In Darkness: Week Of 5-12-14

Prompt: Do you like what your reading? Why or why not?
Pages Read: 1-80
Author: Nick Lake

     In my opinion I am truly finding this book entertaining, but that does not mean I am liking it. Like I am enjoying it because of the different emotions it is giving me which I find entertaining. Also I just started reading this book so I am neutral on it. I still have a lot to read but the plethora of pages I have absorbed was breathtaking. This book, I will admit, is a little over dramatic. It looses it's realistic feeling. I think it is the drama that is giving me these surprising emotions though. I like reading books that are able to control my emotions.

     This book is taken place in Haiti when the most recent earthquake happened which is in 2010. The author, Nick Lake, was inspired to write a story about a person being trapped in the rubble of a hospital. Which we are introduced to the main character and his thoughts while being alone in the dark inside the rubble. In his point of view, he tells us how he got to the hospital in the first place, his tragedy of loosing his sister and father, and his faults. It is surprising how much this boy has experienced at a very early age. An age that is younger than me. This book leaves me wondering, are there people like that who actually think like him and do actions like him? It just leaves my brain wondering off during reading the book because of the surprising actions of his. This book will suck you into the pages. It will not let you go. Maybe after you finnish reading it but my prediction is that you would need some time to recover from what happened. It is basically playing with my emotions.

     Overall just by based on what I have read so far, yes, I do like what I am reading. I might need to get my own copy of it myself. I also hope in the end there will be a happy ending. That is what I am hoping but not what I am predicting.

40 Book Adventures

   

     In my class I have been assigned to read 40 books in the beginning of the school year until the end. We were given a chart where it tells us how many books of which kind genre we are expected to read. The reason for this being would be because my teacher wanted to expose us to different kinds of books. This is called the 40 Book Challenge. I think that is a marvelous idea. Even though some of us didn't make it to 40 books. Also we only have 15 days before the school year ends, it pretty much already ended. Some of us did not make it to 40 books, and I am one of those people. I have read 27 books out of the whole school year. Although the goal is just to motivate you to read more and to get you exposed to other types of genres that you normally would not read. I have actually read much more books than I usually do in the school year. In the summer I read way more. I guess that would be because in school our whole life time is taken up by school, school work, and sleep. This year, though, it was different. I made much more improvement.

    Compared to any other school year I did a spectacular job. I pushed myself to do the 40 book challenge because I would like to be proud of myself. Even though I did not complete it. I still did MUCH better than in sixth grade. Out of the scale of one to ten, I deserve an eight. That's how much I have improved from reading throughout the school year compared to seventh grade.I would get a nine if I made it to 40 books and a ten if I went past it. Also the books I chose for this challenge were my expectations. The genres allowed me to go into a higher reading level. Some books I would lose interest in but in other books I would find myself at exasperating cliffhangers. Thats what I like in a good book. I like that the 40 book challenge was not taken for grade but just for our own good. I thought that was a creative way to get competitive with yourself and have more exposure to other books.

An Abundance of Katherines: Week of 5-5-14

Prompt: Prove what the author is trying to tell you about life. (The moral of the story)What is your favorite part of the book you're reading? Why?
Pages Read: FINISHED
Author: John Green


     I think John Green is a very interesting author to study his writing. He always has this theme going on in every one of his books. I am actually surprised death wasn't involved in in AAOK. There was a really good moral in the story that I think everyone should know. I think the moral of the story is best described by a saying that is well known everywhere. "Don't judge a book by it's cover."I will just switch it a little to, "Don't judge a book by it's title." I think this saying matched the book because in the beginning Colin has a type he only likes girls who are named, Katherine. Specifically Katherine, K.A.T.H.E.R.I.N.E it has to be spelled that way, and pronounced that way, of course. Colin has been dumped by ALL the Katherines he has dated. In total they are 19 Katherines out of 19 people he has dated. I guess that is a sign for him to date different girls but he does not understand that.

     My favorite part of the book was when Colin and Hassan were about to meet Lindsey's friends. While the three of them were talking Lindsey left to go get her friends. While Lindsey and her friends were walking towards Colin and Hassan, they quickly quickly set up a story pretending to be someone else. Colin was visiting America from another country and did not speak english. Hassan is his translator assistant. When Colin spoke in a different language, Hassan did not understand so he just made up funny stuff. Until eventually he went overboard.

     I thought this scene was very funny and creative because Colin and Hassan did not really discuss what they would do. They just discussed their character of what they will pretend to be. I thought this scene showed true friendship and creativity. It also reminded me of the kind of friendship I have with my friends, Ebony, Nora, Emily, and Fran. We always go with the flow. We understand each other, and we are not afraid of doing random embarrassing stuff around each other. We just like to have fun. Just how John Green put an amazing fun-packed adventure in AAOK.

   

Of Mice and Men: Week of 4-28-14

MAJOR SPOILER!

Prompt: What makes the story meaningful?
Pages Read: FINISHED
Author: John Steinbeck


     There are so many things that makes the story meaningful. Especially the ending which stands out for everyone. Since I read this book with my class and I had my teacher guiding me through this novella, I was able to evaluate the story more. We went more into depth of all the character's thoughts and emotions. Even though some of our assignments and brainstorming was difficult at the end there were still good points in the story. If I were to read this novella without some guidance and thoughts from others I would not see the true meaning and value of the book.

    What made the story meaningful was that the combination it had. It had friendship, historical fiction, humor, and friendship. Yes, I know I already wrote friendship but that's what stood out to me the most. Friendship also stood in the characters in this book. Like when the characters talked to George about how it's interesting that he and Lennie travel together. Friendship stood out to them too. Most men during this time period are independent. They travel from ranch to ranch working and more work. George, him being the smart one, I am surprised that he has not left Lennie. Like George said, "God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy." Lennie is basically dragging George. Yet, despite the complaining that George always does, he does not leave Lennie. Lennie suggested to leave him alone and he can live in a cave with no ketchup, but George refused him to leave his side. That is showing friendship, and humor.

     At the very end, something very odious happened. Lennie was killed by George. Lennie kept causing trouble that eventually he went overboard. He had killed Curley's Wife and the men from the ranch including Curley wanted to go kill Lennie. Instead George killed him. Better have George do it than the others because Lennie would be mad at George for letting them kill him. Instead he would probably understand why George was the one to do it. Also I don't think the men would just kill Lennie. They would probably want to torture him first. I know most people won't agree with me on this but this is just my opinion.

     Another thing that made it meaningful was how Lennie got killed. We know he was killed by George, but while they were talking by the Salinas river they were talking about their dream. George was telling Lennie to imagine their ranch they would soon own. While they recited their dream Lennie was killed in that moment. He died living in the dream. It was not something George wanted to do but he had to. This novella showed me that friendship is highly needed for everyone and there are risks when bonding with another human being.

"We could live offa the fatta the lan'."