So, I thought that May 18th was our last blog day so I created a final post, but now Mr. Hill wants a formalish one. Well, here goes....
(see my previous last post for all the mushy gushy stuff I wrote about this class) This semester I read 5,200 pages of pop literature (minus the few nonfiction pages I tried to read). As I picked up the many many many books I read during this semester, I found that I usually found my self curled up on my couch with something to drink (I like to drink water when I read, it's just some thing I do). When I read at home, I usually like to start my novels with complete silence, but i usually get so into them that half the time I can't hear my mom calling me to dinner. In all of the books, excluding the first book, I have read this semester, I have found that I could not put them down. I typically would start the book at my house and then I would get so into it that I would be sitting in class thinking about when I would get the chance to pick up my book again. I usually read during my math class (I know that's bad) when the teacher was going over our homework, and again in my study hall. Basically I would eat, sleep, and think about each book I read. When I read Water for Elephants, I talked about it with Mrs. Palmer because she had read the book earlier, so when I got to all the good stuff we just talked and talked and talked. I mainly talked about my books with my mom though because we basicially share bookshelves. Either I read a book she's read or she reads a book I've read and then we talk about it. It's kind of like we have our own two person book club! One thing I have learned about myself as a reader is that I really enjoy reading novels that are or will become movies. I love reading and watching the story then picking out similarites and differences. I also have realized that if you put a romance novel in front of, doesn't matter what kind, I will most definately read it and lov it. Overall, I have loved this class and I plan to keep reading and maybe I will make a new blog kind of like this one because I really have enjoyed blogging this semster! (some of my friends want me to make a Glee blog because I love it so much).
Thanks Mr. Hill for being an amazing teacher, this was by far my favorite class this semester :)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Farewell...it's been a great semester!
Well, today is the last day to blog for etymology. So, I've decided to reveal my identity. My name is Allison Murray (but I bet some of you already guessed who I was). I had so much fun blogging this semester, even though making all of those reading posts got a little annoying towards the end. Blogging was so much better than having to write about our reading in a journal. It's going to be weird coming home and not having to get on the computer everyday so I can make either a reading log or a personal post (I loved making those). Who knows, maybe I will create my own blog in the future? I hope Mr. Hill keeps doing this for his future classes!
I am going end my etymology blogging with this song from the Sound of Music...Maybe you can guess it :)
I am going end my etymology blogging with this song from the Sound of Music...Maybe you can guess it :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
What Happened to Goodbye...a summary
By: Sarah Dessen
Well, this is sad....this is my very last reading post ever. I have really enjoyed (and hated...not gonna lie) making these posts and it will be sad to never have to do them again....but oh well, life goes on :)
The main character in this book is Mclean. She currently lives with her dad. Her parents are divorced due to this messy affair that her mom had with the University basketball coach (scandalous, I know). Anyway, after a long and messy court debate, it was decided that Mclean would travel with her father. He goes and fixes up restaurants for a living, so he has to travel a lot. In each new city that Mclean lives in, she creates a different identity for herself because she really wants to leave Mclean's life behind, but when her dad is sent to fix up a restaurant in Lakeview, she ends up getting stuck with using her real name again. In Lakeview, she meets this guy named Dave (that's a shocker) and makes real friends. She didn't plan on making friends because she and her dad always move on to a new town after a few months, but making friends just kind of....happened. As she starts to live her life as Mclean again, she realizes that it's ok to have a messed up past as long as their are people in your future that are worth being with.
I was so excited when this book came out. Sarah Dessen is my favorite author (of young adult novels), and I have read every one of her books. I really liked this story, even though it wasn't my favorite. If any of you have read any Sarah Dessen books, I highly recommened this one. It is a fairly easy read and has a mix of drama and romance and funniness :)
Well, this is sad....this is my very last reading post ever. I have really enjoyed (and hated...not gonna lie) making these posts and it will be sad to never have to do them again....but oh well, life goes on :)
The main character in this book is Mclean. She currently lives with her dad. Her parents are divorced due to this messy affair that her mom had with the University basketball coach (scandalous, I know). Anyway, after a long and messy court debate, it was decided that Mclean would travel with her father. He goes and fixes up restaurants for a living, so he has to travel a lot. In each new city that Mclean lives in, she creates a different identity for herself because she really wants to leave Mclean's life behind, but when her dad is sent to fix up a restaurant in Lakeview, she ends up getting stuck with using her real name again. In Lakeview, she meets this guy named Dave (that's a shocker) and makes real friends. She didn't plan on making friends because she and her dad always move on to a new town after a few months, but making friends just kind of....happened. As she starts to live her life as Mclean again, she realizes that it's ok to have a messed up past as long as their are people in your future that are worth being with.
I was so excited when this book came out. Sarah Dessen is my favorite author (of young adult novels), and I have read every one of her books. I really liked this story, even though it wasn't my favorite. If any of you have read any Sarah Dessen books, I highly recommened this one. It is a fairly easy read and has a mix of drama and romance and funniness :)
Some Cute Videos :)
This video is of a little Korean boy singing Hey Jude by the Beatles!
This is of two little British kids (WATCH)
You have to go to 0:40 for the really funny part, but the whole video is really cute. Two little girls are singing tomorrow from the musical annie.
This little baby's laugh is so funny and cute :)
Ok, last one! This little baby's laugh is also quite adorable :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Safe Haven...A summary
By: Nicholas Sparks
This was my favorite book I have EVER read by Nicholas Sparks. I think I liked it so much because it was just so different than the other ones I have read by him. In the majority of his books a guy and a girl meet, they fall in love, and someone dies of cancer...then I end up bawling my eyes out even though I knew what was coming. So, when I got into this book, I was surprised to find out that it wasn't anything like I just described...
The main character in this book is a woman named Katie. She has moved to Southport, a small and safe town in North Carolina. She has a huge and crazy secret that she is trying to run away from. While in Southport, she meets and falls in love with this widowed man named Alex and his two children. Alex's wife had died of cancer (only mention of the disease in the ENTIRE book!) Katie also becomes best friends with her neighbor who has a secret of her own, but I can't tell you what it is because it would ruin the whole story ;) As Katie re-creates her life in Southport, she eventually trusts Alex and Jo with the truth of her past and her reasons for running away (I really want to say, but I don't want to spoil the book or anyone!) Let me just say that the life she left behind a life in which she knew a cccrraazzyy man who was a psyco-path. Anyways, this psycho path eventually discovers where she is hiding and comes after her, but Katie finds a away to be brave and stand up to face all of the horrors of her past.
I definately recommend this book to all those girls out there who love sappy romance novels...this one will deifinately make you cry!!
This was my favorite book I have EVER read by Nicholas Sparks. I think I liked it so much because it was just so different than the other ones I have read by him. In the majority of his books a guy and a girl meet, they fall in love, and someone dies of cancer...then I end up bawling my eyes out even though I knew what was coming. So, when I got into this book, I was surprised to find out that it wasn't anything like I just described...
The main character in this book is a woman named Katie. She has moved to Southport, a small and safe town in North Carolina. She has a huge and crazy secret that she is trying to run away from. While in Southport, she meets and falls in love with this widowed man named Alex and his two children. Alex's wife had died of cancer (only mention of the disease in the ENTIRE book!) Katie also becomes best friends with her neighbor who has a secret of her own, but I can't tell you what it is because it would ruin the whole story ;) As Katie re-creates her life in Southport, she eventually trusts Alex and Jo with the truth of her past and her reasons for running away (I really want to say, but I don't want to spoil the book or anyone!) Let me just say that the life she left behind a life in which she knew a cccrraazzyy man who was a psyco-path. Anyways, this psycho path eventually discovers where she is hiding and comes after her, but Katie finds a away to be brave and stand up to face all of the horrors of her past.
I definately recommend this book to all those girls out there who love sappy romance novels...this one will deifinately make you cry!!
My Celebrity Twin?
Recently I was told that I was a "spitting image" of the female singer in the duo Lady Antebellum. Personally, I can't see the resembelance all that much, but hey, I have always wanted a celebrity twin so I guess I will just go with it :)
Someone else I have been told that I look like it Jennifer Garner...now this one I think is a stretch haha :)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Poetry Anthology
The theme I have chosen for this project is First Love
My Poems:
1. Adam and Eve by Marjorie Pickthall
2. Coy Mistress by Annie Finch
3. The Best Slow Dancer by David Wagoner
4. First Love John Clare
5. "I wish I could Remember that firhst day" by Christina Rossetti
6. A Moment by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
7. Fate by Carolyn Wells
8. A Date by Kevin McFadden
9. Cave Dwellers by A. Poulin
10. Once We Played by Mathilde Blind
My Poems:
1. Adam and Eve by Marjorie Pickthall
2. Coy Mistress by Annie Finch
3. The Best Slow Dancer by David Wagoner
4. First Love John Clare
5. "I wish I could Remember that firhst day" by Christina Rossetti
6. A Moment by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
7. Fate by Carolyn Wells
8. A Date by Kevin McFadden
9. Cave Dwellers by A. Poulin
10. Once We Played by Mathilde Blind
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Twilight saga: the official guide pgs. 68-84
by: Stephanie Meyer
The section after Stephanie Meyer's interveiw is her interpretation of Vampires. She talks about why her vampires sparkle in the sun light. She also explains how, once transformed into a vampire, every imperfection that you may have had will completely disappear and be replaced with nothing, but complete beauty. She also talks about a vampire's supernatural abilities. In her world, all vampire's obtain the abilities of unnatural beauty, speed, and immortality, but only a few get "special" abilities. The vampire's that do get these excess abilities often get them because they were used quite often in their human lives. For example, Jasper can control people's emotions. This is because he was very caring and really cared about people's emotions when he was human.
After she talks about her vampires characteristics, Meyer goes into detail about the Vampire history. Apparantly, the oldest vampire's are the Romanians. They ruled for a long time, until a trio known as the Volturi rose to power. They have been in power since 500 a.d. The Volturi have establised a sort of kingom, with themselves at the top (the Kings basically). To maintain order in the Vampire world, the Volturi came up a few laws that every vampire must follow. Thei biggest rule is to keep their existence a secret. The only other major law is that no vampire is to create an immortal child. This is because once transformed, you are stuck with that level of maturity.
The last section in this "Vampire" section talks about what is a vampire Myth and what is true in Stephanie Meyer's world. According to Stephanie Meyer, the Volturi created the myths of burning in the sun, no reflection, sleep in coffins, etc.., to keep the humans from figuring out how similar real vampires are to humans (besides the blood-thirst and extreme beauty).
This section of the guide was very interesting to me because I have been interested in the Volturi's background ever since Edward mentioned them in the second book. It was cool to read that all of the myths that we have grown up hearing about vampires, are actually really myths (well, it's all just one big myth since Vampires aren't real, but I think you guys get what I mean) and that real vampires actually aren't all that different from humans.
The section after Stephanie Meyer's interveiw is her interpretation of Vampires. She talks about why her vampires sparkle in the sun light. She also explains how, once transformed into a vampire, every imperfection that you may have had will completely disappear and be replaced with nothing, but complete beauty. She also talks about a vampire's supernatural abilities. In her world, all vampire's obtain the abilities of unnatural beauty, speed, and immortality, but only a few get "special" abilities. The vampire's that do get these excess abilities often get them because they were used quite often in their human lives. For example, Jasper can control people's emotions. This is because he was very caring and really cared about people's emotions when he was human.
After she talks about her vampires characteristics, Meyer goes into detail about the Vampire history. Apparantly, the oldest vampire's are the Romanians. They ruled for a long time, until a trio known as the Volturi rose to power. They have been in power since 500 a.d. The Volturi have establised a sort of kingom, with themselves at the top (the Kings basically). To maintain order in the Vampire world, the Volturi came up a few laws that every vampire must follow. Thei biggest rule is to keep their existence a secret. The only other major law is that no vampire is to create an immortal child. This is because once transformed, you are stuck with that level of maturity.
The last section in this "Vampire" section talks about what is a vampire Myth and what is true in Stephanie Meyer's world. According to Stephanie Meyer, the Volturi created the myths of burning in the sun, no reflection, sleep in coffins, etc.., to keep the humans from figuring out how similar real vampires are to humans (besides the blood-thirst and extreme beauty).
This section of the guide was very interesting to me because I have been interested in the Volturi's background ever since Edward mentioned them in the second book. It was cool to read that all of the myths that we have grown up hearing about vampires, are actually really myths (well, it's all just one big myth since Vampires aren't real, but I think you guys get what I mean) and that real vampires actually aren't all that different from humans.
Best Commercial Ever!
Oh my Goodness!...this commercial came on while I was watching Raising Hope last night. I think it is the best commercial ever!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Ipads, Laptops, and Wiis Oh my!
I think it is just ridiculous that nowadays people think that the only ways to have fun are if you're playing with the latest downloadable app for your ipod or smart phone. Don't get me wrong, I love technology; I go to my Facebook account almost everyday. I just look back to the good ole days when my family used to have "family Game night" and play our favorite board games after we finished dinner. Now our usual post dinner activities include: my dad checking up on his fantasy football stuff (it's not even football season!), I get the laptop so I can do my blogging for etymology while listening to my ipod, and my mom and two sisters either watch TV or wait until it's their turn for the computer.
I don't think that all this technology is simply ruining family relationships, I think it also is ruining people's overall well being. I mean if you think about it...why is the obesity rate so high? It sure wasn't back in the 40's and earlier when kids actually had to go outside and play to enjoy life. I mean think about it, if you were given the option to go out and play soccer or sit inside and play Angry Birds on your ipod touch..Which would you choose?
I think all of this new technology is great and really fun to use, but I think our nation would be a lot better off if these new inventions were used in moderation. Why waste your life away starting at a computer screen when you could be out in the world looking at life for real?
I don't think that all this technology is simply ruining family relationships, I think it also is ruining people's overall well being. I mean if you think about it...why is the obesity rate so high? It sure wasn't back in the 40's and earlier when kids actually had to go outside and play to enjoy life. I mean think about it, if you were given the option to go out and play soccer or sit inside and play Angry Birds on your ipod touch..Which would you choose?
I think all of this new technology is great and really fun to use, but I think our nation would be a lot better off if these new inventions were used in moderation. Why waste your life away starting at a computer screen when you could be out in the world looking at life for real?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Here Comes the Bride...well, not yet
It's 4 in the morning on a day that is going to make history...and I get to watch (on my TV that is)! So far it's been pretty slow. Of the many channels that are showing this wedding, I have chosen to watch the Today shows channel and I am recording the coverage of the wedding on BBC.
The main newscasters are spread out and located in various parts where the wedding will take place. Matt, Al, and Laura are outside Buckingham Palace, Michelle is outside the hotel where Catherine Middleton and her father will leave in a very fancy car and drive to Westminster Abbey, and
The one thing on every one's mind is what will Catherine's dress look like? People everywhere are trying to guess just what her dress will look like. Some think she will wear something sweet and conservative while others think she will become a fashion icon and wear something more flashy and modern. Also, others wonder if Queen Elizabeth will offer to let Catherine wear a tiara, a lot of the women want Catherine to wear a tiara (I want her to wear a tiara!)
Another thing that I've noticed is that everyone has seemed to stop calling Kate Middleton Kate. They all refer to her as Catherine now. I just thought it was interesting :) Now that she is about to become a princess, everyone has gotten so formal.
The main newscasters are spread out and located in various parts where the wedding will take place. Matt, Al, and Laura are outside Buckingham Palace, Michelle is outside the hotel where Catherine Middleton and her father will leave in a very fancy car and drive to Westminster Abbey, and
The one thing on every one's mind is what will Catherine's dress look like? People everywhere are trying to guess just what her dress will look like. Some think she will wear something sweet and conservative while others think she will become a fashion icon and wear something more flashy and modern. Also, others wonder if Queen Elizabeth will offer to let Catherine wear a tiara, a lot of the women want Catherine to wear a tiara (I want her to wear a tiara!)
Another thing that I've noticed is that everyone has seemed to stop calling Kate Middleton Kate. They all refer to her as Catherine now. I just thought it was interesting :) Now that she is about to become a princess, everyone has gotten so formal.
Well, the ceremony starts at 6am so I am going to have to record most of it (stupid school), but I am so so excited! :D
 |
| This is West minister Abbey, the place that is holding hundreds of guests awaiting the arrival of Prince William and then princess to be Catherine |
 |
| This is Buckingham palace, the place where Prince William and Princess Kate will share their first public kiss as husband and wife. |
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Twilight Saga: the official guide pgs. 32-65
by: Stephanie Meyer
Stephanie's interview continues with her thoughts on how she handles readers and critics critisms. I learned from this that Stephanie is actually pretty self-concious about her writing and it pained her to know that there are people out there who do not like her series. She said that it really bothered her in the beginning, but as she wrote more of the novels she stated to accept that some people are just not going to like her books and that she can't impress everyone.
Another major thing that was talked about in this interview was how Stephanie Meyer took themes and concepts from books that she loves and incorporated them into her own story...I guess they're kind of like allusions. Some of the specific books she used and talked about incude: Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Merchant of Venice, and A Midsummer's Night Dream. It was really interesting to hear how these books inspired her and how hse hopes that her novels will inspire others. As she was talking she started talking about she kind of used the novel Jane Eyre in the Twilight Saga.
Stephanie Meyer also discussed how much her life has changed since her books became a worldwide phenomenon. One thing that she found hard to do was how she had to create two different personalities. She said that there was Stephanie: the loving mother and wife, and then there was Stephanie Meyer: the author of these really popular books. The one who has to go to book signings and do interviews. She als says in the interview that in the beginning she had a pretty hard time balancing life and writing. She said that when her children were little she would put everyone in a room and the kids would play while she wrote, but they were all together so if anything happened she was there. One thing that Stephanie Meyer said she is grateful is the support that she gets from her kids, husband, and friends. She said that her kids know that if she's working on a novel they aren't allowed to bother her unless someone is bleeding.
Response:
I am learning so much about Stephanie Meyer as an author by reading this...I'm also learning a bit of information about writing novels. I want to be a published children's book author when I get older (along with being a teacher), and even though Meyer does chapter books for teenagers, the writing process is pretty much th same. I have been getting some great tips on how to write good things! :D
Stephanie's interview continues with her thoughts on how she handles readers and critics critisms. I learned from this that Stephanie is actually pretty self-concious about her writing and it pained her to know that there are people out there who do not like her series. She said that it really bothered her in the beginning, but as she wrote more of the novels she stated to accept that some people are just not going to like her books and that she can't impress everyone.
Another major thing that was talked about in this interview was how Stephanie Meyer took themes and concepts from books that she loves and incorporated them into her own story...I guess they're kind of like allusions. Some of the specific books she used and talked about incude: Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Merchant of Venice, and A Midsummer's Night Dream. It was really interesting to hear how these books inspired her and how hse hopes that her novels will inspire others. As she was talking she started talking about she kind of used the novel Jane Eyre in the Twilight Saga.
Stephanie Meyer also discussed how much her life has changed since her books became a worldwide phenomenon. One thing that she found hard to do was how she had to create two different personalities. She said that there was Stephanie: the loving mother and wife, and then there was Stephanie Meyer: the author of these really popular books. The one who has to go to book signings and do interviews. She als says in the interview that in the beginning she had a pretty hard time balancing life and writing. She said that when her children were little she would put everyone in a room and the kids would play while she wrote, but they were all together so if anything happened she was there. One thing that Stephanie Meyer said she is grateful is the support that she gets from her kids, husband, and friends. She said that her kids know that if she's working on a novel they aren't allowed to bother her unless someone is bleeding.
Response:
I am learning so much about Stephanie Meyer as an author by reading this...I'm also learning a bit of information about writing novels. I want to be a published children's book author when I get older (along with being a teacher), and even though Meyer does chapter books for teenagers, the writing process is pretty much th same. I have been getting some great tips on how to write good things! :D
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A Royal Wedding is only days away!
 |
| aren't they just the cutest?!?! |
The other day lifetime did a 5 part documentary that talked about how William and Kate's relationship went from college friends to the most talked about couple in the world. I did in fact watch his whole thing, it was so good :) Lifetime also made an original movie that was about how the pair met, became friends, and eventually fell in love. The actors that played both Kate and William did a great job of portraying the royal couple :D
Be sure to DVR the wedding on Friday...it will be on like every major news channel and it starts at 4a.m!!!!
this is the trailer for the lifetime movie...check it out! I also suggest watching the movie (you can find it on lifetime.com...it's only like an hour and a half long)
Vote for Tales of a Bibliophile!
I voted for the blog Tales of a Bibliophile. http://123tidbit.blogspot.com/2011/04/neato.html <--- this link goes to one of her posts where she has a few really cool pictures. these pictures were both cute and gave me a good little laugh. I love the variety of each of this person's posts. Keep up the good Work!!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Twilight Saga: The official illustrated guide pgs. 1-31
By: Stephanie Meyer
The first part of the book is an interview with Stephanie Meyer. I learned a lot of new stuff in this interview (and I though I knew everything there is to know about Twilight). The first topic that was discussed was How it all began. Now this was not new to me, I think everyone in the entire Universe knows that the Twilight saga began with a dream...Stephanie Meyer's dream to be exact. She had a dream about this guy who was not human, and a girl talking in a meadow. When Meyer woke up, she started writing...and BOOM! Twilight hit. The new stuff that I read was when Stephanie Meyer was talking about how afraid she was to write the series. She said that as she was writing she couldn't even think about selling it to a publisher because she was afraid that everyone would hate it. Originally, she wasn't even oing to get the book published at all. (Can you imagine how tragic that would have been?!?! Thank goodness she got the courage to publish the book!)
The second part of the interview was about her characters coming to life. The first character she talked about was Jacob, good `ole annoying Jacob. I have to say I liked what I read though...Stephanie said that her first draft of Twilight didn't even have Jacob in it. Apparantly Jacob wasn't even supposed to have existed, but Meyer said that she had to add him when she hit a wall because she couldn't make Edward say the words "I am a vampire" to Bella. So, she created a sub character that could help Bella figure it out on her own. Stephanie Meyer also said that when her editor read the version of Twilight that had Jacob's character in it, she wanted to know more about him. That's why Meyer created the werewolf storyline. Stephanie Meyer also talked about how if she had to go back and re-write the entire series she doesn't think that she could make her characters make different choices. Bella is always going to choose Edward, Edward is always going to leave, and Jacob is always going to fall in love with Bella. She talked about how each of her characters have a mind of their own and how they in a sense wrote the story.
I have been waiting to read this book forever!! The coolest part about this book is that it's written in book form so it feels like I am actually reading another one of Stephanie Meyer's novels :)
The first part of the book is an interview with Stephanie Meyer. I learned a lot of new stuff in this interview (and I though I knew everything there is to know about Twilight). The first topic that was discussed was How it all began. Now this was not new to me, I think everyone in the entire Universe knows that the Twilight saga began with a dream...Stephanie Meyer's dream to be exact. She had a dream about this guy who was not human, and a girl talking in a meadow. When Meyer woke up, she started writing...and BOOM! Twilight hit. The new stuff that I read was when Stephanie Meyer was talking about how afraid she was to write the series. She said that as she was writing she couldn't even think about selling it to a publisher because she was afraid that everyone would hate it. Originally, she wasn't even oing to get the book published at all. (Can you imagine how tragic that would have been?!?! Thank goodness she got the courage to publish the book!)
The second part of the interview was about her characters coming to life. The first character she talked about was Jacob, good `ole annoying Jacob. I have to say I liked what I read though...Stephanie said that her first draft of Twilight didn't even have Jacob in it. Apparantly Jacob wasn't even supposed to have existed, but Meyer said that she had to add him when she hit a wall because she couldn't make Edward say the words "I am a vampire" to Bella. So, she created a sub character that could help Bella figure it out on her own. Stephanie Meyer also said that when her editor read the version of Twilight that had Jacob's character in it, she wanted to know more about him. That's why Meyer created the werewolf storyline. Stephanie Meyer also talked about how if she had to go back and re-write the entire series she doesn't think that she could make her characters make different choices. Bella is always going to choose Edward, Edward is always going to leave, and Jacob is always going to fall in love with Bella. She talked about how each of her characters have a mind of their own and how they in a sense wrote the story.
I have been waiting to read this book forever!! The coolest part about this book is that it's written in book form so it feels like I am actually reading another one of Stephanie Meyer's novels :)
Water for Elephants....my movie review
Water for Elephants was such an amazing movie! I love love loved it!! The crew did such an awesome job of making sure that it was like the book. The only parts that weren't put on the screen exaclty were the pretty gruesome parts...and I was definately ok with that. Now many people are not fans of Robert Pattinson because he plays Edward in Twilight (not me though I LOVE HIM), but all I want to say to those people is this: you need to give him a chance and go see this movie. He does such an amazing job, and I am not just saying this from a fan girl's perspective. He really was great, it was nice to see him in a role other thn Edward, he is growing as an actor and that is just so awesome :) The other stand out character for me was the man who played August. Man, did he nail his role right down to every minor detail. He was nice when he was supposed to be, and he was a jerk when he was supposed to be. It was so good. I recommend this movie to all types of movie goers because it has a little bit of everything in it. There is the romance between Jacob and Marlena, the action when people get beat up and an animal stampede, and there is even a little bit of history on what circus life was like in 1930's. Such a great and well rounded film!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wicked...a condensed summary
by: Gragory Maguire
So I kinda went reading crazy and finiashed the rest of Wicked today. I am going to do a super condensed summary, so bear with me!
Years after they graduate Shiz (not Elfie remember, she dropped out), Fieyro finds Elphaba in the Emerald City. She is reluctant to be with him at first, but they soon have this crazy love affair that lasts until he gets captured by the Wizards guards. After hearing about Fiyero's death Elfie goes into a state of shock that lasts for seven years, during she may or may not have given birth to a son named Liir (this kid follows her around throughout the rest of the book). She fianlly comes to and decides to go to Kiamo Ko castle and get Sarmia (Fiyero's wife) to forgive her for comtitting adultry. At Kiamo Ko Elfie becomes a part of Sarima's family and lives somewhat happily with them until she must go see Nessa. During this time, she discovers her flying broomstick, the Grimmerie, and Chistery (he's not a flying monkey yet). She gets a message from her father asking to go to mucnhkinland and talk to Nessa, and while there Elpfie realizes that her sisiter is considered the "Wicked Witch of the East" and all the munchkins hater her. She leaves Munchkinland and does not return for twelve years...for Nessa's funeral.
After the infamous Cyclone that brought Dorothy to Oz, Elfie sees Glinda for the first time and learns that she gave Dorothy her sisters magical shoes. She sets out to find Dorothy before she gets to the Emaerald city and gives the Wizard the shoes. During her hunt for Dorothy, Elphaba becomes a little crazy, and by the time Dorothy is sent to Kiamo Ko by the Wizard to murder Elpfie, she considers herself the "Wicked Witch of the West." When Dorothy arives at Kiamo Ko, Elfie is initally very kind to Dorothy. She only gets upset when Dorothy tells her that she literally cannot take of the shoes...Dorothy was willing to give them to her. Anyway, somehow Elfie's dress gets caught on fire, and Dorothy throws the bucket of water onto Elfie to try and estinguish the fire. She didn't know it was going to kill the Witch. After Elfie dies, all of Oz celebrates and the Wizard finally realizes that he sent a little girl to murder his own daughter....so, discusted with himself, he leavfes Oz forever.
Response:
This book was...different. That's what I would say if I had to describe it in one word. I really admire Gragory Maguire's style of writing and the diction he uses. Too bad I hadn't read this for the around the world essay because it would have been so fun to do an analytical paragraph for a passage from the book. I really loved Mr. Maguires take on how he thought the events in Oz really happened....he is definately a very creative person. The only thing that bothered me was the end, and if you've seen the musical, you will know what I'm talking about :)
So I kinda went reading crazy and finiashed the rest of Wicked today. I am going to do a super condensed summary, so bear with me!
Years after they graduate Shiz (not Elfie remember, she dropped out), Fieyro finds Elphaba in the Emerald City. She is reluctant to be with him at first, but they soon have this crazy love affair that lasts until he gets captured by the Wizards guards. After hearing about Fiyero's death Elfie goes into a state of shock that lasts for seven years, during she may or may not have given birth to a son named Liir (this kid follows her around throughout the rest of the book). She fianlly comes to and decides to go to Kiamo Ko castle and get Sarmia (Fiyero's wife) to forgive her for comtitting adultry. At Kiamo Ko Elfie becomes a part of Sarima's family and lives somewhat happily with them until she must go see Nessa. During this time, she discovers her flying broomstick, the Grimmerie, and Chistery (he's not a flying monkey yet). She gets a message from her father asking to go to mucnhkinland and talk to Nessa, and while there Elpfie realizes that her sisiter is considered the "Wicked Witch of the East" and all the munchkins hater her. She leaves Munchkinland and does not return for twelve years...for Nessa's funeral.
After the infamous Cyclone that brought Dorothy to Oz, Elfie sees Glinda for the first time and learns that she gave Dorothy her sisters magical shoes. She sets out to find Dorothy before she gets to the Emaerald city and gives the Wizard the shoes. During her hunt for Dorothy, Elphaba becomes a little crazy, and by the time Dorothy is sent to Kiamo Ko by the Wizard to murder Elpfie, she considers herself the "Wicked Witch of the West." When Dorothy arives at Kiamo Ko, Elfie is initally very kind to Dorothy. She only gets upset when Dorothy tells her that she literally cannot take of the shoes...Dorothy was willing to give them to her. Anyway, somehow Elfie's dress gets caught on fire, and Dorothy throws the bucket of water onto Elfie to try and estinguish the fire. She didn't know it was going to kill the Witch. After Elfie dies, all of Oz celebrates and the Wizard finally realizes that he sent a little girl to murder his own daughter....so, discusted with himself, he leavfes Oz forever.
Response:
This book was...different. That's what I would say if I had to describe it in one word. I really admire Gragory Maguire's style of writing and the diction he uses. Too bad I hadn't read this for the around the world essay because it would have been so fun to do an analytical paragraph for a passage from the book. I really loved Mr. Maguires take on how he thought the events in Oz really happened....he is definately a very creative person. The only thing that bothered me was the end, and if you've seen the musical, you will know what I'm talking about :)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Beastly: My Movie Review
Last Saturday I went to see Beastly at the cheap theater with my friend Melanie (it was a pretty spur of the moment idea...but those plans are always the best!). Anyway, we both LOVED it! It was so very different from the book, like there were basically no similarities what so ever. So that was kind of disappointing, but I still thought it was a good movie. It is one of those movies that you rent when you're hanging out with a couple of girlie friends and gush over how extremely HOT the lead actor is. (and he is so scrumtous!) Vanessa Hudgens really surprised me in this role. Personally, I didn't think she was all that great in High School Musical so I was a little worried about how she would portray Lindy. She did such a good job. My favorite scene was one where she was talking to Kyle (in beast form) and they were so awkward around each other. It was great :)
The best part of the entire movie had to have been in the very last scene (don't worry, I won't spoil anything). Vanessa Hudgen was wearing TOMS! It was so funny becasue me and my friend noticed at the exact same time so we both kinda loud whipsered it and then we started cracking up. This guy behind us got all made was was like "SHHH!!!", but I don't really know why he got so mad because the movie was over....oh well :)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wicked Part II: The Charmed Circle (pgs. 167-228)
By: Gregory Maguire
Summary:
Glinda's Ama did not handle Dr. Dillamond's death very well and went into a state of craziness and had to be hospitalized. Madame Morrible told Glinda and Elphaba that they could not attend Shiz unchaperoned. So, she sent for Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, and Nanny to come to Shiz. Nessa, is 3 years younger than Elphaba and has a deformity...she has no arms and has trouble keeping her balance. Nessa is also exceptionally beautiful...quite the opposite of Elphie. Glinda is starting to realize that she has changed since her arrival at Shiz. Dr. Dillamond's death seemed to have changed the way she looks at life. She is no longer the vain girl who cared only about her looks and treated Eplhie poorly, in fact, she now considers Elphaba as a friend.
A few days after Dr. Dillamond's death, a new teacher was assigned his position and started teaching the class about the new techniques used to prevent Animals from gainig the ability to speak. During a lesson, a new student enters th class. His name is Fieyro and he is a Winki prince. Elphie, Glinda and crew immediately accept Fieyro and imclude him in all of their shennaniggans. Nessa gets a package from their father and is surprised to see that got her a pair of beautiful and dazzling shoes. Glinda asked Eplhie wht she did not receive a gift and Elphie explained that Nessa had always been the favorite.
A few days later, Glinda's Ama passes away and after her funeral, Elphie tells Glinda that they are going to the Emerald City to speak to the Wizard. they travel to the Emerald City and are very frightnened by the Great and Terrible Oz. Elphie tried to explain about the issue with the Animals and gets extremely upset when the Wizard does not agree to help her. After their meeting with the Wizard, Elphie tells Glinda that she will not be returning back to Shiz with her....
Response:
 |
| Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba :) |
Glinda's Ama did not handle Dr. Dillamond's death very well and went into a state of craziness and had to be hospitalized. Madame Morrible told Glinda and Elphaba that they could not attend Shiz unchaperoned. So, she sent for Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, and Nanny to come to Shiz. Nessa, is 3 years younger than Elphaba and has a deformity...she has no arms and has trouble keeping her balance. Nessa is also exceptionally beautiful...quite the opposite of Elphie. Glinda is starting to realize that she has changed since her arrival at Shiz. Dr. Dillamond's death seemed to have changed the way she looks at life. She is no longer the vain girl who cared only about her looks and treated Eplhie poorly, in fact, she now considers Elphaba as a friend.
A few days after Dr. Dillamond's death, a new teacher was assigned his position and started teaching the class about the new techniques used to prevent Animals from gainig the ability to speak. During a lesson, a new student enters th class. His name is Fieyro and he is a Winki prince. Elphie, Glinda and crew immediately accept Fieyro and imclude him in all of their shennaniggans. Nessa gets a package from their father and is surprised to see that got her a pair of beautiful and dazzling shoes. Glinda asked Eplhie wht she did not receive a gift and Elphie explained that Nessa had always been the favorite.
A few days later, Glinda's Ama passes away and after her funeral, Elphie tells Glinda that they are going to the Emerald City to speak to the Wizard. they travel to the Emerald City and are very frightnened by the Great and Terrible Oz. Elphie tried to explain about the issue with the Animals and gets extremely upset when the Wizard does not agree to help her. After their meeting with the Wizard, Elphie tells Glinda that she will not be returning back to Shiz with her....
Response:
So in this little section, there were basically NO similiarites. First of all, in the musical Dr. Dillamond does not die...I mean that's so depressing! Another descrpiton that is not similar is their trip to Oz....basically that whole part of the story is so confusinmg to me. Oh well, if I try not to compare the book the the musical, I am finding that I really enjoy the stroy :) I especilly like how everyone is like best friends....I hope I can have close friends like this when I'm away at college!
This is the scene after Dr. Dillamond gets fired, and Elphie and G(a)linda's trip to the Emerald City.
And this is their encounter with the not so Wonderful Wizard of Oz I have two fun facts for you: This Elphaba is the FIRST Elphaba that I saw live...and when I watched her perfom Defying Gravity the first time my jaw dropped and it brought tears to my eyes...she is amazing.)
Saturday, April 16, 2011
OMMMGGGG!!!
So my favorite teen author is Sarah Desson. I have read every single one of her books and love them all except for Keeping the Moon, but that was her fist book so I have to cut her some slack. Anyways, I visit her website a lot because I enjoy reading her blog, she seems like a pretty cool person and has a great sense of humor. Well, I was just visiting her site and the first thing I saw was that she has a new book coming out in May! I am so excited!!! The book is called What Happened to Goodbye; it looks really good based on the little summary she wrote about the book. I am looking forward to May 10! :D (we will still be in school so I will get to blog about it!!)<----- This is what the cover looks like!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)