Book Review

This semester I selected three books from my long list, varying from in genre, and one book that was forced upon me, including:

• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, that tells the migrants' story of the struggles of the dust bowl and the cruelty they were received with. This book drove home the point that "we are one" and the corruptness of some systems still used today, stirring up questions about how America treats immigrants of today. It rounded up at 464 pages.


• The Alchemist ,by Paulo Coelho, was a refreshing alternative to the increasingly trashy modern works, weaving a story of self discovery through a journey, much like the classic Illiad.


• The Awakening, by Kate Chopin: I found Edna annoyingly evasive of her motherly duties. Now don't get me wrong! I'm all for women's rights but I don't think that Edna was really fighting for rights.


• Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, is uniquely written in the only way I can describe it as a newspaper column, strangely distant but still personal, probably the only way to relay a catastrophic event such as his to get all the details in and straight.

That about sums it up...

Has News Becomes Slander?

Turn on your TV, your computer, or your radio, or just open your news paper and what do you see? You see men and women arguing, shouting their "news", talking as loudly as it takes to be heard and resorting to yelling when that doesn't work. What do you hear? You hear ranting, raving reporters, overheated Democrats and Republicans. Chaos... and they call it "news".

News used to be objective, events were reported as they were, without opinion, and the opinions were left for the editorials.

But it seems editorials are leaking into the news columns...

So where are we suppose to find objective news? I know I can turn to CNN and FOX for their opinions. But what if I'm uninformed and want to hear it straight? Objective news lets the listeners make their opinions. But subjective news broadcasters have obtained credential ,and people are taking their "news" as fact. Subjective news is killing free thinking, and our country's unity, splitting us into Democrats and Republicans, and encouraging unpatriotic behavior after their choice candidate is not elected, instead of supporting the one we have.

Broadcasters have gotten out of hand, saying whatever they like about whoever they choose with no punishment. When news becomes slander, what do we do about it?

Sentence 5- Terran, Micheal, and Mollie

Independence vs. Happiness

According to the article Happy Hunting by Rebecca Mead, 30% of women don't intend to be married in five years to the man they're married to now. As divorce rates reach all time highs and it is almost more common to come from a broken home than not and women's depression rates rise, you have to question why. Mead thinks the reason is financial independence, that as women's statues in society rises, their happiness sinks. In my opinion this mass dampening of spirit is not from independence but from the basis of their happiness and the foundation for their relationships.

Let me paint for you the picture of the lives of women in the olden days... women were raised in their close knit families (with divorce rates low, most with a father and a mother under the same roof) and learned how to sew and cook, take care of younger siblings and their family; they didn't spend their time studying literature, but the arts, drawing, music. They grew into mothers that kept the house in order and raised their daughters into suitable brides, and, while the father was ultimately in charge of decisions and budgets, being a source for second opinions and support. Their role in the family was crucial and they were to be precisely in tune with each individual of the family and their needs.

Now let me zap you back to present day, where daughters wake up to alarm clocks (not a motherly or sisterly voice) and spend their day in school (away from home) preparing for their future. When they get out of school they find a job and start their lives, and maybe look around for a spouse. If they find one they can marry them with the reassurance that they can undo their vows and keep their money, maybe even get some of his if they play their cards right. Then if they have kids, she can put them in daycare and not miss more than one year at work.

As women's roles in society have gone up and a majority of family budgeters are women, they have become a market target, so their complaints are not only being heard but listened for. Also, women have the choice of divorce since they no longer have to rely on their husband's source of income, turning relationships from financial dependence to... what?

When women are independent they don't NEED men to ensure they will have a roof over their heads, so what are they looking for in relationships? Maybe it's emotional support... And in a world that turns at the speed of light, it's hard to find someone to really listen to you.

Then there's the need for money, the drive of your day, the reason you skip family dinner... Wait! What was that? Turning in quality family time for a little bit more money? Of course that isn't the case in every family, but see how many you can name.

In the modern world that's caught up in material need and neglecting those around you, it's no wonder women are unhappy now! But it's not because their independent... If they'd just turn their treasure hunting upward and look at the faces around them, they would know happiness.

Sentence 12

Her sentence:

It was time to get out.
by Catherine O'Flynn in What Was Lost

This simple sentence mirrors the simplicity of the character's decision, she had decided and that was what she was going to do.

My sentence:

It was time to quit.

Sentence 11

His sentence:

In the towns, on the edges of the towns, in field, in vacant lots, the used-car yards, the wreckers' yards, the garages with blazoned signs- Used Cars, Good Used Cars.
by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

This rhetorical fragment takes the reader through a vivid description and describes the scene and the chaos in one sentence.

My sentence:

In the corners, on the floor of the room, in the hamper, on any surface, the papers, the clutter, the laundry with a oder- sweat, old sweat.

Sentence 10

His sentence:

The watchman laughed.
by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

Simple sentence is striking after all the complex and compoud sentences before it, showing that these people in this place is different. There was no double meaning in his laughter.

My Sentence:

The woman smiled.

Sentence 9

His sentence:

When there was work for a man, the men fought for it- fought with a low wage.
by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

This complex sentence uses a dash to catch the attention of the reader to draw attention to the fact that the men were not fighting each other but fighting against a descending wage.

My sentence:

When there was candy for a child, the children fought for it- fought with a unfair distributor.

Sentence 8

His sentence:

And there's the end.
by John Stienbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

Simple sentence runs home the point, the simple fact that that's the way it is and there is no other option.

My sentence:

And that's the way it is.

Sentence 7

His sentence:

And then the dispossessed were drawn west- from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico; from Nevada and Arkansas families, tribes, dusted out, tractored out.
by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath

The list separated by a hyphen goes into deeper detail to show the wide range and the number of people effected.

My sentence:

And then the bugs were drawn to the light- from the yard, the pond, the corners; from skinny to fat misquitoes, nats, rammed the light, swarmed the light.

Sentence 6

His sentence:

A man might work and feed himself; and when the work was done, he might find that he owed money to the company.
by John Steinbeck in Grapes of Wrath

A complex sentence that tells a short story in sequence and the structure contrasts working but owing money.

My sentence:

The children might laugh and play; and when they come back inside, they find that they have more energy than when they left.

Sentence 5

His sentence:

And it came about that owners no longer worked on their farms.

Improper sentence starting with 'and' to show sequence and effect.

My sentence:

And it turned out that teachers no longer took grades on their homework.

Sentence 4

His sentence:

Carloads, caravans, homeless and hungry; twenty thousand and fifty thousand and a hundred thousand and two hundred thousand.

Repetition of thousand joined by conjunction emphasises the magnitude of the sheer mass of desperate people.

My senetence:

Singualy, alone, stranded and helpless; no one and just one and any one and only one.

Sentence 3

His sentence:

They had nothing.
by John Steinbeck in Grapes of Wrath

Simple sentence shows the simplicity of their poverty. They truely had nothing, no "and" or "but" about it.

My sentence:

It was over.

Sentence 2

His sentence:



"Our people are good people; our people are kind people. "
by John Steinbeck

A sentence containing two balanced phrases emphasises these select group of people are different than those around them.

My sentence:

This girl is a wonderful girl; this girl is a compassionate girl.

Sentence 1

His Sentence:
They streamed over the mountains, hungry and restless- restless as ants, scurrying to find work to do- to lift, to push, to pull, to pick, to cut- anything, any burden to bear, for food.
from Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

A loose sentence full of repetition, anadiplosis, and anaphora to emphasis the level of desperation the people are at in their search for honest work.

My Sentence:
They pushed toward the finish line, red-faced and panting- panting as dogs, forcing their legs to go- to move, to push, to lift, to scurry, to sprint- anything, any form of movement, toward the finish.

Modern Convenience... More Like Modern Pain in the Rear!

In A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink, one of the experiments he suggests in the book is to keep a design journal. Being the activity I chose, I started looking for household items that were perfectly designed or tragically flawed.

Two inventions caught my eye; one was brilliant and the other was not so much.

Brilliant: My bed
With not much space in my room but more than enough junk to fill it, every piece of furniture in my room serves a function; my bed serves several. The first purpose is obvious, sleep. The second is the reason my bed is brilliant. Under my bed where most people have a missing sock or a few spiders, I have four average sized drawers and one endless drawer in the middle. These house a good portion of my clothes and my art supplies, giving me enough room to be able to walk around my room without having to get rid of anything.

Not so Much: The dishwasher
One of my household chores is to clean the dishes. More than once I've had to take the dishes out of the "dishwasher" and scrub the leftovers off the plates, which I always thought was the point of a dishwasher. I've tried different detergents and the result is the same, and I'm tired of washing the dishes before... washing the dishes.

Now that I've started looking for flaws in inventions, I can't stop looking for ways to improve every imperfection.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, is two brilliantly written stories intertwined.

One story of a young girl that was unwanted and a shame to her father, who was handed off to marry a man that was about forty years older than her. When she is not able to give her husband the only thing he wants, he turns into a cruel, hard old man and she turns into a reclusive, depressed women. The other story of young girl growing up in the start of a new age with a mother that has given all her love to her two sons that are in the war and doesn't seem to have any left for her. She is surrounded by violence and lose and is falling in love with her best friend in a time of separation.

Based in Afghanistan, A Thousand Splendid Suns gives the reader a insight of Indian culture.

Recommended by two friends, Chynna and Mason, this is one of my favorite books and to those who decided to read it I tell you, keep reading, there IS a perfect ending.

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is the tale of two men traveling through life together. For Lennie, George is his friend and role model; for George, Lennie is an unexpected friend and a burden, but they're family. Both men, repeatedly getting kicked off ranches, wonder from town to town with only a fickle dream propelling them.

George is witty and small, while Lennie is ginormous and somewhat mentally challenged. Lennie is always getting in trouble, while George is always getting him out of trouble. The duo arrives at a new ranch and find their dream finally coming true with a little help from some new friends. But trouble seems to be waiting around every corner and Lennie just keeps bumping into it...

I wouldn't recommend this book:
1. for the language through out the book! There was a curse word on every line!
2. if your a fan of happy endings, the ending was horrible!

But if those things don't bother you, you might enjoy this book, after all it is a classic (for some reason).

The End of a Chapter

As my sophomore year comes to a screeching halt, I feel like the world is spinning underneath my feet, and with it, everything and everyone around me is swirling past. Starting at a crawl then working up to a blurred streak of colors, this year is finally ending. Finally... all the homework, all the tests, all the early mornings, all the endless, dreary classes going on while the sun is shining through the windows, all of it's done!

But...

Even though the sand has drizzled out of the hour glass of '09, I am still just as far away from picking what I want to do as I was when I was five. With my junior year staring me in the face with choices of colleges, careers, and colleagues, I feel slightly overwhelmed by the enormity of my choices; my interests are as scattered as the stars in the sky, each option coming with it's own specific choice of where to go.

But...

I have a year, maybe two if I stretch it, to decide so... for now I'm not worrying myself about what awaits me because I know it will show it's face in time and in for now the sunshine and cool water is calling my name! For now, I'll forget colleges, careers, and colleagues and enjoy the few months of freedom I have before they drag me back to the jailhouse they call school.

The Giver

The Giver, by Louis Lowrey, is a unique book about being different and loving so much that you are willing to make a major sacrifice for their benefit.

The Giver is written in simple modern English and is not a difficult read (I read it in 7th grade). Lowery paints pictures and crafts characters so smoothly that you don't realize your learning so much about the character and their community until you finish. Set in a different world, with a different way of living, her smoothness is a great feat. In her world the people are excluded from feelings and pain, and they are forced to be the same through "Sameness".

In The Giver, the main character Jonas is a young boy selected for a position of great honor, or that's what everyone keeps telling him, but no one seems to know what the Receiver does. Jonas' job comes with rules that he would have never have thought possible; suddenly he was able to lie and was exempt from certain activities that EVERYONE had to participate in. Jonas' secretes and exemptions separate him from his family and friends.

Then Jonas is faced with a choice; does he stay in his comfortable home or does he give it up so his community can have the chance to feel real emotions and live their lives?

The House On Mango Street

The House on Mango Street is understood better when you understand where the author, Sandra Cisneros, grew up. Cisneros was raised as a Hispanic-American in the rundown suburbs of Chicago. She was surrounded by poverty and racism. She incorporated all she experienced and learned into her book through the unique, innocent voice of a young girl named Esperanza.

The House on Mango Street is the story of Esperanza, Esperanza's growing up, making friends, overcoming her surroundings, and overcoming what people expected of her. She doesn't fit in with her family and has had to move so many times that she never had the chance to make friends.

Cisneros writes this novel in a series of short anecdotes that give the reader a glance into Esperanaza's life without handing the information to them but lets the reader interpret the stories and draw the deeper meaning themselves. Cisneros gives the reader a taste of what life is really like for Hispanic-Americans, for young girls living in poverty, and for young girls growing up no matter what ethnicity.

Swing

A couple months ago, my little sister fell off a bag swing and broke both of her arms. My dad was the only one with her and the incident scared him so bad that he cried... which doesn't happen. After hearing him tell the story I wrote this, it's structure is similar to The Little Red Wheelbarrow:

Swing

Flying,
Soaring,
To the sky...

Clutching,
Clinging,
Falling...

Bleeding,
Not breathing,
Not seeing,
Not screaming...

"Breathe
Please, breathe"

Breath...

Wailing...

Cast,
Sling,
Bruises...

"She'll be fine"

In His Steps

Last summer, I was a temp. for my church's secretary while she was on vacation. The job was a joke! I mean the secretary had told everyone she knew she'd be gone and not to call the office. My job?... answer the phone! So that week I got paid to answer about five calls and be completely and utterly bored out of my mind!

So on my break (from sitting), I walked around and went to the annex. On the long front table, that sits by the door, I spotted a pile of books that looked like they held the promise of quenching boredom. I scanned through them and found one that looked interesting; the title was In His Steps, and the author was Charles Sheldon.

The theme of the book is WWJD (for those who are not familiar with this let me enlighten you WWJD= what would Jesus do?). Right off the bat, in the introduction, the author lets you know that this is a challenging read, but not because of big words but the thought provoking message it sends.

The novel is about the founders of the acronym; about a small town church making a pledge to ask WWJD before EVERY decision they make. This movement shook their community for years after.

If your a christian and your wondering what you can do for your community, how to reach out to your surroundings, or want to develop your christian mindset, read In His Steps.

If your not a christian but your looking for something for your mind to mull over, like dramatic stories, or searching for something different, read In His Steps.

Animal Farm

The latest class assigned read, Animal Farm by George Orwell, was a fable and an allegory.

Parallel to the Russian Revolution, the story follows the revolt of the animals against the people and then on to the rebuilding of the farm with the animals in control.

But as the story progresses, there seem to be queer unexplainable things happening around the farm. Where did the milk go? Why don't the pigs have to work? Is Snowball a friend or foe?

Favorite "Techi-tool"

Saving me from misspelled words, incorrect and over usage of certain words, has made dictionary.com my favorite "techi-tool".

This gadget gets me through papers and books and always puts the right word in my mouth. Since I am already working on a computer while I'm typing my drafts, this is a lot quicker than finding a dictionary, looking up the word, and them looking up a synonym or antonym for that word.

The Big Mouse

Roller coasters, hotel sleepovers, and Mickey Mouse...

This spring break I ventured to Orlando, Florida with the band. The band bunch spent four days in Disney World and other related theme parks. This being my first time not only to Florida but Disney World too, I was in awe most of the trip.

But with four days of hard hitting theme-parkin', comes certain down sides. Such as:

• Lines- I waited 2 hours for a single roller coaster in a cramped, stuffy building.
• Sore feet- My feet hurt so bad I resorted to biting my hand to distract me from the pain in my feet.
• Grouchy people- After 3 days of sore feet and long lines, you see a different side of people, some not so nice.

Although I enjoyed Disney World, and don't get me wrong I had a blast, I think I would rather stick to more remote places.

Exert from Anthem

In the world Ayn Rand creates in her book Anthem, it is very rare for men to live to 45.

Allan K. Chalmers' philosophy of happiness sums up the reasons why life expectancy is so short in Equality 7-2501's society. She wrote;

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

Without the freedom to choose their occupations, no one to love, and no future, its a wonder the citizens lived that long.

Cathcher in the Rye

What would you do if you skipped shcool?

In The Catcher in the Rye, by D. J. Salinger, Holden decides there is no reason to wait till his parents get the letter informing them he was being kicked out of shcool (the fifth one) to leave, but takes off two days early to spend some time in the town.

Written in a true teenage boy's voice, it seems as if you are hearing the story first hand from a friend. You learn the way he thinks and talks as he tells his stories of bars, hotels, and his family.

If you like listening to your friends tell their stories of crazy adventures, add this classic to your list.

Pride and Predjudice

Romeo and Juliet. Catherine and Heathcliff. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

This classic love story, by Jane Austen, tells the story of every kind of love.

Elizabeth's story is of a young girl with a marriage crazed mother, no connections, and no money, that has "bewitched" the very man she has learned to loath for his apparent pride. Elizabeth's sister, Jane, the prettiest girl in Nehterfield, who has stolen the heart of the rich young man, Mr. Bingley, is too modest to show her feelings towards him to encourage him. Lydia's flirtatious ways and arrogance has dumped her in the arms of trouble, with Catherine following in her footsteps. And a story of a friend, who married without love.

Brilliantly written with wit and wisdom, it's no wonder this novel has stayed a classic for so long.

I Can't Tell You

talking + me = trouble

Ater a fight with his ex-best friend when he said things that never should have been said, this is Jacob Jacobsen's view on talking.

His solution? Stop talking. Now he communicates through notes on napkins, fliers, even pudding. But will this save him from saying the wrong things or get him in even more trouble?

I can't tell you, by Hillary Frank, is truely the only book of its kind. Told in notes and her own shorthand, you learn who the characters are by their handwriting, making it more personal. This is one of my favorite books.

Anthem

Do you ever get tired of doing what people tell you? Don't you want to decide for yourself? Equality 7-2521 did.

In Ayn Rand's novel ,Anthem, she creates a world that demolishes the individual, where everything is about, for, and because of WE. Everything they do is for their brothers. There is no love, no hope, and no free will.

But Equality 7-2521 couldn't think that way. He was "cursed". He had committed transgression after transgression, and the only things he cared about are his light and the "Golden One".

So what do you do when don't fit in and are hoping against hope?

The Call of the Wild

In Jack London's The Call of the Wild, filled with adventure and violence, is a story of fighting for your passions and finding your place, brilliantly told from a dog's point of view.



London creates a head strong, egotistical, and loyal character. Buck, the main character, is plucked from his pampered life and sold into the life of dog sledding, where he defies owners and fights for his status among fellow dogs.



Packed with battles and friendships, this book is appealing to both genders.

To Perfect my World...

To bring the world together and make it a better place, I would distribute food to the hungry and cure the sick.

The rich nations waste tons of food every day, while the poor from around the world starve to death. By simply sacrificing the excessive amount of food each nation has and giving it to a nation that lacks could help, if not solve, this crisis.

Also, vaccinations and cures for diseases sit in doctor's offices, while people in Africa suffer from AIDS, simple because of the price is too high to cure them.

With a little less selfishness and a little more charity, the world would be a better place. (I promise I didn't steal that from a beauty queen!)

Antigone

Antigone, by Sophocles, is a classic Romeo and Juliet story but it also has other themes. The main character, Antigone, takes a stand for what she believed in and knowingly risked her life doing so. Creon, the leader of Thebes, is faced with a decision that will cause him to put away his pride to make the right choice. Lastly, Hameon, Antigone's fiance and Creon's son, must persuade his father to spare Antigone's life. This play is great for a short read with twists in the plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Listening

When you take a stand for yourself, the outcome is not always what it should be.

When I spotted my mom's white CRV rolling into the pick-up line in front of the junior high school, I slid into the passenger seat and threw my bag in the back seat. As we pulled away from the school and drove through the streets, I reminded my mom of the upcoming band concert.

At this, she whipped her eyes from the road to me, and said in that annoying I'm-fed-up-with-you-voice,
"Why didn't you tell me before now!"

This really pushed my buttons! I had told her two days before about the exact same event and, as always, she didn't remember. I could not take her anymore! I had to take a stand for myself!

"You never listen! I told you already," I blurted a little too loudly.

Now my mom is not one of those parents you talk back to , and after I said this, I wished I could rewind the scene and draw the words back. A fiery look entered her eyes and I had a moment of fear in which I thought she might slap me, but to my relief she just yelled,
"I always listen! I must have been doing something important when you told me!"

My first reaction was to stop talking but then I thought,
"I'm already in trouble, I might as well get my point across," and tried to calmly reply, "You were sitting in the living room and shopping on your lap top."

There was a moment of silence as she realized I was right and searched for a recovery.
"Well, you are grounded!"

And that was that; there was no explanation why and I knew better than to say anymore. That was the first time I had been grounded and all I was doing was standing up for myself.

My mom still does not listen.