The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

I wasn't entirely sure of where the first scene ended, so I ended up reading the entire first act. I'm really enjoying it though. I loved the part at the very beginning when she was talking about atoms. I thought it was cool to think about where the atoms that make you come from. I kind of hate Beatrice and Ruth. There both very self-centered and inconsiderate. I feel really bad for Nanny too, they have to yell at her like she's a deaf toddler and they say terrible things about her to her face knowing she couldn't hear. It was also annoying how when people were laughing at Tillie during the assembly,  Ruth nor Beatrice comforted her, only told her to never do anything like it again because when people laughed at Tillie, they were laughing at the family. I hope there is some kind of revelation in the second act.

World Without End

This week I am beginning to read World Without End by Ken Follett. It's the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth. I delayed starting it until we finished The Catcher in the Rye, so I wouldn't add 1000 page distraction to NaNoWriMo. Anyway, I really like the book so far. It takes place 100 years after Pillars did, so that would make it 1347-ish. There are very unique characters, my favorites are an eleven year old boy who can make a very admirable bow; and an eight year old girl who is a very accomplished thief. It seems to living up to its predecessor, I hope it continues that way.

The Catcher in the Rye chapters 1-6

I'm actually kind of enjoying The Catcher in the Rye. Its a little more relatable than the Odyssey, which is nice. I don't think Holden is stupid, I actually think he's smart. He reminds me of my brother. The kind of person that is intelligent, but is uninterested or just doesn't care. I cannot stand Ackley. Bad personal hygiene just disgusts me. Especially teeth, something about really plaque covered teeth. I also wondered why Holden puts up with Ackley. If he's so gross and annoying and gross, why does he talk to him and ask him out to dinner? Holden might have ADHD. Specifically when he's writing, he gets distracted easily with side stories, like the farting in chapel. He also mentioned that he acts like he's twelve, which is a symptom of ADHD. Another reason Holden is like my brother, my brother acts like he's twelve and he has ADHD. Maybe that's why my brother liked this book so much.  

The Most Dangerous Game

 I'm noticing a trend here. Every short story we've read in path so far has been very morbid. A little boy that has swallowed lye, a lottery for stoning people, and now, a man that hunts people. Again, I'm not  saying short stories have to be all unicorns and rainbows, but seriously, they aren't all Sweeny Todd either. Anyway, about the most dangerous game, at least it was mildly reasonable. Even though Zoroff is obviously not mentally sound, there was some method to his madness. And of course, the powers of good prevailed in the end, with what I think was a duel.    

The Odyssey XVIII-the end

I am really glad that I'm done reading the Odyssey. But perhaps even more glad Ulysses killed all the suitors. I thought it was kind of funny that he was the weak little beggar then turns around and shoots Antonious in the throat. I not a big fan of gore though so after that it wasn't really one of my favorite parts. After all the killing, I didn't really understand the part with the ghosts, what was it supposed to mean? I really don't like how Ulysses never tells people who he really is right away, not even his family after all the suitors are dead. I wasn't really happy with the ending. I like cliffhangers because I like to imagine what might happen next. But Homer really tied up ALL of his loose ends.

The Lottery

Why all the short stories with terrible characters? The Lottery in this story is both unhappy and utterly pointless. Why go through so much just to stone an innocent person? What if little Dave had gotten the black spot? They are going to stone a little boy who can barely take his paper out of the box? I'm not saying all short stories should be all unicorns and rainbows, but really, the lottery just doesn't make sense.

The Odyssey books XIII- XVII

So, Ulysses is finally home! And plotting his revenge against the suitors. I understand why he is disguised for the suitors, sneak attack and all. But why can't he tell Eumaeus? Also, if Poseidon hates Ulysses so much, why doesn't he take out his anger on him, not the Phaeacians? Melnthious is just not genorous is he?  If he got fired he would probably be in the same position as the beggar, and why even say anything, it doesn't matter to him if the goatherd wants to bring a beggar in the house. I felt really bad for the dog. It was all happy that Ulysses was home, but got no recognition. Plus he was sleeping in a pile of poop.  

Twice Told

I read a really cool book this week called Twice Told. It was a collection of short stories that told the story behind a drawing. Each drawing had two stories to prove every picture could tell at least to stories. All of the short stories were really good, even though a couple were a little disturbing. I think it would be fun to do something like that in PATH.

O Brother Where Art Thou?/ The Odyssey

So far I love O Brother Where Art Thou. I defineatley picked up some Odyssey similarities. For one, the sirens, even though the result of them wasn't the same. Next, Big Dan was Polyphemus. Big Dan even squished their freind (sort of) just like Polyphemus. Lastly, the blind guy on the hand cart in the beginning was kind of like the ghost that Ulysses had to go see in the underworld, telling of the "long and difficult road". There was just one thing that I had a problem with, their car broke down, then shortly thereafter, they were shown driving away. Did they wait for the car to get fixed? Or did they buy a new one with that watch? I would've liked some closure on that.

A Good Man is Hard to Find

The title of this short story is very fitting. Because I don't think there is one good person in this story (except the baby). The Cildren are extremely disrespectful, and they thought it was a good thing that they've just had a car accident and a disapointment that no one has died. Bailey, the father of teh children is just detached and somewhat inconsiderate. The grandmother, I would be okay with her if she had kept her mouth shut about the secret panel and the misfit. And that brings me to the misfit, who killed a baby, hyis mother, two children, and a grandmother. Is it just too hard for these peaople to be nice?

The Odyssey books IX-XII

This whole section reminded me of the movie the princess bride. Because its really about the the past but it starts off in the present, with Ullysses's whole story being told while he's with the Phaeacians.The story was interesting and all, blinding cyclopses avoiding giant immortal sea mosters, journeying to the underworld. But after a while, it just semmed like he was going: blah blah blah blah AND THEN... blah blah blah. And again I ask you, why does everyone want to marry Ulysses? We've added another to the list, Circe. Circe kind of confuses me. First she tries to turn Ulysses into a pig, then after realizing she can't, and his atempt to kill her, she decides she wants to 'go to bed with him'? It just doesn't add up for me. Although, its too bad Circe didn't turn Ulysses into a pig because then his men could've eatan him instead of the sun-cows. Now excuse me while I find out how else Ulysses almost dies

The Oddyssey Books V-VII

 Calypso does not seem happy. But hey, you can't keep a man on your little island for seven years against his will, then expect to be happy for the rest of your life. Anyway, Ulysses is off Calypso's island, and despite a small holdup enduring Poseidon's wrath, has made it to land. The people he found have agreed to take him home. I'm pretty sure I caught some foreshadowing when it said Poseidon had told them not to be so easygoing about escorting people home. One question though, why is Ulysses putting up with the feast and the games? i would think he would want to leave for home right away, not wait around until afternoon.  And just one more thing, why does everyone want Ulysses to stick around and marry someone? Calypso, Nausicaa...

The Oddyssey Books II-IV

The most important thing that happens in this section of the Oddyssey is that Telemachus begins and and finds success in his quest. Telemachus finds out from Menelaus that his father is being held captive by Calypso. But the good things end when the narrator informs us the suitors are awaiting Telemachus's return    so they can murder him. Which just reminds me that the suitors are just terrible people in general. They kill all of Telemachus's animals and refuse to leave his house, then decide to kill him because he wants to find out what has happened to his father.
On a separate note, I found it very ironic that Minerva had to pray to Neptune, seeing as they hate each other.

The Oddyssey Book I

I read The Oddyssey Book I today. When Telemachus learns his quest from the goddess Minerva. He must  travel far and wide to find any news of where his father might be. I found the suitors very obnoxious, just hanging out at a mourning woman's house. And eat all her food and drink all her wine as they sing and play the lyre. I also thought it was terrible that Neptune make Ulysses' family suffer for something he did. But I've heard Gods are very self-centered.

Summer Reading

Unfortunately I was unable to read as much as I would like to this summer, but here are the most memorable.

A Separate Peace, by John Knowles: The story of A Separate Peace is of two prep school boys that are best friends that have their relationship and beliefs challenged when one pushes the other out of a tree. The fall costs him a broken leg and never being able to play sports again. I didn't enjoy the story of this book. Yet it was memorable because I spent most of the time reading it trying to match a mental illness with the main characters' symptoms.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak: I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read. The book is narrated by Death himself and tells the story of the orphaned Leisel Memminger. A young girl in Nazi Germany. I loved Zusak's writing style is so fluent and unique. His descriptions are wonderful. The words 'I'm Sorry' are big and clumsy. The smell of pea soup and confrontation was in the air. Again, one of the best books I've ever read.

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein: This is written from the point of veiw of a family's dog. The only one in the family that knows a family member has fatal brain cancer. It's a very good story that was unexpected and sees things how they are. I'm glad I read it.