Finally

Q: Where and when did you find yourself sitting down to read? Do you tend to read with music on, or in silence? By the computer? Did you find yourself checking your phone a lot, or do you ever loser yourself in the reading? Do you ever talk about the books you read with your family or friends or teachers?

 A: Over the semester I have been finding myself reading when I am done with my homework or at my job when things aren't busy (which is most of the time). It was really hard for me to actually find time to read because I have been getting a lot of homework so I have been strained to read at like 11 at night. I usually read in the silence because if I don't then I get distracted and I don't remember what I am reading. I usually read in my room sitting on my bed with my door closed so I can't hear the T.V. in the other room. Whenever I get to a new chapter I usually take a break and look up or check my phone. I don't really have that long of an intention span, so if the book isn't the most interesting I probably won't "lose my in the reading". Also I'm not a bookworm and books aren't really what interests me the most, so I don't necessarily talk about books I've read. If I do it would probably be about some absurdity I found in the book and that would be the extent of it. This class didn't really change my view of books as much as you probably would hope for, but I never thought badly of books before so I guess that is good. I just have a lot to do and reading requires a clear mind, a good amount of time, and an adequate intention span. I don't really have any of those right now.

I'm so sick of looking into the future

I'm so sick of looking ahead
So sick of thinking what is next
My mind if full of roadblocks
And my ideas seem to be out of stock
The future is a crazy unknown world
Where nothing is set in stone
And nothing is actually alive
The future is a picture in your mind
That shows you a different time
On the clock and a different town
Separate from the one you live in
The people are different but yet the same
Unfamiliar familiarities rearrange your dreams
Giant windows and foggy mirrors fade in and out
To cause your perceptions to run about
I am just so sick of looking ahead
So sick of thinking what is next

word count and such...

word count for the last few weeks...

this week: 136
last week: 120
last last week: 133
semester:1642

Currently

I'm reading a book called Bossypants by Tina Fey. Its pretty good and I do suggest it. I didn't think it was going to be that good of a read at first because I thought it was going to be a boring autobiography that she would sit and gloat about her life, but it's really not. It's basically an account of her career and how she got to where she was and things she has learned along with many funny stories. I really admire her attitude on things, and how she doesn't necessarily take everything so seriously. She views the world so differently from me, and I like seeing others perspectives. I'm almost done so it'll probably be back in the classroom Monday, but don' t all get up at once. I know everyone's going to flock to it since I'm such a good critiquer <-- not a word?? but criticizer is a word...it needs to be added to the dictionary. if ain't is a word, then this is now a word.
kim possible out.

bossypants

So i really like this book, its very entertaining. I feel like I'm not reading a book, more like she is telling a story and I'm just listening. She has a humorous way of writing that is not really intricate with crazy big words, but more down-to-earth diction. I usually don't read funny books, more sad books, not because I want to be sad, but because it just happens that way. I find a book and I like it and it turns out to be sad. I haven't gotten too far into it because I haven't had the time to read lately, but I'll get on that tonight so it's whatever. Well I'm going to get to reading so see ya later.
-call me page me if you wanna reach me,
                             Kim Possible

Close-Reading Bingo

This is kinda odd, I feel like I'm singling people out and criticizing them, which i am...it isn't really critquing, because we aren't saying anything good. oh well i guess. sorry if i offend anyone for pointing out your flaws.

1. http://twilightlover2.blogspot.com/ This blog's post was weak in the fact that most of it was quotes from the excerpt. It had little content. This would be a #2 common weakness.

2. http://thinking-anonymous.blogspot.com/ This blog's post was weak because it was short, and not very descriptive. It also included a full quotation that just sat on it's own. It was a "quote island". This would be a #5 common weakness.

3. http://skullandglossbones3.blogspot.com/ This blog's post was weak because of punctuation. They need to put the period inside teh quotation marks. This is a class #8 weakness.

4. http://estella-havisham.blogspot.com/ This blog's post was weak because of the #1 common weakness. They used the "he says" tactic...not literally but they used similar words such as "briefly discusses". I find it along the same lines.

BEST RESPONSE.
http://jimmehftw.blogspot.com/

The colloquial, coarse, and somewhat unmannerly diction in "Catcher in the Rye" exemplifies the narrator's down-to-earth, pissed off at the world personality. His defiant and thick skinned nature jumps out when he explains that all the background information about his life is just "David Copperfield kind of crap" that bores him. As the passage goes on, the author uses phrases like "He's got a lot of dough" and "they're also touchy as hell" to make it feel as though the narrator is just another regular kid who is telling you a story. The terse and all together informal nature of the narrator echoes through the entire passage in this excerpt from "Catcher in the Rye."

practice diction analysis

so i didn't think we had to post it in a blog since we were doing it in class together, so here it is...

      In the excerpt from Nicholas Baker's The Merranine, his slightly elevated, intricately formal diction dipicts cold metaphoric language. Baker describes the escalators he is on as "a pair of integral signs swooping upward between the two floors". This clinical dipiction of the moving stairs suggests a businesslike mood. From what he is carrying to the structures he is upon, he describes in great detail the surroundings.

long poem

Poem by Lucie Thesee

Handsome, like those foam-topped tidal waves breaking high, in little crystal globes.

Handsome, like the breeze that lifts a little tuft of tulle. If tulle were life.

Handsome, like a frozen face, tear-tracked, when the sun hammers down.

Handsome. Like fire.

Handsome, like the bottomless sky, with that one proud penetrating star.

But handsome, too, like a sky that’s an arching ocean, and an earth prone as an ocean’s floor.

Handsome ocean-sky, and earth-sea floor.

The big question is: where’s the man in a scene like this?

Handsome: the man asleep. And the night sky swarms, tropic and wide.

Handsome, in some ornamental, muggy midnight caught between cat’s paws. Sharp-nailed:

they prick.

Handsome: the firefly swarms around you.

Handsome, like a soap bubble grazing a little black dress. Like a soap-bubble pricked with a pin.

Handsomeness a rainbow, a rainbow an arrow, an arrow in my chest.

Handsome, like shadows slow-rolling on a Japanese screen.

Handsome motion.

Handsome as life and poison.

Sun-blood handsome. Bleeding sun.

currently

WEEKLY READING LOG
this week: 133
last week: 125
last last week: 132
semester: 1386

Sentences I enjoyed from other peoples style mapping blogs...
From Hoosier XC 3366
1.  "The Mud Below" has a poetic, imagistic connotation, a common, familiar elevation with a country twang, and a sweet, musical sound that creates an overall sense  of contentment.
From The New Zealander
2. The language is rough and coarse in order to portray the common colloquialisms of southern Texas.
From T-REX
3.The musical sounds generated by these love poems convey a harmonious and melodious tone to the book that adds to the fragile yet helpless attitude of the teenagers in love.
From For Lack Of a Better Name
4.He writes as he speaks and thinks, producing a style more compatible with leisure readers and lower intellects, rather than very well educated readers who are looking for a challenging read.
From Hog Smog Blog
5. His grating talk on life and drugs captures you into the book as its prey even though the content of his words [are] suggestive.

I liked these blogs because they all used neat adjectives that caught my attention. They set themselves apart from the normal adjectives such as "exciting" and "dull" or "harsh". I liked how Hoosier XC 3366 decided to comment on the authors diction and described it as a "twang", I enjoyed The New Zealander's choice of the word "colloquialisms", T-REX used a unique approach on describing the teenager's love, For Lack of a Better Name decided to give an array of adjectives that made his sentence interesting, and Hog Smog Blog used a good simile, "captures you into the book like it's prey".
good job ya'll. you did great.

Woman, you stank

Your smell is like acid burning in my nose, it makes me cringe to my toes. It's like I can almost see it swirling to get me, going up my nostrils, and then to kill me. Take a step back would you please? I am now falling to my knees. Is it a perfume of a meat or have you not showered in a week? Whatever it is I can't complete because your stinch is the ultimate defeat.

I got bored at work...

The Virgin Suicides

I started this book last week and I really like it. It's by Jeffrey Eugdnfijganobr (however you spell it). Its about these sisters who all kill themselves, and the boys in the town are all obsessed and intrigued by this. The book is narrated by one of the boys who grew up with the girls, well the girls didn't actually grow up. If that makes since? The girls are pretty much portrayed as angels or perfect to the boys, so the boys are all pretty confused, as am I at the moment, as to why they would kill themselves. Just like any other book I find interesting there is a movie, so yes there is a movie that coincides with the book. It has Kirstin Dunst in it I think. Well that is pretty much it for that book, I'm still working on it so ta ta for now. Kim Possible out. call me, page me, if you wanna reach me.

Style Mapping

The excerpts from Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides all display different styles of diction. In Neil's excerpt he writes in a style that is dull and archaic as he describes that stoney features of the town of Wall. McCarthy's excerpt displays a coarse, dreary style that is accented with a grinding rhythm.  Different from the others, Eugenides conducts a style that is scholarly yet gloomy while the reader stumbles on the cacophonous language.

POEM TIME WITH LAUREN

I picked up a book
the cover has a great look
Its call "The Virgin Suicides"
no wonder it caught my eye!

We have a substitute
he read some poem about a boot
the class listened in awe
of the words that were so raw.

Blogging is a blast
I'm going to save it for last
poems are super fun
but right now I've gotta run.

currently

I totz forgot to do a currently from last week, probably because we usually all do them as a class but we were all working on our essays. Oh well, so here is my stuff.

WEEKLY READING LOG
this week: 132 pages
last week: 202 pages
semester: 1132 pages
GET AT THIS. thats a lot of pages...

anywhoo...fav sentences??

1. The purpose to life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. -Eleanor Roosevelt
2. “Mom says it's because she has PMS."
"Do you even know what that means?"
"I'm not a little kid anymore. It means pissed-at- men syndrome”
-Nicholas Sparks The Last Song

october fifth

today is october fifth
this class makes me wanna throw a fit
yesterday was my brother's birthday
on facebook i gave him a hey
tonight i gotta go to my job
i don't want to i want to sob
i wish i could go to catchphrase club
at lunch i think i might get a sub
my neighb lauren is typing away
and isn't listening to what i say
the people in my class have their niches
but thats because they are all good people
i don't really like to write
and think of words that are "out of sight"
not many things bother me
but right now its hard to breathe
one thing i know and thats
you don't wear socks with flats

my shoes glitter

My shoes are like gold, they shimmer and glitter all over the floor.
The sparkles reflect light that may blind your sight if you look at them any more
"Lauren! Stop looking at my shoes!", I say as she stares towards the floor.
"I can't help it!", she says as she hides and runs out the door.
Man oh man my shoes are my best friend.
I'm going to wear them again again and again.
THE END.

math is bad

I can't do math because it is bad.
It has nothing to do with english, so sad.
I've got my work done and I've blogged a bit,
but that doesn't help my case so i'll sit.
I was told to get a book
I searched and i looked
I picked one out but it doesn't interest me
I don't want to read it, it seems boring
I'm going to write this ugly poem because i'm mad.
I feel like doing my math homework but its bad.

sitting next to one of my best friends

I'm sitting next to one of my best friends.
Her name in cursive is beautiful with all its bends.
This class is annoying because the lights are off.
The blinds are closed too, I'm completely blocked off.
I get frustrated because I have to go different places to find assignments.
I want to go to one specific place to find it.
Call me conventional but put it on the website,
but Lauren is sitting next to me saying it's going to be alright.
I have my assignment done, so I've got nothing to do right now.
I might just do my math, since that class is the cat's meow (not).

currently

Weekly Reading Log

this week: 202
last week 186
semester: 1000 (that's odd...)

Alrighty, I'm sitting in class right now trying to figure out what to do next. I don't really want to blog right now, because I want to work on my paper so it doesn't sound like crap and so I don't have to do it over the weekend. I have the SAT tomorrow morning and I'm kinda freaking out about it because I hate standardized tests. I always do bad on them because I overthink, plus as you can tell I'm really bad at those grammar/ reading comprehension quizes. I just never know which sentence is written correctly. I get so tripped up. I'm fine with the math, I always get in the top percentiles when I take these tests, which is odd because I'm retaking precal/trig this year. I'm really not that smart. I think I'm going to bring a lot of food tomorrow and try to wear the most comfortable clothes possible. Tomorrow is going to suck  i mean vacuum. Whatever. Kim Possible out. Call me, page me, if you wanna reach me.

this can get a bit systematic

Okay, to be honest at first I thought this whole blogging thing was going to be fun. Now my opinion has turned tables. I still like the fact that the class is loose and we have more freedom in what we write and so on, and I know it is school so I shouldn't complain, but it is getting a bit tedious and systematic. It might be because I hate scheduled things and having to do the same thing in a time frame. I never really got into the whole journal bit. I did for awhile, but when I kept a journal it was more personal things I wrote down, and on this I can't be personal. I don't like telling people my problems. ANYWHO, I'm not a fan of writing about my week like I'm recounting my highs and lows to my grandparents on the phone or describing the book I just read like it was the most interesting thing I did all week. well, I guess this probably sounds like a personal problem so I'll stop complaining.

Contagion

So i read the rest of the book, it was a peculiar one for sure. I usually don't like books that aren't set in this time period, but this one was easy to get into, probably because it was a little more of a science-fiction type of book. I'm not exactly sure what kind of [genre] VOCAB WORD! BAM! (that was a cheap one) it would really fall into. It was about a disease that was killing everyone...it kinda reminded me of the mad cow/ bird flu/ H2N1 scares. I am kinda excited to see the movie that is coming out...even though it looks as if the movie is set in today's time. I guess it's a modern day's take on the whole problem, which is wierd because the book was written in 2010. I'll just link the trailer so people can watch it:
http://youtu.be/4sYSyuuLk5g

the movie looks more interesting than the book by far, a lot more action.

due tuesday

This is that claim paragraph thing we are supposed to do.
   |
   |
  V
       In Bérenger's black and white photograph, his dramatic contrast and enticing depth of field draw the viewer into the picture with active negative space that elevates the shadows from the composition to illustrate a mysterious yet michevious mood. The contrast of the the rich blacks and soft whites set of an aroma of depth. The placement of objects in the photograph creates depth throughout so it is as if you yourself are in the image. It's precise but subtle outlines of objects enhance the negative spaces and insintuates the shadows so that it displays a playful atmosphere with the children running through the fog. 

ACTUALLY THIS ISN'T IT. THIS IS PART OF IT..... I FORGOT IT HAD TO BE TYPED AND ITS JUST NOT DONE.

sentences of the month

Out of all my sentences of the week entries the three that I like the most are:

1. "It's like walking past a mirror you've walked past every day of your life, and suddenly it shows you something else, something troubling and strange" (page 36).

-from the novel Never Let Me Go

2.."At one stage I found myself on a road I'd never been on, and for about half an hour I didn't know where I was and didn't exactly care" (page 288).
-from the novel Never Let Me Go

3."Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

-Marilyn Monroe

Running out of time

I almost forgot to blog. Thank goodness I remembered! Conveniently I found a blogger app for my iPod, so I don't have to go to my computer I can just do this while I'm sitting in bed. Well to wrap this week I will start with the reading log
WEEKLY READING LOG
This week: 186
Last week: 184
Semester: 798


Sentences of the week:

1."the earth belongs to the living not the dead" -Thomas Jefferson Aja Tommy J
2. "imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring" -marilyn monroe

Today, I got some new moccasins. I've had my old ones since the beginning of Sophmore tear. They are torn to pieces and they aren't even the same color anymore. I was really excited, so I thought I'd share that little piece of information. Sometimes I feel like people don't really get happy about things like this. I like to share my excitement, because all there is to hear are sad depressing stories about twisted people and their crazy escapades. It gets old. There is a time to be sad, but there is a time to be happy. I prefer the happy side to life. Also tomorrow is homecoming! I'm pretty stoked about that. I love football games, everyone should go because it will be a blast, along with the pep rally. That's going to be fun, seeing as I've never been to a pep rally my whole high school career because they've been ruled as "uneducational". Whatever it actually puts a damper on the students morale. Sometimes administration doesn't really know what is best for the student body. Well I'm going down a road I don't wanna go so I'll stop at that. Wild wild west is the theme so I'm hoping to see some cowboys/ cowgirls. I personally won't be dressing up because I have nothing so that's about it. Have a great life y'all. Lylas. Lylab. Call me, page me, if you wanna reach me. Kim possible OUT.

CLAIM PARTY!

Five claims I thought were "specific and authoritative" were one's of:

1. UNDERWATER
The Ground Zero Memorial in New York, where the Twin Towers once stood, is a sincere and gorgeous memorial for all the ones who died on 9/11. The beautiful waterfall is a wonderful and memorable idea to fill the empty spot where the towers once stood. People visit this touching, unique and magnificent memorial from all over the world.
2. Case 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]
3. T-Rex
In this video of Adele preforming "Someone Like You" live, the audiance hears her explosive, elegant voice, with lyrics that have a powerful, motionless, old-fashioned message to them that creates a tranquil vibe throughout the theater.
4. The New Zealander
Claim: 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.  
5. Peanut Butter Without the JellyThe 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.

The one I thought had the "most creative, original, or otherwise interesting artifact for its close reading" was:

drumroll.............

UNDERWATER!
I thought this one deserved my vote on account that it was the most creative and thoughtful.
you can visit this blog at: http://allison789.blogspot.com/

Neat Photography

In Bérenger's black and white photograph, his dramatic contrast and enticing depth of field draw the viewer into the picture with active negative space that elevates the shadows from the composition to illustrate an ominous and mysterious mood.

Poet of the year?

I'm just a bit perplexed on how we are supposed to go about doing this. Am I supposed to pick any poet or are my choices limited to the ones given to us? Not exactly sure, so I'll just pick out of the ones already displayed. I guess out of these I would say I admire Dave Etter's "Marcus Millsap: School Day Afternoon". I like this because it illustrates a homey, familiar feel to it. It to me reads as if a stream of his thoughts are being spilled onto his paper rather than him actually setting out to write a poem. It reads as if it were a poem by accident. I then looked him up on the poetry foundation website and found another poem I liked. It was called, "When Sister Pearl Does Her Homework". It didn't have the same feel as the other, it was actually kinda in mockery of her. It shows all of the things she did rather than her actual homework. I can relate to it a bit because I myself tend to drift while doing homework.

the log

WEEKLY READING LOG
this week: 184
last week: 168
semester: 612
favorite sentences:

1. "I lost Ruth then I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them" (page 287).

This sentence really stuck out to me while reading because it was towards the end of the book and it seemed to just wrap things up in a sort of carefree manner. It was like even though all of these bad things were happening that she was at peace with herself and the situation.
2."At one stage I found myself on a road I'd never been on, and for about half an hour I didn't know where I was and didn't exactly care" (page 288).

This sentence gave me a feeling of solitude. Like she didn't have to be anywhere at any particular time and she didn't have to worry about anything. The book ended with how I'd imagine a closing scene of a movie. The screen would fade out and she'd be driving away not to any point or in any rush.

on to the next

I finally finished Never Let Me Go. It was such a sad book. It was hopeless, but for some reason I liked it. The whole time I kept wondering why Kath, Ruth, Tommy, and the others wouldn't just run away, pretend that they were normal, or just refuse. The only reason I could come up with is that they were basically brain washed into thinking that is all they were made out to be from the day they were born created. That's all they were worth. It really made me angry towards the end of the book during the discussion at Madame's house with Kath, Tommy, and Miss Emily. Miss Emily would be seen in the book as an advocate for these people, but in my perspective she doesn't seem to care as much as she says. She seems like the person who will do something for others as long as it doesn't inconvenience herself. That was possibly why Hailsham closed. Not enough effort was put in to it. The whole book had a great concept, being a typical romantic/passion driven teenage girl I probably would have liked it to end differently. I more sappy, happy ever after ending. I wasn't fond of the awkward love triangle at the end or the passing away of the friends, and the let down of the "rumour" but I guess not everything in books has to have a perfect ending. In all the book was interesting, and i am extremely interested in watching the movie. The actors don' t really fit the images I imagined while reading. I pictured Tommy to be more broad, Kathy to have long straight brown hair, and Ruth to have shoulder length curly black hair. I guess they'll do as actors. The girl from Black Swan plays Ruth, which is surprising because I honestly have never heard about this movie until this week.

Since I'm done with that book, I found a book named Contagion. I got it from the downtown library last weekend. Coincidentally, after I check it out and bring it home I start to watch t.v. and guess what? The book has been made into a movie and it is coming out soon. Happens to me everytime. It's not that I don't mind watching a movie of a book I have read, but all of a sudden the characters from the movie override my images of the characters I created in my mind so that I've completely forgot what I imagined them to be in the first place. It takes the whole personal feeling out of a book because everyone has almost the same perspective once they've watched the movie.

Johnny Appleseed

If you are new to the area, or just a complete hermit I've got some news for you! But if not, then just a little reminder. This weekend is Johnny Appleseed Festival. I haven't been for the last couple years, so I am super excited. I used to go with my grandparents, but not anymore. I'm probably going to buy some craft, they usually sell homemade rings. They are always pretty cool. I might even look for a christmas gift there for my brother Kevin because he likes weird things like walking sticks. There is so much to do. There is all different kinds of homemade foods including just about anything you can make with apples, they have homemade root beer, they have all of these old timey decorations, and a little petting zoo. Its an 1800 period style festival so don't be suprised by the outfits of the workers, they may be wearing bonnets and breaches. I also heard that there was a civil war re-enactment? Not sure about that one. So if anyone wants to go, DO IT. I'm probably going to go Saturday because I work Sunday. I believe its open 10a.m. - 6p.m. on Saturday and then 10a.m. - 5p.m. on Sunday. OH AND ITS FREE! (except parking, thats like $4)

get money

Today, I got my first paycheck. Honestly I am feeling pretty good. All the talk about taxes and about how much is taken out to me seems a bit farfetched and overdramatized. I don't really see it as that big of a deal. It is just one of those things that come with the territory.

I don't really know what I'm going to do with my money. I don't have a specific thing I'm really saving for other than spending money while I'm in college. I guess that will be my goal, even though I'm not sure how much I'm going to need. I think I'm going to invest in a pair of shoes, because I love shoes. Then that will be it. I probably could be categorized as a penny pincher. I hate spending my money. So I'm just going to limit myself on each paycheck just in case there is something later on that I "need".

If I get shoes I want some that are pretty, but comfortable. I'm debating on either getting Toms, a pair of sneakers, or some more moccasins because mine are completely ruined. Well, that is pretty much it. Thats my exciting news.

campus life? w-w-what?

Alright, well this post is just to spread the word and get some more words in for my word count. I would like to invite all of my fellow classmates to the Campus Life Kickoff after the football game this Friday! It will just be at the football field so no worries about driving somewhere else. It is only $5 and you get a SWEET bracelet, a t-shirt, and food (which I think its pizza, but don't quote me). It will be really fun, so don't be the kid who thinks they are too cool for...well anything that everyone is invited to. I think it will be really fun, mainly because a lot of people are going to be coming anyways, so the more the merrier! This is what the bracelets will look like:

Also the green one is glow in the dark. So that adds to the complete amazingness of this all. The shirts I believe will be a dark greyish with black and blue writing on them. I'm not entirely sure on that one either. Whatever color they are I'm sure they will be worth the $5. So go, it'll be fun. JUST DO IT.

sum total of the week

I've been reading quite a bit and I'm pretty far through Never Let Me Go, but I'm in a part where it feels like there is no plot or point to what I'm reading. Its just detailing days in her past and she will say things like "this all connects to and brings me back to this" and so on but I really never get the underlying point as to why its said or important to begin with. Well I just want to know how the book ends already. As you can tell I'm not a patient reader and I like fast paced books.

This week I came across some pretty entertaining sentences and they are:

1. It's not an optical illusion. It just looks like one.

2. I'm too tired to sleep.

I decided that these would probably be my favorites I've seen/heard this week. The first one I saw on the internet in some small margin to the side and I thought it much of an oxymoron. The second one my friend said to me and I thought that was also a little contradictory.

WEEKLY READING LOG
this week: 168
last week: 156
last last week: 104

semester: 428

Never Let Me Go cont.

By the way if you want to read Never Let Me Go this may possibly be a spoiler alert:

Alright, I've gotten a lot farther into the book. I've just breached part two. So far I've found out that Kath and the children who were at Hailsham were different from the rest of the world. I'm not exactly sure what they are but 1. they can't have babies because their bodies can't produce them. 2. they were created for the soul purpose of donations. There entire existence revolves around donating their vital organs to others.

When I found this out it was kind of depressing. Miss Lucy was the guardian who told them out of vast anger because none of the children knew. In my opinion was a good choice because they should have the right to know. How would you like to find out some day that your heart was going to be taken from you to give to someone else randomly without a choice? I'd be pretty angry, but on the other hand if I knew before I'd probably still feel the same.

This little bit of information is a bit perplexing because Kath is narrarating this story, and I'm sure she is probably old by now. I'm just wondering why she hasn't donated anything yet. SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I also heard that a movie came out of this book only last year, which is really suprising because I've never heard of it until now. So I may look into that one after I'm done reading this. Here is what the cover looks like:

the word on the book

Okay, so i've been reading Never Let Me Go and I've gotten a little bit farther. As I expected Kath does go back and talk about her childhood, actually its taking up a lot of the book. Honestly I'm kinda getting sick of all the minor details that keep describing each character. I am hoping this book gets a little more fast paced and possibly some conflict.

Earlier in the book I came across a passage that stuck out to me, here it is:

"So you're waiting, even if you don't quite know it, waiting for the moment when you realise that you really are different to them; that there are people out there, like Madame, who don't hate you or wish you any harm, but who nevertheless shudder at the very thought of you--of how you were brought into this world and why--and who dread the idea of your hand brushing against theirs. The first time you glimpse yourself through the eyes of a person like that, it's a cold moment. It's like walking past a mirror you've walked past every day of your life, and suddenly it shows you something else, something troubling and strange" (page 36).

I found this quite interesting to think about, I'm not quite sure what it means yet. It seems pretty dark, like I'm going to find out there is actually something wrong with the children at Hailsham or if there is just something wrong with Madame for being scared of the children. I'm not entirely sure on this one.

trying to get with the program

Today in class we are on our laptops going through each other's blogs and commenting/liking them. Today I visited A Scrap of Parchment, TheyCallMeFreshMoney, Hog Smog Blog, RocketGuild, BookLover17, T-Rex, Stormy Days, Banana Smoothie, and Wolf Spot from third period and then JimmehFTWand Keep it Classy from first period. I commented on TheyCallMeFreshMoney, RocketGuild, and JimmehFTW's blogs. 

Latest on Reading

Yesterday I started reading Never Let Me Go and I am pleasantly surprised. It is actually interesting. It isn't the kind of book that I normally read, but I guess it is time to start reading other types of books. I'm now halfway through chapter four and I'm pretty sure I'm going to read this one all the way through.

Favorite Sentences This Week
"The memories I value most, I don't ever see them fading."

"It had never occurred to me that our lives, which had been so closely interwoven, could unravel with such speed."
WORD COUNT
this week: 156
last week: 104
this semester: 260

Not My Cup of Tea

I recently was reading The Magic Kindom by Stanley Elkin, I got about two-thirds of the way through the book. I couldn't read it anymore because there is absolutely no suspense or element of suprise to the book. It is written in a series of events. Things happen and that's it. The plot isn't really that difficult to guess, and on the back cover of the book it pretty much gives the reader a clue. This was what I get for judging a book by it's cover. In all fairness the cover of the book was nice looking. Good job Stanley for having a nice cover.

Today, the first day of September, I started reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's a novel that is, so far, told by a narrarator named Kathy. She is a carer, which is some sort of nurse, and she is modestly proud of her twelve years in this service, but it seems like she is anxious to get out. She continually alludes back to places of her past, so I'm sensing a flashback later on or something to do with her past  will become extremely relevant to the story. I've got much more to read since I am only one chapter into the book. It seems pretty promising and I hope it keeps my attention.

Out of the Loop

Apparently on this class blog we "children" are supposed to befriend and then comment or like on eachother's pages. I have yet to find anyone else's blogs, and I'm positive no one has seen mine. So my search will go on.

This was tangent numero uno out of many more to come.

p.s. If anyone wants to they can follow me on twitter. If I have the link set up right. Or if anyone is able to read my post. Who knows?

Last Day of August

The month of August is coming to a close. It's kind of exciting though, because that mean's we've gotten past the first couple weeks of school. I am really looking forward to the weather changing because fall is my favorite season. It's not hot enough to sweat or cold enough to wear a coat. Also, I love the way the trees look and the smell of the air. Not only is it the weather that I love, fall contains a couple of my favorite holidays, which are Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Going back to my job, I worked last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It really isn't bad at all. The people are nice and the workload isn't too bad. The only thing I had a problem with was the 10 year old, 3 hour long orientation video. I sat in a room that was like a janitors closet watching a tiny television set. It was basically the most odd thing I've ever had to do.

August 26, 2011

The book that I read this week was The Magic Kingdom by Stanley Elkin. It is basically about a guy who's son had an illness and he became obsessed with trying to cure him, but he eventually died. His wife left him after his son's death and he was devasted. He then begins to become obsessed with terminally ill children and wanting to let them have fun instead of them spending their last hours in the hospital.

A few of sentences in the book stood out to me:
1. "Who dropped out of sleep into wakefulness-Eddy watching through his lashes-like synchronized swimmers" (page 97).
2. "She doesn't care what they say, sentiment is the only true breeding" (pages 81-82).

WEEKLY READING LOG
Pages this week: 104
Pages this semester: 104

This is the second week of my senior year and I still don't feel like I am a senior. I actually don't feel like I'm in school. This may be a cause of me not having to go to practice after school anymore because I quit cross country. Anyways, I have a pretty easy, adaptable schedule that isn't too challenging. Recently I have taken on a job at Coventry 13 Theatre and today, Friday, is my first day! I'm not exactly sure how it's going to be, but I'm hoping that it won't be dreadful. I'm a little scared to be honest because I've never had a job, so I'm not sure what to expect. So wish me luck!

first blog of the season

I'm not necessarily one to blog, i like to just keep it simple with Facebook and Twitter, so this will be a little new to me. I don't necessarily know exactly what to write about, so here goes. I am a senior, I have red hair, I like to run, and I recently just got a job. That is basically it. It's a pretty exciting life.