What is the Main Character's Biggest Problem Throughout the Story? (Schooled) 1-28-15

Book:  Schooled

Date:  1-28-15

Prompt:  What is the main character's biggest problem throughout the story?

Commented on:  Emily B., Giovanna G., and Devin R.
       
          Capricorn Anderson, is a boy from an alternate community, who is thrown into a modern public school, due to his grandma's breaking of her hip.  In case you didn't know, an alternate community is a hippie organization or a bunch of hippies who believe in a mellow, peace, and love-like lifestyle.  So Capricorn's problem, as you can most likely predict, is that he isn't used to coping and living with other kids his age, and he hasn't been introduced to any modern technology, or equipment.

          You don't think about how bad that situation might be for some at first, but after reading about Capricorn's experience, I started realizing how complicated and confusing that could be.  I mean, imagine walking down a hallway filled with kids wearing clothes you've never seen, talking, pushing, and running, and then trying to find your "locker" which is a metal box with a "combination" on it.  Of course it doesn't sound unfamiliar to us at all, considering we've adapted to our own lifestyle over several years, but for someone who just gets pushed into it all, with no idea what their doing?  We don't have any idea of how that feels.

          The confusion is one thing, but then to be unfairly, and cruelly manipulated because of your differences from everybody else, and for you to not even realize it, I can't even imagine how out of place and different I would feel.  Many of you must have had a glimpse, at some point of your education so far, of how challenging, confusing, and scary, middle school or even elementary school can be at times.

          Reading the book seriously makes you feel bad for Capricorn, and his tough, real-world experience.  I hope anyone reading this blog gets a chance to read the book as well, so they can see how Capricorn's school journey goes.

Do You Enjoy What You're Reading? Why or Why Not? (Heat)

"Heat", is a new book that I've started reading for a competition, Battle of the Books.  So far, I've really liked it.  Mostly because of how I can make connections to the some topics of the book.  For example, baseball is one of my favorite sports or hobbies to participate in, and since this book practically revolves around the sport of baseball, I seem to get along with it very well.

Another aspect of this novel is how they have more than one conflict or event going on at once.  It's not a huge jumble of things smashed together, but it's a balanced mix.  There's different concepts being introduced to the story at different times.  A lot of good books use this trait or method, and they are usually the ones that I enjoy the most.

I mean, it's not one of those really dramatic books that makes you laugh really hard, or cry because of the ending.  I just enjoy hearing a story like this, about a boy and his life.  It does put a little emotion in you when you read, and like other good books, it gives you an opinion on what's happening.  I'm sure you've experience more than a few times, where in a movie, or book, you've said, "No!  Why would you do that?!"  Or if you know something that a character doesn't, you get so enveloped in the story, that you really want to somehow tell them about it.  That's what this book'll do to you.

I'm not very far into the book, so I have no doubt that there's more to come.  Things are just starting to build up and become introduced, and as I read further, things will start to unravel and become even more exciting.  Therefore, I'm quite excited to discover what lays in wait, in the pages further throughout the book.

Movie vs. Book & Reflection (Unbroken)

Book:  Unbroken

Prompt:  Which appealed to you more?  The movie?  Or the book?

I hadn't heard about the story of the inspiring and courageous soldier, Louie Zamperini, and his survival of WWII until very recently.  Looking back, I remember watching a commercial for the movie, and my parents started talking about what a great book it was, and that they had to go see it.  So I of course, had to ask all about the book, and why it was so great.  After they told me about Louie's story, I added to book to my to-read list, and forgot about it.

About a month later, I did something completely unthinkable.  I went to watch the movie BEFORE I read the book!!  I've rarely ever done such a thing, I always like to read the book first.  But my cousins were going to the theater, and they invited me, so I went.  I loved it!  I still regret watching the movie first, but it was fantastic.  It gave me a courageous boost of respect for veterans of any kind, I was inspired in an entirely new way, and I started to really think about how awful it must be to be in the army.  For both the soldier, and his family.  All those feelings are now being boosted even further now that I'm well into the book.

Often, a longer book will contain more information than the movie that evolves from it.  That seemed to be the case with "Unbroken"  At the end of the movie, they kind of summed up what happened after Louie returned from the war, whereas they go far into detail about his choices and what happens after.  As I've realized with many books, there are strong and weak points to both the movie and the book.  For example, the movie was much more graphic and exciting, as predicted.  But the book has more detail and is more descriptive.

People have told me that after watching a movie based off a book, they don't want to read the book at all anymore.  I've watched very few movies before the book, and there are times when the book is much less appealing.  With "Unbroken"?  No way.  The book is just as great as the movie in ways, and I'm very glad that watching the movie first didn't really spoil anything.

I hope you all get a chance to read this book soon.  I feel like every time I read a new book, I say that.  But this one's really good, and it is definitely worth reading.

When Was The Last Time You Did Something New?

The most recent time that I did something new, was when I ate a sardine for the very first time, and hopefully the last.  Before I reluctantly dropped that slimy, cold, tiny fish, into my mouth, I was almost positive I wasn't going to enjoy this.  By using my sense of smell, I developed a feeling of dread towards this sardine.  After all, I can't remember the last time I ate something that smelled awful, but tasted good.

As I consumed the small portion of seafood that lay before me, I immediately felt the urge to spit it out.  Somehow, I managed to swallow and force it down, after a gag provoking, salty, slimy, revolting, and disgusting experience.  The taste stuck with me for a few minutes after, but after that, I was fine.

Although I despise and fear this meal choice that was recently introduced to me, I encourage others to test their taste buds, and try a sardine as well.  You never know, you might like it.  You should always try new things, even if it doesn't appeal to you at first.  Plus, as odd as it is, I'm glad I got the opportunity to try a sardine.  Its both pleasant, and unpleasant memories and experience that stick with you, and build up your personality throughout your whole life.  I'm sure if you think hard about it, you'll dig up a memory that wasn't so great, and find a reason why it describes you, or maybe even why you're glad it happened.  Even if it's just a small detail or aspect.

Analyze the Context, Meaning, or Moral of Your Book (Of Mice and Men)

Book:  Of Mice and Men

Prompt:  Analyze the context, meaning, or moral, of your book.

Straight off the bat, I want to suggest this book to anyone reading this post.  I guarantee that most of you are thinking, "Eh, I guess I'll add it to my list."  Nope, it's a book that should not be regarded in a way as that.  Read it as soon as absolutely possible, so you can get the most out of it for yourself, so you can analyze its meaning and apply it to your own lifestyle.

Now, I want to recognize all of the symbolism that's packed into this emotion mixed novel.  I'm not going to tell you how these feelings and thoughts are invoked in the average reader, as to not spoil the book for you, but I do want to evaluate all of the themes of this book.  There is a quite unique mixture of friendship, sacrifice, patience, frustration, and innocence, all packed together into a very diverse, but smooth running story.  You really find out what it's like to be true friends with someone, and the things that you should do for them, if they're in need.  I have no doubt that everyone reading this has friends, and can relate to the book in both different, and similar ways than I did.  

Another reaction of my completion of this book that I want to share, is the sadness, grief, and anguish that I experienced after reading the end of the book.  Oh my gosh, it's so incredibly hard to interpret my thoughts and put them into words without giving away the ending!  Anyways, after going through the ending, I started to realize...  The event that occurred was very tragic and awful, but the reasoning in it, was very caring and loving.  No matter how deep you have to look, or how far you have to search, to fully understand this book, you have to find the good in what George did for his friend Lenny.  Ugh, I've already said too much!

  

What made you want to read this book? Summary, and Connections (Of Mice and Men)

Book:  "Of Mice and Men"

Prompt:  What made you want to read this book? And summary.

Read it or not, I'm sure everyone who reads on a steady basis, has heard of this book.  I've heard all about this novel, how great it is, and how much I should read it, for so long, and I finally got the opportunity to start it.  So honestly, that's the only thing that pushed me into reading it, like most other books.  But now that I'm in to it, I'm glad I listened to the people who suggested it.

This book is about two men who travel together from job to job, trying to earn a profit and claim their own land.  George and Lenny, although quite different from one and other, are bound to each other in a love hate relationship.  George acts as Lenny's older brother, as he is the smaller smarter one, when Lenny is the big, tough, dumb one.  It seems as if everywhere George takes Lenny, Lenny somehow gets them kicked out.  Even if he honestly doesn't mean any trouble.  George promised Lenny's aunt though, before she died, that he would take care of him.  

I haven't gotten far enough into the book to really go into depth about its setting, characters, or plot really.  So I'm going to talk about the connections I've been able to link so far.  In my opinion, connections are one of the greatest things a reader can gather from a book, or any story, especially because each and every individual can get something out of a good novel.  When reading about the two men in this book, the first thing that came to mind, was my siblings, and my relationship with them.  I looked at myself as George, and my younger brothers and sister as a bunch of Lennys.  There were a few traits that weren't in their perfect place, but I could still see the correlation within us.  I could also see the resemblance of just these two characters in many of my friends at school, and other peers as well.  

What are your thoughts on the message of the book? (The One and Only Ivan)

I've been reading at a quicker pace lately, and in one week, I finished this book and am already well into another.  I think it was too great of a novel to not blog about though, and I really wanted to discuss its meaning.

The One and Only Ivan is about a gorilla captured and forced into harsh conditions, and his struggle to achieve a better life for him and his friends.  Ivan's goal is to get his friend Ruby and the other animals to a better place, after he realized how bad they were being treated when his friend Stella died.

This story implies and focuses on animal cruelty and what some conditions are in some places that animals are held in.  This novel is actually told from the point of view of Ivan's (the gorilla), and shows what could possibly be going on in captured animals' heads.

A story like this truly makes you wonder if gorillas understand us humans, and just don't feel the need to be like us or communicate back.  Although it is a somewhat absurd thought, we do realize that we don't come close to fully understanding another species's mind.  A new feeling of sympathy towards other living, breathing, animals that we take advantage of every day, was invoked in me while reading as well.

An additional action this novel prompted me into attempting, was putting myself in the animals' shoes.  Which in fact, is an incredibly hard thing to do in several situations.  Seriously though, think about it, imagine yourself being taken by a huge unknown animal, from your family without a goodbye, forced into a dark cold truck, and shipped to a lonely, cramped, uncomfortable cage where you'll live for several years without the right amount of food or care.  Now think about the, "happy and protected" animals you see at the zoo for your own entertainment.

In conclusion, I think this book should give each and every reader a new view on animal imprisonment, as it did for me.  Maybe now, people will think twice before they visit the zoo.  I know there isn't much of a chance that circuses, zoos, or aquariums will be abolished forever, but it's good to develop your own opinion on topics and do what you can to promote your feelings.