TODAY's (or is it yesterday... uhm... ??) Reading Reflection...

Well today I just picked up a new book at Ms. Crabtree's room. It is called "The Last Domino" (or something similar.... I don't have the book right now... *_*). I just read the first 10-15 pages of the book in the 20-min silence reading in class. It's about about a kid has trouble with school, always being made fun of, always shy, always wanted to do the right thing but always ended up with a mess, always wanted to stand up against those "not-so-funny" funny jokes but could never find the courage. However he has the courage to bring a GUN .... (yes a gun) to school.

I knew immediately that "The Last Domino" is not the usual type of book I would read just by reading the first page. However, there is something about the main character and his situation that appeal to me . May be it is because I have never been through the same thing he (the main character) is going through. Or maybe I'm changing my taste. But either way I know (for sure) that this book succeed in capture my attention but failed to make me continue reading it

...

My..uhm.. Life... No...No.... This is My READING Life

I'm a type of reader that can be completely glued to the book once the book caught my attention. However, I just can't stand reading nonsense books (especially book about love). I like reading horror, full of actions, full of twist, full of surprises and suspense books. (My brother actually thinks I am a weird girl just because I like those kind of book ^_^... he just doesn't understand...*_*)

Anyways, I enjoy my reading life so far because I ended up liking every single book I picked up. Also even though some of the blog assignments seems to be unnecessary (to me), I think that blogging in English class is a great idea ( I don't know why...)

OK I guess I should talk about my favorite book. I actually have read 3 books already but still I'm starting another one (just because I like to read ^^). My favorite out of the 3 is Angel ( you can see the book cover in my blog's main page). I guess it is because of the psychological events going on in the main character's (Freya) life. May be it is also because I feel identical to the main character's personality.....

Reflection toward my reading book : Angle by Cliff McNish

The book did not make me laugh, make me cry, cringe, or make me cheer. Instead it makes me think. Even after going through the last page and putting the book down, I could not stop thinking about the main character, Freya, and what she did. OK I guess I should briefly summarize my book so you know what I'm talking about. Freya is half human and half angel. She got a wing and some power to conform and save people in dangerous situation. However, since she is half human, she would die if she tries to hard to save those people. She is like most people in the earth: always wanted to do the right things but somewhat selfish and afraid of the consequences. Being able to help strangers solve their problems or conform them in times of difficult delights Freya. But when helping those strangers requires more than a hug, Freya and perhaps most of us would let the selfish parts of our souls take over. I think that the main theme of the whole book is that people are usually uncapable of sacrifice themself for some strangers but most people are more than willingly to risk their life for ones they love.

Mauritius

I think that in Mauritius the older sister (Mary) is the most "right" person but also the cruelest character in the whole play. She is right about the ownership of the stamp but she is wrong in understanding Jackie, the younger sister, and the financial difficult she is in. If I was Mary I would still hold on to the stamp and prevent Jackie to sell it unlawfully. But I would give my personal saving to Jackie instead so that Jackie would still get over with those bills without breaking the law and my heart.
I am happy to say that my relationship with my sibling is much better than Jackie's and Mary's. We help each other alot and take time to understand each other. Even though we have a lot of fights over the use of the bathroom, we never fight over money.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? VS The Alchemist

Well first of all the biggest similarity between the movie and the Alchemist is the involvement of treasure. Both the movie and the book mention the quest for a buried treasure. However in the Alchemist, Santiago actually found his treasure while in the movie the treasure is just a lie. In the Alchemist, Santiago found not only the treasure but also true love (Fatima). In the movie, Everett found his true love by winning his wife back.

Everett and Santiago both set out for their Personal Legend (for Santiago it is the treasure while for Everett it is winning his wife back). They both have been under lots of obstacles but by refusing to give up they overcome all those difficulty and finally achieve their dreams.

The Alchemist and Me

I think that up until now, the biggest impact that the Alchemist has on me is the point that true love will not stop one from achieving one's Personal Legend. Everyone says that love requires you to stay close to your loved one. But I think that the best way to test love is seperation not staying together. I guess if it is true love then time and seperation will not be able to affect it. This is also why true love is hard (and almost impossible) to find.

Eventhough I have never been in love (that's a lie ^^ I just don't want to admit it explicitly), I have seen people who "sacrifice" for love. I have relatives who decided to not pursue their dreams just because "they are in love." I have friends who use their loved one's college choices as their choices. Is it true that the amount of sacrifice you made for someone equal how much you love that person?

I would never make my college choice based on an other person's choice. I would also never give up my dreams for love. I agree with the Alchemist that true love will never keep you from achieving your Personal Legend or your dreams.

Symbols in The Alchemist (Part 1)

Urim(אוּרִים) and Thummin(תּוּמִים)

Urim and Thummin appears in the ancient Israelite religion and culture as a phrase from the Hebrew Bible. Traditionally, Urim is "light" and Thummin is "perfections". Literally, Urim and Thummin mean revelation and truth respectively. The two stones are used by Hight Priest to determine God's will in some situations. However, it is unclear on how God's will is transmitted through Urim and Thummin.

In The Alchemist, Urim and Thummin help Santiago read the omen. I think that the 2 stones represents the teaching of the old King in the Alchemist because everytime Santiago see the stones he automatically thinks of the old King and the things he said to Santiago. When we think more deeply we can see that everyone Santiago meets (characters as significant as the Alchemist or even as little noticed as the merchant daughter he meet in the beginning of the book) teaches him something. In the end they all lelf behind something for Santiago whether that thing is life lessons or 2 stones or even just memories. The 2 stones would represent those things lelf behind by strangers who passes by our lives.

I believe in fate. It is fate for you to meet someone in the world with billions of people. I believe that everyone we meet change our lives in some ways. Some will have big impact while other may just change the way we brush our teeth every morning. But everyone DOES change our life in one way or another.

My Reflection toward The Alchemist

This is an oasis in the middle of the desert (in case you can't tell ^^). I choose the picture of an oasis to represent part 2 of The Alchemist. An oasis in the middle of the desert not only provides water to the desperate travellers but also signifies hope for the future. Desert has always been classified as a waterless land. Even in this lack of water, an oasis can still exist with its abundance of water. This shows that even in harsh times of our life when the future is unclear and the present is full of malicious truth, there still exists a light that lights up the future, a smile that warms your heart, and a joke that makes your day. An oasis in the middle of the desert is like an ear that listens to your deepest thoughts when the world refuses to hear you, a gentle hand on your shoulder that offer to shares your troubles when all the problems in the world is rushing at you, and a house with an open door for you when even the cheapest hotels refuse to welcome you.

In the Alchemist, Santiago and the caravan aim at the oasis for water. In life, we aim at the "oasis of our life" for peace, for support, for help, and for understanding.

Independent Reading Book Journal

Topic: Today, journal on your blog about your independent reading book by selecting at least one of the following prompts...
b. What is the most important word in your book? The most important passage? The most important event? Explain.

I think the most important word and phrase in my book is right in the title which is "I know what you did last summer." After receiving this short note, the 4 main characters' lives were never the same again. This pharse not only recalled the painful and regretful experience that the 4 main characters have been trying to hide but also taught them a lesson about responsibility and courage to face the consequences of their actions.

The most important event in the whole book is the night when the 4 main characters killed a little boy ridding a bike in a car accident. They were drinking, smoking a little pot, and drivng too fast. After hitting the kid, they were afraid and decided to run away and call the police in a nearby public phone instead of staying with the boy. Even after nearly a year has passed, every detail of that horrible night still stays within each of the 4 characters' memories and hearts.

Changes in Santiago

Topic: Post #2 (at least 100 words)- Look over what we have read in The Alchemist so far. Describe the changes you have noticed in Santiago. What has he learned? Does he react differently to things than in the beginning? What has he discovered about himself that he wasn't aware of at the beginning of the story? Visit at least 2 other people's blogs, read their posts, and comment on them. Return to your blog, and add anything new you learned to your post.

Santiago has changed a lot after working for the crystal merchant for almost a year. The change is most visible when he decided to observe the caravan instead of reading his book. Now his world is not only around books and sheep but rather it is full with observations of the surrounding. From observing the caravan, Santiago builds up his omen-reading skill and understanding of the language of the world. He discovers that no matter what happens he can still go back and be a shepherd. This discovery gives him the strength and will to go and pursue his dream and his treasure.

Letter to the author

Topic: Post #1 (at least 200 words)- Look back over what you have read in your independent reading book this week. You should be almost finished reading it. Write a letter to the author that expresses your thoughts and feelings about the book. Also, ask him/her any questions you have that remain unanswered or about things that don't really make sense to you in the book. Then, go and read at least 3 other people's letters (you can link to classmates' blogs via my blog, click below). Submit your comments on their letters (what you thought, what they did well, any questions YOU have about their books)

Dear Mr. Duncan,

I have finished reading one of your famous books which is "I know what you did last summer." The book is full of suspenses that capture all of my attention and make it hard to put the book down once I started it. I really like that idea that Bub is the same person as Collin and he is the one behind all the messages and the shooting. Somehow, one of the sentences in the book stays in my head even after I have finished it. It is "one short sentence is enough to shatter their life." This short sentence not only shows me the power of words but also reminds me of a time when I hurted someone I care about with just a sentence. After I finish the book, there is a question of what will happen to Helen, Cox, Julie, and Ray. Will they be sent to jail because they hit-and-run and end up killing a small boys? Their irresponsibility not only killed a boy but also destroy a family that was once full with happiness and laughter. I think that Collin is not to be blamed because after all he is one of the victims of Cox's reckless driving.

With Blessing

One of your reader

Character's point of view (The Alchemist)

Topic: Create a new post that describes your reading life so far this semester (yes, I know we are just one week into it!). You can talk about your indie reading book or our shared reading book, The Alchemist. Create a diary/journal entry from your main character's perspective (you put yourself in your main character's shoes and write like you ARE them).

Dear Diary,
Today is a terrible day. I lost all my money to a thief! I should not give him all my money. I should never believe that he will help me get to The Pyramids. After all, this little town is full of thieves. Now all I have is my old jacket, a book that I don't have the mood to read, and two mysterious stones from the old king. I should be feeling sorry for myself. However, after sometimes thinking about my situation, I think that things arenot all that bad. After all, I have already travelled farther than any sherperd has did. I have seen alot of things in this new place even though I just came here several hours ago. I have seen the most beautiful sword. I know that wine is not allowed in here. And more over I know that to get to the Pyramids I have to cross the whole Sarah desert. Even though I lost all money for this piece of information, I know that I am now closer to the treasure, that the treasure is just a desert away! I am full of hope now!!! Tomorrow will be better I bet!