To Kill a Mockingbird has not been as bad I thought it would be. I like how the book is just straight foward. There has been nothing confusing and I acutally think I understand everything that is going on.
So far I think Scout has been my favorite character. She is not afraid to just be herself and I admire that. I think it is kind of sad that the people of that time can't accept that though. People like Mrs. Dubose would always bash her for being in overalls and not in a dress. However, it makes me wonder, would Scout be the tomboy she is now if her mom was still alive? I think that she wouldn't be as tomboy because she would also have a woman figure to look up to. I think Scout is a strong little girl, but what will happen when the prejudice gets worse. Will she be able to ignore it or go crazy?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A Seperate Peace
A Seperate Peace wasn't one of my favorite books. I felt like the book never changed tones to show things like the climax, it just all seemed like everything was standstill. The only part that kept me interested was when Phineas died and I think it kept me interested because of the way he died. I didn't know you could die from bone marrow. I think Gene is the reason Phineas died. If it wasn't for Gene's jealousy of Phineas, then Gene would have never made Phineas fall from the tree. Also has anyone else notice that at least one person died in every book we read?
I think my favorite character of the book was Phineas. I liked Phineas because he just loved the competition of things and didn't care if there was a winner or loser. An example is when he invented Blitzball because everyone compete with everything they had, but no one wins. I also think Phineas' perspective on competition shows his perspective on other people. He didn't look down on anybody he always thought of the best in people and considers no one as his enemy. I think that is why Phineas believed that there was no war because since he didn't have enemies he didn't know what they were. I also liked how Phineas really never got mad. He always seemed to be calm in any situation, at least until the end before he died.
I think a major theme in the book was being your own enemy. The war seemed to be the reason why the characters became their own enemy. Gene states that he was in his own war at Devon, and he killed his enemy there. The envious side of him was his enemy and it made him push Phineas off of the branch. Phineas was his own enemy because he was too innocent. His innocence could have led to his death because he was in a war-torn world, and he was too good for that. I guess you could say that everybody is there own worst enemy, because everyone creates their own enemy that they must go to "war" with.
I think my favorite character of the book was Phineas. I liked Phineas because he just loved the competition of things and didn't care if there was a winner or loser. An example is when he invented Blitzball because everyone compete with everything they had, but no one wins. I also think Phineas' perspective on competition shows his perspective on other people. He didn't look down on anybody he always thought of the best in people and considers no one as his enemy. I think that is why Phineas believed that there was no war because since he didn't have enemies he didn't know what they were. I also liked how Phineas really never got mad. He always seemed to be calm in any situation, at least until the end before he died.
I think a major theme in the book was being your own enemy. The war seemed to be the reason why the characters became their own enemy. Gene states that he was in his own war at Devon, and he killed his enemy there. The envious side of him was his enemy and it made him push Phineas off of the branch. Phineas was his own enemy because he was too innocent. His innocence could have led to his death because he was in a war-torn world, and he was too good for that. I guess you could say that everybody is there own worst enemy, because everyone creates their own enemy that they must go to "war" with.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Crucible
The Crucible was simply outstanding. I loved it from start to finish. I think I liked it so much because it was a play and not a long novel. I also loved it because it was filled with drama. However I didn't take a liking to some of the characters. I didn't like Abigail and all of the girls in her group because they were liars. I didn't like Reverend Parris because he lied in court and did whatever he could so he wouldn't lose what little reputation he had. I also didn't like Judge Danforth, because he was too gullible and had all of those women arrested for something they didn't do.
I think the character that stuck out most to me was John Proctor. I liked him, but I think I liked him because I didn't like Abigail. I think his plan to show Abigail as a fraud wasn't very well planned out. I think he should have just admitted the affair right away because then Abigail wouldn't have gotten what she wanted, which I believe was revenge on Elizabeth. I think it was act 4 that really made John stick out. He didn't give in and confess to something he didn't do. I think that by the end of the play John realized that his happiness was more than everybody else thought. I don't think he could have lived with himself if he did confess because he had so much pride. I feel that him refusing to give up his integrity made up for the affair, because the affair is whole reason the hysteria even started. John not giving in shows that he has grown bigger than the affiar and will not let the hysteria continue.
I think one of the major themes in the play was reputation. In Salem, it seemed like reputation meant everything. Any sin that was committed in Salem would cause your reputation to go way down. Parris is an example of this. He was more worried about the so called "witchcraft" that created Betty's coma instead of if his daughter was going to live. John's unwanting to lose his reputation, I think, pretty much led to his death. Instead of stating the affair right away he had Mary Warren testify against Abigail as a fraud, but it all backfires. In act 4 John's desire to keep his reputation makes him not confess and saying "I have given you my soul; leave my name!"
All in all The Crucible was the best play I ever read, even though it was the only play I have every read. ;)
I think the character that stuck out most to me was John Proctor. I liked him, but I think I liked him because I didn't like Abigail. I think his plan to show Abigail as a fraud wasn't very well planned out. I think he should have just admitted the affair right away because then Abigail wouldn't have gotten what she wanted, which I believe was revenge on Elizabeth. I think it was act 4 that really made John stick out. He didn't give in and confess to something he didn't do. I think that by the end of the play John realized that his happiness was more than everybody else thought. I don't think he could have lived with himself if he did confess because he had so much pride. I feel that him refusing to give up his integrity made up for the affair, because the affair is whole reason the hysteria even started. John not giving in shows that he has grown bigger than the affiar and will not let the hysteria continue.
I think one of the major themes in the play was reputation. In Salem, it seemed like reputation meant everything. Any sin that was committed in Salem would cause your reputation to go way down. Parris is an example of this. He was more worried about the so called "witchcraft" that created Betty's coma instead of if his daughter was going to live. John's unwanting to lose his reputation, I think, pretty much led to his death. Instead of stating the affair right away he had Mary Warren testify against Abigail as a fraud, but it all backfires. In act 4 John's desire to keep his reputation makes him not confess and saying "I have given you my soul; leave my name!"
All in all The Crucible was the best play I ever read, even though it was the only play I have every read. ;)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter, I think, was a book to remeber. I think the book was very hard to read, but I think it was my favorite book so far. It had the drama, the twists, and an unexpected ending. I think Dimmesdale was a good example of all three of these things. He was Pearl's father and Hester's true love. He too, had a scarlet letter, but hid his out of shame. Also, he died at the end of the book after revealing all of his secrets. This was the first book to keep me entertained from the first page to the last.
In The Scarlet Letter, the character that stuck out most, to me, was Hester Prynne. She wore her scarlet letter openly. I think the "A" on Hester's chest made her a better person, because it caused her to be stronger. She would care for the poor by giving them food and clothes. Since the "mark" made her an outcast, she was able to gain independence and think freely. I think Hester was not an extraordinary woman, but it was the circumstances that made her seem extraoradinary. In a way the scarler letter may have been a blessing in disguise.
I think the novel's major theme was the power of evil. Throughout the novel there was numerous discussions of the "Black Man." The "Black Man" was often paired with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Also Pearl was thought of as the Devil's child. Hester's affair was probably caused by her hatred for Chillingworth. Chillingworth's wanting of revenge was stemmed from the affair. Ultimately all of the evilness created karma. Dimmesdale's refusal to acknowledge his own daughter in public, and all of the gultiness he obtained from his scarlet letter caused his death. Finally, Chillingworth's want of revenge led to his death.
All in all, The Scarlet Letter was a great novel.
In The Scarlet Letter, the character that stuck out most, to me, was Hester Prynne. She wore her scarlet letter openly. I think the "A" on Hester's chest made her a better person, because it caused her to be stronger. She would care for the poor by giving them food and clothes. Since the "mark" made her an outcast, she was able to gain independence and think freely. I think Hester was not an extraordinary woman, but it was the circumstances that made her seem extraoradinary. In a way the scarler letter may have been a blessing in disguise.
I think the novel's major theme was the power of evil. Throughout the novel there was numerous discussions of the "Black Man." The "Black Man" was often paired with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Also Pearl was thought of as the Devil's child. Hester's affair was probably caused by her hatred for Chillingworth. Chillingworth's wanting of revenge was stemmed from the affair. Ultimately all of the evilness created karma. Dimmesdale's refusal to acknowledge his own daughter in public, and all of the gultiness he obtained from his scarlet letter caused his death. Finally, Chillingworth's want of revenge led to his death.
All in all, The Scarlet Letter was a great novel.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Great Gatsby
I think The Great Gatsby was an excellent book, and was my favorite book to read so far from the past three. The book really showed the greediness and selfishness that was in the 1920's. Gatsby lied about his past to try and win over Daisy, Tom had an affair, and there was just lots of lying. When I was reading the book it felt like none of the characters could trust each other. Wasn't being wealthy supposed to make everything easier? I think this book contradicts everything about that. The people of West Egg were the "new rich" and were very tasteless, and did not have very good social skills. Gatsby is an example of the West Egg people. The people of East Egg were the "old rich" and they did have taste, but were bullies and very inconsiderate. Tom is an example of the East Egg people. I think this all creates one of the themes in book. That theme is the shallowness of the upper class.
I think a major theme in The Great Gatsby was the fall of the American dream in the 1920's. After the 20's was the 30's and in the 30's was the Great Depression. Fitzgerald potrays the 1920's as an era of declining social and moral values. I think this was shown during Tom's affair. Tom owned an appartment just for the affair. He had no problem cheating on his wife, but when Daisy started having feelings for Gatsby he would not allow it. Gatby's parties showed this too. All of the crazy jazz music and people getting drunk. I know that today it doesn't seem like that big a deal, but back then this was as crazy as people would get. I think all of this ultimately led to the downfall of the American Dream.
Something that really interested me was what Gatsby was doing to try and win Daisy. He lied about his past to impress her. He did criminal things so he could get lots of money. All Gatsby really wanted was for his dream to come true and that dream was to get Daisy back. I think Gatsby really wanted love because he had everything in the world, but he didn't have anybody to share it with. I feel that once Gatsby realized that he wouldn't be able to get Daisy back that his life was over. Then coincidently he is shot and killed. Overall The Great Gatsby was a great book.
I think a major theme in The Great Gatsby was the fall of the American dream in the 1920's. After the 20's was the 30's and in the 30's was the Great Depression. Fitzgerald potrays the 1920's as an era of declining social and moral values. I think this was shown during Tom's affair. Tom owned an appartment just for the affair. He had no problem cheating on his wife, but when Daisy started having feelings for Gatsby he would not allow it. Gatby's parties showed this too. All of the crazy jazz music and people getting drunk. I know that today it doesn't seem like that big a deal, but back then this was as crazy as people would get. I think all of this ultimately led to the downfall of the American Dream.
Something that really interested me was what Gatsby was doing to try and win Daisy. He lied about his past to impress her. He did criminal things so he could get lots of money. All Gatsby really wanted was for his dream to come true and that dream was to get Daisy back. I think Gatsby really wanted love because he had everything in the world, but he didn't have anybody to share it with. I feel that once Gatsby realized that he wouldn't be able to get Daisy back that his life was over. Then coincidently he is shot and killed. Overall The Great Gatsby was a great book.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath, I felt, was a very depressing novel, but it had to be depressing. I think it had to be depressing because the message had to be sent through depression. I read about how so many people were starving and how they were miserable and all the pain just poured out. If all the pain wasn't shown however, then how would you understand what the theme of the book is? I think the pain is the whole reason this book is a classic. The dead baby in chapter 30 is the symbol of pain. When people were to find the dead baby it was to represent all of the sufferings that the migrants had endured.
In the novel, I really noticed the growth of Tom. At the beginning of the novel Tom is a man who has no will or patience to think of the future. He just wants to get through each day. I think this is because when he was in prison that is all he could do because thinking of the future would just make time go by slower. Throughout the trip to California the priest, Casy, seemed to inspire Tom little by little. I think Tom's change showed after Casy's murder. Tom left his family to lead the struggle toward making the future a better one.
I think one of the main themes in the book is the power of family and togetherness. I think that the novel has two families. The Joad family and the family of all the migrants. Throughout the novel the Joad's stay empowered and keep hope because they have each other to lean on when things go wrong. All of the migrants come together to form sort of a symbolic family. The migrants are a family that are all going through the same troubles. They stay empowered because when they are united everything seems to run smoother. An example is the Weedpatch Camp. The camp is only run by migrants, and everything is better than other camps that are ran by the government.
All in all, I think "The Grapes of Wrath" was an excellant novel, and made me wonder about how I would deal with all the struggles the migrants had to deal with.
In the novel, I really noticed the growth of Tom. At the beginning of the novel Tom is a man who has no will or patience to think of the future. He just wants to get through each day. I think this is because when he was in prison that is all he could do because thinking of the future would just make time go by slower. Throughout the trip to California the priest, Casy, seemed to inspire Tom little by little. I think Tom's change showed after Casy's murder. Tom left his family to lead the struggle toward making the future a better one.
I think one of the main themes in the book is the power of family and togetherness. I think that the novel has two families. The Joad family and the family of all the migrants. Throughout the novel the Joad's stay empowered and keep hope because they have each other to lean on when things go wrong. All of the migrants come together to form sort of a symbolic family. The migrants are a family that are all going through the same troubles. They stay empowered because when they are united everything seems to run smoother. An example is the Weedpatch Camp. The camp is only run by migrants, and everything is better than other camps that are ran by the government.
All in all, I think "The Grapes of Wrath" was an excellant novel, and made me wonder about how I would deal with all the struggles the migrants had to deal with.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Huck Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was not my favorite adventure. At times I could not understand what I was reading, because I could not understand the dialogue. It felt like I was reading something a first grader wrote. I did understand the point of the book. Yes Huck had an adventure, but that was it. Most the of time the "adventure" dragged on to long and I found myself trying not to fall asleep. I think Twain could have written this book in 30 chapters to make it more bareable. Instead he made me want to burn this book. This novel was just not my cup of tea.
Even though I disliked the book very much it was not because it wasn't very well developed. I thought Mark Twain did a good job in forming the characters. He really shows how Huck grows from being an ignorant boy to a more mature young man. I felt that this showed the theme of educational and moral growth in the book. I liked how Twain made all the characters foil into one another. An example is when Huck and Tom are at together. Everytime they got into an adventure I would learn more about each character's personality. I feel that Twain's development of the characters was the only reason I didn't fall asleep.
Something that struck me as important was the relationship between Huck and his father (Pap). Pap was just a worthless drunk and didn't want any good for Huck. I thought it was terrible that Pap wanted Huck to stop going to school. I felt Pap was jealous about how Huck was starting to form morals and better himself, so that is why Pap did everything he could to keep Huck from reaching his potential. I think this relationship was important because there are still problems like this today. I think it shows how even though many things have changed since the Civil War some things may never change. The relationship made me feel blessed to have parents that actually care. All in all I am just happy that I am done reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Even though I disliked the book very much it was not because it wasn't very well developed. I thought Mark Twain did a good job in forming the characters. He really shows how Huck grows from being an ignorant boy to a more mature young man. I felt that this showed the theme of educational and moral growth in the book. I liked how Twain made all the characters foil into one another. An example is when Huck and Tom are at together. Everytime they got into an adventure I would learn more about each character's personality. I feel that Twain's development of the characters was the only reason I didn't fall asleep.
Something that struck me as important was the relationship between Huck and his father (Pap). Pap was just a worthless drunk and didn't want any good for Huck. I thought it was terrible that Pap wanted Huck to stop going to school. I felt Pap was jealous about how Huck was starting to form morals and better himself, so that is why Pap did everything he could to keep Huck from reaching his potential. I think this relationship was important because there are still problems like this today. I think it shows how even though many things have changed since the Civil War some things may never change. The relationship made me feel blessed to have parents that actually care. All in all I am just happy that I am done reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
