I have located four different pieces of evidence that answers my question, what about certain literature types draws a person’s attention? The first, “Can’t Put it Down,” by Nick Hornby discusses reasons people are concerned with finding out what we read. He states that people like business owners, politicians and marketing executives are highly concerned with what we read because it helps them guide their campaigns to get our attention. The second source, “The Information and Reading Preferences of North Carolina Children,” by Brian W. Strurn, is a discussion on the results of a study done on what types of literature children choose. The study discovers that children primarily choose books based on their gender and then in four top categories. The third source is the book, “Why We Read What We Read,” by Lisa Adams. Adams explains that people choose the books they read simply on their current life situation and not what their interests are. My last source is another book titled, “I hear America reading: why we read what we read,” by Jim Burke. This book is a collection of letters from 400 avid readers talking about their lives and why they choose a particular type of literature. His conclusions mimic that of Adams in that people choose literature similar to their life situations. The only possible conflict would be between the two books and the study. However, the study was done with children, so I would argue that children don’t really have a “situation” and this would explain the basic generalizations to their choices.
Introduction: I walked into my room the other day and looked at the wide variety of books on my shelf. It is such a strange array from text books to science fiction and even a few political biographies. So I ask myself, why does a particular type of literature draw my attention at different points in my life and what will I be reading in the future?
Point 1: As children, we choose books based on our gender and what is the popular topic being taught to us in our schools.
Example: quote a line from the study
Point 2: As we become aware of our life situation, around teenage years, our reading choices is not based on our interests, but our place in this world. As we become adults and are more and more aware of where we stand in this world, our literature is closer and closer to matching our life.
Example: Use a quote from Burke
Point 3: Decision makers in this world care about what we read because of why we choice what we read. If we choose what we read based on our situation, then they want to know what are situations are.
Example: Use quote from Hornby
Conclusion: We read what we read based on the situations we live in. If we change our life situation, then it is only natural our library at home will change.
If our life situation dictates what we read according to these experts, then what does it mean when we read a book completely unrelated to our life?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Quote-Response-Blog 20
"I am glad I have found this napkin.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token-
For he conjured her she should ever keep it-
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give't Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy."
Page 991
I found this to be a very interesting quote. Not really sure exactly why, but you can really see the play though this quote and it is very easy to read. I wasn't struggling understanding what she was saying or anything. I could read it right though without having to stop a lot of times to figure out what was being said. I can also really see the line "What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I." I can really see this line being said and it is often said these days, perhaps not in those exact words but it got the point across and it is very easy to understand what they wanted you to get from it.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token-
For he conjured her she should ever keep it-
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give't Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy."
Page 991
I found this to be a very interesting quote. Not really sure exactly why, but you can really see the play though this quote and it is very easy to read. I wasn't struggling understanding what she was saying or anything. I could read it right though without having to stop a lot of times to figure out what was being said. I can also really see the line "What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I." I can really see this line being said and it is often said these days, perhaps not in those exact words but it got the point across and it is very easy to understand what they wanted you to get from it.
Free Style-Blog 22
When reading the play Othello, if there had not be a translation at the bottom of the page, I would have gotten nothing out of it. It was extremely hard for me, and others in the class, to understand everything that is going on. I find it extremely amazing how different our language really is compared to them. This is practically a different language, just as spanish is a different language to english. This play should have been given to us in spanish with the translation at the bottom because that is how I felt the whole time while reading it. "What are they talking about?" I find myself looking down below after every sentence if not almost every word. I think that at the bottom there should have to be a translation of a summary of what is exactly going on rather than just trying to substitute the translated word into the rest of the sentence that I still don't understand. Just really struggled with this play.
Scene-Response-Blog 21
After watching three YouTube clips from Othello, I thought I would respond on the 'Strangle her in her bed' clip. I found this clip to be very interesting in the fact that, when reading this play I had a hard time figuring out what was going on and what the expressions were that were involved. After seeing this clip, it really helped put in perspective what this play is all about and sometimes its hard for me to see the passion in the play because I get so tangled up in the words. So this really helped clear up the play and make it more realistic to me and more interesting.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Scene-Response-Blog 16
A common theme throughout Shakespeare’s writings is the decent of one of his characters from hero like qualities to absolute destruction. This theme reigns true in the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello,” “O.” The main character Odin, is a huge basketball star in his private school who quickly descends into the depths of murder with the help of his antagonist Hugo.
A particular scene that showed the beginning of his descent occurred in the gymnasium during one of their games. In an earlier scene, one of the star players, Mike, got into a fight so he was not allowed to play in the rest of the games. Hugo decided to use this as an opportunity to help destroy Odin. The scene begins with the game already in progress. Odin is playing well as expected and the team is winning. Hugo sees Mike in the stands and encourages to go hang out with Odin’s girlfriend Dessi. Odin does not seem bothered by this at all, but as the game ends, he sees Dessi celebrating with Mike. Earlier, Hugo had put thoughts in Odin’s head that Dessi was cheating on Odin with Mike. During that conversation, Odin blew off Hugo and basically told him that he didn’t know what he was talking about. But when Odin saw Mike with Dessi at the game he became jealous. Now the best part about this scene is there was no interaction between Mike and Odin or Dessi and Odin, but you could see the look on Odin’s face when he saw them celebrating as the jealousy swept over his eyes. The non interaction between these characters are vital for the audience to believe that Odin is beginning to believe what Hugo has been whispering in his ear. In that close up shot of Odin, the audience is pulled into Odin’s jealousy.
I really like this scene because it is the turning point in Odin’s character. Before this scene, Odin was strong and a superstar. He had no doubt in his mind that he was in love with his girlfriend and she was faithful to him. But at that single moment, all the doubt Hugo put into his head became a reality and the descent began. Ultimately, Odin would continue to believe Hugo and make bigger and bigger mistakes. Finally in the end, Odin let Hugo’s lies completely upend his life and he committed murder-suicide.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Free Style- Blog 19
I have recently just watched the play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." This play was very interesting, and I thought it was even more interesting because this week we were also reading plays. I am currently in a theater lighting class, and so I have been studying the techniques of different lightings on different scenes. When reading these plays, I find myself thinking about what kind of lighting and what the scene would look like. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was a very interesting play. It had dreams thoughout it and so the lighting crew had to figure out had to make it seem like it was a dream without tell the audience straight out that it was. The technique we used was, to use a GOGO light, which makes it look like bubbles are flowing around in a circle giving the dream look. Also, when the actor was tell us his dream, he did not move or open his mouth, giving the audience the outlook that he isn't talking meaning it isn't real. I thought this was very important because it is very hard to show something like that without telling someone straight out and without having to do something extreme. Reading these plays has really made my mind wander and I'm really enjoying it.
Quote-Response-Blog 18
Iago: I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.
Brabantio: Thou art a villain.
Iago: You are- a senator.
Brabantio: This thou shalt answer. I know thee, Roderigo.
I really like this line. Even though this play is extremely hard to follow and extremely hard to read, this line helps the reader connect to the story. When Iago first makes a rude remark, Brabantio says "Thou art a villain," which was sounds like an insult but also a quick reaction to what Iago first said to him. Then Iago comes back with "You are- a senator," which I find to be extremely funny. Just looking at this without looking below to see what it means, the reader should have already understood what was meant by this. These days, it means the same thing as it did back then. I found this to just be very funny and made me understand the play that much more since I was struggling thoughout it to understand it. I had to look below after almost every line to understand the jargon.
Brabantio: Thou art a villain.
Iago: You are- a senator.
Brabantio: This thou shalt answer. I know thee, Roderigo.
I really like this line. Even though this play is extremely hard to follow and extremely hard to read, this line helps the reader connect to the story. When Iago first makes a rude remark, Brabantio says "Thou art a villain," which was sounds like an insult but also a quick reaction to what Iago first said to him. Then Iago comes back with "You are- a senator," which I find to be extremely funny. Just looking at this without looking below to see what it means, the reader should have already understood what was meant by this. These days, it means the same thing as it did back then. I found this to just be very funny and made me understand the play that much more since I was struggling thoughout it to understand it. I had to look below after almost every line to understand the jargon.
Quote-Response-Blog 17
"'Then why can't I see him?' I asked her, out of patience. ' 'Cause he's dead,' says she. 'Dead?' says I. She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth. 'Why-where is he?' says I, not knowing what to say. She just pointed upstairs-like that [Himself pointing to the room above.] I got up, with the idea of going up there. I walked from there to here- then I says, 'Why, what did he die of?' 'He died of a rope round his neck,' says she, and just went on pleatin' at her apron. Well, I went out and called Harry. I thought I might-need help. We went upstairs and there he was lyin'-."
I thought this quote was very interesting. It really gets the reader involved and get your mind wandering. Why isn't the woman upset at all? Did she do it? Who did this? The dashes, -, really explain a lot also. They make it more realistic and makes the mind of the reader to start thinking even more. When he says, "I thought I might- need help." This part makes me wander if he is lying to the police, or if he is changing the story some. The way this whole thing is written makes the readers mind wander and I think it is very strong in that aspect because that is what should be happening when reading a mystery.
I thought this quote was very interesting. It really gets the reader involved and get your mind wandering. Why isn't the woman upset at all? Did she do it? Who did this? The dashes, -, really explain a lot also. They make it more realistic and makes the mind of the reader to start thinking even more. When he says, "I thought I might- need help." This part makes me wander if he is lying to the police, or if he is changing the story some. The way this whole thing is written makes the readers mind wander and I think it is very strong in that aspect because that is what should be happening when reading a mystery.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Free Style- Blog 15
I am also in Writing 131 right now. We are talking about Comic Strips and I found it very interesting that we are reading this book at the same time that we are talking about Comics in that class. We actually talked about this book also; I guess they might be making a movie about this book; I'm not quite sure but that is what I heard. We watched the trailer on the movie for Persepolis and I found it to be very interesting in how they are going to make this movie. It is actually going to be a lot like the book in the fact that it is going to look like a Comic Strip and not just an animated movie. I think by doing this, they will get a certain point across. I think it will grab the attention of a very broad group of people and will have a different kind of response compared to another typical movie. But overall, I just found this book to be interesting to read. I have never read a comic book, only comic strips. So I saw a different kind of reading and I can now see why so many people enjoy comic books. They don't have to explain in words how the characters feel, they show you with a simple picture. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and how better to explain a feeling then to show it rather than trying to put it in just the right words.
Quote-Response-Blog 14
On page 32, Marjane's parents and Grandmother are talking. They are talking about a widow who's husband died from cancer, and they thought he was a martyr. Then, the widow joined in saying the king is a killer even though her husband died of cancer. Marjane starts thinking, because she doesn't understand what is happening. Why are they laughing. She thinks, "Something escaped me. Cadaver, cancer, death, murderer. Laughter?" And then she starts laughing, and it is obvious that it is after the moment of laughter. "HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!" "I realized that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could" ( Satrapi, 32) I found this interesting because even though she is in Iran, everyone can relate to her at this moment. She is trying to fit in, so since everyone else is laughing, she laughs. After this, she realizes that she needs to figure out why they were laughing, so she goes straight to books. Tries to learn as much as she can so she can understand what these adults are talking about. The pictures really help the reader understand this too. In the first frame, you can tell she is confused. But the second frame really shows the awkwardness of her laughter. All the adults are looking at her like, "why are you laughing?" And then in the third frame, she is all business. You can see it on her face, how determined she is to learn more. Seems that she was embarassed about her laughter, and wants to get back at them with even more knowledge.
I feel like I can relate with her, because when I was a kid, I grew up with eight siblings. If you said something and it wasn't right, the older siblings would just make fun of you. I found myself wanting to learn more so I could prove them wrong. I feel like Marjane is trying to do the same thing here.
I feel like I can relate with her, because when I was a kid, I grew up with eight siblings. If you said something and it wasn't right, the older siblings would just make fun of you. I found myself wanting to learn more so I could prove them wrong. I feel like Marjane is trying to do the same thing here.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Quote-Response-Blog 13
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
The Road Not Taken, Page 634
I found these three lines of "The Road Not Taken," very deep. We all come to a point in our lives where we have to make a decision. Two roads diverge, and by using the fact that they are in the woods, makes it seem like you can't see exactly where the roads are taking you/will end up at. In this poem, it seems that he stops, and thinks about it and since it says "and I-". The dash really makes this seem like he paused and started second guessing himself. Then he took the road less traveled, and it was all the difference, meaning life will never be the same. It doesn't really say if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but the whole poem seems to be in a light, happy sense.
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
The Road Not Taken, Page 634
I found these three lines of "The Road Not Taken," very deep. We all come to a point in our lives where we have to make a decision. Two roads diverge, and by using the fact that they are in the woods, makes it seem like you can't see exactly where the roads are taking you/will end up at. In this poem, it seems that he stops, and thinks about it and since it says "and I-". The dash really makes this seem like he paused and started second guessing himself. Then he took the road less traveled, and it was all the difference, meaning life will never be the same. It doesn't really say if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but the whole poem seems to be in a light, happy sense.
Poem Paraphrase-Blog 12
The Hippopotamus on Page 567
"I shoot the Hippopotamus
with bullets made of platinum,
Because if I use leaden ones
his hide is sure to flatten'em."
The guy is hunting Hippopotamus' and knows that they have very tough skin. He has to use a high quality bullet otherwise they may not work/penetrate. From this poem, you can learn many things. Hippos have tough skin, and you know what will work when shooting them. This poem also sounds like the guy knows this from past failures.
"I shoot the Hippopotamus
with bullets made of platinum,
Because if I use leaden ones
his hide is sure to flatten'em."
The guy is hunting Hippopotamus' and knows that they have very tough skin. He has to use a high quality bullet otherwise they may not work/penetrate. From this poem, you can learn many things. Hippos have tough skin, and you know what will work when shooting them. This poem also sounds like the guy knows this from past failures.
Quote-Response-Blog 11
"On my boat on Lake Cayuga
I have a horn that goes 'Ay-oohgah!'
I'm not the modern kind of creep
Who has a horn that goes 'beep beep.'"
I found this poem, on page 565, to be kind of funny, random, but also descriptive. You get that they are on a boat, and they even make the noise that the horn makes. They don't go into describing the noise, they straight out tell you what noise it is. Also when discribing the 'creeps' horn, they also don't try to describe it, they just straight out tell you the noise also. I found this poem just to be so random and kind of meaningless to me. If I were someone who owned a boat at that the time, the different kinds of horns might stand for something higher. Such as, what kind of boat they have or the quality of boat. Perhaps the 'creep' is a 'wanna-be' boat, trying to be the bigger, better boat.
I have a horn that goes 'Ay-oohgah!'
I'm not the modern kind of creep
Who has a horn that goes 'beep beep.'"
I found this poem, on page 565, to be kind of funny, random, but also descriptive. You get that they are on a boat, and they even make the noise that the horn makes. They don't go into describing the noise, they straight out tell you what noise it is. Also when discribing the 'creeps' horn, they also don't try to describe it, they just straight out tell you the noise also. I found this poem just to be so random and kind of meaningless to me. If I were someone who owned a boat at that the time, the different kinds of horns might stand for something higher. Such as, what kind of boat they have or the quality of boat. Perhaps the 'creep' is a 'wanna-be' boat, trying to be the bigger, better boat.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Song Quote-Response-Blog 10
"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always” (Jeremy Camp)
The repetition of ‘no more’ really leaps out and is important because he is trying to emphasize that soon there will be no more pain and burdens and life will finally be whole. This passage is important to the poem because he is emphasizing that through the poem and it brings all him ideas together and you understand everything he is getting at. I love this song/poem because it is so deep. It is not only a beautiful song, but it connects to the listener/reader and makes you think about things other than the right here right now. It’s talking about the big picture.
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always” (Jeremy Camp)
The repetition of ‘no more’ really leaps out and is important because he is trying to emphasize that soon there will be no more pain and burdens and life will finally be whole. This passage is important to the poem because he is emphasizing that through the poem and it brings all him ideas together and you understand everything he is getting at. I love this song/poem because it is so deep. It is not only a beautiful song, but it connects to the listener/reader and makes you think about things other than the right here right now. It’s talking about the big picture.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Poem Paraphrase-Blog 8
The Victory
I thought you were my victory
though you cut me like a knife
when I brought you out of my body
into your life.
Tiny antagonist, gory,
blue as a bruise. The stains
of your cloud of glory
bled from my veins.
How can you dare, blind thing,
blank insect eyes?
You barb the air. You sting
with bladed cries.
Snail! Scary knot of desires!
Hungry snarl! Small son.
Why do I have to love you?
How have you won?
Wow!!! This poem catches me off guard. This woman is blaming all her pain on her child. He is obviously a baby since he stings her with his bladed cries, hungry snarl. She thought after having him everything would be ok and he would be her pride but she thinks he is making her life hell. She questions why she has to love him, she wants to hate him. But he is 'winning' because he is getting her love without her wanting to give it.
I thought you were my victory
though you cut me like a knife
when I brought you out of my body
into your life.
Tiny antagonist, gory,
blue as a bruise. The stains
of your cloud of glory
bled from my veins.
How can you dare, blind thing,
blank insect eyes?
You barb the air. You sting
with bladed cries.
Snail! Scary knot of desires!
Hungry snarl! Small son.
Why do I have to love you?
How have you won?
Wow!!! This poem catches me off guard. This woman is blaming all her pain on her child. He is obviously a baby since he stings her with his bladed cries, hungry snarl. She thought after having him everything would be ok and he would be her pride but she thinks he is making her life hell. She questions why she has to love him, she wants to hate him. But he is 'winning' because he is getting her love without her wanting to give it.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Free Style-Blog 7
Students have different reading styles. Not every student learns what they are reading the same way. If you make all the students do the same thing, then it is going to be difficult for them to stay on the same level. When kids are first learning how to read, there are two major groups of ways to learn how to read. Some kids understand and get the sounds of letters and words and can learn words by sounding them out, while other kids will always struggle with sounding out but are very good at memorization and the site of words.
This interest came from a class I took last year. It was a class from Idaho that was an Education class that was completely about students and reading. I see classrooms changing to this approach in the future. The approach is that reading is involved in every subject, whether it be math or english. We were taught how to involved reading in areas like math and how this truly makes the students better overall readers and they understand the subject, like math, a lot better. I find this very interesting.
This interest came from a class I took last year. It was a class from Idaho that was an Education class that was completely about students and reading. I see classrooms changing to this approach in the future. The approach is that reading is involved in every subject, whether it be math or english. We were taught how to involved reading in areas like math and how this truly makes the students better overall readers and they understand the subject, like math, a lot better. I find this very interesting.
Quote-Response-Blog 6
"So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her."
I really like this quote. You can just picture her beautiful hair and it makes you want it. It seems like her hair is heaven, a cascade of brown waters sounds amazing and I think they couldn't have described her hair better. It really gave me a picture of this amazing looking water with its flow and shimmer, and it makes you understand how beautiful her hair really is. Also, they describe how long it is, how it is below her knee, showing that this hair isn't only beautiful, but also there is a lot of it. It makes you think of Rapunzel and her beautiful long hair that everyone was envy of. I just really liked how they described it and it really didn't take that many words to get a clear picture of what it looks like.
I really like this quote. You can just picture her beautiful hair and it makes you want it. It seems like her hair is heaven, a cascade of brown waters sounds amazing and I think they couldn't have described her hair better. It really gave me a picture of this amazing looking water with its flow and shimmer, and it makes you understand how beautiful her hair really is. Also, they describe how long it is, how it is below her knee, showing that this hair isn't only beautiful, but also there is a lot of it. It makes you think of Rapunzel and her beautiful long hair that everyone was envy of. I just really liked how they described it and it really didn't take that many words to get a clear picture of what it looks like.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Free Style-Blog 5
A book I am reading right now, other then the ones for class is Lost Boy by Greg Laurie. This book is about Greg Laurie's journey in finding himself and God. I especially like the fact that he describes the timeline of his life. The fact that he went through the hippy time in America. For example,
"As the hippie scene unfolded in Southern California, a new movement grew out of it. The flower power, be-in thing had started with peace and love, but some people were becoming disillusioned. Many who started on pot and LSD were graduating to mescaline and heroin. Too many of them died, desperate and alone, with dirty needles stuck in their arms. " (Laurie, 76)
I really like the description that he uses because throughout his book he is experiencing things that I will probably never really understand. I wasn't raised through the hippy days and so by doing this he makes the book for a larger crowd then just the one that grew up during those times. He puts you there in the events. I find this book to be pretty amazing because of the things that he did were pretty terrible and he has totally done a 180 degree turn. He makes him more relatable in his journey also because a lot of people do things they are not proud of and he can relate to him. Also, I have heard Greg Laurie talk before, and it was so surprising to find out what kind of life style he came from. I figured he would have been the kind of guy that was always on the straight and narrow path, but he wasn't.
"As the hippie scene unfolded in Southern California, a new movement grew out of it. The flower power, be-in thing had started with peace and love, but some people were becoming disillusioned. Many who started on pot and LSD were graduating to mescaline and heroin. Too many of them died, desperate and alone, with dirty needles stuck in their arms. " (Laurie, 76)
I really like the description that he uses because throughout his book he is experiencing things that I will probably never really understand. I wasn't raised through the hippy days and so by doing this he makes the book for a larger crowd then just the one that grew up during those times. He puts you there in the events. I find this book to be pretty amazing because of the things that he did were pretty terrible and he has totally done a 180 degree turn. He makes him more relatable in his journey also because a lot of people do things they are not proud of and he can relate to him. Also, I have heard Greg Laurie talk before, and it was so surprising to find out what kind of life style he came from. I figured he would have been the kind of guy that was always on the straight and narrow path, but he wasn't.
Quote-Response-Blog 4
I found the story Miss Brill very interesting. It kind of caught me off guard how it ended and I liked it.
"She thought of the old invalid gentleman to whom she read the newspaper four afternoons a week while he slept in the garden. She had got quite used to the frail head on the cotton pillow, the hollowed eyes, the open mouth and the high pinched nose. If he'd been dead she mightn't have noticed for weeks; she wouldn't have minded. But suddenly he knew he was having the paper read to him by an actress! 'An Actress!' The old head lifted; two points of light quivered in the old eyes. 'An actress-are ye?' And Miss Brill smoothed the newspaper as through it were the manuscript of her part and said gently: 'Yes, I have been an actress for a long time.'" (Kennedy, 86)
I think this quote is kind of hilarious. She just now, in the story, 'figures out' that she is in a play. And now she is making this scenario of what is going to be happening from now on because she is so 'famous.' How this old man is going to finally figure out she is an actress and it's going to change everything. Also, she says how she has been an actress for a long time and just 'realized' she was in a play. This really gives insight on what Mr. Brill thinks about and how she views herself. She wants to be important and thinks that everyone notices her; yet in the end she hears two kids talking about her and how ridiculous she looks with her fur that she was so proud of wearing.
"She thought of the old invalid gentleman to whom she read the newspaper four afternoons a week while he slept in the garden. She had got quite used to the frail head on the cotton pillow, the hollowed eyes, the open mouth and the high pinched nose. If he'd been dead she mightn't have noticed for weeks; she wouldn't have minded. But suddenly he knew he was having the paper read to him by an actress! 'An Actress!' The old head lifted; two points of light quivered in the old eyes. 'An actress-are ye?' And Miss Brill smoothed the newspaper as through it were the manuscript of her part and said gently: 'Yes, I have been an actress for a long time.'" (Kennedy, 86)
I think this quote is kind of hilarious. She just now, in the story, 'figures out' that she is in a play. And now she is making this scenario of what is going to be happening from now on because she is so 'famous.' How this old man is going to finally figure out she is an actress and it's going to change everything. Also, she says how she has been an actress for a long time and just 'realized' she was in a play. This really gives insight on what Mr. Brill thinks about and how she views herself. She wants to be important and thinks that everyone notices her; yet in the end she hears two kids talking about her and how ridiculous she looks with her fur that she was so proud of wearing.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Freestyle Blog Entry-Blog 3
Right now I am reading Saltwater Buddha. It is a very interesting book and different than any book I have ever read. A quote in it is:
"I vowed to myself, 'I will not move from this spot until I have ended suffering.' I sat very upright and waited. But after about thirty minutes, my left knee felt like it would go up in flames. Continuing to sit seemed like it would only create more suffering, at least for my knee, so I reneged on my vow." ( Yogis,41)
This is a very interesting quote because if someone who hasn't read this book read this quote they would already know some of the personality of the character Jaimal. Jaimal makes a lot of big promises but never seems to be able to finish what he first set out to do. And usually he doesn't make it very far.
"At one point, I ran up to my room with the statue and closed the door and tried to mimic the Buddha's posture and expression. I figured his mind was somewhere very nice and I tried to picture that place: waterfalls, green grass, white birds. After about three minutes, my dad burst into my room, "Hey, are you meditating in here?" He wasn't upset. But I was embarrassed that I'd stolen away with the Buddha." (Yogis, 40)
This quote also shows Jaimal's character. Here you can tell that he is lost and that he is trying to be like something else. I find this interesting because everybody goes through this sometime in their life when they are searching to be like something. This whole book is about Jaimal searching for who he is and what he believes. This book is about his life journey. When we go through trying to figure things out like this, it always seemed like we were also embarrassed about it. I find this quote just very interesting because he does a good job of making you connect and having the feeling that you are there. Perhaps that it is even you.
"I vowed to myself, 'I will not move from this spot until I have ended suffering.' I sat very upright and waited. But after about thirty minutes, my left knee felt like it would go up in flames. Continuing to sit seemed like it would only create more suffering, at least for my knee, so I reneged on my vow." ( Yogis,41)
This is a very interesting quote because if someone who hasn't read this book read this quote they would already know some of the personality of the character Jaimal. Jaimal makes a lot of big promises but never seems to be able to finish what he first set out to do. And usually he doesn't make it very far.
"At one point, I ran up to my room with the statue and closed the door and tried to mimic the Buddha's posture and expression. I figured his mind was somewhere very nice and I tried to picture that place: waterfalls, green grass, white birds. After about three minutes, my dad burst into my room, "Hey, are you meditating in here?" He wasn't upset. But I was embarrassed that I'd stolen away with the Buddha." (Yogis, 40)
This quote also shows Jaimal's character. Here you can tell that he is lost and that he is trying to be like something else. I find this interesting because everybody goes through this sometime in their life when they are searching to be like something. This whole book is about Jaimal searching for who he is and what he believes. This book is about his life journey. When we go through trying to figure things out like this, it always seemed like we were also embarrassed about it. I find this quote just very interesting because he does a good job of making you connect and having the feeling that you are there. Perhaps that it is even you.
Quote-Response-Blog 2
"King-fish Fancy Herring Snacks in Pour Sour Cream: 49¢. Now her hands are empty, not a ring or a bracelet, bare as God made them, and I wonder where the money's coming from. Still with that prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill out of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top." (Updike, 17)
The title of what she bought really jumped out because he is being so descriptive. Also the way he described her hands. This whole quote shows a lot about Sammy's personality. He is explaining every little move that this girl is making and so he describes in detail what she bought and how much. After this, he is still studying her. She has nothing on her hands, just the way God made her. His mind is still thinking 'sexually' about her. The way he describes her throughout the story and the fact that he is wondering where she could possibly be hiding her money. He describes her expression when reaching for the money, and notices every little detail. The fact that the dollar bill was folded and exactly where she pulled it out from.
This passage is important because it really explains his reasoning for what he does next. He quits his job for these girls, these girls that he is kind of obsessed with. This quote really explains his personality in even greater detail and he is willing to give everything up for these girls he doesn't even know.
The title of what she bought really jumped out because he is being so descriptive. Also the way he described her hands. This whole quote shows a lot about Sammy's personality. He is explaining every little move that this girl is making and so he describes in detail what she bought and how much. After this, he is still studying her. She has nothing on her hands, just the way God made her. His mind is still thinking 'sexually' about her. The way he describes her throughout the story and the fact that he is wondering where she could possibly be hiding her money. He describes her expression when reaching for the money, and notices every little detail. The fact that the dollar bill was folded and exactly where she pulled it out from.
This passage is important because it really explains his reasoning for what he does next. He quits his job for these girls, these girls that he is kind of obsessed with. This quote really explains his personality in even greater detail and he is willing to give everything up for these girls he doesn't even know.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
All About Me-Blog 1
My name is Anne Barnett. You can call me Annie. I am currently a senior majoring in Mathematics. With this I am going to teach high school math. So after I get my math degree I am going to get a Masters in Education. I just recently transferred from University of Idaho, I was there for three years. At Idaho I competed for the track and field team. Here at Eastern, I am on the womens basketball team and the track and field team. Obviously, my interests are sports. I don't really have any time for anything else in my life. If I were to have time though, I enjoy outdoor activities, but most of them I have been not allowed to do yet. For example, I have never been skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, sky diving, white water rafting, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and only have went camping once due to sports. One thing that I have done is basketball, soccer, track, volleyball, hockey, ballet, tennis, and softball.
My family is very interesting also. I am number 6 in my family. Yes, number 6 of 9. The fact that I call myself a number sometimes, people tend to get a laugh out of that. Of the 9, 3 are girls, and 6 are boys. My whole sports is my life thing, is really because I was raised with 6 brothers and so the girls are pretty tomboy-ish. Also, we are a pretty athletic family; the shortest person in my family is my sister and she is 5'7". The tallest is my brother who is 6'6". So everyone else ranges from those two. Hence, tall family.
Reading... I had a hard time with this growing up. When I was younger, I had to go to a special reading teacher to work on it. So throughout elementary and middle school I struggled immensely with it. I have always been gifted in math, but reading just slowed all my learning down. In elementary school, I was a very hard worker when it came to doing homework and getting things done. But, I had to work five times harder than most students because I struggled with reading.
During middle school, I slowly become better. I started to enjoy reading because it wasn't just a chore anymore. Even though I had a low reading level, I could still find books that interested me. The thing that I struggled with was that I could read just fine, but I couldn't put together the words and understand the story. So when asked a question about what I read, I had no idea. When I got to high school, my reading had improved a lot, and I read a lot. But my vocabulary was still behind. Slowly, I built it up and to this day I would still say I am a little behind in the vocabulary part of my grade, but not noticeable when you just talk to me.
I like to read a lot of different things. I really enjoy books that have a 'meaning' or 'purpose' in them. So I enjoy christian books; I have read a lot of Karen Kingsbury. I also enjoy John Grisham. I like all kinds of books, I just have to get hooked towards the beginning of the book otherwise I will give up on it.
My mom reads a lot. She is into the 'older' women books that have romance and have the half naked people on the front. The books that look like soap operas. She reads a book every two or so days. When she has time off in her day, thats what she does. I can relate to her in the fact that if I had breaks and wasn't dead tired from sports, I would love to just read day in and day out. I also have a younger brother that reads all the time. He is more into the Harry Potter and fiction books of gobblins and things of that sort. My older brother is the same way as my younger brother. Gobblins, Gobblins, Gobblins. I don't think he has read a non-fiction story in his life. Well, maybe he has but probably would not admit it.
My family is very interesting also. I am number 6 in my family. Yes, number 6 of 9. The fact that I call myself a number sometimes, people tend to get a laugh out of that. Of the 9, 3 are girls, and 6 are boys. My whole sports is my life thing, is really because I was raised with 6 brothers and so the girls are pretty tomboy-ish. Also, we are a pretty athletic family; the shortest person in my family is my sister and she is 5'7". The tallest is my brother who is 6'6". So everyone else ranges from those two. Hence, tall family.
Reading... I had a hard time with this growing up. When I was younger, I had to go to a special reading teacher to work on it. So throughout elementary and middle school I struggled immensely with it. I have always been gifted in math, but reading just slowed all my learning down. In elementary school, I was a very hard worker when it came to doing homework and getting things done. But, I had to work five times harder than most students because I struggled with reading.
During middle school, I slowly become better. I started to enjoy reading because it wasn't just a chore anymore. Even though I had a low reading level, I could still find books that interested me. The thing that I struggled with was that I could read just fine, but I couldn't put together the words and understand the story. So when asked a question about what I read, I had no idea. When I got to high school, my reading had improved a lot, and I read a lot. But my vocabulary was still behind. Slowly, I built it up and to this day I would still say I am a little behind in the vocabulary part of my grade, but not noticeable when you just talk to me.
I like to read a lot of different things. I really enjoy books that have a 'meaning' or 'purpose' in them. So I enjoy christian books; I have read a lot of Karen Kingsbury. I also enjoy John Grisham. I like all kinds of books, I just have to get hooked towards the beginning of the book otherwise I will give up on it.
My mom reads a lot. She is into the 'older' women books that have romance and have the half naked people on the front. The books that look like soap operas. She reads a book every two or so days. When she has time off in her day, thats what she does. I can relate to her in the fact that if I had breaks and wasn't dead tired from sports, I would love to just read day in and day out. I also have a younger brother that reads all the time. He is more into the Harry Potter and fiction books of gobblins and things of that sort. My older brother is the same way as my younger brother. Gobblins, Gobblins, Gobblins. I don't think he has read a non-fiction story in his life. Well, maybe he has but probably would not admit it.
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