Final Reflection Post

This picture represents my attitude toward reading this semester both symbolically and literally. I am extremely busy. I have jump rope 4 days of the week and cheer a majority of the other days. It has become so hard to set time aside to read because when given the choice of reading or sleeping, I almost always chose sleep. This is symbolic because I used to put reading first on my list of priorities and homework second. My mom really didn't like that, especially because I usually told her I didn't have any then stayed up all night doing it. So the above picture is basically the new reading for me. I really enjoy reading and wish I could make time for it but would honestly much rather sleep.

This picture represents my forgetfulness about blogging; always rushing to get it done at the last minute. My blogs are never early, always done on the last possible day just before jump rope practice or a student government meeting. This year I took a lot onto my plate and it has shown by the lower quality work I've done this year, especially in blogging. The best part about blogging is that it makes me think more about the books I 'm reading the the craft the author has used to tell the story. The worst part is that it is on the computer. I pull out my folders with written homework every day right after school, but the process of logging onto the computer, signing in, and typing for 20 minutes is far more difficult to do and also to remember to do. I don't see much point in posting blogs because until I'm famous, most people don't read them. It is a great place to write all my thoughts though.

Typically, every school year seems to go by as slow as the above turtle, with summer seeming so far away that it's a rumor, never to be proven true. (If you're wondering about that strange analogy, I may have been watching too much Gossip Girl.)

But this year is gone. It has completely flown by. I'm basically a sophomore. I wish I was still in sixth grade. High school has taught me so so much that I wish I would've know during the horrible middle school days. It's sad that I took me almost all of freshmen year to realize that I'm letting my life fly away. This realization has changed my as a person. When my friends invite me to a concert or to a movie, I no longer use family dinner as an excuse to I can sit at home and watch Grey's Anatomy. As soon as I can drive life will be totally changed. I will make more memories than I do now with out that freedom. But I, by no means, want to grow up any faster. There are big events in our lives that we can't wait to happen. As soon as that event occurs we are anticipating the next. What we really need to do is stop worrying about those events in the future. We can enjoy them when the come but we are missing the present. I spent freshmen year watching the upperclassmen, waiting excitedly until that could be me. But now I've realized that that would be closer to leaving behind the friends I've know since the first grade, and I am just not ready to do that. This is why I hope to slow down in my sophomore year and think about what I want to remember of this time in my life, what show I watched on Netflix, or what concerts I went to with my best friends.

All For One

You may think it would become boring reading about the lives of upper 50 year old women, but these 4 Lindas have pretty interesting lives. They became best friends in grade school and formed the Linda's Club. Since they had the same name they started going by their middle names (Abby, Caroline, Janie, and Marlee) to make things easier. As they grew up, they also grew apart. Then, they moved back to Clifton and back into each others lives.

From mysterious, fatal fires with law suits, to boyfriend-stealing ex-wives, this book has it all. I made the mistake of starting from the 3rd book of this 4 book series. I saw a cool book so I sat down and read. It wasn't until I got to the very end that I found out just how much I missed. While it wasn't the most intriguing book at times, this author used amazing techniques. I would have to say this is at the top of my favorite books list. If you're looking for a new book, I would highly, highly suggest this series.

I would also suggest that you start with the first book, As Long As We Feel. :)

Something to remember for Thanksgiving by Mary Schmich

I believe that the writer wants her audience to feel inspired and grateful for all we have been given. I definitely felt that. Growing up in such a wonderful home, neighborhood, and family, I never realized how few times I actually thanked my parents for simply putting a roof over my head. When Mary uses the line "no matter how little think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge." This makes me want to run to my parents and thank them for all the little things they have given me that I now understand to be huge.
 
The author most wants the readers to remember that we need to be grateful and hopeful. We are never completely and totally hopeless, there is also someone looking out for us even if we don't realize it. We never seem to be grateful enough for the things people give up for us. The money her father gave her for ice cream could've been used for a house payment or car payment, but he chose to work the extra hours to satisfy the ones he loves. We don't understand how great that act of kindness is.
 
The purpose of this column is to remind us and inform us of the love still in the world. A line that directly says this to me is "no matter how little you think you have, there is always enough to give some away." I believe she is also encouraging us to be generous and caring towards others. She hopes that we can share the love that we have received.
 
Wow. The line: "I was scurrying away, elated and mystified, afraid the ice cream man would escape before this miracle came to fruition, when he spoke again." All those words, scurrying instead of hurrying, elated and mystified instead of happy and shocked, and escape instead of left. Her diction choices amaze me and inspire me which I view as the whole point of the piece. Her syntax techniques are most prevalent in her dialogue with her father. His lack of words but mysteriously deep meaning show the theme that the little things done through love can mean the most.

This column makes our society a better place. Today, there is not enough love in the world. There is not enough care about the feelings of others. She writes this column to bring the hope of a peaceful world back to us, if only we could love one another. This column has touched me and hopefully others, making me more grateful for small acts of kindness that go long ways. Lauren Hill recently passed away but I believe she created more acts of kindness than anyone, raising money for people with her problem, even though the money wouldn't be able to benefit her. Every dollar that was donated could help save another person. Her kindness and willingness to share her story inspires ton of people all over the world.

Judging a book by it's Cover

I occasionally stand in the young adult section of our local library. To be truthful, my eyes first are drawn towards the books that are either bright pink or look old. The old look tells me that this book is based sometime back in history or that it was super popular and has been demolished over the years of check ins and check outs. If it looks intriguing I flip it over and read the summary. Then if it doesn't bore me to death, as some books can since I am not the most dedicated reader, I flip to the first page.

Yes, that's me, the girl who sits down in the middle of the library and reads. But I don't read the same books for hours. I read the first page of tons of books to see what the author's style is. If I become annoyed within two paragraphs by the authors lack of elevated diction or overuse of words such as 'and' or 'or', I simply put it down and restart the cycle. Rarely do I ever know what I am looking for, that is what makes finding the perfect book that much better.

My latest trip to the library was short. I didn't have time to get to the step of the process where I read the first page. So I left with four books with well written summaries: The Truth About Forever, A Single Thread, All for One, and The Little Women Letters. I have now read all the first pages, that helped me decide which to read first. I went with The Truth About Forever by the amazing Sarah Dessen, who writes many of the books I have read in my lifeitme. I was instantly hooked on her storyline and her writing style. News about the others...hopefully to come soon.

Tell Us We're Home

From time to time I can't find a good book to read so I check up on things that Mrs. Leitsch has read. One that she rated very highly was Tell the Wolves I'm Home. I thought that this seemed like it could be a good book. I went to the library to find it but apparently other people had the same idea because they didn't have it checked in. So I looked around and found Tell Us We're Home and thought, why not try it? (I also hope to read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, recommended by Mrs. Leitsch, sometime soon.)

This book is about three immigrant girls whose mothers work as nannies or caretakers for other families in their community. While some may some unlikely acquaintances, I believe (from what I have read so far) they have a lot in common. I think they will have lots of insecurities that they share such as knowing things about the kids their moms watch when the spoiled kids have no idea who they are could easily make for some very awkward moments. I hope to get an interesting story from this book because it seems to have a very good plot line.

The last book I read taught me a lot about Palestinian culture and I hope that this book introduces me to something new. I love getting out of my comfort zone with books like this because I almost always learn something new. I used to never like reading but in the second semester I have began to make time in my schedule to just sit down and read and I have really been enjoying forgetting about my crazy story to read someone else's.

Dover Beach Narrative Story

Mrs. Phelps had taken the long, peaceful walk back home from Mildred's house hundreds of times but none had been like this. The trees screamed Shakespeare's greatest works at her and the bushes: lines from the Bible. The sidewalk and the sky closed in on her, gradually increasing the volume in which they recited Faulkner's most famous novels. Her whole world was spinning. The passage that Mr. Montag had read brought about beliefs she didn't know she believed. The past 30 years suddenly caught up with her. Their world was once bright and knowledgeable, but now, their intelligence was running from them. It never seemed to matter until she realized her education had gone to waste. The TV had drained a piece of her that she had once prided herself on. First in her class then and now she couldn't remember the atomic number of lithium.

Mrs. Bowles' panting brought her back to the cemented alley she was currently trudging down.

"Are you alright?! What a horrible man that Montag freak is. He is so stupid the way he made you cry like that. They need to lock him up in a crazy house or burn his house for having books or something to get back at him for being such a disgusting man..." she ranted as she caught her breath.

Mrs. Phelps wanted to say that Montag wasn't stupid, he was actually far smarter than their brain washed society. She tried to butt in and defend Montag but Mrs. Bowles never took a pause long enough to let her squeak out a word. Finally, Mrs. Bowles concluded and Mrs. Phelps jumped in.

"I need to go home and lie down for a while." Finally she could get away.

She arrived home and tore every book she owned out of the box in her attic containing the things from her scholarly past. She reread her 10 favorite books then shoved them away, hidden. The only person who knew she had them was her current husband who was away at war and didn't truly love her anyways. She called in the alarm and waited for the mechanical hound to come; to finish off what was left of society's monster that they had created out of an innocent, young girl, to end the life of a woman who had nothing left here for her, as well as to end the life of someone who truly wanted to die.

A Stone in My Hand

This book is historical fiction. It takes place in Palestine in the 1988-89. It is set during an intifada which is a group of strikes and street demonstrations against Israeli soldiers. An 11-year old girls' father goes missing and she is devastated. There are multiple challenges this young girl faces due to this harsh time period. I am about half way done with the book and following her difficult life is interesting yet upsetting. I have gotten to a point where I am fighting for her because I want her to succeed.

I have never been a person who enjoys reading historical fiction. Realistic fiction was my thing, or so I thought. Until I picked up this book. I chose it for its intriguing plot line and unusual characters. I highly suggest this book for anyone who is looking for something knew. I had become bored with all the girl drama in my books so trying something new showed me a side of my interests I never knew I had.