The House On Mango Street
The House On Mango Street is a book about a girl named Esperanza who was discriminated against for her gender and for her race. She is oblivious to the discrimination though and lives on the House On Mango Street around many people who influence her life. She disregards the discrimination though.
Book Club 1: Where The Heart Is
Where The Heart Is is a book about a pregnant lady named Novalee Nation who is ditched at a Wal-mart store by her boyfriend in the middle of nowhere. She ends up having her baby in this Wal-mart and has to learn to adjust to her life in her newfound home.
I personally think that Where The Heart Is is a fantastic and comedic book. There are certain parts where I wouldn't suggest everyone to read, but it is a good book nonetheless. The relationships are nice and the whole book is funny and a realistic story. Even so, I find all of the characters stupid beyond what seems reasonable. Novalee seems like one of those dumb teenagers having been pregnant at seventeen and naming her baby Americus. There are some other characters which I find dumb as well but I will not get into. It may indeed add to the comedic sense of the novel but the stupidity of the characters is one thing I dislike.
I personally think that Where The Heart Is is a fantastic and comedic book. There are certain parts where I wouldn't suggest everyone to read, but it is a good book nonetheless. The relationships are nice and the whole book is funny and a realistic story. Even so, I find all of the characters stupid beyond what seems reasonable. Novalee seems like one of those dumb teenagers having been pregnant at seventeen and naming her baby Americus. There are some other characters which I find dumb as well but I will not get into. It may indeed add to the comedic sense of the novel but the stupidity of the characters is one thing I dislike.
Antigone
Antigone is a Greek tragedy play that takes place after the story of Oedipus. The story of Oedipus is that a prophecy was told about Oedipus that he would kill his father and marry his mother, which ended up being carried out. A series of unfortunate events followed, which lead to Oedipus's death and his sons arguing over who should rule, which lead to their death as well. Only one was buried because the other was considered a traitor. Antigone starts when she is given the decision to properly bury her dead brother, even if it would be breaking the law. She decides to do so and thus is executed. The king, King Creon, listens to the prophet Tiresias after he has told him that what he was doing was wrong. He went to get Antigone back but found he had hung herself and his only song died by her side. The moral was that pride overtook them and thus led everyone in the family to their doom.
I think that Antigone is a very beautifully written play and has a great message behind it. It sort of reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, but somewhat more tragic in the sense that there are many more deaths for one person. I have to still wonder what happens to Antigone's last sister, Ismene, for I do believe she is still alive by the end of the play, being the only member of the royal family not deceased. Nonetheless, it is a well written play and it delivers a good message.
I think that Antigone is a very beautifully written play and has a great message behind it. It sort of reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, but somewhat more tragic in the sense that there are many more deaths for one person. I have to still wonder what happens to Antigone's last sister, Ismene, for I do believe she is still alive by the end of the play, being the only member of the royal family not deceased. Nonetheless, it is a well written play and it delivers a good message.
Book Club 2: Life of Pi
Life of Pi is a novel about a normal boy who is trapped on a lifeboat with a 450-pound Bengal Tiger. He has to develop the instincts to survive with the predator on the other side of the boat. He manages to survive seven months (227 days to be exact) on this lifeboat and manage to keep himself and the tiger alive. Nobody believes his story in the end.
Personally, I don't know if I would either. It seems very realistic but there are parts that seem to irk me. The man-eating island is one of my favorite parts but I must say it is made of nonsense. It is a well written book but I think it drags on for little bit long and there are some useless little bits of information in there as well. In any case, it is a good story for somebody who is looking for a novel that has a tint of fiction but is a reality.
Personally, I don't know if I would either. It seems very realistic but there are parts that seem to irk me. The man-eating island is one of my favorite parts but I must say it is made of nonsense. It is a well written book but I think it drags on for little bit long and there are some useless little bits of information in there as well. In any case, it is a good story for somebody who is looking for a novel that has a tint of fiction but is a reality.
Book Club 3: I am a Taxi
I am a Taxi is a novel about a young boy named Diego who lived in a prison. He and his family were thrown into prison for being falsely accused of smuggling drugs. Diego ran errands as a "taxi" to make money to support his family. When he lost his job as a "taxi", he resorted to the only option that he had to make money, the exact thing that got him into jail - selling drugs.
I think I am a Taxi is a unique tale and it's completely original as well. The simple fact that this takes place in a prison from the perspective of a boy who's family is falsely accused of a crime makes it somewhat realistic and a story that had never been told before. I like how Diego had good morals to help his family in any way he could until he gave into peer pressure to sell drugs and take them as well. The story is very realistic and well written.
I think I am a Taxi is a unique tale and it's completely original as well. The simple fact that this takes place in a prison from the perspective of a boy who's family is falsely accused of a crime makes it somewhat realistic and a story that had never been told before. I like how Diego had good morals to help his family in any way he could until he gave into peer pressure to sell drugs and take them as well. The story is very realistic and well written.
Book Club 4: Tree Girl
Tree Girl is a novela about a girl named Gabriela who lives in Guatemala during a time of war. She always had the talent of climbing trees and upon danger coming to her village, she fled to the branches of the tree for safety. She ventures on foot all the way to Mexico for refuge with the last surviving member of her family, her little sister Alicia. Through a long treacherous journey, she finds safety at a refugee camp and lives on to tell her story.
I think that Tree Girl is a truly inspiring novel. It's also based on a true story which is quite amazing as well. To imagine that all of these events somewhere are true and have happened is quite shocking. The fact that Tree Girl is a real person makes her quite an inspriing figure.
I think that Tree Girl is a truly inspiring novel. It's also based on a true story which is quite amazing as well. To imagine that all of these events somewhere are true and have happened is quite shocking. The fact that Tree Girl is a real person makes her quite an inspriing figure.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a classic play written by William Shakespeare. It's about two teenagers who fall in love, but their affection is forbidden for their families are rivals. In attempts to keep this love secret, a series of events happen in which the two teens end up committing suicide for each other. The death of their only children lead the Capulets and the Montague to resolve their ancient feud.
I think that Romeo and Juliet is well written and is worthy of being a classic for every line mattered and it all added up in the end, and no scene was useless. I found the play a little bit stupid though, for Romeo and Juliet only fell in love with each other for their looks. It's not that I can blame them for being dumb though, for in their time looks were the only thing they had to judge by. Putting that aside, I still find the teenagers quite idiotic. I'm only assuming the entire play took place within what seemed like only a week, in which they had met each other, got married, Romeo gets banished, Romeo and Juliet do it together, and then finally they kill themselves. It seemed much too rushed. They have many good messages and themes in Romeo and Juliet though.
I think that Romeo and Juliet is well written and is worthy of being a classic for every line mattered and it all added up in the end, and no scene was useless. I found the play a little bit stupid though, for Romeo and Juliet only fell in love with each other for their looks. It's not that I can blame them for being dumb though, for in their time looks were the only thing they had to judge by. Putting that aside, I still find the teenagers quite idiotic. I'm only assuming the entire play took place within what seemed like only a week, in which they had met each other, got married, Romeo gets banished, Romeo and Juliet do it together, and then finally they kill themselves. It seemed much too rushed. They have many good messages and themes in Romeo and Juliet though.
Dear Zoe
Dear Zoe is a book about a girl named Tess who writes a letter to her sister who had died on 9/11, Zoe. Tess talks a lot about how things are different without Zoe around, and she tells a story of how she's getting through her depression. Throughout the book, she starts smoking and she gets a boyfriend. Things seem to turn back to normal soon and Tess writes this letter to Zoe to tell Zoe that they're all okay.
Dear Zoe is a very touching book. It's amazingly well written from the perspective of a thirteen year old girl, despite the author being a grown man. It has a nice story, and you can see all of Tess's feelings through this letter she writes to Zoe. It's also amazing how the death of her little sister impacts her so much, but the fact that she had died on September 11 made it even more powerful in some way. It's a very good book.
Because I loved this book so much, I made a audio reading of the first chapter for fun. Here it is.
Dear Zoe is a very touching book. It's amazingly well written from the perspective of a thirteen year old girl, despite the author being a grown man. It has a nice story, and you can see all of Tess's feelings through this letter she writes to Zoe. It's also amazing how the death of her little sister impacts her so much, but the fact that she had died on September 11 made it even more powerful in some way. It's a very good book.
Because I loved this book so much, I made a audio reading of the first chapter for fun. Here it is.
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men is a classic novel that was written to hold up a mirror to people on how cruel and twisted humans were. Of Mice and Men is a somewhat twisted and sad novel about two men named George and Lennie who were simply looking for a job. These two guys were best friends, like brothers. In the end, a series of events led Lennie to murder somebody. George kills Lennie, despite being such good friends. In this book there are many examples of discrimination towards races, women, the elderly, and the mentally challenged. There are many themes such as that of discrimination, friendship, the American dream, and euthanasia.
I think that this book is very good and the ending, even though it was sad and not exactly ideal, was very real. It was very cleverly written with foreshadowing and descriptions. Of Mice and Men gets a very strong message through to readers of how messed up people were.
I think that this book is very good and the ending, even though it was sad and not exactly ideal, was very real. It was very cleverly written with foreshadowing and descriptions. Of Mice and Men gets a very strong message through to readers of how messed up people were.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a novel about a young boy named Santiago who sets out to achieve his dream, also known as Personal Legend. He has a dream about a hidden treasure at the Egyptian pyramids, and though it was only a simple dream, he goes to find this treasure. Through this journey, Santiago learned to respect other people's culture and religion as well as how to speak the language of the world. He learns to read omens, and all about the Soul of the World. Many people along the way helped him achieve this seemingly impossible dream. This shows us that if we work hard towards our dream, if it is our Personal Legend, then all the world will conspire to help us.
The first time I read this book, I was irritated and found it boring because I didn't understand the meaning of it. After reading it in class and analyzing it, The Alchemist is truly an inspiring book. It shows how anybody can achieve their dreams if they really try. Although, in my opinion, I would think Santiago was a nut-job blabbering about the Soul of the World and trying to find a treasure all the way in Egypt because he saw it in a dream. It seems a little crazy to me, but I think that Santiago finding his treasure just proves anything could be possible.
The first time I read this book, I was irritated and found it boring because I didn't understand the meaning of it. After reading it in class and analyzing it, The Alchemist is truly an inspiring book. It shows how anybody can achieve their dreams if they really try. Although, in my opinion, I would think Santiago was a nut-job blabbering about the Soul of the World and trying to find a treasure all the way in Egypt because he saw it in a dream. It seems a little crazy to me, but I think that Santiago finding his treasure just proves anything could be possible.