Online Publishing

I posted a story on Teen Ink. Here's the link:
http://www.teenink.com/fiction/thriller_mystery/article/378575/No-way-Out/

P.S. - You guys have probably already read this, its from class.

Lord of the Flies

FINALE!

The Lord of the Flies is done. I must say, it was a great book, definatly not what I was expecting for must of the part. I can't wait to do my book talk, I already have it planned. See you all Wednesday! (5/23)

          - Jordan

Lord of the Flies!

Ok, so Lord of the Flies is really good. It has already gotten better. There have been fights and stuff, but I think they're working through it. So, the boys have food and water and stuff, and one boy just killed a boar. Pretty cool. The main characters are few - like four so far - and kind of oppinion based. There are also some minor characters, but they don't move the story much. Back to reading!

Book Review

So, I choose Lord of the Flies by William Golding for my book report. I just started it, and it's pretty good so far. I really like how it just jumps right into the adventure. There isn't any introducing-the-characters type thing. At first, I thought the book wouldn't be very good because the boy's english was worded weird, but it's getting better. I really hope the book is as awesome as it sounds!

TEOGROMITMM vs. The Capulets!

Please note: This is not a real fight. There will be no injuries, and we will not be going to a boxing ring, or anything of the sort. Understand? Thank you for your consideration.

AH! Its like surprise homework. Just went back over my homework sheet and found this blog post! Sorry for the lateness.

Okay, so the Capulets and the Hunsdorfers are pretty close in comparison in some ways. Juliet is practically a match for Tillie (obviously with just different interests in mind...). Juliet wants to see Romeo, while in Tillie's case she wants to learn more about the atom. Both their parents are against what each respective child wants to do. Capulet won't allow Juliet to see Romeo and Beatrice won't let Tillie go to school.
Ruth is a hard one to put up to. I guess she could be a Tybalt, because they both are the trouble making sort.
This also is a different one, but I'm matching Mr. Goodman to Frair Lawrence. Both are kind of the helpers behind the scenes you could say. The goal is to support either Juliet or Tillie.
For Contrasting, I could put the goals of the girls (love for Juliet, knowledge for Tillie), and I guess the kind of "cruelty" dished out. Both adults also treat/take care of/handle, their children differently. (And the love balance for their children definatly shows.)

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds

Act I

Relating to this play -  This play is really hard to relate to, but I guess if I had to choose someone, it would be Tillie. She is laughed at for not being like everyone else, but shes really smart. Her moter, Beatrice, doesn't allow her to do certain things. But, I guess I could relate to that akwardness, and stuff. I, too, love school and can really get into some subjects.
With the others, I cant see myself in Ruth, or Beatrice for that matter. Nanny? No.

Romeo and Juliet Essay

I journaled about Romeo for my project

Throughout the play, Romeo practically did a one-eighty. From his feelings to his life, everything changed. At the start of the play, Romeo was portrayed as a fragile, love-sick child. (well, maybe not a child, but you know what  I mean right?) He practically moped about the scenes, his heart broken by his love Rosaline, who vowed to never marry.

Upon receiving information on a party Rosaline would be attending, he was determined to see her. I guess things didn’t go as plan, because Romeo met Juliet instead. He fell face-first in love with her, kissing her after minutes. With her being a Capulet, and him being a Montague, things did not bode well for the young pair. In there somewhere is a marriage, and the quarreling families are secretly joined by “The Powers That Be.” (Yeah, I mean God.) So, Romeo skips off, meeting up with Mercutio and Benvolio. With the luck of a tragedy, Mercutio and Tybalt die and Romeo is banned from Verona.

Romeo high tails it to Mantua with Balthasar. Back in Verona, Juliet is set to marry Paris. Inlay deceit and anger – all that nasty stuff….And voila! Master plan of “killing” Juliet and cue the turmoil. Romeo is lured back home to Juliet’s tomb. He drowns himself in heart-chilling poetry (and a little poison of course.). Just as it happens Juliet wakes seconds later and also kills herself – for real this time – with Romeo’s dagger.

Thus ends this play.

Romeo and Juliet

Act One

First, the way Shakespeare writes is sort of confusing. I mean, you get the idea of what hes saying, but not entirely. (But yes, I know it's old English. I don't need anyone to tell me that.) Interesting story plot, and I guess you could say I'm looking forward to Act Two.
Characters...Well, Juliet seems okay. Romeo just seems pathetic - he just mopes about, sighing and stuff. Some of Romeo's friends are also okay, they pick fights but that's not to bad. They seem to care quite a bit. Tybalt just seems arrogant and mean. And the Lords and Ladies seem okay - again.

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail

Blogging....

1. Oh, the Irony...
          ~ One example of irony is when the newly named Henry Williams dies a free man. After all those years in slavery, finally being free costs him his life. I guess his name didn't get much use after all.
          ~ Another example of irony is how much of a hypocrite Waldo is. He spends all this time speaking of god, love and peace, only to end up fighting with his living consious. He yells at Henry because he says hes doing all he can to speak out, but in Henry's oppinion Waldo isn't doing enough.

2. Characters and Actors - all the more fakes
          ~ The most important character of the lot, would be Henry. This play is about him, isn't it? Anyway, I don't really get into the actor buisness, so I really have no idea who to choose for who. I guess for Henry I would either have Matt Smith, or Johnny Depp play the role. Both are slightly mad, insane more like it, but they are also smart in their own way. Yet all the same when it comes to Henry. Crazy? (more to Smith)
          ~ Waldo is also an important character. I'm a bit stuck with the actor... Preferably someone old, slightly intelligent, gets a joke, and thinks hes can do good but doesn't do much of how to go about it.
          ~ Last, but not least (still got the protesting to do :) ) there is John. John is practicly everything to Henry. Insperation, hope, thoughtful silence maybe his existance. He is very calm, cool in the head, not much to explain here. Don't know who would play him, again, I'm awful at this... Anyone with the above description anyway.

3. Protesting - protest the impossible and live to tell the tale. Or at least get out of Jail.
          Ah, the never-ending battle in which Henry is locked in. In the end, I don't think hes all too successful. I mean, everyone still has to pay their taxes, war still wages with foreigners (sometimes ourselves) and we are still not free from the public eye. I feel like in the end, he just gave up. He walked, right back to Society if you will. The fight just died in him, or was taken out by our unjust (in Henry's eyes) civilization/world.

Until next week! Or maybe not....

                    ~ Jordan

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail

A Play - Act one

First - He is one of my favorite poets/qoutes!!!!!
Second - Homework:

Henry: Our own school, John. No buildings. Break out of the classroom prison. All we need is the sky! (24)

  Personally, I find Transcendentalism very interesting. It would be like puting your own spin on religion. "I believe in Me. Nature is my sanctuary and I ponder my praise upon its endless hills. In the One Mind, all is connected and all is a belief in one's self."
  Anyway, back to the qoute. Transcendentalism is besically the belief that one's soul is rooted deeply to nature, and that our ideas "transcend" the natural world as we see it. (In tune, if you will) Henry David Thoreau is a Transcendentalist. This qoute shows that he feels at home, or even free in nature. "All we need" - Thoreau shows how much you can learn from your surroundings, no need of textbooks. (Also called Huckleberrying - learning from surroundings, no guide). Buildings and rules are binds and confinement. To do things right, you must teach yourself.

A Perfect Day for Bananafish

Before I start, I just want to say that I really liked A Perfect Day for Bananafish. Though in the begining it was boring with Muriel and her mom. Part of me thinks that it was so mixed up, that it was wonderful. Now back to questions:

1) Muriel - is hard to put together. I would imagine her to be either Sally, or maybe even what Jane would be like. She does play the 'girlfriend part,' but she is also the one who stays with Seymour.

2) Mother - not to big of a part. She worries so much. Maybe Sally (again) or even what Holden's mother would have been like.

3) Seymour - he was my favorite. He reminds me of Holden - childish, sort of immature and has his own view of the world. He also has a few problems under his sleeve just like Holden, even though his may be bigger. (Warning: symptoms include death...)

4) Sybil - definatly Pheobe. She is so childlike, and believes anything you tell her. A true child at heart.

The Catcher in the Rye, Chapters 13 - 19

No Review this week.

The Catcher in the Rye, Chapters 7 - 12

This book is turning out really good...

1. If I was Holden, though I don't think I ever would turn out like that, I don't know where I would go. I would be pretty depressed, getting kicked out of school and all. My first choice would be home. I know my parents would be mad at me, but they are my family, I would have to turn up eventually. They are also the closest to me. I depend on them, though since I am not in that situation, I'm not so sure. What I am sure about, is that I would not run off and stay in a hotel. Final Answer: Home. Family. Face the fact of my fail.

2. Jane, as far as I can tell, is imensly important to Holden. He devotes a whole chapter to her! He remembers all the great times with her, what she is like and her habits. He mentions, more than a few times, how much he wants to give her a call. He wants to talk to someone, it seems almost anyone, even his 'kid sister' Pheobe. Jane almost seems to be a conection to his more responsible, mature self. He doesn't act so sarcastic, or horse around so much with her. She is very important to him. She is someone so different than everyone else, that she consumes the majority of his thoughts.

3. How true that quote can be at times, yet so utterly wrong at others. Many times have I had things ruined for me by others. Yet, on the same viewpoint, others have helped me so, so much. There have been so many times where people have ruined things for me, and I would get so angry and frustrated... Even if it was an accident. Once, someone else, I won't name them here, took my idea and got the credit for it. Another time another person, they lied their way into something I was heading for. So, I guess it really just depends on the person at hand.

The Catcher in the Rye, Chapters 1-6

Started The Catcher in the Rye this week! I guess I'll have to get my mind off Greek gods...

1. Unique - I think, that to be unique is to be you. To be your own person, not just copy someone else. You need to stand out, and sometimes just do something where someone will say, "Only they would do that..." Being unique is letting your charictaristics show. Look the way you want, say what you want, and do what you want.

2. The Adult World - Keeping individuality in the adult world is like keeping a peice of childhood inside you. You sheild a part of yourself, keeping it tucked away inside you, so you aren't like everyone else. Life after school isn't all meetings and work, to be an individual, unlike anyone else, is to do something different with your life. Spontaneous. Instead of, "I want to be a fast food cashier." be the one who walks up to someone you don't know and say, "I want to be an astronomer, and a marine biologist at the same time!" And walk away talking to yourself, muttering about how to get fish to the moon. (Holden Caulfield is a perfect example of keeping individuality, a little piece of childhood in this case, in a maturing world. He 'horses around' quite a bit, and does things no one else would do.)

3. Allie vs. my Favorite Person - I don't really have a favorite person... It's really hard to pick just one. But I have an idea of what characteristics that all those people would have, and they are just like Allie. Kind, creative, caring, interesting, and very unique themselves. I really liked the part about the poems on the baseball mitt. It's a really cool idea, very creative.
And after writing all this, I still can't choose a favorite person...

Can't wait to start reading more!

The Odyssey, Books 18 - 24. THE END!

First off, I want to say that I loved the book, but in some parts it was very annoying. (No, I won't say that I hated it, but I would have liked to skip them. But I didn't.)
Most of the end was a total prediction waiting to happen. Big fight, talk, talk, talk, sorta happy ending. yeah..... Not the best ending, but I guess I can take it.
For the last couple of pages I was waiting  for the book to be finished, but when the ending came, it seemed abrupt. I was hoping for a more glorious finish to Ulysses' final step of his journey. A kind of "event".
Ulysses is a brave and strong person, I would say he was a hero, but he isn't very humble. He brags and boasts frequently and doesn't have very much mercy. When Ulysses went to tell his father he was home,  he began to lie to his father! about who he was after he had been gone for 20 years! He should have run to him, hugged him, and been beyond happy to finally see him again. I figure thats how most people would act.

Last Words: Loved the book. I would definatly recemend the Odyssey to others.
Hooray! Hope to start another book soon.

The Odyssey, Books 13 - 17

I am so happy that Ulysses' story is finally over! I really enjoy the book so far, but it does get sidetracked quite a bit. What really surprised me was the Ulysses' told another story in book 14, how many stories is there going to be?

There have been  some parts that I found to be confusing with switching of perspectives and all, though.This whole section was basically stories and plotting against the suitors. I wish that something more exciting had happened other than what happened in the stories. Every other paragrah was something like, "And Ulysses went and sat in the corner, plotting his revenge on the ungrateful and greedy suitors." Yeah, like normal people do that, why not just laugh like a maniac while rubbing your hands together.

I found that it was more difficult to post my thoughts as I was reading, because in the paragraph it would be answered. But something that wasn't answered directly in the text was why Ulysses had to keep Penelope in the dark. Was it because she might spread the word to others that weren't supposed to know? Like the suitors? I was also wondering when they are going to take their revenge. It seems like they should do it sooner rather than later for the well-being of the others.

The Odyssey, Books 11-12

After reading book 11, I was beginning to wonder how long this was taking Ulysses to tell his story. It took alot of pages. Anyway, Ulysses visits Hades land. When Ulysses was with the ghosts, what were the other men thinking?  He didn't do much except talk to the ghosts.
There were some really awful deaths in this book, as well as in book 12. Homer must have been pretty good with his imagination to think of so many ways to kill people. 
In book 12, there were Sirens. When Eurylochus told the men to kill the cows, I was wondering if Ulysses told the men what would befall them if they did? He must have not told them the full effects of it since they did it anyways. . .