Persepolis

Persepolis is unlike any other book I have ever read. Before reading the book I judged it by its cover and was turned off right away. As I continued reading I have become very interested and glued to the book. I am not a graphic novel/ comic book type guy so reading this book has been very interesting. I am becoming very interested in checking out other graphic novels now!

As for the plot/characters, I really like the way the book is. The main character Marji is very interesting. I love how the book takes you through her "coming of age". It shows how she became of age in her culture and what happened in the end. Another character that I found very interesting was her boyfriend in Turkey. He played her for over two years. I feel that this is typical of many young adults today.

In all, I truthfully like the book because I have learned a lot about Iran. I never knew anything about Iran, except for the fact that they have had war after war. Now I understand a lot about their history. It is amazing how much you can learn about one country through a graphic novel like this!!!

I Am The Messenger Review

Overall, I loved the book. It was by far my favorite book in college literature. It brought my attention in right away and kept me reading straight to the end. I ended up reading way ahead of my group, because I was so interested. I found the whole plot very interesting- what made the author think to write this book the way it is?! Another notable detail is that it takes place in Australia. How many books take place there? Not too many...

After reading the whole book, I now see the bigger picture. You have to want something before you can get something. If you don't want anything in your life, then it will be hard for you to ever get anything. Ed, Audrey, Ritchie, and Marv had no dreams/future plans. Thanks to one man this all changed!!!

Wrongs of Passage

I agree with Sydney Cook's argument. Everything she has in her essay is correct. I think the thing that really got me to agree with her was when she said that there is no real way of telling when a child has become an adult in America. I think we should change this so that there is some sort of ceremony, etc. It always frustrates me when I hear of other countries doing things better than us; this is one of those times.

Two passages of rite I have gone through are turning 16 and 18. I have not changed much since I have gone through these passages. In America there is not huge celebrations (unless you are wealthy) for becoming these ages. The only real thing that has changed in me is that I was able to drive once I turned 16. Besides that I am almost the same.

In all, I think that America needs to come together and figure out the rite of passage from an adolescent to an adult. Rites of passage should bring communities together. Let's change this!

I Am the Messenger (the start) Reaction

After reading the first one-hundred pages, I really love the book I am the Messenger. It has really caught my attention, and everytime I pick up the book I don't want to put it down. The book starts out with a bank robbery, and this part really got me going. I think the way Markus Zusak starts the book is a huge part of whether a person will read it or not. First impressions stay forever!

A character I have really analyzed a lot is Marvin. He caught my attention from the start. He is a very goofy guy. I feel that he has struggled in life and loves to act the "the tough guy". He always bullies Ed or other people. The other character that has caught my attention so far is Audrey. She is a taxi driver who does not have much of a family. She just seems to drive taxis, play cards, drink, and have sex. Talk about the life, huh?!

Well anyways, I am excited to continue reading, and I have no idea what will happen next! I hope in the end that Ed becomes famous for everything!

Sweet Jane: Final Reflections

1) If I was Jane, I would leave Rochester. I would not want to get involved with his whole situation. Whether she loves him or not, she should not want to be around that situation. Also, He is already married so there is no way they could become married.

2) I ended up liking the novel. I had heard from all of my friends that they disliked the novel compared to Catcher in the Rye. I was somewhat the opposite. I had a hard time reading at the start, but it really picked up. I liked reading once Jane was older and not a little girl anymore. The thing that didn't really work for me was that I had a hard time making connections. My life so far has been nothing like hers, and never will be like it. I wish there was more opportunities to make connections.

3) I believe this book should be taught in college literature. It teaches students how to read a book that might be read at the college level. It also shows how much reading people can expect in college. I think that students might not like reading it in high school, but will thank the class when they are prepared and read books like it in college! Keep the novel as a part of the curriculum!

Polygamy

In the book Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester has a wife who has gone mad. He can't technically leave her because of her status. He can't enjoy marriage on the other hand. So how does he get out of the situation so he can enjoy himself? He tries to have a polygamy marriage (having more than one wife).

Polygamy is not found much in the United States. It is mainly found out in Utah where Mormons are. I do not agree with the way these people act. I think it is not fair for children to have to grow up in this lifestyle and become what I think as "brainwashed". I don't understand why Charlotte Bronte would put something like this in her book Jane Eyre?

My friend Richie

Jane Eyre is an orphan. She has no family to take her in etc. She went to a school with a bunch of other girls who were orphans. As soon as I started reading the book, I couldn't help but make a connection with an old friend. I used to know a kid named Richie who was an orphan. He used to stay at a friends house up the street. I never really thought much of it, but now after seeing how Jane struggled being an orphan I wish I would have done more to help him out. He was a great kid. We would hang out all of the time, and we got along real well. Looking back now though, I see things I didn't notice before (things that Jane struggled with). He had a harder time getting along with people, disagreed with lots of things in his life, etc. Some of my friends know him as well, and I think they would agree with me. In all I wish Richie and Jane could have had better upbringings. Granted Jane was brought up an orphan many years ago compared to Richie today, but they are similar in many ways.

Holden is no "Catcher in the Rye"

Pg 173- "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around-nobody big, I mean-except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff- I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all."

When asked what he would like to be some day, that was Holden's response. I found it very interesting. I interpret the response in that he wants to save little kids lives all the time in the future. He wants to help protect little kids from "jumping off the cliff". I believe that jumping off the cliff means headed in the wrong direction in life. Holden knows that he is going no where in the future, and I believe that he wants to make sure other kids don't follow in his footsteps. Do I see this happening? NEVER. Holden can't even control his own life, and so I don't believe he would be able to help others. He is no catcher in the rye.

Bloggin' on Holden

The Catcher in the Rye has had many interesting parts so far. One part that really caught my attention was on page 8. In this part Holden is having a conversation with Mr. Spencer. They are discussing a meeting Holden had with  Dr. Thurmer. Holden explained how Dr. Thurmer told him that life is a game, and that he should play it by the rules.

I chose this scene to write about, because I find the quote that Dr. Thurmer said very interesting. I have never actually heard anyone explain life saying that it is a game, and that you should play it by the rules. There are lots of great quotes/scenes in the book, but so far this one really caught my attention and made me think hard about it.

Salinger has left me with one big question: what does he truely mean by a game, and following it by the rules? I feel that he is trying to get the point across that people need to do what they have to do, but do it in an appropriate fashion. Is this truely what he means though? I am not so sure. One thing I do know though is that Holden is a troubled kid, and he sure isn't playing the game by the rules! 

Hi, My Name is I Have a Terrible Life. What is Yours?

It was a snowy Thursday morning in January of 2007. I was feeling under the weather and things were not going right in life. I had missed two days already because I was sick, and I had forgotten to do an art project. On top of those two problems, my brother had slipped on ice and crashed the car, and I was constantly getting into fights with my parents. EVERYTHING was going wrong. Is this really a way that I should start by telling people about myself? You probably wonder where I am going with this one...

In the Catcher in the Rye, the story starts out very similar to this. Is this a certain writing style that the author J.D. Salinger tries to use to get the reader drawn into the book? Or is it an unfair way of depicting Holden's life? There has not been much positive in Holden's life at all so far in the Catcher in the Rye. I found it very interesting how J.D. Salinger picks up the story right in another bad moment of Holden's life! I feel as though I met Holden and he told me his name is "I have a terrible life, what is yours?" Is this a typical way of starting stories similar to this? I find it harder for me to connect with Holden so far because of the start. I do not find the interesting way of starting the book right in my eyes.

 

Visions of Childhood

Each short story I have read so far has depicted chilhood in many ways. I really love how in the "Sutton Pie Safe" you get the sense that you will be grown up when you seize opportunities. The young boy is still a child and doesn't understand the value of receiving items from others and using them to his advantage. The second story was "Every Little Hurricane". In this short story the author is saying that childhood is a struggle for some kids. I believe that childhood is depicted much different from the first short story. In the "Sutton Pie Safe" the child has caring parents who are there to help him. In "Every Little Hurricane", the parents and the family leave the kid on his own. They make him go through tough times without any help. I think the author is really pushing towards the fact that in order to get out of childhood you have to be able to handle "hurricanes" on your own. In "Bottle Caps" childhood is depicted as using anything to have fun. Bottle caps are collected by brothers and then used in different ways to have fun. I really get the sense that the author wants me to know that childhood is all about playing and making things out of little or nothing. I also read "Where you going, Where have you been?" In this short story the author shows similarities with "The Sutton Pie Safe". Childhood is depicted as ignorance. The kids in both stories do not listen to what is going on around them, and it haunts them in the end. The last story is called "For Esme". I believe that the author depicts childhood as remembrance. Childhood doesn't end until you want it to.

A television show I think depicts childhood in an interesting way is the Simpsons. I think it depicts childhood as fun, playful, worryless, and much more. The kids are always not following the rules, etc. and enjoying themselves. I believe that it is not similar to any of the stories we have read so far. I believe that it tells the story that children should be allowed to grow up and make mistakes, but have fun as well.

Childhood Memory

On a summer night in the mid 90's, my parents went out and left me with a neighbor. I remember them saying that they weren't coming home that night, but that they would be home soon. As soon as they left, I immediately started crying. I thought they had left me for good. All night I just wanted to see my parents again. Since I was still young, I didn't understand that they would be back the next day. I believe that many people could relate to this when they were growing up. The parents leave, and you think they aren't ever coming back. Now that I am grown up, I get a good laugh out of this story. I have realized that I was too young to comprehend everything going on.

Intro post

My interests include a wide variety of things. I am very interested in sports, school, outer space, etc. I am also interested in people's lives and what is going on with everyone. It is very hard for me not to know information about others. I also love spring, because summer is around the corner and the weather is perfect in my mind. I am a person who loves outdoors and winter keeps me shut up inside for too long!

After I graduate from high school, I will hopefully attend UW-Madison or the University of Minnesota. I am still waiting to hear back from both schools. At either school I want to get involved in the athletic programs. I plan to get a degree in phy-ed and coaching.

My favorite book is the Blind Side. It really left an impact on me. I feel that everyone should read the book and learn the lessons to be learned.