I enjoyed reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry. I have found each one of her books that I have read to be very interesting.
This book is about a boy (Jonas) living in a strict community, governed by sameness. Each person is expected to be as alike as possible. But Jonas, with pale eyes, is different than his friends and classmates.
Although I would hate to be in Jonas's position, I loved reading about his life and the changes he experienced.
I had read this book once before, at a younger age. And I still got the same meaning out of it this time.
The book ended on a happy note, I believe. Gabe and Jonas went on to live happy lives with a family and with choices and more freedom than they had ever known before. But I wish the author had written more about the outcome of the boys' adventure, searching for "Elsewhere."
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Animal Farm.
No one wants to feel left out, over-worked, or used. Everyone wants to be equal to their peers. But what happens when equality is not enough? When someone decides they are better than their brothers?
Animal Farm, by George Orwell is a perfect example of that.
Preceding his death, Old Major (a highly respected, extremely wise pig) started a revolution concerning every animal living on Manor Farm. These animals overthrew the farm's cruel owner, Mr. Jones, and began running the farm on their own, under the name Animal Farm.
When the revolution had first taken place, the animals were happier than they could have ever imagined. But as time passed, the pigs began taking over. Since they were smarter than the other animals, the pigs could easily decieve the less intelligent beasts.
A pig named Napoleon declared himself leader of all the animals, with the help of nine dogs he had trained from birth. Parallel to Joseph Stalin and the communist revolution in Russia, the citizens soon became wary of Napoleon.
Any animal brave enough to speak ill of/rebel against Napoleon's rule could expect to be brutally slaughtered. The animals were no longer content with Animal Farm. They then realized that under the rule of Napoleon and the other pigs, their life was far worse than anything they had ever experienced when Mr. Jones was around.
Animal Farm, by George Orwell is a perfect example of that.
Preceding his death, Old Major (a highly respected, extremely wise pig) started a revolution concerning every animal living on Manor Farm. These animals overthrew the farm's cruel owner, Mr. Jones, and began running the farm on their own, under the name Animal Farm.
When the revolution had first taken place, the animals were happier than they could have ever imagined. But as time passed, the pigs began taking over. Since they were smarter than the other animals, the pigs could easily decieve the less intelligent beasts.
A pig named Napoleon declared himself leader of all the animals, with the help of nine dogs he had trained from birth. Parallel to Joseph Stalin and the communist revolution in Russia, the citizens soon became wary of Napoleon.
Any animal brave enough to speak ill of/rebel against Napoleon's rule could expect to be brutally slaughtered. The animals were no longer content with Animal Farm. They then realized that under the rule of Napoleon and the other pigs, their life was far worse than anything they had ever experienced when Mr. Jones was around.
so much depends upon:
so much depends
upon
a green
caterpillar
inching along the cherry
tree
waiting, waiting to
blossom
upon
a green
caterpillar
inching along the cherry
tree
waiting, waiting to
blossom
Friday, March 13, 2009
Someone Like You
Sarah Dessen's Someone Like You is a story about love in all different forms.
Until that one fateful summer, Halley and her mom had always been close. Halley's mom made her go to a leadership camp over that summer that she did not want to attend. Their resentment for each other only continued to grow when Halley got a call from her best friend, Scarlett, asking her to come home as soon as possible.
Scarlett's boyfriend and first love, Michael, had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Being a great friend, Halley did everything in her power to comfort Scarlett, but after school began they got bad news. Scarlett was pregnant with Michael's baby.
Halley then became involved with Macon, a bad boy with a reputation to make a mother scream. Macon and Halley skipped school to help get Scarlett out of an unwanted abortion, and were there for Scarlett during her pregnancy.
When Macon started pushing Halley for more than she was ready for, the relationship began turning sour. On New Year's Eve they got in a big fight. Halley got in the car with Macon and he was driving way too fast while under the influence of alcohol. He was a terrible wreck and injured Halley. She decided to no longer speak to Macon.
Halley was a stronger person for all the problems she had faced.
Until that one fateful summer, Halley and her mom had always been close. Halley's mom made her go to a leadership camp over that summer that she did not want to attend. Their resentment for each other only continued to grow when Halley got a call from her best friend, Scarlett, asking her to come home as soon as possible.
Scarlett's boyfriend and first love, Michael, had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Being a great friend, Halley did everything in her power to comfort Scarlett, but after school began they got bad news. Scarlett was pregnant with Michael's baby.
Halley then became involved with Macon, a bad boy with a reputation to make a mother scream. Macon and Halley skipped school to help get Scarlett out of an unwanted abortion, and were there for Scarlett during her pregnancy.
When Macon started pushing Halley for more than she was ready for, the relationship began turning sour. On New Year's Eve they got in a big fight. Halley got in the car with Macon and he was driving way too fast while under the influence of alcohol. He was a terrible wreck and injured Halley. She decided to no longer speak to Macon.
Halley was a stronger person for all the problems she had faced.
Anthem Review
I had never given much thought to the power of the word "I" until reading Ayn Rand's Anthem opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking.
The oppressed members of the Utopian society lived their entire lives around difficult physical or mental labor with no hope of better things to come. They lived short lives, for they had nothing to live for.
Equality 7-2521 and his people lived their lives with no hope and no one to love. They believed in no god and had romantic or friendly relationships.
The power of one word brought out the hope in Equality and Liberty 5-3000, "the Golden One." This one word, ego, showed them the power and meaning of individuality.
The oppressed members of the Utopian society lived their entire lives around difficult physical or mental labor with no hope of better things to come. They lived short lives, for they had nothing to live for.
Equality 7-2521 and his people lived their lives with no hope and no one to love. They believed in no god and had romantic or friendly relationships.
The power of one word brought out the hope in Equality and Liberty 5-3000, "the Golden One." This one word, ego, showed them the power and meaning of individuality.
To Perfect My World..
Love, unity, and peace are all lacking in the world today.
In general, people around the world have become increasingly more self-oriented and less worried about others living on the planet. If each person would take a small amount of time out of their day to think about what consequences their actions had on the people and the environment around them, then the would would become a better place.
At this point in time, there are wars taking place, terrorist groups attacking, and corruption in governments everywhere. By ending fighting and bringing love into the world, a great deal of unhappiness in people would be eliminated.
I hope this goal of world peace will be reached in my lifetime. Until then, we will keep on dreaming of living in a perfect world.
In general, people around the world have become increasingly more self-oriented and less worried about others living on the planet. If each person would take a small amount of time out of their day to think about what consequences their actions had on the people and the environment around them, then the would would become a better place.
At this point in time, there are wars taking place, terrorist groups attacking, and corruption in governments everywhere. By ending fighting and bringing love into the world, a great deal of unhappiness in people would be eliminated.
I hope this goal of world peace will be reached in my lifetime. Until then, we will keep on dreaming of living in a perfect world.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
This Lullaby Review (counts as 2 books)
This Lullaby, by Sarah Dessen, is all about decisions.
Remy never knew her biological father, but she had a steady stream of step-fathers (five in all). She spent her high school years trying to find happiness in an endless number of temporary boyfriends.
Ever fearful of falling in love, Remy never allowed her relationships to last longer than a couple of months. When Remy found Dexter, a boy that had the potential of making her fall in love, she got scared and pushed him away.
With the help of a lot of courage, coincidences, and an unfaithful fifth step-father, Remy finally realized what she had lost.
Remy never knew her biological father, but she had a steady stream of step-fathers (five in all). She spent her high school years trying to find happiness in an endless number of temporary boyfriends.
Ever fearful of falling in love, Remy never allowed her relationships to last longer than a couple of months. When Remy found Dexter, a boy that had the potential of making her fall in love, she got scared and pushed him away.
With the help of a lot of courage, coincidences, and an unfaithful fifth step-father, Remy finally realized what she had lost.
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