Books Read:

Uglies by Scott Westerfield  (Finished the Book) 1-323

Pretties by Scott Westerfield (Finished the Book) 1-323

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen 1-54

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How do the scientists insert the brain lesions without damaging the people under surgery? Are some people immune to these lesions? How did Tally "talk" herself out of the lesions? How does David feel about how Tally was with Zane? Will Tally and David get back together, and how did Shay turn special?

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In Flipped, Julianne is a bit of a complex character. She can be loud, brash, and annoying. However, Julianne is also very insightful and clever. She's accepting of all people and can be much more mature than other kids her age. This is exemplified when she was on the tree, because she saw beauty in the gnarled branches and chose to protest how the city was cutting the tree down. 

Double Reading Log

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby 1-317
Lolita by Vladimir Nakobov 16%-22%


The Jungle Book 50%-100%


Trends
In The Clockwork Three, they have many different trends than that would be found in our time period. For example, the opera is popular there while here, our culture would much rather see a movie. Also, the clothing that the characters wear is very different. For example, Madame Pomeroy wears very ostentatious outfits that would be considered ridiculous today. 


Symbolism
In Lolita, there is are a few symbols that can be interpreted differently. The first symbol I'd like to address is Lolita herself. Now, Humbert views Lolita as perfection- he rants on and on about her supple skin and youthful beauty. He talks about how he views her as His Lolita, his Lo and Loli. However, I don't believe Lolita is truly what Humbert desires. I believe that Lolita just reveals his craving for young children- not just the Dolores. "I was able to make out a dim first version of Lolita's outline, legs, cheekbones, bobbed nose." In this section of the book, Humbert is not talking about Dolores. He is talking about her mother as a child. Therefore, I believe that Lolita symbolizes what Humbert desires in a women- youthful perfection. 


Ethics
In one scene of The Clockwork Three, Hannah steals a diamond necklace from Madame Pomeroy in order to pay for her father's medical bills. Though I empathize with Hannah for her father's condition, I don't believe that was the right thing to do. Hannah ought to have explained her situation to Madame and asked for a loan, not steal the gift impulsively.


Details
Dolores, or Lolita, is described in intense detail in this novel. She is described as a messy, uncaring, rebellious 12 year old girl. She is dressed sloppily and does not care for any baths. She has a fierce temper and is capable of having terrible arguments. However, Dolores is quite innocent and can be very fun at times. 

Reading Log

The Jungle Book by Ridyard Kipling

1%-49% (approximately 80 pages)

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

1%-15% (approximately 30 pages)

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In the story of Mowgli and his jungle life, much of the native tongue is used. For example, they call the fire a Red Flower and they call various other creatures either by an African name or a different nickname. Also, the seals use different names when referring to bachelors ( the seals call them holluschickie).

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When describing his memories, the narrator Humbert manages to describe his experiences with a melancholic, sad tone- almost as if he is romanticizing his life a bit. However, when he begins to describe his "nymphets", it is hard to not take him seriously as his tone is as serious as it was when he was describing Annabel before. 

Reading Log~

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

14%-68% (more than 100 pages)


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In this book, Jaycee describes her scenery in detail. When she is captured, she vividly recounts how she felt herself grasp something sticky, which is a pine cone. With all of the intricate descriptions, I can actually feel like I am living through her experience with her.

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In this story, Jaycee accurately portrays her abductor, Paul, as an ethic-less man that cruellly tricks her into believing she is in good hands. Also, Paul's wife is portrayed as an immoral woman who puts up with the abuse going on in her yard. Through out this story, I find myself continuously horrified about how Paul and his wife could do something so horrible to the young, eleven year old Jaycee.

Reading Log~

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
1- 127

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In this action-packed novel, there may not seem to be many symbols. However, it is actually chock full of symbol. The first symbol is Toshio sitting up on the rooftop throwing arrows at those running past when the game started. This symbolizes fear and the notion "eat before being eaten".

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This story is chock full of controversial topics. First, the major thing that the characters are divided about is to kill, or to work together and die together? Of course, many characters such as Kazuo just decide to kill and don't have any regrets. However, many students such as Toshio have mental battles on whether killing is the right thing to do or not.

reading log week 10

The Condition  by Jennifer Haigh

I finished the book- around 300 pages?


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This story goes way into depth when defining who the characters are. First, Gwen herself is intricately carved. Her Turner's syndrome ultimately hides her true self and personality. Before diagnosis, Gwen had been a adventurous young girl. However, once she was diagnosed, she became elusive and stubborn. Well, she had already been stubborn, but now she had become even more so. This is especially shown when she goes to the island and then begins to live there, much against her parent's wishes. However, Gwen is still very distrustful and quickly leaves when she suspects foul play.

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Pauline and Frank have big differing views on how to treat Gwen properly. Pauline prefers to avoid the situation altogether. Frank likes to bring out the facts truthfully. Though both have their own pros, they also have cons. I believe that Gwen should have a combined treatment. She should receive the tender loving care from Pauline, but Gwen also shouldn't be treated as a child. Gwen also has the right to know about her disease, but then again she shouldn't be treated like a specimen ready to examine. In conclusion, both Pauline and Frank are right and wrong. Gwen should be treated as a normal human being, but with some specialness involved also.

Reading log week 10

Happyface by Stephen Emond
pages 1-307

Garden Shadows by V.C. Andrews
pages 86-257

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In happyface, the big idea seemed to be the cliche idea of a loser becoming a cool kid. However, as I moved through the story, I soon found this was not the average story.

The big idea was actually that insecurities can easily be hid. This is shown both by the events and the unreliability of the narrator himself. In the book, "happyface" easily hides the traumatic past events of his life by slapping on a huge smile and never taking it off. But as the reader finds out, "happyface" is also hiding his own insecurities from the reader. For example, "happyface" hid the incident of his brother's death through out mnost of the novel and only revealing it to us near the end of the book.

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In garden of shadows, the new fashion trends and woman rights correspond with
the telling of the story. For example, in the beginning of the story Olivia is wearing the old fashioned clothes and the younger more fashionable ladies are wearing bag dresses. However, as the story went on, Olivia's daughter began to wear the most fashionable scarves and tight fitting dresses. And also, Olivia gained more rights as she went on with Malcolm's business because women started to fight for their own equalities.

Reading Log Week 9

books Read, pages read...

"Looking for Alaska" by John Green pgs. 1- All of them

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green pg. 1- 243

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In the novel The Fault in Our Stars, there are many cute symbols scattered through out the novel. The first symbol I noticed was a young child in the scene where Hazel encountered a naive little girl that wanted to know why she wore the sticky things on her nose. The young child represents the time where Hazel did not have to deal with the horrors of cancer and when people didn't treat her like a poor creature that deserved buckets of sympathy. The innocent child symbolized pre-cancer Hazel.

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Many questions were left unanswered in the novel "Looking for Alaska". The biggest, quite obviously, is whether Alaska committed suicide or not. I personally believe yes, she did, because many clues were left through out the text. Alaska had been extremely mad that night, and normally drunk people would have been able to swerve to the side. Also, Alaska is extremely unpredictable and is known for last-minute impulsive actions. Therefore, I believe that biggest unanswered question's answer is that Alaska killed herself.

Reading Log Week ?

Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews
pages 1- 85

Les Miserables
1%-4% (long book ;_;)

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In the prequel garden of Shadows, we get to experience the cruel wife's perspective of being married to Malcolm, the evil grandfather figure. Olivia starts out as a dreamy romantic who wishes nothing but to be whisked away on a white horse like all the other girls. However, Olivia is now considered old and ugly. Not a great combination for a wannabe wife. But when Malcolm whisks her away on a quick, perfunctory marriage, I get to see how Olivia slowly realizes that she is only a tool for Malcolm to use. She first discovers this when Malcolm leaves her on her wedding night and assigns her to overlook the house matters. Then, she confirms the truth when all Malcolm cares about is how he doesn't have a daughter when Olivia's health may be in danger.

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In the beginning of Les Miserables, I was drowned with detail about the bishop. I was fed detail about his daily routine, and about how benevolent he was to the poor and the sickly. The bishop's house is also quiet plain and simple, because he prefers to donate his money to the unlucky. The bishop is also a very stout man with two ladies that tend to him. He also owned a hospital that he created very large.

Though I don't see the point of all these details yet, hopefully I will soon.

Reading Log Week Eight

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Friday-Monday 1/6-1/9
Three Hours
Pages 1-432

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In this story, the ethics of humans are questioned. The white people are held above the colored very clearly. Skeeter, one of the  main characters, even talks about the invisible lines drawn. The boundaries between the white and the colored, the boundaries between the League members and not, the women and the men. However, she also mentions how these lines do not exist and how they are only created when believed in. This shows how though the white women and many colored folk believe in the racial divisions, they aren't real unless you believe they are.


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According to today's society rules, there are many rules involving the colored folk. First off, according to Miss Hilly's Home Sanitation Initiative, colored folk have to use bathrooms outdoors because of their "diseases". Second, colored folk are expected to not get jobs other than house care and brute work. And finally, colored folk are under the causcasians. Meaning, not good enough to go to the same schools. Same jobs. To be friends. It was all part of the rules, and the rules are morally wrong in my opinion.

Reading Log Week Seven

12.19.2011
Spells by Aprilynne Pike
Finished Book (Borrowed, not sure how many pages)
Two hours

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In Laurel's distant past, she had been good friends with Tamani. However, in the present she and Tamani have a lot to catch up on. Tamani keeps on retelling Laurel about the faerie culture and their old friends and relationships. Right now, Laurel is reluctant to go back to her home Avalon because of her time spent in the human world. However, Laurel is planning to go back to Avalon after school, and after her boyfriend David.


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Avalon, Laurel's home, is much different than Earth. For instance, everyone there is extremely beautiful and graceful. This is shown in the scene where Laurel goes to see the faerie ballet and everyone there is more talented than the best of Earth's dancers. Second, the faeries there do not charge for money. If you are of higher rank, season wise, than the other the clothing/jewelry/etc. is free. Laurel received many free clothing and much jewelry in her stay at Avalon. And finally, there are no "parents" in Avalon. The seeds, or baby faeries, are kept in gardens until ready to go out on their own. Parents would only be in the way of their growth.

Reading Log Week 7

Tuesday 12/6
Look to the Hills- The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French Slave Girl by Patricia C. McKissack
1- 185
60 minutes

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When Lozette was a younger girl, she had been brought to the new world with her mother. Later, her mother died and left her blanket to Lozette. Later in Lozette's life, she discovers that her blanket may have been from a certain part of Africa. And finally, Lozette makes one of her goals to visit her homeland and discover more about herself.

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This story is easily connected to different subjects. Obviously, this story can be connected to history. Lozette herself lives in the time where France and Britain are battling over the New World's lands. Though subtle, this story can also connect to science. Several times through out the story, small pox is mentioned. The author speaks of how small pox was sent to purposely contaminate the native american nation. In order to contaminate the native americans, they purposely sent out blankets covered in small pox germs.

Reading Log Week 6

Friday 11/11

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

102-160

30 minutes

Saturday 11/12

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

161-200

30 minutes

Sunday 11/13

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

201-260

30 minutes

Monday 11/14

The Last Song by Nicolas Sparks

1-22

30 minutes

The ongoing factor of racism affected Nathaniel's behavior immensely. Though I have no on-hand textual proof, through out the novel when Nathaniel's schizophrenic behavior peaked he often went on rants about how his race was disgraced by smoking African Americans. Also, Nathaniel's experience in all-white Julliard left a very bad taste in his mouth being one of the only African Americans in the school.

Nathaniel's progress in his mental abilities greatly changes through out the story. In his early childhood, Nathaniel was a very strong and stable man. After he went through some traumatic childhood experiences, he quickly set out to pursue his dream in Julliard. There, he broke down. His schizophrenia reached a peak there and he became a homeless, distrusting man on the streets. However, when Mr. Lopez coaxed Nathaniel out of his closed mind Nathaniel greatly progressed. As time passed, Nathaniel returned to his former glory.

Reading Log Week 5

Friday 11/4

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

1-104

60 minutes

Saturday 11/5

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

105-189

30 minutes

Monday 11/7

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

1-43

20 minutes

Tuesday 11/8

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

44-101

30 minutes

In Nathaniel's point of view, Steve can be pushy and doesn't know what is best for himself.

"I can handle myself out here. It's not like I haven't been mugged before." he argues, adding that he will "fight to the death to defend these instruments." In this portion of Nathaniel' speech, Nathaniel clearly states that he disagrees with Steve and that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself. Steve may mean well, but in Nathaniel's view it may be unnecessary and bothersome as shown with his language.

In the story, a major point of controversy is the way to care for mentally ill people. The two huge standpoints are A. To not impose medication, to let them gain your trust and then talk through their problems, and B. To use medication and force to slowly heal their problems. Personally, I believe that each medical case is different. With Nathaniel, whom has gained a distrust of medicine and others, I believe that a strong relationship is first needed.

Reading Log Week 4

Friday 10/28/2011
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
David Sedaris
120-167
30 minutes
Saturday 10/29/2011
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
David Sedaris
 168- 230
30 minutes
Sunday 10/30/2011
When You Are Engulfed In Flames
David Sedaris
231-274
20 minutes
Tuesday 11/1/2011
Scars
Cheryl Reinfield
1-278
1 hour

In the story Scars, Kendra's father imposes some very important rules in order to keep her in line. Though I do not have access to direct quotes right now, her father repeated one line ominously: "I will kill you if you tell anyone." Also, her father imposes the rule to cut herself when ever things got hard, when ever the memories would come back and haunt her, and when ever she needed to shut herself up. I believe that Kendra's father/molester made these rules to make sure he never got caught by creating these big rules at an early age.
In the story April in Paris, Mr. Sedaris is extremely in love with his spiders, and especially April the spider. Though Mr. Sedaris may have just loved spiders, I believe he was influenced by events around him to stimulate his interest. In the beginning, the story mentions "The eyes of the stranded grandmother, I noted, were not half as piercing. There she was clinging to a chimney with her bra strap showing, and all anyone did was wonder if she had a dog." In the end, "The TV was on, the grandmother signaled from her rooftop, and I found myself wondering, with something akin to panic, if there were any spiders in her house." Because his own point of view changed from beginning to end, though he may not realize it himself his innate human desire to fit in led him to change his own original interest to something greater to also have something to worry about when grandmothers signal from houses.

Reading Log Week 1&2&3

Week One

Laine repeatedly wishes to dine with other people.

" 'I can't tonight, I've got my little- '

Laine turned sharply. 'I don't care what you have, cancel it.' "

Laine furiously demands to dine with others because she is lonely and misses her ex-husband.

 Does Tamyra survive her HIV?

Do Riley and Christian get married?
Will Mia ever be arrested?

How will Jeremy and Riley's relationship influence Gabby when she grows older?

Wednesday 10/5 

Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth Jones

15%-32%, 20 Minutes

Friday 10/7

Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth Jones

32%-100%, 60 Minutes

Saturday 10/8

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

0%-5%, 15 Minutes

Sunday 10/9

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

5%-12%, 15 Minutes

Week Two

In the story "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck", the main idea is to watch what you say.

"And here the merry atmosphere soured. 'A watermelon for a black snake,' said the toad. 'Now that's just racist."

 The duck's well intentioned words were twisted around into a racist statement easily.

 The motherless bear in "The Motherless Bear" is a selfish creature who seeks pity.

"Several times she cried, but as the weeks passed this became more difficult and so she took to covering her face with her paws and doing a jerky thing with her shoulders."

The motherless bear fakes sadness to gain attention (and chokecherries), making her a selfish creature.

Tuesday 10/11

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

13%-20% 15 minutes

Wednesday 10/12

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

21%-28% 15 minutes

Thursday 10/13

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

1-50 20 minutes

Friday 10/14

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

51-100 20 minutes

Week 3

In the story "That's Amore" Helen's character doesn't change. She remains static as a bitter and loud woman. "Most everyone I met had a good anger story: Helen cursing, Helen smacking, Helen slamming down the phone." Helen was infamous for her angry personality through out her life.

In the story "Keeping Up", Hugh is very self-centered and often leaves his wife behind while pursuing his own goals. "To the casual observer, he would appear running from me," Hugh always rushed through tasks not interesting to himself, often moving too quickly for his wife to catch up.

Thursday 10/22

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

29%-34% 30 minutes

Friday 10/21

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

34%-42% 25 minutes

Monday 10/24

When You Are Engulfed By Flames by David Sedaris

1-52 20 minutes

Tuesday 10/25

When You Are Engulfed By Flames by David Sedaris

53-119 30 minutes