Daniel writes:
The cider house rules
Love, learning, and friendship, to my thinking, Is the key concept of the novel. The novel mainly focuses deeply on the protagonist Homer Wells and the people he meet or affects him in any way throughout the novel. In the beginning we are introduced to the main characters and their origins, personality, and occupation, and then in the middle chunk of the novel, Homer Wells is a young man and moves out of his home (St. Clouds) and goes out to the real world for the first time. We have to understand, and if you didn’t read the book, you will, but Homer was isolated from the real world, he doesn’t know what a lobster is or what a camel is, he never even seen a African American before, why? He spent his entire childhood life at St. Clouds. The beginning tells us his childhood, and how Dr. Larch treats him. Now the entire scene shifts suddenly to when now Homer Wells is grown up. The middle and end is both about Homer Wells’s life as a grown man, about 20 to 30 years old. He meets two other important and very nice couple, Wally and Candy who adopt him and gives him a job of working the apple plantation. The ironic thing is, the couple as about his age, and Homer Wells falls in love, or thinks he’s in love with Candy who is already going out with Wally. The scene of this story is also in 19__ the time of WW2, so since Wally and Homer are both young they would be most likely to be drafted, Wally does end up getting drafted, but Homer doesn’t, and that is another significant story. As a result, many things happen to homer, he’s thinking of abortion (he is a abortionist), Dr. Larch, Candy, and future characters and past scenes change and we later know why, or at least have a cloudy understanding of it. Homer Wells, then has a baby with Candy, and hides a “secret” from Wally, and the baby (Angel) shares a deep relation with Homer Wells throughout the end of the novel.
Overall the cider house rules gave me a huge sense of the style of writing John Irving writes. The novel is very broad and just freefall to the end, he writes very openly and has no hesitation at all to some things that might be a bit awkward or shy to us like sex, abortion, and male/women genitals. He also goes very fast, for example he might be talking about Homer Wells, then the next paragraph, all of a sudden he goes to a different character. He’s very descriptive and shows a lot of detail and personification, for example I felt very innocent towards Homer Wells, and I hate Melony because she is a bitch and a problem to everyone, he makes me feel that way. The book itself is advance, wonderfully written and one of the type of books in which its winter, your in a small cottage and your all cozy, with a cup of tea with a fireplace right next to you and your sitting in this big comfy chair reading a cozy book. I had trouble sometimes understanding what was going on, and it was a bit boring here and there. I would give it a rating of 9, and recommend it to advance readers.
Monday, January 31, 2011
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcial Marquez
Adrine writes:
By the second half of the book, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcial Marquez, the plot takes unfortunate turns for many of the characters and spins their lives into periods of solitary confinement and depression causing some to splutter to insanity. An example of such character is Aureliano, who at birth was notes as enigmatic and withdrawn, like his father. He spent his days shut in a laboratory immersed in studies, having the impression that he was incapable of finding love. Although as the course of the novel continues, Aureliano experiences love and loss and his turns his grief in battle, fighting as a Liberalist against the Conservative army. His life becomes one battle after another, which eventually sends him into a period of solitude and grief. Another character who follows an unfortunate path is Rebecca, the orphan, who despite her engagement with another man, was drawn to the masculinity Jose Arcadio and has an affair with him. Her lust earns her an order to be exiled from the home. Although, after the death of her husband, she is forced to live on as a hermit in a state of despair. The Buendias family seems to be encountered with a series of unfortunate events as the novel proceeds. With periods of mourning, solitude and insanity, the characters endure the struggles of life and take on the sorrowful course their lives have set for them.
The novel portrays the concept of reality as it is experienced independently by people with different backgrounds, as opposed to the experience of an observer. It portrays the realism of each characters situations in ways that make it possible for readers to find the plot and characters relatable and understand the emotion behind the words. The story is also merged together in terms of the past, present, and future. The repetition of the characters names and the format of the plot and the way Marquez unveils it to the readers causes the story to have one body with braches, as opposed to several different stories emerged into one. One Hundred Years of Solitude was very interesting in my opinion and I found that I could relate to several plot points and the way some characters felt. The emotion put into telling the stories made me more curious and I found myself emerged in the novel. I would surly give it a 9 star rating. My reasoning for not giving it a perfect 10 was due to my constant confusion while reading the novel due to the constant twists and turns of the plot and the similarities among the characters name. Although, this confusion only led me to be more dedicated to the novel in hopes to understand intriguing plot and writing style. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantastic read.
By the second half of the book, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcial Marquez, the plot takes unfortunate turns for many of the characters and spins their lives into periods of solitary confinement and depression causing some to splutter to insanity. An example of such character is Aureliano, who at birth was notes as enigmatic and withdrawn, like his father. He spent his days shut in a laboratory immersed in studies, having the impression that he was incapable of finding love. Although as the course of the novel continues, Aureliano experiences love and loss and his turns his grief in battle, fighting as a Liberalist against the Conservative army. His life becomes one battle after another, which eventually sends him into a period of solitude and grief. Another character who follows an unfortunate path is Rebecca, the orphan, who despite her engagement with another man, was drawn to the masculinity Jose Arcadio and has an affair with him. Her lust earns her an order to be exiled from the home. Although, after the death of her husband, she is forced to live on as a hermit in a state of despair. The Buendias family seems to be encountered with a series of unfortunate events as the novel proceeds. With periods of mourning, solitude and insanity, the characters endure the struggles of life and take on the sorrowful course their lives have set for them.
The novel portrays the concept of reality as it is experienced independently by people with different backgrounds, as opposed to the experience of an observer. It portrays the realism of each characters situations in ways that make it possible for readers to find the plot and characters relatable and understand the emotion behind the words. The story is also merged together in terms of the past, present, and future. The repetition of the characters names and the format of the plot and the way Marquez unveils it to the readers causes the story to have one body with braches, as opposed to several different stories emerged into one. One Hundred Years of Solitude was very interesting in my opinion and I found that I could relate to several plot points and the way some characters felt. The emotion put into telling the stories made me more curious and I found myself emerged in the novel. I would surly give it a 9 star rating. My reasoning for not giving it a perfect 10 was due to my constant confusion while reading the novel due to the constant twists and turns of the plot and the similarities among the characters name. Although, this confusion only led me to be more dedicated to the novel in hopes to understand intriguing plot and writing style. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantastic read.
Pride and Prejudice
Alice writes:
Pride and Prejudice
The Bennet family consists of five daughters, a mother and a father. The daughters are all unmarried but beautiful, and they all have special and unique characteristics. Mrs. Bennet, the mother, wants nothing more than for each of her five daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary) to marry to a rich handsome fellow. Lucky for the Bennets, a fitting gentleman named Charles Bingley comes to Netherfield Park, a town nearby where they live. After Mrs. Bennet nagging Mr. Bennet to go and visit Mr. Bingley, he finally does so. He approves him as a suitor for his girls because he likes him and he seems to be a nice man.
Mr. Bingley invites the Bennet family, mostly for the sake of meeting the girls, to a ball. At this dance, Mr. Bingley brings along another man with him, named Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is disliked by any the entire Bennet family. He is rude and obnoxious because he would not dance with Elizabeth. He sees her as unfit and lower class than he is. This is highly offensive to the Bennet family seeing as Elizabeth is the smartest and prettiest of all the girls. On the bright side of things, Mr. Bingley shows much interest in Jane after dancing with her more than just once.
Meetings between the Bennet family and Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy continue on, and oddly enough Mr. Darcy starts to show interest in one of the Bennet girls: Elizabeth. He is attracted to her because of her intelligence and charisma. Since Mr. Bennet and Jane have been showing interest to each other, Jane is invited to the Bingley house. To her misfortune though, the weather is not on her side. On her way there it starts to pour rain, and she gets sick. As a result she must stay in Netherfield until she feels better. Elizabeth has to go take care of Jane, and the only way to get there is by walking through a ton of mud and dirt. She finally arrives at the Bingley house, where she is scowled upon by Mr. Bingley’s sister, who is very snooty, for having such dirty, disgusting clothes. As if that weren’t enough, she notices that Mr. Darcy has an attraction towards her, which makes her hate Elizabeth even more.
When Jane and Elizabeth finally get home where they can properly rest, they find Mr. Collins, the heir of Mr. Bennet’s property, visiting. The girls think Mr. Collins is a self centered, arrogant person and the girls do not like him. On the contrary, he is fascinated with the daughters. During his visit his self-importance lessens and weakens after he proposes to Elizabeth - who turns him down!
This story takes place in Longbourn, England around the late 1700’s up to the early 1800’s. Because of this setting, class is a very important factor that is played into the story. For example, in the beginning Mr. Darcy doesn’t dance with Elizabeth because she isn’t “good enough” for him. Even before that, they girls are told they are to marry high class, rich men. Lastly, when Elizabeth enters the Darcy residence in soiled clothing, something lower class people usually wear, she is looked down upon. Needless to say, love is a huge theme in the novel as well as it is the basis of the plot.
Pride and Prejudice
The Bennet family consists of five daughters, a mother and a father. The daughters are all unmarried but beautiful, and they all have special and unique characteristics. Mrs. Bennet, the mother, wants nothing more than for each of her five daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary) to marry to a rich handsome fellow. Lucky for the Bennets, a fitting gentleman named Charles Bingley comes to Netherfield Park, a town nearby where they live. After Mrs. Bennet nagging Mr. Bennet to go and visit Mr. Bingley, he finally does so. He approves him as a suitor for his girls because he likes him and he seems to be a nice man.
Mr. Bingley invites the Bennet family, mostly for the sake of meeting the girls, to a ball. At this dance, Mr. Bingley brings along another man with him, named Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is disliked by any the entire Bennet family. He is rude and obnoxious because he would not dance with Elizabeth. He sees her as unfit and lower class than he is. This is highly offensive to the Bennet family seeing as Elizabeth is the smartest and prettiest of all the girls. On the bright side of things, Mr. Bingley shows much interest in Jane after dancing with her more than just once.
Meetings between the Bennet family and Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy continue on, and oddly enough Mr. Darcy starts to show interest in one of the Bennet girls: Elizabeth. He is attracted to her because of her intelligence and charisma. Since Mr. Bennet and Jane have been showing interest to each other, Jane is invited to the Bingley house. To her misfortune though, the weather is not on her side. On her way there it starts to pour rain, and she gets sick. As a result she must stay in Netherfield until she feels better. Elizabeth has to go take care of Jane, and the only way to get there is by walking through a ton of mud and dirt. She finally arrives at the Bingley house, where she is scowled upon by Mr. Bingley’s sister, who is very snooty, for having such dirty, disgusting clothes. As if that weren’t enough, she notices that Mr. Darcy has an attraction towards her, which makes her hate Elizabeth even more.
When Jane and Elizabeth finally get home where they can properly rest, they find Mr. Collins, the heir of Mr. Bennet’s property, visiting. The girls think Mr. Collins is a self centered, arrogant person and the girls do not like him. On the contrary, he is fascinated with the daughters. During his visit his self-importance lessens and weakens after he proposes to Elizabeth - who turns him down!
This story takes place in Longbourn, England around the late 1700’s up to the early 1800’s. Because of this setting, class is a very important factor that is played into the story. For example, in the beginning Mr. Darcy doesn’t dance with Elizabeth because she isn’t “good enough” for him. Even before that, they girls are told they are to marry high class, rich men. Lastly, when Elizabeth enters the Darcy residence in soiled clothing, something lower class people usually wear, she is looked down upon. Needless to say, love is a huge theme in the novel as well as it is the basis of the plot.
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Andre writes:
In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens relies heavily upon setting, one of the elements of fiction. And in this particular book, location makes all of the difference.
At the begging of the novel, we meet Pip, a young working class boy living in a village somewhere in the English countryside. While living the life of a blacksmith’s apprentice and a barely literate schoolboy, Pip secretly dreams of becoming a gentleman. At the time, European countries and governments were ruled and headed by the upper class. This is also particularly true of England, a society notorious for its elite. However, it also had quite a large working class. Pip, being born into it, acknowledges his social position and is taught to accept it, as is the norm in England. His entire life is shaped by the town boundaries and he dare not venture out of it. Had the story not been set in England or in some other European nation, perhaps in a country where birth right did not necessarily dictate the course of your life, Pip might have turned out to be a very different person than the one that Dickens writes about.
Later, Pip’s wish is granted and he is offered the opportunity to become a gentleman. He accepts it, but is forced to live in London. Though I have not read farther, I imagine that Pip and his view of the world will be shaped by his new home. Obviously, the great city and and small village are in stark contrast with one another and I am curious to see how Pip will cope with life in such a large metropolis, in particular, the initial transition and reactions to life in London. Later, as Pip is being raised, the aristocracy will have a heavy hand in bringing the boy up and culturing him, but Pip will have to make some decisions on his own. How his surroundings have molded him will be reflected in his choices.
In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens relies heavily upon setting, one of the elements of fiction. And in this particular book, location makes all of the difference.
At the begging of the novel, we meet Pip, a young working class boy living in a village somewhere in the English countryside. While living the life of a blacksmith’s apprentice and a barely literate schoolboy, Pip secretly dreams of becoming a gentleman. At the time, European countries and governments were ruled and headed by the upper class. This is also particularly true of England, a society notorious for its elite. However, it also had quite a large working class. Pip, being born into it, acknowledges his social position and is taught to accept it, as is the norm in England. His entire life is shaped by the town boundaries and he dare not venture out of it. Had the story not been set in England or in some other European nation, perhaps in a country where birth right did not necessarily dictate the course of your life, Pip might have turned out to be a very different person than the one that Dickens writes about.
Later, Pip’s wish is granted and he is offered the opportunity to become a gentleman. He accepts it, but is forced to live in London. Though I have not read farther, I imagine that Pip and his view of the world will be shaped by his new home. Obviously, the great city and and small village are in stark contrast with one another and I am curious to see how Pip will cope with life in such a large metropolis, in particular, the initial transition and reactions to life in London. Later, as Pip is being raised, the aristocracy will have a heavy hand in bringing the boy up and culturing him, but Pip will have to make some decisions on his own. How his surroundings have molded him will be reflected in his choices.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE By:Kurt Vonnegut Jr
Ayah writes:
MEET THE CHARACTERS:
o Billy Pilgrim- Main Character; Chaplain’s assistant and optometrist
o Barbara- Billy’s Daughter
o Robert- Billy’s son
o Roland Weary- Man who continuously saves Billy’s life…and then swears at him.
From witnessing a mass bombing in Germany (The Bombing of Dresden) to being kidnapped by Aliens, Billy Pilgrim has seen it all. He narrowly avoided the inevitable; DEATH. He managed to survive World War II and save himself. The problem is, he may have lost his sanity in return…
Prior to returning from the Great War, Billy’s daughter, Barbara, was getting married. On that magical evening, Billy’s plans change a little bit.
When Billy returns from fighting in World War II, he’s all “bent out of shape”. Billy is tired and confused and just, not there really. Some might call him crazy. He might be, just a little bit. Mostly though, Billy is realistic.
After coming back, Billy resumes his job as an optometrist. He used to be a chaplain’s assistant in the war, but now he’s optometrist. He wrote stories to magazines telling them about the wonderful experience he witnessed. The one that happened the day of his daughter’s wedding. Billy was taken (in a spaceship) to the alien planet of Tralfamadore. Billy has become unstuck in time. He learns the ways of the Tralfamadorians and discovered that things aren’t always what they seem. And that sometimes, the end is only the beginning.
Although I cannot write a complete summary YET (I haven’t completed the book) this gets you about halfway through. I’m looking forward to continuing it and discovering what else Mr. Vonnegut has up his sleeve…
MEET THE CHARACTERS:
o Billy Pilgrim- Main Character; Chaplain’s assistant and optometrist
o Barbara- Billy’s Daughter
o Robert- Billy’s son
o Roland Weary- Man who continuously saves Billy’s life…and then swears at him.
From witnessing a mass bombing in Germany (The Bombing of Dresden) to being kidnapped by Aliens, Billy Pilgrim has seen it all. He narrowly avoided the inevitable; DEATH. He managed to survive World War II and save himself. The problem is, he may have lost his sanity in return…
Prior to returning from the Great War, Billy’s daughter, Barbara, was getting married. On that magical evening, Billy’s plans change a little bit.
When Billy returns from fighting in World War II, he’s all “bent out of shape”. Billy is tired and confused and just, not there really. Some might call him crazy. He might be, just a little bit. Mostly though, Billy is realistic.
After coming back, Billy resumes his job as an optometrist. He used to be a chaplain’s assistant in the war, but now he’s optometrist. He wrote stories to magazines telling them about the wonderful experience he witnessed. The one that happened the day of his daughter’s wedding. Billy was taken (in a spaceship) to the alien planet of Tralfamadore. Billy has become unstuck in time. He learns the ways of the Tralfamadorians and discovered that things aren’t always what they seem. And that sometimes, the end is only the beginning.
Although I cannot write a complete summary YET (I haven’t completed the book) this gets you about halfway through. I’m looking forward to continuing it and discovering what else Mr. Vonnegut has up his sleeve…
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Meri writes:
The novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is about a boy named Huckleberry Finn who lives in Missouri and was adopted by the widow Douglas and lives with her and the widow’s sister Miss Watson. In Adventures of Tom Sawyer a previous novel, Huck and his friend Tom Sawyer found a robber’s stash of gold. The bank then took their money and put it into a trust. Huck always prefers to be untidy and very messy which the widow Douglas really doesn’t like and for that she is always trying to change Huck and make him more of gentlemen and educated which means he cant wear dirty cloths, cuss, or smoke his pipe like he’s always liked to do. The widow is also very religious which Huck really doesn’t like or understand. She’s always telling him stories of Moses and heaven which Huck doesn’t care for.
Before being adopted by the widow Huck had a drunken bum for who would also physically beat him all the time. Huck hasn’t seen him in over a year and he’s glad because he really doesn’t want to ever see him again. However he doesn’t get to have that wish when one day he found his pap in his room. He started yelling and telling Huck he wanted him to quit school because a son isn’t supposed to be better and smarter then their father. Pap heard about the money that Huck had gained and he came to take it from him to pay for his alcohol. He demanded getting custody on Huck to get the money but the judge Thatcher wouldn’t allow it. Though a new judge pops up and doesn’t believe its right to keep a son from their father and gives him custody. Later pap decided to kidnap Huck to get him away from the widow and school. They went to go stay in a cabin and most of the time pap would just lock Huck in the house.
Huck didn’t really hate his new life with his pap again because he got to be dirty cuss do whatever he wanted again and not go to school though he still got beatings from pap. Huck finally decides to run away. He saws a whole in the wall while pap is gone and makes a plan to fake his own death so pap wouldn’t come looking for him. So he slaughters a pig leaving blood everywhere, steals everything from the house leaves a path for pap to follow making it look like they were robbed and who ever did it killed Huck. Then Huck ran off to live on Jackson Island where he could hunt and live off of fish. There he finds Miss Watson’s slave Jim who had also ran away because he was going to be sold to someone he didn’t want to be sold to.
The novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is about a boy named Huckleberry Finn who lives in Missouri and was adopted by the widow Douglas and lives with her and the widow’s sister Miss Watson. In Adventures of Tom Sawyer a previous novel, Huck and his friend Tom Sawyer found a robber’s stash of gold. The bank then took their money and put it into a trust. Huck always prefers to be untidy and very messy which the widow Douglas really doesn’t like and for that she is always trying to change Huck and make him more of gentlemen and educated which means he cant wear dirty cloths, cuss, or smoke his pipe like he’s always liked to do. The widow is also very religious which Huck really doesn’t like or understand. She’s always telling him stories of Moses and heaven which Huck doesn’t care for.
Before being adopted by the widow Huck had a drunken bum for who would also physically beat him all the time. Huck hasn’t seen him in over a year and he’s glad because he really doesn’t want to ever see him again. However he doesn’t get to have that wish when one day he found his pap in his room. He started yelling and telling Huck he wanted him to quit school because a son isn’t supposed to be better and smarter then their father. Pap heard about the money that Huck had gained and he came to take it from him to pay for his alcohol. He demanded getting custody on Huck to get the money but the judge Thatcher wouldn’t allow it. Though a new judge pops up and doesn’t believe its right to keep a son from their father and gives him custody. Later pap decided to kidnap Huck to get him away from the widow and school. They went to go stay in a cabin and most of the time pap would just lock Huck in the house.
Huck didn’t really hate his new life with his pap again because he got to be dirty cuss do whatever he wanted again and not go to school though he still got beatings from pap. Huck finally decides to run away. He saws a whole in the wall while pap is gone and makes a plan to fake his own death so pap wouldn’t come looking for him. So he slaughters a pig leaving blood everywhere, steals everything from the house leaves a path for pap to follow making it look like they were robbed and who ever did it killed Huck. Then Huck ran off to live on Jackson Island where he could hunt and live off of fish. There he finds Miss Watson’s slave Jim who had also ran away because he was going to be sold to someone he didn’t want to be sold to.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest By Ken Kesey
Zac writes:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest takes place in the 1960’s in a mental hospital. It tells the sad tales of a mental institution and its patients, it is quite a sad place. But when a new mischievous patient is brought in, the hospital world begins to lighten up and opportunities open up.
The main character and narrator; Chief Bromden tells the story of the everyday life living in a hospital, but mainly Randle Patrick McMurphy. R. P. McMurphy was a gambler. McMurphy was loud, obnoxious and a bit full of himself, he had red hair and was broad, big, and tall. He faked insanity and began to smuggle all sorts of things into the institution, he had introduced rebellion and fun.
Now there were two classes the patients could be classified as, you were either an acute, or a chronic. An acute is someone who goes to a mental hospital for minor issues, and is treated then can go all in a short amount of time. The more unlucky ones, were known as the chronics, someone who has severe or permanent issues, someone who basically has no hope and will almost surely die in the hospital. The chronics stay longer and suffer until they can’t live anymore; they’re there for life. Which brings us to our main character, “Chief” Bromden.
Bromden stood six foot seven inches. He had been there since the end of WWII, but he was perfectly fine. Chief Brodmen faked being deaf and “mute.” After the humiliation of his father by the government, Brodmen began to hallucinate and claimed society was ran by a giant machine called “the Combine.” He turned into the hospital’s janitor and was ordered to sweep the institution by no other then the head nurse, Nurse Ratched.
Nurse Ratched was a tyrant figure, she was mean, big, and wouldn’t hesitate to restrict medication from the patients. She took total control and always relied on Billy Bibbit. Billy Bibbit was one of the acutes; he was a scrawny boy with strong speech problems and had depression. Billy attempted to commit suicide several times and had cut himself frequently, he always kissed up to Nurse Ratched and told her anything she needed to know, he told her who was causing trouble, anything that she asked of him, he’d do it. Some other acutes are Martini, Dale Harding George Sorensen and Max Tabar. Coming up we find more about Randle McMurphy and his mischievous ways as he plans to bring in more chaos to the institution, what will Nurse Ratched do? We will find out next.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest takes place in the 1960’s in a mental hospital. It tells the sad tales of a mental institution and its patients, it is quite a sad place. But when a new mischievous patient is brought in, the hospital world begins to lighten up and opportunities open up.
The main character and narrator; Chief Bromden tells the story of the everyday life living in a hospital, but mainly Randle Patrick McMurphy. R. P. McMurphy was a gambler. McMurphy was loud, obnoxious and a bit full of himself, he had red hair and was broad, big, and tall. He faked insanity and began to smuggle all sorts of things into the institution, he had introduced rebellion and fun.
Now there were two classes the patients could be classified as, you were either an acute, or a chronic. An acute is someone who goes to a mental hospital for minor issues, and is treated then can go all in a short amount of time. The more unlucky ones, were known as the chronics, someone who has severe or permanent issues, someone who basically has no hope and will almost surely die in the hospital. The chronics stay longer and suffer until they can’t live anymore; they’re there for life. Which brings us to our main character, “Chief” Bromden.
Bromden stood six foot seven inches. He had been there since the end of WWII, but he was perfectly fine. Chief Brodmen faked being deaf and “mute.” After the humiliation of his father by the government, Brodmen began to hallucinate and claimed society was ran by a giant machine called “the Combine.” He turned into the hospital’s janitor and was ordered to sweep the institution by no other then the head nurse, Nurse Ratched.
Nurse Ratched was a tyrant figure, she was mean, big, and wouldn’t hesitate to restrict medication from the patients. She took total control and always relied on Billy Bibbit. Billy Bibbit was one of the acutes; he was a scrawny boy with strong speech problems and had depression. Billy attempted to commit suicide several times and had cut himself frequently, he always kissed up to Nurse Ratched and told her anything she needed to know, he told her who was causing trouble, anything that she asked of him, he’d do it. Some other acutes are Martini, Dale Harding George Sorensen and Max Tabar. Coming up we find more about Randle McMurphy and his mischievous ways as he plans to bring in more chaos to the institution, what will Nurse Ratched do? We will find out next.
The Natural by Bernard Malamud
Jessica writes:
I am currently half way through my independent reading book, “The Natural” by Bernard Malamud. As I have been reading I have noticed how “Wonderboy” is Malamud’s way of showing Roy Hobbs, the main character through a baseball bat.
Roy Hobbs is the main character in the novel that has so far made a journey from the country to New York with the hope of playing for the New York Knights. The thirty four year old takes the train with Sam Simpson, the man who is trying to recruit him, and carries with him an old bassoon case. For a good portion of the beginning of the book, Malamud keeps the reader wondering what is in the case as he asks through various characters, what exactly it is Roy’s storing in that case. We don’t actually find out until we keep reading a little further.
The reader is introduced to the object in the bassoon case when Roy goes up to bat against Al Fowler. He hits all the hard pitches thrown at him with a lot of power, especially considering the fact that he’s one of the older players, and does so outstanding, Pop, the head coach, calls him over to inspect his bat. The bassoon case had been holding his secret weapon which was engraved with the name “Wonderboy”. Roy had engraved the name Wonderboy into the bat after making it himself. He explained to Pop that he gave it this name because he wanted it to be “a very good bat.” (63) A tree had been stuck by lightning where he used to live and he liked the wood inside of the split tree so much he carved out a bat for himself.
This bat named Wonderboy plays a very important role in the novel and I believe it a symbol that relates to the main character. Roy is just like his bat because he was nothing but an unknown country boy until he goes to New York and is discovered. His bat was once a tree by a river where he used to live and he was able to carve it out and make it an amazing bat that can hit anything. This is a major symbol in the novel which Malamud used to help the reader get a better understanding of who Roy Hobbs is and where he came from. Wonderboy really symbolizes how unknown Roy was before he went to try out for the New York Knights.
I am currently half way through my independent reading book, “The Natural” by Bernard Malamud. As I have been reading I have noticed how “Wonderboy” is Malamud’s way of showing Roy Hobbs, the main character through a baseball bat.
Roy Hobbs is the main character in the novel that has so far made a journey from the country to New York with the hope of playing for the New York Knights. The thirty four year old takes the train with Sam Simpson, the man who is trying to recruit him, and carries with him an old bassoon case. For a good portion of the beginning of the book, Malamud keeps the reader wondering what is in the case as he asks through various characters, what exactly it is Roy’s storing in that case. We don’t actually find out until we keep reading a little further.
The reader is introduced to the object in the bassoon case when Roy goes up to bat against Al Fowler. He hits all the hard pitches thrown at him with a lot of power, especially considering the fact that he’s one of the older players, and does so outstanding, Pop, the head coach, calls him over to inspect his bat. The bassoon case had been holding his secret weapon which was engraved with the name “Wonderboy”. Roy had engraved the name Wonderboy into the bat after making it himself. He explained to Pop that he gave it this name because he wanted it to be “a very good bat.” (63) A tree had been stuck by lightning where he used to live and he liked the wood inside of the split tree so much he carved out a bat for himself.
This bat named Wonderboy plays a very important role in the novel and I believe it a symbol that relates to the main character. Roy is just like his bat because he was nothing but an unknown country boy until he goes to New York and is discovered. His bat was once a tree by a river where he used to live and he was able to carve it out and make it an amazing bat that can hit anything. This is a major symbol in the novel which Malamud used to help the reader get a better understanding of who Roy Hobbs is and where he came from. Wonderboy really symbolizes how unknown Roy was before he went to try out for the New York Knights.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The House of The Spirits by Isabel Allende
Lauren writes:
The novel I, just finished up reading is The House of The Spirits by
Isabel Allende. This novel is filled with excitement and suspense that
will make you want to keep reading. This novel is about a young girl
named Clara, whose priest accused her of being possessed by the devil.
As Clara's life continues she keeps a journal explaining all of her
adventures in her life. About 50 years later her husband Esteban
and granddaughter Alba look at all these different stories as clues that help put
their family history together. As a chosen one Clara has a talent that nobody else can
really understand. Clara can see into the future, she can tell whats
going to happen before it actually does. Although you may see this as
being extremely useful it can also cause huge problems in Clara's
life, she may be able to see the future but she can not change it.
After Clara's sister, Rosa is accidentally poisoned and dies Clara and
Esteban get married and shortly after have a child named Blanca.
After a trip, towards the end of the summer Clara then realizes she is
pregnant with twins, Nicholas and Jaime but soon finds out the
discouraging news that both her parents have been killed in a car
accident and will soon be buried...This is just a small amount of what
has happened in the novel, The House of The Spirits and without giving
the whole story away I just want to say I have really enjoyed this
story and would recommend it to anyone.
The novel I, just finished up reading is The House of The Spirits by
Isabel Allende. This novel is filled with excitement and suspense that
will make you want to keep reading. This novel is about a young girl
named Clara, whose priest accused her of being possessed by the devil.
As Clara's life continues she keeps a journal explaining all of her
adventures in her life. About 50 years later her husband Esteban
and granddaughter Alba look at all these different stories as clues that help put
their family history together. As a chosen one Clara has a talent that nobody else can
really understand. Clara can see into the future, she can tell whats
going to happen before it actually does. Although you may see this as
being extremely useful it can also cause huge problems in Clara's
life, she may be able to see the future but she can not change it.
After Clara's sister, Rosa is accidentally poisoned and dies Clara and
Esteban get married and shortly after have a child named Blanca.
After a trip, towards the end of the summer Clara then realizes she is
pregnant with twins, Nicholas and Jaime but soon finds out the
discouraging news that both her parents have been killed in a car
accident and will soon be buried...This is just a small amount of what
has happened in the novel, The House of The Spirits and without giving
the whole story away I just want to say I have really enjoyed this
story and would recommend it to anyone.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Kosta writes:
So far in the book Dorian is giving into Lord Henry's influence. Dorian is tired of not living life to the fullest and takes up on Lord Henry's advice. Dorian has also found love in a girl who acts in a theatre almost every night. He is consumed by her beauty and acting and wants to make her his bride. He believes she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and goes to see her every night. One night he decides to bring his two closest friends, Basil and Henry. On this night that they come, the girl has the worst night of her life and acts terribly. This infuriates Dorian who out of anger yells at her and tells her he no longer wishes to wed with her. The next day, she is found dead and nobody knows her cause of death.
So far in the book Dorian is giving into Lord Henry's influence. Dorian is tired of not living life to the fullest and takes up on Lord Henry's advice. Dorian has also found love in a girl who acts in a theatre almost every night. He is consumed by her beauty and acting and wants to make her his bride. He believes she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and goes to see her every night. One night he decides to bring his two closest friends, Basil and Henry. On this night that they come, the girl has the worst night of her life and acts terribly. This infuriates Dorian who out of anger yells at her and tells her he no longer wishes to wed with her. The next day, she is found dead and nobody knows her cause of death.
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
Norah writes:
The novel that I'm reading, Madame Bovary, starts off when Charles Bovary starts school as an eighth grader. It quickly describes his family and lifestyle as a child. After 10th grade, his family enrolled him into medical school with confidence he would succeed. His mother provided him with furniture for an apartment, and every week, she sent him food. Soon, Charles started skipping classes and going to the beach, and when his examination came up to become an officier de sante', he failed it. He and his mother kept it a secret from his father for a few years, until Monsieur Bovary would be able to accept it easily. Soon after, he passed his exam. There was one doctor in the town, and he was very old, so Charles' mother was waiting for him to pass away. She also found him a wife, whom Charles didn't love. One night, Charles got a doctor call late at night, and there he met Emma. He began visiting regularly, and his wife got very jealous. Then one day, she was in the yard, when she fell over and died. Even though he hadn't loved her, he still felt awful. He began visiting Emma again, and he soon asked her father if they could get married, and he said yes. The wedding was very nice, started at Emma's house and traveled to the town hall for food and dancing. Emma and Charles seemed very in love, but she soon realized he was very inexperienced.
The novel that I'm reading, Madame Bovary, starts off when Charles Bovary starts school as an eighth grader. It quickly describes his family and lifestyle as a child. After 10th grade, his family enrolled him into medical school with confidence he would succeed. His mother provided him with furniture for an apartment, and every week, she sent him food. Soon, Charles started skipping classes and going to the beach, and when his examination came up to become an officier de sante', he failed it. He and his mother kept it a secret from his father for a few years, until Monsieur Bovary would be able to accept it easily. Soon after, he passed his exam. There was one doctor in the town, and he was very old, so Charles' mother was waiting for him to pass away. She also found him a wife, whom Charles didn't love. One night, Charles got a doctor call late at night, and there he met Emma. He began visiting regularly, and his wife got very jealous. Then one day, she was in the yard, when she fell over and died. Even though he hadn't loved her, he still felt awful. He began visiting Emma again, and he soon asked her father if they could get married, and he said yes. The wedding was very nice, started at Emma's house and traveled to the town hall for food and dancing. Emma and Charles seemed very in love, but she soon realized he was very inexperienced.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Emma
Deborah writes:
In Jane Austen’s Emma, Emma believes she has a gift for matchmaking. Whenever there is a couple, or a potential couple she take the opportunity to meddle. Though she has the best intentions, she always seems to mess things up a little. It started with her best friend, Ms. Taylor, who Emma introduced to her new husband, Mr. Weston. Emma, thinking she can never be wrong starts working on setting up everyone around her, including her easily persuaded friend, Harriet. Harriet is planning on getting engaged to Mr. Martin, but Emma convinces her to refuse and aim higher. The man Emma had planned for her ended up being nothing but a social climber who thought he was above Harriet, so she was alone and “heart broken.”
Meanwhile, Emma is also dealing with Jane Fairfax and Mr. Weston’s son, Mr. Churchill. Jane is talented, beautiful and well liked, and Emma’s envy of her causes tension. Even more so when Emma and Mr. Churchill start being seen as an item because he is secretly engaged to Jane. This news doesn’t faze Emma; she was more interested in making everyone around her happy than Mr. Churchill himself.
As the story progressed proving that Emma wasn’t as flawless as she thought she was. Her ignorance led to jealousy, heart break, and pain for her and the friends she tried to help. However, with the help of Mr. Knightly, Emma fixes the problems she has created while she is learning that she isn’t love-proof as she once thought. In the end, everything works out for the best.
Personally, I would give this book 2.5 stars. Austen’s diction makes the story sometimes hard to follow and I found Emma’s cocky personality to be annoying. I thought the overall plot was sappy and unrealistic, but for those hopeless-romantic types, it’s the perfect story. I would recommend it to people who tend to like early English style writing and lovey-dovey stories, but to anyone else I don’t think this would be the best choice of books.
In Jane Austen’s Emma, Emma believes she has a gift for matchmaking. Whenever there is a couple, or a potential couple she take the opportunity to meddle. Though she has the best intentions, she always seems to mess things up a little. It started with her best friend, Ms. Taylor, who Emma introduced to her new husband, Mr. Weston. Emma, thinking she can never be wrong starts working on setting up everyone around her, including her easily persuaded friend, Harriet. Harriet is planning on getting engaged to Mr. Martin, but Emma convinces her to refuse and aim higher. The man Emma had planned for her ended up being nothing but a social climber who thought he was above Harriet, so she was alone and “heart broken.”
Meanwhile, Emma is also dealing with Jane Fairfax and Mr. Weston’s son, Mr. Churchill. Jane is talented, beautiful and well liked, and Emma’s envy of her causes tension. Even more so when Emma and Mr. Churchill start being seen as an item because he is secretly engaged to Jane. This news doesn’t faze Emma; she was more interested in making everyone around her happy than Mr. Churchill himself.
As the story progressed proving that Emma wasn’t as flawless as she thought she was. Her ignorance led to jealousy, heart break, and pain for her and the friends she tried to help. However, with the help of Mr. Knightly, Emma fixes the problems she has created while she is learning that she isn’t love-proof as she once thought. In the end, everything works out for the best.
Personally, I would give this book 2.5 stars. Austen’s diction makes the story sometimes hard to follow and I found Emma’s cocky personality to be annoying. I thought the overall plot was sappy and unrealistic, but for those hopeless-romantic types, it’s the perfect story. I would recommend it to people who tend to like early English style writing and lovey-dovey stories, but to anyone else I don’t think this would be the best choice of books.
The Collector by James Fowles
Lidia Writes:
I have finally reached the end of my novel The Collector by James Fowles; and I have to say, it was by far the most thrilling and captivating story I have ever read. The final conclusion really shocked me and left me speechless. I wasn't expecting such a tragedy to come over Miranda like it did. It actually made me really sad to finally have learned that she would never have a chance to taste freedom again.
Aside from the sorrow of Miranda's happening, I was even more surprised to have found out the sick and twisted mind of Ferdinand that later was revealed. (And to think all this time I had such pity over him, thinking that he is just a lonely person who needs someone in his life to care for and to love.)
The way that James Fowles wrote this novel, made you unable to put it down.
I would definitely recommend this story to people who enjoy reading stimulating classics.
I have finally reached the end of my novel The Collector by James Fowles; and I have to say, it was by far the most thrilling and captivating story I have ever read. The final conclusion really shocked me and left me speechless. I wasn't expecting such a tragedy to come over Miranda like it did. It actually made me really sad to finally have learned that she would never have a chance to taste freedom again.
Aside from the sorrow of Miranda's happening, I was even more surprised to have found out the sick and twisted mind of Ferdinand that later was revealed. (And to think all this time I had such pity over him, thinking that he is just a lonely person who needs someone in his life to care for and to love.)
The way that James Fowles wrote this novel, made you unable to put it down.
I would definitely recommend this story to people who enjoy reading stimulating classics.
Frankenstein
Logan writes:
The second half of Frankenstein was full of action. You continue to hear the rest of Victor’s exciting life and all of the tragedy that he went through. It becomes Victor’s goal in life to capture his monster and destroy him. Eventually his story catches up with the present tense in the novel and the reader gets to hear from the captain of the boating expedition from the beginning of the novel. The boat is stuck in ice, Victor is very sick, and there is still a monster on the loose. To find out what happens next and the solution to all of these problems I recommend you read this novel. Overall, though I would give this novel a 7 out of 10 rating. The story is dry at times and can be hard to read. The moments in the story that are full of action are very good though and as a whole I did enjoy reading it. I would mostly recommend it for boys with the grotesque monster and fighting scenes, but there is a subtle love story too between Victor and Elizabeth which may cause some girls to want to read this novel. There is no doubt that this story is a classic and will continued to be read for generations to come.
The second half of Frankenstein was full of action. You continue to hear the rest of Victor’s exciting life and all of the tragedy that he went through. It becomes Victor’s goal in life to capture his monster and destroy him. Eventually his story catches up with the present tense in the novel and the reader gets to hear from the captain of the boating expedition from the beginning of the novel. The boat is stuck in ice, Victor is very sick, and there is still a monster on the loose. To find out what happens next and the solution to all of these problems I recommend you read this novel. Overall, though I would give this novel a 7 out of 10 rating. The story is dry at times and can be hard to read. The moments in the story that are full of action are very good though and as a whole I did enjoy reading it. I would mostly recommend it for boys with the grotesque monster and fighting scenes, but there is a subtle love story too between Victor and Elizabeth which may cause some girls to want to read this novel. There is no doubt that this story is a classic and will continued to be read for generations to come.
The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky
Shayan writes:
I finally finished the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. It was a very long book, but in the end it was worth reading. When I last wrote I was towards the beginning of the book so I have a lot to cover in a short space, so I will try to do a quick summary of the events.
At the monastery, Fyodor Pavlovich and Dmitri continue arguing and the reader finds out that they are both after the same girl, Grushenka. Fyodor has offered her 3,000 rubles. Meanwhile, Dmitri is trying to raise 3,000 rubles so that he can pay back his former love, Katerina, from whom he had borrowed money. He is trying to clear his conscience so he can be fully devoted to Grushenka, so he asks Aloysha to break the engagement for him.
At this point in the story, Dostoevsky reveals that Fyodor has yet another son, Smerdyakov. The Karamazov’s servants Grigory and his wife Marfa once had a child that had six fingers and had lived only two weeks. On the night of his burial, Grigory heard a girl crying and found a dying young girl and her child next to her. The mother was Lizaveta, a slow, dim-witted girl. The town was outraged and horrified that someone would seduce the helpless girl and they concluded the only person perverted enough to do it was Fyodor Pavlovich. Grigory and his wife adopted him.
Dmitri tries going to a nearby town to get the money but he returns empty handed. Upon arriving back to his town, he can’t find Grushenka and concludes she must be at his father’s house. He quickly searches the house and he can’t find her. As he is leaving, Grigory stops him and Dmitri strikes him with a club leaving him bloody and unconscious. He runs to her house and is informed that she is with her former lover again. Dmitri is overcome with grief. He decides he will set out to see her for the last time and the he will kill himself.
When he finds the two, he sees that they were a bit awkward together and in the end, Grushenka decides that Dmitri is her true love. Soon after this however, Dmitri is arrested by the police and is convicted of killing his father. There is a lot of evidence against him, especially his bloody clothes, and he is indicted. The trial, reminds me of the trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. Even though they are both innocent, they are both convicted.
The story resumes a few months later. Smerdyakov has been sick ever since the murder and Ivan goes to visit him and discuss theories. On the first and second visits, Smerdyakov says that Ivan knew that Dmitri was going to kill their father and that he didn’t do anything about it because he internally wanted his father to die and because he wanted the fortune. Ivan gradually is convinced that he is partly to blame. On the third visit however, Smerdyakov confesses that he actually murdered Fyodor Pavlovich, but Ivan is to blame too, for he gave a new understanding of morality to Smerdyakov which allowed him to kill. Smerdyakov kills himself shortly after.
The day of the trial arrives and Dmitri puts up a good defense. However, Katerina shows the court a letter that Dmitri wrote to her. In the letter, Dmitri says that he might have to kill his father to get the 3,000 rubles to pay her back. The court convicts Dmitri. After the trial, Katerina is upset by her betrayal of Dmitri and they formulate a plan to help him escape. Aloysha goes to the jail and tell Dmitri of the plan and he only agrees so that he can be reunited with Grushenka. He however, will have to move to America, but he promises to return to his homeland.
This is how the story ends. Overall it was a very interesting story about good, evil, religion, the existence of God, and morality. I think that Dostoyevsky believes that you don’t have to believe in God and life after death to do good in the world. He also brings up a good point, however, that if one doesn’t fear consequences for ones’ actions, he will live immorally.
I finally finished the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. It was a very long book, but in the end it was worth reading. When I last wrote I was towards the beginning of the book so I have a lot to cover in a short space, so I will try to do a quick summary of the events.
At the monastery, Fyodor Pavlovich and Dmitri continue arguing and the reader finds out that they are both after the same girl, Grushenka. Fyodor has offered her 3,000 rubles. Meanwhile, Dmitri is trying to raise 3,000 rubles so that he can pay back his former love, Katerina, from whom he had borrowed money. He is trying to clear his conscience so he can be fully devoted to Grushenka, so he asks Aloysha to break the engagement for him.
At this point in the story, Dostoevsky reveals that Fyodor has yet another son, Smerdyakov. The Karamazov’s servants Grigory and his wife Marfa once had a child that had six fingers and had lived only two weeks. On the night of his burial, Grigory heard a girl crying and found a dying young girl and her child next to her. The mother was Lizaveta, a slow, dim-witted girl. The town was outraged and horrified that someone would seduce the helpless girl and they concluded the only person perverted enough to do it was Fyodor Pavlovich. Grigory and his wife adopted him.
Dmitri tries going to a nearby town to get the money but he returns empty handed. Upon arriving back to his town, he can’t find Grushenka and concludes she must be at his father’s house. He quickly searches the house and he can’t find her. As he is leaving, Grigory stops him and Dmitri strikes him with a club leaving him bloody and unconscious. He runs to her house and is informed that she is with her former lover again. Dmitri is overcome with grief. He decides he will set out to see her for the last time and the he will kill himself.
When he finds the two, he sees that they were a bit awkward together and in the end, Grushenka decides that Dmitri is her true love. Soon after this however, Dmitri is arrested by the police and is convicted of killing his father. There is a lot of evidence against him, especially his bloody clothes, and he is indicted. The trial, reminds me of the trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. Even though they are both innocent, they are both convicted.
The story resumes a few months later. Smerdyakov has been sick ever since the murder and Ivan goes to visit him and discuss theories. On the first and second visits, Smerdyakov says that Ivan knew that Dmitri was going to kill their father and that he didn’t do anything about it because he internally wanted his father to die and because he wanted the fortune. Ivan gradually is convinced that he is partly to blame. On the third visit however, Smerdyakov confesses that he actually murdered Fyodor Pavlovich, but Ivan is to blame too, for he gave a new understanding of morality to Smerdyakov which allowed him to kill. Smerdyakov kills himself shortly after.
The day of the trial arrives and Dmitri puts up a good defense. However, Katerina shows the court a letter that Dmitri wrote to her. In the letter, Dmitri says that he might have to kill his father to get the 3,000 rubles to pay her back. The court convicts Dmitri. After the trial, Katerina is upset by her betrayal of Dmitri and they formulate a plan to help him escape. Aloysha goes to the jail and tell Dmitri of the plan and he only agrees so that he can be reunited with Grushenka. He however, will have to move to America, but he promises to return to his homeland.
This is how the story ends. Overall it was a very interesting story about good, evil, religion, the existence of God, and morality. I think that Dostoyevsky believes that you don’t have to believe in God and life after death to do good in the world. He also brings up a good point, however, that if one doesn’t fear consequences for ones’ actions, he will live immorally.
Judethe Obscure
Jadzia writes:
Since the second blog entry, Jude sees his cousin Sue and his old schoolmaster. Jude learns from Sue that his old schoolmaster, Mr. Phillotson, is still at Christminster. Upon learning that Mr. Phillotson became a village schoolmaster, Jude's own hopes of becoming a scholar fades. He realizes that if Mr. Phillotson did not succeed in his goal, then how could he? Also, when Jude meets Mr. Philloston at the schoolhouse, Jude asks if Mr. Phillotson remembers him. When his old schoolmaster did not remember him, Jude is very disappointed. Jude starts to regret visiting his schoolmaster but when Jude tells Mr. Phillotson about how he used to write grammars to him, Mr. Phillotson says that he does dimly remember him.
After their visit with Mr. Phillotson, Jude asks why Sue is leaving Christminster. She explains that she and another girl at work are fighting. Jude suggests that Sue ask Mr. Phillotson if she could be a teacher at the school. When Sue asks, Mr. Phillotson replies that she could be a teacher but that she should view the job as an apprenticeship because the salary is so low.
Jude goes back to Marygreen to visit his aunt who is very sick. While at Marygreen, Jude talks with a friend who is surprised that Jude is not yet in college. So, Jude decides to write to five professors. When the reply letters come back to him, the professors say that he should remain in his current position instead of pursuing his dream. Jude grows depressed and turns to a tavern for comfort. After going to the tavern, he goes to Sue's house where she tells him to stay for the night.
Later in the novel, Jude learns that he had a child with Arabella. The child has been living with Arabella's parents in Australia but that Arabella's parents can no longer care for the child. So, Jude and Sue decide to take the child in and name him Little Father Time because of his mature behavior.
This novel is not my favorite. I don't think that people my age would like it because the story moves slowly and not much happens. I also do not like this novel because I do not like the characters very much, especially Arabella. She left Jude and she left her child in Australia with her parents. I do not think it is right that she did not take her own child in when her parents could not care for him anymore. These are the reasons that I do not like this book and I would not recommend it to another student.
Since the second blog entry, Jude sees his cousin Sue and his old schoolmaster. Jude learns from Sue that his old schoolmaster, Mr. Phillotson, is still at Christminster. Upon learning that Mr. Phillotson became a village schoolmaster, Jude's own hopes of becoming a scholar fades. He realizes that if Mr. Phillotson did not succeed in his goal, then how could he? Also, when Jude meets Mr. Philloston at the schoolhouse, Jude asks if Mr. Phillotson remembers him. When his old schoolmaster did not remember him, Jude is very disappointed. Jude starts to regret visiting his schoolmaster but when Jude tells Mr. Phillotson about how he used to write grammars to him, Mr. Phillotson says that he does dimly remember him.
After their visit with Mr. Phillotson, Jude asks why Sue is leaving Christminster. She explains that she and another girl at work are fighting. Jude suggests that Sue ask Mr. Phillotson if she could be a teacher at the school. When Sue asks, Mr. Phillotson replies that she could be a teacher but that she should view the job as an apprenticeship because the salary is so low.
Jude goes back to Marygreen to visit his aunt who is very sick. While at Marygreen, Jude talks with a friend who is surprised that Jude is not yet in college. So, Jude decides to write to five professors. When the reply letters come back to him, the professors say that he should remain in his current position instead of pursuing his dream. Jude grows depressed and turns to a tavern for comfort. After going to the tavern, he goes to Sue's house where she tells him to stay for the night.
Later in the novel, Jude learns that he had a child with Arabella. The child has been living with Arabella's parents in Australia but that Arabella's parents can no longer care for the child. So, Jude and Sue decide to take the child in and name him Little Father Time because of his mature behavior.
This novel is not my favorite. I don't think that people my age would like it because the story moves slowly and not much happens. I also do not like this novel because I do not like the characters very much, especially Arabella. She left Jude and she left her child in Australia with her parents. I do not think it is right that she did not take her own child in when her parents could not care for him anymore. These are the reasons that I do not like this book and I would not recommend it to another student.
Madame Bovary
Joanne writes:
Since my last blog post a lot has happened. I left off with Madame Bovary showing up at the ball. While she was there she was dancing and totally forgot about her farm life. She felt like she was born into the wrong life. After the ball was over she rode the carriage home and that is when she finds another thing about her husband she does not like, she finds out he smokes on occasion. Every morning after she wakes up, she counts how long ago the dance was. She continues to grow tired and annoyed with Charles and over time with her terrible life she becomes ill. She wants to move away from where they live now and when she gets sick the doctors suggest they should move. They end up moving to Yonville.
The town is known for, the pharmacy, the graveyard there, and the Lion d’Or inn, where the Bovarys’ are staying. The town awaits their arrival. Now Monsieur Homais and Charles Bovary are the two doctors in the town, their first night there they dine in the Lion d’Or inn with Monsieur Homais where Emma meets Leon. Emma and Leon developed a relationship that night and she now hopes and believes that her life will get better here. Emma’s baby is later born and it is a girl whose name is Berthe, but she wanted a boy so it could have the power she didn’t have. The baby stays with the wet nurse. One day she goes to visit the baby but does not feel well and asks Leon to go with her. Rumors start about an affair. One day she realizes her feeling is mutual but can not do anything because of her marriage. She is causing her self to become ill and pushing herself from the family. Leon later decides he is leaving for Paris to study. After he leaves Emma goes back to her depressed ways. She later meets Rodolphe Boulanger.
Rodolphe Boulanger came to see Charles because of his servant but he falls for Emma’s beauty. He confesses his love and she tries to resist but can not. She had an affair and started sneaking away constantly to be with him but it did not last long because he grew bored of her and used her only for sex. Emma then tries to regain the love and buys him extravagant gifts by which she goes in debt. She has also become very careless with the affair that now the whole town knows about it. Emma wants to run away with Rodolphe and they say they will run of to Rouen but he calls it off. She becomes deathly ill. When she starts to recover Charles is very afraid and has a horrible financial problem. He decides that it would benefit Emma’s health to take her to an opera.
When they went to the opera she is once again embarrassed by him. While there though, she discovers that Leon is in the crowd and they later talk. Emma and Charles decide that she should stay to see the second half while he returns to Yonville. Leon tries again to confess his love but Emma tries to refuse but they spend the day together again the reconnect. On Emma’s return she discovers that Charles’ father has died. While in mourning, Emma takes charge of the papers and returns to Rouen to “work with the papers” with Leon. They really have a three day fling. Emma starts becoming obsessed with Leon and finds any possible way to see him, once she even pretended to be taking piano lessons. Emma goes further in debt and grows tired of Leon. Her live slowly dwindled to nothing.
I like the novel, Madame Bovary, but it is a complex novel through my eyes. Gustave Flaubert wrote it very well with lots of foreshadowing and symbolism. The characters are very well created, my favorite is Charles because he seems to be a good man just not what she wanted, but despite her cruel ways he still loves her. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was older by a few years. I might be able to connect and understand his style more if I wait. So I will say that it was a good novel but I would not recommend it, at least not now.
Since my last blog post a lot has happened. I left off with Madame Bovary showing up at the ball. While she was there she was dancing and totally forgot about her farm life. She felt like she was born into the wrong life. After the ball was over she rode the carriage home and that is when she finds another thing about her husband she does not like, she finds out he smokes on occasion. Every morning after she wakes up, she counts how long ago the dance was. She continues to grow tired and annoyed with Charles and over time with her terrible life she becomes ill. She wants to move away from where they live now and when she gets sick the doctors suggest they should move. They end up moving to Yonville.
The town is known for, the pharmacy, the graveyard there, and the Lion d’Or inn, where the Bovarys’ are staying. The town awaits their arrival. Now Monsieur Homais and Charles Bovary are the two doctors in the town, their first night there they dine in the Lion d’Or inn with Monsieur Homais where Emma meets Leon. Emma and Leon developed a relationship that night and she now hopes and believes that her life will get better here. Emma’s baby is later born and it is a girl whose name is Berthe, but she wanted a boy so it could have the power she didn’t have. The baby stays with the wet nurse. One day she goes to visit the baby but does not feel well and asks Leon to go with her. Rumors start about an affair. One day she realizes her feeling is mutual but can not do anything because of her marriage. She is causing her self to become ill and pushing herself from the family. Leon later decides he is leaving for Paris to study. After he leaves Emma goes back to her depressed ways. She later meets Rodolphe Boulanger.
Rodolphe Boulanger came to see Charles because of his servant but he falls for Emma’s beauty. He confesses his love and she tries to resist but can not. She had an affair and started sneaking away constantly to be with him but it did not last long because he grew bored of her and used her only for sex. Emma then tries to regain the love and buys him extravagant gifts by which she goes in debt. She has also become very careless with the affair that now the whole town knows about it. Emma wants to run away with Rodolphe and they say they will run of to Rouen but he calls it off. She becomes deathly ill. When she starts to recover Charles is very afraid and has a horrible financial problem. He decides that it would benefit Emma’s health to take her to an opera.
When they went to the opera she is once again embarrassed by him. While there though, she discovers that Leon is in the crowd and they later talk. Emma and Charles decide that she should stay to see the second half while he returns to Yonville. Leon tries again to confess his love but Emma tries to refuse but they spend the day together again the reconnect. On Emma’s return she discovers that Charles’ father has died. While in mourning, Emma takes charge of the papers and returns to Rouen to “work with the papers” with Leon. They really have a three day fling. Emma starts becoming obsessed with Leon and finds any possible way to see him, once she even pretended to be taking piano lessons. Emma goes further in debt and grows tired of Leon. Her live slowly dwindled to nothing.
I like the novel, Madame Bovary, but it is a complex novel through my eyes. Gustave Flaubert wrote it very well with lots of foreshadowing and symbolism. The characters are very well created, my favorite is Charles because he seems to be a good man just not what she wanted, but despite her cruel ways he still loves her. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was older by a few years. I might be able to connect and understand his style more if I wait. So I will say that it was a good novel but I would not recommend it, at least not now.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Ari writes:
After Gabriel Oak’s flock is chased off a cliff and killed he looks for another job and another way to survive. Eventually this leads him to the town where he falls asleep in a wagon and is taken to the town to which Bathsheba had moved. Undoubtedly the two see each other and Gabriel is hired by Bathsheba as a shepherd. Next, a whole cast of characters are introduced in Bathsheba’s farm. We are introduced to Sergeant Troy, Boldwood, and Fanny Robin. After the introduction of these characters Hardy writes about many love triangles and gossip. For example, Boldwood received a false letter from Bathsheba that said she loved him, but Bathsheba falls in love with Sergeant Troy, who is engaged to Fanny Robin. Many arguments and disputes take place until Sergeant Troy runs off with Bathsheba and gets married. When they return home there is a party and all the workers on the farm get drunk. Gabriel foresees a storm and with the help of Bathsheba is able to save the whole harvest. At the end of the novel Boldwood throws a huge party at which Troy, Bathsheba and Gabriel are invited. Troy believes that Bathsheba is going to the party just to see Boldwood and goes in disguise to the party. Later on, Sergeant Troy finds Bathsheba and Boldwood talking, but is shot by Boldwood after revealing himself. Boldwood is eventually caught and sentenced for death, but with the help of Gabriel his fate has changed and he will not die. The novel ends with Bathsheba and Gabriel’s wedding after Bathsheba realized he was so special.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy turned out to be a better novel than I thought it would be, but I have to say it was definitely not something I would read for pleasure. If I were to rate this novel I would rate it a 6 out of 10. This is because it is fairly slow paced and takes a lot of patience and time to read. Even though it is a very interesting story it has many sluggish sections. However, Hardy has very unique ideas that he shows in the novel. For example, Gabriel Oak is able to tell the time of day in the middle of the night based off the locations of the constellations. In conclusion, Far From the Madding Crowd is a novel written for only those who enjoy novels of romance. This means I would not recommend it for most guys and some girls. Also, reading this novel requires a lot of patience and time. However, it could be a great novel to read when you have a lot of time and are in quiet peaceful place.
After Gabriel Oak’s flock is chased off a cliff and killed he looks for another job and another way to survive. Eventually this leads him to the town where he falls asleep in a wagon and is taken to the town to which Bathsheba had moved. Undoubtedly the two see each other and Gabriel is hired by Bathsheba as a shepherd. Next, a whole cast of characters are introduced in Bathsheba’s farm. We are introduced to Sergeant Troy, Boldwood, and Fanny Robin. After the introduction of these characters Hardy writes about many love triangles and gossip. For example, Boldwood received a false letter from Bathsheba that said she loved him, but Bathsheba falls in love with Sergeant Troy, who is engaged to Fanny Robin. Many arguments and disputes take place until Sergeant Troy runs off with Bathsheba and gets married. When they return home there is a party and all the workers on the farm get drunk. Gabriel foresees a storm and with the help of Bathsheba is able to save the whole harvest. At the end of the novel Boldwood throws a huge party at which Troy, Bathsheba and Gabriel are invited. Troy believes that Bathsheba is going to the party just to see Boldwood and goes in disguise to the party. Later on, Sergeant Troy finds Bathsheba and Boldwood talking, but is shot by Boldwood after revealing himself. Boldwood is eventually caught and sentenced for death, but with the help of Gabriel his fate has changed and he will not die. The novel ends with Bathsheba and Gabriel’s wedding after Bathsheba realized he was so special.
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy turned out to be a better novel than I thought it would be, but I have to say it was definitely not something I would read for pleasure. If I were to rate this novel I would rate it a 6 out of 10. This is because it is fairly slow paced and takes a lot of patience and time to read. Even though it is a very interesting story it has many sluggish sections. However, Hardy has very unique ideas that he shows in the novel. For example, Gabriel Oak is able to tell the time of day in the middle of the night based off the locations of the constellations. In conclusion, Far From the Madding Crowd is a novel written for only those who enjoy novels of romance. This means I would not recommend it for most guys and some girls. Also, reading this novel requires a lot of patience and time. However, it could be a great novel to read when you have a lot of time and are in quiet peaceful place.
Jane Eyre
Lena writes:
From where I had last left off, Jane Eyre had recently been ridiculed and feels as if her situation will never improve. As time goes on her peers forgive and begin to open back up and Ms. Temple announces to the school that she’s cleared of her wrong doings. Life starts to turn around for Jane as Life for her dear friend Helen Burns begins to spiral down. A typhus epidemic sweeps the Lowood School and Helen disappears. Jane later discovers that Helen is critically ill and will be returning to her home to spend her final days. As a result Jane searches for Helen in the night and questions her about what is to become of her. In the morning Helen is discovered to be dead. The school is getting a lot of publicity due to the epidemic and poor condition of Lowood. Therefore the school’s now in charge of a caring gentlemen’s committee. Jane’s life dramatically improves from then on. She spends six more years at Lowood as a student and two years as a teacher. Jane finds her self wanting to expand her horizons and accepts a job as a governess at Thornfeild, where she teaches a French girl named Adele. Jane’s employer is named Rochester who’s a very dark man. Jane finds herself falling secretly in love with him.
One night she save him from a fire that he claims was started by a drunken servant named Grace Pool. Jane doesn’t fully believe his story and is upset when Rochester brings home a woman named Blanche Ingram. Jane thinks Rochester plans to marry her but is surprised when he asks for Jane’s hand in marriage, which she accepts. On their wedding day as they’re about to exchange vows, Mr. Mason claims that Mr. Rochester is already married to his sister named Bertha that he had married along time ago in Jamaica. Mr. Rochester admits to Mr. Mason’s accusations and brings the wedding party to witness Bertha. Bertha had gone insane so Mr. Rochester hid her on the third story of Thornfeild and pays Grace Pool to keep her under control. Bertha was the cause of the fire. With Jane’s newly discovered information, she decides to leave; knowing that it’s impossible to be with Mr. Rochester. Jane suffers on her own for quite some time. She’s on the brink of starvation and is living on the streets. Three siblings (Mary, Diana and St. John) who live in Moor House take her in. Jane receives a job teaching at a charity school. St. John, one day declares that Jane’s uncle (John Eyre); who’s also St. Johns uncle left her a large fortune. Jane then realizes they’re cousins and decides to split the inheritance between her three relatives. St. John decides to travel to India and offers Jane to come as his wife. Jane doesn’t love him and feels that she can’t abandon Rochester (who is the man she really loves). Jane travels back to Thornfeild and discovers that Bertha had finally burnt the place to the ground and Rochester had gone blind and lost a hand in the fire, while trying to save his servants. She then travels to Ferdean; his new residence. Jane and Rochester dramatically reunite as well as reconnect, and find that their love for one another hasn’t changed. They then begin to quickly rebuild their relationship. Overall the book Jane Eyre is an exceptionally good read. I recommend this novel to women of all ages. Jane Eyre is more geared towards women because the novel is written in first person from a female’s perspective. Also I recommend this for all ages because the character Jane, in the beginning of the novel is a young girl and as the reader, reads on Jane develops into a well-rounded women, allowing the reader to see Jane at various stages in her life.
From where I had last left off, Jane Eyre had recently been ridiculed and feels as if her situation will never improve. As time goes on her peers forgive and begin to open back up and Ms. Temple announces to the school that she’s cleared of her wrong doings. Life starts to turn around for Jane as Life for her dear friend Helen Burns begins to spiral down. A typhus epidemic sweeps the Lowood School and Helen disappears. Jane later discovers that Helen is critically ill and will be returning to her home to spend her final days. As a result Jane searches for Helen in the night and questions her about what is to become of her. In the morning Helen is discovered to be dead. The school is getting a lot of publicity due to the epidemic and poor condition of Lowood. Therefore the school’s now in charge of a caring gentlemen’s committee. Jane’s life dramatically improves from then on. She spends six more years at Lowood as a student and two years as a teacher. Jane finds her self wanting to expand her horizons and accepts a job as a governess at Thornfeild, where she teaches a French girl named Adele. Jane’s employer is named Rochester who’s a very dark man. Jane finds herself falling secretly in love with him.
One night she save him from a fire that he claims was started by a drunken servant named Grace Pool. Jane doesn’t fully believe his story and is upset when Rochester brings home a woman named Blanche Ingram. Jane thinks Rochester plans to marry her but is surprised when he asks for Jane’s hand in marriage, which she accepts. On their wedding day as they’re about to exchange vows, Mr. Mason claims that Mr. Rochester is already married to his sister named Bertha that he had married along time ago in Jamaica. Mr. Rochester admits to Mr. Mason’s accusations and brings the wedding party to witness Bertha. Bertha had gone insane so Mr. Rochester hid her on the third story of Thornfeild and pays Grace Pool to keep her under control. Bertha was the cause of the fire. With Jane’s newly discovered information, she decides to leave; knowing that it’s impossible to be with Mr. Rochester. Jane suffers on her own for quite some time. She’s on the brink of starvation and is living on the streets. Three siblings (Mary, Diana and St. John) who live in Moor House take her in. Jane receives a job teaching at a charity school. St. John, one day declares that Jane’s uncle (John Eyre); who’s also St. Johns uncle left her a large fortune. Jane then realizes they’re cousins and decides to split the inheritance between her three relatives. St. John decides to travel to India and offers Jane to come as his wife. Jane doesn’t love him and feels that she can’t abandon Rochester (who is the man she really loves). Jane travels back to Thornfeild and discovers that Bertha had finally burnt the place to the ground and Rochester had gone blind and lost a hand in the fire, while trying to save his servants. She then travels to Ferdean; his new residence. Jane and Rochester dramatically reunite as well as reconnect, and find that their love for one another hasn’t changed. They then begin to quickly rebuild their relationship. Overall the book Jane Eyre is an exceptionally good read. I recommend this novel to women of all ages. Jane Eyre is more geared towards women because the novel is written in first person from a female’s perspective. Also I recommend this for all ages because the character Jane, in the beginning of the novel is a young girl and as the reader, reads on Jane develops into a well-rounded women, allowing the reader to see Jane at various stages in her life.
The House of The Spirits
Lauren writes:
The novel i just finished up reading is The House of The Spirits by
Isabel Allande. This novel is filled with excitment and suspense that
will make you want to keep reading. This novel is about a young girl
named Clara, whose priest accused her of being possessed by the devil.
As Clara's life continues she keeps a journal about all her
adventures and explaining different occasions in her life. About 50
years later her husband Esteban and granddaughter Alba look at all
these different stories as clues that help put their family history
together. As a chosen one Clara has a talent that nobody else can
really understand. Clara can see into the future, she can tell whats
going to happen before it actually does. Although you may see this as
being extremely useful it can also cause huge problems in Clara's
life, she may be able to see the future but she can not change it.
After Clara's sister, Rosa is accidentally poisoned and dies Clara and
Esteban get married and shortly after have a child named Blanca.
After a trip, towards the end of the summer Clara then realizes she is
pregnant with twins, Nicholas and Jaime but soon finds out the
discouraging news that both her parents have been killed in a car
accident and will soon be buried...This is just a small amount of what
has happened in the novel, The House of The Spirits and without giving
the whole story away i just want to say i have really enjoyed this
story and would recommend it to anyone.
The novel i just finished up reading is The House of The Spirits by
Isabel Allande. This novel is filled with excitment and suspense that
will make you want to keep reading. This novel is about a young girl
named Clara, whose priest accused her of being possessed by the devil.
As Clara's life continues she keeps a journal about all her
adventures and explaining different occasions in her life. About 50
years later her husband Esteban and granddaughter Alba look at all
these different stories as clues that help put their family history
together. As a chosen one Clara has a talent that nobody else can
really understand. Clara can see into the future, she can tell whats
going to happen before it actually does. Although you may see this as
being extremely useful it can also cause huge problems in Clara's
life, she may be able to see the future but she can not change it.
After Clara's sister, Rosa is accidentally poisoned and dies Clara and
Esteban get married and shortly after have a child named Blanca.
After a trip, towards the end of the summer Clara then realizes she is
pregnant with twins, Nicholas and Jaime but soon finds out the
discouraging news that both her parents have been killed in a car
accident and will soon be buried...This is just a small amount of what
has happened in the novel, The House of The Spirits and without giving
the whole story away i just want to say i have really enjoyed this
story and would recommend it to anyone.
This Boy's Life
Kevin writes:
The story of Tobias Wolff's childhood in his memoir, This Boy's Life has taken off since my last post. Jack and his mother moved in with his new and even more abusive and controlling stepfather and his family. Both Jack and his mother find it difficult to break free of his stepfathers controlling ways. Jacks stepfather, Dwight, takes Jack's and his mother's hard earned money and spends it on alcohol. Dwight also sells Jack's most prized possession, his .22 rifle for a dog that he does not even love. Like the dog, Jack begins to feel neglected by his family. Jack starts to hang around with the wrong crowd and begins getting into trouble involving stealing and drinking alcohol. Jack finds himself sneaking out and hitchhiking. He travels as far away from his home as he can each day but can never leave the town. Jack begins to write to different family members, over exaggerating his and his mother's situation. His family members all have different plans for him to move out with his. Eventually he takes his brother's advice and applies to a private school. He gets accepted because of his forged transcripts and recommendations. Everyone tells him that the school is very challenging which he realizes his senior year when he is kicked out because of poor grades. While staying in Washington, D.C, Jack and his mother encounter Dwight for a final time. Dwight tries to strangle Jack's mother but she knees him in the groin to keep him off. He is later arrested which puts an end to the abuse he inflicts on Jack and Jack's mother, Rosemary. The story ends with Jack reflecting on his sad, controlled, and neglected childhood.
The story of Tobias Wolff's childhood in his memoir, This Boy's Life has taken off since my last post. Jack and his mother moved in with his new and even more abusive and controlling stepfather and his family. Both Jack and his mother find it difficult to break free of his stepfathers controlling ways. Jacks stepfather, Dwight, takes Jack's and his mother's hard earned money and spends it on alcohol. Dwight also sells Jack's most prized possession, his .22 rifle for a dog that he does not even love. Like the dog, Jack begins to feel neglected by his family. Jack starts to hang around with the wrong crowd and begins getting into trouble involving stealing and drinking alcohol. Jack finds himself sneaking out and hitchhiking. He travels as far away from his home as he can each day but can never leave the town. Jack begins to write to different family members, over exaggerating his and his mother's situation. His family members all have different plans for him to move out with his. Eventually he takes his brother's advice and applies to a private school. He gets accepted because of his forged transcripts and recommendations. Everyone tells him that the school is very challenging which he realizes his senior year when he is kicked out because of poor grades. While staying in Washington, D.C, Jack and his mother encounter Dwight for a final time. Dwight tries to strangle Jack's mother but she knees him in the groin to keep him off. He is later arrested which puts an end to the abuse he inflicts on Jack and Jack's mother, Rosemary. The story ends with Jack reflecting on his sad, controlled, and neglected childhood.
Great Expectations
Michelle writes:
This novel is proof in itself that things are not usually what they seem to be. Through the twists and turns of the plot of “Great Expectations” I have come to see the characters’ intentions change – for better or for worse may be left to your interpretation. After having met the convict, Pip does not meet him again. Mrs. Joe (as his sister is referred to) sends her brother to Miss Havisham’s house, a woman who continues to live in the past of her mistakes. There he meets the beautiful young girl, Estella, trained to break hearts as a revenge of Miss Havisham for the condition of her own. Estella treats Pip rather badly, but Pip remains persistent and doesn’t give up hope to one day be worthy of her. In efforts to be more worthy, he wishes to be a gentleman, but is sent instead to be the apprentice of Joe, the blacksmith, rather than continue to visit Miss Havisham & Estella. Through the experiences of apprenticeship to Joe, he comes to realize that the man he had once idolized led a less-than-sophisticated life and he begins to question the life he’d led before Estella and before the idea of becoming a gentleman. His perspective changes greatly and he intends to better his education with the help of his teacher, Mr.Wopsle, and his classmate, the kind-hearted country girl, Biddy. Biddy also attends to Mrs.Joe after she is viciously attacked by who Pip suspects to be Orlick, a malicious laborer of Joe's. Though his life seems rather depressing thus far in the novel, he receives unexpected news one day from a lawyer named Jaggers that informs the boy that he has inherited a large fortune from a secret benefactor who insists he go to London in order to improve his education as a gentleman. Pip believes this is his fate decided by Miss Havisham, his suspiscion to be the benefactor, in a scheme to wed Estella and himself, and eagerly agrees. Getting to London changes Pip's life in extremities unimaginable in the beginning of the novel. For example, Mrs.Joe might not have let him socialize with other children of his age because she was very bitter, but he meets and befriends a young gentleman named Herbert Pocket and Wemmick, Jaggers' assistant. Other than the new friendships he gains, he also begins to express much disdain toward his past loved ones - the most surprising and most prominent of these being his disdain toward Joe, proclaimed as Pip's best friend in the earlier chapters. While Pip's life is at it's greatest - wealthy and happy in almost every conceivable way - Mrs. Joe dies back home. Pip decides to go home for the funeral, overwhelmed with grief for the loss of his sister. Years after the tragedy, the convict from Pip's childhood reappears into his life and confesses that he had been the benefactor, moved by the honesty and goodness of the boy's heart to do good not only for himself but for Pip as well. Magwitch, as the convict is referred to, admits that he'd been working hard to earn the fortune so that Pip may learn to be a gentleman. With this news comes more devastating news: Estella marries a high class gentleman. While this destroys Pip, he is more focused on helping his newfound friend who he begins to care deeply for escape from the law. Ending on this note may leave you curious to know more; what becomes of Miss Havisham? Will Estella and Pip ever turn the antagonism into a romance? Will Magwitch escape the law? What of Joe, will he and Pip ever reconciliate? You'll have to read the novel yourself to answer the questions. I personally enjoyed reading "Great Expectations". I found it to be a page-turner, constantly leaving me curious to know what may happen next. I would undoubtedly recommend this novel to read for anyone interested in an exciting, unpredictable story.
This novel is proof in itself that things are not usually what they seem to be. Through the twists and turns of the plot of “Great Expectations” I have come to see the characters’ intentions change – for better or for worse may be left to your interpretation. After having met the convict, Pip does not meet him again. Mrs. Joe (as his sister is referred to) sends her brother to Miss Havisham’s house, a woman who continues to live in the past of her mistakes. There he meets the beautiful young girl, Estella, trained to break hearts as a revenge of Miss Havisham for the condition of her own. Estella treats Pip rather badly, but Pip remains persistent and doesn’t give up hope to one day be worthy of her. In efforts to be more worthy, he wishes to be a gentleman, but is sent instead to be the apprentice of Joe, the blacksmith, rather than continue to visit Miss Havisham & Estella. Through the experiences of apprenticeship to Joe, he comes to realize that the man he had once idolized led a less-than-sophisticated life and he begins to question the life he’d led before Estella and before the idea of becoming a gentleman. His perspective changes greatly and he intends to better his education with the help of his teacher, Mr.Wopsle, and his classmate, the kind-hearted country girl, Biddy. Biddy also attends to Mrs.Joe after she is viciously attacked by who Pip suspects to be Orlick, a malicious laborer of Joe's. Though his life seems rather depressing thus far in the novel, he receives unexpected news one day from a lawyer named Jaggers that informs the boy that he has inherited a large fortune from a secret benefactor who insists he go to London in order to improve his education as a gentleman. Pip believes this is his fate decided by Miss Havisham, his suspiscion to be the benefactor, in a scheme to wed Estella and himself, and eagerly agrees. Getting to London changes Pip's life in extremities unimaginable in the beginning of the novel. For example, Mrs.Joe might not have let him socialize with other children of his age because she was very bitter, but he meets and befriends a young gentleman named Herbert Pocket and Wemmick, Jaggers' assistant. Other than the new friendships he gains, he also begins to express much disdain toward his past loved ones - the most surprising and most prominent of these being his disdain toward Joe, proclaimed as Pip's best friend in the earlier chapters. While Pip's life is at it's greatest - wealthy and happy in almost every conceivable way - Mrs. Joe dies back home. Pip decides to go home for the funeral, overwhelmed with grief for the loss of his sister. Years after the tragedy, the convict from Pip's childhood reappears into his life and confesses that he had been the benefactor, moved by the honesty and goodness of the boy's heart to do good not only for himself but for Pip as well. Magwitch, as the convict is referred to, admits that he'd been working hard to earn the fortune so that Pip may learn to be a gentleman. With this news comes more devastating news: Estella marries a high class gentleman. While this destroys Pip, he is more focused on helping his newfound friend who he begins to care deeply for escape from the law. Ending on this note may leave you curious to know more; what becomes of Miss Havisham? Will Estella and Pip ever turn the antagonism into a romance? Will Magwitch escape the law? What of Joe, will he and Pip ever reconciliate? You'll have to read the novel yourself to answer the questions. I personally enjoyed reading "Great Expectations". I found it to be a page-turner, constantly leaving me curious to know what may happen next. I would undoubtedly recommend this novel to read for anyone interested in an exciting, unpredictable story.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Brave New World - Final review
Pat writes:
So far, in Brave New World, we have learned about the birthing process, social castes, and other aspects of the plot. At this point, many different events have occurred. The single event in my mind, most crucial to the plot, is Bernard and Lenina’s trip to the reservation. When Bernard requests approval of the trip from the director, he allows Bernard to continue with his planning, but warns him for his heretical behavior he may be exiled to Iceland. Although, at this point, Bernard does not care much and he is proud that he is an individual. Later, Bernard finds out that the director plans on following through with the threat of exiling. When at the reservation, Bernard gets a lucky break that may save him from exilation. Beyond that, I can’t say much without giving away the ending. In the end, I didn’t totally enjoy the book. I personally am more into books that relate to scenes with a lot of action, which this did not provide much of. Because of that, if you are looking for a book with lots of action around every corner, I wouldn’t recommend this to you.
So far, in Brave New World, we have learned about the birthing process, social castes, and other aspects of the plot. At this point, many different events have occurred. The single event in my mind, most crucial to the plot, is Bernard and Lenina’s trip to the reservation. When Bernard requests approval of the trip from the director, he allows Bernard to continue with his planning, but warns him for his heretical behavior he may be exiled to Iceland. Although, at this point, Bernard does not care much and he is proud that he is an individual. Later, Bernard finds out that the director plans on following through with the threat of exiling. When at the reservation, Bernard gets a lucky break that may save him from exilation. Beyond that, I can’t say much without giving away the ending. In the end, I didn’t totally enjoy the book. I personally am more into books that relate to scenes with a lot of action, which this did not provide much of. Because of that, if you are looking for a book with lots of action around every corner, I wouldn’t recommend this to you.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Pat writes:
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley is set in 632 A.F. (After Ford). At this point in society, children are no longer born the way we know they are now; they are mass-produced through a long process. There are also five different social castes, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Epsilon. Alpha and Beta are the highest and best treated, Delta, Gamma and Epsilon are lower in the caste. Before birth, each fetus is destined to a particular caste. Delta, Gamma and Epsilon eggs will go through the Bokanovsky process. This shocks the eggs, causing them to separate to make up to 96 identical fetuses. Later, the embryos are bottled and left on a conveyer belt for 267 days, the natural human gestation period. On the last day, they are “decanted” or born. On another level of the story, there is a bit of drama going on between some of the characters. One instance is two women, Lenina and Fanny, are discussing how it is not normal for Lenina to be seeing one boy for the four months that she has been seeing her boyfriend Henry. Lenina agrees to look for other men. In an attempt to follow through with her word, she goes out and makes a date with Bernard Marx to go to a savage reservation.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley is set in 632 A.F. (After Ford). At this point in society, children are no longer born the way we know they are now; they are mass-produced through a long process. There are also five different social castes, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Epsilon. Alpha and Beta are the highest and best treated, Delta, Gamma and Epsilon are lower in the caste. Before birth, each fetus is destined to a particular caste. Delta, Gamma and Epsilon eggs will go through the Bokanovsky process. This shocks the eggs, causing them to separate to make up to 96 identical fetuses. Later, the embryos are bottled and left on a conveyer belt for 267 days, the natural human gestation period. On the last day, they are “decanted” or born. On another level of the story, there is a bit of drama going on between some of the characters. One instance is two women, Lenina and Fanny, are discussing how it is not normal for Lenina to be seeing one boy for the four months that she has been seeing her boyfriend Henry. Lenina agrees to look for other men. In an attempt to follow through with her word, she goes out and makes a date with Bernard Marx to go to a savage reservation.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Tory writes:
At the end of the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Dantès used his wealth to perform all sorts of good deeds. Dantes put back Monsieur Morrel and re-established the Morrel family name. The rest of the novel shows how Dantès (now about to assume the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo) effects his return upon his enemies. As Dantès himself says, "And now farewell to kindness, humanity, and gratitude. Farewell to all sentiments that gladden the heart. I have substituted myself for Providence in rewarding the good. May the God of Vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked” (ch. 19). I enjoyed reading the story, but some parts I found sort of challenging. I would recommend the novel to any person who is serious about reading, and who enjoy reading adventurous and mysterious stories. Alexandre Dumas really concentrates on his word choice to make the story more interesting to the reader. The Count of Monte Cristo is a famous novel that really gets the reader involved, and thinking really hard.
At the end of the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Dantès used his wealth to perform all sorts of good deeds. Dantes put back Monsieur Morrel and re-established the Morrel family name. The rest of the novel shows how Dantès (now about to assume the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo) effects his return upon his enemies. As Dantès himself says, "And now farewell to kindness, humanity, and gratitude. Farewell to all sentiments that gladden the heart. I have substituted myself for Providence in rewarding the good. May the God of Vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked” (ch. 19). I enjoyed reading the story, but some parts I found sort of challenging. I would recommend the novel to any person who is serious about reading, and who enjoy reading adventurous and mysterious stories. Alexandre Dumas really concentrates on his word choice to make the story more interesting to the reader. The Count of Monte Cristo is a famous novel that really gets the reader involved, and thinking really hard.
Mohammad writes
As Huck and Jim travel down the Ohio river trying to reach a town called Cairo they end up getting separated. Huck makes it to shore without Jim and meets a family that offers him a place to stay for as long as he wants. Huck end up reuniting with Jim and they begin their journey over the river once again. They end up meeting these two men who one claims to be the duke of England and the other the son of King Louise XVI. These two men pretty much use Huck and Jim and make their way up the river stopping at several towns coning people and taking their money. Eventually these men are exposed and Jim ends up neing captured. Huck ends up having to pretend to be Tom Sawyer because Tom's Aunt and uncle think Huck is Tom and their the ones who have Jim captured and Huck has no choice but to go along. Huck tells Tom that his family thinks that he's Tom and Tom decideds to go along with Huck and help him with Jim
As Huck and Jim travel down the Ohio river trying to reach a town called Cairo they end up getting separated. Huck makes it to shore without Jim and meets a family that offers him a place to stay for as long as he wants. Huck end up reuniting with Jim and they begin their journey over the river once again. They end up meeting these two men who one claims to be the duke of England and the other the son of King Louise XVI. These two men pretty much use Huck and Jim and make their way up the river stopping at several towns coning people and taking their money. Eventually these men are exposed and Jim ends up neing captured. Huck ends up having to pretend to be Tom Sawyer because Tom's Aunt and uncle think Huck is Tom and their the ones who have Jim captured and Huck has no choice but to go along. Huck tells Tom that his family thinks that he's Tom and Tom decideds to go along with Huck and help him with Jim
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Anthony writes:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is definitely a book that you have to keep on reading in order to enjoy. This book gets better and better as you continue to read it. The second half of this novel is definitely more interesting than the first half. After Quasimodo attacks La Esmerelda, he goes to court, and is sentenced to be tortured and whipped. While Quasimodo is being whipped, La Esmerelda helps him by giving him some water. Later on in the book, Claude Frollo is talking to Phoebus de Chateaupers, and La Esmerelda walks in, forcing Claude Frollo to hide. La Esmerelda tells Phoebus that she loves him, however Phoebus does not love her. Someone suddenly jumps out and stabs Phoebus repeatedly. La Esmerelda sees this and passes out. La Esmerelda is put on trial for murdering Phoebus and also for sorcery. The judge accuses La Esmerelda of killing Phoebus, and of possessing her goat. La Esmerelda will not admit to killing Phoebus, but she is tortured, and finally admits to the crime that she didn’t commit in order for the torturing to stop. While La Esmerelda is in prison, Frollo visits her. La Esmerelda realizes that it was him that killed Phoebus. Frollo tells La Esmerelda that he loves her, and he begs her to love him, but she refuses. Phoebus fully recovers from his wounds, however when La Esmerelda is going to be executed, he doesn’t say anything. Quasimodo swings down from a tower and rescues La Esmerelda . One night, Frollo sneaks into La Esmerelda’s room. La Esmerelda screams and then blows a whistle to call Quasimodo. Quasimodo comes and begins to choke Frollo, but then stops, realizing it is his master. Later, the vagabonds come to rescue La Esmerelda, but Quasimodo thinks they are coming to kill her, and he kills the majority of them. La Esmerelda escapes with Pierre Gringoire, but finds out that he is with Frollo. Frollo gives La Esmerelda to Sister Gudule, to have her executed. They realize that La Esmerelda is Sister Gudules daughter, and Sister Gudule tries to protect her. However, La Esmerelda is captured by the Kings men, and is hanged. I would recommend this book, but only to certain people. You have to be pretty advanced to read it, and you have to stick with it, because the first few sections are hard to read. However, in the end, this is definitely a classic.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is definitely a book that you have to keep on reading in order to enjoy. This book gets better and better as you continue to read it. The second half of this novel is definitely more interesting than the first half. After Quasimodo attacks La Esmerelda, he goes to court, and is sentenced to be tortured and whipped. While Quasimodo is being whipped, La Esmerelda helps him by giving him some water. Later on in the book, Claude Frollo is talking to Phoebus de Chateaupers, and La Esmerelda walks in, forcing Claude Frollo to hide. La Esmerelda tells Phoebus that she loves him, however Phoebus does not love her. Someone suddenly jumps out and stabs Phoebus repeatedly. La Esmerelda sees this and passes out. La Esmerelda is put on trial for murdering Phoebus and also for sorcery. The judge accuses La Esmerelda of killing Phoebus, and of possessing her goat. La Esmerelda will not admit to killing Phoebus, but she is tortured, and finally admits to the crime that she didn’t commit in order for the torturing to stop. While La Esmerelda is in prison, Frollo visits her. La Esmerelda realizes that it was him that killed Phoebus. Frollo tells La Esmerelda that he loves her, and he begs her to love him, but she refuses. Phoebus fully recovers from his wounds, however when La Esmerelda is going to be executed, he doesn’t say anything. Quasimodo swings down from a tower and rescues La Esmerelda . One night, Frollo sneaks into La Esmerelda’s room. La Esmerelda screams and then blows a whistle to call Quasimodo. Quasimodo comes and begins to choke Frollo, but then stops, realizing it is his master. Later, the vagabonds come to rescue La Esmerelda, but Quasimodo thinks they are coming to kill her, and he kills the majority of them. La Esmerelda escapes with Pierre Gringoire, but finds out that he is with Frollo. Frollo gives La Esmerelda to Sister Gudule, to have her executed. They realize that La Esmerelda is Sister Gudules daughter, and Sister Gudule tries to protect her. However, La Esmerelda is captured by the Kings men, and is hanged. I would recommend this book, but only to certain people. You have to be pretty advanced to read it, and you have to stick with it, because the first few sections are hard to read. However, in the end, this is definitely a classic.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
George writes:
I have finished my book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Let me say a lot has happened since my last entry. The last time I wrote about the events that occurred in my novel, I wasn’t very far into the book. Fortunately I caught up on my reading and completed the novel. Where I left off last, Huck is on Jackson Island. On the island he meets a slave named Jim. They already knew each other; they both lived in the same house with Widow Douglas. Together they built a camp. Huck and Jim decided to go down to town and see what the word on the street is about their disappearances. Huck dresses as a female, he find out from a woman that they think the slave Jim killed Huck. Huck also finds out that there is a reward for whoever finds Jim and there are a couple men coming down to Jackson Island to look for him. Huck immediately goes back to the island to warn Jim. After he tells Jim they both pack up and head down river away from the men coming for them. They kept going and saw a lot of things on their journey away from everything they ever knew. Their raft was broken and they where going by a shore where they heard to robbers threatening a victim. They noticed the robbers had a boat they were loading stolen stuff in it. When the robbers went to get more stuff, Huck and Jim jump into the boat and leave. But they go and get help for the robbers because they feel that in away they are just like them. if I have drawn you in by telling you just a couple of the many adventures of Huck and Jim in this wonderful novel. Then I suggest you get a copy of this novel. I enjoyed this book a lot and I would love to see the movie to see the differences. Just like our class did with To Kill a Mockingbird and The Grapes of Wrath.
I have finished my book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Let me say a lot has happened since my last entry. The last time I wrote about the events that occurred in my novel, I wasn’t very far into the book. Fortunately I caught up on my reading and completed the novel. Where I left off last, Huck is on Jackson Island. On the island he meets a slave named Jim. They already knew each other; they both lived in the same house with Widow Douglas. Together they built a camp. Huck and Jim decided to go down to town and see what the word on the street is about their disappearances. Huck dresses as a female, he find out from a woman that they think the slave Jim killed Huck. Huck also finds out that there is a reward for whoever finds Jim and there are a couple men coming down to Jackson Island to look for him. Huck immediately goes back to the island to warn Jim. After he tells Jim they both pack up and head down river away from the men coming for them. They kept going and saw a lot of things on their journey away from everything they ever knew. Their raft was broken and they where going by a shore where they heard to robbers threatening a victim. They noticed the robbers had a boat they were loading stolen stuff in it. When the robbers went to get more stuff, Huck and Jim jump into the boat and leave. But they go and get help for the robbers because they feel that in away they are just like them. if I have drawn you in by telling you just a couple of the many adventures of Huck and Jim in this wonderful novel. Then I suggest you get a copy of this novel. I enjoyed this book a lot and I would love to see the movie to see the differences. Just like our class did with To Kill a Mockingbird and The Grapes of Wrath.
Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Majda writes:
I just finished reading Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy. This is what happens in the second half of the book. As Bathsheba learns to manage her farm she becomes familiar with her neighbor, Mr. Boldwood. He then sends him a valentine saying "Marry me." Boldwood becomes obsessed with her. He’s Rich and handsome, many girls have fallen for him before. Bathsheba says no because she doesn’t love him. But later she says she’ll think about it again that very night, Bathsheba meets a handsome soldier, named Sergeant Troy. Not knowing Bathsheba, he has just gotten a local girl, Fanny Robin pregnant and almost married her. Troy falls in love with Bathsheba, making Boldwood very angry.
Bathsheba then goes to Bath to warn Troy about Boldwood's anger, and when she’s there, Troy convinces her to marry him. Gabriel is still her friend but does not like the fact that she’s marrying Troy. Just a few weeks after their marriage, Troy see’s Fanny, she’s sick and poor, and later on dies. With hearing that runs away and everyone thinks he had drowned and dead. I guess you’re just going have to read the book and see what happens at the end.
If I were to rank this book from 1- 5, I would give it a 4.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a happy ending, or is a big fan of love and finding that right person.
I just finished reading Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy. This is what happens in the second half of the book. As Bathsheba learns to manage her farm she becomes familiar with her neighbor, Mr. Boldwood. He then sends him a valentine saying "Marry me." Boldwood becomes obsessed with her. He’s Rich and handsome, many girls have fallen for him before. Bathsheba says no because she doesn’t love him. But later she says she’ll think about it again that very night, Bathsheba meets a handsome soldier, named Sergeant Troy. Not knowing Bathsheba, he has just gotten a local girl, Fanny Robin pregnant and almost married her. Troy falls in love with Bathsheba, making Boldwood very angry.
Bathsheba then goes to Bath to warn Troy about Boldwood's anger, and when she’s there, Troy convinces her to marry him. Gabriel is still her friend but does not like the fact that she’s marrying Troy. Just a few weeks after their marriage, Troy see’s Fanny, she’s sick and poor, and later on dies. With hearing that runs away and everyone thinks he had drowned and dead. I guess you’re just going have to read the book and see what happens at the end.
If I were to rank this book from 1- 5, I would give it a 4.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a happy ending, or is a big fan of love and finding that right person.
Mill on the Floss
Stephanie writes:
The next part of Mill on the Floss continues with Tom at Mr. Stelling’s school. Tom becomes very excited when his sister, Maggie comes to visit him. Soon after Maggie leaves, Tom returns to Dorlcote Mill for the Christmas holidays. Tom’s father gets into a feud over the river with one of their neighbors called the Wakems. Wakem is a lawyer and a very rich man. When Tom returns to school, he meets Phillip Wakem, an intelligent boy who is deformed. Tom and Phillip are opposites but they become friends quickly. Maggie arrives at the school again and she loves talking with Phillip, who is a very good friend. Tom and Phillip’s friendship ends, however, because of the ongoing fight with their fathers. Tom’s father loses the lawsuit against Wakem and the family goes bankrupt. Wakem buys Dorlcote Mill. Their father has fallen ill so Tom, the new head of the family, must support everyone by working. This is a very lonely time for Maggie and she is only comforted by her secret visits to Phillip. Both Phillip and Maggie declare they love each other on one such visit. Several years later, Tom has finally dug the family out of bankruptcy and purchases Dorlcote Mill for his company. Maggie moves in with her cousin, Lucy, and she falls in love with Lucy’s fiancé, Stephen. Maggie tries to resist this temptation but fails to do so. Also, she still loves Phillip. Phillip visits Lucy’s house occasionally. One day, Stephen and Maggie go rowing together. Stephen declares that he wants to marry Maggie. They flag down the nearest ship and head to a port together. On the way, Maggie decides that she loves Phillip more so she takes a carriage back to the mill. At the mill, she must decide who she loves more.
This novel mainly focuses on the childhood relationship between Tom and Maggie which a very important value to the author. The novel is good for adults because it explains how they should treat their siblings during childhood and later years. Although this novel lacks an interesting beginning, there are some humorous situations that keep you motivated until it becomes exciting. My favorite part of the book was the middle to the end because the connection between Maggie and Phillip is very lovable. Overall, I would give this book a 6/10 because I find that it is boring in some spots but otherwise it is a very good novel.
The next part of Mill on the Floss continues with Tom at Mr. Stelling’s school. Tom becomes very excited when his sister, Maggie comes to visit him. Soon after Maggie leaves, Tom returns to Dorlcote Mill for the Christmas holidays. Tom’s father gets into a feud over the river with one of their neighbors called the Wakems. Wakem is a lawyer and a very rich man. When Tom returns to school, he meets Phillip Wakem, an intelligent boy who is deformed. Tom and Phillip are opposites but they become friends quickly. Maggie arrives at the school again and she loves talking with Phillip, who is a very good friend. Tom and Phillip’s friendship ends, however, because of the ongoing fight with their fathers. Tom’s father loses the lawsuit against Wakem and the family goes bankrupt. Wakem buys Dorlcote Mill. Their father has fallen ill so Tom, the new head of the family, must support everyone by working. This is a very lonely time for Maggie and she is only comforted by her secret visits to Phillip. Both Phillip and Maggie declare they love each other on one such visit. Several years later, Tom has finally dug the family out of bankruptcy and purchases Dorlcote Mill for his company. Maggie moves in with her cousin, Lucy, and she falls in love with Lucy’s fiancé, Stephen. Maggie tries to resist this temptation but fails to do so. Also, she still loves Phillip. Phillip visits Lucy’s house occasionally. One day, Stephen and Maggie go rowing together. Stephen declares that he wants to marry Maggie. They flag down the nearest ship and head to a port together. On the way, Maggie decides that she loves Phillip more so she takes a carriage back to the mill. At the mill, she must decide who she loves more.
This novel mainly focuses on the childhood relationship between Tom and Maggie which a very important value to the author. The novel is good for adults because it explains how they should treat their siblings during childhood and later years. Although this novel lacks an interesting beginning, there are some humorous situations that keep you motivated until it becomes exciting. My favorite part of the book was the middle to the end because the connection between Maggie and Phillip is very lovable. Overall, I would give this book a 6/10 because I find that it is boring in some spots but otherwise it is a very good novel.
This Boys Life
Masaud writes;
The rest of the novel was as interesting as the first half. In This Boys Life, a short recap was that Rosemary and Dwight get together and marry. After a while, she realizes that Dwight isn't good after all, and Jack is being treated poorly. Once Jack needed new sneakers but Dwight refuses to buy him a new pair because he outgrows them quickly. Instead he buys him old brown shoes and Jack has to get use to them. Later after the shoe incident, Jack looks through his mothers closet and finds a letter from his uncle who lives in Paris. Then he sends him a letter desperately asking for help and gets a reply. They plan to adopt Jack, but Jack refused because he didn't want another mother. Also, Rosemary marries Kenneth instead of Bobby, and she gives birth to a child. Jack finally decides to run away to Alaska, and planned to use the $80 he stole. Unfortunately, Jack louses all his money at a carnival because he continuously played game after game. Entering home one day, Jack finds a dog infront of him, and is told that his old gun that Roy gave to him was traded for this dog. He wasnt happy, and Dwight promises to bring the gun back but never does. Jack and the dog had fun but unfortunaely one day, Dwight shot it because he ate cats.
One day, surprisingly, Jack received a letter from his brother Geoffrey. They enjoyed sending letters to each other and Jack explains the way he was being treated by Dwight. Geoffrey replies and told him to come to Seattle where he would attend school. Rosemary takes Jack to Seattle to take the SAT test for school and he does very well. Jack was applied to Hill School, and one day almost cut his finger off at shop class. He was taken to the hospital and then home, but due to the pain, Jack took Dwight's alcohol to cool it down. Dwight found out and threw Jack to the floor, therefor Jack land on his hurt finger. This time Rosemary couldn't take it and decided to send Jack to the Bolgers house. He was sent to the Bolgers house, and was almost sent back home because of stealing gas from a farm. Later on, Jack gets a scholarship to The Hill school in Seattle. Rosemary was proud and told him that she found a job in Seattle. Jacks father arranges for his ride to Seattle to live with Geoffrey and him. I forgot to meantion, but a little earlier in the novel, Dwight threatened to kill Rosemary, and told her not to ever think about moving away from him. But it happens that Rosemary gets a job in Seattle so she moves there. Unfortunately, Dwight found out about Rosemary leaving, therefor planned to meet Rosemary in her new apartment in Seattle. You read the rest and find out what happend to Rosemary and Jack!
I know Ive said this too many times, but this book is the best book Ive ever read. Its such a sad memoir, and its really easy to imagine happening because it really did happen. Its not like any other book Ive read because Its a book that i could relate to. I can relate to Jack by age, and also because he had interest in guns and joining the Army. Joining the Army is also something I'm looking forward to joining . I would rate this book 10 out of 10, and would also recomend to read this book as a class.
The rest of the novel was as interesting as the first half. In This Boys Life, a short recap was that Rosemary and Dwight get together and marry. After a while, she realizes that Dwight isn't good after all, and Jack is being treated poorly. Once Jack needed new sneakers but Dwight refuses to buy him a new pair because he outgrows them quickly. Instead he buys him old brown shoes and Jack has to get use to them. Later after the shoe incident, Jack looks through his mothers closet and finds a letter from his uncle who lives in Paris. Then he sends him a letter desperately asking for help and gets a reply. They plan to adopt Jack, but Jack refused because he didn't want another mother. Also, Rosemary marries Kenneth instead of Bobby, and she gives birth to a child. Jack finally decides to run away to Alaska, and planned to use the $80 he stole. Unfortunately, Jack louses all his money at a carnival because he continuously played game after game. Entering home one day, Jack finds a dog infront of him, and is told that his old gun that Roy gave to him was traded for this dog. He wasnt happy, and Dwight promises to bring the gun back but never does. Jack and the dog had fun but unfortunaely one day, Dwight shot it because he ate cats.
One day, surprisingly, Jack received a letter from his brother Geoffrey. They enjoyed sending letters to each other and Jack explains the way he was being treated by Dwight. Geoffrey replies and told him to come to Seattle where he would attend school. Rosemary takes Jack to Seattle to take the SAT test for school and he does very well. Jack was applied to Hill School, and one day almost cut his finger off at shop class. He was taken to the hospital and then home, but due to the pain, Jack took Dwight's alcohol to cool it down. Dwight found out and threw Jack to the floor, therefor Jack land on his hurt finger. This time Rosemary couldn't take it and decided to send Jack to the Bolgers house. He was sent to the Bolgers house, and was almost sent back home because of stealing gas from a farm. Later on, Jack gets a scholarship to The Hill school in Seattle. Rosemary was proud and told him that she found a job in Seattle. Jacks father arranges for his ride to Seattle to live with Geoffrey and him. I forgot to meantion, but a little earlier in the novel, Dwight threatened to kill Rosemary, and told her not to ever think about moving away from him. But it happens that Rosemary gets a job in Seattle so she moves there. Unfortunately, Dwight found out about Rosemary leaving, therefor planned to meet Rosemary in her new apartment in Seattle. You read the rest and find out what happend to Rosemary and Jack!
I know Ive said this too many times, but this book is the best book Ive ever read. Its such a sad memoir, and its really easy to imagine happening because it really did happen. Its not like any other book Ive read because Its a book that i could relate to. I can relate to Jack by age, and also because he had interest in guns and joining the Army. Joining the Army is also something I'm looking forward to joining . I would rate this book 10 out of 10, and would also recomend to read this book as a class.
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