becoming very close to Silver. With all there time spend at the lake, the lake is the idea Silver plants in her head to distract her from stressful things. There she finds him very handsome and is becoming a bit attached to him. We will see what happens…
Scooter (Post # 4)
Many Vasquez, as it turned out, could have used a darn curve. He'd been a ringer at All Hallows and he made the scouts clamor for his fastball. but his second year in class A ball, people had caught on that the kid had no other pitch. it wasn't that he couldn't, he just flat out wouldn't give another pitch a try.(86)"
Many was the older brother of the sister that Scooter liked. Scooter said his dad could teach him how to throw a curve but Many said he didn't need one. but it looks like in the end he really did need one. All Hallows was a school that Scooters dad went to and he was pretty darn good, the scouts would look at you if your threw had because thats all the really looked at. if that wasn't the case Scooters dad would have probably went to the pros, but he didn't.
in my mind people just dont like to change, even if it's for the best. people don't like to listen to anyone else unless they are known. i just think that it took a alot of will for Scooter who is only 9 years old to tell a high schooler that his dad could teach him how to throw a curve. theres not many people thay would do that.
i really like this book and you should read it if you like baseball
Many was the older brother of the sister that Scooter liked. Scooter said his dad could teach him how to throw a curve but Many said he didn't need one. but it looks like in the end he really did need one. All Hallows was a school that Scooters dad went to and he was pretty darn good, the scouts would look at you if your threw had because thats all the really looked at. if that wasn't the case Scooters dad would have probably went to the pros, but he didn't.
in my mind people just dont like to change, even if it's for the best. people don't like to listen to anyone else unless they are known. i just think that it took a alot of will for Scooter who is only 9 years old to tell a high schooler that his dad could teach him how to throw a curve. theres not many people thay would do that.
i really like this book and you should read it if you like baseball
Twilight(post 4)
"Bella? Bella?" That same tone of hysterical panic. I sprinted to the door, to the sound of her voice.
"Bella you scared me! Don't you ever do that to me again!" Her voice continued as I ran into the long, highcelinged room.
I stared around me, trying to find where her voice was coming from. i heard her laugh, and I whirled to the sound.
There she was, on the TV sceen, tousling my hair in relief. It was Thanksgiving, and I was twelve. We'd gone to see my grandmother in California, the last year before she died. We went to the beach one day, and I'd leaned too far over the edge of the pier. She'd seen my feet flailing, trying to reclaim my balance. "Bella? Bella?" she'd called to me in fear.
And then the TV was blue.
I turned slowly. He was standing very still by the back exit, so still I hadn't noticed him at first. in his hand was a remote control. We stared at each other for a long moment, and then he smiled...
And suddenly it hit me. My mother was safe. She was still in Florida. She'd never gotten my message. She'd never been terrified by the dark red eyes in the abnormally pale face before me. She was safe"(444)
This quote is continuing on from the last post I wrote. James had met Bella and knew that she was not one of them, she was not a vampire. Her blood had such a great scent that he had to have it. Bella was being protected by Edward’s brother and sister, Alice and Emmett. They had taken her to the airport where she was going to finally see Edward again. She had just gotten a call from James and he said that he had Bella’s mom. Bella did not want anything to happen to her mom when this was her fault, so she said she would meet up with James and he could have her. When she got to the dance studio where James told her to meet him she heard her mothers alarmed voice calling out for her. When she reached the TV and saw that her mom was on the TV in one of their old family movies she knew she had been tricked. Even though Bella’s mom really wasn’t there and Bella was pretty much doomed, she was relieved that Renee, her mom, was safe in Florida.
This quote is just the beginning of the intense and shocking ending of the book. I thought that while I was reading this that it was a good book but once I got to this point I could not put the book down. I don’t want to spoil the ending because it is shocking, but Stephenie Meyer’s use of diction in this section is the best. She really draws you in and throughout this whole book I could picture everything that was happening in the story.
"Bella you scared me! Don't you ever do that to me again!" Her voice continued as I ran into the long, highcelinged room.
I stared around me, trying to find where her voice was coming from. i heard her laugh, and I whirled to the sound.
There she was, on the TV sceen, tousling my hair in relief. It was Thanksgiving, and I was twelve. We'd gone to see my grandmother in California, the last year before she died. We went to the beach one day, and I'd leaned too far over the edge of the pier. She'd seen my feet flailing, trying to reclaim my balance. "Bella? Bella?" she'd called to me in fear.
And then the TV was blue.
I turned slowly. He was standing very still by the back exit, so still I hadn't noticed him at first. in his hand was a remote control. We stared at each other for a long moment, and then he smiled...
And suddenly it hit me. My mother was safe. She was still in Florida. She'd never gotten my message. She'd never been terrified by the dark red eyes in the abnormally pale face before me. She was safe"(444)
This quote is continuing on from the last post I wrote. James had met Bella and knew that she was not one of them, she was not a vampire. Her blood had such a great scent that he had to have it. Bella was being protected by Edward’s brother and sister, Alice and Emmett. They had taken her to the airport where she was going to finally see Edward again. She had just gotten a call from James and he said that he had Bella’s mom. Bella did not want anything to happen to her mom when this was her fault, so she said she would meet up with James and he could have her. When she got to the dance studio where James told her to meet him she heard her mothers alarmed voice calling out for her. When she reached the TV and saw that her mom was on the TV in one of their old family movies she knew she had been tricked. Even though Bella’s mom really wasn’t there and Bella was pretty much doomed, she was relieved that Renee, her mom, was safe in Florida.
This quote is just the beginning of the intense and shocking ending of the book. I thought that while I was reading this that it was a good book but once I got to this point I could not put the book down. I don’t want to spoil the ending because it is shocking, but Stephenie Meyer’s use of diction in this section is the best. She really draws you in and throughout this whole book I could picture everything that was happening in the story.
The Kite Runner post 4
"I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of children. But I didn't care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran."
I like this last paragraph of The Kite Runner because it basically sums up the story. The significance of the "I ran" part was that when Amir witnessed Assef raping Hassan he ran away instead of helping him, destroying their friendship in the process. Now twenty seven years later Amir kite ran with Hassan's son Sohrab he finally has something to run for. Through the journey to Afghanistan to get Sohrab from Assef's clutches Amir learns that he has been to hard on himself all those years. That can be summed up in the letter Amir recieves from Rahim Kahn while he was in the hospital after fighting Assef. Rahim said in his letter that Amir will be forgiven for doing what was right, that there was a way to be good again.
Being good again didn't happen to Amir as quickly as he would've liked because he almost betrayed Hassan again. Because of all the difficulties of trying to adopt Sohrab Amir suggested that he go to an orphanage until the US could get a visa for Sohrab to go there. Sohrab, the victim of hopelessnes because of his parents' and grandmother's deaths, Rahim Kahn becoming ill and having to go to Pakistan, and Assef sexually abusing him, attempts suicide. He thinks that he would be better dead because he wouldn't have to suffer any more lost promises.
I like this last paragraph of The Kite Runner because it basically sums up the story. The significance of the "I ran" part was that when Amir witnessed Assef raping Hassan he ran away instead of helping him, destroying their friendship in the process. Now twenty seven years later Amir kite ran with Hassan's son Sohrab he finally has something to run for. Through the journey to Afghanistan to get Sohrab from Assef's clutches Amir learns that he has been to hard on himself all those years. That can be summed up in the letter Amir recieves from Rahim Kahn while he was in the hospital after fighting Assef. Rahim said in his letter that Amir will be forgiven for doing what was right, that there was a way to be good again.
Being good again didn't happen to Amir as quickly as he would've liked because he almost betrayed Hassan again. Because of all the difficulties of trying to adopt Sohrab Amir suggested that he go to an orphanage until the US could get a visa for Sohrab to go there. Sohrab, the victim of hopelessnes because of his parents' and grandmother's deaths, Rahim Kahn becoming ill and having to go to Pakistan, and Assef sexually abusing him, attempts suicide. He thinks that he would be better dead because he wouldn't have to suffer any more lost promises.
Twilight (post #4) by: Nick Manzo
"He was in front of me in a flash. I didn't see if he used his hand or his foot, it was too fast. A crushing blow struck my chest- I felt myself flying backward, and then heard the crunch as my head bashed into the mirrors. The glass buckled, some of the pieces shattering and splintering on the floor beside me" (449).
At this point in the book Bella was drawn to her old dance studio in Phoenix. James, the tracking vampire, got Bella to separate from her protection of her vampire friends and got her alone. James went on bragging on how he got Bella by herself in the dance studio and how only one human got away from him before. While he was talking, Bella decided to make a run for it and try to out run, she knew it was pointless because she knew vampires had better speed, strength, and keen senses. James saw her and quickly stopped her. This part really caught my interest. I couldn’t help but to constantly wonder what’s going to happen next and refused to put the book down. I was surprised James was easily able to get Bella alone and with out the Cullens using there sixth senses to figure out what is happening to Bella as she disappeared from them. I really hope that somehow Bella is able to escape from James and make a made dash for it and find the Cullens for safety or the Cullens make a heroic rescue before James takes Bella’s life for good.
At this point in the book Bella was drawn to her old dance studio in Phoenix. James, the tracking vampire, got Bella to separate from her protection of her vampire friends and got her alone. James went on bragging on how he got Bella by herself in the dance studio and how only one human got away from him before. While he was talking, Bella decided to make a run for it and try to out run, she knew it was pointless because she knew vampires had better speed, strength, and keen senses. James saw her and quickly stopped her. This part really caught my interest. I couldn’t help but to constantly wonder what’s going to happen next and refused to put the book down. I was surprised James was easily able to get Bella alone and with out the Cullens using there sixth senses to figure out what is happening to Bella as she disappeared from them. I really hope that somehow Bella is able to escape from James and make a made dash for it and find the Cullens for safety or the Cullens make a heroic rescue before James takes Bella’s life for good.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Without You (Post 3)
“I don’t know how to feel about a loss”
“How I am supposed to act”
“How I am supposed to act”
In these couple of chapters Anthony has tried out for the off Broadway, more like a workshop, musical RENT. He makes and he is the character Mark. He and along with about fifteen other actors/actresses are in the musical. He meets all the producers, stage help and falls in love with the whole thing (be in mind he hasn’t sang on stage since he was very young). The musical goes on for about a couple months and the critics don’t like it very much they think it’s a waste of time not one of the best but somewhat of a good musical. The actual audience loves it; Anthony’s best friend is absolutely in love with it.
When the musical finally closes Anthony’s grandfather passes away, he was never really that close to his grandfather but he still has to go to the funeral. He and his older brother Adam travel back to the little town of Joliet, Illinois. This is the chapter we finally meet his mother, she is a skinny but doesn’t look that healthy but joyous women. In this chapter Anthony has emotional barriers he doesn’t know how to act or feel at his grandfathers funeral.
Black Hawk Down (post #3)
"There were already wounded men in nearly every vehicle. Thick smoke was in the air and there was the odor of gunpowder and flames, and up alleys and in the main road and before some of the buildings along Hawlwadig there were Somali bodies and parts of bodies" (pg. 100).
This quote makes me feel great admiration for all of our great American soldiers. They are making the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. They continuously put their lives on the line to protect the rights of all United States citizens, and they ask nothing in return.
This passage is a great example of the incredible sacrifices these Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers made for us. These soldiers have only been in the city for about an hour, and there are already a multitude of casualties. But that does not deture them from their mission. This quote really makes me feel a great deal of respect and gratitude towards all United States soldiers.
This quote makes me feel great admiration for all of our great American soldiers. They are making the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. They continuously put their lives on the line to protect the rights of all United States citizens, and they ask nothing in return.
This passage is a great example of the incredible sacrifices these Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers made for us. These soldiers have only been in the city for about an hour, and there are already a multitude of casualties. But that does not deture them from their mission. This quote really makes me feel a great deal of respect and gratitude towards all United States soldiers.
Black Hawk Down (post #2)
"The Rangers wore body armor and helmets with gogles. Aden could see no part of them that looked human. They were like futuristic warriors from an American movie" (pg. 81).
In this passage the autor uses a simile in order to help the reader invision what Aden was seeing. This quote kind of makes me feel bad for Aden and all of his countrymen and women that were innocent, yet they still had to try to live, day in and day out, in the middle of a warzone. I can only imagine the fear and terror that Aden felt when he first laid eyes on the alien-like American soldiers.
Although this does make me feel sorry for these people, I do not think that America did the wrong thing. We were just trying to save these people from the evil dictator that was holding them down. And, unfortunately, in the process, innocent people died. It is a sad, but inevitable fact. War is an ugly thing, but sometimes, it just has to be done...
In this passage the autor uses a simile in order to help the reader invision what Aden was seeing. This quote kind of makes me feel bad for Aden and all of his countrymen and women that were innocent, yet they still had to try to live, day in and day out, in the middle of a warzone. I can only imagine the fear and terror that Aden felt when he first laid eyes on the alien-like American soldiers.
Although this does make me feel sorry for these people, I do not think that America did the wrong thing. We were just trying to save these people from the evil dictator that was holding them down. And, unfortunately, in the process, innocent people died. It is a sad, but inevitable fact. War is an ugly thing, but sometimes, it just has to be done...
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Scooter (post # 3)
"Well, through the six and a third, your father is perfect. No runs, no hits, no walks, no errors. He's struck out thirteen, only one guy's made decent contact. All hallows has scored two. so the score is two to zero. theres one out in the seventh. counts oh and two. sinker, right at the knees and a lollypop curve that the guy missed by a foot. i thought maybe your dad might waste a pitch in the dirt. but he came with the heat. he kicked the leg high, almost like our friend Marichal, and he brought in the fastball. i swear it must have been ninety. the guy takes a swing, catches the bottom of it with the Mchenry at short is calling him off. calling real loudly. except that he didn't get it, it bounced off his glove.(68)"
Scooters dad played baseball in high school. he could always throw 4 different pitches with good control but he never had a good fastball. Scooters dad had a team mate that had a good fastball but no other pitches. so Scooters dad showed him all he knew and he went to the pros for a year maybe two. anyway if you were 2 outs away from throwing a no hitter and the person who you helped missed the ball, how would you react?
if that were me i would probably think that he did it on purpose because he wanted t0 throw the no hitter. it just makes me think how you can be best friends with one person and something happens and all the sudden you are mad, and all you do now is try to find a way to get revenge. it turned out that the guy popped the ball up so high that the batter rounded the bases and scored. Scooters dad threw a no hitter but the score was 2-1. he never got any looks because all the scouts looked at was how fast there fastball was. it didn't matter how good he was he never had the chance. Scooter never knew his dad was that good at baseball until his grandpa told him. why would the author make the grandpa tell you instead the father who was the one who did this?
the book keeps getting better by the page. something about it just wants me to keep reading, the book it really good.
Scooters dad played baseball in high school. he could always throw 4 different pitches with good control but he never had a good fastball. Scooters dad had a team mate that had a good fastball but no other pitches. so Scooters dad showed him all he knew and he went to the pros for a year maybe two. anyway if you were 2 outs away from throwing a no hitter and the person who you helped missed the ball, how would you react?
if that were me i would probably think that he did it on purpose because he wanted t0 throw the no hitter. it just makes me think how you can be best friends with one person and something happens and all the sudden you are mad, and all you do now is try to find a way to get revenge. it turned out that the guy popped the ball up so high that the batter rounded the bases and scored. Scooters dad threw a no hitter but the score was 2-1. he never got any looks because all the scouts looked at was how fast there fastball was. it didn't matter how good he was he never had the chance. Scooter never knew his dad was that good at baseball until his grandpa told him. why would the author make the grandpa tell you instead the father who was the one who did this?
the book keeps getting better by the page. something about it just wants me to keep reading, the book it really good.
Twilight (post #3) by: Nick Manzo
"Don't underestimate James. He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and he won't come at you head on.... I'm sorry for what's been unleased here. Truly sorry" (400).
During this time in the book, Edward has invited Bella to see his family. She meets the whole crew and all of them seemed to like her. Later they invite her to see them play baseball (which is no ordinary way). As they were playing Alice, Edward's sister, (who has a special gift to see a bit of the future) gets a vision that there are some vampires who are coming towards them. Edward soon hides Bella and the both stay together while the family tries to distract them. The new vampire named James picks up Bella’s sent and finds her, but doesn’t attack because Edward is protecting her. They both growl at each other ready for a fight. I believe that this is the beginning of the climax of this story. I predict that Edward and James will get in a fight over the girl and it becomes a great battle to the death. I believe this because James is a “Tracker” which is a vampire that can pick up scents and follow the prey for many miles. At this point I’m really drawn in. I can’t wait to see what will happen to Edward, James, and Bella, to see if things turn out for the best or will there be a twist of fate and something tragic happens.
During this time in the book, Edward has invited Bella to see his family. She meets the whole crew and all of them seemed to like her. Later they invite her to see them play baseball (which is no ordinary way). As they were playing Alice, Edward's sister, (who has a special gift to see a bit of the future) gets a vision that there are some vampires who are coming towards them. Edward soon hides Bella and the both stay together while the family tries to distract them. The new vampire named James picks up Bella’s sent and finds her, but doesn’t attack because Edward is protecting her. They both growl at each other ready for a fight. I believe that this is the beginning of the climax of this story. I predict that Edward and James will get in a fight over the girl and it becomes a great battle to the death. I believe this because James is a “Tracker” which is a vampire that can pick up scents and follow the prey for many miles. At this point I’m really drawn in. I can’t wait to see what will happen to Edward, James, and Bella, to see if things turn out for the best or will there be a twist of fate and something tragic happens.
The Shining (Post #3)
“The water was running full force in the basin. Beside it, a tube of Crest with the cap off. Danny was sitting on the rim of the bathtub across the room, his toothbrush clasped limply in his left hand, a thin foam of toothpaste around his mouth. He was starring, trancelike, into the mirror on the front of the medicine cabinet above the washbasin. The expression on his face was that he was having some sort of epileptic seizure, that he might have swallowed his tongue. Danny!” (185).
GOSH, I did not want to stop reading this part! I wanted to know what happened to the little boy. I like how King describes this part in the book. He does it so well I can picture what might be happening in my mind! As I read this part more it got a little more tense. The father of the boy started to shake him really hard! I couldn’t believe it!! That is a horrible thing to do to your child. But I guess the father kind of had to do that to Danny to make him snap out of his seizure or what ever was happening to him.
I still really like this book, but it got a little boring in one of the chapters when it was not really talking about anything interesting. It seemed like King was rambling , I just wanted to skip the chapter because it was kind of pointless to me. But I didn’t skip it. I didn’t want to miss anything and who knows, there could of been something important in the chapter that would help me later in the book. But I know that it is going to get better because the movie does too!
GOSH, I did not want to stop reading this part! I wanted to know what happened to the little boy. I like how King describes this part in the book. He does it so well I can picture what might be happening in my mind! As I read this part more it got a little more tense. The father of the boy started to shake him really hard! I couldn’t believe it!! That is a horrible thing to do to your child. But I guess the father kind of had to do that to Danny to make him snap out of his seizure or what ever was happening to him.
I still really like this book, but it got a little boring in one of the chapters when it was not really talking about anything interesting. It seemed like King was rambling , I just wanted to skip the chapter because it was kind of pointless to me. But I didn’t skip it. I didn’t want to miss anything and who knows, there could of been something important in the chapter that would help me later in the book. But I know that it is going to get better because the movie does too!
The Innocent Man ((post #3))
“Not long after the murder, Debbie’s aunt Glenna Lucas received an anonymous phone call in which a male voice said, “Debbie’s dead, and you will next die.” Glenna recalled, with horror, the words scrawled in nail polish: “Jim Smith next will die.” The similarities sent her into panic, but instead of notifying the police, she called the district attorney.”
Every time I start to get bored and think I’m at a stopping point to put the book down something like this mysterious phone call happens. I really like the authors’ writing style; he sure knows how to keep someone reading.
When Debbie’s aunt went to clean her apartment right after the murder there were threats written everywhere: on the walls, in the kitchen and the worst, on Debbie’s back. They were all written in both nail polish and ketchup. So when the man calls her and says she will be the next to die, she automatically knows it the murderer because he said it in the same way the threat was written on the wall. Why she didn’t call the police, I really have no idea; they can protect her if she is his next victim on the list. I know that’s what I would have done! Hopefully she won’t be next!
Every time I start to get bored and think I’m at a stopping point to put the book down something like this mysterious phone call happens. I really like the authors’ writing style; he sure knows how to keep someone reading.
When Debbie’s aunt went to clean her apartment right after the murder there were threats written everywhere: on the walls, in the kitchen and the worst, on Debbie’s back. They were all written in both nail polish and ketchup. So when the man calls her and says she will be the next to die, she automatically knows it the murderer because he said it in the same way the threat was written on the wall. Why she didn’t call the police, I really have no idea; they can protect her if she is his next victim on the list. I know that’s what I would have done! Hopefully she won’t be next!
Black Hawk Down (post #1)
“When the American soldier with the gun rounded the corner he saw Aden, peered at him closely, probably looking for a weapon, and then moved on. He stopped near the front end of the car – Aden could have reached out and touched the soldier’s boots – and pointed his gun at a Somali man with an M-16 across the wide street” (82).
I chose this quote because when I read it, it really made me think. It made me wonder what it would be like if there was a war being fought in the United States; right in our backyards. The person named Aden in this quote is a Somali teenager; a guy no older than I am. He was standing guard outside his house when he saw an American soldier climb out of the downed Black Hawk helicopter. Aden quickly ran and hid under the car nearest to him. He was just feet away from some strange foreign soldier with a huge gun.
I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to step out my front door to see a crashed foreign helicopter with some soldier holding a gun climbing out of it. Reading this just makes me thankful for how blessed I am to be an American. I am sorry for Aden and all the other people that have to feel that fear; but I am just happy that I don’t have to live like that.
I chose this quote because when I read it, it really made me think. It made me wonder what it would be like if there was a war being fought in the United States; right in our backyards. The person named Aden in this quote is a Somali teenager; a guy no older than I am. He was standing guard outside his house when he saw an American soldier climb out of the downed Black Hawk helicopter. Aden quickly ran and hid under the car nearest to him. He was just feet away from some strange foreign soldier with a huge gun.
I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to step out my front door to see a crashed foreign helicopter with some soldier holding a gun climbing out of it. Reading this just makes me thankful for how blessed I am to be an American. I am sorry for Aden and all the other people that have to feel that fear; but I am just happy that I don’t have to live like that.
The Year of the Hangman (post #3)
"The streets of the city were not lighted by lamps as the streets of Bristol were, but the candlelight that shone from the windows of the houses seemed familiar and inviting" (72).
Soon our protagonists arrived in New Orleans and Creighton was very surprised to find that it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. But as Creighton described it, it wasn't as good as the Bristol lighted streets. Unlike the other places, New Orleans was filled with not only Patriots but the French, Spanish and even some local indian tribes. Even though Creighton was suprised by how homely New Orleans was, it was less of a city than the city he first stopped off in the Carolinas.Once the Patriots escorted the prisoners to New Orleans, Arnold decided to place Creighton up with Ben Franklin. But Ben wasn’t at all what Creighton was expecting because Ben was a bit off. Later in the book Creighton walks in on Mr. Franklin naked, just sitting in his study at his desk. To stay with Mr. Franklin Creighton had to agree to work in his printing press full time. Creighton only agreed to stay because his uncle was still being held captive and needed Creighton to find out information that would help the British cause. So one night Creighton snuck out of Ben’s house to see why the printing shop was still lighted. Once Ben left for bed Creighton snuck in the shop and read the secret message fresh off the press. The message was entitled to those who belonged to the Sons of Liberty and told them to meet at a café next week. At the bottom there was a set of numbers and Creighton figured that it must be a secret code. So Creighton used a book to crack the code and reported to his uncle.
Soon our protagonists arrived in New Orleans and Creighton was very surprised to find that it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. But as Creighton described it, it wasn't as good as the Bristol lighted streets. Unlike the other places, New Orleans was filled with not only Patriots but the French, Spanish and even some local indian tribes. Even though Creighton was suprised by how homely New Orleans was, it was less of a city than the city he first stopped off in the Carolinas.Once the Patriots escorted the prisoners to New Orleans, Arnold decided to place Creighton up with Ben Franklin. But Ben wasn’t at all what Creighton was expecting because Ben was a bit off. Later in the book Creighton walks in on Mr. Franklin naked, just sitting in his study at his desk. To stay with Mr. Franklin Creighton had to agree to work in his printing press full time. Creighton only agreed to stay because his uncle was still being held captive and needed Creighton to find out information that would help the British cause. So one night Creighton snuck out of Ben’s house to see why the printing shop was still lighted. Once Ben left for bed Creighton snuck in the shop and read the secret message fresh off the press. The message was entitled to those who belonged to the Sons of Liberty and told them to meet at a café next week. At the bottom there was a set of numbers and Creighton figured that it must be a secret code. So Creighton used a book to crack the code and reported to his uncle.
Firestorm (3rd post)
“You want me to teach you. I can’t be subtle. I can’t sneak in and just change everything. You’re going to know I’m inside your mind and you’re not going to like it. I’m going to have to show you. There’s nothing more intimate or intrusive. Do you understand?”
Silver is trying to teach Kerry how to be connected to Trask and be able to control it. Maybe even control him. Right now all Kerry can do when she is connected to him is see everything through his eyes, and feel what he feels. She can watch his destruction as if she were him. She senses every emotion he has and every thought. Silver wants her to maybe be able to control it so she can alter things and get closer to him so they can catch him. He also wants to her to be able to come and go from his mind as she pleases. All she can do now is go to a sight of his destruction and feel what he felt in that fire. They have been close but Kerry doesn’t have the ability to stay connected to him before he runs off and is away from the sight. Her distance capability needs to strengthen. Silver is going to show her that but she has to let him in her mind and this is bringing them so close, because what can be closer that actually being in someone mind at the same time as them and being in there thoughts and dreams. This scares Kerry so much because she can’t let him get close to her. She can’t think he is soft. But now they are becoming closer and closer as their progress to catch him continues. What will happen to them as they get closer to Trask?
Silver is trying to teach Kerry how to be connected to Trask and be able to control it. Maybe even control him. Right now all Kerry can do when she is connected to him is see everything through his eyes, and feel what he feels. She can watch his destruction as if she were him. She senses every emotion he has and every thought. Silver wants her to maybe be able to control it so she can alter things and get closer to him so they can catch him. He also wants to her to be able to come and go from his mind as she pleases. All she can do now is go to a sight of his destruction and feel what he felt in that fire. They have been close but Kerry doesn’t have the ability to stay connected to him before he runs off and is away from the sight. Her distance capability needs to strengthen. Silver is going to show her that but she has to let him in her mind and this is bringing them so close, because what can be closer that actually being in someone mind at the same time as them and being in there thoughts and dreams. This scares Kerry so much because she can’t let him get close to her. She can’t think he is soft. But now they are becoming closer and closer as their progress to catch him continues. What will happen to them as they get closer to Trask?
The Giver (Post #3)
"Gently he patted Gabriel's back." For Jonas to give Gabriel a memory was so surprising to me. I think it was brave and most definitely needed to be done. This newborn child needed love. Whether the memory was about love or not, for Jonas to give this memory was love enough. The Nurturers just don't get why that now all of a sudden Gabriel sleeps soundly when comforted by Jonas. It's a feeling of comfort, of love, and of feeling safe. I think that the Nurturers might decide to eventually release Gabriel because he isn't responding "correctly" to, well really, anyone else, besides Jonas. This book is just so hard to comprehend because I can't even begin to imagine what life without these memories would be, especially without love. I also don't yet think Jonas understands loss, or death. I don't think he gets that when people are released....well I don't even know, I just know it's not good. I also understand why the first receiver, well the girl that tried to be one, Rosemary, applied for release. For someone to receive that pain of loss, for a little girl to try to all of a sudden handle that, to feel that pain, I don't I could handle that. It's hard enough to handle that without receiving them all at once.
Best Foot Forward (Post # 3)
“Do I want him to stop drinking, yes? Can I do anything to make him stop, no? I can only love him and speak the truth when we’re together, if we ever are again. It’s I sad truth to hold on to, but truth isn’t always happy or easy.”(62)
Jenna is talking about her dad in this quote. Her dad is and alcoholic, which makes Jenna very upset. By her dad being and alcoholic cause Jenna some problems. Which she has to handle by going to classes so she understands that she’s not the only one who has the same problem. No matter how many times she has tried to help him he never seems to stop. Jenna would write him about once a month just to talk and check on him. But he would already be drunk and not write back. So she finally just stopped trying because there was nothing she could do. It’s sad to see someone have this problem and someone going through this but, the truth is there is a lot of people that have this problem and people going through the same thing as Jenna.
Jenna is talking about her dad in this quote. Her dad is and alcoholic, which makes Jenna very upset. By her dad being and alcoholic cause Jenna some problems. Which she has to handle by going to classes so she understands that she’s not the only one who has the same problem. No matter how many times she has tried to help him he never seems to stop. Jenna would write him about once a month just to talk and check on him. But he would already be drunk and not write back. So she finally just stopped trying because there was nothing she could do. It’s sad to see someone have this problem and someone going through this but, the truth is there is a lot of people that have this problem and people going through the same thing as Jenna.
The Joy Luck Club : Post Three
"My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America. You could open a restaurant. You could work for the government and get good retirement. You could buy a house with almost no money down. You could become rich. You could become instantly famous... America was where all my mother's hopes lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China... But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better." (141).
I've read and seen this quote many times before I started reading this book. This story was on my literature book in 7th grade. Anyways, it's good to know that you can become anything you want to, in America. My parents tell me this all the time, usually as a consequence. If you work hard and have determination, you will be successful, but if you don't want to do anything, and just play, you won't go far in life. I do a combination of both, but my parents think I play too much. They would often lecture me in how my life would be ruined if I don't start doing something, it would disappoint them if I don't do much, when I'm in America.
This quote is similar to my mom's life, after the Vietnam War. She fled the country on a small boat with merely nothing, and starts a life in America. My family grew from nothing, and now has a house, multiple cars, and everything they ever wanted.
I've read and seen this quote many times before I started reading this book. This story was on my literature book in 7th grade. Anyways, it's good to know that you can become anything you want to, in America. My parents tell me this all the time, usually as a consequence. If you work hard and have determination, you will be successful, but if you don't want to do anything, and just play, you won't go far in life. I do a combination of both, but my parents think I play too much. They would often lecture me in how my life would be ruined if I don't start doing something, it would disappoint them if I don't do much, when I'm in America.
This quote is similar to my mom's life, after the Vietnam War. She fled the country on a small boat with merely nothing, and starts a life in America. My family grew from nothing, and now has a house, multiple cars, and everything they ever wanted.
13 Reasons Why (post 2)
“I close my eyes. I don’t want to see it, but it’s so clear. When rumors of Hannah’s unexplained absence began spreading through school, Mr. Porter asked our class why he kept hearing her name mentioned in the halls. He looked nervous. Almost sick. Like he knew the answer but wanted someone to convince him otherwise. Then a girl whispered, “someone saw an ambulance leaving her house.” (56)
This book is getting really intense! She’s already gone through some of the tapes…and at this point it’s sounding like a teacher was a big reason why she killed herself. Maybe they had an affair? I’m not sure.
I wonder what it would feel like to be hearing those things about someone you cared for. If someone said that an ambulance was leaving one of my friend’s houses my heart would skip a beat. I don’t think I would know what to do. Did something happen to her parents? Who made the phone call to the hospital? Was she home alone? Why didn’t her parents notice any change in her antics and mood? These are all questions that are racing through my mind at this point. Who is Mr. Porter? What did he say to Hannah? A big question, why did he seem so nervous when he asked about her name being mentioned in the halls? I have to keep reading to find out.
It’s just amazing to think about this situation. Just how small things can effect someone so greatly, that it would provoke them to go to such an extreme to stop the pain and angst of going to the same place everyday to get teased by the same people everyday. no matter how many times they stand up to those people. It makes me wonder why something so tragic like this is the only last option someone has just to get people to stop talking about them for a few weeks.
This book shows how hurtful people can be, and how things they say, regardless of if it is funny or not, affects (sp?) people.
This book is getting really intense! She’s already gone through some of the tapes…and at this point it’s sounding like a teacher was a big reason why she killed herself. Maybe they had an affair? I’m not sure.
I wonder what it would feel like to be hearing those things about someone you cared for. If someone said that an ambulance was leaving one of my friend’s houses my heart would skip a beat. I don’t think I would know what to do. Did something happen to her parents? Who made the phone call to the hospital? Was she home alone? Why didn’t her parents notice any change in her antics and mood? These are all questions that are racing through my mind at this point. Who is Mr. Porter? What did he say to Hannah? A big question, why did he seem so nervous when he asked about her name being mentioned in the halls? I have to keep reading to find out.
It’s just amazing to think about this situation. Just how small things can effect someone so greatly, that it would provoke them to go to such an extreme to stop the pain and angst of going to the same place everyday to get teased by the same people everyday. no matter how many times they stand up to those people. It makes me wonder why something so tragic like this is the only last option someone has just to get people to stop talking about them for a few weeks.
This book shows how hurtful people can be, and how things they say, regardless of if it is funny or not, affects (sp?) people.
The Lovely Bones [Post #3]
“…the fastest way she knew to forget” [160].
I have to admit, I didn’t pick this book up once over this past weekend, but I was excited to today in class. The one thing about this book that I’m starting not to like is the fact that it just keeps dragging on. The beginning was more exciting than it is now. There needs to be some kind of action, it’s just been her looking down from heaven the whole time. I’m starting to drift out of this book, but I guess I’m just going to have to keep going.
The quote above I can very much relate to. People wonder why I’m so obsessed with softball, and the only reason is, is that it’s a fast way for everything to go away. While some of the other players are moaning because of league on Thursdays or tournaments over the weekend, I live for them. As my coach would say “leave it all before you get in the dugout”. What he’s saying is pretty much, whatever is going on in your life at that very moment, school problems, drama, boyfriends, whatever, it shouldn’t be put in the field. Maybe that’s why my softball team is so close with each other; when we’re playing, it just blocks out everything in all of our lives. What stinks is when you go back home after games or a tournament, and you hit reality again. Maybe that’s what urges me to keep playing the game, is that feeling that everything is perfect for those 2 hours of game time.
It’s my fastest way I know how to forget things.
I have to admit, I didn’t pick this book up once over this past weekend, but I was excited to today in class. The one thing about this book that I’m starting not to like is the fact that it just keeps dragging on. The beginning was more exciting than it is now. There needs to be some kind of action, it’s just been her looking down from heaven the whole time. I’m starting to drift out of this book, but I guess I’m just going to have to keep going.
The quote above I can very much relate to. People wonder why I’m so obsessed with softball, and the only reason is, is that it’s a fast way for everything to go away. While some of the other players are moaning because of league on Thursdays or tournaments over the weekend, I live for them. As my coach would say “leave it all before you get in the dugout”. What he’s saying is pretty much, whatever is going on in your life at that very moment, school problems, drama, boyfriends, whatever, it shouldn’t be put in the field. Maybe that’s why my softball team is so close with each other; when we’re playing, it just blocks out everything in all of our lives. What stinks is when you go back home after games or a tournament, and you hit reality again. Maybe that’s what urges me to keep playing the game, is that feeling that everything is perfect for those 2 hours of game time.
It’s my fastest way I know how to forget things.
Finding Buck Mchenery (post 3)
“Where getting into trouble I felt so guilty.”
Mr. Henry also known as Buck Mchenery was once a famous pitcher. He didn’t want anyone to know besides them three. Aaron, Kim, and Jason where the only ones who knew and they promised we wouldn’t tell anyone. When they went to there practice it was just them three and there coach Mr. Henry. They don’t have anyone else to play on there team. Kim’s dad is a famous sports reporter for the local news and he found out that Mr. Henry was famous so he wants to do an interview on him and live action on him coaching. When Jason’s old team came to the park, Kim’s dad invited them over to play Jason, Kim, and Aaron to get Mr. Henry in action. Mr. Henry was mad because he didn’t want it to get out but it was too late so he went with it. He took the interview and coached the three of them verses Jason’s old team. I predict that Jason, Aaron, and Kim beat the other team even though they have three players. I also think that those three will find more players and have a full team so they can play in the league. I feel bad that Mr. Henrys secret got out but over all he wasn’t to mad about the whole situation.
Mr. Henry also known as Buck Mchenery was once a famous pitcher. He didn’t want anyone to know besides them three. Aaron, Kim, and Jason where the only ones who knew and they promised we wouldn’t tell anyone. When they went to there practice it was just them three and there coach Mr. Henry. They don’t have anyone else to play on there team. Kim’s dad is a famous sports reporter for the local news and he found out that Mr. Henry was famous so he wants to do an interview on him and live action on him coaching. When Jason’s old team came to the park, Kim’s dad invited them over to play Jason, Kim, and Aaron to get Mr. Henry in action. Mr. Henry was mad because he didn’t want it to get out but it was too late so he went with it. He took the interview and coached the three of them verses Jason’s old team. I predict that Jason, Aaron, and Kim beat the other team even though they have three players. I also think that those three will find more players and have a full team so they can play in the league. I feel bad that Mr. Henrys secret got out but over all he wasn’t to mad about the whole situation.
Scooter (post # 2)
"I never saw the pitch. From the time it left his fingers, i shut my eyes completely. Shut my eyes . . . and swung. And heard a telltale crack echo through the park. I still have no idea how my feeble swing found my fathers pitch"(56).
This is the first time in the book it talks about Scooter playing baseball. There has been many times the author talks about the Yankees. When they go get an autograph for his granfather, it was what his dad loved. How his dad watches the games on t.v. and when they go to the Mets game. Scooter named after a Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto is just a regular kid growning who lives next to the Yankee stadium.
When Scooter hits the ball i feel happy for him. His dad was always a good baseball player nad the first two pitches made him look like and idiot. Scooter didn't even swing at the first two pitches because he couldn't see the pitch all he could do were hear the seems spinning right past him. Even if it was luck it still gives you a good feeling. Everyone gets lucky some time, so it's best to get lucky than not to. The feeling didn't lat long when Scooter was thrown out at home, everything that he had worked for was all gone. Only 359 feet of glory and 1 foot of pure sadness. I think that Scooter and his dad will have a different relationship throughout the rest of the book. Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?
This is the first time in the book it talks about Scooter playing baseball. There has been many times the author talks about the Yankees. When they go get an autograph for his granfather, it was what his dad loved. How his dad watches the games on t.v. and when they go to the Mets game. Scooter named after a Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto is just a regular kid growning who lives next to the Yankee stadium.
When Scooter hits the ball i feel happy for him. His dad was always a good baseball player nad the first two pitches made him look like and idiot. Scooter didn't even swing at the first two pitches because he couldn't see the pitch all he could do were hear the seems spinning right past him. Even if it was luck it still gives you a good feeling. Everyone gets lucky some time, so it's best to get lucky than not to. The feeling didn't lat long when Scooter was thrown out at home, everything that he had worked for was all gone. Only 359 feet of glory and 1 foot of pure sadness. I think that Scooter and his dad will have a different relationship throughout the rest of the book. Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?
The Kite Runner post 3
"The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had just been a moment ago. Blood oozed between his fingers. Blood and something else, something white and gel-like. (291)
It was really brave of Sohrab to stand up for Amir in his fight with Assef, it was a rematch fight with Assef, to finish what had happened when they were kids. Only this time Hassan was dead and Hassan's son Sohrab stood up for Amir. When Amir found out that the Taliban official who took Sohrab from the orphanage was Assef he should have realized immediately that Assef might have sexually abused Sohrab because he raped Hassan when he was a kid. I was surprised that the Talibans accepted a half German person like Assef to join them because of what they think about Westerners. Hassan would have liked Amir to finish that fight and defend Sohrab, even though that same person over twenty years ago ruined their friendship.
I also felt sorry for Amir when he wanted to go back to his childhood home in Kabul only to find it delapidated and its occupants Taliban officials. When I read that I thought about a phone call my mom recieved from my aunt Nancy saying that my grandparents' farm that my uncle Sam sold to a Chicago White Sox player named Joe Crede last October was now fenced around the entire property. I knew what that felt like seeing something you loved during your childhood fall to pieces. Amir used to think that Kabul was a peaceful town where good things happen, only to discover that Taliban officials lurk around every corner shooting people. Buildings were run down and people were homeless. Amir also discovered that the orphanage that Baba built had been destroyed as well. I understand Amir's emotions completely.
It was really brave of Sohrab to stand up for Amir in his fight with Assef, it was a rematch fight with Assef, to finish what had happened when they were kids. Only this time Hassan was dead and Hassan's son Sohrab stood up for Amir. When Amir found out that the Taliban official who took Sohrab from the orphanage was Assef he should have realized immediately that Assef might have sexually abused Sohrab because he raped Hassan when he was a kid. I was surprised that the Talibans accepted a half German person like Assef to join them because of what they think about Westerners. Hassan would have liked Amir to finish that fight and defend Sohrab, even though that same person over twenty years ago ruined their friendship.
I also felt sorry for Amir when he wanted to go back to his childhood home in Kabul only to find it delapidated and its occupants Taliban officials. When I read that I thought about a phone call my mom recieved from my aunt Nancy saying that my grandparents' farm that my uncle Sam sold to a Chicago White Sox player named Joe Crede last October was now fenced around the entire property. I knew what that felt like seeing something you loved during your childhood fall to pieces. Amir used to think that Kabul was a peaceful town where good things happen, only to discover that Taliban officials lurk around every corner shooting people. Buildings were run down and people were homeless. Amir also discovered that the orphanage that Baba built had been destroyed as well. I understand Amir's emotions completely.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Post 2)
"All right," said Deep Thought. "The Answer to the Great Question . . . "
"Yes . . . !"
"Of Life, the Universe and Everything . . . " said Deep Thought.
"Yes . . . !"
"Is . . . " said Deep Thought, and paused.
"Yes . . . !"
"Is . . . "
"Yes . . . !!!. . . ?"
"Forty-two," said Deep Thought, with innite majesty and calm."
(120)
I like this quote though and have found that 42 is indeed the answer to a great many things. One of the questions on a final my Sophomore year in college was "What is the answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything..." Fortunately I had read HHG2G and knew that c. 42 was the correct answer. Furthermore, if you google, "answer to life, the universe and everything" check out what the google calculator returns...it's 42.
The significance of 42 in the book is simple, it's the answer to the Great Question of Life the Universe and Everything. Unfortunately no one thought to figure out what the Great Question was and an answer without a question is pretty useless. The mice (yes, mice. Though if truth be told they are really super intelligent pan-dimensional beings.) constructed a computer to divulge the answer to the Great Question, which gave them 42. They failed to realize that they didn't know the Great Question so then decided they would need to build a better computer to calculate the question, this better computer would be called "Earth" which was blown up at the beginning of this novel 5 minutes before it was going to reveal the Great Question.
"Yes . . . !"
"Of Life, the Universe and Everything . . . " said Deep Thought.
"Yes . . . !"
"Is . . . " said Deep Thought, and paused.
"Yes . . . !"
"Is . . . "
"Yes . . . !!!. . . ?"
"Forty-two," said Deep Thought, with innite majesty and calm."
(120)
I like this quote though and have found that 42 is indeed the answer to a great many things. One of the questions on a final my Sophomore year in college was "What is the answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything..." Fortunately I had read HHG2G and knew that c. 42 was the correct answer. Furthermore, if you google, "answer to life, the universe and everything" check out what the google calculator returns...it's 42.
The significance of 42 in the book is simple, it's the answer to the Great Question of Life the Universe and Everything. Unfortunately no one thought to figure out what the Great Question was and an answer without a question is pretty useless. The mice (yes, mice. Though if truth be told they are really super intelligent pan-dimensional beings.) constructed a computer to divulge the answer to the Great Question, which gave them 42. They failed to realize that they didn't know the Great Question so then decided they would need to build a better computer to calculate the question, this better computer would be called "Earth" which was blown up at the beginning of this novel 5 minutes before it was going to reveal the Great Question.
Twilight (post #3)
"Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking. My hair ruffled with the light breeze, Edward stiffined, and the second male, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing me, his nostrils flaring. A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl ripping from his throat. It was nothing like the playful sounds I'd heard from him this morning; it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard, and chills ran from the crown of my head to the back of his heels"(378-379).
To briefly catch you up, you find out that Edward is a vampire and Bella is his ‘human’ love interest, from the summary on the back of the book. Through reading this quote you see that Edward has invited Bella to hang out with him and his family (who are also vampires). As they are in the woods playing baseball, Alice, Edward’s sister, says that they have visitors coming and they will be there shortly. These visitors are not like Edward and his family, they hunt more than animals. Edward is afraid for Bella but they do not have time to get her away before the visitors come.
When the visitors show up Carlisle, tries to be kind and disguise the fact that Bella is there. Bella covered up her face with her hair but as you read the breeze revealed her tasty scent. This scent is so powerful that James cannot resist her taste. He crouches forward wanting to pounce but Edward and Carlisle try to protect her. They say that she is with them and will not be hurt. They later find out that James has a special gift; he is a tracker, which can destroy Bella’s life forever. These last few chapters are the most intense ones of the whole book. You just can’t stop reading it even if you try.
To briefly catch you up, you find out that Edward is a vampire and Bella is his ‘human’ love interest, from the summary on the back of the book. Through reading this quote you see that Edward has invited Bella to hang out with him and his family (who are also vampires). As they are in the woods playing baseball, Alice, Edward’s sister, says that they have visitors coming and they will be there shortly. These visitors are not like Edward and his family, they hunt more than animals. Edward is afraid for Bella but they do not have time to get her away before the visitors come.
When the visitors show up Carlisle, tries to be kind and disguise the fact that Bella is there. Bella covered up her face with her hair but as you read the breeze revealed her tasty scent. This scent is so powerful that James cannot resist her taste. He crouches forward wanting to pounce but Edward and Carlisle try to protect her. They say that she is with them and will not be hurt. They later find out that James has a special gift; he is a tracker, which can destroy Bella’s life forever. These last few chapters are the most intense ones of the whole book. You just can’t stop reading it even if you try.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Innocent Man ((post #2))
“The Williamsons lived quietly in a small house on Fourth Street, on the east side of Ada, near the college. For relaxation, they visited relatives in the area, stayed busy with church work, and camped occasionally at a nearby state park.” (pg 20)
Ron Williamson is the lead suspect in the ongoing case of the murder of Debbie Carter. The next chapter goes on to tell what a good kid that Ron was, he was very popular in the small town that he lived in. He was a baseball star and played for the best high school team in all of Oklahoma, Asher High School. They won the state championship every year that he played, and he even won all state. All this time he was active in the church, even got saved, and was very family oriented. Only once did he have a run in with partying and it turned out really bad, over nighters in jail, and learned his lesson from it. So I don’t understand why this all star athlete, church boy would be the main suspect in a murder investigation, but I can’t wait to find out!
Ron Williamson is the lead suspect in the ongoing case of the murder of Debbie Carter. The next chapter goes on to tell what a good kid that Ron was, he was very popular in the small town that he lived in. He was a baseball star and played for the best high school team in all of Oklahoma, Asher High School. They won the state championship every year that he played, and he even won all state. All this time he was active in the church, even got saved, and was very family oriented. Only once did he have a run in with partying and it turned out really bad, over nighters in jail, and learned his lesson from it. So I don’t understand why this all star athlete, church boy would be the main suspect in a murder investigation, but I can’t wait to find out!
Odd Thomas (Post #3)
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a complete nerd; I love reading books. However, being in mostly English classes in college slightly turned me into a book snob. I realized this when Mr. Land suggested that I read a book called Odd Thomas written by Dean Koontz. Judging from Koontz’s books that I’d skimmed through and heard about from other people, I had decided that I wouldn’t enjoy reading his work. It was too over-the-top, too fantastical, and too ‘un-literary.’ But, as is often the case with hasty judgments, I was proven wrong. Not only did I greatly enjoy the narrative voice of this book, but I also became a fan of the way that Koontz uses language. Great writing found in a book other than a ‘classic’? No way!
So, here we go—a top ten (well, five because it was taking up the whole page) list of reasons I like the book, Odd Thomas.
1. Koontz makes the narrative funny. Several times, I found myself laughing at the observations of the narrator. For example, while discussing God and his system of rewards and punishes, Odd (the narrator’s first name) recalls his Granny’s perspective. “He’ll cut you some slack if you’re astonishingly stupid in an amusing fashion. Granny claimed that this explains why uncountable millions of breathtakingly stupid people get along just fine in life” (5).
2. Koontz is a great sentence builder. As you read through the book, you can find all sorts of different types of sentences that add amazing variety to the writing. Here’s one of my favorites: “Smelling like a peach, as Stormy likes me, not afraid of Death, having eaten a blueberry muffin, saying good-bye to Elvis with the words ‘Taking care of business’ in a lousy imitation of his voice, I set off for work at the Pico Mundo Grille (8).
3. Speaking of great sentences, I was also able to find lots of examples of figurative language. Believe it or not, all those examples of similes, metaphors, personification, etc, are not just reserved solely for ‘classic’ literature. “Like a pair of looms, using sunshine and their own silhouettes, two enormous California oaks wove veils of gold and purple, which they flung across the driveway” (9).
4. While the book was easy to read and comprehend, Koontz sprinkled some great vocab words throughout the novel. I actually had to stop and pick up a dictionary for a couple of them. They aren’t words I see every day.
5. It’s just a neat story. When I first heard about the book, I was definitely dreading the triteness of another “I see dead people” story. But, Odd Thomas, refreshingly, wasn’t the same old story. How many other “I see dead people” stories use the spirit of Elvis as a minor character who assists the protagonist? It’s great. Also, the story is able to balance a nice blend of hilarious commentary, suspenseful detective work, and serious issues such as moral responsibility, terrorism, and child abuse. Oh, and there’s a big twist at the end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Koontz totally surprises you, which is very cool.
So, here we go—a top ten (well, five because it was taking up the whole page) list of reasons I like the book, Odd Thomas.
1. Koontz makes the narrative funny. Several times, I found myself laughing at the observations of the narrator. For example, while discussing God and his system of rewards and punishes, Odd (the narrator’s first name) recalls his Granny’s perspective. “He’ll cut you some slack if you’re astonishingly stupid in an amusing fashion. Granny claimed that this explains why uncountable millions of breathtakingly stupid people get along just fine in life” (5).
2. Koontz is a great sentence builder. As you read through the book, you can find all sorts of different types of sentences that add amazing variety to the writing. Here’s one of my favorites: “Smelling like a peach, as Stormy likes me, not afraid of Death, having eaten a blueberry muffin, saying good-bye to Elvis with the words ‘Taking care of business’ in a lousy imitation of his voice, I set off for work at the Pico Mundo Grille (8).
3. Speaking of great sentences, I was also able to find lots of examples of figurative language. Believe it or not, all those examples of similes, metaphors, personification, etc, are not just reserved solely for ‘classic’ literature. “Like a pair of looms, using sunshine and their own silhouettes, two enormous California oaks wove veils of gold and purple, which they flung across the driveway” (9).
4. While the book was easy to read and comprehend, Koontz sprinkled some great vocab words throughout the novel. I actually had to stop and pick up a dictionary for a couple of them. They aren’t words I see every day.
5. It’s just a neat story. When I first heard about the book, I was definitely dreading the triteness of another “I see dead people” story. But, Odd Thomas, refreshingly, wasn’t the same old story. How many other “I see dead people” stories use the spirit of Elvis as a minor character who assists the protagonist? It’s great. Also, the story is able to balance a nice blend of hilarious commentary, suspenseful detective work, and serious issues such as moral responsibility, terrorism, and child abuse. Oh, and there’s a big twist at the end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Koontz totally surprises you, which is very cool.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Joy Luck Club : Post Two
"I once sacrificed my life to keep my parents' promise. This means nothing to you, because to you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she has a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise." (42).
I think this quote is true; promises don't mean as much in the modern day, then back in the traditional days. I can promise people many things, but fulfilling the promises would be difficult. I think the author went through a journey in difficult times to fulfill a promise, in order to understand how to keep a promise.
This relates to my life, and can relate to anyones, also. Promising people stuff comes too often, and it often leads to disappointment. Sometimes I would forget things, or be too busy, or just lazy. Although I can bring disappointment, it doesn't mean I don't regret them. It seems like I abuse my words, which can affect trust, and many other things.
This book has multiple stories with different character that portray different themes and lessons in life. It is interesting because it's like 16 stories in one book.
I think this quote is true; promises don't mean as much in the modern day, then back in the traditional days. I can promise people many things, but fulfilling the promises would be difficult. I think the author went through a journey in difficult times to fulfill a promise, in order to understand how to keep a promise.
This relates to my life, and can relate to anyones, also. Promising people stuff comes too often, and it often leads to disappointment. Sometimes I would forget things, or be too busy, or just lazy. Although I can bring disappointment, it doesn't mean I don't regret them. It seems like I abuse my words, which can affect trust, and many other things.
This book has multiple stories with different character that portray different themes and lessons in life. It is interesting because it's like 16 stories in one book.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Twilight (post #2) by: Nick Manzo
"He's telling everyone that he's taking me to prom either he's insane or he's still trying to make up for almost killing me last...well, you remember it, and the thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this" (163).
Bella is saying this because Tyler Crowly is taking her to prom without her permission. I can relate to this quote a lot as well. I know that people always put words into someone’s mouth, even without their permission. This always makes me mad because when someone does this to me it’s never what I intended for. The person receiving the message interprets wrong and I had a totally different meaning then what they heard. I will agree that sometimes it could work out for the best and nothing wrong would be intended, but it’s really rare and it doesn’t last very long. Plus putting words into someone’s mouth doesn’t get you on their good side. This happened to me; even though it turned out ok I still didn’t like it because they said something to someone important without my permission and I didn’t know what went on. To me it doesn’t rise my trust level of someone when they do this action, it makes me wonder if they have done anything else to me without me knowing that effected an outcome of something. This book has really caught my interest, it’s really making me turn page after page.
Bella is saying this because Tyler Crowly is taking her to prom without her permission. I can relate to this quote a lot as well. I know that people always put words into someone’s mouth, even without their permission. This always makes me mad because when someone does this to me it’s never what I intended for. The person receiving the message interprets wrong and I had a totally different meaning then what they heard. I will agree that sometimes it could work out for the best and nothing wrong would be intended, but it’s really rare and it doesn’t last very long. Plus putting words into someone’s mouth doesn’t get you on their good side. This happened to me; even though it turned out ok I still didn’t like it because they said something to someone important without my permission and I didn’t know what went on. To me it doesn’t rise my trust level of someone when they do this action, it makes me wonder if they have done anything else to me without me knowing that effected an outcome of something. This book has really caught my interest, it’s really making me turn page after page.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Under the Persimmon Tree (Post 2)
“How can a woman named Help not return to America to make peace with her family? Perhaps she will return to Afghanistan to honor the name her husband gave her by building a school there. And how can a girl named Star and a boy named Light not go back to their land in the shadow of a mountain named to honor their ancestors’ hearts? For there is great value to lives lived in a village called Golestan, which means ‘beautiful garden’” (270).
Okay, so I’ll admit that when I first started reading this book, I almost quit. The whole, drama, I-can’t-go-on-because-the-world-around-me-is-falling-apart-and-I-have-such-a-rough-life-right-now kind of story isn’t usually my thing. While I think these stories are interesting, and I always like hearing about people in other cultures and experiences, I just don’t usually get into reading this type of book. Oh, and the book also starts out with all kinds of names I couldn’t pronounce and didn’t understand. That annoys me. That being said, I kept reading the book for some reason. Being the nerd that I am, I got sucked in. The devastation and the horrors that the characters in this book witnessed and experienced were just incredible. It almost brought me to tears a couple times (right there in class!), and it definitely made me stop and think about how lucky I am to have such a safe and simple life here in KC, MO. Anyway, so I’m thinking, “All right, this book isn’t half bad.”
And then the quote from above comes along. I spent the entire 269 pages preceding this quote following and getting attached to these characters, whose names mean Help, Star, and Light (that’s not their actual names). Then, on the very last page of the book (270), Suzanne Fisher Staples decides to leave me hanging. She didn’t tell me what happened to any of the characters. Errrgghh! At least the rest of the book was good.
Okay, so I’ll admit that when I first started reading this book, I almost quit. The whole, drama, I-can’t-go-on-because-the-world-around-me-is-falling-apart-and-I-have-such-a-rough-life-right-now kind of story isn’t usually my thing. While I think these stories are interesting, and I always like hearing about people in other cultures and experiences, I just don’t usually get into reading this type of book. Oh, and the book also starts out with all kinds of names I couldn’t pronounce and didn’t understand. That annoys me. That being said, I kept reading the book for some reason. Being the nerd that I am, I got sucked in. The devastation and the horrors that the characters in this book witnessed and experienced were just incredible. It almost brought me to tears a couple times (right there in class!), and it definitely made me stop and think about how lucky I am to have such a safe and simple life here in KC, MO. Anyway, so I’m thinking, “All right, this book isn’t half bad.”
And then the quote from above comes along. I spent the entire 269 pages preceding this quote following and getting attached to these characters, whose names mean Help, Star, and Light (that’s not their actual names). Then, on the very last page of the book (270), Suzanne Fisher Staples decides to leave me hanging. She didn’t tell me what happened to any of the characters. Errrgghh! At least the rest of the book was good.
Of Mice and Men (Response #2)
“But Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held. Blood ran down Lennie’s face, one of his eyes was cut and closed. George slapped him in the face again and again, and still Lennie held on to the closed fist. Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie’s paw.”
What a fight. One (Curley) being the best welterweight fighter in the county, and the other (Lennie) a monstrous of a man with extraordinary strength. I feel sympathy for Lennie though because he got cheap shoted at first for no reason at all and he didn’t even want to fight back. After a few shots to the dome Lennie finally found the courage to fight back and he takes his opponents fist to prevent any more shots thrown. After he calmed down Lennie let go and turns out all the bones in his hand are broken. Now that he broke his hand I think Curley will be angrier at Lennie and want to fight him again.
What a fight. One (Curley) being the best welterweight fighter in the county, and the other (Lennie) a monstrous of a man with extraordinary strength. I feel sympathy for Lennie though because he got cheap shoted at first for no reason at all and he didn’t even want to fight back. After a few shots to the dome Lennie finally found the courage to fight back and he takes his opponents fist to prevent any more shots thrown. After he calmed down Lennie let go and turns out all the bones in his hand are broken. Now that he broke his hand I think Curley will be angrier at Lennie and want to fight him again.
Best Foot Foward (Post # 2)
“Take a subject like Tanner Cobb. On the one hand, he stole. On the other, he helped his little brother read and count. Then again, he stole shoes in front of his little brother. But he brought the shoes back and offered to make up for what he’d done. My mind said, Don’t trust him. My instincts said, He might not be all bad. Inconsistencies are a royal pain; the older you get, the more they multiply.”(30)
Mrs. Gladstone finally decided to hire Tanner Cobb even though she was unsure if it was a good idea or not. As you can tell Jenna feels the same but at the same time she thinks Mrs. Gladstone is doing the right thing. On Tanner’s first day at the job they assign him in the back to move shoe boxes. A job that would take Jenna all day only took Tanner a few hours. Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna and Murray are all very impressed with Tanner and how hard of a worker he is. Later that day Mrs. Gladstone finds out that they have slowly been shutting down some of her stores in other cities. Mrs. Gladstone said there are only two things to do and that is retreat or advance. I think that Mrs. Gladstone and her employees Murray, Jenna, and Tanner are going to advance and do whatever it takes to save Gladstone Shoes.
Mrs. Gladstone finally decided to hire Tanner Cobb even though she was unsure if it was a good idea or not. As you can tell Jenna feels the same but at the same time she thinks Mrs. Gladstone is doing the right thing. On Tanner’s first day at the job they assign him in the back to move shoe boxes. A job that would take Jenna all day only took Tanner a few hours. Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna and Murray are all very impressed with Tanner and how hard of a worker he is. Later that day Mrs. Gladstone finds out that they have slowly been shutting down some of her stores in other cities. Mrs. Gladstone said there are only two things to do and that is retreat or advance. I think that Mrs. Gladstone and her employees Murray, Jenna, and Tanner are going to advance and do whatever it takes to save Gladstone Shoes.
The Innocent Man ((post #1))
“The paramedics arrived first, two of them. They hustled up the stairs, into the apartment, and within seconds one was back outside, on the landing, vomiting. When detective Dennis Smith arrived at the apartment, the scene outside was busy with street cops, paramedics, onlookers, and even two of the local prosecutors. When he realized it was a potential homicide, he secured the area and sealed it off from the neighbors.” (pg 9)
John Grisham is an amazing writer, he knows how to keep someone’s attention, and this book is defiantly one of those that you never want to put down. By the end of the first chapter there has already been a murder, and an intense investigation started.
When the police came to check out the crime scene they found Debbie Carter, dead, her apartment was trashed and there was writing all over the walls with horrible messages. I was shocked how quickly the police started to question and investigate almost everyone in the small town. Although, to the reader it seems obvious who her killer was, a man named Glen Gore, who she was afraid of, and had gotten in a fight with the night before at the bar she worked at. But isn’t it that the police always seem to overlook the most obvious of suspects?
Well I really like this book so far, this was supposed to be a book I only read for one day, but now I’m hooked. I can’t wait to find out where the investigation leads the police next and if they can discover who the murderer really is. It seems that the murder is uncovering a lot of other secrets about the small town of Ada, Oklahoma.
John Grisham is an amazing writer, he knows how to keep someone’s attention, and this book is defiantly one of those that you never want to put down. By the end of the first chapter there has already been a murder, and an intense investigation started.
When the police came to check out the crime scene they found Debbie Carter, dead, her apartment was trashed and there was writing all over the walls with horrible messages. I was shocked how quickly the police started to question and investigate almost everyone in the small town. Although, to the reader it seems obvious who her killer was, a man named Glen Gore, who she was afraid of, and had gotten in a fight with the night before at the bar she worked at. But isn’t it that the police always seem to overlook the most obvious of suspects?
Well I really like this book so far, this was supposed to be a book I only read for one day, but now I’m hooked. I can’t wait to find out where the investigation leads the police next and if they can discover who the murderer really is. It seems that the murder is uncovering a lot of other secrets about the small town of Ada, Oklahoma.
The Giver (Post # 2)
"But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own." After Jonas started receiving all of these new memories, I think that the author, Lowry shows us that even the tiniest of freedoms matter. I think that by Jonas saying that it isn't necessarily safe for a child to get the choice to choose from a RED toy compared to a BLUE toy. In a way this is depressing, to think that having such a small freedom, or choice to him is unsafe. To see colors is also such a huge experience for Jonas that on a daily basis we all take for gran it. This part of the book probably has to be my favorite when you see Jonas receiving these new memories of snow and sunshine. To experience these are no big deal to me obviously I grew up with both. Even to cousins in Texas, they are extremely excited to see snow, so for someone to have never experienced anything really, it's hard to comprehend. I think also not having anyone else in his community to share these extremely new feelings with is hard. He can't even go to his "parents" with these feelings. For a little boy especially, I feel bad for him, I can't imagine his comfusion. This book is amaaaaazing!
The Year of the Hangman (Post 2)
"Arm your men and station yourselves behind the larboard gunwales, but stay out of sight. No firing unless I order it. Tell the gunners to load the cannon and stand by, but not to open the gun ports" (45).
Since the last time we left our main character a lot has changed. In the last post the question left off with our young protagonist was how and when will he be able to get back to England? Once Creighton arrived in the Carolinas he met his uncle (Colonel Grower) for the first time. As soon as they are done introducing themselves Creighton learns that he will not be staying here but will be leaving for Florida with his uncle later in the week since Colonel Brown had been nominated to before Florida’s Lieutenant Governor. Not only is Creighton somewhere where he doesn’t want to be but now he must go live in the dirty Spanish Colony of Florida. So within three days they boarded the same boat Creighton came to America on and headed for the Alligator infested Florida. But on the way the Amity ran into a bit of trouble, they were tricked and over run by Patriots. As the Patriots or Privateers came aboard they came to Colon Gower who was trying to burn all of his secret British documents. The Patriots took Gower as prisoner and left Creighton because Creighton had told them that he was just an indentured slave. By the end of the reading of the Patriots tell our main characters that they are to be taken to and held in New Orleans.
Since the last time we left our main character a lot has changed. In the last post the question left off with our young protagonist was how and when will he be able to get back to England? Once Creighton arrived in the Carolinas he met his uncle (Colonel Grower) for the first time. As soon as they are done introducing themselves Creighton learns that he will not be staying here but will be leaving for Florida with his uncle later in the week since Colonel Brown had been nominated to before Florida’s Lieutenant Governor. Not only is Creighton somewhere where he doesn’t want to be but now he must go live in the dirty Spanish Colony of Florida. So within three days they boarded the same boat Creighton came to America on and headed for the Alligator infested Florida. But on the way the Amity ran into a bit of trouble, they were tricked and over run by Patriots. As the Patriots or Privateers came aboard they came to Colon Gower who was trying to burn all of his secret British documents. The Patriots took Gower as prisoner and left Creighton because Creighton had told them that he was just an indentured slave. By the end of the reading of the Patriots tell our main characters that they are to be taken to and held in New Orleans.
Without You (post 1)
"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure-measure a year?"
The book Without You is written by Anthony Rapp, he was one of the original cast members of the musical RENT a rock opera, this book shows the trials and tribulations of life how he went through it, how Anthony got the part of Mark in the musical. It shows how he struggled in coming out to himself at such a young age of only 13 years old. Through out the book he really hasent seen his mother in a pretty long time and he finally sees her after like 5 years. His mother has cancer and he has great relationship with his mom and its hard to see her go though her disease. Him coming out as a gay man in the busisness he is in is pretty hard because he has to see death all around him when people he gets in a relationship with or he gets pretty close to them they die, the writer of RENT had HIV-AIDs and Anthony got very close to him as a friend and Jonathan dies at a very young age of only 27. It was really hard for the whole cast because Jonathan didnt get to see his musical get on Broadway, and become a very popular movie in 2005. This book is a very good book if you love musicals or if you love RENT in a musical or movie perspective because you get to see how this musical became so big in future years, RENT debuted in 1994 and the movie adaptation came out in 2005.
Firestorm, (2nd post)
“And Kerry Murphy had survived Firestorm. The knowledge was a bitter pill on his tongue. Before, she has been a mere inconvenience, a possible threat, but now she was a symbol of his failure, the child’s failure. He could feel his rage begin to sear like acid.”
Everyone close to Kerry was getting hurt! His first attempt to kill her had failed. This made him more eager than ever to get his revenge because she had survived his trap. He called his disasters “the child.” He created something so powerful that it could whip out cities in two hours and nothing could put the fire out. He had the greatest power in the world and uses it against whoever stands in his way. He will do anything to keep people away (good people, who stop fires: Kerry.) He will stop at nothing, and so many people around him are being hurt and killed because they are in the way of his project. He wants world power; and with Firestorm he can achieve it. Now Kerry and Brad Silver are out to find him, but the threat is, will he find them first. He can go into people’s heads too, not a controller like Silver but he can “find people.” Kerry is at risk and so is everyone around her. She will have to watch every move before he gets to her first. She is bound and determined to stop him, and now she had incentive. Trask hurt someone very close to her and it seems the numbers of victims she is close to are piling up. The three of them: Kerry, Brad, and Trask, all fighting for a victory; who’s power will overcome the other?
Everyone close to Kerry was getting hurt! His first attempt to kill her had failed. This made him more eager than ever to get his revenge because she had survived his trap. He called his disasters “the child.” He created something so powerful that it could whip out cities in two hours and nothing could put the fire out. He had the greatest power in the world and uses it against whoever stands in his way. He will do anything to keep people away (good people, who stop fires: Kerry.) He will stop at nothing, and so many people around him are being hurt and killed because they are in the way of his project. He wants world power; and with Firestorm he can achieve it. Now Kerry and Brad Silver are out to find him, but the threat is, will he find them first. He can go into people’s heads too, not a controller like Silver but he can “find people.” Kerry is at risk and so is everyone around her. She will have to watch every move before he gets to her first. She is bound and determined to stop him, and now she had incentive. Trask hurt someone very close to her and it seems the numbers of victims she is close to are piling up. The three of them: Kerry, Brad, and Trask, all fighting for a victory; who’s power will overcome the other?
The Shining (Post #2)
“He looked in Danny’s room and Danny was in his crib on his back, sleeping deeply, his arm still buried in the cast. In the softly filtered glow from the streetlight outside he could see the dark lines on its plastered whiteness where all the doctors and nurses in pediatrics had signed it. It was an accident. He fell down the stairs. It was an accident I lost my temper. Listen, hey, come on, please, just an accident-”(60).
I’m starting to understand more what has happened to this family in the past. Danny is the little boy in the book and his father hurt him one time when he was drunk. His father, whose name is Jack/Mr. Torrance would not forgive himself for his actions towards his son. His wife Wendy forgave him for what happened, but Jack still has memories of hurting his son, especially when he sees him in the cast. Wendy is a little more protective of him, she does not want Jack to hurt him again, but Jack has stopped drinking since the incident. But he is starting to again.
In the book, I am almost to the good part. I remember it from the movie. It is going to get scarier and I’m so excited! I still am puzzled from parts in the movie, I have questions. I hope that they will be answered later on when I read more. I still like King’s style of how he writes. His descriptions sometimes make a shiver go up your spine, like you are actually there. I like how he does that, it makes reading the book more thrilling! I know I’m going to enjoy it even more as I read on. I can not put it down sometimes; the book is just so crazy and exciting!
I’m starting to understand more what has happened to this family in the past. Danny is the little boy in the book and his father hurt him one time when he was drunk. His father, whose name is Jack/Mr. Torrance would not forgive himself for his actions towards his son. His wife Wendy forgave him for what happened, but Jack still has memories of hurting his son, especially when he sees him in the cast. Wendy is a little more protective of him, she does not want Jack to hurt him again, but Jack has stopped drinking since the incident. But he is starting to again.
In the book, I am almost to the good part. I remember it from the movie. It is going to get scarier and I’m so excited! I still am puzzled from parts in the movie, I have questions. I hope that they will be answered later on when I read more. I still like King’s style of how he writes. His descriptions sometimes make a shiver go up your spine, like you are actually there. I like how he does that, it makes reading the book more thrilling! I know I’m going to enjoy it even more as I read on. I can not put it down sometimes; the book is just so crazy and exciting!
The Lovely Bones [Post #2]
“Do you miss Susie?”
Because it was dark, because Ruth was facing away from her, because Ruth was a stranger, Lindsey said what she felt.
“More than you’ll ever know” [121].
Wow! This is the first time her sister (Lindsey) has shown any kind of emotion towards the death of her sister. Even better, Ruth, who is completely obsessed with the death of Susie, starts to ‘befriend’ her sister. Ruth hardly even knew Susie in real life.
What I think is weird is the fact that Lindsey opens up to a complete stranger rather than her best friend. Even though sometimes things are easier just to talk to a stranger about something, I would think that talking to your best friend about the death of a sister would be a lot easier than talking to a stranger. Your best friend is supposed to be there for you the whole time, and being a stranger, they may not. You don’t know who you could trust.
I can’t imagine the agony her sister is going through. I know that I would be going through the same things Lindsey is going through even though my sister and I don’t get along. Even if my best friend died, who pretty much is like my sister, I don’t even know how I would be able to cope with it. I give credit to Lindsey, she’s standing strong. But I think she needs to be a little more open about her feelings to her real friends and family, I think it would make her feel a thousand times better. But for now, all her emotions that have been shown is the one in the quote listed above. Maybe later in the book, it will all spill out.
Because it was dark, because Ruth was facing away from her, because Ruth was a stranger, Lindsey said what she felt.
“More than you’ll ever know” [121].
Wow! This is the first time her sister (Lindsey) has shown any kind of emotion towards the death of her sister. Even better, Ruth, who is completely obsessed with the death of Susie, starts to ‘befriend’ her sister. Ruth hardly even knew Susie in real life.
What I think is weird is the fact that Lindsey opens up to a complete stranger rather than her best friend. Even though sometimes things are easier just to talk to a stranger about something, I would think that talking to your best friend about the death of a sister would be a lot easier than talking to a stranger. Your best friend is supposed to be there for you the whole time, and being a stranger, they may not. You don’t know who you could trust.
I can’t imagine the agony her sister is going through. I know that I would be going through the same things Lindsey is going through even though my sister and I don’t get along. Even if my best friend died, who pretty much is like my sister, I don’t even know how I would be able to cope with it. I give credit to Lindsey, she’s standing strong. But I think she needs to be a little more open about her feelings to her real friends and family, I think it would make her feel a thousand times better. But for now, all her emotions that have been shown is the one in the quote listed above. Maybe later in the book, it will all spill out.
The Kite Runner post 2
" I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan - the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past - and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end I ran." (77)
I couldn't believe that Amir abandoned Hassan after all their years together. They even fed from the same breast. Amir was just intimidated by Assef and his two henchmen. Assef is like Hitler (not a surprise since he is half German). Hitler always intimidated people into giving in to his demands. Look at what happened to all those Jews. Assef said that Hassan was a lowly Hazara who couldn't read a single word. Given the taunting Amir was ashamed of Hassan because he was the son of Baba's servent. Maybe Amir wanted to impress Baba. After all Amir was the one who killed Baba's beloved wife when she died giving birth to him. Baba didn't like the fact that Amir didn't end up being like him because his wife died. Baba likes soccer and Amir likes reading. Baba wants Amir to run his business when he is older but Amir wants to be a writer. The source of conflict between Amir and Baba is a central part of The Kite Runner because even though they have little in common they are father and son. Amir seems to think that Baba loves Hassan better than him. That is not true. Hassan's father Ali came to Baba's family after two men ran over Ali's parents when he was five years old. Amir's grandfather was the judge in the trial and sencenced the men to join the army for two years, even though the two men were exempt from the draft. I can see why Baba was upset when Ali and Hassan left because Ali had been with his family for forty years. A person can do bad things in order to impress someone.
I couldn't believe that Amir abandoned Hassan after all their years together. They even fed from the same breast. Amir was just intimidated by Assef and his two henchmen. Assef is like Hitler (not a surprise since he is half German). Hitler always intimidated people into giving in to his demands. Look at what happened to all those Jews. Assef said that Hassan was a lowly Hazara who couldn't read a single word. Given the taunting Amir was ashamed of Hassan because he was the son of Baba's servent. Maybe Amir wanted to impress Baba. After all Amir was the one who killed Baba's beloved wife when she died giving birth to him. Baba didn't like the fact that Amir didn't end up being like him because his wife died. Baba likes soccer and Amir likes reading. Baba wants Amir to run his business when he is older but Amir wants to be a writer. The source of conflict between Amir and Baba is a central part of The Kite Runner because even though they have little in common they are father and son. Amir seems to think that Baba loves Hassan better than him. That is not true. Hassan's father Ali came to Baba's family after two men ran over Ali's parents when he was five years old. Amir's grandfather was the judge in the trial and sencenced the men to join the army for two years, even though the two men were exempt from the draft. I can see why Baba was upset when Ali and Hassan left because Ali had been with his family for forty years. A person can do bad things in order to impress someone.
Twilight (Post #2)
“Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat. I was quite unable to move, even if I’d wanted to. I listened to the sound of his even breathing, watching the sun and wind play in his bronze hair, more human than any other part of him. With deliberate slowness, his hands slid down the sides of my neck. I shivered, and I heard him catch his breath. But his hands didn’t pause as they softly moved to my shoulders, and then stopped” (276).
This quote is intense, especially if you have been following along with Bella and Edward’s relationship. Their passion for each other is getting stronger and stronger every minute. This is one of the first physical contacts that they have. As you read through the story you begin to realize how much Edward cares for Bella and how he would do anything to make sure she is safe. Even though his secret could in just one second change both of their lives forever, they just can’t resist being together. Edward fears that he would danger Bella but as you read you understand why Bella doesn’t care what happens as long as they can spend those few seconds with one another.
I believe that Edward will soon run into conflicts with his secret and will struggle with how to be with Bella and resist her tempting smell. I predict that either Edward’s family will become a danger to Bella or someone outside them will find out the dreadful secret and ruin everything that he has become and hid from. Even though this could happen I do think that Bella will remain by his side and will try to defeat what Edward is fighting against, whether that is his temptations or his love.
This quote is intense, especially if you have been following along with Bella and Edward’s relationship. Their passion for each other is getting stronger and stronger every minute. This is one of the first physical contacts that they have. As you read through the story you begin to realize how much Edward cares for Bella and how he would do anything to make sure she is safe. Even though his secret could in just one second change both of their lives forever, they just can’t resist being together. Edward fears that he would danger Bella but as you read you understand why Bella doesn’t care what happens as long as they can spend those few seconds with one another.
I believe that Edward will soon run into conflicts with his secret and will struggle with how to be with Bella and resist her tempting smell. I predict that either Edward’s family will become a danger to Bella or someone outside them will find out the dreadful secret and ruin everything that he has become and hid from. Even though this could happen I do think that Bella will remain by his side and will try to defeat what Edward is fighting against, whether that is his temptations or his love.
Finding Buck Mchenery (post #2)
”All we’ve got so far is a sponsor and a coach. We’re supposed to have a team meeting today over at Sampson Park.”
Jason finally got the coach of his dream. He had to beg Mr. Henry and go through some stuff just to get him. Jason figured out that Mr. Henry was Buck Mchenry and was a great negro league pitcher. He won ninety games in three years which is un heard of these days. What he had to go through was when Jason went to Mr. Henry’s house he said he didn’t want to coach and that he wasn’t Buck. But Mrs. Henry said that since we have an eleven year old grandson just sitting around just watching tv you should coach. Mr. Henry agreed to coach if Aaron wanted to play. At first he didn’t because when he lived in Memphis his parents were going to watch him play when they died in a car wreck which was tragic. No one new Mr. Henry was Buck but Jason said if you pitch to me I will prove to you that he was once a great pitcher. Jason did by showing him his baseball card so that’s how Aaron and Mr. Henry joined the team. The only problem is they have no one else. I predict that Aaron and Jason will find a team and they will win the eleven year old championship.
Jason finally got the coach of his dream. He had to beg Mr. Henry and go through some stuff just to get him. Jason figured out that Mr. Henry was Buck Mchenry and was a great negro league pitcher. He won ninety games in three years which is un heard of these days. What he had to go through was when Jason went to Mr. Henry’s house he said he didn’t want to coach and that he wasn’t Buck. But Mrs. Henry said that since we have an eleven year old grandson just sitting around just watching tv you should coach. Mr. Henry agreed to coach if Aaron wanted to play. At first he didn’t because when he lived in Memphis his parents were going to watch him play when they died in a car wreck which was tragic. No one new Mr. Henry was Buck but Jason said if you pitch to me I will prove to you that he was once a great pitcher. Jason did by showing him his baseball card so that’s how Aaron and Mr. Henry joined the team. The only problem is they have no one else. I predict that Aaron and Jason will find a team and they will win the eleven year old championship.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
"Scooter" post number 1
"Curiosity finally got the betterment of my dad. He didn't want to ask, but i guess he felt like he had to. "Whattaya here for if you don't want Joe to sign?" my father asked.The guy smiled. Not a friendly smile, just a lttle corner-of-the-mouth smile. he was a big guy much bigger than my dad. I thought there might have been trouble. After a tense moment, the guy seemed to relax. "Hey buddy", the guy said, "i just wanted to shake Joe's hand"(10).
Mick Foley, the author is a writer that always has a plan. what i mean by that is when he says something he always addresses it later in the story. i couldn't tell you how many times i have got this feeling, the feeling you get when you know you shouldn't ask but you do anyway. in fact i can't remember the last time i didn't have this feeling. most of the time i don't get a bad reaction because usually happen to ask my friends, but every once in a while it happens. i liked the quote and it related to me.
so far i like the book, even though it is boring and nothing exciting has happened yet. as much as the book i have read it seems like there is a good story to it. the book it about a kid who lives with his mom, dad, and grandpa. scooter and his grandpa sleep in the same room but that would all change when his grandpa got in an accident. scooter would now sleep by himself and learn many things by relating to the game of baseball. his dad and grandpa are big Yankee baseball fan;s that live extremely close to the ball park.
Mick Foley, the author is a writer that always has a plan. what i mean by that is when he says something he always addresses it later in the story. i couldn't tell you how many times i have got this feeling, the feeling you get when you know you shouldn't ask but you do anyway. in fact i can't remember the last time i didn't have this feeling. most of the time i don't get a bad reaction because usually happen to ask my friends, but every once in a while it happens. i liked the quote and it related to me.
so far i like the book, even though it is boring and nothing exciting has happened yet. as much as the book i have read it seems like there is a good story to it. the book it about a kid who lives with his mom, dad, and grandpa. scooter and his grandpa sleep in the same room but that would all change when his grandpa got in an accident. scooter would now sleep by himself and learn many things by relating to the game of baseball. his dad and grandpa are big Yankee baseball fan;s that live extremely close to the ball park.
The Catcher in the Rye (Response #1)
"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible. So when i told old Spencer I had to go to the gym to get my equipment and stuff, that was a sheer lie. I don't even keep my equipment in the gym" (16).
J.D. Salinger has a different writing style than most the authors I have read. His sentences are really short and he repeats the same thing alot. I think it adds to the book though. The story is told from first person and the main character is Holden Caulfield. Holden is 16 when the story takes place and he is not the brightest crayon in the box, so the short sentences add to the character. Holden gets kicked out of numorous private schools and has just been kicked out of his current school for laziness. He spends his last day visiting his sick teacher, Spencer, who gives him a big lecture about life. So far I like the book, but not much has happened yet.
J.D. Salinger has a different writing style than most the authors I have read. His sentences are really short and he repeats the same thing alot. I think it adds to the book though. The story is told from first person and the main character is Holden Caulfield. Holden is 16 when the story takes place and he is not the brightest crayon in the box, so the short sentences add to the character. Holden gets kicked out of numorous private schools and has just been kicked out of his current school for laziness. He spends his last day visiting his sick teacher, Spencer, who gives him a big lecture about life. So far I like the book, but not much has happened yet.
"I looked at the map in the truck, trying to memorize it now; hopefully i wouldn't have to walk around with it stuck in front of my nose all day. I stuffed evetything in my bag, slung the strap over my shoulder, an sucked in a huge breath. I can do this, I lied to myself feebly. No one was going to bite me. I finally exhaled and stepped out of the truck. (14).
I really like this quote. To me I feel the same way as bella feels when entering into a new crowed of people who you don’t even know. I believe that in one point in time we all lie to ourselves to hopefully boost our confidence and get our objective done, when we know that its not going to work anyways. So far this book has really kept my interest. Almost everything that Isabella does or thinks about situations, I can relate that to my life and how I felt in the same position. Isabella is a girl who moved from Phoenix, Arizona to a small town called Forks which is located in the northern most part in the US. Right off the bat she dislikes the place because of the towns depressing and gloomy state due to the constant cloudy skies and rain. On her first day of school she is very nervous but already finds the guy who she has a crush on. His name is Edward Cullen and the weird thing about him is that he has pitch black colored eyes and when Bella gets hit by a car he saves her, but leaves shoulder and hand dents in to the van and Isabella notices it. It makes me wonder if Edward has some type of super strength or is Bella just seeing things after being hit by the car?
I really like this quote. To me I feel the same way as bella feels when entering into a new crowed of people who you don’t even know. I believe that in one point in time we all lie to ourselves to hopefully boost our confidence and get our objective done, when we know that its not going to work anyways. So far this book has really kept my interest. Almost everything that Isabella does or thinks about situations, I can relate that to my life and how I felt in the same position. Isabella is a girl who moved from Phoenix, Arizona to a small town called Forks which is located in the northern most part in the US. Right off the bat she dislikes the place because of the towns depressing and gloomy state due to the constant cloudy skies and rain. On her first day of school she is very nervous but already finds the guy who she has a crush on. His name is Edward Cullen and the weird thing about him is that he has pitch black colored eyes and when Bella gets hit by a car he saves her, but leaves shoulder and hand dents in to the van and Isabella notices it. It makes me wonder if Edward has some type of super strength or is Bella just seeing things after being hit by the car?
Into the Wild (post 1)
i wanted movement and not a calm course of ixistence. i wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. i felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quite life ( pg. 15)
passage highlighted in one of the books found with McCandless's remains...
In our day and age we have nothing to do to actually change anything, the guy in the book is walking deep into the bush of alaska trying to find himself and who he is, and that is impossible if you are constantly around other people who also do not know who you actually are. he leaves his whole family behind along with all his money and possesions, seeing no use in material objects. i wish i was a braver person, so i too could seek truth
passage highlighted in one of the books found with McCandless's remains...
In our day and age we have nothing to do to actually change anything, the guy in the book is walking deep into the bush of alaska trying to find himself and who he is, and that is impossible if you are constantly around other people who also do not know who you actually are. he leaves his whole family behind along with all his money and possesions, seeing no use in material objects. i wish i was a braver person, so i too could seek truth
Best Foot Foward (Post # 1)
“I took a chance on you, kid. I hadn’t realized I was such a big risk. And you didn’t let me down. You know why? Because I have heart? NO because you were desperate. I was? He leaned against the wall next to the poster of our new Gladstone leather walking sandal that basically turned a common man into a mountain goat for $79.95. See desperation is the driving force in finding work. You’ve got to know you want work; you’ve got to know you need it. And when you’ve figured that out, you’ve got to take the steps and take the chances to make it happen. A desperate person is a hungry person. You follow me?”(27)
This is when Mrs. Gladstone the owner of Gladstone shoes is on the phone with Tanner, a kid that is asking her for a job and Mrs. Gladstone comes to Jenna about it. Mrs. Gladstone is a very good person and likes to help kids that need jobs. Kind of like Jenna, Jenna wasn’t the best kid she was young a hard worker and did her job very well. Now that Tanner, another teenager is coming to Mrs. Gladstone for help but she is scared because it is a big risk. You don’t know if they will be a good worker or if they will steal you just hope for the best and not the worst. Overall I really like this book, at first it started off a little slow and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not, but now I am starting to like it a lot more.
This is when Mrs. Gladstone the owner of Gladstone shoes is on the phone with Tanner, a kid that is asking her for a job and Mrs. Gladstone comes to Jenna about it. Mrs. Gladstone is a very good person and likes to help kids that need jobs. Kind of like Jenna, Jenna wasn’t the best kid she was young a hard worker and did her job very well. Now that Tanner, another teenager is coming to Mrs. Gladstone for help but she is scared because it is a big risk. You don’t know if they will be a good worker or if they will steal you just hope for the best and not the worst. Overall I really like this book, at first it started off a little slow and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not, but now I am starting to like it a lot more.
13 Reasons Why (post 1)
“Hello boys and girls. Hannah Baker here. Live and in stereo.
I don’t believe it.
No return engagements. No encore. And this time, absolutely no requests.
No, I can’t believe it. Hannah Baker killed herself.
I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.
What? No!
I’m not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you received this lovely little box, your name will pop up… I promise. Now why would a dead girl lie?
Hey! That sounds like a joke. Why would a dead girl lie?
Answer: because she can’t stand up.
Is this some kind of twisted suicide note?
Go ahead laugh.
Oh well, I thought it was funny.
Before Hannah died, she recorded a bunch of tapes. Why?
The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: you listen. Rule number two: you pass it on. Hopefully neither one will be easy for you.
“What’s that you’re playing?”
“Mom!”
I scramble for the stereo, hitting several buttons all at once.
I love this book. Not many books I read can make me want to read more. This one does the trick. In the book “13 Reasons Why”, a high school student, Hannah Baker, commits suicide by overdosing on pills. Before she dies she makes 13 audio cassette tapes stating who and what caused her to die as well as why she did it. The main character, Clay Jensen, receives the tapes. He is confused as to why he was on the list of people because in his mind he didn’t do anything wrong to her. In fact, he cared a lot for her. Hannah Baker was a new girl in the school. She had a crush on some guy who was reason number one on her tapes. Apparently, she met up with this boy one night and kissed him. Just once… nothing serious. The next day when she shows up to school, rumors are flying through the hallways claiming that she had hooked up with him. All of the sudden, she’s labeled as the school slut. Already her reputation has been tarnished.
As the story carries on, the narrator says that in the weeks preceding her untimely death, she stuffs maps of the city into the lockers of the people on the tapes. On this map, 13 blue stars mark places of significance to her story. She advises that the listener visit each place. This causes Clay’s stomach to turn. So far, Hannah has only told stories of 3 people. In order to keep this away from his nosey mother, he steals a cassette player and headphones from his best friend. The spot where I left off was where he was sitting on the curb deep in thought listening to a dead girl speak.
I don’t believe it.
No return engagements. No encore. And this time, absolutely no requests.
No, I can’t believe it. Hannah Baker killed herself.
I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.
What? No!
I’m not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you received this lovely little box, your name will pop up… I promise. Now why would a dead girl lie?
Hey! That sounds like a joke. Why would a dead girl lie?
Answer: because she can’t stand up.
Is this some kind of twisted suicide note?
Go ahead laugh.
Oh well, I thought it was funny.
Before Hannah died, she recorded a bunch of tapes. Why?
The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: you listen. Rule number two: you pass it on. Hopefully neither one will be easy for you.
“What’s that you’re playing?”
“Mom!”
I scramble for the stereo, hitting several buttons all at once.
I love this book. Not many books I read can make me want to read more. This one does the trick. In the book “13 Reasons Why”, a high school student, Hannah Baker, commits suicide by overdosing on pills. Before she dies she makes 13 audio cassette tapes stating who and what caused her to die as well as why she did it. The main character, Clay Jensen, receives the tapes. He is confused as to why he was on the list of people because in his mind he didn’t do anything wrong to her. In fact, he cared a lot for her. Hannah Baker was a new girl in the school. She had a crush on some guy who was reason number one on her tapes. Apparently, she met up with this boy one night and kissed him. Just once… nothing serious. The next day when she shows up to school, rumors are flying through the hallways claiming that she had hooked up with him. All of the sudden, she’s labeled as the school slut. Already her reputation has been tarnished.
As the story carries on, the narrator says that in the weeks preceding her untimely death, she stuffs maps of the city into the lockers of the people on the tapes. On this map, 13 blue stars mark places of significance to her story. She advises that the listener visit each place. This causes Clay’s stomach to turn. So far, Hannah has only told stories of 3 people. In order to keep this away from his nosey mother, he steals a cassette player and headphones from his best friend. The spot where I left off was where he was sitting on the curb deep in thought listening to a dead girl speak.
The Year of the Hangman (Post 1)
"A pair of hands seized his arms, pinning them behind his back, and a stout arm clamped around his neck, forcing his head back" (13).
So far this book is a real page turner! In The Year of the Hangman, the author offers up another possible result of the Revolutionary War. This book is written as if the Americans never won the war and the outcome of the rest of the war is still up for grabs. So far the book takes place in a little British town in 1777. The protagonist of the book is a fifth teen year old boy named Creighton Brown, who is a member of the upper class and very spoiled. His mother on the other hand is a widow that is having a hard time making ends meet. To make things worse his mom is tired of his actions and hires a group of people to kidnap him. One night when he comes home from a poker party three men jump him in his house and tie him up. When Creighton wakes up he is aboard a British War Ship named the Amity. He then finds out that his mother is tired of his behavior and is sending him off to live in the colonies with his Uncle that he has never met. Once in the colonies, Creighton realizes that the colonies aren’t as bad as he thought. At the end of my reading the question that faces Creighton, is how am I going to get back home?
So far this book is a real page turner! In The Year of the Hangman, the author offers up another possible result of the Revolutionary War. This book is written as if the Americans never won the war and the outcome of the rest of the war is still up for grabs. So far the book takes place in a little British town in 1777. The protagonist of the book is a fifth teen year old boy named Creighton Brown, who is a member of the upper class and very spoiled. His mother on the other hand is a widow that is having a hard time making ends meet. To make things worse his mom is tired of his actions and hires a group of people to kidnap him. One night when he comes home from a poker party three men jump him in his house and tie him up. When Creighton wakes up he is aboard a British War Ship named the Amity. He then finds out that his mother is tired of his behavior and is sending him off to live in the colonies with his Uncle that he has never met. Once in the colonies, Creighton realizes that the colonies aren’t as bad as he thought. At the end of my reading the question that faces Creighton, is how am I going to get back home?
The Clique
“be careful, those Target bathing suits are really hard to clean”
The book The Clique is about five girls living in a world of rich and luxury. The girls are, Massie “the queen bee”, Dylan second in command to Massie, Alicia the nice one but also shallow, Kristen the smart one of the group and lastly Claire the new girl trying to make friends. Claire just moved to Westchester from Florida and Massie’s family takes in Claire’s family. Claire and her family live in the guesthouse out back its more of a miniature mansion of Massie’s home up front. Massie treats Claire as if she has a disease. Like Massie Claire can’t afford all the designer clothes that all the people at Octavian Country Day School (OCD) have, so she resorts to Target and The Gap for all her clothes. Massie’s flunkies finally meet Claire and she doesn’t make a good first impression on them. At the Octavian Country Day School that school is more of a mall then a school everyone looks the same except of course “the rejects”. Through out the first couple of chapters Claire tries to make Massie and her clones be her friend but that really doesn’t happen. So Claire comes up with a plan to give Massie a taste of her own medicine. So see what finds out in the rest of the book.
The Giver (first post)
"After tweleve, age isn't important. Most of us even lose track of how old we are as time passes, though the information is in the Hall of Open Records, and we could go and look it up if we wanted to."
This book is absolutley CRAZY, and I love it; even though we all read it in the eighth grade, but whatever. I just don't understand how it all works and how the community just goes along with what everyone else says to do, there is barely any independence. They are so into how to act and how to not break rules that they lose track of their age, that is pretty hard to do if you ask me. I mean twelve is such a young age and they are already recieving their life long jobs they are to fulfill. The fact that they mention they can look in the Hall of OPEN records I think the community leaders and trying to make it seem like the community knows about everything that goes on. They don't. I can already tell that being released is not a fun punishment. They are just so vunerable in the community that I don't know how it doesn't scare them when they are especially old, and being released, unlike the newborns that are released. I think that is just horribly sad. I know that I guess it isn't sad because they don't fully understand how the world really works, but I wonder who actually releases these people, and how do they not feel disgraced when they do it...
This book is absolutley CRAZY, and I love it; even though we all read it in the eighth grade, but whatever. I just don't understand how it all works and how the community just goes along with what everyone else says to do, there is barely any independence. They are so into how to act and how to not break rules that they lose track of their age, that is pretty hard to do if you ask me. I mean twelve is such a young age and they are already recieving their life long jobs they are to fulfill. The fact that they mention they can look in the Hall of OPEN records I think the community leaders and trying to make it seem like the community knows about everything that goes on. They don't. I can already tell that being released is not a fun punishment. They are just so vunerable in the community that I don't know how it doesn't scare them when they are especially old, and being released, unlike the newborns that are released. I think that is just horribly sad. I know that I guess it isn't sad because they don't fully understand how the world really works, but I wonder who actually releases these people, and how do they not feel disgraced when they do it...
Firestorm Post 1
“You’re nuts, Do you think I’m some kind of pyromaniac?” “No, I think you have a special psychic talent triggered by fire. If you come anywhere near the area a fire was set, you receive vibes; sometimes you actually see it being done. In cases where you have a relationship with the people involved in the fire, you don’t have to be close.”
Kerry Murphy has a talent that makes her a “freak.” She immediately becomes in sync with a person who is in a fire, and she can see a person suffer or even die. When she was 6 years old she as in a fire set by a man whose face she saw but cannot remember. The man set fire to her house and killed her mother and hit her which sent her into a comma for two years. When she became conscious she inherited a talent. She uses her talent to be a private investigator on fire crime scenes. She uses her dog Sam to make it look like he is finding where the fires were set and other clues to solve each case. After all she doesn’t want to look like a freak! She was put in an insane asylum because she had hallucinations and dreams that freaked her dad out. He thought she was going crazy for the traumatic event. When she was in insane asylum a man come to her rescue named Brad Silver. He told her exactly what to say to get out of the hospital because he knew she had the talent. He was one of them, he had a talent, not her talent exactly but he was a controller. Now he has come back into her life to ask her for a favor: to use her gift. But somewhere in the past he ruined there relationship and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He will now have to convince her to help him find a man beyond any arsonist, this man is a monster!!!
Kerry Murphy has a talent that makes her a “freak.” She immediately becomes in sync with a person who is in a fire, and she can see a person suffer or even die. When she was 6 years old she as in a fire set by a man whose face she saw but cannot remember. The man set fire to her house and killed her mother and hit her which sent her into a comma for two years. When she became conscious she inherited a talent. She uses her talent to be a private investigator on fire crime scenes. She uses her dog Sam to make it look like he is finding where the fires were set and other clues to solve each case. After all she doesn’t want to look like a freak! She was put in an insane asylum because she had hallucinations and dreams that freaked her dad out. He thought she was going crazy for the traumatic event. When she was in insane asylum a man come to her rescue named Brad Silver. He told her exactly what to say to get out of the hospital because he knew she had the talent. He was one of them, he had a talent, not her talent exactly but he was a controller. Now he has come back into her life to ask her for a favor: to use her gift. But somewhere in the past he ruined there relationship and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He will now have to convince her to help him find a man beyond any arsonist, this man is a monster!!!
Fat Kid Rules the World (Post 1)
"I'm a sweating fat kid standing on the edge of the subway platform staring at the tracks. I'm seventeen years old, wiegh 296 pounds, and i'm six foot one. I have a crew cut, yes a crew cut, sallow skin and the kind of mouth that puckers when i breath." (1)this book is all about this fat kid who doesnt know what to do with his life. this book relates alot to me beacuse im fat and im seventeen. The book also talks about how life sucks being fat. i dont think it does. it makes it alot more fun cause you dont have to care about what you look like. You dont have to worry about what people think. you can do whatever you want. I dont see how the main character in this book would want to kill himself. He talks about it mutiple times, he needs to get a better outlook on life.
love,
Braden
love,
Braden
The Shining (Post #1)
“He killed them Mr. Torrance, and then committed suicide. He murdered the little girls with a hatchet, his wife with a shotgun, and himself the same way. His leg was broken. Undoubtedly so drunk he fell downstairs” (13).
I like how Stephen King described how one of the people that were taking care of the Overlook hotel murdered his family. The guy went crazy because he was in this hotel for many months. As I read on it kept on getting better and better. The main character would say that it would never happen to him and his family because they have things that they can do to keep them busy. I wanted to read on and on because it was just so exciting to see what would happen next. But it is just the beginning; it will get better and scarier as I read more of this book.
I like how King describes things pretty well. It is like you can picture it in your mind! I love how authors do that in their books, it makes reading the book more exciting. King also uses many similes. Like when he writes, “A stupid man is more to cabin fever just as he’s prone to shoot someone over a card game or commit a spur-of- the-moment robbery.” I think that is a little funny. I have not read many pages and I saw more similes too. I bet there are going to be way more as I read more of this book. His style of writing is very interesting. He would explain something, but then there would be parentheses and he would explain it more, but in a lot of detail. He did it on a whole page! It was like I was not reading a book anymore. But it gave me more of an idea of what he was talking about.
I think I’m going to like this book because I have seen the movie before a long time ago. It was a really crazy movie, and also a little confusing. Maybe the book will make it not be so confusing and I will get the movie more. I already like what I have read so far, it is a scary book. Scary books are awesome; it is hard to put them down. Just like this one!
I like how Stephen King described how one of the people that were taking care of the Overlook hotel murdered his family. The guy went crazy because he was in this hotel for many months. As I read on it kept on getting better and better. The main character would say that it would never happen to him and his family because they have things that they can do to keep them busy. I wanted to read on and on because it was just so exciting to see what would happen next. But it is just the beginning; it will get better and scarier as I read more of this book.
I like how King describes things pretty well. It is like you can picture it in your mind! I love how authors do that in their books, it makes reading the book more exciting. King also uses many similes. Like when he writes, “A stupid man is more to cabin fever just as he’s prone to shoot someone over a card game or commit a spur-of- the-moment robbery.” I think that is a little funny. I have not read many pages and I saw more similes too. I bet there are going to be way more as I read more of this book. His style of writing is very interesting. He would explain something, but then there would be parentheses and he would explain it more, but in a lot of detail. He did it on a whole page! It was like I was not reading a book anymore. But it gave me more of an idea of what he was talking about.
I think I’m going to like this book because I have seen the movie before a long time ago. It was a really crazy movie, and also a little confusing. Maybe the book will make it not be so confusing and I will get the movie more. I already like what I have read so far, it is a scary book. Scary books are awesome; it is hard to put them down. Just like this one!
The Kite Runner Post 1
"Now, no matter what the mullah teaches there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft." (17)
In The Kite Runner Baba tells Amir this advice about religion after Mullah Fatiullah Khan taugh Amir about Islam when he was in fifth grade. Baba has a right to tell Amir this advise because he dosn't consider murder a sin because Amir's mother died in childbirth. I think this is a kind of foreshadowing of what is going to happen because the book parralles the abolishment of the monarchy of Afghanistan and the founding of a republic run by the Talibans. Then Afghanistan is invaded by the Soviets and ever since the country has been in turmoil. The Talibans remained in power until 9/11 when the US kicked them out. Probibly because of all this turmoil Amir realizes that he is going to witness a lot of murders, rapes, etc, and the most importaint thing is that you don't steal.
After 9/11 and the Iraq War I thought all Muslims were tarrorists. I thought they came from a violent religion that promoted terrorism and that they all supported Osama bin Laden. Now that I have started reading this book I have realized that Muslims face the same challenges that everyone else faces, bullies, politics, and family conflicts. When I first saw the summary I thought that the book would be about a Muslim child's point of view after the US invaded Afghanistan after 9/11. I didn't know that the Muslims didn't all support Al-Quida, now I realize that they are just a small number and that the majority of Muslims are normal people.
I also like Hosseini's writing style. It is very easy to read and the last sentence of every chapter makes you want to go on. I like the fact that he talks about what the Afghans think about American culture. Amir and Hassan seem to like American westerns and say that the resident hippies are friendly. A really part of the story was when Amir and Hassan wanted Baba to take them to Iran to meet John Wayne because they didn't understan the concept of dubbing movies. I thought that Afghanistan was a third world country and didn't realize that people drove Mustangs and saw American movies. I thought all the Muslims wanted to keep from themselves and didn't want to associate with western culture. But this was before all the radical Muslims came into power and Afghanistan was a peaceful country.
In The Kite Runner Baba tells Amir this advice about religion after Mullah Fatiullah Khan taugh Amir about Islam when he was in fifth grade. Baba has a right to tell Amir this advise because he dosn't consider murder a sin because Amir's mother died in childbirth. I think this is a kind of foreshadowing of what is going to happen because the book parralles the abolishment of the monarchy of Afghanistan and the founding of a republic run by the Talibans. Then Afghanistan is invaded by the Soviets and ever since the country has been in turmoil. The Talibans remained in power until 9/11 when the US kicked them out. Probibly because of all this turmoil Amir realizes that he is going to witness a lot of murders, rapes, etc, and the most importaint thing is that you don't steal.
After 9/11 and the Iraq War I thought all Muslims were tarrorists. I thought they came from a violent religion that promoted terrorism and that they all supported Osama bin Laden. Now that I have started reading this book I have realized that Muslims face the same challenges that everyone else faces, bullies, politics, and family conflicts. When I first saw the summary I thought that the book would be about a Muslim child's point of view after the US invaded Afghanistan after 9/11. I didn't know that the Muslims didn't all support Al-Quida, now I realize that they are just a small number and that the majority of Muslims are normal people.
I also like Hosseini's writing style. It is very easy to read and the last sentence of every chapter makes you want to go on. I like the fact that he talks about what the Afghans think about American culture. Amir and Hassan seem to like American westerns and say that the resident hippies are friendly. A really part of the story was when Amir and Hassan wanted Baba to take them to Iran to meet John Wayne because they didn't understan the concept of dubbing movies. I thought that Afghanistan was a third world country and didn't realize that people drove Mustangs and saw American movies. I thought all the Muslims wanted to keep from themselves and didn't want to associate with western culture. But this was before all the radical Muslims came into power and Afghanistan was a peaceful country.
On The Road
the main character and his friends are in Mexico
"Presently Victor's tall brother came ambling along with some weed piled on a page of newspaper. he dumped it on Victor's lap and leaned casually on the door of the car to nod and smile at us and say, "Hallo." Dean nodded and smiled pleasantly at him. Nobody talked; it was fine. Victor proceeded to roll the biggest bomber anybody ever saw. He rolled (using brown bag paper) what amounted to a tremendous Corona cigar of tea. It was huge. Dean stared at it, popeyed. Victor casually lit it and passed it around. To drag on this thing was like leaning over a chimney and inhaling. It blew into your throat in one great blast of heat. We held our breaths and all let out just about simultaneously. Instantly we were all high. The sweat froze on our foreheads and it was suddenly like the beach at Acapulco. I looked out the back window of the car, and another and the strangest of Victor's brothers--a tall Peruvian of an Indian with a sash over his shoulder--leaned grinning on a post, too bashful to come up and shake hands. It seemed the car was surrounded by brothers, for another one appeared on Dean's side. Then the strangest thing happened. Everybody became so high that usual formalities were dispensed with and the things of immediate interest were concentrated on, and now it was the strangeness of americans and Mexicans blasting togetheron the desert and, more than that, the strangeness of seeing in close proximity the faces and pores of skins and calluses of fingers and general abashed cheekbones of another world. So the Indian brothers began talking about us in low voices and commenting; you saw them look, and size, and compare mutualities of impression, or correct and modify," Yeh, yeh" while Dean and Stan and I commented on them in English.
"Will you d-i-g that weird brother in the back that hasn't moved from that post and hasn't by one cut hair diminished the intensity of the glad funny bashfulness of his smile? And the one to my left here, older, more sure of himself but sad, like hung-up, like a bum even maybe, in town, while Victor is respectably married--he's like a gawddam Egyptian king, that you see. These guys are real cats. Ain's never seen anything like it. And they're talking and wondering about us, like see? Just like we are but with a difference of their own, their interest probably resolving around how we're dressed--same as ours, really-- but the strangeness of the things we have in the car and the strange ways that we laugh so different from them, and maybe even the way we smell compared to them. Nevertheless I'd give my eye-teeth to know what they're saying about us." And Dean tried. "Hey Victor, man--what you brother say just then?"
It is interesting that no matter where you go, how far you are from home, you will always find a hipster. Everywhere on earth there are those who wish for nothing more than a good time. These east coast educated beatniks are in mexico and event though there is a language barrier they still manage to make friends and have fun. As the great Doctor Evil once said, "We are not so different, you and I." This phrase, mantra, motto, whatever you want to call it, perfectly captures the mindset behind the entire book. Even though they come from social, political, and economic polar opposites there is still common thread among hipsters; their search for a laugh and a good time. Is it just me or does this passage make you want to Mexico and eat Nachos; deliciously warm melty, nacho cheese imbued with warm ground beef, fresh and direct from the local butcher, and crisp and juicy, but oh so spicy handpicked, thin sliced, homegrown jalapeno peppers, all drizzled over warm, freshly baked tortilla chips straight from a real Mexican brick oven.... MMMmmmmmm! But I digress. This is a great book about discovering oneself and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good page turner; or delectibly hot’n’spicy nachos!
Keepin' it real,
Lex
"Presently Victor's tall brother came ambling along with some weed piled on a page of newspaper. he dumped it on Victor's lap and leaned casually on the door of the car to nod and smile at us and say, "Hallo." Dean nodded and smiled pleasantly at him. Nobody talked; it was fine. Victor proceeded to roll the biggest bomber anybody ever saw. He rolled (using brown bag paper) what amounted to a tremendous Corona cigar of tea. It was huge. Dean stared at it, popeyed. Victor casually lit it and passed it around. To drag on this thing was like leaning over a chimney and inhaling. It blew into your throat in one great blast of heat. We held our breaths and all let out just about simultaneously. Instantly we were all high. The sweat froze on our foreheads and it was suddenly like the beach at Acapulco. I looked out the back window of the car, and another and the strangest of Victor's brothers--a tall Peruvian of an Indian with a sash over his shoulder--leaned grinning on a post, too bashful to come up and shake hands. It seemed the car was surrounded by brothers, for another one appeared on Dean's side. Then the strangest thing happened. Everybody became so high that usual formalities were dispensed with and the things of immediate interest were concentrated on, and now it was the strangeness of americans and Mexicans blasting togetheron the desert and, more than that, the strangeness of seeing in close proximity the faces and pores of skins and calluses of fingers and general abashed cheekbones of another world. So the Indian brothers began talking about us in low voices and commenting; you saw them look, and size, and compare mutualities of impression, or correct and modify," Yeh, yeh" while Dean and Stan and I commented on them in English.
"Will you d-i-g that weird brother in the back that hasn't moved from that post and hasn't by one cut hair diminished the intensity of the glad funny bashfulness of his smile? And the one to my left here, older, more sure of himself but sad, like hung-up, like a bum even maybe, in town, while Victor is respectably married--he's like a gawddam Egyptian king, that you see. These guys are real cats. Ain's never seen anything like it. And they're talking and wondering about us, like see? Just like we are but with a difference of their own, their interest probably resolving around how we're dressed--same as ours, really-- but the strangeness of the things we have in the car and the strange ways that we laugh so different from them, and maybe even the way we smell compared to them. Nevertheless I'd give my eye-teeth to know what they're saying about us." And Dean tried. "Hey Victor, man--what you brother say just then?"
It is interesting that no matter where you go, how far you are from home, you will always find a hipster. Everywhere on earth there are those who wish for nothing more than a good time. These east coast educated beatniks are in mexico and event though there is a language barrier they still manage to make friends and have fun. As the great Doctor Evil once said, "We are not so different, you and I." This phrase, mantra, motto, whatever you want to call it, perfectly captures the mindset behind the entire book. Even though they come from social, political, and economic polar opposites there is still common thread among hipsters; their search for a laugh and a good time. Is it just me or does this passage make you want to Mexico and eat Nachos; deliciously warm melty, nacho cheese imbued with warm ground beef, fresh and direct from the local butcher, and crisp and juicy, but oh so spicy handpicked, thin sliced, homegrown jalapeno peppers, all drizzled over warm, freshly baked tortilla chips straight from a real Mexican brick oven.... MMMmmmmmm! But I digress. This is a great book about discovering oneself and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good page turner; or delectibly hot’n’spicy nachos!
Keepin' it real,
Lex
post (#1) Finding Buck Mchenry
“But catcher is your position, Jason, and you’ll be a starter on your new team.” (9)
This is when Mr. Borker, the coach of the Baer Machine cut Jason from the baseball team. He said it would be better for him if he played on the team because he would get a lot more playing time. I have never been cut from a team so I can’t say what he is going through but I imagine it can’t feel good. Even though Jason has played with this team his whole life he still has a chance to play on another team, in this book they call it the expansion team. The problem with the expansion team is there is no sponsor or coach. I predict Jason will like his new team a lot better and he will find a coach and a sponsor for the new expansion team. Jason loves baseball cards so he went to the Grandstand a sports card shop to buy some cards. He goes there a lot so he was talking to the owner Jim about how he got cut from the team and what he is going to do. In the mean time Jim would like to sponsor the new team. Now all Jason needs to do is find a coach? He wanted Jim to do it but he said he was to busy. I think that the coach will end up being Mr. Henry because he knows a lot about baseball and helped Jason run faster to first just by watching and seeing what the problem was.
This is when Mr. Borker, the coach of the Baer Machine cut Jason from the baseball team. He said it would be better for him if he played on the team because he would get a lot more playing time. I have never been cut from a team so I can’t say what he is going through but I imagine it can’t feel good. Even though Jason has played with this team his whole life he still has a chance to play on another team, in this book they call it the expansion team. The problem with the expansion team is there is no sponsor or coach. I predict Jason will like his new team a lot better and he will find a coach and a sponsor for the new expansion team. Jason loves baseball cards so he went to the Grandstand a sports card shop to buy some cards. He goes there a lot so he was talking to the owner Jim about how he got cut from the team and what he is going to do. In the mean time Jim would like to sponsor the new team. Now all Jason needs to do is find a coach? He wanted Jim to do it but he said he was to busy. I think that the coach will end up being Mr. Henry because he knows a lot about baseball and helped Jason run faster to first just by watching and seeing what the problem was.
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