Tuesdays With Morrie - 4/27/15

Pages Read: 130-151

Author: Mitch Albom

     Throughout reading, my eyes opened to many things. All of these aphorisms and life lessons made me see the world differently. In my opinion, every Tuesday should be taken of great value. Although, there was a Tuesday that stood out to me the most. The fourth Tuesday "We talk about death" stood out to me the most. Death is something most of us are scared of. We all live in a constant fear of death but we all know it will eventually happen. I am very curious to know what happens after death. I have considered reincarnation. Although, we do not know for sure what happens. Despite my curiosity, I try not to concentrate on that too much. Based on my religion and background influences I just believe in what is expected of me. To me, this avoids confusion.

     As mentioned before we all know death is imminent. In this chapter Morrie states, "Everyone know they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently." What I think he means is that we would live life awake. Not in a "sleepwalking" manner. "We really don't experience the world fully, because we're half-asleep, doing things we automatically think are have to do." If we stop this habit we would all take life seriously and enjoy it. Basically, make the best of it. Morrie says by being prepared for death is better "that way you can actually be more involved with your life while living." We all have the ability to make our own lives special. We just have to be involved and interested in it.

     I found this Tuesday meaningful because I figured death would be a sensitive topic to discuss since Morrie is dying. Knowing the kind of person Morrie is, this topic is probably the best one to discuss about with him. When Morrie was in his sixties he told a friend, "I'm gonna be the healthiest old man you ever met!" Mitch notices him being optimistic. Morrie replies "Why not? Like I said no one really believes they're going to die." This shows that Morrie does not alienate himself from the world's sleepwalking. Morrie includes himself in it and admits it. That takes courage and shows how wise a balanced he is. Second this shows that, Morrie knows more that anyone that death is going to happen.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children - 4/20/15

Prompt: Describe a character you would like to meet (which doesn't mean that you think you would like the character, but that you think the character would be interesting.)
Pages Read: 1-39
Author: Ransom Riggs

     Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children has been quite an intense book from the start. I am still in the beginning but I can sense some tension. Knowing that I am in the beginning of the book and that there are exactly 330 pages left, there is much more coming in my reading adventure. I am not deep into the book to say wether I am enjoying it. The characters do seem to be realistic. They each have such a strong personality that is is easy to predict what part they take in. Of course, there are 330 pages, so this book still has a strong chance of taking a mysterious and menacing twist.

     Despite the fact that there are still many characters to be discovered, a character I would like to meet is Grandpa Portman. In the prologue, the main character, Jacob describes his grandpa as wild. When Jacob was a young boy he would visit his grandpa, once in a while. He would love his visits because Grandpa Portman would tell him stories about monsters chasing him. Grandpa Portman has a lot of adventures with fighting and killing monsters, and of course, it sets bewilderment upon young Jacob. As Jacob grows up he starts doubting Grandpa Portman's stories. Jacob confronts to his dad about the "lies" he has been told. His dad says they are part true, and it leaves Jacob in a confusing stage. Later, Jacob learns that the monsters Grandpa Portman was talking about are Nazis. The Holocaust in somehow intertwined with this book. Again, I am in the beginning of the book but my prediction is that the Holocaust will most definitely be involved.

     Grandpa Portman seems like the type of character who is that crazy uncle most have. His defining characteristics are adventurous, crazy, and wise. To me, this seems like a well-rounded person. My whole life my dad has taught me to be a well-rounded person which education, athletics, hobbies, and family/friends. Grandpa Portman seems to value a lot of things although his opinions do not get in the way of other's. When Jacob confronted Grandpa Portman's stories saying straight forward, "I do not believe in your stories anymore." Grandpa Portman's reply was "Okay." There is also a mystery side to Grandpa Portman. I cannot exactly put my finger on it but it is quite obvious to the reader he knows something that the rest of the characters do not know. Maybe, just maybe, there are still an existence of monsters.

Life is Beautiful - 4/13/15

Prompt: Based on the Holocaust literature an poetry we have read, what connections can be made between Life is Beautiful and our reading? What events, scenes, or situations are similar or different? What is similar or different about the mood or tone of the pieces? How is life shown as beautiful throughout the film?

     There are a good amount of connections that can be made with the film and literature with poetry we have read. One of the major connections I can make involves poetry. When I was reading my classmate's assigned poetry for the Butterfly project, some poems connected life at a ghetto or concentration camp as something else. For example the poem would be a cover up for how life truly is, which is something tragic. In Life is Beautiful there was also a cover story line in it. This cover up is for Joshua. Everything was a game to Joshua which his father invented, something with a more positive then what is actually is. Another connection is between the movie and Night by Elie Wiesel. In Night the father and son bond starts when Elie's family gets separated. Before, Elie mentioned his dad being busy with his work. He would not make time for his children. After, it was just him and his dad working together fighting for their life. Although Joshua has no idea what is happening.

     Many of the poems ended with a depressing tone/mood and the book Night ended in a okay tone/mood for me. Life is Beautiful is definitely an opinionated ending. I am focusing more on the end because it is the overall conclusion. In Life is Beautiful humor is added but not the kind of humor that mocks the Holocaust which is appropriate for the film.

     In the beginning of Life is Beautiful  life is truly beautiful. Guido has an adventure and gets the girl. They get married and have a son. It is obvious that they had a beautiful life. Despite the fact that they were in the concentration camp life was still beautiful in a way. When Guido would send little messages to Dora to let her know he is alive that shows that their feelings for each other never ends. Guido's goal is also to have Dora and Joshua alive, which he achieved, therefore at the end life stays beautiful. Therefore, beautiful life has its flaws but stays beautiful.

Comments: Elenia, 

Night - 3/30/15

Pages Read: Finished
Author: Elie Wiesel

     Throughout this memoir there has been many changes in Elie physically and mentally. Although, one of the main changes the readers identifies is his strong faith in his religion. In the beginning we are introduced to how religious he is. When Elie is asked why he prays, it is told in the memoir, "Why did I pray? A strange question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe?" This shows that his prayer, which is his religion, is just as of importance as his own life. His belief is something that is included in his life. It is not until later Elie changes his thoughts.

     Elie's belief and faith takes a twist when his whole life style changes. When Elie and his dad arrive at the concentration camp they see many horrors before them. They witness various hangings, beatings, and other deaths of Jews. All these negative events happening to them specifically makes Elie question God, along with other's doing so. Some Jews completely lost faith. When other's in the concentration camp was praying to God, Elie thinks to himself, "Why should I bless his name? The eternal, lord of the universe, the all-powerful and terrible was silent..." The reader also notices Elie's disbelieve as he recalls back to what he is thinking, "Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust." This shows that Elie looks back to the moments when his point of view of God changes because of how terrifying these events were, and it is unforgettable.

   Another change throughout the memoir is Elie's relationship with his father. In the beginning Elie describes his father as an "unsentimental man." His father "rarely displayed his feelings, not even within his family, and was more involved with the welfare of others than with that of his own kin." Meaning, that his father was just a figure in his life. Later in the story, when Elie and his father were separated from the rest of their family, which are the females, they become closer. They both go through the same struggles together and are very inseparable.

     At the end Elie is trying to convince his father that they both must not fall asleep because they have to be aware of their surroundings. "I''l watch over you and you'll watch over me. We won't let each other fall asleep. We'll look after each other." This shows how Elie and his father has come close together until the very end. Although throughout the memoir there are parts that shows Elie Wiesel's loss of humanity.

"Night in the Ghetto" by Anonymous

comments: Abdiel, Emily, Diego, Gabe, and Julia