Group Reading

I am currently reading The Tipping Point: How Little things can Make a Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell in a group with several other people. I heard about this group through Mr. Gutherman and as he explained it, I found an interest in the topic. Also after seeing a poster of The Tipping Point in English class, my curiosity of the book increased. Mr. Gutherman seemed to think it was a great idea for us to read this book, so I consulted my group members, and some of them thought it was a great book to read together. Fortunately I already knew a little about Malcolm Gladwell and The Tipping Point so I had a good idea of what to expect. Malcolm Gladwell is also the author of Blink and a reporter. The Tipping Point explains how ideas, fads, trends, actions, and epidemics reach their tipping point, and start to spread like a wildfire. I choose this book through curiosity, and the desire to know why only certain things reach a tipping point and others do not. Also I was interested in the fact that such little things or a few people can be more powerful and effective than advertising itself. I have three goal I would like to accomplish while reading this book. I would like to finish this book before May 21, I would like to have a complete understanding of the information the book contains, using conservations I have with my group. Lastly I would like to understand the human impact on the tipping point idea, and how human nature determines which trends, objects, and attitudes reach the tipping point.

Third Quarter: The Final Blog

I felt that picking books for genre requirements was actually an easier task than I expected it to be. I enjoyed reading the genre requirement books more, or just as much as all the others. One of my favorite books I read this year happened to be The Glass Castle, which is a memoir. I read different genres than I was originally used to, and filling the genre requirements this year, I was further able to make distinctions between my likes and dislikes between different types of books. This year my taste for different types of book have expanded into science fiction, memoirs and more. I found that I enjoy and think about a memoir because the events actually took place. I really look forward to reading historical in the next quarter. Since I have read numerous historical fiction books in the past, such as Number the Stars and Lily's Crossing, I have an idea of what to expect. Being interested in history and reading, I am excited to read a book for my last genre requirement.
I can't wait to read a book as a small group of four. I am thrilled to share my insights with others about a book I enjoy, and I am even more thrilled about listening to what others think about the book.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is honestly one of the best books I have read all year. I was captivated all throughout the memoir, and I found myself thinking about the story during the day, even when I was not reading it. While growing up Jennette and her siblings lived hectic lives, moving from place to place and at some points, they suffered from hunger. Jeannette's father is a naturally brilliant tough man, who ruins his life and hurts his family by indulging in large amounts of liquor daily. Through all of this, the Walls children exceeded in being a tight knit group, who always tried to do the best by each other.

The significance of this story is to stick together, even when things become harder than you can imagine. Also no matter where you come from and how you live (poor or rich) you can reach the top and become a successful being. The Glass Castle is all about following you dreams and doing what you believe in, and what makes you happy.

In relation to the whole book the ending was good, but no match for the rest of the book. I do think it was a great way to end the story, with everyone back together reminiscing on past memories.

I enjoyed this book more the I have for any other book this year. All though I cannot imagine going through what Jeannette Walls and her family went through, I felt as if I was right there with her. Jeannette Walls wrote with voice, making her writing extremely effective at making you feel right there in the story.

Books vs. Movies

These days tons of outstanding books are now becoming motion pictures. Although books take longer to read than watching a movie, books end up telling the story better. Books allow you to imagine how everything looks for yourself. Movies force you to see everything from the directors point of view, rather than your own. I have read many books that are now movies, such as The Notebook, My Sister's Keeper, The Da Vinci Code, Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, and most recently The Lovely Bones. Of all these, I always found the books far more interesting because I have had the ability to picture how everything and everyone looks myself. Being able to picture how a book plays out, gives you the ability to see the book in more than one light. Luckily books contains great detailing, which gives people the chance to build images in their head. Watching a movie only allows you to see through one light and one setting. I enjoy watching movies, and seeing how the director portrays a story, but first I always like to read the book. This way I can compare the book and the movie and see the story in multiple different ways.

Quarter 3 - Blog#1

Recently I completed The Lovely Bones by Alice Seibold, a compelling story of a girl who dies, but still feels the need to look after her family and the people she loved. This book is filled with deep insightful meaning, which I am not sure I would have been able to understand as effectively if my mind was not at its current level. In the past year I have learned so many new things that made me a better reader and writer. Looking back to how I wrote in eighth grade, I noticed that all of my writing pieces are not as well developed as they are now. Also I realized that I have become a more prominent reader and thinker, and that has helped me to better analyze what I see and read. All that I have learned over the past years have made me understand what I read and see so much more clearly. I greatly appreciate all that I have learned because it has made me the greatly improved reader and writer I am today.

Second Quarter Blogging Reflection

This quarter there were tons of changes that occurred while blogging. Luckily I had the chance to do a variety of blogging assignments. I liked this because I found that as I had the chance to do different types of blogs, my blogs were less boring, and a lot more detailed. The best part of blogging this quarter was commenting on my follower's blogs. I liked to see how other people wrote their blogs, and by reading them, I also received some great book suggestions.The best moment of independent reading this quarter is right now, seeing as I am reading The Lovely Bones.

For the next quarter, I wish to read four or more compelling, and complex books. As a blogger I want to write more insightful, and detailed blogs, which give a better understanding of the books I read. I also want to read at a faster pace, and read a wider range of genres. My entries are quite interesting and detailed, when I like the book, and I am often interested in my reflecctions on a book. I think I would become further involved and excited in blogging if I pick a totally amazing book.

Book Review on Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

While reading a book review on Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult, I found myself agreeing and disagreeing with many of the things it stated.

I disagreed with the review from the beginning. Unlike the author of the review, I was captivated while reading in the very beginning. Right in the first chapter Jodi Picoult stated the interesting issues that made me want to keep on reading. I also disagreed with the review when the author stated that the characters were very bland. It was quite easy to portray Mariah, Faith, Ian, and Collin as I was reading the text, and I felt as if they were almost alive. I enjoyed seeing how all of the characters developed as the storyline was carried out. The author the review was neutral on who should get custody of Faith. Unlike the author of the review, I really wanted Mariah to get custody, because I did not think Collin was worthy of having Faith, seeing as he cheated on Mariah.

Despite everything I disagreed with, I did agree with many of the author's points. Reading this book, it does not matter if you believe in god or not, but if you believe Faith, and the story she is telling. Also neither of us knew what the outcome of the story would be, and that made the book even more addicting to read. Like the author of the review, I skipped over the spiritual quotes in between each chapter, because I wanted to see where the story was going.

Book Review Link: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/printed-books/keeping-faith-jodi-picoult/103128o/