Friday, November 11, 2011
Breakk
These past few weeks have been very busy academically and activity-wise for me. Even though cross country is over, now I'm participating in sundry clubs, and show choir takes up a lot of time even outside the twice-a-week rehearsals. The rest of my time is consumed by my piles of homework (mostly from AP Lit >:C) and my sick addiction to facebook-checking. I don't even spend much time on facebook, but I log in like two or three times a day to check my notifications. But most of my time is filled with hard work and fun activities. I have not been sleeping much, even on the weekends. And now that I'm signed up for the SAT and ACT, I need to start the practice books and questions. Needless to say, I am one of many students who is counting down the seconds to thanksgiving break. However short it may be, few teachers are heartless enough to assign homework over this holiday, which in turn causes it to be an extended weekend of much-needed sleep, family and FOOD. I can't wait.
Finally
This semester, I have read a couple books that interest me as well as a couple that were torturous to read. I found that I enjoyed more informal writing rather than Charles Dickens or Emily Bronte. The styles of these two authors mostly just bored me, and the complicated plots made them frustrating to read. I guess I just like to take the easy way out and not think too hard on the books I'm reading.
I constantly had trouble meeting the weekly quota for pages and was often only reading the bare minimum pages. I am a very slow reader which is a hindrance when it comes to reading for quantity. I also had trouble keeping up with the blogs that go along with the reading, especially because I have very little free time on my hands, so anything that isn't absolutely imperative to get done the next day often did not get done until the night before it was due. I am a chronic procrastinator, but part of this is due to the fact that I often value sleep at 11 or midnight over homework. My time management is somewhat lacking, but even when I do manage my time well, there are days which just don't contain enough hours to allow me enough time to do all my homework and reading, after-school activities, and a full-night's sleep. The reading was probably my most enjoyable homework this semester, but it was also usually the thing to get pushed aside until the last minute. This makes for long nights of trying to stay awake while reading and writing.
I constantly had trouble meeting the weekly quota for pages and was often only reading the bare minimum pages. I am a very slow reader which is a hindrance when it comes to reading for quantity. I also had trouble keeping up with the blogs that go along with the reading, especially because I have very little free time on my hands, so anything that isn't absolutely imperative to get done the next day often did not get done until the night before it was due. I am a chronic procrastinator, but part of this is due to the fact that I often value sleep at 11 or midnight over homework. My time management is somewhat lacking, but even when I do manage my time well, there are days which just don't contain enough hours to allow me enough time to do all my homework and reading, after-school activities, and a full-night's sleep. The reading was probably my most enjoyable homework this semester, but it was also usually the thing to get pushed aside until the last minute. This makes for long nights of trying to stay awake while reading and writing.
Still On the Road
I recently wrote a paper on Dean Moriarty, Sal's friend with whom he travels and around whom the story is based. I would say Dean is the most influential character in the book. He not only influences Sal's decisions directly by telling him what to do, but he also influences Sal indirectly by teaching him lessons on life and by living an example, whether it be good or bad. His carefree attitude is what inspires Sal to want to live a life of free, unburdened happiness. At one point in the book, he even tells Sal and Marylou to take off their clothes and ride around naked with him, which seems to be the ultimate symbol of liberation.
The other major influence Dean instills in Sal involves his attitude toward women. Sal holds a view of women which characterizes them almost as objects rather than human beings with whom to fall in love. Sal sees the way Dean looks at women, and the way he treats even the women he says he loves, as well as the fact that Dean moves from one woman to another without care--he leaves three wives throughout the course of the novel. Sal subconsciously decides he does not want to treat women the way Dean does, and he seems to be a little more careful in his choices regarding women; he "falls in love" with mainly only two women, and seems to find true love at the end of the book, which leads to the happiness he has been searching for the whole time.
The other major influence Dean instills in Sal involves his attitude toward women. Sal holds a view of women which characterizes them almost as objects rather than human beings with whom to fall in love. Sal sees the way Dean looks at women, and the way he treats even the women he says he loves, as well as the fact that Dean moves from one woman to another without care--he leaves three wives throughout the course of the novel. Sal subconsciously decides he does not want to treat women the way Dean does, and he seems to be a little more careful in his choices regarding women; he "falls in love" with mainly only two women, and seems to find true love at the end of the book, which leads to the happiness he has been searching for the whole time.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Currently
For Weeks 2 and 3
Pages: 207
Semester Total :1184
On the Road- Jack Kerouac
Just Finished Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens
Sentences of these Weeks:
-I was so interested in the opera that for a while I forgot the circumstances of my crazy life and got lost in the great mournful sounds of Beethoven and the rich Rembrandt tones of his story.
-We were on the roof of America and all we could do was yell, I guess--across the night, eastward over the Plains, where somewhere an old man with white hair was probably walking toward us with the Word, and would arrive any minute and make us silent.
-Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.
These sentences all just give a pretty good idea of Jack Kerouac's approach to describing things. He leaves a lot up to interpretation, and he describes many things in ways I'm not sure he can even fully grasp. But that's his style, and I like it because it's different than how anyone else would ever even attempt to write, and he's the only one I feel can pull it off. And in a weird way, his enigmatic descriptions make me understand the depth of the situation and his feelings better than a straightforward, denotative passage could accomplish.
Pages: 207
Semester Total :1184
On the Road- Jack Kerouac
Just Finished Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens
Sentences of these Weeks:
-I was so interested in the opera that for a while I forgot the circumstances of my crazy life and got lost in the great mournful sounds of Beethoven and the rich Rembrandt tones of his story.
-We were on the roof of America and all we could do was yell, I guess--across the night, eastward over the Plains, where somewhere an old man with white hair was probably walking toward us with the Word, and would arrive any minute and make us silent.
-Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.
These sentences all just give a pretty good idea of Jack Kerouac's approach to describing things. He leaves a lot up to interpretation, and he describes many things in ways I'm not sure he can even fully grasp. But that's his style, and I like it because it's different than how anyone else would ever even attempt to write, and he's the only one I feel can pull it off. And in a weird way, his enigmatic descriptions make me understand the depth of the situation and his feelings better than a straightforward, denotative passage could accomplish.
Around California
As I suspected, Sal's ventures in the cotton fields didn't last long; it seems he was done with it in less than a week, although he never specifies exactly how long he was there. Sal decides his best option is to go back to New York, which was where he lived before he started his life on the road. Terry says a few sentences that sound distraught, but overall Sal's departure and Terry's response to it is rather emotionless. Sal mentions love a few times, and Terry even says straight out that she loves Sal. Yet when they see each other for the last time, even knowing it is the last time, they kiss automatically and say goodbye and look back at each other once, comparing love to a duel. Sal never really mentions Terry after she is gone, which makes me think it wasn't real love, since it seems he rarely even thinks about her. Or maybe he just doesn't want to think about her. The way I see it, though, there wouldn't be much of a choice but to think about her if they really were in love.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
More On The Road...
I'm still reading On the Road and it's still not boring, so that's a good sign! I'm such a slow reader but I have really been putting some time into reading every day, and I am trying to finish it this weekend because I am doing a project on Jack Kerouac.
So far in the book, Sal, the main character, has been traveling around to a variety of cities. Every time a city becomes monotonous to him (which happens often), he moves on to a new city. He is perpetually low on money, and although I feel he is trying to convey a message of self-reliance and general independence, he certainly depends on the little money he has, and is always borrowing money, stealing groceries, or compromising his comfort for the sake of saving money so that he can have more--to spend mostly on whiskey. Right now he has a job picking cotton for which he gets paid $3 per 100 pounds of cotton or something equally as meager. In those days, I suppose the dollar had greater value, but even then it was a low sum. At this point, it seems he would do anything to earn a buck. Perhaps I should explain why: he is in "Frisco" and has met a girl named Terry whom he thinks he loves. They are bored of Frisco and want to move on to another city (the name of that city is escaping me right now but I think it's another big city that would not easily bore the average Fort Wayne resident) but neither of them have any money or a place to stay, since their last business venture involved selling manure with some sketchy friends of Terry's. So now they live in a tent for $1 a day and pick cotton from dawn until dusk (some locals shared with them that the early morning dew makes the cotton heavier and therefore more lucrative). I hope soon they will make enough so that they think they can leave this boring arrangement, because I don't foresee there being much to write about in this particular situation.
So far in the book, Sal, the main character, has been traveling around to a variety of cities. Every time a city becomes monotonous to him (which happens often), he moves on to a new city. He is perpetually low on money, and although I feel he is trying to convey a message of self-reliance and general independence, he certainly depends on the little money he has, and is always borrowing money, stealing groceries, or compromising his comfort for the sake of saving money so that he can have more--to spend mostly on whiskey. Right now he has a job picking cotton for which he gets paid $3 per 100 pounds of cotton or something equally as meager. In those days, I suppose the dollar had greater value, but even then it was a low sum. At this point, it seems he would do anything to earn a buck. Perhaps I should explain why: he is in "Frisco" and has met a girl named Terry whom he thinks he loves. They are bored of Frisco and want to move on to another city (the name of that city is escaping me right now but I think it's another big city that would not easily bore the average Fort Wayne resident) but neither of them have any money or a place to stay, since their last business venture involved selling manure with some sketchy friends of Terry's. So now they live in a tent for $1 a day and pick cotton from dawn until dusk (some locals shared with them that the early morning dew makes the cotton heavier and therefore more lucrative). I hope soon they will make enough so that they think they can leave this boring arrangement, because I don't foresee there being much to write about in this particular situation.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
On the Road!
I'm reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac now, which I find infinitely more interesting than most other books. The way it is written amuses me to no end. The sentences are so eloquently written but in a subtle, casual way for which I could only ever wish to posses the talent. Every type of punctuation is used in this book, including, but not limited to, commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, parentheses, and the rare but occasional period. The sentences are long enough to be whole paragraphs and they play in my mind like I am being read to because they are written in such a conversational manner. They beg to be read aloud, and often if I am home alone, I submit to their pleas. I can imagine every thought in Kerouac's mind and just how he was thinking it and there is little discrepancy in my mind between what he means and how I interpret it; how could there be when he has left so few gaps in the message and tone he conveys? I have been reading literary criticisms on his work for an activity in AP Lit, and many of them criticize Kerouac for the same qualities I have just so clearly expressed an affinity for, which makes me think that those critics are not as open-minded as a critic should be (or maybe we just differ in opinion, but I know I'm right). These critics say that Kerouac is not a good writer, what was the publisher thinking, it is a shame to compare him to such renowned writers as Twain, etc. etc. Whatever. Kerouac is deep in a specific way, but openly writes about the shallowness of the life on the road he and many others from the beat generation chose to lead. He writes with a sense of music and rhythm and I enjoy reading it. Satisfied customer. Isn't that all publishers really care about anyway?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Practice Diction Analysis
In this excerpt from Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger’s dull, casual language and sardonic colloquialisms permeate the narrator’s mind and portrays him as a flippant, displeased, and immature young person. The narrator mentions his “lousy childhood” in the first sarcastic sentence of the passage, which establishes him as an unsatisfied and uninterested person. He goes on to describe his own parents as “touchy as hell,” using uncouth language to emphasize his hostile feelings. The narrator also refers to money as “dough,” which is an unrefined, childish term. Overall, the cynical tone of the selection conveys the narrator’s unhappiness and immaturity.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Currently
Pages This Week: 143
Pages Last Week: 105
Total: 977
Style Mapping Sentences
The direct and tactile language exemplifies ruthlessness, inhumanity, and mercilessness.~ Apples to Apples
The low, musical connotation of "Blood Meridian" is revealed by the diction in which there are no sophisticated words or those used simply for there pretty sound.~That one Guy's Blog
In 1984 by George Orwell, he portrays low language through his blunt diction and coarse observations giving the reader a sense of fear as well as disgust. Orwell uses vulgar descriptions such as, "The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats," which illustrates the setting of the novel. ~As Told by Ginger
In the first sentence, I especially like the work tactile, because it is both accurate and fun to say. Also, the three last nouns--ruthlessness, inhumanity, and mercilessness--are powerful ones.
The second sentence just stands out to me as very true and it contains thoughts similar to those I had when reading Blood Meridian. Although this person used the "there" instead of "their"...
There are many good adjectives in this last passage and I also like the inferences of fear and disgust.
Pages Last Week: 105
Total: 977
Style Mapping Sentences
The direct and tactile language exemplifies ruthlessness, inhumanity, and mercilessness.~ Apples to Apples
The low, musical connotation of "Blood Meridian" is revealed by the diction in which there are no sophisticated words or those used simply for there pretty sound.~That one Guy's Blog
In 1984 by George Orwell, he portrays low language through his blunt diction and coarse observations giving the reader a sense of fear as well as disgust. Orwell uses vulgar descriptions such as, "The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats," which illustrates the setting of the novel. ~As Told by Ginger
In the first sentence, I especially like the work tactile, because it is both accurate and fun to say. Also, the three last nouns--ruthlessness, inhumanity, and mercilessness--are powerful ones.
The second sentence just stands out to me as very true and it contains thoughts similar to those I had when reading Blood Meridian. Although this person used the "there" instead of "their"...
There are many good adjectives in this last passage and I also like the inferences of fear and disgust.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Style Mapping
In Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, there is a regal, picturesque melody to the diction of this excerpt. McCarthy describes the dark as falling "like a thunderclap" and the moving weeds as "gnashing," which effectively engage the reader's sense of sight, sound, and even touch. Neil Gaiman's Stardust gives a more straightforward perspective on nature by peacefully describing a landscape with unextravagant language while still creating a sweet-sounding atmosphere in the reader's mind. The houses pictured in this excerpt are shown as "square and old, built of grey stone, with dark slate roofs and high chimneys." This word choice paints a vivid picture in the reader's mind using fairly common language. Even more casually written is Jack Kerouac's On The Road, which incorporates a stream of consciousness that mirrors the complex workings of the narrators mind using words that are far less complicated. The flowing, jazzy language including the description of a break-up as a "miserably weary splitup" begs to be read aloud because its sounds are so pleasing to the ear.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Quarterly
This quarter, I have read more often than probably any other school-occupied time in my life. I like the fact that we get to choose the books we read; it makes me hate school reading less. Every time I am being forced to read a book, I tend to hate it and avoid it. My ety books, although required, are not forced so I can actually enjoy them. I usually read before I go to bed because it helps relax and I don't want to fall asleep during my math homework. I have taken an interest in the classics, but I am also focusing on classics because it will be beneficial for the SAT and the AP Lit test. The most challenging book I have read so far has been Wuthering Heights, because the text was somewhat challenging and the story was boring and confusing. I ended up finishing it, but it was one I had to force myself to read. I'm taking it a little easier now with Oliver Twist, which is mostly just a fun story and it's not challenging to comprehend. I plan on reading Jack Kerouac next, because his eccentricity interests me and I may want to do a project on him for AP Lit. My goal for this quarter is just to keep up with my reading and maybe do more than just the minimum requirement because I would actually like to get better and faster at reading and reading comprehension while enjoying my experience.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Currently
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Pages This Week: 104
Pages Last Week: 100
Total: 729
Kwotations of the Kwarter
1. I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth. ~Wuthering Heights
2. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. ~Of Mice and Men
3. He entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to hear, and caught me in the act of stowing his son away in the kitchen cupboard. Wuthering Heights
My number one sentence of the quarter is from my least favorite book of the year! At least it was well-written I guess. The parallel structure makes it flow nicely, and it uses SEMICOLONS, which are my favorite punctuation mark! I also love personification of nature, but vivid imagery is, once again, the main reason I like this sentence.
Pages This Week: 104
Pages Last Week: 100
Total: 729
Kwotations of the Kwarter
1. I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth. ~Wuthering Heights
2. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. ~Of Mice and Men
3. He entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to hear, and caught me in the act of stowing his son away in the kitchen cupboard. Wuthering Heights
My number one sentence of the quarter is from my least favorite book of the year! At least it was well-written I guess. The parallel structure makes it flow nicely, and it uses SEMICOLONS, which are my favorite punctuation mark! I also love personification of nature, but vivid imagery is, once again, the main reason I like this sentence.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Blog.
I'm just blogging to get it done right now, honestly. I got behind and now it just feels rushed and thoughtless, which I'm ok with right now cuz I just had a night filled with homework! Maybe soon I will feel like blogging about something worth thought. A friend recently suggested a website to me which features really smart people speaking about really intelligent topics. So maybe I can say some intelligent stuff about that and have some intelligent entertainment and get smarter. But I'll probably save that for another week. One where I'm not at school until bedtime every night. Yeah, that would be nice.
Here we go!
I've got a busy week ahead of me! I'm about to get so far behind on my blogging....oh well. Even this post is late! I will find a way to keep up :)
I've got six hours of show choir every day this week except friday, plus cross country every day and sectionals on tuesday. I would rather just be at show choir the whole time and not have to miss any of it, but at least the season is almost over!
I had a great weekend, which is why I'm doing my homework now. Oh well, it's worth it. I don't recommend the haunted cave, however. The lines are too long.
I don't really feel like writing about anything worth thought right now, which would be why I'm not writing about my reading. Although I will say I'm enjoying Oliver Twist. It's an easy read compared to the other selections I've read this year, and it's a heck of a lot more interesting. But it's good to know the classics, especially for the SAT. So that's all I'm gonna say about the class right now.
I've got six hours of show choir every day this week except friday, plus cross country every day and sectionals on tuesday. I would rather just be at show choir the whole time and not have to miss any of it, but at least the season is almost over!
I had a great weekend, which is why I'm doing my homework now. Oh well, it's worth it. I don't recommend the haunted cave, however. The lines are too long.
I don't really feel like writing about anything worth thought right now, which would be why I'm not writing about my reading. Although I will say I'm enjoying Oliver Twist. It's an easy read compared to the other selections I've read this year, and it's a heck of a lot more interesting. But it's good to know the classics, especially for the SAT. So that's all I'm gonna say about the class right now.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Character List
There's a character list and brief descriptions in the front of this book. I usually find these things really helpful, and I will probably refer back to it on a regular basis (as in every time a person's name is mentioned...). I'm not quite sure if it's a bad omen though. Maybe the publisher is just being really helpful, which is my hope. My fear, however, is that the publisher thought a reader would need it to understand the book. I've seen the movie, so I know there are quite a few characters in it, but I'm hoping the book won't get too confusing in terms of who's who. Oh well, I guess I will just have to wait and see.
Currently
Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Pages This Week: 100
Pages Last Week: 103
Semester Total: 625
Sentences of the Week:
1. I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth. ~Wuthering Heights
2. Its owner stood behind, her light shining ringlets blending, at intervals, with his brown licks, as she bent to superintend his studies; and her face---it was lucky he could not see her face, or he would never have been so steady---I could, and I bit my lip, in spite, at having thrown away the chance I might have had, of doing something besides staring at its smiting beauty. ~Wuthering Heights
3. "Please, sir, I want some more." ~Oliver Twist
My number one sentence this week is the last sentence in Wuthering Heights. It is written so peacefully and beautifully and it is a pleasant ending to a book I did not particularly enjoy reading.
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Pages This Week: 100
Pages Last Week: 103
Semester Total: 625
Sentences of the Week:
1. I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth. ~Wuthering Heights
2. Its owner stood behind, her light shining ringlets blending, at intervals, with his brown licks, as she bent to superintend his studies; and her face---it was lucky he could not see her face, or he would never have been so steady---I could, and I bit my lip, in spite, at having thrown away the chance I might have had, of doing something besides staring at its smiting beauty. ~Wuthering Heights
3. "Please, sir, I want some more." ~Oliver Twist
My number one sentence this week is the last sentence in Wuthering Heights. It is written so peacefully and beautifully and it is a pleasant ending to a book I did not particularly enjoy reading.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Life...
This week feels never-ending! I'm beginning to realize how much stress is involved in being a varsity athlete along with the million other things in my life. It's my junior year, so classes are demanding, and I'm also in show choir, which is my real passion. Being on the cross country team certainly teaches me what hard work means, but it's almost becoming too much to balance that with show choir, homework, and sleep (which always ends up at the bottom of my priority list). The rest of the team is already tapering (running less at practice because its almost the end of their season), but varsity's workouts are as hard as ever. I get so jealous watching my friends walk away, done with the workout, while we are still working our butts off! Not to mention, I don't seem to be as motivated as the other girls on varsity; all they want in the world is to make it to state, but I would almost rather the season be over so that I can focus on school and show choir (and SLEEP!) These girls think about state night and day, and they would do anything to make it to that point. I know we are capable of it, but we are definitely not shoo-ins. It's gonna take even more hard work and focus for the next month, and I just hope I have it in me to give what it takes. And I hope it doesn't affect my efforts that I am missing show choir and possibly even all-important choreography days for this.
All I can say is I'm lucky to have the friends that I have. I was very upset and stressed out after our hard workout today, and one of my best friends, Kylie, noticed right away. She talked to me and motivated me and made me feel so much better almost instantly. She always knows the right things to say and she is just such a blessing and I appreciate every day how good of a friend she is to me, even when I'm not acting like my usually carefree, happy self.
C'est la vie, Carpe diem, blah blah blah other foreign words.
All I can say is I'm lucky to have the friends that I have. I was very upset and stressed out after our hard workout today, and one of my best friends, Kylie, noticed right away. She talked to me and motivated me and made me feel so much better almost instantly. She always knows the right things to say and she is just such a blessing and I appreciate every day how good of a friend she is to me, even when I'm not acting like my usually carefree, happy self.
C'est la vie, Carpe diem, blah blah blah other foreign words.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Currently
Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Pages This Week: 103
Pages Last Week: 102
Total: 525
Sentences of the Month:
1. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. ~Of Mice and Men
2. As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment. ~Of Mice and Men
3. Next, we stepped into a massive atrium, bursting with jungle leaves, vines tumbling down, brances climbing toward the sky. ~Heaven is For Real
I am a very visual person, so Imagery impacts me strongly when I read. This number one sentence incorporates strong verb phrases like "threw a dust-laden bar" which give the image an action. Steinbeck also uses a simile to make flies sound more pleasant, because people would rather picture rushing stars than a bunch of flies in the window.
Pages This Week: 103
Pages Last Week: 102
Total: 525
Sentences of the Month:
1. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. ~Of Mice and Men
2. As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment. ~Of Mice and Men
3. Next, we stepped into a massive atrium, bursting with jungle leaves, vines tumbling down, brances climbing toward the sky. ~Heaven is For Real
I am a very visual person, so Imagery impacts me strongly when I read. This number one sentence incorporates strong verb phrases like "threw a dust-laden bar" which give the image an action. Steinbeck also uses a simile to make flies sound more pleasant, because people would rather picture rushing stars than a bunch of flies in the window.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Time Turning
This story is really hard to follow in terms of when certain events happened. Because most of it is told through Nelly's point of view and her diary entries and other diary entries and Lockwood's point of view, and sometimes Nelly is looking back on the past and sometimes she's not, the book's chronology soon becomes hard to follow. I am liking this book less and less as I read it, and I'm not sure I have the motivation to finish it. Most of it is not making sense or it just takes too much thought and I have too many other books to read. (Heart of Darkness? Impossible.)
The latest event that has happened so far in the book I think is the very first chapter, since it starts in 1801. From there, I get pretty lost in it all. Nelly is telling Lockwood a story from her past, but only a few dates of major events are named. The rest I just kind of infer that the order of them isn't vital to the story line. I looked it up, and Sparknotes helped me to understand it much better, but now I f ind myself trying to place each new event on the timeline Sparknotes gave me. Maybe I should have just stayed in the dark about it. Oh well, I'm just going to assume that as long as it makes sense, I can put this book's events in whatever order I choose.
The latest event that has happened so far in the book I think is the very first chapter, since it starts in 1801. From there, I get pretty lost in it all. Nelly is telling Lockwood a story from her past, but only a few dates of major events are named. The rest I just kind of infer that the order of them isn't vital to the story line. I looked it up, and Sparknotes helped me to understand it much better, but now I f ind myself trying to place each new event on the timeline Sparknotes gave me. Maybe I should have just stayed in the dark about it. Oh well, I'm just going to assume that as long as it makes sense, I can put this book's events in whatever order I choose.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Retaliation
One of the main themes in Wuthering Heights appears to be the motivations and consequences of revenge. Heathcliff, when he is young, is not treated as he would have preferred. He is made by Hindley into a person of much lower status than he could have been when he is put to work on Hindley's manor. He is also the person Catherine doesn't choose to marry, despite her unending love for him. He leaves when he overhears Catherine speaking of her engagement because he thinks that he does not love her. When he returns, Heathcliff is out for revenge. His main goal is to get even with all those who have ever wronged him.
Fore example, Heathcliff gives money to Hindley in a seemingly eleemosynary manner. Hindley, however, is an alcoholic and Heathcliff knows that Hindley will spend all the money on alcohol and fall deeper into debt and the miserable life he has been leading after the death of his wife Frances. Eventually Hindley dies and Heathcliff inherits his manor, which Heathcliff sees as vindication. Because he feels so hurt by Catherine, he treats the young Catherine (her daughter) poorly, seemingly to seek revenge on the late Catherine by proxy of her daughter.
In the long run, Heathcliff ends up inheriting two large manors in which he employs Catherine, her daughter, and others whom he treats quite cruelly. While Heathcliff lives a monetarily prosperous life in the end due to his shady schemes of manipulating love and people's emotions, he never really seems to live an emotionally fulfilled life. He ends up with no true love because he sought so much revenge on the woman whom he truly loved and who loved him. He dies with no real achievements to his name and no sign of true happiness to speak of.
The story of Heathcliff underscores that, while it may seem like the justified thing to do at the time, retaliation against those who you think have done something to upset you (which may not even be the case-i.e. Catherine) is always the wrong option. Revenge, and the hunger for vindication, fills a person with nothing but emptiness and cruelty, and no one can love someone who is cruel at heart.
Fore example, Heathcliff gives money to Hindley in a seemingly eleemosynary manner. Hindley, however, is an alcoholic and Heathcliff knows that Hindley will spend all the money on alcohol and fall deeper into debt and the miserable life he has been leading after the death of his wife Frances. Eventually Hindley dies and Heathcliff inherits his manor, which Heathcliff sees as vindication. Because he feels so hurt by Catherine, he treats the young Catherine (her daughter) poorly, seemingly to seek revenge on the late Catherine by proxy of her daughter.
In the long run, Heathcliff ends up inheriting two large manors in which he employs Catherine, her daughter, and others whom he treats quite cruelly. While Heathcliff lives a monetarily prosperous life in the end due to his shady schemes of manipulating love and people's emotions, he never really seems to live an emotionally fulfilled life. He ends up with no true love because he sought so much revenge on the woman whom he truly loved and who loved him. He dies with no real achievements to his name and no sign of true happiness to speak of.
The story of Heathcliff underscores that, while it may seem like the justified thing to do at the time, retaliation against those who you think have done something to upset you (which may not even be the case-i.e. Catherine) is always the wrong option. Revenge, and the hunger for vindication, fills a person with nothing but emptiness and cruelty, and no one can love someone who is cruel at heart.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Claims of the Day
In the song "Your Love Is A Song" by the band Switchfoot, the pensive, tenacious air of the lyrics, along with the mellow drum and guitar accompaniment and the powerful, husky, and dreamlike quality of the singer's vocals combine to evoke an overwhelming sense of breathlessness and euphoria surrounding the song's subject, a love so solemn and earnest it becomes the singer's reason for living.
The aggressive raw movement and the natural connection of the two dancers from two worlds portrays passionate, seductive, and energetic love by not giving up on their one dream.
In this shocking yet comically amusing video we observe an unusually grotesque reaction to some news that set a strange wild boy into a mystifying tangent of caterwauling violently.
In this scene from Vincent van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night , his colorful and exciting use of setting, busy but pleasant mood, and inviting cozy buildings]
portrays [a sense of playful benevolence and lighthearted liveliness.
portrays [a sense of playful benevolence and lighthearted liveliness.
The music group Ok GO and dance group Pilobolus' smooth and elegant costumes along with the modern aspects of movement portray the lyrically pleasant mood of the collaboration in the music video.
Here's a link to The Ozone Lair, which wins best "artifact" of the week...
The number one claim for me this week is from On Paper Wings. The writer seems to have a complete mastery of the words she is using and the sentence flows nicely and stands out because of how smart it sounds!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Poet of the Month
1. "Surprised By Evening"- Robert Bly
2. "Poem to be Read at 3 a.m."- Donald Justice
3. "I Said it to You"- Paul Eluard
These poems are my favorites so far because they are unique.
"Surprised By Evening" is my personal favorite, especially because I love nature and poems about it. This poem just describes so beautifully but leaves enigma in the words and the message the author is trying to convey. I enjoy reading passages with vivid imagery, as reflected in many of my sentences of the week, and this poem is full of bright images.
"Poem to be Read at 3 a.m." is another poem that catches my attention. Donald Justice incorporates deliberate line breaks in the work which contribute to the relaxed flow and emphasize specific words, phrases, or ideas. Also the last few lines, "this is for whoever had the light on," seem very personal, and give a meaning to the poem beyond describing his late-night drive.
"I Said it to You" is a sweet love poem. Well, I think it's about saying "I Love You," but I guess that's up to interpretation. Again, it uses nature imagery which is enticing for me to read. It is also just a cute poem though, which everyone likes to read.
2. "Poem to be Read at 3 a.m."- Donald Justice
3. "I Said it to You"- Paul Eluard
These poems are my favorites so far because they are unique.
"Surprised By Evening" is my personal favorite, especially because I love nature and poems about it. This poem just describes so beautifully but leaves enigma in the words and the message the author is trying to convey. I enjoy reading passages with vivid imagery, as reflected in many of my sentences of the week, and this poem is full of bright images.
"Poem to be Read at 3 a.m." is another poem that catches my attention. Donald Justice incorporates deliberate line breaks in the work which contribute to the relaxed flow and emphasize specific words, phrases, or ideas. Also the last few lines, "this is for whoever had the light on," seem very personal, and give a meaning to the poem beyond describing his late-night drive.
"I Said it to You" is a sweet love poem. Well, I think it's about saying "I Love You," but I guess that's up to interpretation. Again, it uses nature imagery which is enticing for me to read. It is also just a cute poem though, which everyone likes to read.
Close Reading
I chose to do my close reading on a Willy Wonka poster, as this is one of my all-time favorite movies.
What I Observe:
-Depth: varied, hierarchical, differentiating
-Color: vivid, contrasting, vibrant
-Expression: half-smiling, smiling, posed
-Use of Space: balanced, full
What I can Infer:
-Depth: superior, dignified, ancillary
-Color: whimsical, euphoric, effervescent
-Expression: benevolent, concealing, exuberant, wry
-Use of Space: crowded, surprising, unique
Claim:
The use of hierarchical depth, vibrant colors, varied expressions, and complete use of space in this movie poster for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory augments the contrasts between the dignified, concealing Willy and the ancillary, exuberant attendees while presenting the whimsical story in a unique way.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Currently
Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Pages This week: 102
Pages Last week: 105
Total: 422
Sentences of the Week:
1. He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest sef-righteous pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses on his neighbours. page 40
2. "Why, how very black and cross you look! an how---funny and grim!" page 52
3. He entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to hear, and caught me in the act of stowing his son away in the kitchen cupboard.
My number one sentence this week made me laugh, but I don't think it was supposed to be funny. It is such a strongly worded insult using biblical references that it seems hyperbolic to me.
Pages This week: 102
Pages Last week: 105
Total: 422
Sentences of the Week:
1. He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest sef-righteous pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses on his neighbours. page 40
2. "Why, how very black and cross you look! an how---funny and grim!" page 52
3. He entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to hear, and caught me in the act of stowing his son away in the kitchen cupboard.
My number one sentence this week made me laugh, but I don't think it was supposed to be funny. It is such a strongly worded insult using biblical references that it seems hyperbolic to me.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sisters
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë, shares striking similarities with her sister Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre.
The main drama in Wuthering Heights so far is the romance between Heathcliff and Catherine, which is realized by both who partake in it, but Catherine's pride is getting in the way of it. Hindley forces Heathcliff into being a vassal and a servant to him, which consequently pushes Heathcliff into a lower social class. Heathcliff is madly in love with Catherine, so when he finds out that a man named Edgar has asked to marry Catherine, Heathcliff is outraged with jealousy and storms out conveniently right before Catherine professes her love for Heathcliff. Catherine agrees to marry Edgar only because he is rich and would make her powerful. A similar storyline appears in Jane Eyre, when the orphaned Jane, who is of a low social class and is working as a governess at his residence, meets Rochester and they fall in love. Rochester is quite wealthy and owns a mansion called Thornfield Hall. Jane continually reminds herself that Rochester will not condescend to admit to loving her, but in the end, they are both equally in love with each other. They both decide, however, to get married despite the class differences.
Going along with the idea of love and marriage, both books introduce the idea of marrying for the wrong reasons. In Emily's book, Catherine is faced with the opportunity to marry a man who will make her powerful, and she accepts. In Charlotte's book, Jane considers marrying St. John, a man of similar social class whom she knows she should be with, but refuses because she is not in love. Jane and Catherine (or Charlotte and Emily), obviously hold opposing viewpoints concerning the issue of marrying for love or for money.
The main drama in Wuthering Heights so far is the romance between Heathcliff and Catherine, which is realized by both who partake in it, but Catherine's pride is getting in the way of it. Hindley forces Heathcliff into being a vassal and a servant to him, which consequently pushes Heathcliff into a lower social class. Heathcliff is madly in love with Catherine, so when he finds out that a man named Edgar has asked to marry Catherine, Heathcliff is outraged with jealousy and storms out conveniently right before Catherine professes her love for Heathcliff. Catherine agrees to marry Edgar only because he is rich and would make her powerful. A similar storyline appears in Jane Eyre, when the orphaned Jane, who is of a low social class and is working as a governess at his residence, meets Rochester and they fall in love. Rochester is quite wealthy and owns a mansion called Thornfield Hall. Jane continually reminds herself that Rochester will not condescend to admit to loving her, but in the end, they are both equally in love with each other. They both decide, however, to get married despite the class differences.
Going along with the idea of love and marriage, both books introduce the idea of marrying for the wrong reasons. In Emily's book, Catherine is faced with the opportunity to marry a man who will make her powerful, and she accepts. In Charlotte's book, Jane considers marrying St. John, a man of similar social class whom she knows she should be with, but refuses because she is not in love. Jane and Catherine (or Charlotte and Emily), obviously hold opposing viewpoints concerning the issue of marrying for love or for money.
Wuthering Heights...
This book is a slow read, and it's taking me a while to get into. These first chapters are tedious and confusing, which I think Emily Brontë must have done on purpose. There are three major Catherines in the book, and the relationships between the characters are complex, coincidental, and just plain confusing. So far, it seems that a man named Lockwood is writing this whole story in a diary. The first two chapters are mostly his experiences in visiting his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, at his residence, Wuthering Heights. The events that ensue next, however, are mostly those that he has heard from others. He includes a passage from one of the Catherines' diary, as well as stories from Mrs. Dean, Lockwood's housekeeper. It turns out, that after he read Catherine's diary at Wuthering Heights, he returned home to Mrs. Dean's stories and found that the two lives are connected; Nellie Dean used to work for Catherine's father (or something like that). This collision of stories causes even deeper confusion for me, but it at least makes me want to keep reading it.
Because this novel is mostly written through 2nd or even 3rd-hand information, it seems to become biased and maybe even a little twisted. There is obviously a great deal that I don't know about all of these people's interwoven lives, and it will be interesting to find out, and to see how I find out. Thus far, Brontë has succeeded in obfuscating all information on background stories, character relations, and anything else important in Wuthering Heights. What I do end up finding out, however, will most likely be somewhat inaccurate, as Lockwood has already made blunders in inferring and communicating information to others (so just imagine what chimerical things he may begin to write in his diary!)
At least Nellie Dean is the one telling Lockwood many of the things he writes. She seems intelligent and well-intentioned, though maybe a little biased. Nellie appears to be driven by her emotions, which could also lend some complication to the story. I guess we will just have to see how it all plays out.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Currently
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
Pages This Week: 105
Pages Last Week: 107
Total: 320
Sentences of the Week:
1. As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.-pg. 93
2. He can't think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders.-pg. 39
3. "The one that his old lady used to make hot cakes for the kids?" Lennie asked.
"Yeah. That's the one. You can remember anything if there's anything to eat in it."
My number one sentence is one that I had to read a few times before I could follow it correctly. It's not that complicated, but in the context of the passage, it has profound meaning.
The other two sentences are about Lennie. They are pretty self-explanatory, considering Lennie's condition.
Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
Pages This Week: 105
Pages Last Week: 107
Total: 320
Sentences of the Week:
1. As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.-pg. 93
2. He can't think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders.-pg. 39
3. "The one that his old lady used to make hot cakes for the kids?" Lennie asked.
"Yeah. That's the one. You can remember anything if there's anything to eat in it."
My number one sentence is one that I had to read a few times before I could follow it correctly. It's not that complicated, but in the context of the passage, it has profound meaning.
The other two sentences are about Lennie. They are pretty self-explanatory, considering Lennie's condition.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Old Dog, No Tricks
One of Lennie and George's friends, Candy, owns a very old dog. Candy's friends tell him that his dog is suffering and the best thing to do is to shoot it, putting the dog out of it's misery. They all say that it is for the best, and one man even suggests that he would want to be shot if he became crippled. This statement immediately made me think of Lennie and his mental handicap. Candy also reveals that he is worried about becoming useless because he only has one hand; he lost the other one working. These men make being crippled in any way a criteria for someone who would want to be shot.
This situation with Candy's dog lends even more foreshadowing to the book. After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife, he runs away. The other men decide that Lennie should just be killed because his mental handicap causes too much trouble. They don't see killing Lennie as a punishment for killing, they see it as a relief from a life that, in their eyes, must be miserable.
This situation with Candy's dog lends even more foreshadowing to the book. After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife, he runs away. The other men decide that Lennie should just be killed because his mental handicap causes too much trouble. They don't see killing Lennie as a punishment for killing, they see it as a relief from a life that, in their eyes, must be miserable.
Lennie
Lennie, the protagonist's trusty sidekick in Of Mice and Men, is arguably more significant to the book than George.
At the beginning of the book, one of the first major points made is that Lennie does not fathom his own strength. This oblivion springs much of the plot of the book into action. At first, Lennie only harms mice when he pets them. George tells Lennie he can get a dog, thinking that a larger animal will allow for less of a chance of harm to the creature. Lennie gets a dog to call his own, and loves it and pets it. Eventually, the little puppy bites Lennie though, and he smacks it. Needless to say, the puppy died. He is distraught over killing the puppy, and begins to blame the puppy in a way, asking it why it died, yelling "you ain't so little as mice!"
Lennie begins to hurt humans as well. George tells Lennie not to fight with Curley, but Curley starts a fight and Lennie unwillingly defends himself, breaking Curley's hand in the process. George had also told Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife, but sure enough, she cajoles him into talking with her. Lennie tells her he just likes to pet soft things, and she lets him feel her hair. When she tells him to let go, he panics, holds on tighter, she screams, he shakes her, her neck breaks, and she dies. Lennie never means to hurt anyone or anything and he has some of the best intentions of any character, but he often inadvertently harms those he loves, along with those he doesn't care for.
Although Lennie may not be very bright, he has a heck of an intuition. This book is filled with foreshadowing, and one of the first examples of foreshadowing comes from Lennie. He tells George almost immediately after they arrive at their destination that he doesn't like it there, and thinks they should get out as soon as possible. George, of course, disregards Lennie's pleas and tells him they must stay to make some money. Little does he know this place will be the death of Lennie.
Lastly, even though George is clearly in place as Lennie's caregiver, Lennie also feels quite the responsibility of looking after George. George is always advising Lennie and looking out for him, and doing his best to keep Lennie out of trouble. When George leaves to go to a whore-house with some other guys, it brings out a turning point in this relationship. Crooks begins talking to Lennie, telling him that there is a possibility that George isn't coming back and that he might have gotten hurt. Crooks is just randomly saying this, of course, but Lennie is nervously hanging on to his every word. He believes Crooks and wants to find out who hurt George. Lennie becomes very threatening toward Crooks and Crooks realizes he should back down and reassure Lennie that George is okay. Lennie obviously feels a sense of protection for George. Maybe it's just because he knows he needs George, but I think Lennie genuinely worries about George with little regard for himself.
At the beginning of the book, one of the first major points made is that Lennie does not fathom his own strength. This oblivion springs much of the plot of the book into action. At first, Lennie only harms mice when he pets them. George tells Lennie he can get a dog, thinking that a larger animal will allow for less of a chance of harm to the creature. Lennie gets a dog to call his own, and loves it and pets it. Eventually, the little puppy bites Lennie though, and he smacks it. Needless to say, the puppy died. He is distraught over killing the puppy, and begins to blame the puppy in a way, asking it why it died, yelling "you ain't so little as mice!"
Lennie begins to hurt humans as well. George tells Lennie not to fight with Curley, but Curley starts a fight and Lennie unwillingly defends himself, breaking Curley's hand in the process. George had also told Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife, but sure enough, she cajoles him into talking with her. Lennie tells her he just likes to pet soft things, and she lets him feel her hair. When she tells him to let go, he panics, holds on tighter, she screams, he shakes her, her neck breaks, and she dies. Lennie never means to hurt anyone or anything and he has some of the best intentions of any character, but he often inadvertently harms those he loves, along with those he doesn't care for.
Although Lennie may not be very bright, he has a heck of an intuition. This book is filled with foreshadowing, and one of the first examples of foreshadowing comes from Lennie. He tells George almost immediately after they arrive at their destination that he doesn't like it there, and thinks they should get out as soon as possible. George, of course, disregards Lennie's pleas and tells him they must stay to make some money. Little does he know this place will be the death of Lennie.
Lastly, even though George is clearly in place as Lennie's caregiver, Lennie also feels quite the responsibility of looking after George. George is always advising Lennie and looking out for him, and doing his best to keep Lennie out of trouble. When George leaves to go to a whore-house with some other guys, it brings out a turning point in this relationship. Crooks begins talking to Lennie, telling him that there is a possibility that George isn't coming back and that he might have gotten hurt. Crooks is just randomly saying this, of course, but Lennie is nervously hanging on to his every word. He believes Crooks and wants to find out who hurt George. Lennie becomes very threatening toward Crooks and Crooks realizes he should back down and reassure Lennie that George is okay. Lennie obviously feels a sense of protection for George. Maybe it's just because he knows he needs George, but I think Lennie genuinely worries about George with little regard for himself.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Week 2 Blog Tour
Blogs Visited:
On Paper Wings
Inside Out
Etyafter
Apples to Apples
The Ozone Lair
The Blanket Fort
Feist-Fan
That One Guy's Blog
The Back of the Napkin Blog
On Paper Wings
Inside Out
Etyafter
Apples to Apples
The Ozone Lair
The Blanket Fort
Feist-Fan
That One Guy's Blog
The Back of the Napkin Blog
Friday (but not this friday) ---Personality Test
These tests are so hard to take! You would think I know myself well enough to answer some questions about me, but I vacillated between a lot of the answers. Oh well. This is what I ended up with...
ENFP
Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving
It says I am a distinct extravert which is true most of the time, but especially when I'm spending a lot of time with my mom's side of the family, I like to have some quiet time for myself. Also, I'm a runner and while I love running with my team, late-night runs in the dark chilly air full of solitude often help me clear my head, however cliche that may be.
It is also telling me I'm moderately intuitive-which makes sense. I'm spontaneous and let my feelings lead me, and hate talking about planning. So I agree with that.
I'm apparently also moderately "feeling," whatever that means. I guess that I am sympathetic and empathetic towards others. I like to comfort people, but I don't think I'm very good at it; I never know what to say!
And I'm slightly perceiving, which is a lie. I'm totally oblivious to most things. I'm not a dumb person, but I feel like I come off that way, which I hate. I don't pick up on things easily, whether it be someone's feelings towards me, or a joke which I happen to be the butt of :)
So thanks, computerized personality test, I feel so much more in touch with myself now.
ENFP
Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving
It says I am a distinct extravert which is true most of the time, but especially when I'm spending a lot of time with my mom's side of the family, I like to have some quiet time for myself. Also, I'm a runner and while I love running with my team, late-night runs in the dark chilly air full of solitude often help me clear my head, however cliche that may be.
It is also telling me I'm moderately intuitive-which makes sense. I'm spontaneous and let my feelings lead me, and hate talking about planning. So I agree with that.
I'm apparently also moderately "feeling," whatever that means. I guess that I am sympathetic and empathetic towards others. I like to comfort people, but I don't think I'm very good at it; I never know what to say!
And I'm slightly perceiving, which is a lie. I'm totally oblivious to most things. I'm not a dumb person, but I feel like I come off that way, which I hate. I don't pick up on things easily, whether it be someone's feelings towards me, or a joke which I happen to be the butt of :)
So thanks, computerized personality test, I feel so much more in touch with myself now.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Currently
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo (just finished)
Pages this week: 107
Pages last week: 107
Total: 214
Sentences of the week:
1. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley sid the water is lined with trees---willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent libs and branches that arch over the pool.
~Of Mice and Men
2. I believed, but how could I be sure?
~Heaven is for Real
3. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars.
~Of Mice and Men
I picked this passage as my number one this week because I love imagery, and this imagery is exceptionally beautiful. These are the 2nd and 3rd sentences of the book, and Steinbeck successfully captured me already.
The second sentence doesn't read like anything special, but it is coming from the mind of a pastor, and to me it is important to know that even the leaders of the church or the teachers have questions of faith at times. It is only natural for a person to want proof of something they are told.
Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo (just finished)
Pages this week: 107
Pages last week: 107
Total: 214
Sentences of the week:
1. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley sid the water is lined with trees---willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent libs and branches that arch over the pool.
~Of Mice and Men
2. I believed, but how could I be sure?
~Heaven is for Real
3. At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars.
~Of Mice and Men
I picked this passage as my number one this week because I love imagery, and this imagery is exceptionally beautiful. These are the 2nd and 3rd sentences of the book, and Steinbeck successfully captured me already.
The second sentence doesn't read like anything special, but it is coming from the mind of a pastor, and to me it is important to know that even the leaders of the church or the teachers have questions of faith at times. It is only natural for a person to want proof of something they are told.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Of Mice and Men
I started this book during the summer, but never got a chance to finish it because I had to read Jane Eyre for summer reading and do not enjoy having more than one book to read at a time. It seems like a quick read like my last book (it only has 107 pages), but the styles of writing are in drastic contrast to each other. Todd Burpo, the narrator of Heaven is for Real, is a pastor/ garage door salesman and repairman who happened to write a book on an incredible experience of his; John Steinbeck, however, is a renowned author of the 1900s whose books are still relevant today. Steinbeck's passion was writing; Burpo's is his faith in God. Of Mice and Men is a well-written, descriptive and entertaining book. Although I have just gotten over the hill of the exposition, I can tell it will be plot-driven, to which I am not opposed.
This novel is set in the depression era of America, and is based around two main characters: George and Lennie. These characters show sharp contrast to each other both physically and personality-wise. George is a small, dark, chiseled man, and Lennie is quite the opposite. I would say Steinbeck made good choices with the names. The name choices seem to reflect characteristics which allow the reader to make judgments even before getting to know the characters. It is apparent in this story that Lennie may be slightly mentally ill, and George assumes the role of caretaker for Lennie. Lennie is somewhat of a coward and lacks much common sense, and George feels a need to protect his companion in any way possible.
In the first section of this book, Lennie finds a mouse which he accidentally "broke" when trying to express his affection for it. George gets frustrated and throws the mouse far away, but Lennie later goes back to find it. The mouse must be significant to the story because it is in the title, but the symbol has yet to uncover itself for me. All I see in it so far is that Lennie does not understand his own strength, especially towards other living things. He obviously had good in his heart when petting the mouse, but he says he has a history of breaking the little creatures when all he is doing is trying to express his love for them.
I have heard that Of Mice and Men was concocted by Steinbeck to make a statement about the depression and the working class in America, much like his other books (namely, The Grapes of Wrath). I am assuming that this motif will begin to surface itself as I delve deeper into this story.
I am excited to start this new book as I have heard only good things about it, even from people who were forced to read it in English class.
This novel is set in the depression era of America, and is based around two main characters: George and Lennie. These characters show sharp contrast to each other both physically and personality-wise. George is a small, dark, chiseled man, and Lennie is quite the opposite. I would say Steinbeck made good choices with the names. The name choices seem to reflect characteristics which allow the reader to make judgments even before getting to know the characters. It is apparent in this story that Lennie may be slightly mentally ill, and George assumes the role of caretaker for Lennie. Lennie is somewhat of a coward and lacks much common sense, and George feels a need to protect his companion in any way possible.
In the first section of this book, Lennie finds a mouse which he accidentally "broke" when trying to express his affection for it. George gets frustrated and throws the mouse far away, but Lennie later goes back to find it. The mouse must be significant to the story because it is in the title, but the symbol has yet to uncover itself for me. All I see in it so far is that Lennie does not understand his own strength, especially towards other living things. He obviously had good in his heart when petting the mouse, but he says he has a history of breaking the little creatures when all he is doing is trying to express his love for them.
I have heard that Of Mice and Men was concocted by Steinbeck to make a statement about the depression and the working class in America, much like his other books (namely, The Grapes of Wrath). I am assuming that this motif will begin to surface itself as I delve deeper into this story.
I am excited to start this new book as I have heard only good things about it, even from people who were forced to read it in English class.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Point of View
I love the perspective of this book. It may seem to some people that it is biased for a pastor to write a book called Heaven is For Real, but to me it seems only appropriate. When Colton gives Todd information about what he saw in heaven, Todd can compare it to the Bible verbatim, which he does quite often and seemingly honestly. Todd also continually reiterates that when he would ask Colton questions about heaven, he would try to leave them open ended, so as not to lead Colton in any certain direction.
His experience and knowledge of the faith are not the only aspects of having a pastor as a narrator that add to the book. Todd also has a hard time believing or picturing certain things about heaven, shattering any preconceived notion that a pastor never has any questions of faith. He honestly wants to believe all these things about his faith and heaven itself, but it is human nature to question things we can't physically touch or see. And Todd is only human.
His experience and knowledge of the faith are not the only aspects of having a pastor as a narrator that add to the book. Todd also has a hard time believing or picturing certain things about heaven, shattering any preconceived notion that a pastor never has any questions of faith. He honestly wants to believe all these things about his faith and heaven itself, but it is human nature to question things we can't physically touch or see. And Todd is only human.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Currently
Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo
Surviving the Extremes, Kenneth Kamler, M.D.
This Week: 107 pages
Last Week: 0 pages
Sentences of the Week:
1. Next, we stepped into a massive atrium, bursting with jungle leaves, vines tumbling down, brances climing toward the sky.
2. Asking me to sit down while I delivered the Sunday message was like asking an Italian to talk withough using his hands.
3 "Well, what did you do in heaven?" I ventured.
"Homework."
The first sentence I chose was one that stood out to me when I first read it because the imagery was so strong. The sentence has so much motion and activity contained in it that I can see the busy, full, bright, beautiful atrium.
The next sentence just displays a bit of the author's sense of humor. He has a common sense of humor that I don't find particularly amusing, but this comment made me smile because it holds so true to my mom's big Italian family.
This last sentence is every teacher's dream response from a child. It took me by surprise that a preschooler would be doing homework in heaven, but I guess he's just telling it like it is.
Surviving the Extremes, Kenneth Kamler, M.D.
This Week: 107 pages
Last Week: 0 pages
Sentences of the Week:
1. Next, we stepped into a massive atrium, bursting with jungle leaves, vines tumbling down, brances climing toward the sky.
2. Asking me to sit down while I delivered the Sunday message was like asking an Italian to talk withough using his hands.
3 "Well, what did you do in heaven?" I ventured.
"Homework."
The first sentence I chose was one that stood out to me when I first read it because the imagery was so strong. The sentence has so much motion and activity contained in it that I can see the busy, full, bright, beautiful atrium.
The next sentence just displays a bit of the author's sense of humor. He has a common sense of humor that I don't find particularly amusing, but this comment made me smile because it holds so true to my mom's big Italian family.
This last sentence is every teacher's dream response from a child. It took me by surprise that a preschooler would be doing homework in heaven, but I guess he's just telling it like it is.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Heaven is For Real
This book seriously gives me goosebumps. It's not exquisitely written, but the subject matter and point of view make it effective in not only convincing the reader that heaven exists, but also tugging at the reader's pathos. If I had not been in a class while reading the chapter about Colton's surgery, I probably would have cried. It is written in such a way that makes the book easy to relate to, as if this could happen to any family.
Also, the concept that a four-year-old boy could be teaching his pastor father about heaven is almost humorous. At the same time, however, the things this little boy says about heaven are chilling. He even goes so far as to tell his father that he may have died for a few minutes. How's that for a bit of parental shock?
Also, the concept that a four-year-old boy could be teaching his pastor father about heaven is almost humorous. At the same time, however, the things this little boy says about heaven are chilling. He even goes so far as to tell his father that he may have died for a few minutes. How's that for a bit of parental shock?
Heaven is For Real
So even though many of my family members have already read this book and I had a general idea of what to expect before I began it, this book is not failing to astonish me. In a nutshell, Heaven is For Real is about a 4 year old boy who had a near-death experience, and begins slowly revealing that he may have taken a trip to heaven during an emergency surgery. This book holds deep emotional significance for me because it loosely, though strikingly coincidentally pertains to my family. I have had 23 first cousins, and my extended family is unusually close, especially considering the physical distance between us (from the east coast to the west one, literally). So last year when one of my cousins (whose 17th birthday was yesterday) was diagnosed with leukemia, receiving the news was devastating. He was only about 6 months older than me (the closest in age to me of all 23), but he lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, so our families rarely got to see each other more than once a year. We sent him our prayers constantly and never gave up hope that he would get through this: and he did get through it. My cousin beat cancer. However, in only a matter of weeks later, it was back and worse than ever. Every type of treatment was tried, but his body was no longer responding to it. There came a point when there was nothing else the doctors could do, and my cousin made the decision to stop trying. The treatment was taking to high of a toll on his body, and his strong faith along with an astounding incident told him he was ready to go home.
This incident I mentioned came a few days before the end of my 16 year old cousin's life. He was sleeping almost all day by then, but he had one particular dream that stuck out in his mind, as well as everyone else's. He told his pastor and his parents that he visited Jesus, who had his arms open, ready to receive my cousin. Although he had been heroically strong the entire journey, this event was what put him most at ease that it was his time to go. He passed away peacefully only a few days later.
Colton Burpo in Heaven is For Real seemed to have a similar experience, although it seems Colton spent more time in heaven and maybe even entered the gates. I have not read much description of Colton's experience in heaven thus far, but Colton has mentioned meeting Jesus and his deceased grandfather, as well as being sung to by angels. You may think that this is just a four-year-old's generic picture of heaven, and does not prove anything. Colton, however, with his four-year-old mind somehow knew what both of his parents were doing during the surgery, even though they were in different rooms than him and he was anesthetized the entire time. He quite straightforwardly explains this startling knowledge by saying "I went up out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body." For a child who most likely does not understand the meaning of "out of body experience", I would say Colton experienced something more than a hallucination in this hospital.
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