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.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
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.
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.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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!
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!
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