Final Blog post yay

                                     Yay, okay so this is the final blog post. I have definitely learned a lot from having to write a long response each week about the book I was currently reading. It got pretty annoying at times but doing a post definitely helped me think in deeper ways about my book.


                                   What did I learn about myself as a reader from creating and keeping up with my blog? Something that I learned about myself as a reader from creating and keeping up with my blog is that when writing my blog, I have thought deeper about my book. When writing my post, I noticed that I noticed new and more interesting things about my book than I had before. I ended up thinking about my books characters more deeply in the books that I had not written a blog post on. I learned that I really need to think more deeply about my books and that I usually read books for pleasure and that I don't really think much about details unless I am forced to in my E.L.A class. 


                                    In what ways did I benefit from the experience? I benefited from the experience of writing a blog post every week is because writing a blog post helped me look at details in my book rather than just ignore them and not think deeply about my book. I also benefited from having a blog for E.L.A because I got to see how other students view their books. It was also interesting to see somebody writing about the same book as me. I benefited from that because I got to view my books in different ways.


                                  Is writing online different than writing in a notebook? In what ways? Writing online is definitely very different than writing in a notebook. For example, when I get a really interesting idea, it's easier to write out everything I am thinking very quickly because I am typing. However, when actually writing out things, I worry about my handwriting and I can't really get out all my ideas when I am writing so slowly. However, when typing my blog post online, I usually get distracted. When writing my blog post, I notice that I have several other tabs with netflix and tumblr that are constantly distracting me. 


                                 In what ways can writing online be liberating? Limiting? I think that writing online is more limiting rather than liberating. When handing in an essay to my teacher, I know that she is probably the only person that is going to read it, so I would include more of my opinion in the response to my book. Writing online is limiting because I know that anybody can read it, so I am much more careful about what I write!


                                Do I think that teenagers abuse the freedom that being online gives you on sites like facebook? Do I think that people type things they would never say to a persons face? Sure. I think that people might insult another person online rather than in person because they don't have to worry about what people around them will think, say or what the other persons reaction is.  


                               In conclusion having a blog has been pretty annoying but definitely helpful. All work is annoying obviously, but I think writing a blog kept me very disciplined in my reading life. 

                                     Aside from "The Kite Runner" for my book club, I have also been reading "Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" written by Deb Caletti. This book is about a very quiet, shy, girl named Ruby mcQueen, who has always been known as the shy girl in her school. Ruby has several friends, but not too many. However, later in the book Ruby is noticed by Travis Becker, the best looking, wealthiest boy in town. Travis is completely different from the people Ruby usually hangs out with. He is incredibly confident, outgoing, and rides a motorcycle. Ruby is incredibly happy with her new relationship. Things with her mother and father, however, are definitely not the same. Ruby's father is never home and is always traveling, trying to get a singing career, leaving Ruby's mother alone all the time. Ruby's father's actions really upset her, and she is always trying to convince her mother to leave him. Ruby is constantly talking to her mom about her leaving her father because she is much better than him and he is clearly not giving any effort. In conclusion, Ruby is always telling her mom her father is not right for her. However, when problems begin to occur between Ruby and Travis and Travis is clearly not the guy she thought he was, Ruby does not follow the advice she gave to her mother, her own advice. Just like Ruby's father, Travis is not willing to give up the things he is doing wrong just to be with Ruby. What makes people give advice they do not follow? Isn't someone's advice their opinion on how to handle the situation? Why would they think differently when the situation applies to them?

                                   People give advice. A person's advice is their opinion and idea on how to handle a situation and what to do in a situation. However, people often do not apply their advice to their own situation. One reason I think this happens is because when giving advice to someone about something, the person giving the advice may not have been in the situation they are giving advice about, and may not understand that it is hard to always do the right thing. For example, when Ruby tells her mom to leave her father, but when Travis becomes bad, Ruby does not apply her advice to herself and stays with Travis. I think this is because Ruby did not have any experience with her mother's situation and did not know how hard it was to leave a loved one.

                              Another reason I think that people do not end up following their own advice is because their situation may not be as serious as the persons they are giving advice to. For example, someone's situation may be more serious/severe than another's and their advice can not apply to a more difficult situation.

                             In conclusion, people can be hypocritical towards their advice because they either have not been in the situation or their situation is more serious.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life.

                                     I just started reading "Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life" by Justine Picardie. This book is about the incredibly influential, legendary, trend-setting, Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel. This book talks about how the orphan from a poor-house in France became the most influential, most powerful, and most revolutionizing person in fashion. This book discusses Chanel's childhood, possible influences, her incredible home and jewels, her rise and fall in fashion, her love life, and her lies. Aside from her massive fame in fashion, Chanel was also known for telling different stories about her childhood, never allowing people to know what the truth was and whether or not she was lying.  Chanel's past was discovered through documents and records, but the entire truth could never be discovered, thanks to Chanel's many stories and lies. Claiming she lived in an upper-class home, Chanel actually grew up in a poor-house then lived in an orphanage. Why would anyone want to hide their past?

                                  A big problem Coco Chanel had, was that she never wanted to reveal her poverty-filled past. I think this was because Chanel had so quickly sky-rocketed to fame and she may have been worried her not very wealthy past would bring down her and her label. In the stories Chanel would tell about her life, she would talk about how her father was an upper-middle class traveling businessman who left her to live with her three aunts in a very elegant, large house. This was definitely not the case in her childhood. Chanel's boyfriends were all very wealthy and powerful men and she also may have felt the need to talk about her "wealthy" past in order to keep them, as explained in the book.

                                This is definitely a problem in our world now, not just Coco Chanel's. many lie about their past just to keep up an image of themselves that they have created, and are worried about their past destroying it. I have also read many books in which people try to destroy their past, worrying it will interfere with the person they have become, and the image of themselves that they have created for people.

                              In conclusion, many in the world try to hide their past worrying that it will interfere with who they have become. Coco Chanel for example, did her very best to hide her past from her lovers, clients, and collegues to keep up with the image she had created for herself.

Gossip Girl: Book 4, What I noticed about Blair Waldorf

                                I have just finished the fourth book of the "Gossip Girl" series written by Cecily

Von Ziegesar. This series is about beautiful, young, privileged, and scandelous teens living on the

Upper East Side. Blair Waldorf, Serena Van Der Woodsen, Nate Archibald, and Chuck Bass, have it

very easy with their easy access to trust funds, powerful last names, and money, and take it all for

granted. Blair Waldorf, the slim, Audrey Hepburn type girl, who dominates her exclusive Upper East

Side private school with her mean attitude and impeccable clothing. Serena Van Der Woodsen, the

previously wild, partying It-Girl of manhattan who returned from her boarding school with an entirely

new "good-girl" personality. Nate Archibald, the incredibly handsome, shy, boyfriend of Blair Waldorf

who doesn't care about anything but smoking, partying, and his best friends. Chuck Bass is Nate

Archibald's billionaire best friend who is more outgoing than Nate but loves to do the same things as

him. As happy, easy-going and carefree as all of these characters may seem, they are all a bit troubled

and not as happy as they seem.

                            Blair Waldorf, the incredibly mean, stylish, and wealthy best friend of Serena Van

Der Woodsen, always likes to have things her way. Blair gets angry every time something does not go

according to Blair's perfect "life plan", she tries to make it that way. She always likes knowing what is

going to happen in her life and knowing what to do. For example, when Nate asks Blair why she insists

on watching the same Audrey Hepburn films all the time, Blair replies "Because I like knowing what's

going to happen". This quote doesn't only apply to why Blair likes to watch the same movies over and

over again, it mostly applies to her life. She always likes knowing what will happen. Why? I think Blair

likes knowing what is going to happen in her life, because she will know what to do in every event.

Blair is always on top of things, being the best student, best dressed, best groomed, best everything, and

I think that she feels the need to always know how to handle things and be perfect. However, if her life

does not go according to her plans, she won't be able to be perfect.

                         Always wanting to know what will happen in life doesn't only apply to Blair Waldorf. I

think that can apply to anybody! Everyone (or almost everyone) wants to be their very best, and be as

close to perfect as possible. Knowing what will happen or having a plan for their lives can make a

person feel like they can't ever do anything wrong! It also gives a person a sense of security. For

example, in the book "Room" by Emma Donahugh, a little boy named Jack was raised by his mother in

an 11' by 11' room, never being allowed to see the outside world. When Jack and his mother are

released from the room and Jack finds out that there are other people and things in the world besides his

mother and the things he was provided for in room. Jack doesn't like not knowing everything and

everyone. Jack doesn't feel safe when there are so many undiscovered things in the world and he can't

discover all of them. I think that knowing everything can make someone feel safer and that nothing

wrong can happen to them.

                               In conclusion, as happy and perfect as Blair Waldorf seems, she is incredibly

worried all the time about being perfect. The idea of "falling out of line" doesn't exist to her and she

hates not knowing what will happen in life, and she hates it when things do not go according to her

perfect plan.

Room: Reoccurring things in "Room"

                                       I have just finished the incredibly intriguing, wonderful, and very original book, "Room", written by Emma Donoghue. It was about a five year old boy named Jack, living with his mother (whom he calls "Ma") in an 11' by 11' shed in a crazy kidnappers garden. Ma was kidnapped from her college campus when she was nineteen, had a child with her kidnapper and raised him in this room, letting him think that Room was the world, and that everything else was fake, or "outside" and not in the world. Jack was raised to believe that everyone on TV was fake, all the activities he saw on TV were fake, and the only "real" foods were the cheap, canned ones that Ma's kidnapper gives to them. None of these foods were very tasty, however they were the only foods Jack knew of. Jack's mother raised him very well. She made sure Jack could speak very well, write, read, draw, be athletic and be smart. Jack actually ended up being much smarter than the children he met when he finally left room!
                                         I noticed that in Room, there are several things that constantly reoccur. When Ma defends her parenting, and when Jack talks about things he doesn't know or was taught wrong.

                                       The first reoccurring thing I noticed was that Ma is constantly defending her parenting skills. She worked very hard to make Jack an educated kid on her own and wants people to be aware of that. For example, while Ma is being interviewed by a very obnoxious and pushy interviewer, she is questioned toward her parenting skills, and is told that Jack may have been taught wrong. Ma got incredibly defensive about this and insulted the interviewer.  Also, whenever Ma's mother asks her about how she raised Jack, Ma is defensive about her parenting and tells her mother she hasn't done anything wrong so far. I think Ma gets so defensive because she herself, is worried that she may have made Jack too confused about the real world, and wants others and herself to think that she is a perfect parent.

                                        The second reoccurring thing I noticed in Room was when Jack talks about things he doesn't know. Every time Jack experiences something new, he questions it. For example, Grandma says that he is having "too much fun" and needs to go to sleep. Then Jack says "I didn't know there was such a thing as too much fun". Also, when he buys the same book, and people tell him to get a different one, he says "I didn't know you're not supposed to buy the same books". These are very minor things that usually wouldn't catch the attention of the average person, but because Jack has missed out on so much of "real life" he questions these minor things.

                                    In conclusion, there are things in Room that constantly reoccur. When Ma is constantly defensive about her parenting skills, and how Jack is always questioning very minor things that he has missed out on.

                                    

                                   I am currently reading the book "Room" by Emma Donoghue. It's really interesting and unlike most of the books that I have read! It's really impossible to put down. It is about a boy named Jack and his mother (whom he calls Ma) who live in a room in the home of a crazy fifty-fiveish year old man (whom Jack calls Old Nick, because he comes in the night) who kidnapped his mother seven years ago. Jack and Ma are not allowed to leave that room. Jack thinks that anything outside of "Room" (he names everything, for example, TV, or Wardrobe), isn't real. He hasn't ever left his home and thinks that Room is all there is to the world.
                                  
                                Jack's mother has to figure out ways to somehow explain to Jack why there are so many different people and things that he has not seen. Ma has to make up an explanation because she can not tell him she was kidnapped and that he is being deprived of the outside world intentionally. So, she tells him anything he sees on the television is fake. Ma tells him that anything he sees outside their window is outer-space. If Jack sees a food on television that Ma and Jack can not have (they only have canned foods), Ma has to tell Jack that the food is not real. While reading the book, I notice Ma is always telling Jack things are not real, to prevent him from asking more questions. I view Ma's ways of parenting in very different ways. I think it is sometimes good, and sometimes has a negative affect on Jack.

                                    Ma's parenting skills can also have a good affect on Jack. If Jack finds out that there is so much more to the world than Room, he will desperately want to see it. This will really upset Jack, because it is impossible for him to escape the room because of Old Nick's high tech security locks. Jack gets incredibly upset and angry when his mom can not explain everything to him and can not answer all of his questions. Jack doesn't like not knowing things! If his mother told him about the outside world he would insist on going out and seeing everything and knowing everything, which would get him in a lot of trouble with Old Nick. In conclusion, Ma's parenting skills are pretty good, for now.

                                   Jack's mother's parenting skills can also have a very bad affect on Jack. As Jack mentions in his narraration, he loves living in Room. He knows everything that is in there and loves it. However, when Jack discovers the outside world, it will not seem normal to him. It could be nearly impossible for him to adjust, because he is so used to the life he has now. He will have to understand that there are billions of people he doesn't know, different places, different animals and many different things besides whatever is in room!

Bunheads: Sophia Flack

                          I have just finished this really good book called Bunheads, by Sophie Flack. It is about ballerinas, or ballet dancers in the corps de ballet. These girls are striving to become successful ballerinas and as of now, they are placed in group dances, and don't have their name in the playbill or anything. All of the dancers feel as though they are not pretty enough, skilled enough, precise enough, or skinny enough to be on top. Although they are all very close friends, they will all forget about friendship as soon as their choreographers announce that they will be picking a new dancer for a performance.
                          This book is told from the point of view of Hannah Ward. A hard working dancer who moved to New York City all alone when she was just fourteen years old. Hannah is working very hard to have a real spot in the play. However, several distractions come up. She meets Jacob, a laid-back and very caring and loving boy. She also starts considering college. Both of these "distractions"are considered very "wild" of a ballerina to focus on. Hannah starts thinking about how she does not want her life to only be about work, and dancing and dieting. With this book, I can make several text-to-text connections.
                        
                         The first book I can make a text-to-text connection with is the "Secrets of my Hollywood life" series, by Jen Calonita. This series is about a sixteen year old hollywood a-lister whose life is only about work. "Bunheads" and "Secrets of my Hollywood life" are very similar. For example, in both books, both main characters meet boys who are not as busy as they are and do not understand the pressure's of their girlfriends careers. In both of these main character's lives, having a boyfriend is considered a huge distraction and is not approved of by their families. Another way these books are similar is because both characters are faced with the challenge of thinking about college. Both girls want to get a full education and take time of work! Like Hannah, Kaitlin Burke doesn't want her whole life to be only about her career. They both want to take time off and live like the average college student!

                      The second book I can make a text-to-text connection with is "The Daughters" series. Hudson, one of the main characters of the series, is incredibly focused on her singing career. For example, like Hannah, both girls have problems with making plans with friends. Both Hannah's and Hudson's "out of work friends" are starting to turn on them because they are always to busy and are constantly bailing on their friends' plan. This is definitely a very tough thing for the characters to deal with. Do they want to be with their friends and enjoy their weekends? Or work on their careers?

                     The third book I can make a text-to-text connection with is the book "Coco Chanel: The Legend and Life". This book is about Coco Chanel's life. In a chapter which talks about Chanel's free time, the book mentions how Coco Chanel would deny that she needed friends and close relationships with other people. This is also something Hannah Ward faces. She tries to make herself and others around her believe that she doesn't want friends or boyfriends and only wants to dance and work on her career. Both people in these books try to push away the fact that they need friends and relationships because they only want to work.

                    In conclusion, I can make several text-to-text connections with this book. Like, Hannah Ward, characters in other books get distracted from their work, consider college, choose work over fun, and try to deny the fact that they need other people to make their life happy. Hannah Ward's career is a very stressful one, and she needs to make very difficult decisions.

            

A Royal Match: Dumping Princes: Themes

                                          I am reading the fourth book of the "A Royal Match" series called "Dumping Princes" written by Tyne O'Connell. This series is about a fourteen year old girl who was formerly an outcast in her elite boarding school, St. Augustine's. Being the only girl in her school who was American, and one of the only students who was on a scholarship and not incredibly wealthy, Calypso was completely ostracized by the popular, wealthy crowd at her school. However, after she became best friends with Georgina Castle Orpington (one of the most popular girls in her school who was constantly one the pages of socialite magazines) and dated Prince Freddie, the Prince of England and heir to the throne, Calypso made many more friends and was able to fit in with the popular crowd of her school! While all is going well for Calypso, her childish and loving mother came to stay in London when she and Calypso's father decide to split. This dissapoints Calypso because (although she knows it is a phase in her parents' relationship) she knows her parents cannot be happy without each other, and they are now both interfering in Calypso's life way too much. In the second part of this book, Calypso's perfect relationship with her Prince of a boyfriend comes to an end. Being the first girl at St. Augustine's to ever get dumped, she and her friends try and do a counter-dump where Calypso would get back together with Freddie, just to dump him.
                                         I noticed that there are several themes in this book, such as humbleness, parent interference and peer-pressure.

                                   I think that humbleness is  a theme in this book, because although Calypso has been welcomed into a very elite group of friends, she still remains grounded and not snobby. For example, she says "Although I may be in the In-crowd at my school, I still stay true to my Hello Kitty obsession" says Calypso when talking about how she still keeps her childish Hello Kitty pajamas and accessories. I think this line really means that although Calypso is very popular now, she still remains true to herself and her old style and opinion.

                                    I think that parent-interference is a theme in this book. After Calypso's parents decide to split, they interfering in Calypso's life way too much and talk to Calypso about their problems as though she's their therapist! Of course, parents are supposed to know what is happening in their child's life, but Calypso's parents are not considering that she needs her space and cannot always be there for her parents when they are constantly venting about their problems.

                                    Peer-pressure is definitely a theme in this book. For example, while Calypso is dating Freddie, her friends think Freddie is boring and their relationship has been going on for too long. Calypso is perfectly happy with her relationship and doesn't feel the need to break up with him. Another example of peer-pressure is when Calypso's friends make her do the whole "counter dump" thing. Calypso finds this an immature and unnecessary thing to do. However, she does it because her friends make her.

                                In conclusion, humbleness, parent-interference, and peer-pressure are themes in this book.

A Royal Match: Dueling Princes... Clues throughout the book

                               I am currently reading the third book of the "A Royal Match" series, called "Dueling Princes" written by Tyne O'Connell. This series takes place in a wealthy boarding school called "Saint Augustine's" in London. The main character is Calypso Kelly; a now very popular girl, dating the prince of England who was formerly called "The American Freak". In the first book of this series, Calypso was pretty much ostracized for being the only girl in her grade coming from America (Los Angeles) and not having an updated designer wardrobe or a chauffeur driving her around in a Rolls Royce. At first Georgina Castle Orpington and Honey O'Hare were her most awful enemies. However, Georgina and Calypso have grown to be best friends. Although Honey and Calypso haven't gotten along, Calypso has learned to love Honey's strange ways of friendship. Throughout the series, with her improved wardrobe, a more social personality, and a Prince for a boyfriend, Calypso had made her way into the popular crowd of Britain's most elite teens. However, although she is leaving a far more glamorous life than before, Calypso has remained grounded and pretty much the same girl she used to be.
                                Something I noticed about this book is that there are a lot of clues towards what will happen. There are clues in what Calypso says or hears, that gives me ideas about what will happen later on the book.
                                                  
                                 The first time I noticed a clue, was when in the first chapter, the book started really perfectly. Calypso was out shopping with her crowd of popular friends, and just received a text from Prince Freddie asking her out on another date. Everything was going far too well in the story for it to continue that way. Usually, when a book starts out so well and everything going as the main character wants it to go, something bad will happen to the character's "perfect" world.
                                                  
                                Another clue I noticed in first chapter of the book was when Calypso was talking to one of her best friends, Star, about how she feels happier and more independent at boarding school. "I love my parents, but I feel much more free and independent here" said Calypso. A bit after this, Calypso gets an email from her mother where her mother is talking about how much she misses her daughter and wants to see her. Calypso simply responds with a "miss you too!" and doesn't put much thought into the email. However, after this part, I got a clue from the author telling me that Calypso's mom will be interfering in Calypso's life. I thought this, because Calypso was talking about how much she loves being independent, and then her mom emails her saying she misses her. And eventually, her mom does come to visit for several months!
                            
                            Another clue I noticed in the book was when Calypso is txt-ing Freddie and while Calypso's message is filled with hearts and exclamation points, Freddie's message is very simple and lacks exclamation points. Usually, Freddie's messages are far more enthusiastic and loving than that. I took this as a clue that his and Calypso's far too fabulous relationship is coming to an end.
                                                In conclusion, this book has lost of clues which tells me what will happen later in the story. From these clues, I understood that Calypso's currently perfect world will not be as perfect as it is now, her mother will interfere much more, and her relationship with Freddie is coming to an end.

The Daughters: The Daughter's Take the Stage: The different points of views

                                        I am reading the third book of "The Daughter's", by Joanna Philbin called "The Daughter's Take The Stage". This series is about three girls who are born into wealth and fame, and are constantly expected to live up to their parent's expectation. Lizzie, Carina, and Hudson are from New York City and are very close friends. All of their parents are famous and wealthy, and these girls are usually overshadowed by their parent's success and fame. Lizzie's mother is Katia Summers, a beautiful supermodel. Lizzie is not a "traditional beauty" like her mother. Lizzie tries to go into the modeling world like her mother, but she is not the kind of model her mother was. Lizzie has a unique and interesting face, while her mother Katia, has perfect features. Lizzie is always compared to her mother, and expected to look and be the same as her.
                                     Carina Jurgensen, is Karl Jurgensen's daughter. Karl Jurgensen is a famous, billionaire businessman, who has a cold relationship with his daughter. Carina and her father rarely ever talk. Carina is always befriended by people who only want to be friend's with her because she is rich and knows many famous people.
                                   Hudson Jones is the daughter of Holla Jones. Holla Jones is a very famous pop-sing who is often called "the princess of pop". Although Hudson wants to build a career in music, she is not exactly into singing the type of music her mom writes/sings. When trying to make a CD, Hudson is constantly compared to her mother, and is expected to follow her mom's footsteps as well.
                                  This book is told in the point of view of Hudson. The first book was told in the point of view of Lizzie, and the second from Carina. I think it's very important that the book shows different character's perspectives. They all have unique personalities and view things differently. I also like to see how similarily the three best view things.
                                  One reason it is very important to see all the different perspectives of the character's because they often view things differently. For example, Hudson wanted to tell her mom what she thought about her mom's new CD, but she knew it was wrong and it would only discourage her. However, when the book is told from a different character's point of view, I can see how Hudson's best friends want her to become her own person and stand up to her mom.
                                  Another reason it is important to have different perspectives on the book is because I find it interesting to see how the three girls often agree on things and find themselves in similar situations with each other. For example, Lizzie's, Carina's and Hudson's parents are different, but they all have the same affect on their daughters. They are constantly overshadowing them and making it hard for the girls to become their own person.

Eclipse: Resisting the Text

                                I finished reading the third book of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer a few days ago, and noticed many different things about this book. I noticed character changes (for the worse and for the better), author's intrusion, and I also found myself resisting the text.
                            
                               Eclipse is about Bella Swan's and Edward Cullen's loving relationship. Edward being a vampire, it usually causes trouble for Bella. In the first two books, the only problems in their relationship were that Edward is a vampire, and Bella is not, and Bella is worried about getting too old for Edward, because Edward doesn't age! Although that remains a problem in their relationship, their relationship has also gotten dangerous. Enemies of the Cullen family (Edward's family) hate that they let a human know their secrets. So, these enemies (mainly the wild, angry, vicious, red-head, Victoria) are constantly out to
kill Bella and the rest of her family. Bella wants to become a vampire to avoid these problems and to become one of Edward's 'kind' and become a part of his family.
                            
                              I often found myself resisting the text. At first, Bella feels like she knows what she wants. She is determined to become a vampire, and knows she loves Edward and only Edward. She had clearly been pushing away her feelings for Jacob. Bella continued to insist that she was only friends with Jacob and no more than that. However, Bella soon begins to admit she loves Jacob as more than just a friend, and wants to delay her becoming a vampire to see how she really feels about Jacob. During this part of the book, I noticed I was resisting the text. I was happy that Bella knew (or thought she knew) what she wanted and there was no reason for her to delay her becoming a vampire. I didn't want her to love Jacob, because she made it so clear that she didn't. Edward had risked so much (including his life) for Bella, and I didn't like how Bella would even consider anybody else.
                        
                          Another part of the book where I found myself resisting the text, was when Bella didn't really think much about leaving her father, Charlie. Charlie may not be the most talkative person but he does so much for Bella, and tries very hard to keep Bella's moody self happy!
                    
                      In conclusion, I find myself resisting the text when Bella admits she loves Jacob and considers leaving Edward, and when she finds it so easy to leave her caring, hard-working father forever. I resist the text when Bella doesn't appreciate the wonderful people around her and doesn't consider all the things they've done for her!

Eclipse: Character Change

                                I am currently reading the third book of the Twilight series, called Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer. I really like this book because it is not only very intriguing, it makes me feel like the entire situation is real and it makes me form a very strong opinion towards what I want to happen!
                                This book is about Isabella Swan, often just called Bella, who moves to the rainy and quiet town of Forks, Washington. When she starts high school, she falls in love with a vampire named Edward. Although the two are deeply in love, many problems occur during their relationship. Bella has already created several enemies in the vampire world, and they are constantly out to kill her. Edward is a vampire, and in this story, vampires do not age, meaning Bella is always worried about getting too old for Edward. Bella is friends with a werewolf named Jacob. The problem is, is that werewolves and vampires are enemies and hate each other, and she loves Edward and Jacob so much, and usually finds herself in between arguments between her boyfriend, and her best friend.
                              There have been several character changes throughout this book. However, the most significant ones were the character changes of Bella.

                             In Eclipse, and throughout the other Twilight books, Bella has gone through several character changes. For example, in the beginning of the book, Bella was constantly begging Edward to change her into a vampire. Friends and family members would tell her to wait a while, because she is young and may not know exactly what she wants at the moment. Bella starts off being very stubborn and refuses to listen to Edward when he tells her to wait longer before she becomes a vampire. Bella has changed, because she is starting to feel differently about becoming a vampire so soon. She is beginning to think of the consequences (like how to tell her family and how she won't be able to see her "normal" friends and her mom, and how Jacob will become her enemy). Bella is beginning to actually think about what becoming a vampire really means, and how it will affect her.
                        
                             Another way Bella has changed, is that she is accepting things that she was pushing away and pretended they didn't exist. For example, Bella's close friendship with Jacob was becoming more than just a friendship. Deep inside, Bella knew that she began to love Jacob other than just a friend. However, she decided to make herself believe she didn't love him, and the only person she loves is Edward. Bella has changed, because she is finally accepting the fact that she loves Jacob. She is admitting to Edward too, that she wants to wait before becoming a vampire, because she wants to see how she feels about Jacob.

                           In conclusion, Bella is beginning to change. For the better! She is less stubborn and is rethinking the consequences and affects of becoming a vampire, and isn't pushing away the fact that she is in love with Jacob.

Eclipse: Do I think Bella should become a vampire?

                                The book Eclipse is the third book in the Twilight Series written by Stephanie Meyer. The four-book series is about the relationship of Bella Swan; a normal seventeen year old girl who moves to Washington to live with her father, and Edward; a beautiful, smart, wealthy vampire. The two are deeply and love and can not live without each other. However, many problems occur in this relationship. It is usually unsafe for Bella to be around vampires because one of them may lose their control and eat her (even Edward). Also, the Carlisle family (Edward's family) has had an ongoing rivalry with the werewolves. This is a problem because Bella is very close friends with Jacob Black, who just happens to be a werewolf. Bella often has to chose between staying with Edward (her boyfriend) or Jacob, her best friend.

                               Because Bella loves Edward so much, she wants to be a vampire like him. The vampires in this story freeze in time once they become vampires, meaning they stay the same age forever. Bella does not want to end up being too old to be with Edward and wants to live with him forever. Many of her friends, including Edward, are doing their best to get Bella to change her mind and stay human. At least for a longer time. I have different ideas when it comes to Bella becoming a vampire.

                             One reason I don't want Bella to become a vampire, is because it may be a decision she regrets. She is very young, and probably doesn't actually know what she wants. Becoming a vampire is something that is permanent and that she can not take back. Bella may want to live the life of an average young adult before becoming a vampire. For example, even Bella herself admits that she'd like to go to college and live a simple life for a while. This is why I think Bella should not become a vampire; she has a whole life ahead of her and she should be able to enjoy at least a few more years as a college student.

                           One reason I do want Bella to become a vampire, is because she would finally be same from Victora (an evil vampire out to kill her). Her life would be more content without having someone who is constantly out to eat her. For example, Bella is usually in fear that Victoria will be able to smell her or know where she is. Bella is also worried about how Victoria wants to hurt the rest of her family as well.

                            In conclusion, I do and don't want Bella to become a vampire. I don't want her to become a vampire because she has her whole life ahead of her. Also, right now, Bella may not entirely know what she wants. Becoming a vampire is a permanent decision and she should be completely sure about doing it. However, I do want Bella to become a vampire, because she would be free from her troubles with Victoria.

The Help; Appreciation

                                I have just finished reading "The Help", written by Kathryn Stockett, and I really enjoyed reading it. This book is about a serious topic, during a controversial time, yet it is still witty and humorous. The story is told in the perspective of three characters; Minny, Skeeter, and Aibleen.
                              
                              Minny is a chubby, short, maid who has a big mouth that often gets her in trouble with her bosses. Skeeter is a young, wealthy, white girl who is quite different from the rest of the girls in Jackson, Mississippi.
                              
                               Skeeter is twenty-three and has finished college, is not married, doesn't have children, and actually cares about the African-American maids that work for her and the rest of her community. Skeeter is writing a book called "The Help" and it tells the horrible stories of African-American maids in Jackson, Mississippi. Writing this book puts Skeeter and the African-American maids telling their stories in danger. If anyone found out Skeeter and the maids wrote the Anonymously signed book, the maids would be imprisoned, and Skeeter would lose her job, social status, and friends.
                              
                                 Aibleen is an old, wise, African-American maid who has been working for white families for a very long time. She has raised many children. Children of the families she has worked for. Many of these children love Aibleen and go against their parents wishes when spending so much time with Aibleen. But as Aibleen knows, these wonderful children will end up becoming just like their parents. Aibleen is often come to for advice and knowledge. She even has a "prayer list" for the people she will pray for that week, because the people she prays for, usually end up having some sort of miracle that week.

                              In this book, I noticed Skeeter going through a character change. In the beginning of the book, when she first decided to write a  book (The Help) from the point of view of African American maids, she didn't know what kind of danger she was putting these women in. She was almost ignorant towards the trouble she and the black maids would get into. Skeeter was really just thinking about getting the book done, but she didn't fully acknowledge the fact that these women could lose there jobs because of this. Her character changed, because she finally started learning to be more secretive and sneaky when it came to visiting the maids houses, as she could be caught any moment.

                             There were also some lines where I saw the "author's intrusion". For example, when Skeeter was visiting Aibleen's home, she says that she "notices Aibleen stands straighter in her home". Although Skeeter is simply describing the way Aibleen walks in her own home compared to the way Aibleen walks in her boss's and people she works for homes, I think this is a line of author's intrusion. I think the author is trying to say that Aibileen is more shy and not too comfortable is white peoples' homes. That she feels more proud and confident in her own home.

                          In conclusion, I really liked this book. There were character changes, lines of author's intrusion, and very different characters.

The Help: Authors Intrusions

                                I am reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, and it is a really good, intriguing, and thought provoking book. It is about the lives of African-American maids in Jackson, Mississippi. Aibileen, is old and wise and has been through a lot. She is often asked for advice, because she is known to handle her situations and problems in a smart manner. Minnie, is a younger, shorter, and plump African-American maid who is friends with Aibileen. Although they are friends, they are very different. While Aibileen hold's her temper when mistreated by the white family she works for, Minnie cannot control her opinion and makes clever yet rude comments and it often puts her in trouble. Skeeter is a young white girl who cares about the black population on Jackson, Mississippi and wants to help them. However, I am only on page twenty-four and haven't gotten to know her character yet.

                              This book has a deep and serious topic, yet it is also funny, engaging, and entertaining book. I noticed that the book usually has a lively tone (especially in Minnie's parts) but includes deep opinions with "author's intrusion". There are several parts in this book where I see the author's intrusion.

                              "She held onto the railing tight, as though she was going to fall any minute". This is a line in the book which I interpreted as author's intrusion. Although Minnie is describing the way Miss. Celia (her new boss) is walking down the stairs, I think the author is trying to give the reader an idea as to what Miss.Celia's character is like. I think this line means that Miss.Celia is a cautious person, worried her life will fall apart any minute. When first meeting this character, I already assumed she wasn't a happy person because of her "forced smiles" and "overly excited hello's" (as Minnie describes) and this line of author's intrusion gives me a more clear idea of Miss.Celia's problems.

                            "I can't imagine doing anything different." This line is said by Minnie, when she is about to get fired. She knows that none of the other white families in town will not hire her, and she is saying that she can't imagine having a different job. I think this is a line of author's intrusion. Although Minnie is saying that she can't imagine her life doing a different job, I think the author is trying to say that these maid's have been living their whole lives being treated this way, being paid so little, and being treated so badly, that they are almost used to it and wouldn't know what to do elsewhere. Their job as a maid has taken over so much of their life, that they can not imagine what their life would be like without that job.

                            In conclusion, there are several lines of author's intrusion. One of them is showing the characteristics of a new character, and the second is telling the reader about the relationship between the African-American maid and her job.

The Daughters Break the Rules: Character Changes

                               The second book of "The Daughter's" series, The Daughter's Break the Rules by Joanna Philbin, is about three fifteen year old girls, living in the shadow's of their famous and rich parents. These girls are best friends who are often compared and expected to live up to their parents expectations. Lizzie Summers is the daughter of Katia Summers, a gorgeous supermodel adored by everyone. When Lizzie begins to attend fashion shows and events with her mother, and she isn't what the media expected her to be. Lizzie isn't really into fashion, and is a unique beauty and doesn't have the "perfect look" as her mother does. Hudson Jones is the daughter of pop sensation Holla Jones. Hudson is constantly being pushed by people who work for her mom to enter the music industry and sing pop songs. However, Hudson prefers to sing quiet country songs, and doesn't want to take the path her mother has set out for her. Carina Jurgensen, the nararrator of "The Daughter's Break the Rules", is the daughter of billionaire Karl Jurgensen, and is enforced to follow her father's path and take over his company.
                      
                               In this book, Carina's wealthy father decides to cut off all of her credit cards and makes her live with twenty dollars a week; Carina acts like she doesn't need her father's money, but after being cut off, she realizes how much money she spends, and how many clothes and things she has that she doesn't need!

                              I noticed there were several character changes and patterns in this book. In the beginning, Carina thinks that there's nothing she can do with little money. However, she learns how to spend her money wisely by the end of the book. For example, Carina and her friends are out shopping, and Carina has only eighty dollars; clearly not enough to buy a dress at Stella McCartney. However, she can buy a decent dress elsewhere for that money. Also, Carina needs to hire a D.J for her party, but with her limited budget, she says that "there's nothing good" she can get with "that little money". This is how Carina is in the beginning of the book. Some of her characteristics change by the end of the book. For example, Carina goes to Forever 21, and buys a dress similar to the one she saw at a very expensive store. This shows how Carina has changed, and spends her money more wisely. Also, she gets an amazing D.J for free who does an even better job than a fifty year old she was ready to pay $10,000 to.

                           Another way Carina has changed is that she is more down to earth. For example, in the beginning of the book, Carina likes Carter; a gorgeous, wealthy, and obnoxious guy. Liking a guy like this shows that she isn't down to earth herself, considering she makes so much conversation with him. However, towards the end, she likes Alex; a guy not as rich, or good looking as Carter, but smarter and with a stronger personality. She ends up thinking Carter is obnoxious and annoying, and that shows that Carina has changed.

                       In conclusion, Carina's character changes throughout the book. She learns to be smarter with her money, and becomes more down to earth as well.

Model: Setting

                               The book Model, a memoir written by Cheryl Diamond, Cheryl is a sixteen year old model from North Carolina, coming to New York to succeed in her challenging career. She comes to New York alone and rents a small apartment in New Jersey. Loved by agencies and hired by many designers, Cheryl's career skyrockets very quickly and seems to be easy and fun. Such a career seemed almost too perfect to be true; and it was. Her agency began to cheat her out of money and ruined her long, blond, hair (which was the main reason she was cast for so many fashion shows). The setting she is in is very important in the book.

                             The setting that Cheryl is in is not as perfect as it seems. Because of the many problems she encounters, Cheryl learns a lot about the difficult industry she is in. For example, when the agency she is with charges Cheryl fees that she should be charged, she trusts the agency too much and pays the $800. She soon learns the company is not allowed to do this to a model. From this, she learns to be smarter with her money and know what she is paying for. The setting is important in this case, because she learns how to deal with similar problems she will definitely encounter in the future. The agency also abuses the contract Cheryl is in, and cuts her thick, long, blond hair and transforms it to a short and orange style. Cheryl made most of her money because of her hair. From this, Cheryl learned to take more control over what the agency does with her. The setting is important, because she is now prepared for similar problems and encounters this situation in the future. This time, she knows what to do.

                           Another reason that the setting is important is because Cheryl quickly learns how to get by on her own. Only being able to afford a tiny studio in a scary neighborhood alone, Cheryl learns how to take care of herself. Living in difficult conditions, she learns to easily take on the difficult things she encounters.

                        In conclusion, the setting of this book is very important, because Cheryl learns how to deal with agencies trying to cheat her out of money, contracts with loopholes, and how to live on her own. The setting has helped Cheryl become an independent person.

Review of Alex Stutt's Blog post

http://alexstutt5.blogspot.com/2011/12/girl-in-translation-appreciation.html

            I just finished reading Alex Stutt's post called Girl In Translation: Appreciation, based on the book Girl In Translation, written by Jean Kwok. I haven't read it, and originally did not intend on reading such a deep and sad book. However, after reading Alex's blog post, I am really interested in this book and I hope to read it. I like how Alex explains what the book is about and doesn't leave me confused, how she explains both of the choices that Kim makes and the positive sides of both of them, her view on the antagonist of the story, and her opinions.

           The first thing I noticed and liked about Alex's blog post, was that she explained what the book is about. There is so much to know about Kimberly's (the main character's) life. There are several characters as well as several settings in this book. The simple explanation of the book written in this appreciation made it easy for me to follow everything Alex wrote. The part where she explained what happens in this book was simple, yet it gave me enough details to form my own opinion and agree and disagree with Alex throughout the blog post.

           Another reason I really liked Alex's blog post was how she explains both options Kimberly has. Matt; the funny and caring boy she fell in love with, or her successful future. Alex did a really good job of showing why the decision is so difficult. When reading this blog post, I immediately thought that Kimberly should choose her career over Matt, and that this should be an easy decision. I like how Alex explained why Kimberly needs Matt in her life and why it is such a difficult decision. This way, I could consider Kim's other options and have different opinions and views towards what Kim should choose.

             Something else that I liked about this blog post/appreciation was that Alex gave two possible antagonists of the story. She explained how the antagonist could be Kim's love for Matt, because her love for him is keeping her from focusing on her seemingly successful future. Alex also said that the antagonist may be Kimberly's drive for success, which keeps her from being with Matt, who she needs and loves. Showing the two possible antagonists of the book tells me more about why this decision is so difficult. It also helps me view Kim's choices differently and understand why she can not have both.

           In conclusion, I chose this blog post to write about because Alex explained the book clearly, I was able to have an opinion, and have several different opinions while reading the blog post. Also, this isn't the type of book I would typically read, however, Alex made the book sound really interesting and added details that made the book seem exciting to read. This was a really great blog post!