Starting Fresh with "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

              As I just begin to turn the pages of this classic novel, I already see an extremely amazing character build-up taking place. This obvious teenager has an elaborate past to explain in this book, and I already know from just two pages in that he is very unique and out-going, which could end up being a good or bad thing based upon where this book is headed. The first thing that really caught my eye was the title, because it is most likely an underlying message of the theme, like the "Lord of the Flies", because that book isn't actually about a fly lord! The definition of rye is a "widely cultivated cereal grain" (dictionary.com). This could mean that the boy catches the grain or plant as soon as it sprouts instead of catching it later on in life. So basically, he (or she) is fixing their problems first-hand instead of waiting because that never works out well. This is just an assumption of the theme, but I have a feeling that I am becoming closer and closer to realizing the true message. 

           While researching on this book, I decided to ask my mother if she had read it before and what she thought of it. She said that she did read it before and she thought that it was very unusual and weird because the whole book took place in one day. I was very surprised at this statement because this is a pretty long book, so how could it possibly fill only one 24 hour time period? I then asked what it was about and she had no idea. So you can probably guess that I am extremely excited to read this book because if my own mom was confused and baffled by it, then it must be pretty challenging. And I sure do love a good mental challenge!

          To conclude this blog post, I want to make a few predictions for the set-up, climax, and resolution. I first want to start by saying that I am sure that the beginning will be an extensive explanation of this teens previous life, and how it was changed by this one moment. The climax will most likely be full of twists and turns in his/her future that defines them for the conclusion. I do hope that I am close to being correct on those assumptions because I love a great plot twist. "Catcher in the "Rye" seems like such an old classic, that I couldn't help but give it another glance as it sat on my mom's dusty old book case. But I am sure glad that I did because I can already feel it sucking me into the fun mystery yet to come!

 

Example/ Analyzing of Satire

Satire is a way to laugh or make fun of literature, cartoons, or even parodies in videos or pictures. In these two examples of satire, it is quite obvious that Hitler is the victim of the giggles. In this first cartoon, Hitler is portrayed as an ugly beast who wants everything to be about himself, as he displays by saying "...Because apparently they approve of mine!" when responding to the 'Tea Party' proposal, most likely in World War II. A hyperbole is crucial to this cartoon, because although Hitler did want everything in his control during the  European war, it is much more humorous to exaggerate it to the extreme when remembering how much he wanted to hurt others. In the second cartoon, made by Dr. Seuss, who helped make American propaganda during World War II, distorts Hitler's image even more, and puts the United States in an even higher status. In the background of the picture, you can see that some of the trees are labeled 'Greece', 'Norway', 'Poland', and 'France', with the bird (as Hitler) currently chopping down England. Dr. Seuss then shows the United States as an even bigger more powerful bird that Hitler hasn't touched. This shows more of a farce type of satire because of the exaggeration and horseplay shown by Hitler's need for power, and how it didn't effect America. Although the first cartoon displayed a burlesque type of satire, and the second showed a farce kind, they are both equally funny and appeal to human knowledge of humor and World War II's past.

Full Reflection of Three Columns by Krista Ramsey

I chose this article at first because I am one to ignore jail problems and the prisoners in them, but after reading this wonderful article, I now see that there are real people in there with real feelings. If just a few brave people step up to volunteer and talk to the people in jail, they might actually change their actions, for the better of our community, they just need a little love.



http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/10/19/jail-program-needs-volunteers-willing-listen/17531835/


"Standing in front of that first prison, all I could think of was the word fail."

EXPLANATION: I chose this specific line over all of the other lines because it has a very strong hidden meaning. What I mean when I say this is that the reader gets to decide how to decipher this sentence. I think that it is saying something about any individual in the jail cell, that one bad move that cost them five years, to a life sentence shows that they definitely screwed up, and failed to do anything meaningful in their lives. But we all mess up sometimes, don't we? The prisoners just happened to be caught doing the messed up things. And I am definitely sure that you love to chatter with your friends about the latest gossip, but what if instead you took that chatter to the prison and talked to somebody who doesn't usually communicate with outdoor people? I definitely think that it's worth a shot! The diction in this sentence is also worth mentioning. 'Fail' is such a strong, powerful word, that strikes you right in the gut when you hear it, wether it's on a test or a life mission, failing really stinks. Although it is a heart wrenching word, it works perfectly in this sentence because you are obviously in prison for something that you failed to accomplish, like a robbery or murder. The syntax in this passage is very evenly spaced out and helps the message flow very easily. All of these points are why I chose this structured sentence as the one that completely overrules the rest.



SUMMARY OF KRISTA RAMSEY'S WRITING: While reading each of Krista Ramsey's columns I noticed so much detail and structure that they completely overwhelmed me with the exquisite technique! Each of the articles that I have read are very unique and important in their own personal way. Take the column: For better vision, kids need time outdoors as an example. This article stresses the importance of getting children off of their cell phones to being more active outside. An example in this article is when Ramsey states; "You see it all the time. Your teenager at the dinner table, waiting for his checkup at the orthodontist's office, sauntering to his car- continually hunched over his smartphone or iPad." This introductory statement sets the stage perfectly so that readers can connect to the passage about to be read, instead of just reading it because they have to. Another article stressed the point of dress attire for certain occasions, and how people have lost respect in their clothing. It was called Super Bowl QBs score points for greater style. An example of Ramsey's voice reaching out through her diction is when she says: "And life itself regains the punctuation that says every day isn't the same as every other, that we are all part of a collective experience and that we honor each other and ourselves when we care about how we're groomed and dressed." This strength in just a few sentences reveals how careful Krista is when she says something in her column, because she wants it to sound like everyday people! My final example is in the article called: Jail program needs volunteers willing to listen. This is one of the more emotional columns because Ramsey gives up her emotions for the well-being of the piece. An example of this is when she states; "For most of my life I have averted my eyes when driving by a prison. It was a world I didn't want to think about, of harm done to innocent victims and of human beings locked away from light, freedom, their families to pay for their crimes." This statement makes me want to second guess criminals, are they really the monsters we think, or just real people with real feelings? This question causes me to ponder because as a child, I was terrified of those people in jail, and now that I read this and Krista Ramsey's perspective, I see that there are different ways to judge people. Thanks to all three articles, I have been able to get in touch on these ideas in my own brain! I hope to read more of Krista Ramsey's columns because they are truly inspiring!

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you find it easy to pay attention to detail, or do you find it hard to come up with topics for your columns because you must be specific about the true meaning?
2. Do you get your ideas from your brain, or everyday experience, or just as you go through life? 
3. If someone just gave you a random topic and you had to create a column about it, would you be able to? Or do you get your topics from a moment that connected to you? 

Nearing the Middle of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

         I am completely and utterly entranced by this novel in so many unexplainable ways! This is because it is so true and so heart breaking to hear the Holocaust story from the narrator talking about a little girl named Liesel Meminer. She is such an unfortunate child because her brother has just passed away, and now her parents are shipping her off to a foster home in the hands of her foster father named Hans Hubermann. I can see this story gradually gaining speed when Liesel picks up a fallen book from one of the gravediggers burying her dead brother, and is suddenly interested. This is probably the introduction, or beginning of her travels and troubles with book thievery during the Holocaust. I am definitely anticipating what happens next with Liesel because she is refusing to get out of the car to go into her new foster home, but I personally don't blame her, I would be pretty stubborn if all that had happened to me too!

      Although this book has definitely peaked my interest, there are a few things that I don't understand, or could use some revision. I am not very clear on the point of view of this book, because it is not from the point of view of Liesel, or any of her relatives. But if I were in Markus Zusak's shoes, I would base it on Liesel's reference. This is because it would be very interesting to find out how children related to the Holocaust and how they coped with all the harsh treatment based on race. I also wish that the author would emphasize Liesel's family a bit more because there has to be a huge reason why they are giving up their last child to a foster family. This underlying reason would also help the development of Liesel and her past. Other than these small changes, I am completely loving the structure of The Book Thief. 

      To finalize this blog post, I would love to discuss the movie based upon this book. I would love to see the visual of this mature topic and how the director sees the characters interacting. A few things that I definitely want present in the film are a corrupted society that definitely displays the ideals of the Holocaust and the importance of knowing how to change the future. Another aspect is a very shy, and reserved character to represent Liesel. And then later in the movie, a burst of her true curious self sparkles through her soul. Although I am not allowing myself to see the movie until I complete the book, I am still looking forward to how the author and director share common ideas!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816442/

A Brief Beginning/ Overview of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

            I have just begun the wonderful historical novel of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and I am extremely intrigued by the main character. I was reading the prologue, and I came across an interesting line that reads "Personally, I like a chocolate-colored sky. Dark, dark chocolate. People say it suits me. I do, however try to enjoy every color I see-the whole spectrum. A billion or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax" (Zusak, 4). This quote hits me really hard in the chest because of the underlying truth that it displays. Colors are what humans really react to, a sad color like blue, or a spunky color like pink, and apparently a dark and mysterious color like chocolate. I love the immediate development of the main character and I hope that more of this specific detail of this character is yet to come.


           Although I have just started this book, I skimmed through before fully reading and saw that the chapters, or segments, are extremely short. I found this very compelling because my previous novels had very long extensive chapters. My prediction is that it is to give little snippets of information, and suspense, so that the reader wants to keep reading, even when the idea of the chapter has been dismissed. I am very excited for this type of writing because I know it will keep me interested for longer periods of time and it will definitely be efficient when I need to get ahead in the book. The only aspect that I am worried about at the moment is that those chapters will be too short and not give enough information to keep the suspense rolling. If this does happen, I will try to move past the mistake, and look more into the awesome characterization.


           To conclude this blog post about my new book, I would like to make a few predictions for the future, as I always do. I think that the overall message of this book will be to let your own actions define your character, because it is about a girl steals books from the Nazi book burnings, and since it is in the Holocaust time period, it is illegal the read as a Jew. These acts of defiance will define her as a rebel, and maybe even a hero. I am not very familiar with the rebels of the Holocaust, so I am very curious to find out how they found out the truth in such a hidden world. Another prediction is that the main character will have more family that supports her in this act, and that they will all eventually pay for it with possible death. I am anticipating the end so much that I can't wait to start reading again, and I hope that the suspense never stops rollin'!






















http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_Thief

Nearing the End of If I Stay by Gayle Forman

              At times within this book, as I turn the long and exhausting pages over and over again, I realize that most information that is given through the author's tone is very meaningless to the main character, Mia. This may sound a bit on the mean side, but I am really starting to get extremely bored with the plot line of this novel! It is so confusing when Gayle Forman jumps back and forth with the decision- making process of Mia, and her past life. As I near the ending, I extremely hope for some sort of twist to keep me interested just a little bit longer. The story line really upsets me because I know that it has so much more potential than what Gayle Forman is giving it.


              Although the plot line messes with my head, I really adore the love that Adam has for Mia. With the actions that he displays, such as choosing her over everyone else and loving her for the similarities they have together, not the differences that slit them apart. One night, when Adam takes them out to one of his concerts, Mia doesn't act like herself, with her Halloween costume on and her fake attitude, but Adam looks beyond that and still sees that shy girl in the Orchestra room, and loves her for it. All these aspects of him lead up to the emotion that the reader feels when he finds out that Mia may be dead forever. This part of the novel was probably the most effective for me because it showed that Adam would literally do anything to see her, even if it involved cursing in front of the nurses and collapsing under his own weight. The aspect of their love that really upsets me though is that Mia does not seem to love him the same, and just takes their relationship day by day, until the accident. This part of the story line shows that Mia really does need Adam, or she is just a body floating into oblivion.


             With the conclusion to this blog post, I want to contemplate on some improvements to the novel. In the next few pages of the book, I want to notice a love for Adam that Mia has never felt before, to the point where she is screaming for him from the deepest corners of her soul. I would also love to see Adam become forever changed, seeing Mia's body plugged into all of the machines to keep her breathing. And my final request is that I start to see a change to the plot structure, to make it more understandable and interesting to read. If these changes were made, if they aren't already, then it would make the book so much more fun to read and actually drag the readers with the emotions of the characters, and put them in the same situation.







http://www.pagetopremiere.com/category/if-i-stay/

Nearing the Middle of If I Stay by Gayle Forman

              In my continuation of If I Stay by Gayle Forman, I notice that the author literally sounds like a love-struck teenage girl who is oblivious to everything except her one true love, which in this case is Adam. In some cases, Forman sends this message very smoothly, and in other places, it comes off as very irrelevant to the situation. For example, Mia explains her love life by stating "After that, whenever I started to doubt Adam's feelings, I'd think about my wig, gathering dust in my closet, and it would bring back the memory of that night. And then I wouldn't feel insecure. I'd just feel lucky" (Forman, 101). In this quote, I notice that Gayle Forman isn't going into too much depth to describe Mia and Adam's relationship. This clue may be hinting towards a break or crack in their relationship, which may be concluded near the ending. 

            Another important aspect that I have learned so far is that young love will stay with you forever and take over your thoughts. Mia is so engulfed in Adam that she has not fully grasped the idea of being virtually dead to the world. Which is why the reader feels so much emotion when she finally realizes that she may never be the same again. An example of when I felt a lot of emotion towards Mia is when she says "How am I supposed to decide this? How can I possibly stay without Mom and Dad? How can I leave without Teddy? Or Adam? This is too much. I don't even understand how it all works, why I'm here in the state that I'm in or how to get out of it if I wanted to. If I were to stay, I want to wake up, would I wake up right now? I already tried snapping my heels to find Teddy and trying to beam myself to Hawaii, and that didn't work. This seems a whole lot more complicated" (Forman, 88). I believe this section to be one of the most emotional and thematic section in the entirety of the novel, and although I haven't had any real clues to the conclusion, I believe that these thoughts will lead to her final choice.

           In conclusion to this blog post, I want to make a prediction to the ending of this novel. With all of the current evidence and quotes that I have provided previously, I believe that she will stay. All of her dreams and passions are here on Earth, and because she doesn't seem to be religious, she has absolutely nothing to look forward to if she chooses to let go. Which is why I believe that she will hold on for her remaining family, and especially for Adam. Without knowledge of the future, I can understand that Mia is scared, and I also notice that she feels that she was given a second chance for a very special reason. And I were in Mia's position, then I would stay as well because I was given a second chance at life.

http://www.hypable.com/2014/04/15/if-i-stay-trailer-chloe-grace-moretz/