As my final reading blog ever for etymology, I must say it is a bittersweet feeling. As much as I have enjoyed reading this quarter and writing about what I have read, I am happy to put an end to them and focus on the last few weeks of school. Since this is mostly likely my last post, I thought it would be a good idea to review my goals for the quarter. I managed to read a Classic Lit novel and read in at least one unique place almost every week (my favorite of all of my goals). Unfortunately I didn't exactly get to read for 30 minutes everyday, but I did whenever I could. To my surprise I didn't accomplish my goal of reading 1400 pages for the quarter. I read well of that last quarter, but came up a little short this time around. It could possibly be due to my lack of eagerness to read this quarter or because I became too focused on my anthology notes! Either way, I still have a couple more weeks to read even though I won't post about them. That still counts, right? I am so thankful that this etymology has renewed my enthusiasm anout reading!

Reading Log

Sure enough, one more week has passed making my deadline to accomplish my goals fast approaching! Luckily, I have one more goal that I need to accomplish while the others are accomplished (almost) weekly. This week I continued Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Although I haven't finished it yet, I can already say that it one of my favorites out of everything I have read this semester, maybe on my list of all time favorites. I started off the week strong by reading 30 minutes each day, but by Thursday I got bogged down with a monsoon of projects preventing me from continuing my adventure through my book. I also didn't have time to read in a fun location, but the weather this coming week augurs well for an adventure! I only have a couple more weeks to hit my goal of 1400 pages for the quarter. I sure hope I can make it and I hope that I can read each day this week!

Read this Week: 102                                                               Read this Semester: 2242

Reading Log

For this week's reading log, I started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Just by reading the inside cover at the library, I knew I would enjoy it. Sure enough, I was right. Once I started, I could not put it down. It reminds me somewhat of Shutter Island, one of my favorite movies. For a fiction novel, the diction is written very artistically and thoughtfully; it was a nice surprise because it keeps even the usually boring narration lively. I absolutely love the idea of including pictures in the book because they provide better mental images. Although I didn't get to read everyday like I had hoped to as a part of my goals for this quarter, I did read in a somewhat unique place once again: on the streets of downtown Wabash. That's unique, right? Hopefully this week, I will succeed in reading everyday and meet my goal of 1400 pages for the quarter!

Read this week: 120                                                            Read this semester: 2140

Reading Log

 

For this week's reading I focused on Connectome by Sebastian Seung. Like I have said before, it can be a difficult read at times because the author is a neuroscientist and he likes to include a lot of medical lingo. Aside from that, Connectome was very intriguing. I chose not to read the entire novel because that probably would have taken me the rest of the semester to finish. Instead, I focused on a few sections of the book that interested me. After reading a good portion of the book I realized that I should have included reading a non-fiction novel as one of my goals because this surely did accomplish that! It's not typically what I enjoy reading so it was definitely a challenge. I knew that it was important for me to read at least thirty minutes each day to accomplish reading 100 pages for this post. Luckily I succeeded in accomplishing that goal for this week! I also achieved my goal in reading in a unique spot: my new hammock! Next book on the list is Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children.

Pages read since last post: 140                              Pages read this semester:2020

Notes 2 & 3

 Garden State (2004)

The closing sequence of Garden State transforms the static protagonist into a vivacious man seeking the true significance of life. The gentle musicality of Simon and Garfunkel personifies the moment of pure bliss with lyrics chiming "I've got nothing to do today but smile." Andrew climbs the rusted tractor mimicking the actions of scaling a mountain and overcoming the obstacles that stifled him. The cascading rain washes away his dull existence as if to baptize him with the opportunity at a new life. As Andrew ejects a powerful scream, it signifies the release of the deep-rooted anguish that has been trapped inside of him, thus sending it away into an infinite abyss.Without any eye contact, the three characters scream in unrehearsed unison supporting each others quest of exuberant existence.

Clearwater Beach, 2011

 

In two personal photos, each infinitesimal aspect of the picturesque scene is captured through the action of birds gliding through an intense sunset which instills a sense of peace and serenity. The rusted orange sun resting upon the horizon casts beams across the calm ocean and illuminates the sky announcing the day's end, while each sunrise represents a creation of new opportunities to fulfill hopes and dreams. Silhouettes of soaring birds highlight the liveliness found in all parts of nature as they float through the air as if nothing else matters except for that precise moment. As the crystal blue water ebbs,  it carries away the lost causes of the day and brings fourth renewed opportunities within the crashing waves. Gazing from the sandy shore to the glowing coast, the infinite horizon imbues a permanent feeling of wonder and awe.

Reading Log

Spring Break was such a great opportunity to accomplish some of my reading goals because I had a great deal of free time. My main goal was to complete The Great Gatsby, and fortunately, I succeeded. By doing so, I completed my reading goal of reading at least one classic literature novel. I have heard great things about the book, so it was definitely number one on my list for this genre. It started out kind of slow, nothing like the emotional and controversial novels I have read this semester. I considered giving up numerous times within the first couple of chapters and return to my typical fiction books I had waiting for me at home, but I really wanted to accomplish this goal so I persevered. Along with accomplishing that goal, I also succeeded in reading in unique places, such as on a charter bus next to a snoring friend while Captain America played overheard, on the beach (my favorite place), and on the top bunk of a bunk bed (I've always dreamed of having one). Although I haven't necessarily read thirty minutes everyday, some days I read more, so that makes up for it, right? In addition to The Great Gatsby, I have been reading sections of Sebastian Seung's CONNECTOME. It is probably one of the most interesting books I have read, but it is also very intensive because of it's medical and psychological lexicon.

Pages read since last post: 256                   Pages read this semester:1880

Exercise 3

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker
Dead to You by Lisa McMann

The intro provides a short background needed to understand the rest of the novel, which commonly includes a quick overview of the main point leading to the climax. From there it digresses to focus on a major plot point that occurs. The conclusion analyzes the overall book, including the characters, plot, and how the story can be connected to real-life.  The conclusion also gives insight to how well the author did at portraying the topic and ideas.

Note 1

"Anyway, Patrick started driving really fast, and just before we got into the tunnel, Sam stood up, and the wind turned her dress into ocean waves. When we hit the tunnel, all the sound got scooped up into a vacuum, and it was replaced by a song on the tape player. A beautiful song called "Landslide." When we got out of the tunnel, Sam screamed this really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing. And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."

The events of the passage from Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower are intriguingly and astonishingly blissful which creates a larger than life atmosphere. When the mind is extinguished from all thought, extraordinary sensations of infinity triumph over what is real. The elements of nature that transform a dress into "ocean waves" balance flawless creation with mediocre reality. The beatific harmony of "Landslide" overpowers the echos of cars and rushes of air flooding through the tunnel. When even the simplicity of "lights on buildings" can capture a person in a state of wonder and awe, it is clear the infinite feelings leave an everlasting impact. The repetition of laughing among all three characters involved intensifies the overall euphoric tone of the piece. As portrayed in the novel, infinite is the perfect concept to express such feelings of power and ecstasy.

Exercise 2

Weaknesses-
"Inside a metal chute" gives a chaotic touch to the style while evoking a sense of innocence by naming the bull "Little Kisses." This is quickly shunned away by the foreshadowing of the danger soon to come as he "slapps his face forcefully, bringing adreneline roses to his cheeks."

The author enhances the stress by throwing the reader straight into the action.

She gets so unfocused writing her book that she "is about to BASH her little sister's HEAD IN." This infers that Roberta is easily distracted and can be gruesome. 


Strong Exercise-
let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters

Exercise 1

Lynda Barry's "Cruddy" portrays a harsh and immature tone which evokes a sense of rage and rebellion. Taking place on a "cruddy street on the side of a cruddy hill in the cruddiest part of a crudded-out town," the repetition of the the word "cruddy" stresses the narrator's bitterness towards the current situation she is placed into. The excessive capitalization within the passage emphasizes the childish diction and fosters the thought that the author is perhaps an adolescent. The bold tone of this passage screams with emotion to enhance the author's overall distress and alludes to an omen of future vengeance.

Reading Log: Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice is in the format of diary entries from a fifteen-year-old drug user which takes place over a one year time span. Within this year, the narrator goes through an emotional roller coaster beginning with the night her soda was laced with acid. Unsure at first what had happened to her, she is intrigued by the feeling and soon takes on the challenge of experimenting with any drug she can get her hands on. The diction is somewhat immature as are her decisions which becomes redundant and a little annoying. After a tough incident relating to her drug usage, she runs away. Upon returning she vows to never fall victim to drug's evil grip, but unfortunately lets it happen, and runs away once again. This time, returning is different, she vows once again not to get caught up in drugs and uses all of her strength not to. 

Just as she is starting to improve her life, her beloved grandfather died and soon after her grandmother died as well. Raging with emotions she confides in her family and new friend, Joel. Her good intentions and maturity become stronger. Although she is improving, her old "friends" (the drug users) pin her and bully her for becoming "pure polly." She then realizes that while she was a user and a pusher, the people she hung around who were doing the same thing, were never really her friends.They bully her and eventually give her chocolate covered peanuts coated with LSD. She unknowingly eats them and has a mental breakdown while on the trip. After her morbid wounds slightly heal, doctors send her to an insane asylum. She spends a short amount of time there before she proves she is fine. When she is released, her character expresses full maturity and life seems to be going really well. She is really happy with how her life is and is disgusted at the thought of any type of drug. The narrator says that her diary is the only thing that kept her sane and even alive during the rough times in her life, but decides to no longer keep one. The epilogue states that only three-weeks after her decision to not keep another diary, she was found dead at home by her parents. It is uncertain how, but it is certain that it was due to drugs.

Going on the journey through the life a drug user was hard to take at times. If she could only realize the near perfect life and loving family she was destroying with her decisions, would it have made her stop sooner than later? She became an entirely different person while on drugs. They took her to some scary places, nearly on the verge of death at several different times. If this doesn't make the reader want to never get involved in drugs, I don't know what will.

Pages read this week: 159       Pages read this semester: 1624

Anthology: Theme Statement

For my anthology theme, I am choosing to do "Infinity." It is something that is really difficult to comprehend, yet something that most can relate to. It is also a topic that can be interpreted in a plethora of ways, making it a precise art to be able to narrow down the best artifacts that will complement each other. 

I got this idea from a novel I read earlier in the year, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. My first artifact is a quote from this book, "And in that moment I swear we were infinite." The feeling of infinity is ineffable, but in the context of this sentence, it becomes crystal clear. As a second artifact, I would love to use the infinity symbol. Sure, it's predictable, but it has great meaning behind it and it represents the definition of the word to its entirety.

Q4 Reading Goals

1. Read a total of 1400 pages this quarter
2. Read in unique places each week (i.e in a tree, on the roof), not just in my room or at school
3. Read at least one Classic Literature novel
4. Read at least 30 minutes each day

Catching Fire

As I came to the conclusion of Catching Fire, I realize that I have dragged out this book and posts as long as possible. Books like The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are ones that you hope will never end. Ever flip of the page is a sweat-breaking thrill to find out what is going to happen next, but also is a pain-inducing agony at the thought of coming closer to the end. Now I have one more book, Mockingjay, until my true expedition through the adventurous life of Katniss will finally come to an end. Like before, I'll try not to bore you with my familiar summaries, but instead focus in on one of my favorite parts.
After President Snow announces that the Quarter Quell (75th anniversary of The Games) will contain the surviving victors from previous years, Katniss immediately knows she's headed back into the arena. Haymitch, her mentor, is chosen as the male tribute, but instead Peeta takes his place. Things start to heat up even more as Katniss secretly decides to sacrifice herself to save Peeta.

For the interview, Katniss wears one of the gowns that was chosen for her for the wedding between her and Peeta. But this time, she feels that something is different; it is heavier. Cinna, her stylist, instructs her to turn around and lift her hands up at the right time during the interview. When the time comes, she obeys and the dress catches fire (it's always a thrilling moment when you figure out the title of the book) and burns off of her body, making her appear as a mockingjay. The mockingjay is the object upon Katniss' pin that she wore as a token from her hometown. It was given to her by her friend, Madge, and it is later discovered that it belonged to Madge's aunt, Maysilee, who died in the second Quarter Quell games. The mockingjay acts as a symbol of Katniss' rebellion and is also a slap in the face to the Capitol as the mockingay was created as the Capitol's disastrous attempt of using jabberjays to spy and obtain crucial information from the districts. By once again bringing the prominence of the mockingjay forward for all of the Panem, including the Capitol, to see, Katniss not only stands out among the other tributes, but proves her bravery and strength going into the next Games. She is there to fight and she is not going to  fall under cruel, unjust influence of the Captiol.

Analytical Response

1. 

-http://anothertwistanotherturn.blogspot.com/ "The stark whiteness of the page is crucial to this work, as if anything had been drawn or painted on it, all impact would be lost."

- http://rrr-nans.blogspot.com/ "A threatening soundtrack in the trailer to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close creates the Jumanji atmosphere of helpless terror."

2.

- "The effects of these photos are mesmerizing, and they have an unreal sense of breaking the laws of physics."

- "I've always wondered what it is about beaches that everybody loves."

Spartan Reader: Before I die. . .

 

The black wall serves as a reminder that death is imminent, while the colorful chalk etchings cast a light of hope for all dreams to come true. "Before I die..."  is a public art project displaying the greatest dreams of citizens spanning across seven different countries. This wall is a refuge for anyone to come and confess their biggest dreams of what they hope to accomplish before they die. Representing a canvas free for expression, the once pure black surface is now covered in blue, yellow, and pink chalk phrases. Some scribed in sloppy letters and misspelled words, while others are precisely composed as if that dream had been written several hundred times across the cover of a school notebook.  Some are comical, "Before I die I want to buy a tiger," while others are more serious containing a sense of hope, "Before I die I want to find a cure for cancer."  Regardless if the dream is easy to accomplish or an outrageous, near impossible act, behind every single one is a strong sense of ambition and determination. The dreams become even more palpable and achievable by declaring them to the public.

If this were to be found on the wall of a house, the unorganized, inconsistent etchings would most likely spell disaster for the parents of uncontrollable children, but here, it's not only art, but a refuge that tells numerous stories while creating a sense of wonder and awe. One can only envision the authors and stories behind the listed dreams. Who would write such an outrageous thing and why would he/she want to do that? Was it a small, imaginative child, or perhaps a newly hired lawyer? The dreams scribed across the wall also assist the imaginations of the people who come across the wall to think of their own hopes, wishes, and dreams. Ultimately, this project strikes curiosity in hopes that all who see will create their own dreams and not settle until they are accomplished.

You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party (or Just Do it Anyway)

What comes to mind when you think of college? In all honesty, I don't think of intellectual individuals with glasses sipping coffee and arguing the pros and cons of some far-fetched scenario like some would. I think about the parties. Not because I'm interested in attending them. I'm actually not in the least bit, but I think of parties just because that's what college has become renowned for. Alcohol has become the leading staple in the majority of college dorms and houses. Parties for "Thirsty Thursday," parties on game day, and parties just because they can. This lifestyle has become so common, but what the people at This American Life want to know . . . Why do they do it?
From a survey taken by several hundred college students across the United States, the number one party school is determined each year. This episode takes place throughout the campus of Penn State, the number one party school of 2009. This American Life sends a man and woman to interview college students, residents, college administrators, and local business owners about the newly claimed title; the results are surprising.
As the episode opens, loud screams and laughs can be heard in the background already setting the scene. It's only ten o'clock at night as the narrator describes drunken students stumbling down the streets, taking a pit stop to"water" a nearby resident's flowers. According to longtime resident, "it's typical." One can only imagine the things he would see on a night like this when an estimated 75% of students are drinking. But why do they drink so much? One student confesses, "We like the way it makes us feel," and another states, "If there was a 'drunk button', I would buy one." The audience learns from this scene that since alcohol leads to impaired judgement, fights, injuries, assaults, unwanted sexual experiences, getting behind in school work or even missing class are all very common.
From the stories told by students and average statistics, it seems like going to a "party school" is something I want to steer clear from as I make preparations for my future. The slurred speech and gibberish that the interviewed students present one after another creates an uncomfortable feeling. Knowing what potential nights like these hold, by placing oneself in any party scene automatically admits him into danger.  The students seem to treat college life as if it were microcosm where nothing can go wrong by living the "you only live once" lifestyle. Even the school seems to promote the partying idea by the easy accessibility to alcohol and the seemingly little punishment. The students appear to express very little self-awareness and responsibility making it easy for dangerous situations to arise. It is only the great hope of many that these students will soon become one with reality by taking responsibility for their actions and moving forward with their lives.

Short List 2-20-12

Chalk Illusions

This year as I made a trip to the Chalk walk downtown, I came across a very peculiar, but amazing chalk design. It was what looked to be a huge black hole that had opened up from the ground with alien-like creatures climbing out of it. It's crazy how real it seemed; I was so intrigued. I decided to look it up and see if I could find similar pieces and sure enough I did. Above is another great example. 

Simple Silhouette
These aren't your ordinary portraits. They are silhouettes. These photos force me to wonder who that person is. What does he look like? Is he smiling for the shot or is he wincing in pain? Silhouettes create a story and capture the pure essence of the shot without revealing too much about the subject. The background takes the leading role of the photograph as it would otherwise be overlooked.

 

Before I die. . .
What do you want to do before you die? "Before I die..." is a wall of an old house in New Orleans, Louisiana painted with chalkboard paint. Here, people come to anonymously write their dreams of something they hope to do one day or something the want to accomplish before their lives on earth come to an end. Some are comical, some are really inspiring, some, well, I'm not really sure what to think.Take a look at the wall and let the responses speak for themselves.

Catching Fire Part Two

Continuing my venture through Catching Fire, I, once again, find myself utterly engrossed in another one of Suzanne Collins' magnificent works. With my last post, I left off just as Katniss received threats from President Snow. There is nothing she can do to protect herself besides confiding in her "mentor," Haymitch. As the Victory Tour is about to take off, they both know that nothing can be done except for obeying the president's orders. These orders include Katniss and Peeta pursuing their "star-crossed lovers" act. But their sweet kisses and tightly gripped hands seem more than an act. Ever since the games have come to a conclusion, both Peeta and Katniss experience vivid nightmares. On the train touring the country, Peeta crawls into bed with Katniss each night to provide her comfort, which also leads me to think there is obviously something strong between them regardless of what they say. Just as the tour is about to wrap up, Peeta proposes to Katniss as another act for the audience; President Snow isn't convinced which may lead to serious consequences that won't be in Katniss' favor.
As they return home, the final round of the tour is dinner at the mayor's house. Katniss finds herself in the mayor's office absorbed in what she finds on the television. Uprisings in District Eight. Just like the mayor said. She can't help but to blame herself for all of the negative reactions that have been taking place since the conclusion of the games. Later, she reunites with Gale, a close friend who has always been a little more than a friend. She leads him into the woods to confess to him everything. Here he lets an "I love you" slip out. Katniss can't respond in the same way, but it becomes clear to the reader that she probably feels the same way. In regards to the greater problem on hand (President Snow's threats) they conjure up the idea of running away, however this is almost immediately shut down after Gale is caught with game from the woods and receives several lashes. Katniss throws a fit as her mother attempts to ease his pain because she believes that he isn't given enough relief. As she apologizes to her mother for her outrageous actions, her mother responds, "I've heard worse. You've seen how people are, when someone they love is in pain." It finally hit her, "someone in love". She loves Gale. What is going to happen next? She is marrying Peeta. Katniss' confusion of her feelings for each of the boys only intensifies and the tension between the boys will continue to increase. With that aside, Katniss needs to make her decision whether to fight against the capitol fast before the country in its entirety destroys itself with uprisings.