Finally

During the course of this semester, what kind of reading did you do?
This semester I read two classics, one bizarre book, and one pop fiction.  They were very different, but I enjoyed them all.

Was it easy to find things that interested you?
Yes.  I know what I like to read, so it wasn't a challenge.

Did you have trouble finding something you could stick with?
No, I finished all of the books, even though there were occasionally dull parts.

How did you choose the things you read?
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius was a book that Mr. Hill had sitting on the shelf to recommend to the students.  I liked the title and asked him about it.  He recommended it, so I borrowed it from his classroom.
The Magicians and Mrs. Quent was a book I purchased on sale when Mitchel Books went out of business.  I read the inside cover and liked how it sounded.
Frankenstein was a classic I bought after watching the musical.  I liked the story and wanted to read the book.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a book I bought because I love both King Arthur stories and satire.  Seemed promising.

Did you have trouble meeting the weekly page quota?
I was crunched for time, but it was never an option not to finish.  I ended up reading about 50 pages a night the Wednesday and Thursday before it was due since I was reading for Novels the other days.  It was a lot, but I made sure that every week I accomplished my goal.

Last Response

I did it!  I used technology successfully.  This is my last blog response post for the semester, so I thought I'd take some time to wrap up the project.  I've really enjoyed doing this.  I love to read and I love to write, so this has been the perfect combination.  The books I read have been fantastic and I can't wait to continue.  I haven't had much time in high school to devote to reading, so being forced, in a way, has been great.  I have probably read more in this one semester than in a few school years combined.  I am not sure if I will continue this blog - if anything I will keep updating the list of books I have read.  Maybe once things settle down in school I will come back to this, but for now, I think its time to say goodbye.  Thank you technology, for once you have been cooperative.

Not so funny....

I'm still loving A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, but today I got to a part that surprised me. For once, I wasn't laughing.  The Boss and the King are traveling across England dressed as commoners.  The King is pretty terrible of acting normal, but he finally sees real suffering when they stop at a house for him to attempt his communication skills.  Instead of a nice chat, they discover a woman lying on the ground, dying of small pox.  Her husband and daughter have died of the same disease, she has no idea if the other daughter who is just upstairs is alive, and her two sons are locked in a prison in the baron's home for a crime they did not commit.  For the first time, the King is exposed to the true horrors of his country.  Instead of fleeing, he waits with the Boss, delivering the remaining family members water until they die.  Just as they leave the home, the two sons arrive home, having escaped from the mansion.  To the Boss's dismay, instead of mourning what the boys will discover once they go inside, the King states that they should be recaptured since the lord has a right to hold prisoners.  After all that suffering, he still does not understand.  They continue on their way and discover something even worse.  The baron has been killed and, though the people living in the town hate the deceased man, they are going around hanging people for the murder based solely on suspicion.  The scene described is tragic and sad, speaking of man's inhumanity towards man.  A very different tone from the rest of the book.  Its sad, but profound.  I think as I keep reading it will be funny again, but that was an interesting wake up call.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain

Pages Read in the Last Two Weeks: 214

Pages Read this Semester: 1,203

Sentences of the Week:

1. "Contantinopolitanischerdudelsackspfeifenmachersgesellschafft!" ("The Bagpipe Manufacturers Company of Constantinople" in German) A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain

2. "I could have eaten with the hogs if I had had birth approaching my lofty official rank; but I hadn't, and so accepted the unavoidable slight and made no complain." A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain

3. "She never had any ideas, any more than a fog has." A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain

I'm not really sure if my first sentence is truly a sentence, but the Boss used it as a spell to bring back the water to the monks.  I thought it was just a funny, made-up word, but the notation of the bottom of the page gives a translation!  Makes me want to learn how to speak German.  The second sentence is hilarious because of the context.  The Boss had been on this long quest to rescue trapped nobility with Sandy, but upon arriving at the "castle" they had been searching for, he discovered that it was merely a pig sty.  Sandy had this idea in her head that the pigs there were actually princesses and that they had an enchantment on them to make others see them as ugly.  In order to leave, the Boss humors her by buying the pigs and taking them to freedom.  On the journey home, Sandy insists on calling them by outrageously formal names of royalty and won't let the Boss abuse them in any way.  At one point, he grabs a pig by the tail to keep her from running away and Sandy becomes upset because he was apparently pulling on the train of the princess's dress.  Finally, they reach a cottage and spend the night there, with the pigs inside of course, and have breakfast in the morning.  Obviously, the Boss is not suited to eat alongside nobility, so he and Sandy sit separately.  I think the whole situation is really funny and very sarcastic - just the way I like it.  The final sentence is another great insult (I find myself drawn to these).  I hate stupid people.  This reminds me of a lot of them.  It was hard choosing sentences this week because the entire book is so funny.  There aren't many "one-liners," but entire situations have actually made me laugh out loud.  I can't wait to keep reading and I wish I hadn't let this book sit on my shelf for so long.

CAMELOT AND SPAMALOT!!!!

At this point in my book, there is some hilarious satire on the Church.  While traveling home, the Boss comes across a group of pilgrims who are traveling to worship at a blessed fountain guarded by monks.  Stupid, Monty-python-like Monks.  The Boss tags along, but before arriving, finds out that the water has suddenly dried up!  Now, he has to make some plot to again convince the subjects that he has magic powers by bringing the water back.  He calls up some of the people he has educated back in Camelot and they immediately set out to bring the proper tools.

The Boss arrives at the holy shrine to find some not too flattering representatives of the Church.  The monks are kind, but ignorant and gullible.  All of the monks knew there was a well feeding the spring, but no one thought to check if there was something wrong with the well.  Instead, they called in Merlin to perform magic and begin to beg the Boss for help.  Right away, he realizes there is a leak and knows how to fix it.  As soon as his cronies arrive, they quickly complete the task then focus on tricking everyone into believing there was magic.  They put on a great show and, even after demonstrating to some of the monks how to work a pump to keep the well working, all of the men believe that, by the Grace of God, the Boss has magically restored their spring.  Right....

The entire book so far has been hilarious, and I can't help but draw parallels to other King Arthur Themed Satires - Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and more recently, the musical Spamalot.  I love Monty Python (my best friend got me a Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrrgggggh for my birthday), and the way this book makes fun of the classic adventure story is very similar.  For entertainment purposes, I have a link to part of the movie in my first paragraph and I am including a link from the musical as well.  Enjoy.

Doctor Who



A Companion, the Blue Box, and the Doctor
EPIC HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

An actual police box in Scotland

Okay, prepare for another geeky post.  This one will probably go over the heads of most normal people, but for me it is very relevant.  Doctor Who is one of my all time favorite shows.  Its basically about a 900 year old human-looking alien who travels through time and space in a little blue box that is bigger on the inside.  Lost yet?  Its actually very popular in England - its been running for decades and has a huge fan following.  Its hard to describe if you haven't seen it, but the basic premise is that in each episode this insane man, the Doctor, travels to a new place and has some adventure.  I promise its cool.  Anyway, the connection is that A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is starting to remind me of my favorite British Sci-fi Show.  Like the Doctor, the Boss (the main character's nickname) is in a time that is not his own, dealing with people that cannot begin to comprehend his intellect.  He even has a companion in Sandy, a confused girl who is helping to lead him on quests.  It must be a archetype for time travelers to hang out with random girls they meet on their journeys because the Doctor does the same thing.  Unlike the Doctor, however, the Boss is breaking some serious time travel rules.  Whether its Hot Tub Time Machine, Back to the Future, or Doctor Who, generally you are not supposed to change the past.  Merely stepping on a butterfly could be enough to change the course of history, messing up your own future and basically wreaking havoc on the time stream.  The Boss apparently missed the memo.  Here he is, back in the Middle Ages, attempting to introduce the 19th century.  He's building factories, changing currencies, and trying to change the mindset of the entire population.  Its hilarious to read about, but for a geeky human being like myself, I immediately begin to wonder how much this would affect the future.  The Boss would make a very bad Doctor.





Bucket List

When I was younger, I created a list of things I wanted to do before I die, and many of them are still some of my priorities.  A few of my favorites are:

1. Skydiving

2. Coal walking

3. World Travel

And most notably:

Being Knighted

I'm not kidding.  Ask my parents.  I've researched it.  Turns out, if you want to be a knight it's not good enough to do a great service to Great Britain.  No.  You have to be British.  The best I could do is become an "Honorary Knight."  That's just dumb. It is difficult to explain the soul-crushing, handicap-rendering effect this has had on me.  My dream has been ruined.  Talk about depression.  Luckily, however, one of the first steps towards being healed is learning to laugh, and this his book is the perfect treatment.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court makes my dream seem a little silly.  It blatantly mocks the common adventure story, poking holes in the accepted archetypes.  Now that I think about it, armor wouldn't be all that comfortable.  Maps sure would be nice for quests.  I like soap.  Although being knighted is still a distant goal of mine (Would marrying a Scottish or English guy grant me citizenship somehow?), this book has already made me reconsider the romantic time I used to dream about.  Ogres, hundreds of strange women locked in towers, and a missing cup hardly seem like my business.  Maybe I should think more like Mark Twain - why would I want to go back to a time where everyone believed everything and talked like someone straight out of Monty Python?  No thanks.  I'll stick to this century for now, at least until I figure out how to either a) travel through time and space whenever I want  b) be knighted in my own time or c) marry David Tennant or Ewan McGregor.  Honestly, I find all three of these options acceptable.

Close Reading Bingo

Mistakes in Other Classes:

1."Needly are of shine," "adding long glassy highlights," and " Towering volumes of marble and glass."
- Rule Five, The World is Ours

2. The narrator briefly discusses his “lousy childhood” and “all that David Copperfield kind of crap” before exclaiming to the reader that he will not tell his “whole goddam autobiography.”
- Rule 4, Keep it Classy

3. On the subject of his parents, he says "they're touchy as hell."
- Rule 1, Laughapalooza

4. This gives the impression of a fancy an intimidating lobby.
- Rule 9, To Kill a Mockingjay

MY FAVORITE!!!

J.D. Salinger masters the voice of his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, in the first page of his novel Catcher in the Rye, using direct, colloquial, and bluntly offensive diction. Holden starts by saying that while he knows the reader would like to know about his background, he is not going to provide any information on his origins. His gruff, devil-may-care attitude exudes from the page, as he says he can’t be bothered with “all that David Copperfield kind of crap.” Holden’s trademark sense of superiority reverberates within the passage. While Holden’s language is neither profound nor particularly beautiful, it is representative of how a disenchanted teenager speaks. Holden complains that he won’t give his “whole goddam autobiography” and that his prother is far away from “this crummy place.” He has no objection to cursing, a sign of rebellion against the norm through language. Salinger breathes life into Holden by rambling and cussing, providing literature’s favorite teenage antihero with an identifiably meandering and rude voice.

- ZENGERINE

Observation and Inference

    In the first chapter of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger's blunt, low level of formality and discordant diction express the disillusioned personality of the main character, Holden.  Words like "crumby," and "crap," are colloquial and common, making the narrator seem ordinary, and the use of the first person makes him seem more personal and less formal.  The phrase"if you really want to hear about it," makes the very first sentence seem straightforward and easy to understand.  Holden skips over the normal introductions that books usually contain and jumps into speaking of his angst and dislike of the world around him.  This opinion of the world naturally leads to a sound that is harsh.  There is no rhythm to the first paragraphs - merely blunt statements that pull the reader in.  "Touchy as hell," and "he's my brother and all," are examples of harsh words and a disjointed style that help display the personality of the speaker.  Through his use of diction, Salinger brings Holden to life - he is an opinionated, dramatic, and blunt character who is best understood through the words he uses to express himself.

Currently

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain

Pages Read this Week: 104

Pages Read this Semester: 989

1. In Neil's excerpt he writes in a style that is dull and archaic as he describes that stony features of the town of Wall. -Kim's Corner

2. It is written like an infuriated tirade, with no hint of class. - A Scrap of Parchment

3.   The narrator of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian demonstrates a thorough understanding of picturesque and formally sophisticated diction - So many books, so little time

4. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley writes with an intricate language, descriptively figurative language and a harshly melodic sound - The Written Word

5.  Yet, unlike Brooks and Sheff, Kamler has a figurative, metaphoric, and connotative language when describing the areas he's traveled to and the way he explains how he managed to stay alive in the most hazardous situations. - The TRUTH

So Many Eclipses!!!

*Disclaimer*  If you don't want to hear about the marching band, don't read this post.

So hows this for a connection!!  I just stared reading A Connecticut Yankee in King  Arthur's Court and within fifty pages I've made a relevant, if cheesy, parallel to my life!  This book, like Frankenstein, is a bracket book - the plot takes place inside a fictional book that a character is reading.  The story begins with a man visiting a museum with artifacts from King Arthur's Court.  While he is there, he meets this stranger who claims to have been there for real!  This mysterious gentleman gives him a copy of the diary he kept while living in the days of the knights, and the first man begins to read of the second man's adventures.  In this book within a book, the main character is accidentally sent back in time to the insane period of the Middle Ages.  There, almost immediately he is taken captive due to his strange appearance and held prisoner.  Because of some outrageous claims concerning his apparently ferocious nature, he is sentenced to burn at the stake (Monty Python anyone?)  To escape this fate, he uses his knowledge of the past.  Somehow, he realizes that the only recorded eclipse during that century occurred within a few days of his arrival.  He uses this knowledge to his advantage, telling the mob trying to burn him that he will stop the sun from shining if they continue.  There are a few misunderstandings about dates, but luckily, the timing ends up perfect.  Right as they start to light the brush at his feet, the sun begins to disappear.  TAHDAH!!! Suddenly, he is a great magician and the kings right hand man.

Now, here is the connection.

If only the Homestead band could have that effect on the crowd when we do OUR eclipse.  This year's show is entitled "Children of the Sun" (I don't get it either), and during the climax of our show, we flip a giant tarp in the center of the field that represents the sun over so it becomes dark, then dramatically flip it again during some epic music.  Its actually really fun.  However, this year our show has been much less inspiring than the display of "magic" in the first few chapters of The Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.  We are known for being an amazing band, but for the first time in years, we didn't receive the highest score at regionals.  Tragic.  With semi-state and state remaining, we all hope that somehow we can improve our performance so that we can be at the top again.  We haven't been too optimistic this week.  Honestly, practice has sucked.  We have been outside in forty degree weather, wind, and rain.  Hardly ideal conditions for improvement.  Tonight, however, during practice I was actually inspired.  Once in a while, the music, energy, and crowd reaction combine in just the right way and create this weird, complete sensation in the pit of your stomach (cheesy, but true) and for the first time in months the show actually got the students, directors, and crowd excited.  The band had an fantastic run and, like the eclipse in my book, I hope that kind of energy will change our current situation.  Metaphorically, we could go from being burned at the stake to being in control of the whole kingdom.

I'M ON THE FIFTY!!! Dancing on the Practice Tarp (Our Sun)

Book Three? Check

I just finished Frankenstein and I really enjoyed it.  The ending was obviously sad, but it managed to wrap up the story very well.  As I approached the end, I realized that in my rush to begin reading I had skipped the essential prologue.  I went back, read it, then finshed the book.  The entire story of Victor Frankenstein is contained within a small bracket story about a captain discovering Victor and recording his tale.  Needless to say, the ending made much more sense once I went back.  Overall, I thought it was a great book and would recommend it to anyone (unless you're impatient and simply cannot manage to finish a classic and will therefore insist that I recommend bad books . . . cough . . . cough)  The fact that I liked it has encouraged me to continue reading classics. Next up is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and, hopefully, it will be just as good.  I don't know much about it except that its a satire about knights.  I like stories about King Arthur and sarcasm, so it should be good.  I read The Once and Future King my freshman year and liked it, despite the opinions of my classmates, and since the premise is similiar, I hope I enjoy this as well.  I've got a lot of reading to do this week!  I have to finish Crime and Punishment by Friday and The Things They Carried by Monday.  Talk about stressful.  But hey, better than science - I wouldn't want to end up like Victor Frankenstein.

Style Mapping

Authors choose words.  Words define language.  Language shapes literature.  In Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoevsky, and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, the authors use different forms of the English language to prove their points.  In the passage from Stardust, Gaiman is denotative, has a middle elevation of diction, and a sound that is neither harsh nor musical.  His description of the town of Wall is straightforward and literal - it isn't until later in the book that a more poetic language is developed.  The words are simple and easy to understand, but still manage to explain the location perfectly.  They are not assuming or overly colloquial - they are merely middle-of-the-road words that get the point across.  There isn't a large amount of musicality to the words in this passage, but the story speaks for itself.  I read it a few years back and I think of it as a mix between a fairy tale and an adventure story.  Even though the language is not  elegant or coarse, it has a style of its own that works for the novel.  Crime and Punishment is almost the complete opposite.  In this book, the author uses language that is connotative.  It is poetic, lyrical, and metaphoric, causing implied feelings rather than definite understanding.  The elevation of the diction is high and often complicated.   I have found many vocabulary words from this class by reading it.  They are elegant, scholarly, and intricate.  Finally, the sound of the piece is musical.  The sentences flow together and create harmonies that are sweet and melodious.  The Things They Carried is different still.  It is both connotative and denotative at different times.  When O'Brien is describing definite details, the words are exact and journalistic.  However, quite often he uses figurative language that is much more suggestive and metaphoric.  The elevation of his diction is pretty average - not rude or flowery - and the sound can be described as both grating and melodious as he switches between describing the horrors and beauties of war.  Clearly, the three authors have very different styles that all suit their piece of literature.

Quarterly

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Pages Read this Week: 103

Pages Read this Semester: 988

(Including Other Classes: 3,076)

I am now halfway through this class.  I don't like that.  This and novels are my two favorite classes because I love to read, but they will each end at the semester while I must continue to suffer through my A.P. classes.  Doesn't sound like fun.  The books I've read in this class have been fantastic!  I started with A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and I absolutely loved it.  It was different than what I normally read, so it was very challenging for me to get though, but I thought it was brilliant.  Profound, insightful, thought-provoking - What more could you want in a book?  After I finished that book, I moved on to something more like what I normally read - The Magicians and Mrs. Quent.  That was a new twist on some old classics that I enjoyed, so I thought it was worth the time it took to get through this gigantic book.  I found it slightly repetitive since I basically knew the plots, but the addition of magic and mystery made it something different.  I didn't like it as much as my first project, but I definitely enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.  The book I am on now is different than my first two, but I have had just as much fun reading it.  In fact, Frankenstein may end up being my favorite.  Its dark and brooding, but for some reason I am drawn to the language and the morbid story.  I saw the musical a few years ago, so I know the basic plot, but it a way, that makes it better.  I anticipate the events, so when I know they are approaching I feel like I can't put the book down.  I only have a few more chapters left, so I will finish next week.  Then, I will have to choose a new book.  I realize that the works of literary fiction have been better for me - with my busy schedule, setting a goal of 100 pages a week is more realistic that 150.  So, I'm considering A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.  I've had it sitting on my bookshelf for a while and I figure its about time I get a start on it.  I have had a good time with my reading this semester, so I have no reason to believe I will hate it.  Reading is  time consuming and a little stressful (I'm trying to get through Crime and Punishment and Frankenstein right now) since I average about 50-75 pages of reading a night.  Usually, I do this reading pretty late.  After band practice and other homework is when I generally find the time, so I've been up as late as 1:30 trying to finish a book in bed.  Despite this, I am glad to be in so many English classes when faced with the alternative -  I'd rather be up late reading than doing math or science homework.  Because I prefer reading, my goal for the rest of the semester is to accomplish the reading requirements every week in all of my English classes.  I often lose track of how many pages I've read (I had to do a quick tally for today's post), but I can honestly say I have read every one.  No skipping, lying, or sparknoting.  It may seem like an obvious goal, but when I look at how much I have accomplished this nine weeks, I hope to do all of the required reading, in every class, during the coming quarter.

A Biblical Monster

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:18-25

After hearing the monster's story of suffering, Frankenstein is given an ultimatum.  If he does not create a female version of his creation, the monster will wreak havoc on his life and the lives of those he loves.  In a twisted way, this seems almost biblical.  The parallels the monster shares with Adam are pretty impressive - he is the single creation that is more advanced than anything else on Earth, but all he wants is someone to keep him company.  At this point in the book, Frankenstein has agreed to create the monster's "Eve" on the condition that, once satisfied, the monsters will flee from humanity and keep to themselves.  It seems like a fair deal, but Frankenstein's fears about the project are valid.  His last creation went horribly wrong, so what are the odds of it being any better a second time around?  Now, he is stewing over what he must do.  He does not want to work around his family, polluting his childhood home, so he is leaving for England to begin.  The future seems miserable, but if he accomplishes his goal and sends the monsters packing, Frankenstein will be rewarded once he returns.  Finally, he will be able to marry his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth.  They seem to be meant for each other, but judging by the morbid tendencies of this story, I have a feeling this union will not come to pass.  This book is still very captivating, so I can't wait to read further.

Killing People Makes Them Dead

"You think killing people will make them like you, but it doesn't.  It just makes them dead."

Wise words from another musical of something that wasn't intended to be sung - A Very Potter Musical.  Voldemort is right in this theatrical version of the popular book - killing people indeed makes them dead.  In both the book and musical version of Frankenstein, however, the monster does not understand this concept.  All he wants is to be loved by his creator and to be accepted by the other creatures in the world, but his uglyness and extreme strength do not allow this.  Because his creator hates him and leaves him on his own, he goes on a killing spree to take his revenge.  And, though I haven't read this far in the book, in the musical when someone finally accepts him, he squashes them when he tries to hug them.  Tragic.  For something that just wants a little love, the monster is having some serious trouble.  When he enters a village, he is chased away by angry mobs.  When he goes to find his "father" he is cursed with the words,"Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust."  Ouch.  Bad day.  Even though the monster is evil and scary, you can't help feeling a little sorry for him.  He didn't ask to be created and its not his fault he is so ugly.  I'm still enjoying the book, and its weird how many different emotions this bad guy can make you experience.  I'm looking forward to reading more.

Currently Part 2

I jumped ahead of myself last week!  I did the Currently post before it was actually assigned, and I did it wrong.  Instead of the normal quotes, this week I am to choose my favorite for the quarter.  So here they are - my favorite sentences from the first nine weeks of school.


1. "I have no idea how people function without near-constant internal chaos." A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2. "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

3. "I'm sure people would be far gladder if they simply stopped searching for all the causes of their unhappiness." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
 
 
I like this first sentence because, as I've said in earlier posts, it is both profound and fitting.  I'm very busy, so the idea that someone else shares my constant internal chaos is comforting.  As the band season is drawing to a close I'm beginning to wonder how I will function without that super busy schedule.  I often find that once I have more free time my grades ironically fall, so maybe that near-constant pressure is something that keeps me going.  The second sentence is from one of my favorite books ever!  It's a great thought, especially since I consider myself about average in everything I do.  I enjoy many things and I am decent at most of them, but I have no one great ability.  It's nice to think, therefore, that even though I'm not the best at anything, my good choices can still act to define me in a more positive light.  Finally, the last sentence is interesting because it is true.  As I was looking for sentences for my A.P. Comp extra credit, I realized that there is a very similar quote in Jane Eyre (which The Magicians and Mrs. Quent was partially based on), but I almost feel like this version of the sentiment is better expressed.  Its simple and profound and should therefore be taken to heart.

Currently

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Pages Read this Week: 100

Pages Read this Semester: 885

Sentences of the Week:

1. "The merit of all things lies in their difficulty." The Three Musketeers

2. "It's the job that's never started that takes longest to finish.” The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

3. "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

As you may have noticed, none of my sentences this week came from the books I am currently reading.  This is not due to an absence of interesting sentences in what I am reading now, but due to an extra credit project I am doing for A.P. Comp.  This "writing portfolio" includes favorite quotations, so I spent the other day scouring through books I have read to find meaningful statements.  These three stuck out to me because they come from some of my favorites.  The Three Musketeers is probably my all time favorite book.  I love the story of friendship and adventure and, even though most teens would find reading it tedious, I believe this book by Alexandre Dumas is brilliant.  In fact, I joined fencing because of its influence and even dressed up as a Musketeer for Halloween one year.  Yeah, its a bit of an obsession.  In truth, there are about five books in the musketeer series, and guess what, I've read them all.  This particular line I like because it means something.  It makes me feel better about my overstressed attitude - since band and all my advanced classes are difficult, they must mean something.  The second line is great as well! Its hobbit philosophy that sort of relates to the quote from The Three Musketeers.  Great advice for the procrastinators of the world.  The Lord of the Rings is a fantastic collection of books that I am also pretty obsessed with, but it can be rather long winded.  This particular line I found interesting partially due to its simplicity.  Finally, the last line from Harry Potter is just perfect.  Who says its only a children's book?  Quotes like that don't show up in Mother Goose.  So there are some of my favorite sentences from some of my favorite books!  I didn't read them for the first time this week, but I rediscovered them and enjoyed the process.

A Horror Story I Don't Mind

Scared Out of My Mind after Paranormal Activity

This summer I was introduced to a terrifying new genre - horror.  I absolutely HATE scary movies but by spending time with my friends I was forced into viewing some.  Paranormal Activity 1&2, Insidious, Zombieland (okay, that one was funny), and most recently Quarantine II, are just some of the movies I've had to suffer through - clinging to my friends, almost in tears.  I really hate scary movies and I dread the day Paranormal Activity 3 is released in theaters.  Almost against my will therefore, I find myself listening to Frankenstein - A New Musical while I update this post about a scary book I really don't mind.  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is actually pretty interesting.  It's the tragic story of a boy who looses the perfect life.  Young Victor Frankenstein has a loving family, a true love who he has known since childhood, and the ability to become a great influence to the scientific community.  However, due to a series of small triggers including the discovery of a book on ancient scientific theories, the death of his mother, and a professor who gets him interested in chemistry, Victor strays from his perfect path.  He becomes obsessed with creating life and therefore becoming a powerful idol who can save humanity.  His experiments go terribly wrong, however, when he creates this mutated collection of rag tag pieces from the deceased and brings it to life.  Now, the monster is loose and wreaking havoc.  Where I am now, Frankenstein's monster has already killed Victor's youngest brother.  A servant, who was almost like a mother to the boy, was blamed and put to death for the crime as well.  Victor is suffering because, due to his mistakes, the people he loves are being attacked.  If the musical I've seen follows the plot of the novel, by the end everyone will die ATLEAST once and Victor will have to live with his actions and their consequences.  Overall, its a very morbid story that is somehow attractive.  Much better than Paranormal Activity!

Finished Book Two!!!

I've finally finished The Magicians and Mrs. Quent!  It ended pretty well with most of the plot lines wrapped up, but it is clear there will be a sequel.  A nice surprise at the end of the book!

"About the Author:
What if there was a fantastical cause underlying the social constraints and limited choices confronting a heroine in a novel by Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte?  Galen Beckett began writing The Magicians and Mrs. Quent to answer that question.  The author lives in Colorado and is currently at work on the next chapter in this fabulous tale of witches, magicians, and revolutions, The House on Durrow Street."

Called it!  Basically, the story was Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility with a very different ending.  At the end of the book, the classic plot line changes as Ivy and Rafferdy work together to stop these evil magicians from opening what is essentially a magic door.  Through this portal to the unknown waits a group of even worse bad guys who, as far as I can gather, want to destroy the world.  By using their new found magical abilities, Ivy and Rafferdy stop the villains who are trying to open the portal as Mr. Garrit works to defeat the creepy revolutionist who had been stalking him and his sister.  Happy endings for all, but I think reading the sequel could give more closure.  I will have to look to see when the next book comes out.  Its not the next book on my list, but I wouldn't mind reading it!

First, however, I am planning on readying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  Its literary fiction, meaning I will only have to read 100 pages a week, and I am interested in the story.  I was first introduced to the plot in a rather odd way - I saw the musical.  It was dark and disturbing, but I really liked the tragic characters, so I don't see why I shouldn't like the book it was based on.  So here I go, third book for this class! It's getting pretty difficult now since I'm also reading The Things They Carried for A.P. Comp and Crime and Punishment for Novels.  Talk about a lot of reading.  I'm enjoying the books so far though, so I am looking forward to continuing, even if it means a lot of late nights.

Currently

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, Galen Beckett

Pages Read this Week: 150

Pages Read this Semester: 785

Sentences of the Week:

1. "They got to live before they can afford to die. " The Grapes of Wrath

2. "And this you can know - fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe." The Grapes of Wrath

3. "Books make my head feel like it's filled with jelly." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

My sentences this week are pretty different.  The first is interesting because, in The Grapes of Wrath, the characters suffer as they try to survive the dust bowl.  Many of the family members die as the journey progresses, but what must be remembered is that living is just as important as the tragedy of dying.  Through all the pain, the characters maintain their sense of humor and their love for each other, demonstrating that they truly live, despite the proximity of death.  Personally, I need to remember to live life to the fullest since I have the habit of forgetting the simple joys, instead focusing on all the stress.  The second sentence is also one I thought was profound.  I guess in a way the statement is true - humans are different for all other creatures because we are willing to fight for an intangible idea.  As soon as people quit standing up for what they believe, they no longer posses the one quality that makes them human.  Finally, the last sentence was a little bit like how I felt when I read The Grapes of Wrath.  While it had some meaningful sentences, as a whole the book was too detailed and long for my tastes.  I'm looking forward to more sentences, however, as I start Crime and Punishment and  The Things They Carried, and finish The Magicians and Mrs. Quent.

Puzzle Pieces

Finally, things are beginning to make sense.  The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is still too difficult to describe in detail, but I can give another Spark Notes version.  In the most recent section I have read, the plot has deviated from the works of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen.  Magic has become more important as Ivy attempts to solve the mystery behind her fathers madness.  Through riddles and puzzles he left her, she has discovered that she needs to go to her former, magic home and, with the help of a magician, cast a spell to somehow stop these scary bad-guys from taking over the world.  I WISH that had been in Jane Eyre instead of all that crap about St. John.  Basically, she requests the help of Mr. Rafferdy, who has become a close friend, despite her marriage to Mr. Quent.  Mr. Rafferdy, ignoring his hatred of the arcane for her sake, has been learning about magic from Mr. Bennick and is planning to help reinforce this mysterious spell that is stopping the bad-guys from wreaking havoc.  However, a sudden plot twist happened at the end of my section!  Ivy got a letter from Mr. Quent telling her not to trust Mr. Bennick -  apparently he was the one who originally attempted to break the spell.  When her father stopped him, the effort it took caused him to lose his mind.  Dum dum DUUUUUUUUUUM.  I don't know what will happen next, but my book is getting close to the end and I am wondering how all these plots will be wrapped up by then.  Mr. Garrit is still having adventures trying to escape the highwayman/scary-magic-guy who is creeping on his sister.  There is still some strange ghost/witch lady in the woods.  Mr. Garrit, Mr. Rafferdy, and Ivy still have hidden talents that they do not totally understand.  Overall, there are enough loose ends that I am wondering if there is going to be a sequel.  If so, I'm going to have to take a break before I start - this is a good book, but I can only take so many fantasy/classic/mystery/ period novels in one semester!

Self Discovery

This book is very complicated.  There are so many plot lines that its impossible to explain, but I can begin to sum up the most basic points.  As of where I am, Ivy is back home with her family, Mr. Quent is on some mission to stop these things called "risings" (trees come to life and strangling people.. yeah, weird), Ivy's dad is in a loony bin, Rafferdy is all sullen because his engagement ended and he still has feelings for Ivy, and Mr. Garrit is working as a clerk to support him and his sister.  As far as I can tell, a major theme in this section of the book is self discovery.  Ivy has discovered she has this ancient, magical ability that has something to do with trees, Rafferdy, with the help of a strange man he can't stand, is able to do simple magic tricks, despite his disgust, and Garrit has this weird ability to work with illusions, hiding himself in shadows.  There's too much to explain concerning actual plot, so instead I have decided to make connections that follow this thought of self discovery.  Yippee.  When I think of self discover a few things come to mind - band, college, and an essay I have due Monday.  Band always seems to relate to self discovery because I have seen it shape myself and the people around me.  The hours of commitment make people dedicated and disciplined.  Today, for example, we had practice for three hours in the pouring rain.  Our field is now nothing but mud, so you can imagine how fun that is.  Anyone who chooses to be involved in an activity like that must have discovered something about themselves - otherwise, why bother?  College, on the other hand, makes me think of future self discovery.  As I start writing application essays, I realize that I have a lot to learn about myself.  I think that being independent and studying things I want to learn about will help me to, in turn, learn more about myself.  I'm scared for college, but looking forward to this life shaping experience.  Finally, my essay do Monday may be a rather shallow topic to discuss.  Not exactly deep.  The topic, however, if I pull it off, could be profound.  The prompt is to write about a place that has made an impact on your life.  I've chosen a tree in my backyard that I often climb to do homework, think, and cry.  Its a pretty epic tree.  The only problem is that I have to find some way to discuss a sudden epiphany I had in said tree.  We will see how that goes.  So there are my connections for today.  Just as my book is focusing on self discovery, I am starting to learn about who I am from band, college applications, and school essays.  Who would've thought that would be the case.

Currently

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, Galen Beckett

Pages Read this Week: 150

Pages Read this Semester: 635

Sentences of the MONTH:

1. "I have no idea how people function without near-constant internal chaos." A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2. "This is like making electricity from dirt; it is almost too good to be believed, that we can make beauty from this stuff." A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

3. "Go back to your seat you omadhaun, you poltroon, you thing from the far dark corner of a bog." Angela's Ashes

4. "No one bothered to wave or call out in greeting as she passed; they had learned long ago there was no point in it when she had a book with her." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

5. I'm sure people would be far gladder if they simply stopped searching for all the causes of their unhappiness." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

These are my favorite sentences I've read this semester, in the order they appeared.  The first one is epic because I understand what he's saying.  I'm always busy, so internal chaos is something that I can relate to.  An average night for me includes band, dance, and homework.  That's it.  Yet somehow I still have to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to accomplish everything.  For a quiet girl, I'm a chaotic person.  I found my second sentence profound - the idea that we can take this crazy world and make it beautiful is inspiring.  The third one is simply hilarious.  Best. Insult. Ever.  I really hope to use this in casual conversation someday.  Number four is interesting because I can relate.  I love to read and I often find myself lost in books.  In the period before this class, I started to read then forgot that I was supposed to start on homework.  Oops.  Oh well, I'll finish it.  Finally, the last sentence is awesome.  I worry a ton, so I think it is good advice.  Instead of thinking about why they are unhappy, people need to instead search for ways to make them content.  So there are the creme de la creme of my sentences so far!  I have already found a few more for next week, so I'm looking forward to reading further.

Copyright Infringement?

Scenery of the Book
(Sheep and Walls)

I'm still enjoying my book, but at this point I am wondering if it is even legal to use so many plot elements from classics.  Its been over a year since I've read Jane Eyre, but this is just ridiculous.  Book two of The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is the same story!  Sure, its got a few twists - there's magic involved.  But seriously?  I was right!  Jane/Ivy is marrying Rochester/Quent, becoming the new Mrs. Quent.  This is the same basic plot.  The stories are even parallel to the point that there are crazy ladies out to get both heroines.  The governess who falls in love with the master of the house = priceless.  I guess it just goes to show some stories are popular, no matter the generation.  While I do feel like this book may be rather copy-cat-ish, I won't lie and say I'm not enjoying it.  I liked reading Sense and Sensibility and Jane Eyre most of the time, so reading the stories again, only combined with elements like magic, crazy parents, and a revolution, is pretty interesting.  Furthermore, I've finally found a way to connect the story to my own life!  I think this is rather impressive considering the nature of the book.  The way the author describes "Atlantia," a world that seems an awful lot like England, has struck a chord.  After my trip with Mr. Clough this summer, I can picture a lot of the locations in my head.  The moors, the low walls that keep sheep from wandering, and even the stone circles seem familiar since they match the locations I traveled to.  It was a fantastic trip, so it is fun to read a book that describes what I saw so vividly.  Hopefully, as i keep reading, I will find my ways to connect this book to MY life, rather than solely the lives of characters from other works of fiction.

Lost on the Moors, Jane Eyre Style!

Stone Circles







The Plot Thickens

I've reached the end of the first section of my book, and let me just say there was some drama. Ivy and Mr. Rafferdy ended up forming a relationship that could have progressed into marriage, but because of their different social statuses, Rafferdy took the Edward route, letting go of his true love for a woman more befitting of his family.  I hope that, like the characters in Sense and Sensibility, he changes his mind and marries his Elinor, but, as of where I currently in the book, Ivy has reason to give up hope.  Right after receiving the depressing news that Rafferdy was engaged to someone other than herself, Ivy walked in on an even more depressing scene.  Her mother had suddenly died in her absence.  Now, in order to provide for her sisters, Ivy decides to leave to work for an old family friend she never met, Mr. Quent.  At his home, she will be paid to care for his young cousins.  Finally, after over 200 pages, the name "Quent" has been introduced.  Even though the Mrs. has yet to be mentioned, one thought that has crossed my mind is that Ivy may become Mrs. Quent.  Just a theory, but that'd be interesting.  So that's the basic plot right now, but this book has many subplots as well.  Mr. Garrit has disappeared from the last fifty pages - I can only assume hes running around causing a revolution still.  Other plot lines include the character of Mr. Bennick, a mysterious man who many associate with magic.  He is seemingly helping Ivy solve the riddle to rescue her sick father, but at the same time, he sends Mr. Rafferdy an ugly ring which represents an ancient magical family, alluding to the idea that Mr. Rafferdy may process some magical ability.  Overall, its a very strange book.  A very long soap opera.  I'm enjoying it, but it is no work of literary genius, just an interesting read.  I think its an entertaining book, so I'm looking forward to reading more.

My Favorite Class Claims

These are my top five favorite claims that other students in my class made for their projects:

1) In this scene from Nick Cannons film Drumline, the aggressive and alert style, quick, narrow movement, and percussive, thundering rhythm expresses an alive sense of energetic celebration and modest jubilation.
          - Case 1

2)Phantom Regiment's professional execution of the contrast between powerful, fortissimo fast-paced, militaristic style and the more lyrical, graceful, slow ballad underscores the emotional contrast between vengeful violence and sorrowful lost love.
          - A Scrap of Parchment

3) On the album cover of Titus Andronicus's "The Airing of Grievances," the commanding, classic font and layout of the cover, as well as the cluttered and colorful use of space in the photograph convey the band's homely practice environment and admiration for the old-fashioned symbols of history.
          - The New Zealander

4)In this dance routine, the modern, pounding sound of the drums, the intence and piercing facial expressions and the alive, over the top arm movements creates a sense of fragile chemistry between two people that are desperate yet indecisive at the same time.
          - True Story

5)The sweet tasing sensation of a skittle releases a flavor of fruitiness drowing all your taste buds in a pool of heaven. The numerous amount of these miniture, round, chewy candies create a rainbow effect in your mouth when devoured.
          -Peanut Butter without the Jelly



These are my two favorite artifacts that other students chose to do a close reading on

1)  A Photograph of a Ballet Dancer
          - Eddie

2) Phantom Regiment - Sparticus 2008
          - A Scrap of Parchment

My favorite claim is Case 1's statement on the movie Drumline, and my favorite artifact is A Scrap of Parchment's choice of Phantom Regiment's 2008 show.  Obviously, I'm in the marching band.

Close Reading Project

Gene Kelly Tap Dancing on Roller Skates

My project this week is to do a "close reading" of any subject.  Since I love tap dancing, I thought this video of Gene Kelly would be the perfect thing to observe and describe.  I already tap dance, but my new goal in life is to be able roller skate as well!  I'm thinking I would have the best act in the Variety Show with this!

Observe:                                                                             Infer:

Sound: rhythmic, drumming, sharp, resonant                          Joyful

Skating Motion: smooth, graceful, elegant, swift                      Blissful

Tapping Motion: quick, sharp, wild, exciting                            Content

Arm Movement: slapping, waving, swinging,                            Excited

Use of Space: wide, aggressive, turning                                  Enthusiastic

Facial Expression: blissful, content, hopeful                            Playful

Claim:

In this scene from Its Always Fair Weather, Gene Kelly's graceful skating, hopeful facial expression, and sharp, exciting tap dancing create a sense of blissful enthusiasm.

Poet of the Month

For my poet of the month project, I have chosen to look up another poem by an author we have read in class and write about it. I liked Gary Snyder's poem "The Trail is Not a Trail," so I researched and found "Riprap" by Gary Snyder. It’s a strange poem because it refers to itself. I haven't seen much poetry that describes how a person should read it, let alone poems that describe the process by comparing it to rocks. As a whole, the poem doesn't make much sense to me, but maybe I'm just one of the "lost ponies with dragging saddles." Never thought I'd claim that about myself, but it’s a possibility. It’s strange and makes me think, so I like it.  If life is like an “endless four-dimensional game of go,” then I’m glad I paused the game long enough to read this poem.

A Stone Circle I Saw in England with Mr. Clough's English Class
 (This is my interpretation of "rocks placed solid by hands." 
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to read a poem like these, but hey, whatever.)

Currently

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, Galen Beckett

Pages Read this Week: 158

Pages Read this Semester: 485

Sentences of the Week:

1. "Go back to your seat you omadhaun, you poltroon, you thing from the far dark corner of a bog." Angela's Ashes

2. "I'm sure people would be far gladder if they simply stopped searching for all the causes of their unhappiness." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

3. "Though he supposed the good were always drawn to the wicked for wanting to save them, and the wicked in turn to the good - not in hopes of being saved or with desires of corrupting but rather like a moth in the dark, fascinated by a light it can never really know but might at least behold."  The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

My first sentence was just funny.  Not only does it include a vocabulary word we have been studying (poltroon), but it is possibly one of the best insults I have ever heard.  I may have to beginning calling my sister a "thing from the far dark corner of a bog."  I wonder how she would respond.  The second sentence was insightful.  They're words of wisdom, but ironically, they come from a character who is foolish.  In a weird way, it reminded me of Polonius' statement "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."  These are intelligent words spoken by an idiot of a character in Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Sentences like these make me wonder if even the stupidest people can have a little bit of depth to them.  Finally, the third sentence was profound.  I'm not really sure why I liked it, but it sort of reminded me of the musical Wicked.  Other than that, I just thought it was cool.  The moth simile was pretty great.  Good sentences this week!  I'm enjoying finding them and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Magic and Mystery

My book has been getting better!  It's become rather complicated - a series of plots all combined in the first 150 pages.  There are many characters that all have their own adventures, but so far my favorite plot lines are those of Ivy and Mr. Garrit.  Ivy is on a mission to help her father, a magician who for some reason has gone mad.  Strange men in cloaks have been visiting her house, looking for a mysterious magical item, so she is attempting to find the missing object in order to bribe them to help save her father.  Her quest is an exciting mystery that is further explained in about every other chapter. In other chapters, the plot turns to Mr. Garrit and his goal of improving the fortunes of himself and his sister.  He planned to invest in a trading company that was supposed to bring back profits twenty times his original investment, but he did not have enough money to buy the share.  Through a series of strange events, he received the money from a highway man who seems to have a thing for his sister.  However, the money wasn't given freely.  Now, Mr. Garrit is following these strange directions from the criminal - delivering letters that are surely involved in a rebellion against the king.  Being a respectable citizen, Mr. Garrit decides to pay the highwayman back after weeks of doing his dirty work.  He goes to the company he invested in, only to discovered they have swindled him.  Now he is in the service of a criminal and helping in a revolution he doesn't want, all in order to increase his social status, earning a better life for his sister.

Both of my favorite characters share something in common - they each want to help those they love.  Personally, while my family can seriously get on my nerves, I want the best for them.  I worry about my little sister as she grows up and starts high school and hope that she is given all the good fortune she deserves.  Unlike my favorite characters, however, I am blessed to live in a family where I don't need to provide for everyone.  Ivy, in the fashion of Elinor from Sense and Sensibility, is essentially in charge of her family.  Lilly, the Marianne Dashwood of the family, and her mother are hopeless romantics.  With her father sick, Ivy is left to monitor the finances of the once wealthy family, keeping purchases in check and remaining sensible.  Mr. Garrit has a similar situation.  He is the son of a diseased, disgraced nobleman who owes money to every money lender in town.  While Mr. Garrit is an honest man, he is unable to get ahead in life to due to his illegitimate birth and his inability to get a loan because of the sins of his father.  Both characters take the weight of the world on their shoulders to support the people they care about.  I only hope that I will always have the sense to support my family in a similar, if less dramatic, way.

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

My new book is pretty random.  I've never heard of it - its just a book I bought on sale when Mitchel Books went out of business.  Its pretty big and I've been meaning to find time to plow through it, so now seemed like as good a time as any.  So far I like it.  I'm about 100 pages in and I'm not totally sure what its about, but the characters seem realistic and interesting.  In the beginning of the book, there were three separate groups of people, and each chapter is told from their point of view.  The first section concerned three sisters, Ivy, Rose, and Lily.  They are all very different, but Ivy is the main character and the person I can relate to the most.  She loves to read and cares deeply for her family.  Mr. Rafferdy is another character - a proud son of a rich nobleman, who spends most of his time drinking and buying clothes.  The final main character is Mr. Garrit -  the illegitimate son of a disgraced nobleman.  For the first few chapters, the main characters go about their lives, but I just reached the part where they are all together for the first time. I have no idea where this will lead, but from reading reviews, I have learned that the book is supposedly part fantasy, part mystery, and part period novel.  I like all three of these genres, so this should work for me.  Also, I have learned that the book is a bit of a combination of works by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austin, and Charles Dickens.  Already, I see the similarities.  Having read Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations, I can't help but notice that Ivy seems to be a lot like Jane and Elinor and that the description of the time period seems to match how Dickens describes the worlds of David and Pip.  I will have to brush up on characters from theses books, since I would like to see if the parallels run deeper than just the surface.  So far, it seems like an interesting book and I am looking forward to reading more!

Interview with the Author

Here is link to a video of Dave Eggers being interviewed by Conan O'Brien.  Its a little long, but its funny.  If you like the way this guy thinks, read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius!

Epic Interview of Awesomeness

Currently

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, Galen Beckett

Pages Read this Week: 110

Pages Read this Semester: 327

Sentences of the Week:

1. "No one bothered to wave or call out in greeting as she passed; they had learned long ago there was no point in it when she had a book with her." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

2. "I'm nobody.  Who are you?" Emily Dickinson

3. "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good." Romans 12:9-21

This week's sentences are pretty random.  I'm between books, having just finished A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, so I chose quotes I used for two of my essays this year and a sentence I found while skimming the book I might start.  The first sentence was on the very first page of my new book, The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, and it made me laugh.  Although I don't know who the character is yet, I can relate - I have often been annoyed when people interrupt my reading.  The second sentence is a bit of a joke.  This week for A.P. Composition I had to write a descriptive essay about someone I knew.  I used this line from an Emily Dickinson poem to describe my friend's philosophy.  It was accurate and fun, so I thought I'd include it on my list.  Finally, the last sentence is one I heard in a reading a few weeks ago in church.  I liked it so much that I looked it up, then used it both in an essay for Novels and a quote competition in Comp.  I figure bible = book, so its fair to include it.  Even though they're a little random, I like my batch of sentences this week.



FINISHED!!

There. Finished my book.  Since the beginning of this school year I've read all 437 pages of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, 206 pages of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, 252 pages of My Antonia, and 46 pages of Angela's Ashes.  Next on the list is getting through Chapter 4 of Angela's Ashes, The Grapes of Wrath, and whatever I choose to read for this class.  Its a lot of work when combined with band, dance, school, and friends, but I think I'm doing well so far!  Give me a little while and we will see how bogged down I get.

I really loved A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.  It was probably the best book I've read since freshman year.  The ending was so strange though!  I'm not really sure what happened, except that there was a lot of cussing involved.  Basically, Eggers seemed to express both his pride in finishing his book and his shame for what he called "cannibalizing," the people in it.  While he felt he was doing something important by writing his story, the friend with the codename John played the devil's advocate in the last few pages.  John was a friend who was prone to drama.  He threatened suicide on multiple occasions and Eggers used him as a type of metaphor for chaos.  Occasionally, John actually speaks out against this portrayal in the book.  He says that Eggers simply tells the sad stories, ignoring the normal, happy people.  In a way, this is true.  Eggers talks about a friends and family who have tragic accidents, die, fake dying, threaten suicide, and essentially live screwed up lives.  Very rarely do the people around him seem normal.  I do not know if this portrayal is true, but I believe that Eggers did his best to write a book that was meaningful, entertaining, and insightful.  It confused me and intrigued me because it was foreign, yet at the same time familiar.  The style was strange, and his life was unlikely, but some of the events hit very close to home.  Overall, I would recommend the book to anyone who is willing to be challenged - both because of the length and the material.  I truly enjoyed reading this heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

Waiting and Worrying

Let me begin by saying I like to worry.  I'm constantly stressing over band or school work, so I am known for going into freak-out mode in order to get something done.  The author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, however, is about ten times worse than I am when it comes to panicking.  He immediately assumes the worst possible scenario in ever situation.  For example, at one point, Eggers is unable to find Toph when he goes to pick him up from a party.  Instead of considering that Toph simply went to the wrong door, Eggers quickly jumps to kidnapping and rape as the most likely scenarios.  Perhaps its because of the tragic events in his life, but Eggers always seems to be worried about his little brother.  The author's worries increase when a friend of his ends up in the hospital after a deck collapses and she falls, smashing her head.  He visits her almost ever day and is convinced that she will never be the same again.  I can relate to this fear in my own life.  Last year, my friends mom suddenly started having seizures.  Nobody knew what was wrong, but once she was rushed to the hospital, they found out that she had a brain tumor.  It was scary because no one knew if she would ever be the same person again.  First, she had to live.  Only then could we hope that she had not lost any of the traits that made her who she was.  Like Eggers' friend, she was in a coma for days while everyone worried.  Luckily, once she came to, she ended up with her same personality.  All of her family and friends were relieved and thankful.  At this point in my book, I feel like I can relate to the author since I have lived through a similar event.  I hope that, as I keep reading, I find out that his friend was able to recover as well as our family friend.

Friday (On Sunday)

My assignment for Friday was to view nine different blogs that belong to my classmates, post comments on three of them, and vote for two for the "bloggies."  The nine I looked at (chosen at random) were:

The Written Word
Banana Smoothie
Hog Smog Blog
JoeChemo
Rocket Guild
T-Rex
TheyCallMeFreshMonkey
Stormy Days
Live, Laugh, Read

I also attempted to comment on three of these, but since I am technologically challenged, I was unsuccessful.  P.S.  This is my second time making this post.  For some reason it didn't work before.  I hate computers.  Anyway, I've decided to vote for TheyCallMeFreshMonkey and The Written Word once I figure out how to post on the class blog.

There, finished my Friday project.  Now I might as well talk about my great labor day weekend.  Friday was HOT and I had band practice, but luckily, the directors knew it was ungodly and probably illegal to work us too hard, so it was actually an easier practice than normal.  We got out early (a miracle), so we celebrated by having a band-kid party at my house.  We cooled off in the pool then watched a movie.  Saturday, I went jet skiing with two of my friends (band-kids) and almost died.  It was fun though.  And despite what they say, I'm NOT a terrible driver.  Then, we had a band-kid bonfire at another friends house.  It rained, so we ended up moving indoors for some Apples to Apples and another movie night, but it was still a good time.  Today is yet another band-kid bonfire (Are you noticing a trend?  You would think we'd be sick of each other.  We spend all week together, and what do we do with our free time?  Spend MORE time together).  Hopefully it won't rain again - one can only take so many comedies per weekend.  Tomorrow, I'm going to my grandparents lake (and bringing a former band-kid), then its time to go back to school once more.  Its my last free weekend before band competitions start up, so I'm glad I'm making the most of it (even if its just by hanging out with the people I will anyway during the season).  Goodbye summer!

Currently

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers

Pages Read this Week: 109

Pages Read this Semester: 217

Sentences of the Week:

1. "We are a circus family, a trapeze family, with perfect timing, great showmanship, tight green outfits." A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2. "Between that earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out." My Antonia

3. "I wonder why you'd want to eat your dinner off the floor when you had a table and chair." Angela's Ashes

The sentences this week are from all the books I am reading in my English Classes.  I found the first sentence interesting because it describes how Eggers views his abnormal family.  I never thought to describe my family as acrobats, but I thought it was funny and insightful.  The second sentence is poetic.  Stuck inside school all the time, I miss being outside.  The narrator of My Antonia, Jim, makes nature seem almost like its own character, and I find the power the environment has over him impressive.  Finally, the last sentence is one I thought was entertaining.  One of the adult characters had just made the point that having a floor clean enough to eat off was beneficial.  I thought the kid who said the sentence had a point!  A good group of sentences today!  I can't wait to keep reading.

Siblings and Parents

A major theme of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is how Eggers must raise his brother, Toph, after their parent's death.  Since Eggers is only in his twenties, he finds it difficult to balance acting like both a brother and a parent.  He is thrust into this responsibiilty- attending parent teacher conferences, cooking dinner, and staying home from normal "twenty-something" activities to look after the little brother who he adores.  I look to my own family and realize - I couldn't do it.  I love my parents and can't imagine losing them.  They support me in everything I do and are always there when I need them.  I like to think I'm mature, but I am in no ways capaple of managing my life without them in it.  Then, I try imagine adding the responsibility of looking after my little sister.  My goodness.  My baby sister -  she is a handful.  She is only a few years younger than I, which could explain our somewhat difficult relationship.  I love her dearly and would stand in the way of any jerk who wanted to hurt her, but as for taking responsibility for that girl?  No thanks.  We are just too different to allow any relationship similar to that of the author and his little brother.  I admire Eggers for the work he did to hold his family together because it is far outside my comfort zone.  At the point I am at in the book, Toph seems happy and loved - a miracle considering he lost both parents in a few months.  Right now, I am thankful that I've got a close knit, if somewhat strange, family who will always be there for me.  The small squables I have with them seem unimportant when I look to Egger's family - broken, but still there for eachother.  I hope that, one day, I can show that kind of commitment to my own family.