The trial of Tom Robinson happened today. Me, Dill, and Scout went to go watch it. Atticus didn’t really want us to go, but we really wanted to see it, so we went to watch anyway. We were invited to sit with Reverend Skyes on the balcony in the colored section. When the trial started and these people on the witness stand like Bob Ewell began saying bad words and when Mayella described what Tom did to her, Reverend wanted me to take Scout home, but I wasn’t gonna miss any of this trial. I ended up telling him that Scout wasn’t old enough to understand.
Anyway, Atticus was on a roll. He was talking about how Tom is bein’ charged with rape on circumstantial evidence and everything. I thought for sure that we had won, but when the jury came in, they didn’t even look at Tom; that’s when I knew we had lost. And I was right; the jury’s verdict was guilty. I practically burst into tears. It just isn’t fair! Just because tom is a colored man, and it’s a black man’s word versus a white girls’, they all believe Mayella. I bet Tom did nuthin’, and that man, Bob Ewell hurt Mayella and she’s just scared of what will happen to her if she told the truth. She should be ashamed of herself!
Lots of folks around Maycomb County are sad about how it all turned out. Like: me, Dill, Scout, Atticus, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and a whole bunch of other people. Aunt Alexandra doesn’t really care, she’s just mad that we went to go see the trial.
Anyway, I hope Tom will be alright. He’s just a run-of-the-mill guy who was trying to help out and do what he can to support him and his family. Atticus is trying to cheer me up by giving me a football magazine, but suddenly, I’m not interested anymore. Atticus says it’s not time to worry yet, but I can’t help it, I’m very worried.
jueves, 9 de junio de 2011
miércoles, 8 de junio de 2011
To Kill a Mockingbird- Book Cover
I chose this as a cover because I wanted to show that the mockingbird, which represents innocence, is being put on trial. In the book, innocence (Tom Robinson) was in court on trial for thier life and lost. In other words, innocence lost. The setting- the courtroom- was where the trial took place and the mockingbird represents innocence in the novel.
martes, 7 de junio de 2011
sábado, 28 de mayo de 2011
Harry Hook vs. William Golding
Comparative Analyisis
Differences between Harry Hook’s 1990 film, Lord of the Flies, and William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies are clearly shown through: foul language, nationality, and where the story is begun. Although Harry Hook’s movie does a good job of physically portraying some of the characters well, William Golding’s book has a more accurate description of what happened on the island and has a deeper meaning.
One of the main differences between Lord of the Flies, the movie and the book is the foul language used. In the novel, there is not much foul language said amongst the boys on the island. In the movie, the boys say lots of swear words to each other throughout the film. I believe this makes the boys seem more violent and are more prone to becoming savage. Also, in Harry Hook’s film version of Lord of the Flies, the swear word said are more modern, which makes it seem as though the story is taking place in more modern times instead of during World War Two, like in William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies.
The boys in Lord of the Flies, the book, are British, while in the movie, they are American. This is yet, another aspect that distinguishes the movie from the book. Due to the fact that the boys are American in the movie, and the typical American stereotype is that they are lazy and have short tempers, it leads me to believe that the boys on the island have that personality. But, in Lord of the Flies, the book, the boys are British. The stereotype for someone from Britain is well- mannered and civilized, which leads me to believe that the boys act like that and it would take longer for them to become savage.
Another difference between the film and the novel is the pilots’ survival. In the movie, the boys rescue the pilot when they land in the ocean and help him to safety. He is wounded, but still alive. In the book, the pilot does not survive and the story begins when Ralph and Piggy are on the island and realize that there are no adults with them; only the two of them and the other school boys. Golding did not have the pilot survive in the book because he wanted to show what it was like and what would happen since there was no adult supervision, which adds a deeper meaning to the book.
It is these three aspects that make William Golding’s Lord of the Flies so much better than Harry Hook’s 1990 film of Lord of the Flies. Even though Hook did a good job of portraying some of the characters well, it did not have as good of an accurate description of what happened on the island amongst the boys and did not have deeper meanings like Golding did in his novel.
Differences between Harry Hook’s 1990 film, Lord of the Flies, and William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies are clearly shown through: foul language, nationality, and where the story is begun. Although Harry Hook’s movie does a good job of physically portraying some of the characters well, William Golding’s book has a more accurate description of what happened on the island and has a deeper meaning.
One of the main differences between Lord of the Flies, the movie and the book is the foul language used. In the novel, there is not much foul language said amongst the boys on the island. In the movie, the boys say lots of swear words to each other throughout the film. I believe this makes the boys seem more violent and are more prone to becoming savage. Also, in Harry Hook’s film version of Lord of the Flies, the swear word said are more modern, which makes it seem as though the story is taking place in more modern times instead of during World War Two, like in William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies.
The boys in Lord of the Flies, the book, are British, while in the movie, they are American. This is yet, another aspect that distinguishes the movie from the book. Due to the fact that the boys are American in the movie, and the typical American stereotype is that they are lazy and have short tempers, it leads me to believe that the boys on the island have that personality. But, in Lord of the Flies, the book, the boys are British. The stereotype for someone from Britain is well- mannered and civilized, which leads me to believe that the boys act like that and it would take longer for them to become savage.
Another difference between the film and the novel is the pilots’ survival. In the movie, the boys rescue the pilot when they land in the ocean and help him to safety. He is wounded, but still alive. In the book, the pilot does not survive and the story begins when Ralph and Piggy are on the island and realize that there are no adults with them; only the two of them and the other school boys. Golding did not have the pilot survive in the book because he wanted to show what it was like and what would happen since there was no adult supervision, which adds a deeper meaning to the book.
It is these three aspects that make William Golding’s Lord of the Flies so much better than Harry Hook’s 1990 film of Lord of the Flies. Even though Hook did a good job of portraying some of the characters well, it did not have as good of an accurate description of what happened on the island amongst the boys and did not have deeper meanings like Golding did in his novel.
miércoles, 11 de mayo de 2011
Who was Golding Anyway?
-Research William Golding’s life and in a 2-3 page paper, relate any details that could have influenced his writing of Lord of the Flies.
There is clear evidence of William Golding’s life throughout his book, Lord of the Flies. It is shown through the time that the story takes place, Golding’s belief that order is needed to keep humans from becoming savage, and there are many symbols in the book that are related to religion which was central in Golding’s life. These are all ideas that are related to Golding’s life and could have influenced his writing in Lord of the Flies.
Lord of the Flies takes place throughout World War Two. At the very beginning of this war, the boys crash-land on an island. The boys are rescued by a naval officer a couple months later. The Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, which is 10 years after World War two ended. Golding probably wrote this book looking back at what had happened during the War. After all, he did take part in it; he joined the Royal Navy and was involved in the sinking of a German ship called Bismarck. So the fact that he was involved in World War two is most likely why his book takes place during that time.
Golding believes that an ordered democracy or other form of leadership is needed to keep order and contain behavior like which occurred in the book. Almost all the boys act like savages by hunting pigs and murdering a couple boys who live among them. This happened because there was no order on the island that they were on. Without order, they became uncivilized and did not make good decisions. “The rock struck Piggy, a glancing blow from chin to knee. He fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea.”(181). Roger pushed the rock that hit Piggy intending to murder him, which he did. Obviously, this was not a good decision for Roger to make because of the consequences that would happen later on.
When Ralph was chief, there was order, the boys didn’t kill each other, and while they were focused on getting water and food, they were also focused on keeping up a signal fire to get rescued. There was also a way of bringing everyone together to give instructions and discuss what should be done next by using the conch to call an assembly. “This meeting must not be fun, but business.” (76).
Based on his book, you can tell that Golding thinks that we are all evil and it is order and society that keep us civilized. Ralph does his best to maintain order, but he soon loses it and the boys begin to act like savages. The boys commit crimes such as murdering two of their fellow schoolmates on the island; Simon and Piggy. Even though it may have only taken one of the boys to actually kill him, all the boys took part in Simon’s murder since none of them did anything to keep it from happening. The longer they are away from society, they become more and more savage and begin to lose their reason, logic, and their morals, as well.
In Lord of the Flies, Golding makes a lot of connections to religion through symbolism. The beast could represent God because the boys make offerings to him and God also talked to Jesus whom Simon symbolizes. The beast could also symbolize the Devil because it is feared by the boys and is evil.
Simon is the only boy on the island to realize that the beast symbolizes the evil within each person. Golding believed in the basic philosophy of good versus evil and it is the person’s decision to either choose to be evil or good. This could have influenced Golding’s writing of Lord of the Flies because in the book’s case, Simon, Piggy, and Ralph had chosen to be good while Jack chose to turn against them and be evil.
Evidence of William Golding’s life is clearly shown throughout the novel. He is from England and was involved in World War Two, which is when the book took place. Golding believes that order is needed to keep us from becoming uncivilized and it is clearly shown in the book, that without order, everything falls apart. Because of this, the boys begin to lose their logic, reason, and do not make good decisions. Golding is talking about religion through symbolism in the story, as if organized religion was not respected by Golding.
There is clear evidence of William Golding’s life throughout his book, Lord of the Flies. It is shown through the time that the story takes place, Golding’s belief that order is needed to keep humans from becoming savage, and there are many symbols in the book that are related to religion which was central in Golding’s life. These are all ideas that are related to Golding’s life and could have influenced his writing in Lord of the Flies.
Lord of the Flies takes place throughout World War Two. At the very beginning of this war, the boys crash-land on an island. The boys are rescued by a naval officer a couple months later. The Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, which is 10 years after World War two ended. Golding probably wrote this book looking back at what had happened during the War. After all, he did take part in it; he joined the Royal Navy and was involved in the sinking of a German ship called Bismarck. So the fact that he was involved in World War two is most likely why his book takes place during that time.
Golding believes that an ordered democracy or other form of leadership is needed to keep order and contain behavior like which occurred in the book. Almost all the boys act like savages by hunting pigs and murdering a couple boys who live among them. This happened because there was no order on the island that they were on. Without order, they became uncivilized and did not make good decisions. “The rock struck Piggy, a glancing blow from chin to knee. He fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea.”(181). Roger pushed the rock that hit Piggy intending to murder him, which he did. Obviously, this was not a good decision for Roger to make because of the consequences that would happen later on.
When Ralph was chief, there was order, the boys didn’t kill each other, and while they were focused on getting water and food, they were also focused on keeping up a signal fire to get rescued. There was also a way of bringing everyone together to give instructions and discuss what should be done next by using the conch to call an assembly. “This meeting must not be fun, but business.” (76).
Based on his book, you can tell that Golding thinks that we are all evil and it is order and society that keep us civilized. Ralph does his best to maintain order, but he soon loses it and the boys begin to act like savages. The boys commit crimes such as murdering two of their fellow schoolmates on the island; Simon and Piggy. Even though it may have only taken one of the boys to actually kill him, all the boys took part in Simon’s murder since none of them did anything to keep it from happening. The longer they are away from society, they become more and more savage and begin to lose their reason, logic, and their morals, as well.
In Lord of the Flies, Golding makes a lot of connections to religion through symbolism. The beast could represent God because the boys make offerings to him and God also talked to Jesus whom Simon symbolizes. The beast could also symbolize the Devil because it is feared by the boys and is evil.
Simon is the only boy on the island to realize that the beast symbolizes the evil within each person. Golding believed in the basic philosophy of good versus evil and it is the person’s decision to either choose to be evil or good. This could have influenced Golding’s writing of Lord of the Flies because in the book’s case, Simon, Piggy, and Ralph had chosen to be good while Jack chose to turn against them and be evil.
Evidence of William Golding’s life is clearly shown throughout the novel. He is from England and was involved in World War Two, which is when the book took place. Golding believes that order is needed to keep us from becoming uncivilized and it is clearly shown in the book, that without order, everything falls apart. Because of this, the boys begin to lose their logic, reason, and do not make good decisions. Golding is talking about religion through symbolism in the story, as if organized religion was not respected by Golding.
jueves, 28 de abril de 2011
Tanka Poems
LOTF-Ch.10: The Shell and the Glasses
Leaves rustled outside
Pray the beast prefers littluns
A vicious snarling
Did someone get hurt at all?
It was Jack and his hunters.
LOTF-Ch.9: A View to a Death
The beast is harmless.
I must tell everyone else.
Climb down the mountain,
but don't get the chance to tell.
Dead body in the ocean.
Rain drops on the car.
I'm inside, hoping it stops.
Can't do anything;
Tennis courts too wet to play.
If I go, I would get sick.
Icicles hanging
Snowflakes free fall to the ground
Leaves gone, trees are bare.
Carrying skiis on my back.
Leaves rustled outside
Pray the beast prefers littluns
A vicious snarling
Did someone get hurt at all?
It was Jack and his hunters.
LOTF-Ch.9: A View to a Death
The beast is harmless.
I must tell everyone else.
Climb down the mountain,
but don't get the chance to tell.
Dead body in the ocean.
Rain drops on the car.
I'm inside, hoping it stops.
Can't do anything;
Tennis courts too wet to play.
If I go, I would get sick.
Icicles hanging
Snowflakes free fall to the ground
Leaves gone, trees are bare.
Carrying skiis on my back.
LOTF- Ch.10: The Shell and the Glasses
Leaves rustled outside
Pray the beast prefers littluns
A vicious snarling
Did someone get hurt at all?
It was Jack and his hunters.
Pray the beast prefers littluns
A vicious snarling
Did someone get hurt at all?
It was Jack and his hunters.
miércoles, 27 de abril de 2011
You Can't Have It All
But you can have those hot days
When you turn on the sprinklers and run through them
Like a dog let off his leash.
You can have the taste of your mom’s freshly baked banana bread,
Still hot from the oven.
You can have the chirping of birds,
Waking you up every morning
Saying, “Wake up! Wake up! Or you’ll be late!
You can have hope; although it’s something rare
Like a black diamond.
You can have the aroma of vanilla scented candles
Roam through your house, bringing out your sweet tooth.
You can make so many mistakes that
You think it can’t get any worse, and then it does.
You can have thousands of memories on your walls,
Reminding you how lucky you are.
You can have a bad hair day,
Then realize that in 10 years no one will remember.
You can have all the opportunities in the world,
But not know which one to take.
You can have as much time as you want,
Then it is suddenly cut short.
You can put off visiting your great- grandfather,
And when he has passed on,
You regret not seeing him more often.
You can have a wish on a shooting star,
And once you’ve made the wish that you think is what you want,
You end up wishing you had wished for something else.
You can have that moment
Where everything feels perfect,
And you realize that you can’t have it all,
But you can have this.
When you turn on the sprinklers and run through them
Like a dog let off his leash.
You can have the taste of your mom’s freshly baked banana bread,
Still hot from the oven.
You can have the chirping of birds,
Waking you up every morning
Saying, “Wake up! Wake up! Or you’ll be late!
You can have hope; although it’s something rare
Like a black diamond.
You can have the aroma of vanilla scented candles
Roam through your house, bringing out your sweet tooth.
You can make so many mistakes that
You think it can’t get any worse, and then it does.
You can have thousands of memories on your walls,
Reminding you how lucky you are.
You can have a bad hair day,
Then realize that in 10 years no one will remember.
You can have all the opportunities in the world,
But not know which one to take.
You can have as much time as you want,
Then it is suddenly cut short.
You can put off visiting your great- grandfather,
And when he has passed on,
You regret not seeing him more often.
You can have a wish on a shooting star,
And once you’ve made the wish that you think is what you want,
You end up wishing you had wished for something else.
You can have that moment
Where everything feels perfect,
And you realize that you can’t have it all,
But you can have this.
You Can't Have It All
But you can have those hot days
When you turn on the sprinklers and run through them
Like a dog let off his leash.
You can have the taste of your mom’s freshly baked banana bread,
Still hot from the oven.
You can have the chirping of birds,
Waking you up every morning
Saying, “Wake up! Wake up! Or you’ll be late!
You can have hope; although it’s something rare
Like a black diamond.
You can have the aroma of vanilla scented candles
Roam through your house, bringing out your sweet tooth.
You can make so many mistakes that
You think it can’t get any worse, and then it does.
You can have thousands of memories on your walls,
Reminding you how lucky you are.
You can have a bad hair day,
Then realize that in 10 years no one will remember.
You can have all the opportunities in the world,
But not know which one to take.
You can have as much time as you want,
Then it is suddenly cut short.
You can put off visiting your great- grandfather,
And when he has passed on,
You regret not seeing him more often.
You can have that moment
Where everything feels perfect,
And you realize that you can’t have it all,
But you can have this.
When you turn on the sprinklers and run through them
Like a dog let off his leash.
You can have the taste of your mom’s freshly baked banana bread,
Still hot from the oven.
You can have the chirping of birds,
Waking you up every morning
Saying, “Wake up! Wake up! Or you’ll be late!
You can have hope; although it’s something rare
Like a black diamond.
You can have the aroma of vanilla scented candles
Roam through your house, bringing out your sweet tooth.
You can make so many mistakes that
You think it can’t get any worse, and then it does.
You can have thousands of memories on your walls,
Reminding you how lucky you are.
You can have a bad hair day,
Then realize that in 10 years no one will remember.
You can have all the opportunities in the world,
But not know which one to take.
You can have as much time as you want,
Then it is suddenly cut short.
You can put off visiting your great- grandfather,
And when he has passed on,
You regret not seeing him more often.
You can have that moment
Where everything feels perfect,
And you realize that you can’t have it all,
But you can have this.
martes, 26 de abril de 2011
Dreams Are What People Live For
Selected by: Victoria Sherry
Poetry Notebook
Theme: Dreams
Synopsis: I believe that people don't think about what their life would be like if they didn't dream. I believe that dreams are an escape from reality and if you're stressed out or frustrated, dreams take you away from that for a while.
Description:These poems are all about dreams. Not dreams like a goal you wish to accomplish, but a dream that you have every night.
Dream With Me by Liza Liza
Dream Garden by Damaris West
Dream by Margaret Elizabeth Sangster
The Dream Called Life by Edward Fitzgerald
I Dream by Tsunami Hiroshisu
Everybody Dreams by Twilight Whispers
The Sleep Angel by Harry Boslem
I Dream by Z.E. Harris
Dreamers by AliCat Charlebois
martes, 19 de abril de 2011
Rosy Glow- Benjamin Moore, 2084-50
Eyeliner,
Mascara,
Blush,
Sit in front of her
Anxiously waiting
To be used.
She picks up
The blush,
Gently brushing it
On her cheeks.
I’m there,
Watching,
Studying,
Her every move.
She’s the teacher,
I’m her student.
Ever so gently
The blush hugs her cheeks.
A rosy glow
Illuminates her face.
She moves her hand
With the accuracy of a painter,
Her face; the canvas.
The make-up; her tools.
Tenderly,
She makes sure
Everything settles
Correctly,
Perfectly;
Flawless.
She leaves,
But I stay,
Looking at my reflection
In the mirror,
Wondering
When will it be my time
To paint my own canvas.
Would it be as beautiful as hers?
miércoles, 13 de abril de 2011
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Penguin Group
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Where I got it: It was a recommendation from a friend of mine.
One Sentence Summary: Scarlett’s boyfriend died in a motorcycle accident, only to find out that she was pregnant; Scarlett, having no idea what to do, turns to her best friend, Halley, for support.
First Sentence of the book: Scarlett Thomas has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.
First Chapter Review: Scarlett calls Halley at her camp to tell her about Michael Sherwood’s (Scarlett’s boyfriend) death. Halley decides to leave the camp early, knowing that she has to be there to support her best friend. Halley is not used to being the one that Scarlett needs, usually it’s the other way around. Now, she must learn to do whatever it takes to be there for Scarlett. You can clearly see a strong bond between the two best friends and that they would do anything for each other.
Verdict: This book is definitely one of my favorites and would read it again and again.
Cover Comments: Shows two people (a boy and a girl; I am assuming its Michael and Scarlett) on the beach. You can tell that it’s around summer time, could be a summer romance that ended in tragedy of Michael’s death.
lunes, 11 de abril de 2011
What About the Beast?
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
A darkish figure showed
Against the shimmer
Of the lagoon.
If you were chief,
You had to think
And be wise.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
All ‘round
Grey trunks rose,
Straight
Or leaning.
The sun
Slanting in
At one side,
The shadows
Where they ought to be.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
We decide things,
But they don’t get done.
Is a fire too much
To make?
We said
We’d have water brought
Now not.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business,
Who cares?
Sucks to the littluns.
What about the beast?
Beast my foot.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
He lost himself
In a maze of thoughts,
in deep waters,
again….
Only business.
A darkish figure showed
Against the shimmer
Of the lagoon.
If you were chief,
You had to think
And be wise.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
All ‘round
Grey trunks rose,
Straight
Or leaning.
The sun
Slanting in
At one side,
The shadows
Where they ought to be.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
We decide things,
But they don’t get done.
Is a fire too much
To make?
We said
We’d have water brought
Now not.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business,
Who cares?
Sucks to the littluns.
What about the beast?
Beast my foot.
This meeting must not be fun,
Only business.
He lost himself
In a maze of thoughts,
in deep waters,
again….
martes, 29 de marzo de 2011
Where I'm From...
I am from tennis courts,
From Wilson and Nike.
I am from the only house
With an iron gate blocking it,
No one can see its’ true beauty;
A mystery.
I am from the red rose,
So delicate, yet stunning.
I am from Christmas in the kitchen:
Ham, turkey, stuffing, and apple pie for dessert,
And my entire family comes to celebrate.
I am from hiding my little cousin’s Easter basket on Easter morning,
Then helping her find it.
From “Life’s short, so eat your dessert first.”
And “Help your younger cousin do her homework even though she’s in pre-k.”
I am from Sundays a Church with my grandmother
And readings from the Bible.
I’m from Panama,
Where it rains for most of the year and
Tourists who come are usually bird- watchers.
From taco night at my dad’s parents’ house ,
And banana’s fosters at my mom’s parents’ house.
I am from the back of my mom’s office,
Cluttered with albums;
Each one containing memories of every
Family gathering, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and my first trip to Disney World.
From all the moments
That establish my place in our tree,
And make my leaf different from everyone else’s.
From Wilson and Nike.
I am from the only house
With an iron gate blocking it,
No one can see its’ true beauty;
A mystery.
I am from the red rose,
So delicate, yet stunning.
I am from Christmas in the kitchen:
Ham, turkey, stuffing, and apple pie for dessert,
And my entire family comes to celebrate.
I am from hiding my little cousin’s Easter basket on Easter morning,
Then helping her find it.
From “Life’s short, so eat your dessert first.”
And “Help your younger cousin do her homework even though she’s in pre-k.”
I am from Sundays a Church with my grandmother
And readings from the Bible.
I’m from Panama,
Where it rains for most of the year and
Tourists who come are usually bird- watchers.
From taco night at my dad’s parents’ house ,
And banana’s fosters at my mom’s parents’ house.
I am from the back of my mom’s office,
Cluttered with albums;
Each one containing memories of every
Family gathering, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and my first trip to Disney World.
From all the moments
That establish my place in our tree,
And make my leaf different from everyone else’s.
Where I'm From...
I am from tennis courts, From Wilson and Nike. I am from the only house With an iron gate blocking it, No one can see its’ true beauty; A mystery. I am from the red rose, So delicate, yet stunning. I am from Christmas in the kitchen: Ham, turkey, stuffing, and apple pie for dessert, And my entire family comes to celebrate. I am from hiding my little cousin’s Easter basket on Easter morning, Then helping her find it. From “Life’s short, so eat your dessert first.” And “Help your younger cousin do her homework even though she’s in pre-k.” I am from Sundays a Church with my grandmother And readings from the Bible. I’m from Panama, Where it rains for most of the year and Tourists who come are usually bird- watchers. From taco night at my dad’s parents’ house , And banana’s fosters at my mom’s parents’ house. I am from the back of my mom’s office, Cluttered with albums; Each one containing memories of every Family gathering, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and my first trip to Disney World. From all the moments That establish my place in our tree, And make my leaf different from everyone else’s.
miércoles, 2 de marzo de 2011
Eat. Pray. Love.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a book that will take you on, not only a spiritual journey, but a trip through Italy, India, and Indonesia as well. You are given the opportunity to learn about the different prayers, food, and traditions that are celebrated in each country as Elizabeth travels to each place.
Elizabeth is in her early thirties, married, has many friends, and a successful career as a writer (you would think her life is perfect). A few years into her marriage, she begins to feel helpless and confused and ends up getting a divorce. Soon after, she starts showing symptoms of depression and this is when she turns to God for help by praying every night. She takes a year off to travel to Italy, India, and Indonesia in search of God, but little does she know, she also slowly begins to find herself along the way.
In Italy Elizabeth learns the art of doing nothing, all about food, and how to speak the language of romance; Italian. In India she prays and speaks to God every day through meditation. In Indonesia, she continues to pray to God and helps and learns from a medicine man about the balance needed in life.
This book was divided into 3 sections; one section for each country and what she learned there. The title (Eat Pray Love) also plays a huge role in how it was organized. Eat because in Italy she ate a lot of Italian food. Pray because in India she focused on her devotion to God. Love because in Indonesia she finds a balance between being fully devoted to God and herself as well.
I think this book was written in extraordinary detail and was written very-well when it came to her spiritual journeys. I would recommend this book to teens and adults. Overall, I think this is one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time.
Lines we love:
“The Lazio fans always stop at the bakery on their way home from the stadium to stand in the street for hours, leaning up against their motorcycles, talking about the game, looking macho as anything, and eating cream puffs. I love Italy.” pg. 92-93
“Where am I getting the brain space to store these words? I’m hoping that maybe my mind has decided to clear out some old negative thoughts and sad memories and replace them with these shiny new words.” pg. 93
martes, 22 de febrero de 2011
What I Believe
I believe music can transport you
Into the future.
Where robots could do your homework,
Or back to the past
Where you would be stuck at home doing nothing.
I believe if you’re in a car,
Looking out the window,
Listening to music,
While it’s raining,
You feel like you’re in a movie.
I believe sometimes you need to stop swimming
And just float for a while.
I believe life is like a rollercoaster,
It’s full of twists and turns
And you never know what’s coming next.
I believe there is nothing chocolate can’t fix.
I believe that you don’t need a glass slipper
To find a true prince charming.
I believe the first step to giving my all
Is giving my all in the place I love most,
The tennis court.
I believe walking on the beach during sunset
Can make you forget about anything unhappy.
I believe hanging out with a few best friends in a bathroom,
Can be just as fun as being at a party with many friends.
I believe you can’t go through life
By just staying at home,
So pack your bags
And get ready to embark on an adventure.
I believe in living in the moment,
Making each tick of the clock count,
In worrying about what’s happening now,
And not in a hundred years.
So live life to the fullest
And have no regrets.
Into the future.
Where robots could do your homework,
Or back to the past
Where you would be stuck at home doing nothing.
I believe if you’re in a car,
Looking out the window,
Listening to music,
While it’s raining,
You feel like you’re in a movie.
I believe sometimes you need to stop swimming
And just float for a while.
I believe life is like a rollercoaster,
It’s full of twists and turns
And you never know what’s coming next.
I believe there is nothing chocolate can’t fix.
I believe that you don’t need a glass slipper
To find a true prince charming.
I believe the first step to giving my all
Is giving my all in the place I love most,
The tennis court.
I believe walking on the beach during sunset
Can make you forget about anything unhappy.
I believe hanging out with a few best friends in a bathroom,
Can be just as fun as being at a party with many friends.
I believe you can’t go through life
By just staying at home,
So pack your bags
And get ready to embark on an adventure.
I believe in living in the moment,
Making each tick of the clock count,
In worrying about what’s happening now,
And not in a hundred years.
So live life to the fullest
And have no regrets.
miércoles, 2 de febrero de 2011
The Kidnapping of the President of The United States of America
It all started on a sweltering afternoon in Cuba in a dark alley. A group of people were conspiring against the government. They had a bizarre plan to kidnap the president of the United States that would cause a state of anarchy in the country, which is exactly what they wanted. There was a dissension between the group and the president about running the country which was why they wanted to put their idea into action.
There was lots of planning to do if they wanted their plan to work. And they couldn’t just be lackadaisical about it; they had to be very meticulous about how they would plan it. Somehow, they would have to get to and assimilate into the United States without drawing any attention to themselves. Second, they had to find a remote island in which they could hold the president hostage. And third, they had to have all this ready in time for his next speech to the public, which was imminent. They would've waited longer to execute their plan, but it was imperative they do it at his speech becasue it was the only time he would be in public and have a bit less security around him.
When the day finally came for the kidnapping, everything had gone according to plan until they got to the island. It turned out the president had a tracking device on his suit and the secret service and S.W.A.T. team got to the island within seconds the group had. Lucky for the president, he hadn’t been harmed yet.
The police quickly apprehended each member of the group and put them in shackles. When they got back to The United States, the members were interrogated and soon after, arraigned. The group’s hopes of being lionized in Cuba were crushed. They were sentenced to many, many years in federal prison for kidnapping the president.
Several years elapsed and they were all still stuck in jail. Until a calamitous earthquake occurred and the prison had been badly damaged. During this event, all the prisoners had escaped! No one knows where they are, but ever since, the president has had more security, but would it be enough to stop all the prisoners? Who knows… maybe the group will be lionized in Cuba someday….
There was lots of planning to do if they wanted their plan to work. And they couldn’t just be lackadaisical about it; they had to be very meticulous about how they would plan it. Somehow, they would have to get to and assimilate into the United States without drawing any attention to themselves. Second, they had to find a remote island in which they could hold the president hostage. And third, they had to have all this ready in time for his next speech to the public, which was imminent. They would've waited longer to execute their plan, but it was imperative they do it at his speech becasue it was the only time he would be in public and have a bit less security around him.
When the day finally came for the kidnapping, everything had gone according to plan until they got to the island. It turned out the president had a tracking device on his suit and the secret service and S.W.A.T. team got to the island within seconds the group had. Lucky for the president, he hadn’t been harmed yet.
The police quickly apprehended each member of the group and put them in shackles. When they got back to The United States, the members were interrogated and soon after, arraigned. The group’s hopes of being lionized in Cuba were crushed. They were sentenced to many, many years in federal prison for kidnapping the president.
Several years elapsed and they were all still stuck in jail. Until a calamitous earthquake occurred and the prison had been badly damaged. During this event, all the prisoners had escaped! No one knows where they are, but ever since, the president has had more security, but would it be enough to stop all the prisoners? Who knows… maybe the group will be lionized in Cuba someday….
martes, 1 de febrero de 2011
Liar...
It all started the first day of school when a new student named Kara came. Apparently, her dad owns a HUGE recording company that all the cool singers go to. So of course, she was almost immediately assimilated in school and lionized by other students. She seemed like a nice person, but I was very meticulous when I talked with her. I didn’t want to say anything stupid in front of her, so that she could go tell everyone about it. Even though everyone thought she was cool I had a dissension about her. I didn’t think that just because her dad had a really cool job that she should be treated like a celebrity!
After a few weeks had gone by, someone discovered that her dad really didn’t own a recording company and she had been lying all along! After that, she wasn’t left with that many friends, and people kept calling her a liar and other mean names. I felt kind of bad for her, but still thought she got what she deserved.
After a few weeks had gone by, someone discovered that her dad really didn’t own a recording company and she had been lying all along! After that, she wasn’t left with that many friends, and people kept calling her a liar and other mean names. I felt kind of bad for her, but still thought she got what she deserved.
jueves, 27 de enero de 2011
A Conspiracy Gone Wrong
“Do you really think it’s a good idea to form a conspiracy against an old man just because he wouldn’t return your basketball after you accidentally threw it into his backyard?” I asked Bob.
“It’s not just any basketball; it’s the basketball that the Dallas Mavericks used to win the championship!! And I really didn’t mean for it to go into his backyard.” He retorted. Bob’s favorite basketball team is obviously the Dallas Mavericks. I don’t watch basketball, so I don’t know what he’s talking about half the time.
I sigh and say, “Okay, so, I ask the old man to come outside to help me with a quick science experiment. While the house is in a state of anarchy, you’ll run into the backyard and retrieve your most prized possession and leave as if nothing ever happened. That’s the plan, right?” At first, I thought this plan was fool-proof, but leave it to Bob to mess it all up. He had knocked the old ma’s trash can while he was trying to leave, but he obviously failed.
The old man thought he was being robbed, so he called the police. My first thought then was that the police would come to apprehend us, and we’d be in jail for the next few years of our lives. Luckily, they just gave us a warning and gave Bob his basketball back. Needless to say, I won’t be helping Bob with any of his “fool-proof” plans ever again!
“It’s not just any basketball; it’s the basketball that the Dallas Mavericks used to win the championship!! And I really didn’t mean for it to go into his backyard.” He retorted. Bob’s favorite basketball team is obviously the Dallas Mavericks. I don’t watch basketball, so I don’t know what he’s talking about half the time.
I sigh and say, “Okay, so, I ask the old man to come outside to help me with a quick science experiment. While the house is in a state of anarchy, you’ll run into the backyard and retrieve your most prized possession and leave as if nothing ever happened. That’s the plan, right?” At first, I thought this plan was fool-proof, but leave it to Bob to mess it all up. He had knocked the old ma’s trash can while he was trying to leave, but he obviously failed.
The old man thought he was being robbed, so he called the police. My first thought then was that the police would come to apprehend us, and we’d be in jail for the next few years of our lives. Luckily, they just gave us a warning and gave Bob his basketball back. Needless to say, I won’t be helping Bob with any of his “fool-proof” plans ever again!
martes, 11 de enero de 2011
Tennis Camp
Sorry I haven’t written in a while, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to relax since I arrived at Saddlebrook- tennis camp. I’m playing tennis for practically 6 hours every day (except weekends) and you have no idea how tired I am right now! Every day I have to wake up at around 8:30 to be at the courts by 10:00 a.m. Then, I have an hour lunch break at noon. I usually only have enough time to go to Subways since its close to the camp and one of my grandparents are driving me there and back. I have to be back at Saddlebrook at 1:00 p.m. and I play tennis non-stop until 5:00 p.m. A couple days a week, I have a private tennis lesson from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., so I don’t get home until 6:45- 7:00 at night. I have had to follow that schedule for the last two weeks. I know it sounds tiring, and trust me, it is, but I’m having a great time!
On Saturday, I went to Ryan's (my cousin) soccer game. I had a great time watching him play and the final score was 3-3, a tie. On Sunday, I went to Busch Gardens, an amusement park, with both my cousins, Ryan, 10 year’s old, and Justin, 9 years old, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Michelle. I went on Shiekra, at first I was a bit reluctant to go, but when I saw my 9 year old cousin want to ride the roller coaster, I felt guilty and ended up going on it twice! Ryan convinced all of us to go on a water ride, so we all got soaked and of course it’s freezing cold!
Not much else has happened since I’ve been here. This is my last week here at tennis camp, and I come back the fifteenth of January. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I kind of cant wait for school to start so that I can see everyone again. I’m definitely not looking forward to all the tests, quizzes, and homework!
On Saturday, I went to Ryan's (my cousin) soccer game. I had a great time watching him play and the final score was 3-3, a tie. On Sunday, I went to Busch Gardens, an amusement park, with both my cousins, Ryan, 10 year’s old, and Justin, 9 years old, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Michelle. I went on Shiekra, at first I was a bit reluctant to go, but when I saw my 9 year old cousin want to ride the roller coaster, I felt guilty and ended up going on it twice! Ryan convinced all of us to go on a water ride, so we all got soaked and of course it’s freezing cold!
Not much else has happened since I’ve been here. This is my last week here at tennis camp, and I come back the fifteenth of January. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I kind of cant wait for school to start so that I can see everyone again. I’m definitely not looking forward to all the tests, quizzes, and homework!
sábado, 1 de enero de 2011
Happy New Years!
For New Years, I went to a friend of our family’s birthday (it’s her actual birthday, isn’t that so cool?). At the party there was a DJ, dancing, buffet, and dessert of course, but there was one problem that I definitely wouldn’t be expecting to happen at a hotel. I was walking down the buffet line when I saw a little brown mouse hiding between the bread and cheese platter. I tried my best to keep calm, but I was freaking out inside. I called over a waiter to do something about it before other people started to notice. He quickly took away both platters and got rid of the mouse. Luckily, I didn’t eat any bread or cheese, so I was okay. But you have no idea how disgusting it was.
At 12:00 a.m., I screamed like everyone else at the party and began shouting, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Even though I didn’t know anyone there, people wished me a happy new year, and I wished the same to them. I didn’t get to see any fireworks since we were in a party room and there was nowhere to see any, but it wasn’t that bad. There was dancing on the dance floor and music was blasting through the speakers. Overall, it was a great party. We didn’t leave until 1:00 a.m. and I didn’t get to sleep until 2:30 in the morning. I slept for about eleven and a half hours.
Another year has gone by… no more 2010, but now it’s 2011. Can you believe it? I know I can’t. This year has gone by so quickly and even though I thought that it was the worst year ever at some points, I think it was a pretty good year overall; 2010 is a year that I will never ever forget.
At 12:00 a.m., I screamed like everyone else at the party and began shouting, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Even though I didn’t know anyone there, people wished me a happy new year, and I wished the same to them. I didn’t get to see any fireworks since we were in a party room and there was nowhere to see any, but it wasn’t that bad. There was dancing on the dance floor and music was blasting through the speakers. Overall, it was a great party. We didn’t leave until 1:00 a.m. and I didn’t get to sleep until 2:30 in the morning. I slept for about eleven and a half hours.
Another year has gone by… no more 2010, but now it’s 2011. Can you believe it? I know I can’t. This year has gone by so quickly and even though I thought that it was the worst year ever at some points, I think it was a pretty good year overall; 2010 is a year that I will never ever forget.
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