Reader Profile

       Reading is very important to me and has always been second nature. Reading certain books calm my mind. Although many times I have a hard time focusing while reading. I enjoy reading folk tales such as Greek mythology to exercise my imagination. Reading lays out many different perspectives and ways of life which can be very interesting. Most poetry is very easy to understand and grasp to me. I find poetry to be very captivating. Poetry to me is better than prose. Poetry is very free and spontaneous. On the other hand prose is harder to focus on and is very boring at times.

The Rockpile reflection

     The Rockpile express why rules are important. Rules are in place for protection. It also mentions peer pressure. Roy fell for peer pressure by running to be with his friends when his parents said no.  Roy was wounded and this teaches one to not disobey authority because there will be consequences.
     All actions come with consequences. Another theme was treatment acquired by stepparents.  Sometimes spoiling your child cause rebellion because of them thinking they can obtain everything they desire despite the consequence.  The desire for freedom causes one to be rebellious.

The worn path reflection

     Phoenix was a fearless black woman. She was also very selfless. Phoenix bravely took a stroll to aid her little grandson.  This story teaches one a lot about character.  This story was also a good motivator to keep being persistent.
     Although she was tempted to stop, she kept moving on. She kept at it until she arrived to her destination. It is amazing that a old woman could walk that far without assistance. A inspirational and touching way of the beauty of being persistent.

Reflection of A lesson before dying

     A lesson before dying was a very outstanding book.  The characters showed so much determination to reach the goals set out for them.  Nothing was sugar coated.  It really teaches one to never give up.  With the right mindset anything is possible.
    If the characters did not have faith then they would have never made any progress.  If faith did not exist then to start would be impossible.  To fail is to not start at all.  This novel inspired me greatly.  I now know the true definition of faith. 
 

Homework assignment

Dear Grant Williams,
     I am receiving your letter thankfully that you've given me the honor to give you advice for a young man on death row.  To me it sounda as if he's hurting deeply and is not mentally lost but mentally focused on dieing.  Yes, you are not able to perform miracles but you do have the power to open him up and get his true feelings.  Note that he is in a very vulnerable position emotionally.  Give him sympathy.  Tell him that this isn't fair even if you think it is.  Build a connection with him and tell him hardships you're going through.  To ease the moment say sentimental things like "life isn't fair" & "you'll be in a better place".  Be careful because he's taking a lost and misery loves company, don't let him project his misery onto you.


Sincerely,


Advice colonist Jamie

Review and Reflection of The Sorrow of War

Review: 

The book "the sorrow of war" was a very good book with a very bold statement. It never once got off the topic of sorrow. The word choice was fantastic plus it had many life hacks. All the tales were either very brave or very haunting.  He didn't leave anything out and it was uncut and raw.

Reflection:

Throughout reading this book i often thought of the losses in life. This book was written by the people who lost much. The characters were nothing like me, neither one but i could still sense their sorrow. The scenes were excruciating and i couldn't help but empathize their since of lost. This is a very dark book. 

(Thursday)
Nothing lasted forever in this world, he knew that. Even love and sorrow inside an aging man would finally dissipate under the realization that his suffering, his tortured thoughts, were small and meaningless in the overall scheme of things. Like wispy smoke spiraling into the sky, glimpsed for a moment, then gone. (pg. 71)

(Question 2)
Kien's sorrow is put on display in this quote because of his lack of hope.

(Question 3)
Yes, it's a indication of idleness.

(Friday)
They said at the foot of Ascension Pass, deep inside the ancient forest, the ageless trees whispered along with a song that merged into harmony with an ethereal guitar, singing, "O victorious years and months, O endless suffering and pain..."
A nameless song with a ghostly rhythm, simple and mysterious, that everyone had heard, yet each said they'd heard different versions. (pg. 90)

(Question 1)
The theme mortality created so many songs and tells.

(Question 4)
The Jungle of screaming souls is very ancient.

(Saturday)
Oanh had been sympathetic and look what that got him. (pg.106)

(Question 2)
Oanh, by being sympathetic.

(Question 3)
The conflict that comes with being sympathetic in war. Being sympathetic in war makes you die.

(Sunday)
He would rather stand by night after night listening to her lovers' noisy jokes than not have her there at all.(pg.143)

(Question 1)
The theme hope made him wait for her even if it hurted him.

(Question 2)
This quote shows how Kien is full of in denial and insecurity.