Ind. Reading MP4 #2

Prompt 1:
In the most recent part of my novel, Paige found out she was pregnant. Nicholas, her husband, is welcoming of the news and incredibly excited to tackle this new step of their life together. Paige, on the other hand, is terrified and doesn't want a baby at all. Nicholas reacts in such a positive and different manner for two reasons. Firstly, he was raised under normal circumstances with loving parents in a nurturing environment. Secondly, he doesn't know all the secrets about Paige's past that are making her so scared of this new obstacle. Paige, on the other hand, describes her fear, "I was scared about not knowing how to hold an infant. I was scared that I might not love my own child. More than anything, I was scared that I was doomed before I began, that the cycle my mother had started was hereditary and that one day I would just pack up and disappear off the face of the earth" (105). It will be interesting to see how this baby helps tear their marriage apart.

Amir's Atonement

Amir has made plenty of mistakes in the first eleven chapters of Kite Runner. His biggest sin was definitely being silent during Hassan's rape. We can tell that this event haunts him for the rest of his life, as he recalls, "I became what I am today at the age of twelve on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975... That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking in that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years" (1). This is where the lies commence and how the web for the rest of the story begins to spin. He frames Hassan for stealing his watch and money. He can never fulfill his father's expectations. The list goes on and on. Amir explains his wrongdoings with, "I ran because I was a coward... That's what I made myself believe. I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba" (77). I believe that in order to reach atonement, he needs to stop running. He needs to face up to his sins, apologize, and move forward with his life.

Atonement means making of amends or reconciliation; exemplified in the novel and movie of the same name, originally written by Ian McEwan. I believe that atonement for past sins and mistakes is possible. Everybody, by shear nature of being human, makes mistakes. Most of the time, it is not the mistake itself but what we do about it that defines who we are. If we each can capitalize on any mistake we make, turn the situation around, and make anew, then, yes, certainly atonement can be achieved. But if we all hold grudges for all of eternity, then it will become quite difficult to reach that point of forgiveness.

Ind. Reading MP4

For the fourth marking period I will be reading Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. I am an avid Picoult fan and was very excited to pick this book. I am 106 pages in so far, and as always, it is spectacular. I have been introduced to the main characters, Paige and Nicholas. Paige ran away from home right after graduating high school and has fallen in love with a medical student at Harvard, Nicholas. They got married less than a year after they met, and at this point, Paige has just found out that she is pregnant. She is terrified of becoming a mom because her mother left her when she was five, and she doesn't want to turn out the same way. There are many secrets about Paige's life that have not yet been revealed. Furthermore, the book opened with a scene that is a good deal into the future from where the story begins in Part 1. In the coming chapters, Picoult will continue to fill in the missing details and explain how Paige got to the point she was in the Prologue. I look forward to finding out more.

Scramble Story- "The Alien that Wouldn’t Die"

I’ll never forget that night, no matter how hard I try. It was terrible. I can still remember every detail, every smell, every sight of the night I came home and found my mother crying and my father gone. I was so afraid that as soon as I came into the door, I almost walked right back out. When she told me he had been vaporized by a renegade alien passing through our galaxy, I could hardly believe her.
“MOM!!! WHAT HAPPENED????” I shrieked.
“Oh, John,” my mother looked at me with fear in her widened eyes, “this world is coming to an end! We are being taken over by aliens!” I decided that the death of my father had driven my mother crazy and she must be taken to a mental institution. I kept seeing different sides of my mom. This attack had made her go mad; she was foaming at the mouth and that is when I realized something… she was one of the aliens. I had to escape my home before it was to late! As I began to run away, she stuck her tongue out and it appeared to be 10 ft long and coming after me. I did a quick sidestep-triple sow cow and maneuvered myself so the foyer was between me and the beast.
“What the heck am I suppose to do now?” I thought to myself as I quickly wiped the dripping sweat off my face. Magically, a glittering brilliant sword appeared right under the silk pillow on the coach next to me. I ignored the sword and reached for the shotgun above fireplace. I got it down and readied to blast that alien scum into pieces, but when I went the pull the trigger nothing happened…it was empty, “Oh $%#@,” I muttered to myself.

Recipe for Afghanistan

5 tablespoons revolution
4 liters bloodshed from wars of hate
3 ounces unjust treatment of women
2 cups unwanted American soldiers
1 teaspoon instability

Mix revolution and instability in separate bowl. Add unwanted American soldiers and bloodshed to create more upheaval. Top with unjust treatment of women and bake in oven at 262 degrees for 34 minutes. Enjoy the chaos you have just created.

Spring Break Adventures

This spring break was incredibly relaxing, but not that exciting. Lacrosse has a way of taking over my life when I really don't want it to. We had a power clinic on Sunday, but I thankfully got to miss it for a reception for Boston University's accepted students. Monday, we were supposed to play Hatboro, but the game got rescheduled, and we had to document an incredibly impossible workout in its place. Tuesday we had a "team-bonding" experience followed by practice, all of which totaled to a magnificent five hours spent with the lacrosse team. Wednesday, we finally got our chance to play Hatboro-Horsham, a notoriously aggressive and talented team that we barely beat last year in the final moments of the game. Wissahickon has never had a good relationship with the team, and so we were out to conquer despite the early start time. Against all odds, a few starters on vacation and clearly not enough subs, we completely dominated the entire game. With flawless connections, nearly every draw control and ground ball, and fantastic shots on cage, we defeated Hatboro an astonishing 16-6. This was most definitely the highlight of my spring break.

A Happy Ending & A Touching Story (Prompt 5, Chapter 233)

In this final chapter of the novel, Christopher ends with, "And I know I can do this because I went to London on my own, and because I solved the mystery of Who Killed Wellington? and I found my mother and I was brave and I wrote a book and that means I can do anything" (221). This happy ending makes me incredibly proud of Christopher. He faced so many obstacles and uncomfortable situations and faced them all with courage and strength. He is very correct in saying that by accomplishing all of this, he can then in fact do anything.
I found the entire book to be quite touching. It is a moving story of how one boy can face seemingly simple situations and conquer them in his most unique manner. The culmination of the novel brought home Mark Haddon's purpose in showing the nature of autism in a light that makes the world understand why these children live the way they do.

The Perfect Title (Prompt 18)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is absolutely the ideal title for my independent reading novel. It is a simple, yet perfect description of the novel's main conflict. The book is written from the perspective of the 15 year old autistic boy, Christopher John Francis Boone. He discusses the writing of the novel throughout various chapters, but doesn't mention the title. Based on what I have picked up on his character and his preferences, I would say this title suits both him and the story well.
The choice of the words "curious incident" is what really seals the deal. "Curious" suggests how Christopher felt after finding the dead dog and what propelled him to follow Sherlock Holmes's influence in trying to get to the bottom of this puzzling mystery. "Incident" perfectly depicts how Christopher views the situation. It just sort of happened; he doesn't understand why or how, but here was his neighbor's dog lying with a garden fork sticking out of him in the middle of the night. The simplicity, yet spot-on diction combine to make this the title of all titles.

Haddon's Use of Language (Prompt 11, Chapter 227)

In Chapter 227, Christopher is between the train and his mother's house. He needs to get on the subway in order to complete his journey, but he has great difficulty in doing so. He spends five and a half hours next to the subway, refusing to get on, rocking himself back and forth, suffering in pain from the loud sounds and trying not to get too close to anyone else. This was an exceptionally frustrating chapter for me as a reader because I wanted to shout at him to just get on the subway to end his misery. Despite my aggravation, I found Mark Haddon's writing style to be remarkably effective. He so acutely described Christopher's surroundings and pain that I could picture him sitting, suffering, on the subway platform. I desperately wanted to be on that platform guiding Christopher onto the subway, even though I knew he would never take the advice or help from a stranger. The entire chapter reaffirmed Christopher's difficult task in trying to lead a relatively normal life. Haddon's noteworthy style evoked serious emotions in me, which I view as the mark of extraordinary writing.

"I see everything." (Prompt 8, Chapter 181)

Chapter 181 continues to explain the curious and intricate mind of Christopher John Francis Boone, the autistic 15 year-old. He opens the chapter with, "I see everything" (140). He goes on to describe why he doesn't like being in new places. "When I am in a new place, because I see everything, it is like when a computer is doing too many things at the same time and the central processor unit is blocked up and there isn't any space left to think about other things" (143). This ability to see everything explains why he is so good at chess, maths, and logic.
I took an important message away from this chapter that I could connect with the insight shared previously in the book. To unknowing outsiders, Christopher can be classified as just another autistic kid who acts out or shuts down whenever he feels like it. However, this incredible novel has been able to thoroughly explain why Christopher acts the way he does. He can't simply be categorized according to the problem he suffers from. He is a unique human being with a different world view than what is perceived by society as "normal". Sure, this may make him "special", but either way people cannot judge him without getting to know what goes on inside his head. This book has done a remarkable job of providing that insight which desperately needs to be shared with the world.

Reach for the Stars (Prompt 15, Chapter 173)

In Chapter 173, Christopher talks about the constellations he sees above the roof of the shed. I believe the stars and constellations represent Christopher's hopes and dreams. He has such high hopes for his future; he wants to get A's on his A-Level Maths, take A-Level Physics, and some day become an astronaut. His dreams, like the stars, shine so brightly, but seem so far away. However, Christopher has shown throughout the novel that he can conquer the many obstacles that his autism and life throw at him in coming closer to achieving his goals.

Parental Insight (Prompt 1, Chapter 127)

Chapter 127 was both disturbing and enlightening. Christopher had continued sleuthing when his father had told him not to. In this chapter, his father finds Christopher's notes, and explodes at him. Christopher describes the scene, "It was like someone had switched me off and then switched me on again. And when they switched me on again I was sitting on the carpet with my back against the wall and there was blood on my right hand and the side of my head was hurting. And Father was standing on the carper a meter in front of me looking down at me and he was still holding my book in his right hand, but it was bent in half and all the corners were messed up, and there was a scratch on his neck and a big rip in the sleeve of his green and blue check shirt and he was breathing really deeply" (83).
Earlier in the chapter, Christopher's father had been cursing at him and yelling in his face. My initial reaction to the entire scene was disgust with the father. How could be possibly blow up in Christopher's face like that? That's not an okay reaction for any parent, let alone the parent of an autistic child. However, after reflecting on the situation a bit, I have realized how Christopher's father must have felt throughout Christopher's entire life. He must become frustrated daily with having to repeat himself and constantly take care of his son. He didn't ask for any of this to happen, and it must be incredibly difficult for him to carry on each day without exploding. I still can't completely condone his actions in this chapter, but I perhaps understand why he acted the way he did.

A "Proper Novel" (Prompt 16, Chapter 37)

An important aspect of this novel is the fact that Christopher does not lie. In Chapter 37 he describes, "This is another reason why I don't like proper novels, because they are lies about things which didn't happen and they make me feel shaky and scared. And this is why everything I have written here is true" (19, 20). Upon reading this statement, I immediately thought of Che, The Motorcycle Diaries, and the meaning of a "proper novel." Could Che's Motorcycle Diaries be considered a proper novel when it includes in the title: "Notes on a Latin American Journey"? It was supposed to be his travel notes from the trip, which then he went back to edit before publishing. The concept of editing your diary seemed strange to me throughout reading the book. How was I supposed to be able to tell when a situation had been greatly exaggerated to make Che seem like more a of a hero? Why would he edit his thoughts from when he was younger? Did he publish the book only to make him seem more idealistic or like a down-to-earth common man? Isn't the book then a web of fabricated lies? Sure, the events probably transpired, but how can we be so sure where the line of truth and gross exaggeration is crossed?
This type of "novel" would sicken Christopher, and his directness displayed in the quote above is part of the reason I enjoyed his novel so much. Of course, the Curious Incident is a fictional piece of work, but it didn't pretend to be something that it wasn't. Mark Haddon had Christopher speak his mind and write exactly how he felt, and I truly appreciated this honesty.

Christopher's Character (Prompt 17, Chapter 73)

There is a vast amount of direct characterization throughout this novel. This is mainly done because it is told through Christopher's point of view, and as he shares on page 19, he "does not tell lies." Thus, he is quite blunt in his descriptions of himself and the people and environment surrounding him. In Chapter 73, he specifically lists his "Behavioral Problems," some of which include "not talking to people for a long time, not eating or drinking anything for a long time, not liking being touched, not liking being in really small places with other people, groaning, or not eating food if different sorts of food are touching each other" (46). The fact that Christopher is so explicit in his descriptions of himself is truly insightful into the mind of an autistic child. Mark Haddon has done a fantastic job of characterizing this autistic boy and showing the world how someone with such limitations views life.

Sherlock Wannabe (Prompt 3, Chapter 97)

In Chapter 97, Christopher chooses to walk with his neighbor, Mrs. Alexander, whom he considers a stranger, in the park. This is very atypical of Christopher, as he is very uncomfortable around people he doesn't know well. However, Christopher wants, almost more than anything else, to get to the bottom of his mystery: who killed Wellington? Thus, despite the fact that his father blatantly told him to stop sleuthing, Christopher finds a way around it when Mrs. Alexander says she has something important to share with him. Christopher wants to be like his favorite fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, as a detective because it will give his life purpose and meaning. He is a very curious young boy, as the title describes. He is constantly reading up on his many scientific or mathematic interests. The mystery of Wellington is yet another discovery to be made. This yearning inquisitiveness propels him into awkward situations that he usually couldn't handle, like the encounter with Mrs. Alexander in the park. I am proud of him for fighting through his discomfort to get to the bottom of his mysterious case.

Prime Numbers=Life? (Prompt 14, Chapter 19)

"Prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away. I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them" (12).

This quote clearly defines Christopher's character and explains his behavior throughout the novel. Christopher is a very logical person who uses patterns to define his mannerisms. For example, on his way to school on the school bus each morning he counts cars. Three red cars in a row means a "Quite Good Day," four red cars in a row means a "Good Day," five cars in a row means a "Super Good Day," and three yellow cars in a row means a "Black Day." On "Black Days" Christopher sits in a corner reading this book and doesn't talk to anyone, eat anything, or take any risks. He does all of this to keep things a certain way. As long as he can classify his life by these patterns, he can determine how to act on a specific day. The interesting aspect of this quote is how Christopher interprets life without patterns. For him, life without patterns is meaningless and confusing. This is why people, emotions, and spontaneous life perplexes him so. He desperately tries to figure out why people act the way they do, but as we all know, sometimes there is simply no rhyme or reason. Christopher cannot make these connections which is why he is easily frustrated, acts out, and generally lives the way he does.

Thesis

Che Guevara may have wanted to become an agent of benevolent change on the impoverished countries he saw on his motorcycle journey, but he turned out to be a very egotistical revolutionary whose impact is cast more in a negative light than a positive one.
This is being changed for tomorrow!

Ind. Reading Intro

My independent reading book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon. I'm quite a bit into it and have been keeping separate notes about my favorite passages. I'll be posting to the specific responses every day. Enjoy :)

My Do Now

This section of The Motorcycle Diaries has included many descriptions of the Inca people. What kind of reaction does Che have to their lifestyle? Does it change how he views the country or his journey? Explain.

Essential Questions

I believe Che wanted to make a name for himself, like many of us do. He started off as a young medical student. The medical profession is one that can lead to plenty of limelight, in helping patients, saving lives, and overall, doing something extremely rewarding as an occupation. His Motorcycle Diaries reflected this pompous attitude throughout his writing style. Che grew into a very passionate and even violent revolutionary as he matured. Still though, I believe he desired fame and an important title. He quickly moved up the ranks into Fidel Castro's number 2. He loved the power that came with the position and somewhat abused it by pushing soldiers over the edge. He left office ashamed in exile, yet he was still greatly remembered; perhaps not in the positive light many of us desire, but remembered nonetheless, and I feel like this is all he cared about.

Chile in 6 Words

Stable, independent, democratic nation of hospitality.

Che in Chile

"It's a great pity that they repress people like this. Apart from whether collectivism, the 'communist vermin,' is a danger to decent life, the communism gnawing at his entrails was no more than a natural longing for something better, a protest against persistent hunger transformed into a love for this strange doctrine, whose essence he could never grasp but whose translation, 'bread for the poor,' was something which he understood and, more importantly filled him with hope" (78).
Che viewed this encounter with communism as a unique new experience. This first shed of light on this new ideology may impact how he embraces socialism down the road. He is already sensing people need a brighter future, and collectively may be the best way to reach that common goal.

6 Words of America

Promise of hope, better America tomorrow?

My Personal Ideology

I certainly have values, ideals, and standards with which I base my life . I perhaps haven't defined my ideology before, yet I supposed it's helpful to consider it before I go off to college next year. A very important value for me is accountability. I believe everyone should understand their responsibilities in a given situation and give 100% to make sure that they are fulfilled. If everyone tried to exert their best effort in all aspects of their lives we would live in a far more productive and beneficial society. This is not to say that downtime and relaxation are not critical, for they are. However, there is a time and a place for everything, and if someone says they'll take care of a specific task, they should be accountable for completing it.

Che in Bolivia vs. Pakistan

As always, Americans are trying to stick their foot in another country to attempt to salvage it from some terrible force. We did this with Che Guevara in Bolivia, and now we are doing the same in Pakistan. Che was considered a revolutionary socialist trying to uproot the Bolivian government. The Taliban and Al Qaeda are now trying to reek havoc in Pakistan. In both cases, Americans step in to intervene. I believe this is a fair comparison between the two.

Che's Voice

"The full moon is silhouetted against the sea, smothering the waves with silver reflections. Sitting on a dune, we watch the continuous ebb and flow, each of us with our own thoughts. For me, the sea has always been a confidant, a friend absorbing all it is told and never revealing those secrets; always giving the best advice - its meaningful noises can be interpreted any way you choose" (34).
This excerpt displays imagery as it personifies the sea and details images of the picture Che sees around himself. This shows a softer side to Che, that even though he grows up to be associated with mass executions, at one point he was a real human being with the sea as his confidant.

"I now know, by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel, or perhaps it's better to say that traveling is our destiny, because Alberto feels the same... Perhaps one day, tired of cycling the world, I'll return to Argentina and settle in the Andean lakes, if not indefinitely then at least for a pause while I shift from one understanding of the world to another" (45).
Although Che clearly does not have the eloquence of an English major, he certainly chooses his words particularly, as exemplified in this excerpt. His diction is very specific and to the point, choosing words such as "fatalistic conformity", "destiny", "shift... understanding". All in all, it creates a powerful message of Che's final destination and purpose for this wandering.

Che's Death

Based on the movie so far and our various insight into Che Guevara, his life and his enemies, I believe the CIA or Fidel Castro had him killed. I think I remember hearing somewhere that the CIA was responsible, but it makes more sense that Castro would do it. Once he was finished using him, he wanted him to be gone and completely out of the picture. The United States was probably not a big Che fan because of his link to so many killings and his passionate speeches against imperialism and for socialism. During the Cold War, this isn’t exactly the message the United States wants spread throughout their country.

Creativity Inspired by Intro.

Adventure:
Feel the crisp wind in your face,
The bristling leaves blowing in the breeze,
The trees swaying as you pass by.
You leave the world behind you,
As you embrace the journeys yet to come.
You set out on a purpose:
A purpose, one purpose only,
To seek your purpose in life.
What does it all mean?
Why are we here?
Where am I going?
The quest is to find the answers
To your questions and more.
Yet, you do it alone.
By yourself, with only you in mind.
For,
There is nothing lonelier than adventure.

Che's Ideology

At this point in the movie, we have discovered that Che is a fairly radical socialist. Other socialist leaders around the world, especially the leaders of China and Russia, heavily influenced him throughout his worldwide journeys. He clearly believes in hard work, determination, and a passionate strength for following one’s goals to the end. This fortitude has guaranteed numerous promotions throughout his career with Castro and both the fear and respect of the people of Cuba. Che’s personal mission is to inspire these people to work as hard as he does and work together for the common goal of a socialist revolution.

My Documentary

If I could make a documentary of anyone in the word, it would definitely be about Jeffrey Adam Becker. Clearly, he is the exemplary high school student of Wissahickon High School. A documentary centering around Jeff would inspire high school students around the nation to become brighter, more motivated people who are actively involved in their community. This would be an especially interesting documentary for me because Jeff has personally inspired me to become a better citizen and pay closer attention to politics and potentially life changing current events. The Wissahickon School District would not be the same dynamic and exciting community that it is without this inspirational young man, and this is why his life needs to be highlighted for all to see.

Che Documentary

If I were to make a documentary about Che's life, there are a few major aspects I would have to include. The main focus I would consider to be the point where he changed his ideals and started to be considered the mass murderer that Glen Beck obviously thinks he is. I'd like to include his original goals and show how they changed throughout time, ultimately including the man he became. The two sides of his life must be included, as well as, the legacy he left behind. Who is this man? How did he become the man people remember him to be? Who or what inspired him? How did he discover himself? This is the course each of us must also take, the path to figure out who we truly are, and we would not want to steer astray, like it seems Che may have done.

My Road Trip

I guess you could say that my one and only road trip occurred when I was in grade school driving down to Florida to visit my grandparents with my family. It was a two-day adventure in our minivan with my three siblings and two parents. Especially for the car ride, we got a mini television and watched movie after movie after movie. My extremely organized mother packed special snack packs for each of us that we nibbled on throughout the trip. The first day we drove to Durham and visited by mom’s alma matter, Duke University. We spent the night in a hotel near the university and awoke early the next morning to continue the seemingly never-ending car ride. Many hours of movies, reading, and munching later, we finally arrived in Vero Beach just after dinnertime. The week in Florida was well worth the road trip and the saved money on airfare.

Motorcycle Diaries Preview

The Motorcycle Diaries should be an interesting read. From what I have gathered from the Book Preview Activity, the book is a collection of Guevara’s notes from his journey across Latin America. Presumably, he will face various obstacles and overcome them to reach his goals. I am more interested to see how this journey affected the life that Glen Beck basically bashed on the segment we watched yesterday. This journey most likely affected the “blood thirsty imbecile” that he became. It will be an adventure to see how this trip shaped the person he became, and I look forward to the discovery.

Judging a Book by its Cover

Clever marketing of a book usually catches my attention before reading it: flashy titles, colorful covers, interesting images, and even the size of a book. Usually a book will need to grab my attention early in order for me to continue reading it. A book I read this summer, Bel Canto, certainly caught my attention within the first chapter, as it opened with an incredibly lavish party being overtaken by hostages. I was hooked from the first few pages and stayed that way for the remainder of the book. I am hoping that Motorcycle Diaries will be the same way.

Che & Beck

Glen Beck’s excerpt on Che Guevara surely is provocative and even disturbing, as far as material content is considered. However, as a professional television anchor, I did not appreciate the extremely obnoxious tone he took on as he described the situation with Che. I am sure that a majority of his claims are justified. He did provide a fair amount of evidence and a substantial second source to back him up on points he made. It is indeed appalling that so many kids walk around in tee shirts supporting someone linked so closely with Fidel Castro and not even understand “the ideals” with which he is connected. Nevertheless, I found the manner that Beck portrayed the excerpt to be borderline offensive and unnecessarily rude. He or his colleague called Che “a blood thirsty imbecile” and consistently mocked the “idiots of Hollywood”. Clearly, he is not a biased third party reporting the news here. The extent of his mockery and name calling made me believe that he over exaggerated some of his claims to make himself seem all the more authoritative on the subject. Perhaps, this is his particular style of getting his point across to his audience, but I, for one, was not a fan.

Welcome :)

Here's my first blog. Enjoy the entries to come.