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Reading Log

This week I started reading Lord of The Flies instead of Grapes of Wrath. First of all here, one of my personal goals, my goal to read Grapes of Wrath this semester, was not completed. As for my replacement I am very pleased. I'm excited to read such a short but insightful novel. The whole thing is just one big allegory. I'm not incredibly far, but I don't know if I like the violence that I see coming up. People tell me they loved reading this book for school, but I'm not too sure I'm looking forward to reading about little boys committing murder if my predictions are correct.

reading blog

This week I finished 1984. I would totally recommend this book to anybody. I think it's a a shame that my class did not read this book, but I am glad I had the chance to read it in this class. I'm hoping that i could maybe use it as an SAT fact. Especially if the question would allow me to wiggle in how the past impacts the future or what dictatorships could turn the world into. The interesting end was surprising. It was overall a very suspenseful book. i saw foreshadowing with the little boy screaming traitor when he went to fix thier sink for them. He had the potential turn right into the conformist secret police. So now I have one week to read the Grapes of Wrath..... don't know about that one

Reading log

This week I read to page 207 of 1984. I really like 1984, and adults who had to read it for high school always tell me that they enjoyed it. I like the suspense, and the futuristic feel. It's interesting to think about how the world could be so different based on one thing done differently. If Hitler and the Nazis and communism had won, our whole lives would be changed; we might not even be alive. As for my other reading goals, I read while casually swimming/ walking in a pool-which i would concider exercise. That was fun. I started reading just one single book of the bible instead of just jumping around. And obviously I'm doing my classical reading.

reading log #3

I am finally done with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and I am moving on to 1984. I really like 1984 so far. I think it is suspenseful, and that the subject matter is really interesting. It compels me to read more. Unfortunately we also just started read Tale of Two Cities in English and all this extra reading is super hard. I can't waittttt for school to be over but only 6 more weeks. I read exactly 100 pages of 1984 and read my bible for my extra quarter goals.

Note #3

 Bridge to Terabithia
The whole concept of death is most problematic for the living. There's fear for oneself, but a stronger fear trumps the first- a fear for loved ones. Jess's whole family awaits him in tears, afraid that their son and brother died in the river. Anger manifests, beginning with the dad's "where the hell have you been?" Jess angrily slams his dresser in front of his door, portraying the anger drug around by unprepared for deaths. His anger is a window peeking into the feeling of being cheated; too young, too much potential, no warning- people might claim. And then his desperate escape to his room lets sadness bleed through. Dim lighting encompasses mourning as well. Death leaves as quickly as it came, but all the emotion and damage is left to fester with those not taken.

Note #2

Mufasa's death from the Lion King

The dusty chaos of Mufasa's death reflects the creeping, unforeboded affect death has on those around it. The monolithic stampede of wildebeests pours confusion into death's arrival. With all the color being either a shade of brown or gray, the blurred setting prepares the stage for a dramatic reception of death. Violin bows cry out in a sprinting song over the rumbling parade of dust to yank on despairing hope. The sparing flashes of characters faces allow for a brief show of frightened emotion; they portray the adrenaline-coated desperation to escape death. As Mufasa disappears into the obfuscated ruble, a feeling of hopelessness sets in. Even Simba's optimistic first pleas for his dad to wake up have the unwanted knowledge that death has already taken over. Simba's cracky voice as he holds back tears expresses the universal want to deny death, to undo it. His shaky cry for help, "Somebody, anybody, help" is the archetype for the desperation in death.

Reading Log #3

This week I finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Since I finished, it puts this week’s reading at 104 pages with a total for the quarter of 326. I really liked it, except I have to admit I skipped the parts about the little boy and only followed the other viewpoints on the story. The WW II bombings and holocaust survivor stuff is really interesting. The boy’s part I thought was boring just because it was so boring in the movie. Now I want to begin 1984. Which should be a challenge since we just started Tale Of Two Cities in English and we always have to read so much.

exercise 3

3 book reviews:
Fever
divergent
perfect-chemistry

Elements:

• it is written in the present tense
• basically a light summary of most of the book, hints to climatic events or secrets etc.
• then it has a conclusion which interprets the authors purposes and picks out specific tactics etc.
•  presents basic themes
• refers to terms used in the book, sometimes doesn't exactly explain what they mean - factions, Abnegation faction, etc.
• says what interests it will include-danger, sweet romance, intriguing psychiatric excavations, and nonstop captivating action

Reading log #2

This week I read 119 pages of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I read while running on the trail but I can only do like one page. I read my Bible which I have really been enjoying, but I again am going to wait until I am done with Extremely Loud to start my 1984 or Grapes of Wrath, or maybe Ill read them on the way to West Virginia. I am enjoying the book and I really like how it gives two points of view. Sometimes the multiple view points are annoying though because I really want to keep reading about the person I’m following at the moment, not a new story. I personally like the Grandma and Grandpa’s story more which is ironic because I think the book is supposed to be more focused on the little boy’s.

Note #1

 "Do Not Stand at my Grave" and Weep By Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Mary Frye's poem about death engenders the bliss and comfort of death through its use of lightly full murals . Her fluffy diction has an imagistic connotation that sets a peaceful mood with quietly calm pictures of silently remaining after death as a comfort to others. The sleeping souls are "in the thousand winds that blow", provinging their imortality. Frye's living-nature dreams allow the dead to give comfort by showing that they live on. Her breezy lasting reassurances prove that love and rest for mourners can be found even in the "morning hush". Gentle feasable encouragement is easier to cling to, feeling a loved one in "each lovely thing" is easier than trying to find them in everyday busy life.

Excercise 2

       He "kept his butt cocked to one side, his feet up on the shut rails so that the bull couldn't grind his leg, brad him up, so that if it  thrashed he could get over the to in hurry." Error #2

       Roberta's story is going to be about "the cruddy time on a cruddy street on the side of a cruddy hill in the cruddiest part of a crudded-out town in a cruddy state, country, world, solar system, universe." Error #2
       This is quickly shunned away by the foreshadowing of the danger soon to come as he "slapps his face forcefully, bringing adreneline roses to his cheeks." Error #3
        More Cowbell Please is a really good one.

excercise 1

Lynda Barry's straight forward literal connotation makes her work and tone abrupt as it skips over the repeated "cruddys". The bold blurting of the word "cruddy" in every line portrays an angry speaking character."Cruddy time on a cruddy street" paints a gloomy even crusty town. Roberta is a "cruddy girl ..on a cruddy bed" and her repulsed attitude to the vile world is emphasized in capitalized letters, "I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH THIS JULIE". Cruddy sounds like a broken CD as it skips over the inserted and unnecessary additions of her mildly vulgar term. Her pessimistic account of the speakers anger, makes her main character strong and upset.

Reading Log: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

This week I met my 100 page requirement with 103 pages of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The whole quarter then also equals 103. I read while biking on the trail, read my bible like I was supposed to, but haven’t started 1984 or Grapes of Wrath yet though. As For what I am reading, I love it so much. I saw the movie and it was absolutely horrible. It was the first movie I’ve ever wanted to leave but I kept reading the book and it’s so different from the movie; because for one it actually has a plot and it also has two stories going on – the 911 one and a Holocaust survivor one. I like the diction of the speaker when it is supposed to be the little boy talking and also the overall syntax. Since the boy has autism or ADHD or whatever he has, he jumps around a ton in his story and I think it personifies his character well.

Reading Goals Q4

My reading goals for quarter 4 are:
1)read 1984 because my class isn't and Grapes of Wrath.. hopefully good and useful as literature references for SAT Writing.
2) read the bible 10 minutes a day
3) read while exercising- running on the trails, biking, walking, planking, pushups etc.

anthology theme statement

My anthology is going to be about soldiers. Soldiers are a good topic because the poems can take so many different tones and dictions. One more elevated and classical poem is called The Wound-Dresser by Walt Whitman. A eulugy by Mary Elizabeth Frye gives another sad perspective- Do Not stand At my Grave and Weep, other poems could be about bravery pride and courage. A song I could use is "Im Already There" by Lonestar about a family calling and being comforted by their soldier, or Carrie Underwood's this is just a dream.Young Soldier. "If you're Reading this"

More Inspiration 3-2-12

 
 A personal role model of mine is Mother Teresa; well maybe I can call her a role model. I know what she did, but I haven't exactly researched her. But everyone knows Mother Teresa was unique; Everyone knows she was a hero and a leader. Many people aspire to be like her. But most of us, myself included for sure, desire greatness but don't strive for it. Rediscover Catholicism points out two things that all successful people have- whether it is Michael Jordan, or Bill Gates, or Mother Teresa; number one- they found a "singleness of purpose" for life and set a goal, and then they formed habits that would lead them to and achieve their goals. Then it asks if the reader has a clearly defined goal. I can't help but answer no. I know that right now I need to focus hard in school, maintain friendships, maintain my relationship with God, and ultimately be a generally well rounded  good person; but I have nothing specific to define my life. I don't know what to pick yet, but the book tells me my goal should help me become the best version of myself. As a vague one, I want people to think of me and think kind. I want my life to be an example to others- an example of someone who is fun but not sinning or getting in trouble. And I definitely don't want to be the good kid gone bad. I want to remain a role model and stay moralistic, because you never know who could be basing part of their life off your own example- you don't want to let them down. Whatever my goal, or your goal is,the book advises all your actions should reflect your goal. It may not be easy at first, but once all your choices are based on your goal, suddenly the goal falls into place. And now your striving.

Submission evalutations

"The radical range of color schemes, discombobulating object scale, unusual item combination, and drastic angling of geometric shapes combine to form a divine harmony in the middle of a flustering discord." vivir sonar leer

"In Cate Parr's portfolio of about six watercolor paintings, the subtle vibrant colors and free flowing strokes of paint highlight the vulnerable passion for beauty. "a puppy's point of view 

"Everyone loves elementary school art"

"The water lays still and gleams a soft sea foam green, and a for a short time you can let all your worries leave you."

"A spiritual guide to living with passion and purpose"

     
       "There has never been a shortage of men and women willing to point humanity along the right path... Rather, it seems in everyplace and every time the shortage is always of men and women willing to lead humanity along the right path with the example of their own lives." These are the first lines I highlighted when I opened up the book I got at church before Christmas called Rediscover Catholicism. If you aren't Catholic, don't back off yet because so far this book applies to all Christians, so far even to people just trying to live a better life. What a good observation, who is going to lead us? This quote really encourages me to do more than just live as a Catholic for myself, but for everyone around me. Although it is a challenge, it is also very relieving. Its telling me that I don't have to feel obligated to preach my religion to everyone I meet, I don't have to explain to them why religion is so important, I can show them. While it is a really big show to express, it is also more efficient. No one wants to hear religious spiels about how they are doing everything wrong and what I have is right.
         The book says they want to be shown. It explains how Gandhi said he would have become a Christian- if he had ever met one. It's like a challenge. I want to be the Christian who could have convinced one of the most influential people in the history of the world, that Christianity brings true happiness to life.
          As for the style of the book, I am very impressed.For an informative book, my attention is so well grasped. It is not boring at all, though sometimes is repetitive, but it is very well written. It also has mes and Is and yous written into it. Teachers told me not to do that, but it wasn't until I read the most boring book that was written in first person that I realized how tacky and plain boring it makes writing. But not this book. It had to have been skillfully written in order to pull it off, but I do think it is crucial to his point of pulling people in and inspiring them and roping them into a journey with him.

Submission #4 My Aunt Made This

     Juli Cady Ryan's work represents more than just a painting or even an idea, but reveals an 11 by 13 slice of what goes on inside her brain. Her paintings whisper the secret ideas, churning in tune with imagination, in her mind; secrets that are gently and skillfully extracted from inside her head and are imprinted with acrylics to transform a bare white canvass. And it is done uniquely. A still life, but moving and bending; a realistic picture but tainted with bulls-eyed dots and swirling branches. The jubilant trees and houses melt to point towards the subject of the photo, guiding the eyes to the most simple, but possibly most important part of the photo. If the trees aren't pointing to the subject in a yoga like bend, they are framing and augmenting the piece's value. The pieces dive towards different centers, whirl pooling in the air or blowing in the wind. Circles upon circles litter the floor, making the picture seem more imaginative and dreamlike. The intricate dots give the paintings life and an energy that intrigues the viewer more than an ordinary hill with a tree would. Curls and swirls and squigglies cause the heart to flutter and the soul to float in curiosity. Maybe the paintings instill pangs of jealousy with their completely unique and abstract-within-concrete style. Maybe the paintings inspire individuality, and encourage seeking out difference to create beauty. Like Monet's Starry Night, Juli's paintings in their simple busyness with their carefree but deliberate brushstrokes create a bubbly and airy feeling. Ryan's artwork, distinct in style and whimsical in ideas, instills a childlike gayness and a twirling bliss in the eyes of all who see it.

Shortlist week feb 20-24

My Aunt Made This:
Juli Cady Ryan paints simple but busy paintings complete with circles and swirls and curves. Her paintings are unique but almost have a Dr.Seuss essence about them. They lean and swirl and have your eyes following their every line and curl. Some tell a story. a Twisting ladder leaning up to the moon, encouraging the chasing of dreams. Another depicts serenity and peace and beauty with fairies dancing in the moonlight.

My Cousin "made" this
My cousin Molly is a senior at Snider and is partially beginning a side career as a model. She takes really interesting photos and some of the unique ones aren't on here. Her brother is a photographer and she also works with Nathan Gerard. The antique and yellowish tint to the first picture add to its antiquity. The long plain skirt is an essence of elegance. The second picture looks more commercial, like it should be in a magazine. The complex modern outfit and bag contrast but go well with the raggedy ordinary background. I really like her modeling and her photos that she takes because they are so artistic and creative, I don't know if that creativity should actually be dubbed to the photographer, but I love it either way.

Cool Book Origami
The folded pages of the ordinary books creates an extraordinary amazement of what time and talent can create. Imagine how much time and creativity folding book pages into a work of art must require. The 3d words or phrases pop out of themselves to attract the eyes. The cream pages are unique in themselves except that as a whole, they piece together to make a master piece.

Submission #3(I think); Middle School

The This American Life podcast titled “Middle School” outlines and elaborates on the hardships of day to day middle school. Introducing itself with an interview between the 14 year old girl who proposed a show on middle school and the interviewer, the episode unfolds itself into the lives of scrawny, awkward middle school boys and girls. The sweet, giddy interviewee innocently discusses the idea that “No matter who you are or what you do you get made fun of for it” in middle school. Segments on school dances “stutter step” and a new seventh grader the “blue kid on the block” investigate the hardships, quirks, and transitions of middle school. “Stutter step” brings back memories of nerves and excitement before the ever pressing middle school dances; where kids evolve from the sixth graders-- swaying or sitting in the safe light of the cafeteria-- to the eight graders-- trying to sneak past the eyes of their teacher chaperones in the dark shadowy back where they dance with the superiority they have earned from three years of middle school. “Blue Kid on the Block” highlights more of the drama and anxiety associated with junior high school. Luckily, by the end of the prologue, the interviewee has concluded that middle school has its benefits; “Whatever middle school was it worked. Everyone’s a lot friendlier now.” Middle school brings out judgment and timidity in self-searching preteens that is nerve-racking and even sickening in Ian’s case from “Blue kid” and presents experiences such as dances that may seem overwhelming at the time, but overall shape a better adolescent in the long run.

The school dance segment explores anxious boys, enthusiastic girls, experienced upperclassmen, unsure underclassmen, and their actions, stories, and feelings towards the middle school dances. “Stutter step” first covers the nervous bunch.  The boys face their first dance, dressed by their moms, hesitant to break out their moves, anticipating something that’s supposed to be fun, but for now is just pretty nerve racking.  One boy says he’s not ready for the slow dance but wants to know how, an example of how middle school is the learning stage of life. If it weren’t for middle school, people would be awkwardly presenting themselves to dance with a girl for the very first time at their senior Prom. They are afraid of what everyone else will think of them, afraid they might be the talk of the town for a while; “I’m hoping nothing bad happens or anything that will be a story for the next few months” says one boy. The older kids know what they’re doing now and they shy away from teachers to break out their best dance moves, while the younger ones sit down during slow songs to avoid standing alone or latch onto their friends back, forming a train to include themselves in the action. The relationships in middle school, both romantic and friendly, are less serious, boyfriends last a week, best friends three months. Everyone is looking to define themselves. So when the new kid walks in, such as in “Blue kid on the block”, not everyone wants to reach out and he is too timid to step up. Leo needs to find himself a place in his new school, but being in a middle school stage is struggling. He says he is in the longest sad period he has ever been in his life, although it’s close to how he felt when his cat died. Middle school is overwhelming. It is bigger and louder. Making friends is harder. One reason he gives is “the older you get the more you judge people”. As an elementary school kid, everyone bases their friendships on personality, not appearance and popularity and background. So kids, knowing they are being judged tend to be more tentative and nervous. Which also makes them more judgmental. What goes around comes around, they say. And everything has gone around enough to make a giant complicated stressful web some people like to call middle school. Leo goes to school, without finding a friend for months, and he literally gets sick over it. Finally he finds one friend, but he still doesn’t feel like he belongs. 

   Both the “Stutter Step” and “Blue Kid” provide insight on middle school. “Stutter Step” portrays both the ups and downs, tugging on fond old memories of one’s own middle school awkwardness that can now be smiled back on. It really highlights the uneasiness and transitions of junior high with a lighter and fun tone, playfully condescending to young middle schoolers who have no idea how to handle themselves at a dance, or think they are already in a serious-- yet 20 minute old-- relationship. “Blue Kid on the Block” is more melancholy. Hopefully Leo begins to fit in, but for now he is a loner. “Blue Kid” depicts the tougher aspects of not fitting in at a time when fitting in means everything.  It is more depressing and pulls more on the feelings of compassion and sorrow. It doesn’t really even have a happy ending. Sure he made a friend but he still does not belong. Maybe it won’t be until high school that Leo can find his place, but once he has gotten there, he will appreciate the journey it took to find true serenity and comfortability. Lucky for most people, high school will roll around soon enough where there are groups for every type of person and the judgment seems to melt away and everyone is able to let their lights shine through.

               

Amaryllis in Blueberry

I read Amaryllis in Blueberry because my mom's book club read it. The title is attractive with neatly arranged tongue whipping syllables and blue petals slipping through folded fingers cupping a blue flower with a fading blue dress as the background. It begins with the end. I know the mother is on trial in Africa. I know she feels unfairly tried because she has no due process of law. I know she acknowledges her racism towards thinking she and her white family were above the law because they were white in black Africa. I know she committed murder and committed adultery. I am assuming she killed her husband but I don't know that for sure. I do know that Dick ,her husband is dead. He was murdered with a bullet, or is it a poison arrow? But that everything would be so spelled out seems a little suspicious to me. She never specifically says, I did it. She is annoyed by him and he haunts her but I really do not think Dick is the one she murdered. She could have murdered her secret lover. She could have killed anyone who knew about her affair. I think her husband was killed by someone else; she is on trial for it or maybe not for his; she killed someone but not him.
      And then you learn about the family's life in America, vacationing in Michigan. You learn about the four Marys. The fourth, Amaryllis, is obviously not the daughter of Dick. She has dark skin contrasting to the blonde Marys. Amaryllis has powers to sense emotions and feelings around her. Amaryllis in Blueberry has an interesting description of powers like hers. While most stories of sensing the supernatural involves a colored outline, Amaryllis picks up emotions differently. She smells feelings, can see them like waves, can see colors. It is a very interesting book, but the author makes quite a few unnecessary jabs towards Catholics; and being a strong Catholic--although I know it is good to be exposed to opposing viewpoints-- I don't think I will continue reading because I don't want my faith tainted,and also I don't like reading negative and actually misinterpreted Catholic comments.