Finally

Before I started this class, I would read very seldom on my own, not because I don't like reading, but rather because I'm not a fan of reading multiple books at once, and I'm almost always reading a book for a required English class. Right now it's David Copperfield. I took this class because I wanted to become a better writer, and to become a virtuoso in the art of applying new vocabulary in a pragmatic way, whether it be on the SAT, or on this blog, or anywhere else. I wasn't so excited about the reading part of the class, at first, but I surprised myself by finding it rather easy to pick out books that interested me. I enjoyed all the books I picked, and didn't struggle with any of them, but I rarely went too far out beyond the 100 page quota, simply because I was busy with a lot of other things.

I would find myself reading in silence usually, I rarely play music while I read unless I can't find a silent place in my house that has adequate lighting to read. Then, sometimes, it is necessary to put on some tunes that will drown out what's around me. Usually some sort of instrumental music is ideal. Anyways, I usually read in the evening, generally after dinner, and usually in a room by myself. It takes me a few minutes to really get into a book, but once I do, I find that I effortlessly fly through the pages, often finishing half, or all, of my quota in one sitting.

After this class comes to a close, I will make an effort to read more, especially if a time shows up during which I don't have any required reading for other classes. If my friends have read books, I talk to them about some of the things I liked about it, generally about characters, or in simple allusions in conversation that makes other people feel left-out because they haven't read these books.

Agatha Christie Response

Although my last post was rather recent, I've read a bit more in Cards on The Table and the murder has taken place. There are four suspects, as the author said in her explanation, or I guess author's note, and they are all of different character. They include a doctor, a couple women of different age, and one other suspect who is not so definable. The murder took place during the bridge game, and so the reader has to go back and investigate the game itself, to look at the records of what was played during the game, and how that relates to when the murder took place. It's a pretty interesting idea. I'm intrigued thus far.

In The Mood For a Murder Mystery

The next book I have chosen to read is Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. I read one of her books in middle school, And Then There Were None, and I remember really liking it. That forced me to read Murder on The Orient Express, because I was told that it was one of her best books. I really liked both of them, at least I think I did, I can't exactly remember what I thought when I was reading them. I know I read them both rather quickly. Anyways, I'm a few pages into Card on The Table. Christie says right up front that in this murder mystery there isn't as much of an element of surprise as in her other novels, because there are only 4 suspects. The book centers around the game of bridge, which I have always wanted to learn how to play, but have never had the time or the drive to do so. But I do know that in bridge, 4 people play, and you have a partner. I'm interested to see what happens, and how Agatha Christie will still incorporate suspense into the story with this limitation of the surprise element due to the characters.

Currently

Book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Pages this week: 102
Pages last week: 121
Pages this semester: 1210

3 Favorite Sentences of the Past Two Weeks

1) "So it goes." Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

2) "Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt." Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

3) "Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time." Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Done

After finishing Slaughterhouse-Five this past week, and deciding to put together my book talk power point about it, I've come to realize more of Vonnegut's overall themes for the book. It was most definitely an anti-war book-- that was clear up front. But, even more so, Vonnegut spits out some huge themes about society, free will, and religion. Every single mention of death in the book, especially after the bombing of Dresden, was followed by the statement "So it goes." I think Vonnegut could have meant to convey one of two ideas. Either, (1) that people did not realize how much death really occurs in war and that war and death should not be taken lightly or (2) that all death is simply something that happens, and that it cannot be prevented by any means. Actually, now that I think about it, he might have been trying to say both. I'm not totally sure. But he does bring about an interesting concept of free will: that everything that happens is going to happen no matter what, and that choice is an illusion.

Also, I thought it was cool that Kurt Vonnegut was from Indiana, and says so quite a few times in the book.

Slaughterhouse-Three

The plot of Slaughterhouse-Five really took a turn towards WWII at the end, more so than the rest of the book. From this book, and from what I've heard about Cat's Cradle, I wouldn't consider Kurt Vonnegut a science fiction writer. The science fiction aspect of this book kind of dropped out in the middle, I don't think that it was his main focus to make that part of the book prevalent. As Vonnegut said in chapter 1 of the book, which is basically like an author's note, Slaughterhouse-Five was originally his great anti-war book detailing the bombing of Dresden, Germany in 1945. For a while, I sort of wondered when he would get into that more, but my questions were answered in the last 1/3 of the book, or about that amount. Vonnegut kept the same sarcastic tone, and there was still time travel for Billy, the main character, but it wasn't until about halfway through the novel that the title of the book was introduced. I thought that was interesting.

Close Reading Bingo

Sadness, Tears, and Broken Rules in Writing

Rule 6: In the exerpt from Cather in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, utilizes a use of simple, but complex vocabulary. http://barrellxc2012.blogspot.com/

Rule 1: On the subject of his parents, he says "they're touchy as hell." http://laughapalooza22.blogspot.com/

Rule 4: Also, the matter of fact way Baker describes the lobby makes the reader sense that this is somewhere to not be impressed with, its an everyday occurrence. http://skullandglossbones3.blogspot.com/

Rule 3: Although the language is simple in usage, it builds upon itself and becomes figuratively advanced. http://bookworm-days.blogspot.com/

I found that one of the best excerpts came from Intrusion of the Soul.

In this excerpt from his novel "Catcher in the Rye", J. D. Salinger's common and vulgar diction expresses the irksome discontent the protagonist has for the world. He excessively uses expletives and demonstrates the only implication of a simile is when something is compared to "as hell". This and his irritation of his current situation and Hollywood convey his resentful irritation of the artificiality which lies heavily in society. His employment of the hyperbole that his "parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything personal about them" underscore his hostile attitude toward their preoccupied parenting style and dark secrets they want kept hidden. The easily readable syntax invites the reader into Holden's world of aggravation. http://mallorymills94.blogspot.com/

Irksome is a great word.