Reflection

I enjoy reading because I love getting lost in stories that aren't actually real. Sometimes, I imagine myself as the main character in the book and wonder how I would feel if I were in his/her position. I read when I have free time, although that's not always the case. Most of the time, if I'm not doing homework, I'm on my phone (typical teenager, I know) and so that would also be my biggest challenge in making time for reading. The last time I really got "lost in a book" was when I read My Sister's Keeper. I just remember being so interested and intrigued the whole time. I also got emotionally attached towards the characters. I would say reading that book was the highlight of my reading experience this high school year. Being able to choose my own books to read is definitely important to me because it's no fun if I'm stuck reading some book that isn't my taste. For the future, my goal is to read more. I've already added a few books to "to read" on my GoodReads account, and I think that will help keep me on track on reading. Over time, I plan to continue to add more books so I never run out of ideas.

The thing I love most about blogging is the fact that you can check out other people's blogs and see what they're reading/what they think about their book. You can also get plenty of ideas on what to read next. What I didn't enjoy about blogging was having due dates. I liked posting whenever I wanted, which usually was after I finished a book. But because of this, it forced me to talk about other things besides the book as a whole. I talked about certain scenes and moments and how I felt about them. So, I guess in the end, it was a beneficial thing. A suggestion I have for making blogging a more integral part of the course curriculum is requiring students to read posts on other blogs and commenting. This allows everyone to be more active and have more opportunities to get to know their classmate through what they're currently reading.

I was scared of entering high school in the very beginning. Seeing all those movies where there are cliques of 'mean girls', 'jocks', 'nerds', etc. got to me. But after a few days, I learned that high school is just normal. You don't need to feel afraid of anything. In fact, high school is really cool. The best part about it is you get freedom. Unlike middle school, where it's strict over there (and obviously elementary school as well). You can go to your classes or to lunch on your own, and not in a straight line. I always found those so annoying. I feel like the teachers here are definitely much cooler and chill too. Anyways, moving on to my experience. Honestly, it's been great. I've been lucky to have extremely nice teachers who are also funny and joke around from time to time. I have grown and learned a lot, but what I struggled with most is physical science. That class is really hard and I'm so glad this year is coming to an end because 1) I never have to take that class again and 2) SUMMER!!!

We Were Liars (Part III)

I finished reading the book and there was a twist that I was definitely not expecting. It was really such a surprise, and I wish I could tell you all about it - but I don't want to spoil anything. Instead, I'll talk about Cadence's (main character) family.

Her family is very rich. They have this rule where if things aren't okay, they'll have to forget about it, put on a fake smile, and pretend that everything is perfect. Also, none of the family members talk about it or anything. If I had to live that kind of life, I would be depressed and miserable. Except, I wouldn't mind the part of having lots of money. But anyways, her mom has a few other sisters and they all compete for their dad's love because whoever is his current favorite gets more money - among other things. Honestly, it's so messed up. I'm very thankful to have a normal, loving family.

P.S: really sorry for the late post!! I kept forgetting about it.

Something to remember for Thanksgiving by Mary Scmich

When reading the column, Scmich wants her readers to feel guilty and sad at first for wanting more things and complaining about how little they might have. Her dad says to her, "You never ask for anything" and that line makes your heart melt because you know she really can't ask for much due to their financial problem. But eventually, at the end, another thing her dad says is, "We don't have money. But we are not poor", and that is supposed to make readers feel grateful for the things that currently are in their life. Even if someone might have very little or a lot, he/she should still be very appreciative because some may not have as much.

"...no matter how little you think you have, there's always enough to give some away" is something that Scmich wants her readers to take away after reading her column. She wants her readers to know that it's not the end of the world if you're poor or if you don't have/make as much money that's needed to have a better life. There are still some things in your life that you do have and must be aware of that - because the point is, you have something. You're not entirely stripped of everything. 

The purpose of this column is to encourage others to cherish what is already theirs. So many people today want more and more, regardless of how much of they do have. For example, I have an iPhone 5. The new ones, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+ has already been released. I see that some people have it and it makes me jealous and want to upgrade. What's the difference? Not much, just the size, really. But after reading "Something to remember for Thanksgiving", it has made me reflect. I realize that I'm a very lucky person to even have a smart phone at all. I should not be complaining or whining. Some can't afford a fancy phone like mine or some can't afford a phone at all. It's not about what you don't have, it's about what you do have. Very cliche, but it's true.

The diction and syntax techniques Scmich uses are hyphens, rhetorical fragments, and dialogue. The dialogue is most effective to her column because it lets readers kind of experience what is exactly going on. Also, the fact that she's telling a personal story, helps a lot with getting the readers to engage and feel connected. Some hyphens she used are "pop-up", "button-up" and "10-year-old". Her rhetorical fragments are "Curse" and "Lie". Honestly, I get why having these types of syntax and diction techniques can help make your piece way better (because it just makes it more interesting and fun to read), but I don't necessarily understand how it connects with getting your theme/claim across.

As I have said before, society tends to forget what they already have in their grasp and don't feel like it's enough. So they beg and want for more of what they don't have, not really appreciating what they do. Another possible point if you don't cherish what you have now, you might regret it later. Scmich just wants you to take a step back, see what you have, and be happy about it. Stop being sad/mad that you don't have the latest iPhone or Call of Duty game or those new shoes that everyone is wearing. Remember that "no matter how little you think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge". Also, to somewhat summarize Scmich's entire column into two words, I'd say it'd have to be: carpe diem. It means to make the most of present time (what you have) and give little thought to the future (what you're trying to get).

We Were Liars (Part II)

On pages 99-102, Cadence and her friends talk about mottos and I wanted to share some that stuck out to me.

Cadence's motto:
Always do what you are afraid to do.

I think this is a very beautiful motto and can be helpful/not helpful. It's helpful because sometimes the things you're afraid of can actually be fun or beneficial after you overcome your fear. For example, Cadence was afraid of kissing Gat, but she did so anyway and he kissed back. So I'd say, it was worth the risk. But it can also not be helpful because sometimes it can leave you in emotional or physical pain.

Mirren's motto:
Be a little kinder than you have to.

Have you ever had annoying siblings/cousins and wanted to be rude to them, but you knew you had to play nice? I can say I definitely have. What's really amazing is if you just genuinely want to be kind to others without your parents or anyone telling you to be. It says a lot about your character.

We Were Liars (Part I)

Usually, I would give you a quick summary of what the book is about, but I don't really know myself. All the author gave was:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends-the Liars-whose friendship
turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Although it's vague, the author left enough to leave me intrigued and wanting to read this book. I've currently only read 68 pages. The main character is named Cadence (Cady) who's a teenage girl. Her friends are Gat (her love interest), Johnny, and Mirren. One day, she went swimming at a beach alone. I guess she must have swam too far, and there were huge rocks, and her head slammed onto it. After the accident, she doesn't remember how it happened. But something that changed was Gat didn't really talk to her anymore. Before, they were both involved with each other and they even confessed how they loved one another. What changed? I don't know, but hopefully, and probably, I will find out as I keep reading.

The Weight of Silence

The Weight of Silence is about how two parents' daughters go missing. The girls are Calli and Petra and both are best friends. They just suddenly disappear in the middle of the night, and weren't in their bedrooms the next morning. Calli's father, Griff, is known to be violent and has anger problems so of course - he's the suspect. But did he really do it?

Calli and Petra's friendship is extremely strong and loving. Calli's a selective mute, meaning she chooses to not talk. That amazes me because I would not be able to do that at all. Petra notices how Calli doesn't ever talk and also how other kids in school make fun of her, and what does she do? She befriends Calli! She doesn't care about what the other kids think and she doesn't tease Calli just to be "cool". Petra is Calli's "voice" and together, even though they are not actually talking, they still know what the other one is thinking. I adore their friendship so much. Petra's a good friend and a good person in general.

This book is very suspenseful and I loved how each chapter had a different character's perspective. It helps you understand what's going on in each character's mind and also you can see why they react the way they do. It makes you able to emphasize with them. Another thing I noticed was that some chapters were in first person, while some was in third. I'm not exactly sure why the author did this, but I'm sure it was effective somehow.

Fahrenheit 451 (Part III)

Dover Beach Extension

     "Go home." Montag fixed his eyes upon her, quietly. "Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarean sections, too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it? Go home, go  home!" he yelled. "Before I knock you down and kick you out the door!"

     Mrs. Bowles felt a burning anger course throughout her body. She couldn't bear to stand near a disgusting man who wanted to inflict pain on people any longer. She rushed to leave with Mrs. Phelps by her side, and slammed the door behind them. That would be the last time she stepped foot in that house.
     5 turns, 3 stoplights, almost crashing into a vehicle packed with loud teenagers, and she was finally home. With all her husbands gone and her kids left at the parlor, there was only her and the silence she always hated. Silence meant that nothing was going on, which lead to boredom, which lead to committing illegal activity. Like Montag, she thought. She sighed and flopped onto her soft couch. Her 'family' was currently on, but this time, she didn't bother watching them. She was too upset. All the things Montag screamed at her were freshly in her mind.
       "...first husband divorced..." Well, he was a jerk.
       "...second husband killed in a jet..." That was unfortunate, but it wasn't my fault.
     "...third husband blowing his brains out..." I really wish I knew why. What was he so unhappy about? His job? Our kids? Me?
       "...your children who hate your guts..." That's just how it is, how it's always been. 
       But deep down, locked behind many doors that were chained, she knew she yearned for something different. It would be nice to have a husband who genuinely cared about her. It would be nice to have kids who adored and loved her. It'd be nice to be a real family, like the one she's spent years watching. Before she could think any further, the door bell rang. If Mrs. Bowles was left alone with her thoughts any longer, she knew she would've drowned in them.
       She took her time to open the door and what she found was Clara. Her eyes were all puffy and she held tissues in her hand.
     "Oh, Clara, hi. How are you? You doing fine now?" she said, as she gave a small smile and stepped aside.
       Mrs. Phelps smiled back and came inside. "Yes, I'm all better now. I feel so silly for crying like that. I don't even know why I was doing it. It's ridiculous. Montag's crazy, though. Reading out in the open like that! Can you believe him? He's a fireman! It's his job to protect the world from stuff like this! I despise others like him. He deserves to be locked up, which he will be. I sent in my alarm, and so should you if you haven't already. Oh! And poor Mildred - I feel so bad for her, having to live with him. Hopefully that women's got some sense and leaves him! He's bonkers!!"
       By the time she was finished babbling, she sighed, feeling drained.
       Suddenly, all of Mrs. Bowles' dangerous thoughts flew out the window. She let out a light laugh. "You're absolutely right. He's nuts. And I was just about to send it in, until you rang."
       Mrs. Phelps scoffed. "Well, why didn't you tell me? Let's go do it right now! Together! It'd give me the greatest pleasure turning him in twice!"
       She gave Mrs. Bowles a little push towards the living room, where the alarm was located. Both ladies arrived, and Mrs. Phelps was waiting impatiently. Mrs. Bowles almost hesitated but quickly pushed the button. After, they sat on her couch, and watched their 'families'.