Final Blog Post

Final Blog Post

Reading for me is an escape to wind down after the day and escape into a fictional world. I enjoy reading unfortunately I do not have as much time to do so when I want to. I love getting lost in a book and encased in a story told by an author. I make time for reading by sitting down at any time available. The most obscuring obstacle for reading would be having too many extracurricular activities and being overwhelmed with activities. My best reading experience would be when I read "The Life of Pi" it was an exceptionally, captivating book. The last time I got lost in a book was when I read "Insurgent" I loved the series and I think that it was the best book out of the entire trilogy. The last time I got lost in a book would be as I said earlier when I read "The Life of Pi". The story captivated my attention with Pi's story of his struggles when caught in sea. I find it is extremely important for students to choose books, so the student enjoys what they are reading instead of procrastinating and not finishing a book they were forced into. Goals I have for my future reading is to save more time to just read, sit down, and expand the types of genre I have read. 

The best part about blogging for myself would have to be expressing my thoughts on the literature I choose to read. The worst part would have to be constantly blogging every other week, and at times regurgitating about the same book the week before. I do not make sharing my "reading life" and thoughts public online a substantial part of my life. Suggestions I have to make blogging an integral part of the course curriculum in coming years would be to give students more time to read during class, and blogging more interactive. 

I have changed as a person to be more independent youngster after coming into a new place, surrounded by new people and things. By learning to be organized and its worth while to put forth the effort. I have changed as a person by being more outgoing, asking for help and to not hide in the shadows. A positive experience I've had this year would be joining my school's marching band it helped me become more social and really step outside of my comfort zones by meeting new people, and making some of the best friends. A challenge I have faced this year would be how difficult high school truly is, and adjusting to the change into such an immensely different environment you are launched into. It shaped me into becoming gradually more independent and asking teacher for help when needed. Goals I have for my sophomore year are: to get more involved with the school, volunteer in my community, maintain my GPA and even go above, meet new people, and be a mentor for any new coming freshman who may need guidance.  

Allegiant

Allegiant, written by Veronica Roth

 

             Finally, the final review of the final book. This book has taken a strenously, long time to read. In the end I'm glad I finished off the series. I enjoyed how Roth, utlizes the characters and the relationships between them. Though I am feel melancholy as to the way she finished the book. Sad yes, but I believe she couldn't have ended it better. Overall, this book wasn't the most attention grabbing as it could have been and I was also slightly disappointed with how Roth began the final book in the series, Allegiant. I was disappointed primarily how the author started the book and I did not enjoy the dual perspectives very much. To me both voices sounded like Tris. I believe this to be because Tris' voice is established greatly between the first two books. And then when Roth decides to add another voice; it sounds commonly like Tris already.

           If I were to rate this book; it out be a whooping 2.5 out of 5 stars. I would give it this score and probably the lowest one yet out of the other 2 books, because in order to come out with a last book it must grasp the readers attention and instead it left us not wanting more. It honestly took me about 3 months to finish the book not because I'm a slow reader I was just not interested enough to read it. I have high hopes for the two part movies that will arrive in the near future.

 

Overall, I believe Veronica Roth to be an extraordinary writer who captured the dystopian world that: Tris, Four, Caleb, Christina, and some many others alive or dead who lived through an unimaginable world. How did she get the inspiration to configurate a world that us people will hopefully never have to live in? I would definitely recomend this book and the whole series to any teenager or adult who enjoy dystopian based backgrounds. Full of action, romance and tradegy this is your type of book. If I were to rank the 3 books in order with my favorite to least favorite it would have to be:

1.        Insurgent is my number one favorite because in my opioin it has the most action and romance; which go hand and hand. And I could really not put the book down it just grasped my attention.

 

2.       Divergent is my second favorite of the 3; I think it did a fantastic good indroducing Tris and her story and I believe it was the perfect style and perfect way to start off the series.

3.       Allegiant is my third and last favorite of the 3, and I think you know why.

 

 

 

My final advise for you would be to try and keep and open mind when reading the books and don't let other people override your judgement. If I did I wouldn't have even finished the book. Also, check out these links to the Amazon review and a quiz to see which faction you belong in.

 

 

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Allegiant-Divergent-Series-Veronica-Roth/dp/006202406X  

Buzzfeed quiz- http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/which-divergent-faction-do-you-actually-belong-in#.tenjZa2DZ3

 

 

 



"Something to Remember for Thanksgiving" by Mary Schmich

"Something to Remember for Thanksgiving", 

By: Mary Schmich

      In this column, Schmich wants the reader to feel desperation, for her youthful self and the well-being of the young child and her need for the Nutty Buddy. In the column Schmich states, "I wanted a Nutty Buddy like I'd never wanted a Nutty Buddy before, like I'd never wanted anything...I would demand a Nutty Buddy"(Schmich).As a child they get strong crazing for foods which most children would, from this the author wants a response from the audience whether relatable or to show compassion for the character. As well as feeling saddened by the lack of resources her family is available with and how she, "Hates being poor!" 
The writer wants the audience to remember the conclusion with the encounter of herself and her father at the end of the article. The purpose of the article is to inform. The author utilizes diction and syntax in the column to effectively support the writer's message and purpose by using elevated and formal diction here Schmich states, "elated and mystified"(Schmich). The author uses this method of diction to express her amazement of the sacrifice her father made for her, and how he gave up something that he needed, for his daughter's happiness. To conclude the column the writer uses, long sentences to help empathize the message of the article and to effectively get the word out. She states, "And part of what he meant is that no matter how little you think you have, there's always enough to give some away, and no matter how little you think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge" (Schmich). 
       The value of this column to society is very beneficial. The difference it helped by being made is, its message of what Poverty really is. And how it can be mistaken for being "poor" or not having enough money to buy your favorite ice cream. Rather its a state of mind, and it is good to give and be thankful, and show love for those you care about,especially on the day of Thanksgiving.  In the column Schmich expresses, "Off and on for years since then, the vision of my father giving me money that was hard to spare has come back to me. I think that's why the memory surfaced when I was thinking about Thanksgiving"(Schmich). This column sends a message to society that society needs to be reminded of in our present-day that is being thankful and not being materialistic with the new iPhone that is coming out, or forgetting the actual concept of Thanksgiving and how in the present-day people only think of it as a day of for marketed down clothes and great deals. Even now, the new Apple iWatch is coming out, people are getting lazier and more materialistic as years go by,  people in this day and age forget to give thanks for what they do have, or the meaning of holidays. Instead we are forgetting its a day, to give thanks for what you have, and surround yourself with people you love and who influence you in a positive light.

Article-  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-20/news/chi-something-to-remember-for-thanksgiving-20120606_1_ice-cream-man-thanksgiving-porch  

Allegiant

Allegiant

 

*Spoiler Alert

 

 

I am about 4/5 of the way finished with Allegiant, and it has drastically picked up its pace with action. Tris has just discovered a new plan the Bureau has come up with to erase the memory of the people in Chicago where the faction system once was. Things have gotten out of hand, the Allegiant are starting a revolution against  Evelyn's factionless forces. Tris, clumsy as she is, plans to reciprocate the same action by getting to the Weapon Room before them and wiping the memory of the Bureau. I believe that this is a bad move on her part and in the end I predict that it will get her killed. I was surprised and disappointed that the author is going to kill off Uriah, I feel we don't see enough of his character and he's the comic relief in the book and now they've decide to cut him off. I predict this is going to happen because where I am in the book it stated, "The doctor says Uriah's not going to wake up." Christina says this to Tris and I think it is foreshadowing his death. In the book I predict that another influential character is going to die, particularly Tris. And I think their plan to erase the memory of the Bureau will go terribly wrong.

Allegiant

Allegiant

 

*Spoiler Alert* 

 

I have reached about half way in this book, Allegiant written by Veronica Roth. My feelings towards the back, is not quite satisfied, it seems slow at the moment. But I have reached a part where there a new uprising of action and violence. And a realization has crossed that, in the dystopian society they live in, there most always be someone superior to others. I questions this and compare it to our society, which in some ways are similar, but very different as well. I also found new characters are being introduced frequently, and no one can not be trusted. Such as Nita who is a lab worker that studies genes in the laboratory and is rising up a plan that may destroy the society she lives in. This plan backfires, many people get injured, especially Uriah who I fear may be in a fatal state and die. So far where I am no important character has died, which I am extremely grateful for. I predict in the future of the book that Uriah will die, and a certain main character will die (cough cough), and Tris of course will do something very rash.

Allegiant

Allegiant

*Spoiler Alert*

In Allegiant, I am at the point where Tris and her group have escaped the city and found the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Tris has just discovered new information that pertains to her mother which is extremely shocking, and I did not see it coming. I was definitely surprised when the author, tied in Tris' mother, and the secrecy behind her life and where she truly came from. I feel as though I have not yet reached the climax of the book which I know will follow shortly. So far, I feel that the book is not as captivating as the first two books have been. I also like how the author, tried a new angle and tried a different style of writing; dual perspectives. But, I feel that the aspect of knowing what Tobias/Four thinks all the time takes away his mysteriousness. I am not saying that from a women's perspective of favoring leading ladies, but simply as a reader and a fan of the series. I do enjoy how, we get to know more about Tris' mother and her impact on the world Tris grew up in. I'd say the theme is from where I am in the book is, new discoveries may lead to a journey one may seek out. I say this because Tris is in a difficult position in her life. She is still getting over her brother's betrayal and the findings of her mother's outside life and the lies she told to "protect" her. I predict that Tris will, go out and do something reckless as she normally does, and try and find even more information about her mother. So far, I would say the book is decent it does not grasp my attention as much as the other books did. But, it is still an amazing book that I think many people should read. Also, I feel like there is a common theme with author's writing a last book in a series which I found was evident in the Hunger Games series how the last book, Mockingjay was not nearly as good as the others. I believe it is because throughout the whole book, it is just a conclusion wrapping up the series and nothing new is really introduced and nothing drastic normally occurs.

Dover Beach and Fahrenheit 451 Continutation

My interpretation of the continuation of the story, Fahrenheit 451 using Mrs. Phelps.

Mrs. Phelps slugs out the house, followed by Mildred who keeps reassuring her.
"Cara, it will be alright Guy was just kidding about the silly poem and his silly books, silly silly man." Mildred explained franticly to cover up husband's foolishness. As Mrs. Phelps walked out and boards the train she realizes maybe the world wasn't as nice as it seemed maybe it was as the poem said, "...a land of dreams". Rather it is,"..where ignorant armies clash by night". The arising realization stunned Mrs. Phelps until she remembered she was alone, on the train as it rode through the dark tunnel. A tear slips down her face as she remembers how, beautiful the poem had been describing the calm sea, glimmering in the tranquil bay and how peaceful it seemed to be until it took a drastic change. Now roaring tides, and the eternal sadness. It creates a tear in Mrs. Phelps heart as she had been so blind to know how messed up the world she lives in really was. She began to cry, slow and erupting starting deep within the confines of her heart up to her lungs which gasp for air. Into her vocal cords which let out screeches and sobs, soon all this turning to yells, cries of agony at the conclusion to a corrupt life she lives. She cried for the children she never had, and how she had always hoped for one day.She cried for Hubert Hoag who had truly deserved to win the election, but she was too blinded to believe his true potential and the millions of people who had the same mind set of appearance before knowledge. And most of all she cried for her husband Pete, who was off fighting in the war, with nothing to fight for or live for. It hit her like a bullet to the heart, the tragic poem written by Matthew Arnold to his bride, about the world and how it is not all, calm and sweet. Events happen that are often upsetting, and unsettling to those who are not used to anything otherwise. Mrs. Phelps relates to the feeling of human misery and how negative their society is shielding those with greatness, those who question how their world is being run. This idea clearly comes off when Arnold uses literary allusion to connect his idea of Sophocles and Agean to human misery. The train doors creak open, as it arrives to the last stop, Mrs. Phelps steps out, seeing a new world for the first time through new, clear eyes. Disgusted by what lies before her, cluessless people with no thought of to what is happening.
"Why am I here? I do not deserve to be alive, after all the injustice I have defended." Mrs. Phelps whispers to herself as people begin to stare at her with their confused eyes. She walks on and on not knowing where she is going or if she will ever stop, but she goes to wherever the path may take her. To take her own life for those who had been killed by the stupid firemen, stupid government, and stupid leaders. The river comes into view she runs for it as though this is were she belongs now, this is where she deserves to be and the only place left for her is here. She stretches down to take off her shoes. And places her cold feet into the empty water, which is how she is now empty and lost. Alone, no one will miss her or even remember her name she will soon become a distant memory to be replaced. Because that is the world she lives in, and she cannot stand it any longer.