Fahrenheit 451- blog 2

Mrs. Leffler, I just wanted to start off by saying this blog was a NIGHTMARE to write. I actually wrote it Tuesday night, I promise, but got distracted from my mother asking me to pack this and that, I never got around to packing the post button. Then, I conveniently forgot to pack my laptop on my trip to California. yay. So, I decide to attempt to re-write my blog first in the car on the way to the airport and then finish it on the plane because I noticed they had "wi-fi". Well, I finished, hit post, and I get this thing on my screen on how to pay for the wi-fi service on the plane. The wi-fi wasn't free! So, I hit the back button, and of course my long, in-depth blog that was probably better than this one was gone. I gave up at that point. SO, I just got home from my trip and here it is finally, a week late, my last Fahrenheit 451 blog.

I have officially decided that I do not like this book. I have one word for it, weird. It was just plain weird. And I found out I get it honest too, my dad said the exact same thing about it. Who knew book taste was hereditary?

I just didn't really like any of it. The whole concept just seemed a little wack to me. I don't understand the job of the so called "firefighters". They cause fires because things are now flame-proof? The buildings are obviously still flammable since they burn down when the firefighters light them. Accidents are still bound to happen. And what about forest fires? Who puts those out? There HAS to be some nature still left in that world. I know I wasn't really supposed to, but I didn't find any of this book really believable, which made it very hard for me like and get into. Like, Montag. I didn't like how he was so lucky towards the end of the book. I felt like things were just coming out of nowhere that benefitted him such as the river he just so happened to make it to just in time, and the group of people that he found that were just like him that he just happened to come upon after reaching land again from the river. That just wasn't very believable for me. And what about his messed up leg?? The book barely even mentioned it after the incident itself. There's no way he could have run across an entire city to save his life with a messed up leg. I also didn't like the outcome of the book. I wish Montag would have been the hero that I so wanted him to end up being and save the world and society through his original, gutsy plan. I didn't like how he kind of ran away from everything and is now having to save the world one memory and one by-passer at a time. It just wasn't my kind of story. All of the people in it just made me mad.

On a positive note, I do applaud Ray Bradbury's fast-paced story telling technique. I was never bored throughout the entire book.

Fahrenheit 451 blog 1

I haven't quite decided what I think about this book yet. It's really different for me. It makes me mad a lot, but I'm not sure if that's something that I like or not yet. Montag's wife, Mildred, makes me the maddest. She doesn't care about anything but some digital world and family! She never wants to listen to her real husband, and she doesn't know that he might be the only real person in the world that cares a little about her. Montag does care about her a little at least; he did take her to the "doctor" when she overdosed, and he worries about her doing it again. It just really makes me mad that she gives nothing back to her husband, who has done everything for her while she sits at home in the parlor, talking to her "family".

I loved Clarisse. I thought she was such a sweet girl, and I wanted to cry when they were talking about her being dead. I don't want to believe that she's dead for some reason. I don't think she was really that crazy. She did things that would be considered somewhat normal in today's society. Like her psychiatrist couldn't understand why she went hiking in the woods to watch birds and collect butterflies. This wouldn't be the most normal behavior for a 17-year-old girl, but it's not something to throw someone in a mental hospital for. She just wanted to know about the world around her; that's not crazy at all. But heaven forbid someone like her live in that society. People aren't allowed to think whatsoever.

I like that Montag wants to change things in his society. I like that he knows his job is wrong and that killing that woman was wrong. I felt sooo bad for that woman and for Montag in that scene. He tried so hard to get her out. Montag has so much hero inside of him; he wants to save anyone he can.

This book is weird. That's the best word I have for it right now. It's unlike anything I have read before. I will hopefully decide if I like it or dislike it soon though! Stay tuned for the answer :)

Life of Pi Pt. 4

Ahh Pi is finally saved! I loved the ending of the book; it really makes the reader think. I know it made me kind of question which story Pi told to the Japanese men was really true, the one with or without the animals. I definitely believe the one with the animals. I felt bad Pi was questioned so on his incredible journey; I wish people would have just accepted it and admire him for his survival through the most extreme circumstances.

I have questions about the island he found. How the heck was it so dangerous? Why couldn't he just keep living each day the same way on it? Granted, he eventually found real land by getting back on the lifeboat, but still, if he knew how to avoid the dangers of it, then couldn't he just keep on living there with an endless supply of food and water? The meercats could do it! And Richard Parker sure didn't seem to mind that much. The teeth would have freaked me out a little too, but I don't know if I would have the courage to face the Pacific Ocean again.

I felt sooo bad that Richard Parker left Pi as soon as they made it to Mexico! I wanted to cry with Pi after all they went through together. Poor Pi ended up loosing every part of his family. What surprised me was that he still wanted to move to Canada, even though his family wasn't going to be there with him because India would have brought back too many "sad memories". I felt so bad for the poor boy :( I also found it extremely interesting that Pi kept hanging on to as much food as possibly at the end of the book. He was obviously scared for his life that he would get about-to-die-hungry again.

I really like the Life of Pi. It truly was one of my favorite books that I've ever read. Great choice Mrs. Leffler! :)

Life of Pi Pt. 3

I still really like this book, but there were some kind of dull parts in this section, like the descriptions of fishing. Yes, they were necessary, but they were just dull to me. I couldn't imagine living his life. I couldn't imagine trying to tame a TIGER! Insane. Yes, again it was very necessary, but that task takes one brave person to try to master it.

Pi really starts learning to think on his feet more and more throughout this book. He learns that nothing should EVER go to waste. The boy that felt bad about killing his first first becomes an expert hunter that can even drink blood and kill a turtle mercilessly. Pi really grows up fast; and somehow doesn't go completely insane with his 227 days stranded at sea. He kept himself busy and always had faith in God. I would miss my family and friends way to much if I were him. The one chapter that told the part where he sang happy birthday to his mom made me want to ball my eyes out. I couldn't imagine comprehending that everything that I loved was gone. I really admire Pi's bravery. He learns to overcome all of his fears, from the tiger to the sharks to killing live animals, he conquers it all. "You can get used to anything", he says.

I am still loving this book. It is still really hard for me to put down, and although I want to know what happens, I don't want this book to end. Stay tuned for the final response on the Life of Pi coming shortly! :)

Life of Pi Pt. 2

First thing I want to say, I loved the beginning sentence of Part 2 of Life of Pi. It was simply "The ship sank." This made me wonder what the HECK happened! I love how action packed this Part 2 is of the book. You truly never know what might happen next. I really admire Pi's bravery so far; I don't think I could have lasted that long. I don't think I could have stayed sane for that long under the circumstances he was under. I probably just would have jumped overboard after the first day to be honest. I have been scared of big dogs ever since a Weimaraner chased me one day when I was running in my neighborhood. Never have I been more scared in my life. So watching that hungry hyena kill every other living creature on the boat would have probably made me have a panic attack. I am also afraid of boats on an ocean because of watching The Little Mermaid and The Black Stallion as a little kid, so this whole situation just would not have ended well for me. Also, I really admire his bravery in admitting to himself that his family is probably all gone. That is my biggest fear, loosing my family. I could never ever in a million years admit that they were gone to myself.

I do not understand how Pi did not notice he was on the same boat as a Bengal Tiger for 3 days. I mean the tiger must have made SOME noise or moved a little bit at least once. I also don't understand how he didn't even realize that he was hungry or thirsty for days. I guess fear and shock can do some crazy things to you, but I think my body would have definitely noticed there was no food in it very soon. Pi is extremely lucky that he has enough food and water on board the life boat to last him a couple of months though. He just has to get past the tiger, and I bet all of the dead animal carcasses on board the life boat smell god-awful too.

I have really enjoyed this book. I find it to be the ultimate survival story. I have trouble even putting the book down; the story has really consumed me. I can't wait to see what happens next! Stay tuned for more :)

Life of Pi pt. 1

Mrs. Leffler! You had me so worried about this book when you told us in class that the first 100 pages were really slow! I was all prepared for this book to be boring and blah, but I love it! I have found the Life of Pi to be really interesting so far. Once I start reading, I can barely put it down. I love Martel's vivid descriptions in his writing. They really make me feel like I'm inside the story. Whenever I am reading this book, I truly feel like my mind goes to India. I usually don't get into books this much, but I really really like the Life of Pi so far. It's by far my favorite book we have read in class.

I love the character Pi. I think he has one of the best hearts I have ever heard of. His view of God is something I admire. He came from a family that wasn't that religious, to being one of the most religious kids in the area. I loved his quote, "If there's only one nation in the sky, shouldn't all passports be valid for it?"I LOVE this. In a way, I believe this too. I think that we should stop worrying about whose right or wrong and just praise God together. All religions believe in Him in some way or another. I love that this kid has baffled everyone in his town by loving THREE different religions. He's definitely one-of-a-kind. He seems to be such a sweet boy. I wish more people could be like him. I also loved the way he connected the three religions by saying "Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims."

I also learned a lot about zoology from reading the first 100 pages of this book, and I found it extremely interesting. My favorite part is when Pi's dad shows Pi and his brother the most dangerous animal in the zoo, the bengal tiger. I loved that Pi thought about how the Rhinos would have one less playmate after the tiger ate the goat. haha

I really can't wait to read the rest of this book. I already don't want it to end. Stay tuned for more on the Life of Pi! :)

-Chloe Nelson

The Color Of Water- Blog 3

Yay! We finished The Color of Water! So exciting! I have to say, I never really got too into this book to be honest, but I didn't necessarily dislike it either. I had a lot of "why" questions like why in the world would his mother keep having more and more kids if she was already financially unstable? I don't quite understand her reasoning on this. I also want to know why Ruth's first husband or one of his doctors didn't tell the poor woman that her husband had CANCER. Poor thing spent her whole life feeling guilty that she didn't know how sick he really was. I also thought it was wrong for Ruth to leave her sick mother behind. I don't care how unhappy or uncomfortable you are, you should always be there for your mom, especially if she's dying pretty much alone. I literally cried my eyes out during that part. I had to put my book down and go give my mom a hug. I couldn't imagine putting my mom through that, and Ruth had to live with the guilt of it her whole life.

One of the highlights of this book for me was when they brought Ruth home to Virginia and she reconnected with her childhood best friend Frances. They were the exact definition of "BFF" (best friends for life). It was so cute to see friends pick up right where they left off decades ago. I also found it a little strange that a McDonalds was built in the place of Ruth's family's store. The book never expresses Ruth's feelings toward this. I would really like to know what she thought about that.

I thought the story of this book was great and really inspiring. James's mom had to be extremely proud. That family's belief in Jesus was unlike anything I have ever heard of. Through all the bad in life, they always had hope that Jesus was going to come through for them and save them from all of the hurt and all of the bad, and he did. He gave that mother 12 highly successful children, which is all she ever wanted. I couldn't even imagine going through life this family lived, and I truly admire all of them for doing so. This book taught me a lot about the true meaning of "fitting in" and being happy with yourself no matter what the situation is. Just trust that God has a plan for you :)