Stardust by Neil Gaiman.
a.) Jut, amidst, eventually, inhabitants, taciturn, outcrop, descendants, treacherously, placid, hewn
b.) Elevation: Sophisticated, Ostentatious
Connotation: Imagistic, Sensuous, Metaphoric
Sound: Delicate, Soft, Quiet, Relaxing
Concreteness: Imagistic, Inspired
c.) Neil Gaiman's relaxed sophisticated language conveys an admiring nostalgic tone for this passage.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hold Still.
By Nina LaCour.
Popular Fiction.
Pages 46-1.
Her best friend is gone...but she left something behind.
Caitlin is a high school girl dealing with loosing her best friend. This story starts out with Caitlin being bothered by her parents. Her parents are very worried about her, seeming as though she hasn't been the same since she lost Ingrid, but who would? When he parents bring up the subject she begins to hum to drowned out what he parents are saying. She does not want to hear it. She quickly throws on clothes, the same pair of clothes she wore the day before, and heads out the door. Although her parents call for her repeatedly, she does not turn back.
The next chapter is a very short chapter. The few sentences sum up how Caitlin cannot stand to look at her own reflection in the mirror. But from what she does see, it looks as though she was punched in both eyes. Personally, I take this as she is not sleeping or eating.
Caitlin spends her last few weeks of summer with her family. Her parents decided to take her away for awhile to a cabin in a secluded area. During the family picnic, they try and talk to her..asking if she is alright and trying to tell her there are things she should know and things she should talk about. But, once again, she does not want to hear this so she sits quietly and does not answer. While she pretends to sleep that night, she over hears her parents talking of how worried they are.
Sooner then she realizes, September is here. Fall is here. And school begins.
Popular Fiction.
Pages 46-1.
Her best friend is gone...but she left something behind.
Caitlin is a high school girl dealing with loosing her best friend. This story starts out with Caitlin being bothered by her parents. Her parents are very worried about her, seeming as though she hasn't been the same since she lost Ingrid, but who would? When he parents bring up the subject she begins to hum to drowned out what he parents are saying. She does not want to hear it. She quickly throws on clothes, the same pair of clothes she wore the day before, and heads out the door. Although her parents call for her repeatedly, she does not turn back.
The next chapter is a very short chapter. The few sentences sum up how Caitlin cannot stand to look at her own reflection in the mirror. But from what she does see, it looks as though she was punched in both eyes. Personally, I take this as she is not sleeping or eating.
Caitlin spends her last few weeks of summer with her family. Her parents decided to take her away for awhile to a cabin in a secluded area. During the family picnic, they try and talk to her..asking if she is alright and trying to tell her there are things she should know and things she should talk about. But, once again, she does not want to hear this so she sits quietly and does not answer. While she pretends to sleep that night, she over hears her parents talking of how worried they are.
Sooner then she realizes, September is here. Fall is here. And school begins.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Starry Night.
Starry Night
Painted by Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh is a very talented artist. One of my favorite paintings by him since I was a school girl is "Starry Night". In my opinion, through his mellowing colors and swirling marks he is creating a peaceful scene. Close to the bottom of the painting, he blends the darkness of the night sky passively into the setting sun. A smoothness arises. It is also easy to detect the tranquility of the painting from the non-chaotic and still houses below the mezmorizing stars. Some may say there is a gloomy scense to this picture but I disagree. I find a serene tone from this work of art.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Leaving Paradise.
By Simone Elkeles
Pages 25-1
Popular Fiction
Leaving Paradise is a story of two troubled teenagers living in the shadow of the same problem. One night changed Maggie Armstrong and Caleb Becher encounter a night that will change both their lives forever.
When begginning the story, it starts off with Caleb Becher. He is getting released from the Illinois Department of Corrections Juvenile complex where he has spent the last year of his life. He plead gulity to a hit and run accident while driving drunk. A hit and run accident with Maggie Armstrong; his next door neighbor and twin sister's bestfriend since he could remember.
He is sent to be evaulated. A woman wearing glasses and a "stern" look on her face orders him to sit down as the questioning begins. All Caleb can respond with is how sorry he is and how ready he is to go home. After the process is over, Caleb returns to the lonely chair in the hall as he waits for the verdict. Finally, a half hour later, Becher is told he will be released if and only if he agrees to commit to a hundred and fifty hours of community service. An extra downfall being he cannot choose his community service, Damon, his probabtion officer, will do the honors. Of course Caleb argees and is told to be ready to leave by tomorrow morning. WIth excitment in his heart he makes his way back to his cell and prepares to return to his hometown Paradise. To return to the dwelling cloud of his mistakes.
Caleb has spent the last year in a correction facility while Maggie has spent the last year in and out of hospitals. Maggie Armstrong has been close with Leah Becher and the Becher family since she was a young girl. She's spent sleepovers and birthday parties with them. Almost as though a second family. But that all changed in a matter of minutes.
Maggie's section begins with her at physical therapy. It describes vividly the pain she has gone through and the scares she has on her leg and body to remind her everyday of what has happened. The one thing she looks forward to is going to Spain to study. She cannot wait to leave Paradise, leave the rumors and talking student body, and to leave behind the accident. She jokes around with the therapist about how metal detecters and scanners will have a field day with her. Sadly, inside she's breaking. She looks at her scars and feels ashamed. She does all she can to hide them and doesn't understand why her pain is continued at the level it is.
She realizes she will be returning to school soon and does all she can to hide the limp. To hide her emotions. And to hide what happened. Little does she know, Caleb, the boy who ruined her, is making his way back home.
Pages 25-1
Popular Fiction
Leaving Paradise is a story of two troubled teenagers living in the shadow of the same problem. One night changed Maggie Armstrong and Caleb Becher encounter a night that will change both their lives forever.
When begginning the story, it starts off with Caleb Becher. He is getting released from the Illinois Department of Corrections Juvenile complex where he has spent the last year of his life. He plead gulity to a hit and run accident while driving drunk. A hit and run accident with Maggie Armstrong; his next door neighbor and twin sister's bestfriend since he could remember.
He is sent to be evaulated. A woman wearing glasses and a "stern" look on her face orders him to sit down as the questioning begins. All Caleb can respond with is how sorry he is and how ready he is to go home. After the process is over, Caleb returns to the lonely chair in the hall as he waits for the verdict. Finally, a half hour later, Becher is told he will be released if and only if he agrees to commit to a hundred and fifty hours of community service. An extra downfall being he cannot choose his community service, Damon, his probabtion officer, will do the honors. Of course Caleb argees and is told to be ready to leave by tomorrow morning. WIth excitment in his heart he makes his way back to his cell and prepares to return to his hometown Paradise. To return to the dwelling cloud of his mistakes.
Caleb has spent the last year in a correction facility while Maggie has spent the last year in and out of hospitals. Maggie Armstrong has been close with Leah Becher and the Becher family since she was a young girl. She's spent sleepovers and birthday parties with them. Almost as though a second family. But that all changed in a matter of minutes.
Maggie's section begins with her at physical therapy. It describes vividly the pain she has gone through and the scares she has on her leg and body to remind her everyday of what has happened. The one thing she looks forward to is going to Spain to study. She cannot wait to leave Paradise, leave the rumors and talking student body, and to leave behind the accident. She jokes around with the therapist about how metal detecters and scanners will have a field day with her. Sadly, inside she's breaking. She looks at her scars and feels ashamed. She does all she can to hide them and doesn't understand why her pain is continued at the level it is.
She realizes she will be returning to school soon and does all she can to hide the limp. To hide her emotions. And to hide what happened. Little does she know, Caleb, the boy who ruined her, is making his way back home.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The World of Driving.
When reading Pope's article on "Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions" my mind drifts to myself driving, along with accompanying my friends in their cars. I must admit, I too tend to make poorer driving decisions when I have friends in the car. I drive a little more..reckless. My worst habit is lack of turn signals. Let me tell you, that does frustrate people.
I think in a lot of situations, especially when teens first obtain a license, poor decisions are made in order to"show off." Almost as though you are trying to prove yourself. Peer pressure is hard to deal with, but it is also very dangerous. Most teens feel a comfort with their cars too quickly leading to more irresponsible driving which leads to more accidents. I hated the rule of waiting a certain amount of weeks before you could drive with someone in the car with you, but I think it is a good rule to keep and a good rule to follow.
I think in a lot of situations, especially when teens first obtain a license, poor decisions are made in order to"show off." Almost as though you are trying to prove yourself. Peer pressure is hard to deal with, but it is also very dangerous. Most teens feel a comfort with their cars too quickly leading to more irresponsible driving which leads to more accidents. I hated the rule of waiting a certain amount of weeks before you could drive with someone in the car with you, but I think it is a good rule to keep and a good rule to follow.
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