A new beginning

This week I started reading Lord of the flies. I heard it's really good and easy to get into so hopefully i will like it. I'm not that far yet and so far it seems a little slow but a lot of books do in the beginning. So far the boys have come together and realized their situation and designated a chief. The Chief is Ralph which kinda upsets piggy because told Ralph everything he need to know about the conch shell. I can tell the boys are started to get a little clicky and the choir boys are not gonna leave Jacks side. On another note, we finished A Tale of Two Cities finally. I am so glad that is over. Now I can concentrate on the this new book and get in some more reading like finishing Catching Fire.

Tale of Two Cities: 343-386
Lord of the Flies: 1-31

Starting Fresh

A while ago I was reading the book Match Made in Heaven and I kind of just forgot about it from being so busy. I started reading where I had left off which was maybe a fourth into the book and I already forget what was going on. I've decided to start over so I can connect the entire book. So my page numbers are a little messed up for this week because I kind of skipped around to get caught up before I decided to start over. Basically the book is about this guy that is in heaven and he is challenged by God to play a round of golf for a chance to return to earth. Obviously im not very far so I dont know how it turns out but I guess I'll find out!

Match Made in Heaven: 29-35, 16-28

Now I will be starting over from the beginning.

falling behind

I've been really out of the reading mood lately. I need to get back into it. I really haven't done much random reading which I used to like to do pretty well.I have although continued reading A Tale of Two Cities. I guess it is getting more into the type of story that I like but I still cant seem to get into it. I am looking forward to finishing this book so I can start the next one. Next we will be reading Lord of the flies and I am determined to get into that book. I have heard it is pretty good and most people seem to like it, also its pretty thin so it shouldn't take up much time. Anyways, in A Tale of Two Cities there has been a lot of characters introduced lately. It is getting kind of hard to tell them apart. My favorite character is Lucie, Dr. Manette's daughter. I hope she stays a main part of the story. Well hopefully I will get back into reading some more this week!




A TALE OF TWO CITIES:86-138

Note 4

Lovers Nightmare, my all time favorite poem I have come across while doing this project. It is so down to earth and connects with me so well. I have felt myself at times experiencing the same thing as the author. The poems talks about having a dream about a boyfriend and then suddenly you wake up and realize he's not really there. It goes through different tones as it starts out peaceful and calm and turns sorrowful, but overall ending in complete bliss.
And suddenly it hits me,
Like a car going sixty,
I sit there and smile for the longest time,
Dreams aren't real and I know your mine.
The last four lines of the poem explain the concluding happiness as the author realize life is better than a dream. The poem uses great rhyming as every two lines correspond. It also does a great job capturing emotion, i even got a little teary when it talked about him not being there. It is easy to experience what the author is feeling with her use of diction. She seems to be so attached to the person whom she is dreaming about that even the unconscious thought of losing him brings her to tears.

Totally Lost

Soo i am currently reading a tale of two cities. I hate it. I in no way enjoy reading this book. Also, I don't exactly know what is going on in it. As I've mentioned before i do not like reading books for school. Basically what i have got out of it that a guy, Mr. Cruncher I think, digs up a Doctor Manette. Oh and Doctor Manette has a daughter i think, Lucie. It is really confusing, i don't know if I'm just not reading it right or what but I am super lost. I hope I can find a way to better understand the diction and plot of this book so I don't end up completely lost.

A Tale of Two Cities: 14-86

Note 2

In this clip from the recent movie, "The Vow" we get a close look at what the couple’s relationship actually was before the accident. During the movie, a madly in love, recently married couple gets in a car accident and the women lose all memory of ever even meeting her husband. Throughout the movie we get insights of both characters point of views. The husband of course is angry, sad, depresses, all of the emotions that would apply to anyone in his situation. Here he in his perfectly happy little life and gets disrupted by his wife forgetting who he is. But then the wife, well she surrounded in a pool of different emotions completely contrasting with those of her husband. She experiences confusion, fear, regret, and yes some joy as she is able to live in her old life again. It is very clear to see the love the main character (Channing Tatum) has for his wife, played by Rachel Mcadams, bases on how hard he tries to win her back. He has to do the unthinkable; make his wife refall in love with him. His actions throughout the movie really allow us to see his dedication and commitment, as well as resulting in the reunitment of the two. It’s not everday we see a relationship like this so it’s important to really study and take analysis of the situation and we can begin to understand this crazy thing called love.

Note 3 anthology proj.

After thinking about my topic (love) for a while, i decided the most interesting expression of love to me was a song. In this Taylor swift song "Love Story", she expresses her feelings throughout the years for a guy. She starts off explaining how she’s known him since they were young. She even remembers the first time she saw him. She goes on to discuss their accounts overtime. She compares their relationship to that of Romeo and Juliet, the theme of forbidden love is paralleled here. It makes the listener wonder; will it ever work out? The last part of the song ends up working out for them, and the song is able to change moods several times through to lyrics. Starting out with excitement and happiness when she first meets and transforming into sorrow and regret that things aren’t working out, and finally ending in overall joy and happiness. This might have been a version of something that actually happened to the author or maybe just something she wishes would have happened. Readers, Listeners, viewers, etc. can never really know the meaning of a piece but we can begin to analyze our own understanding of the work.

getting further

Surely but slowly I am creeping my way through Catching Fire. I would of hope and anticipated that I would be getting through it much quicker but I just haven't had much time to read. I actually am a bit disappointed with it. Personally I liked the whole Katniss and Peeta thing and I was hoping it would continue to grow in this book. But that doesn't appear to be happening. :( Oh well, maybe I can take an interest in Gale. Probably not though.

Catching Fire 63-124

Exercise #3

Try Not to Breathe

The review is really interesting and actually makes me want to read the book. It this that is something a book review should do, not only tell whether the author did a good job but really tell what the book is about. Some people don't care whether others think it's a good book so what really draws them in is the plot.

The Disenchantments

This review does a good job at introducing main character and overall plot of the story. Both things good to be included in a review. It also includes some of the catcher words that drew me to the first one.

Tina's Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary

The review of this book included what i thought good in the other two as well as more. I was drawn to the review maybe from the title. Including comic diary, and the review does a great job of capturing that comic relief as well. 

1.)Brief background

2.)Attention catcher

3.)Portraying the mood of the story

 

Just an update

This week I finished Duff. It took me longer than I originally planed, only because I was so busy. I actually really enjoyed it and I'm sad It's over. I liked the ending but I think they could have put a little more information about how they ended up. Overall it was a really good read.

Also since I watched the Hunger Games movie, which was amazing, I decided to start the second book. I didn't want to start it before I saw the movie so then I wasn't expecting more. I'm glad finally able to read it. I've hear some spoilers about what happens in the second book and that's kind of disappointing but I'm still gonna read it of course.

Duff: 146-277
Catching fire: ch. 1-4

weaknesses Exercise 2

(2)"Grey and tall and stocky as the granite outcrop their town was built upon" are the inhabitants described in an unvarnished plain-dealing diction.

(6) His excitement and enjoyment can be shown when “the time came closer and he slapped his face forcefully, bringing the adrenaline roses up on his cheeks...” 

(2) "Who can't even CONCENTRATE TO WRITE this because her little sister will NOT shut up," announces the narrator illustrating the harsh reality to her life. 

Anthology plan

I hope to create my anthology reflecting something about love. Maybe young love, or true love. I've seen some very neat poems about it.

crazy in love

Sooo, i went to Barnes and Noble today. I had to buy catching fire because i finished "The Hunger Games" last week. It was amazing, by far my favorite book. I've decided not to start reading the second one till after the movie on Friday; which I am super excited for. I am definitely pro Peeta! I love the way their relationship grew during the book and i was a little sad at the end when they kind of fought. I think Katniss should have reacted differently when Peeta asked if she was just pretending the entire time. But I'm hoping it gets better in the other books!

After I finished I started reading "Match Made In Heaven" by Bob Mitchel. It was kind of just a random pick up because it looked interesting. Its not really something that i would normally read but I'm trying to broaden my interests.

hunger games 247-374
match made in heaven 1-20

jump on the bandwagon

So, I know I'm a little behind everyone else on this one but I just started The Hunger Games. I should have read it a while ago but I just figured it was really long and I wouldn't be able to finish it by the movie. Speaking of the movie, I am going to the premier! I'm really excited and more so now that I am reading it. Everyone told me that the begging was really slow, I only noticed that in the first chapter though. The rest of it I think has been really interesting. I've just started part two and the games are about to begin. I think the relationship between Peeta and Katniss is very interesting. I kind of hope there was some truth to what he said during his interview. He stated that he was in love with Katniss and had been for a long while. Yeah, it does kind of suck that they most likely with end up having to kill each other, but it is kind of mysterious. I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens!

Photo shop your life

Before you go around saying pictures never lie take at look at these. Photo Shop is something that most everyone knows about but few actually have it to know what it is capable of. This high tech editing device can change how you look at life. The world of photography is getting taken over with technology. Sure some people might say this is a good thing and they are just enhancing the picture, but when does it become too far? Should it be right to change the whole story of a picture? Advertisements, facebook, television and other forms of media are being taken over with editing techniques like the ones demonstrated on these photo shop images. Sure it can be considered all fun and games but what happens when someone uses it negatively against someone else. I'm sure its happening everyday; people editing a picture to make it look like something is happening that didn't actually happen. I'm not gonna lie, those pictures are cool, and I do like looking at them! I'm just a little scared it might get out of hand sometime soon. I guess I'm just saying don't always believe what you see in a picture.

Just gettting through life

Jane Eyre
So, as I unwillingly began reading Jane Eyre I thought for sure I would hate it. But I finished the first page, then the second, then the third, and I wasn't yet turned away. I'm real interested in Jane's life and everything she has been through. She seems so strong and prideful to have to live through that. I get kinda sad when I get to much into the story because I feel kind of bad for her. Her so-called aunt is horrible to her. It reminds me kind of like one of the Cinderella Stories. She is forced to to live with somebody that treats her nothing like family, and is tortured every day of her life. Jane hardly remembers her uncle but she knows he was way more kindhearted then her aunt and cousins. Jane is treated like a servant in the household and is punished for the silliest things. Jane tries reminding her aunt that her uncle is up in heaven and can see everything that is happening and house they are treating her. But yet again Jane gets punished for saying such a thing. I am eager to get further into this book and find out if things work out for Jane.

Can't help if you're the duff

D.U.F.F : Designated, Ugly, Fat, Friend.
Wouldn't you feel horrible is someone called you the Duff. I know I would. Although she doesn't show it, it bothers Bianca Piper. Being seventeen she has quite a bit of drama going on in her life at the moment and she doesn't exactly know how to handle it. The guy that single handily broke her heart her freshmen year is returning to town for a whole week! On top of that, her mother has just sent divorce papers in the mail and her father is in denial. And to make all worse, she has this name stuck in the back of her head, Duffy. That's what school hottie Wesley Rush calls her.He says every group of friends has a duff and Bianca just happens to be that girl to her two much prettier best friends Casey and Jessica. Bianca already had a strong hatred towards Wesley considering he is the biggest man-slut she has ever met, and those feelings are well expressed when she throws the contents of her coke in his face. Seeking someway to shut Wesley up and get her mind off of her home life, she does the unthinkable. She kisses him! I was completely shocked when I read this. People in my class were probably thinking I was weird the way I stared at my book with a disgusted look on my face, but i couldn't help it. There relationship goes on to turn into a enemies with benefits type thing and Bianca just can't get enough of Wesley. She purely hate him, or so she says. I'm curious to find out how long she can lie to herself and her friends to hide the feelings she is developing for Wesley.

Have an open mind

So, I am in English Literature and we are about to start reading Jane Eyre. Although this is not a book I would have picked for myself, I am going to try to not hate it so much. As I've said in previous posts I do not do well with being forced to read a certain book. I am going at this book with an open mind am actually going to try to enjoy it. Wish me luck!

short list

This website full of Things That Make You Go Ahh is not only cute at sometimes but also creepy. maintaining the subject of animals, the pictures go both ways. Whether it's the picture of the cat with a cast or the one of panda's in a house, everyone of these pictures makes you look at it twice.

Those of us that don't have the pleasure of enjoying Photo Shop and it's many wonders might not know exactly what it can do. People say a picture is supposed to tell the truth right? Not in this case. Using photo shop can turn a story into a lie; or maybe just make an ordinary picture a little less ordinary.

We all have that one friend or family member that has the odd case of sleeping walking. What ever crazy not-thought out missions they go on while in deep sleep could not top these. These are some extreme cases of sleep walking and might just leave you thinking, could that really happen?

Stuck within those walls

This American Life is a very interesting podcast that I have come to enjoy. This particular episode is about that awkward state in life that we all go through, middle school. If you're anything like me you probably thought that it was only you going through that. But this brave girl goes on the air to talk about her experience in middle school. She mentions not knowing what to wear to school. After leaving middle school it kind of becomes more do your own thing and there tends to be less judgment in high school; but for a middle schooler this can one of the biggest decisions of his/her life. Every second you're walking in the hall you are paranoid that she thinks you're weird or he thinks you're ugly. It can be hard to deal with at times. This American Life does a great job at asking the questions that really get it down deep. Parents often don't realize what kids are going through when they are in middle school because its considered not cool to tell your mommy or daddy whats going on. But these young teens need to realize that their parents have went through this too and might actually be able to help. Something needs to be done to stop all the madness that goes on inside the walls of junior high. But then again you're only there for three years so is it really worth it?

A picture says a thousand words

I have come to love the unpredictable manner that this site is set up like. There is sort of a schism between what you think is going to happen and what is actually shown. As I explored the website I noticed all the different enclaves within it. The initial site shows a bunch of different pictures; each one leading to a new story. The pictures a quite eye catching. Once you pick a link to follow you are immediately called to look at the rest of the pictures and read the story behind them. Each post is so different, but so interesting.  It has to take a plethora of creativity in someone to come up with the ideas of the site. I think this is a good way to find new ideas or even get interested in something new. It would be could to start your own site like this or maybe a series of post similar. This site also linked me to a site called Wall to Watch which is very neat as well. My favorite post on there is the photo manipulation one. It shows different pictures of ordinary items like fruit, and blends them together. In the first picture it has an apple's outside with an orange on the inside. It actually took me a short moment to realize what was wrong with the picture because it looked so real. Both of these sites are worth your while to check out and will probably keep you occupied for some time!

She's got it good

I think a lot of times when I am reading I try to imagine my self in the characters life. I sure did that for Alice in I Like Him, He Likes Her. I finished reading it last night and I am eager to start the next book It's Not Like I Planned It This Way. Alice's life is surely not perfect and neither is mine but its sort of that thrill to to pretend like you are living a different life that draws me to books like this. Alice is around my age and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor does a good job at depicting real life teen problems. Its easy to escape into a world of make believe when reading one of her books.Through out the book you are taken though Alice's current life as well as many flashbacks of things that happened in her past. Alice has cam to readily except the fact that she no longer has a mother since hers died when she was just a little girl. It might of actually turned out to be a good thing because Alice's relationship with her father and her brother has grown incredibly. She is not afraid to talk to them about anything, even the typical girl problems. As she plans to go away for two weeks of the summer to be a camp councilor she is eager to return for her fathers wedding. Alice loves her fathers fiance which happens to be her middle school teacher. Her experience at camp might of changed her in more ways then she knows. The camp is for Troubled kids with not very good home lives and Alice struggles with giving them exactly what they need. Since each of the girls is different in many ways, she connects with them all differently. The last page of the book ends with Alice getting a package in the mail from the very girl that gave her the most trouble at camp. I am eager to start the next book and take on Alices sophomore year with her.

Short list 3

These Photo Minipulations are really cool and just makes you think about how a picture can tell a lie. People say a picture says a thousand words but how many of those words are true?

 This picture from Its Nice That is very interesting. When I think of a living room I tend to think of a calm, relaxing atmosphere but this goes to show that can be all wrong in some peoples cases. At one point a family lived in this house and all of their thoughts of safety have vanished.

This creative rollar coaster allows you to grab one of the 30,000 fortunes located on the outskirts of the coaster. It even looks fun! The colors of the balls draw your eye and make you wonder which one you would take.

Packed with Glory

If you've been in the area long enough you'd know that once a year the coliseum host the so called Winter Jam.  Winter Jam is a group of Christian bands that get together and tour the united stated and one of their stops just happens to be Fort Wayne. This was my first year to experience the Jam but was it amazing. There is no doubt that I will be returning next year. The moment you walk in the building you can tell how big of a deal this thing is by the millions of people that are waiting in line. Most people know about how the big the home of the Comets stadium is, now imagine that completely full. Row to row people cheering, singing along, worshiping. As the concert started it was just amazing to feel the energy in the building, everyone was so excited. Band after band came on, sometimes even individual singers. What I didn't know was that they were saving the best for last. When the last band came on the crowd went crazy! They call themselves Skillet. They were the most uplifting, interesting, loud band I have ever heard. Their show was pretty cool too. They actually used real fire in the performance! The stage lit up and the crowd went wild. During the entire concert in between performances somebody would get up there and talk about different things. Someone talked about scholarships, another about sponsoring children in need; Anyway to help other people. Basically this concert was an amazing experience for me and I hope even more people decide to go next year.

top links

amazing picture
I love the way this picture is so mysterious and makes you sort of wonder where it was taken from, maybe an airplane. If you read the description you realize it was taken from a mountain top. The clouds are beautiful and help to bring out the colors in the lights coming from the town.
super bowl tents
High winds cause authority to evacuate the various tents set up in down town Indy. After putting a damper on the fans people have had to relocate during their wait for super bowl and the activities going on in Indy.
Cool websites
Giving teens a way to cure the boredom, this website list many of the most common websites visited on a daily website. Teens can have a one source door way to all 20 of these fun filled sites.

My short list

1.) Winter Jam 2012: The overly packed coliseum this past Sunday is evidence that this years Winter Jam was a hit. Drawing on my first impression when i walked in i was amazed at how the line wrapped around the room like a snake taking up every section of a box. The anticipation was almost unbearable as to whether or not we get seats or not. We thought for sure it was gonna get cut off right in front of us in line. Making it in there was just the start to the amazing night me and my friends experienced.

2.) Courageous was a fantastic movie. I don't think I have ever cried so much during a movie before this. The men's dedication to their goal is outstanding. This movie goes to prove that good things can come from something bad. Adam, one of the main characters in the film, uses the pain he undergoes after losing his only daughter to change his ways and become the father he should of always been to his older son. His determination and the help of his closest friends allow him with a second chance at being the Godly figure in his home he was sought to be.

 

3.) Ever get tired of those people that call them selves a fan yet when their team isn't doing so hot they immediately switch their attention. This was really proved with the colts this year. Year after year people call themselves die hard Colts fans but when they needed their support most everyone turned their heads. A real fan is someone who cheers their team on whether they win every game or no games.

Pharrell Williams Miami home

There is slight difference between the two words home and house. A house is simply a building made for living; whereas a home is full of love and memories. Part of what makes a home so important to somebody the way it changes as the persons personality changes.

Elements of a house:
-walls,
-floor,
-roof,
-door,
-lights,
-windows

Elements of a home:
-design,
-personality,
-love,
-family,
-structure,
-beauty,
-liveliness

In Pharrell Williams' Miami home there is a sense of personality that jumps out at you.

Dead Poets Society

Peter Weir, the director of Dead Poets Society, does a wondrous job of portraying that sort of old fashioned stern education at Welton School for boys. The opening scene of the play guides us to understand some of the overall feelings of campus. The picture of the wall, taking up the entire wall, represents the many young boys that have passed through the school. The young boy standing in front of it symbolizes the continuous tradition remaining in the school. After the opening scene there is only a candle of the screen and it is sure to release any thought of playful ambition by any of the staff or students at Welton.  As they are walking in to the main church like room the boys seem kind of rehearsed and act as if they do not want to be there. The bagpipe being played immediately takes you back to an earlier time. The setting seems to make more sense when you hear this music. As the students continue to walk down into the basement like long narrow room you begin to notice the lack of sunlight caused by the stain glass windows in the room. The head master begins talking and previous theories of the students feelings change when you see one boy light up when his candle is lit. The students prove true commitment when they are asked to recite the four pillars. All boys in the room stand and in synchronized tone recited Christian, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence.  When they introduce the new English professor he seems kind of bothered by something but it is not yet explained in the movie.  After a change in scene occurs you come to realize the period in time which the movie is taking place. All the people moving around in the same space suggest a sort of college-like campus to the school. The archaic cars and out-of-date clothing shows this movie is more in the past than the present. As the students are leaving the hall you begin to notice the parents have a more harshly portrayed attitude about the school than the kids; almost as if they are forcing the boys to go there.  As the scene goes on you see different boys’ approaches about the school as they show lachrymose feelings of staying.

reading analysis

You know those books you accidentally come across? Those are my favorite. The book I'm reading right now is one of those. It's called I Like Him, He Likes Her and it's by Phyillis Reynolds Naylor. I absolutely love her writing. Its so real. I feel as if I am there when i read this book. To sum up the story its about a young girl, Alice, and everything she has to undertake during her high school years. It starts off in her freshmen year and her life sort of turns around when her and her boyfriend of two years break up. She simply does not know what to do with her life. This book has taught me not to put everything into one person because you never know what is going to happen. At the start of the book you find out her mother died when she was much younger and she shares many of the difficulties she's faced with not having a mom. Her dad later becomes engaged and she is overjoyed with excitement to welcome another women into their family. This has taught me to appreciate everything and everyone that i have in my life because not everybody has what I have. Alice later encounters some "high school drama" type problems with her friends and It's amazing how much it relates to things in my life. I feel like I sort of sort out certain problems that haven't occurred yet in my life just by reading her stories. I love the way reading makes you think about the world in a different perspective. It's almost like you get to walk in someone else's shoes for those few moments you are reading their stories. Whether the stories are real or not It's easy to get caught up your books and I just love that. I look forward to reading the rest of this book and getting to read the rest of the books in this series.

Literacy Narrative

Reading has recently become important to me. I didn't read much as a kid, and it was often hard for me to find a book I was interested in. I don't remember much of reading from when I was younger just that I liked books about people. I used to read things like Amelia Bedelia, and Magic Tree house. I liked pretending like that was my life. 

I've never liked reading books for school. I absolutely hate being told what to read. That feeling that I have to read it just ruins the book for me. I like coming across books on my own accidentally. I know people say not to judge a book by it's cover but the cover of a book does a lot to help me decide to read it. I'm drawn to certain books so if I'm in a library or a book store I look for books that I think will be interesting to me. I have enjoyed books with not so appealing covers before I just often don't give them the chance to impress me by picking them up. I need to get better at that.

I like reading books that are in a series because usually when I get to the end of book I never want it to end. When you read a book in a series you have that suspense on when you are going to read the next book. I usually read books about the same subject as well, story's about people my age with problems I sometimes face. I don't really like to get too Mystical or make believe. A mix of reality and fantasy interests me most. I can sit for hours and read these types of books.

Today I feel like no matter what is going on with my life those few hours a day when I'm reading I can escape it. I think of reading sort of as a second world. Anything I want to do, be, or experience i accomplish through reading. I think reading helps me in real life as well. I learn about a lot of different things from books. Not only about words but about life. I put scenarios of things that happened in my books to real life. I hope I never lose this desire to read and that it stays with me for years to come.