"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go."
-Dr. Seuss
This is my favorite poem because it basically tells us we have control over our life and the decision to be successful is your own. I like how his poems are relatable to kids and adults. It is very simple yet very meaningful at the same time.
-Daniella B. Period 3
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Hunger Games
For my dystopian novel, I read The Hunger Games. This is a perfect example of a dystopian era. America is separated into twelve different districts. As an annual show of loyalty to the Capitol, each District must send two young Tributes- one male, one female – to compete in the national Hunger Games. Twenty-four people are put into the Hunger Games and are all trying to survive and fight for their lives. Only one person can survive and become the victor of the games.
-Daniella B. Period 3
-Daniella B. Period 3
Of Mice and Men
For my 20th century novel I decided to reread Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This is one of the few books I read at school that I truly enjoyed.
Lennie is an innocent big guy with the mind of a child. He depends on his friends, George, who is a quick-witted man. The two friends, like other migrant workers, move from one place to another as they search for farms that can provide them with job opportunities. Despite of this unstable lifestyle, Lennie and George have a beautiful dream--and that is to earn enough money so they can buy a land and have all kinds of animals, including Lennie's favorite rabbits. Because of Lennie's love for soft objects, he accidentally kills Curly's wife. Knowing what horrible consequences Lennie would have to face, George takes Lennie to the forest and there he retells all the wonderful details of their dream. With Lennie fully captivated by the bright future they envisioned together, George kills him.
The ending of this book definitely surprised me. I would have never imagined that the story would end with a twist like this. I think that in a way Lennie is fortunate that he died in George's hands. He is able to live his last moments with such a joyful and hopeful attitude. I cannot imagine what went through George's mind when he finally pulls the trigger. Not only was he ending the life of his only companion, he was also throwing away him and Lennie's big dream that once kept him motivated in life.
Of Mice and Men is a fast read with a deep messsage that kept me thinking for a long time. The portrayal of the characters' psychological states is extremely detailed and powerful. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
Lennie is an innocent big guy with the mind of a child. He depends on his friends, George, who is a quick-witted man. The two friends, like other migrant workers, move from one place to another as they search for farms that can provide them with job opportunities. Despite of this unstable lifestyle, Lennie and George have a beautiful dream--and that is to earn enough money so they can buy a land and have all kinds of animals, including Lennie's favorite rabbits. Because of Lennie's love for soft objects, he accidentally kills Curly's wife. Knowing what horrible consequences Lennie would have to face, George takes Lennie to the forest and there he retells all the wonderful details of their dream. With Lennie fully captivated by the bright future they envisioned together, George kills him.
The ending of this book definitely surprised me. I would have never imagined that the story would end with a twist like this. I think that in a way Lennie is fortunate that he died in George's hands. He is able to live his last moments with such a joyful and hopeful attitude. I cannot imagine what went through George's mind when he finally pulls the trigger. Not only was he ending the life of his only companion, he was also throwing away him and Lennie's big dream that once kept him motivated in life.
Of Mice and Men is a fast read with a deep messsage that kept me thinking for a long time. The portrayal of the characters' psychological states is extremely detailed and powerful. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
The Pact
For my 20th century novel, I read The Pact. This story is about Chris Harte and Emily Gold, childhood friends who fall in love. From an outsiders view, their lives seemed perfect. Their families were best friends and not only did they want their children to date, they thought they would get married in the future. However, all that changes once Emily Gold is announced dead due to a gun shot to the head. With Chris being the only one there at the time of the accident, all fingers are pointed to him and he is being tried for murder. The story flashes back from "Then" to "Now" and we learn about how they grew up together and the aftermath when Chris is in trial.
This book shows qualities from the 20th century because Chris is an example of loss of belief in anything besides self. No one knows the real truth besides Chris himself. He doesn't know how to deal with losing the one person that meant the most to him. He can only trust himself because he has no one else to go to.
-Daniella B. Period 3
The Secret Life of Bees Book Review
Kidd, Monk Sue. The Secret Life of Bees ( New York, NY. Penguin Books, 2002), 302 pp. reviewed by Chrystal Okwuokei, Los Osos High School, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
The Secret Life of Bees is a 21st century, fictional novel that takes place in Tiburon, South Carolina. The main character Lily Owens has to deal with the absence of her mother after accidentally "killing" her when she was a child. She struggles to replace the emptiness in her heart because she searches for her mother's love. She runs away from her abusive father T. Ray with her nanny Rosaleen. On their escape they encounter a bright pink house and meet three sisters August, May, and June Boatwright who invite them to live with them. August teaches Lily to become a beekeeper and she learns how to make honey and candle wax.
Lily receives the support, comfort, and love she needs from Rosaleen and the Boatwright sisters. They teach her to have faith and she begins to feel empowered. Lily continues to learn and grow and eventually moves on from her troubled past. The major themes in the novel are the power of sisterhood and the mother figure which represents universal love. Sue Monk Kidd uses both coincidence and accident to propel the plot because although Lily didn't have a plan on where to go after she ran away from home she is still able to find the truth that she seeks.
The Secret Life of Bees is a 21st century, fictional novel that takes place in Tiburon, South Carolina. The main character Lily Owens has to deal with the absence of her mother after accidentally "killing" her when she was a child. She struggles to replace the emptiness in her heart because she searches for her mother's love. She runs away from her abusive father T. Ray with her nanny Rosaleen. On their escape they encounter a bright pink house and meet three sisters August, May, and June Boatwright who invite them to live with them. August teaches Lily to become a beekeeper and she learns how to make honey and candle wax.
Lily receives the support, comfort, and love she needs from Rosaleen and the Boatwright sisters. They teach her to have faith and she begins to feel empowered. Lily continues to learn and grow and eventually moves on from her troubled past. The major themes in the novel are the power of sisterhood and the mother figure which represents universal love. Sue Monk Kidd uses both coincidence and accident to propel the plot because although Lily didn't have a plan on where to go after she ran away from home she is still able to find the truth that she seeks.
Youth
The poem I chose for the poem project is called "Youth" by Kim Nan-Do
It's youth because you are anxious
It's youth because you are lonely
It's youth because you are Indecisive
It's youth because you are lonely
It's youth because you are Indecisive
It's youth because you are alive
So It's youth.
Kim Nan-Do is a famous poet in Korea right now. His poetry book called "It's Youth because you are hurt" helped him rised to fame. He's very liked by young people in korea because the young people really enjoy reading his book. Most of the reviews of the book are about how all the people reading the poem can relate to it. Like many young people in korea, i also can relate very well to this poem. It fits so perfectly and it amazes me how Nan-do was able to capture all of these feelings. Youth is such an important part of life and i believe that things that happen during someone's youth wil determine the outcome of how they wil turn out to be. Although I'm very nervous it's my youth time now but in another way, I'm really excited for it. I can't wait to experience life as a person in his youth. His ability to catch the actual feeling lead me to really love this poem. I hope it does for you as well ^^
Alex Han
So It's youth.
Kim Nan-Do is a famous poet in Korea right now. His poetry book called "It's Youth because you are hurt" helped him rised to fame. He's very liked by young people in korea because the young people really enjoy reading his book. Most of the reviews of the book are about how all the people reading the poem can relate to it. Like many young people in korea, i also can relate very well to this poem. It fits so perfectly and it amazes me how Nan-do was able to capture all of these feelings. Youth is such an important part of life and i believe that things that happen during someone's youth wil determine the outcome of how they wil turn out to be. Although I'm very nervous it's my youth time now but in another way, I'm really excited for it. I can't wait to experience life as a person in his youth. His ability to catch the actual feeling lead me to really love this poem. I hope it does for you as well ^^
Alex Han
Animal Farm
Dystopia is to put it simply, anti- utopia. This book is a dystopian novel i really enjoyed reading this book. It's main theme was very intriguing to me. Basically, this story is about bunch of farm animals taking over the farm to create a better world for them to live in. The old major boar gathers all the animal to tell them about his dream, a dream to bring harmony and peace to the farm by working together and cooperating. Without fulfilling this dream, the old major boar dies of old age. After old major dies, three younger pigs take over. Although they start with the same intent the old major wanted, their original plan gets skewed and goes off tangent. They start on an idea called, Animalism. at first it seemed like everything was going to plan but as time went by, one of the pig became greedy. Napoleon starts to behave rather badly and starts to frame another pig as a villain and a dore thumb to the community. In the end, there is no peace and the pigs who despised the human beings started to become like them. They started standing up and drinking whiskeys like greedy human beings they despised.
Reading this book, i came to realize even more how corrupted human beings are. it sickens me to think that whether you are human being or an animal, you will eventually turn your head towards corruption.
Alex Han
Reading this book, i came to realize even more how corrupted human beings are. it sickens me to think that whether you are human being or an animal, you will eventually turn your head towards corruption.
Alex Han
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