READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

I am about halfway through 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald and I am loving it! Last post I was beginning to describe Gatsby's party, but in this post I will go into more depth. Jay Gatsby is extraordinarily wealthy so his parties included indoor and outdoor pools, dancers and singers (and other forms of entertainment), fireworks, and an ocean side view. His parties were always very loud and lasted throughout the night. Surprisingly however, no one was ever invited. People from all classes in New York traveled to Long Island and simply attend his parties. On the night of the particular party Nick was attending, his friend Jordan Baker, whom he had met while visiting Daisy and Tom, told him an interesting discovery. During the party, Gatsby had whisked Jordan away and told her that he had a past relationship with her friend Daisy. He explained that he threw all his parties to attract her attention, as she lived only across the bay. He informed Jordan that a few years ago him and Daisy had been in love, before Jay went off to war. Upon his return, he was penniless. Although him and Daisy wished to get married, he could never support her. So instead she married Tom Buchanan. Finally, Gatsby explained, now that he was rich, he wanted Daisy back. This news stunned Nick, but he agreed to assist Gatsby in his heroic fight for Daisy, as they were becoming fast friends.

My earlier prediction that Nick would discover Gatsby's true identity turned out to be partially true. He did uncover much about his past and how Daisy was involved, but he still didn't learn where all his wealth came from. I am beginning to feel a little suspicious of Gatsby, because if a few years ago he was broke, how did he suddenly become a millionaire? My next prediction is that Nick will uncover the truth behind Gatsby's wealth, as the secret must come out sooner or later. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald is greatly talented as I stated in my earlier post, although sometimes it is hard to understand the 1920's literature. 

In conclusion the Great Gatsby is an excellent read and I can't wait to finish it, as I know from the movie that it has a very important moral to share.

READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F.SCOTT FITZGERALD

Yesterday I went to see The Great Gatsby with my friend at the movies. I greatly enjoyed it and decided that I should read the book. I just bought it today, so I don't know much about the plot yet, but I will retell as much as I have discovered.

The story is told from the point of view of a man named Nick Carraway. Nick has come to live in long island for the Summer so he can be near his second cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom. He quickly becomes intrigued by his neighbor, a very wealthy man named Jay Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby often throws large extravagant parties with his surplus of money, and on one of these such occasions, Nick finds himself invited to the party. However, when he attends he realizes that none of the guests know who Gatsby is or have ever seen him before. Nick hears many rumors such as Gatsby was a prince who killed a man, but eventually he meets Gatsby, and he finds all these things to be untrue.

I predict that Nick will discover Gatsby's real identity, and where all his money comes from, as no one seems to know. I predict this because Nick and Gatsby are neighbors, and I think they will become close, and eventually Nick will uncover his secrets.

The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald is greatly talented. Although this book was written in the 1920's its moral is still applicable to the 21st century. So far I am greatly enjoying this book, and I can't wait to read more.

 Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi

   'Hurricane Song' by Paul Volponi is a historical fiction book about how a father and son survive throughout the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. The protagonist, Miles, is a young boy with an obsession of football, who comes to live with his dad, Pops, a musician in New Orleans after Pops and Miles's mother divorce. Their relationship is rough, as Miles believes that his father favors music over him and doesn't support his passion of football. When Katrina hits, Miles and Pops are forced to take refuge in the Superdome, where they face many challenges. Among these challenges are unsanitary bathrooms, lack of supplies, and gang violence. Originally Miles and Pops had a rough and confusing relationship, but as time progresses and as they face the hardships of the Superdome, they come to realize that they love each other, even though Miles thought Pops favored music over him. The author wants the reader to know that hard times can bring people together, such as the challenges in the Superdome changed Miles, Pops, and their relationship for the better.

   Before hurricane Katrina, Miles was a selfish boy who thought of nothing else besides football. He believed his father didn't care for him, and this caused him to hang out with some bad people. Among these people were Dunham and Caine, who were football jocks. Once in the Superdome, Dunham and Caine become gang members and they stole people's money, food and supplies. Miles was pressured into joining them, but in that moment he began to change and he realized it was wrong, so he declined. Another example of when Miles changed was when he played the drums at a funeral. He became really involved in the rhythm and beat, which pleased his father, and helped him understand that football wasn't everything. A final example of when Miles changed was near the end of the book, when he assisted his father in carrying a piano out of a jazz club so burglars didn't steal it in the chaos.

   Pops changed a lot throughout the book as well. The first few months of Miles living with him, he gave Miles the impression that he favored music over him, which was probably true. When Miles specifically asked for sporting equipment for his birthday, Pops gave him a drum, hoping to create a love of music inside of him. When they begin to reside in the Superdome, Pops insists that he doesn't want to get involved in anyone's problems. As the situation becomes dire, and the hardships of the Superdome become worse, Pops assists people less fortunate than him, and comforts the family of a man who committed suicide. Finally, when a gang starts a fire, Pops grabs his trumpet and Miles as well, which shows how much he is starting to care for Miles, as he willingly saves his life.

  Their relationship also undergoes many changes. In the beginning of the novel, Miles and Pops live nearly separate lives. Miles plays football, and Pops plays jazz music on his many instruments. As they try to survive during Hurricane Katrina, they become closer. Miles expresses an interest in music, and Pops becomes open to the idea of Miles playing football. Pops decides to rebel and he leaves the Superdome, and Miles willingly follows him. Once outside of the former sports arena Miles is strangled by a looter on the street and Pops hits the man over the head with his most prized possesion, his trumpet. Afterwards, Pop says "I couldn't lose you Miles, not for anything", which is a perfect example of how they come to love each other.

   In conclusion, Miles and Pops become closer, as does their relationship, as they suffer through the hardships of the Superdome. This book showed me that I shouldn't take my good relationship with my parents for granted, as sometimes people have to go through life threatening situations in order to become close.

READING RESPONSE: GONE BY MICHAEL GRANT

I am now nearly a third through 'Gone' by Michael Grant, and the book has majorly progressed since my last post. The adults aged 15 and over still show no sign of returning, and the younger children are becoming very distressed, only having teenagers to look after them. Sam, Quinn, and Astrid, the three main characters also discovered something out of the ordinary. Their town, Perdido Beach, is encased in a dome made of indestructible material, preventing them from leaving. The author also revealed that children in nearby towns are suffering from disappearing adults. In addition to all these strange occurrences, more children have begun to develop supernatural powers. Originally it was just Sam who could create fire by opening the palm of his hand, but a three year old girl was recently gifted with the power, but unfortunately she died a little while later.

I predict that the remaining residents of Perdido Beach will grow increasingly hysterical and agitated, as they realize the adults are nowhere to be found. The oldest children are being placed under a lot of pressure at the moment, having to take care of the younger children and attempting to uncover where the adults have gone. The children are relying on their survival skills and common knowledge to assist them in their altered world. I also predict that soon food and other supplies will run out, leaving the children in an even more desperate situation.

The author, Michael Grant, writes the story in multiple perspectives. His most common perspectives are the main character Sam Temple, and a girl from another town, Lana, whose grandfather disappeared while driving, and left her in a car crash. I admire how he uses multiple perspectives while writing, as I think it adds to the story's appeal. This book has been an amazing experience to read, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

READING RESPONSE: GONE BY MICHAEL GRANT

I have just begun to read the first book in a series of books by Michael Grant. This book is called 'Gone', which is followed by 'Hunger'. Since I am only on chapter two, I don't know much about the book, but here is some information I am gathering: It takes place in an imaginary town in America called Perdido Beach. This town and surrounding areas are encased in a bubble, and everyone 15 and over mysteriously vanishes. Randomly, the people left in Perdido Beach and some animals develop supernatural powers, which assist them when trying to find the missing people. This book follows the adventures of the protagonist Sam Temple and his twin sister Caine Soren.

 

I predict that Sam and Caine will find a way to break out of the bubble, even though it appears to be impenetrable. They will probably go on a mission to find the adults who have disappeared. I know that these to characters gain a third companion, who is called Drake Merlin, who is insane, so I'm predicting that he will lead them astray.

 

Although I am barely 40 pages into the book, I can already see how talented the author Michael Grant is. He writes the book in three different characters perspectives, which is a very hard thing to accomplish. He develops each character separately, so they all have their own unique and distinguishing personality. I can't wait to get through this book so I can read the follow up, Hunger.

'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is a poem about making hard decisions and choosing a metaphorical path in life, not knowing where it could lead you. Frost compares choices to a fork in the road, describing how he was faced with choosing a path, and how later in life he is looking back at that moment, wondering if he made the right decision, or if he should have taken the other path. The author wants the reader to know that he had  to chose between two paths, which represent choices, and now he is contemplating whether or not he chose the right one.

In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker says "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both." This quote explains that there are two decisions to be made, but only one can be chosen. Another piece of textual evidence is when the speaker says "then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear; though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same." This describes the moment when the speaker choses one path, without knowing which way it leads, because both paths resemble each other. A final quote is "I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." This explains the last part of my claim where I said the speaker was contemplating whether he chose the right path. In this quote, the speaker is thinking back to the moment when he made the decision, and wondering if he chose the right
path. 

The author wants the reader to know that he had to chose between
two paths, which represent choices, and now he is thinking and 
questioning whether or not he chose the right one. This connects
to me personally because especially at this point in my life I
will have to make tough decisions, such as high schools and
eventually college.

READING RESPONSE: THE HOBBIT BY J.R.R TOLKIEN

I am on the last few chapters of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the book has been amazing. I left off where Bilbo and the dwarfs had narrowly escaped the rock creatures in a heated battle and had taken shelter in a damp cave, where they were once again captured by goblins. This chapter was a critical moment in the book, as it was when Bilbo first encountered Gollum, a strange creature obsessed with a magical yet evil ring that could turn the wearer invisible. Bilbo finds himself with the ring, and the journey continues. A lot has happened since this chapter; the crew has been lost in a forest, captured by elves, and almost killed multiple times. In the part I am currently reading, the dwarfs have discovered the secret passage in the mountain, leading to the treasure Smaug has been hiding. The dwarfs send Bilbo, their burglar, to scout out any immediate danger.

As I predicted, Bilbo's character has completely changed, before he started out on this great adventure, he was a simple hobbit. He wanted nothing to do with adventures, all he desired was to sit in his hobbit hole and eat four meals a day. When he was first given the opportunity of an adventure, he shied away, not wanting to risk his life for a bit of treasure. When he finally agreed to go with the dwarfs, he completely changed. I think after going through many near death situations such as trolls, goblins, and other nasty creatures, he started to see things as a thrill, rather than something to be terrified of.

The author of this book, J.R.R. Tolkien is an amazing writer. He is well known for his creativity and skill of writing fantasy books, such as the lord of the rings trilogy, but I believe his strongest piece of writing is The Hobbit. He lures the reader in with clear descriptions of magical and otherworldly places. He gives each character a distinct personality, so one could recognize every dwarf. This book is incredible, and I highly recommend it.