Fear

Fear shows up a lot during the time of the book. At first, the boys mostly fear the beast, but as the book comes to a close, they start to fear each other. I just want to say, this is one of the best books I have ever read. whenever I come upon an example of fear I make a circle around the page number or put a bookmark there. That is usually how I keep track; and then go back later to put them in the focus tracker.

Fear happens very frequently in Lord of the Flies, and stands out mostly of mention of the beast or at night. The littleuns usually freak out while Piggy, Jack, and Ralph argue, Simon just sits in his little corner, and Roger is planning to kill something silently. Just an inference. Jack says he can kill the beast, but Ralph doubts that and Piggy tries to talk himself out logically of there even being a beast.

Books

I read:
The Princess Bride
Life of Pi
Mark of Athena
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Lord of the Flies
Nation
In Defense of Food

I had a good time reading the books over the semester. All of them I enjoyed to an extent. My favorite books were Life of Pi, Lord of the Flies, The Perks, and Mark of Athena. I know, it's a long list. I just love books. I tend to read fast but sometimes I get distracted so I have to go back and read it again. I just love to read anything really.

I can read 15 books by the end of the semester, I just need recommendations and ideas. I would like to expand and get insight on what other people are reading so we can talk about the books. I would also like a wide variety of genres like historical fiction. I would like to read Les Miserables before I see the movie.

Reading time:
Lord of the Flies: 25 min. Monday
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis: 1 hr. 45 mins.
pgs. 1-117 sunday

Reading Time

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Friday: 1 hr. 30 mins.  pgs. 103- 181
Saturday: 1 hr.  pgs. 181- 207
I finished and it was the best book ever!!!!

LotF

My reading focus is fear in Lord of the Flies. At first, there was little to no fear. But as the book goes on, there seems to be more and more frequencies of fear. The first real occurance of fear was when the boy with the birthmark mentioned a Beastie. He dissapeared later without a trace and did not show up again which increased the fear on the island.

In chapter five, Beast from the Water, fear plays a big part in the events taking place. The boys are really scared and they think that a Beastie is watching them. Everyone is frightened out of their wits at the meeting that they have. Piggy tries to talk sense into them but they will not listen. The boys all go to sleep with an unsettling feel hat something might some out of the sea and eat them all.

Reading time:
lord of the Flies by William Golding
11/23/12 pgs 77-80  -  15 mins.
11/25/12 pgs 80-99  -  25 mins.

Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
11/22/12 pgs. 345-501  -  60 mins.
11/24/12 pgs.  501-513  -  15 mins.

Midterm

After the break, everyone will be talking about exams. Wow, they're already here. For English, i need to go over summer reading for sure, because I don't remember most of it. The literacy narratives need a little it of refreshing too. As we have gone through out thee year, it really hasn't seemed very long at all. Maybe some of the days and weeks have been long, but not the first semester over all. I can't believe it's already Christmas. I think the year flew by.

All of the stuff that we have learned is pretty much new, but some it is review. I think that everything needs just a little review, but, like I said, the summer reading needs some. As well as the literary analysis, because I need help on those. I was wondering, are the short stories themselves going to be on the exam? Do we need to reread them?

<3 Emmy

Chaos Among the Classroom

When Dr. D told us the situation of being stuck on an island with first graders, someone imedietly yelled out, "Eat the first graders!" At that point, I knew this would be an interesting class time. As usual, the class did not do anything, and I mean anything, in an orderly way. I don't know about anyone else, but I was trying to problem solve. I suggested that we build small houses with the spare plane parts, and build a boat.

When we 'elected' leaders, I decided, why not? I never really get up in front of the classand I was feeling confident. While the other two guy leaders argued about which sport would be our national sport (fantasy football) I was trying to explain my point to at least some of the class. I'm sure that not everyone herd me. It eventually became so loud hat i could not hear myself think.

<3 Emmy
  

Lord of the Flies

My first impressions on Lord of the Flies are good ones. I thoroughly enjoyed the first chapter. As well as the second through fourth ones... I like to read the book before everyone else so i know what happens in our class discussions. I realize that I got a little bit ahead. Well, the first chapter was kinda like the first episode on any TV show. An introduction to the situation and all of the characters. Pilot.

So far my favorite character is Piggy. He reminds me of Chunk from "The Goonies," and he seems to know what to do, if only a vague idea. He seems to act nicer and cares more than the other boys on the island. If I were stranded on an island, I would not be as calm as they are. I would imedietly start to gather supplies like water, and build huts. Then I would take a census and start to signal for help. I've seen many survival movies and TV shows... I am prepared. (yeah, right)

Hugs and Butterfly kisses,
Your Emmy

    

Reading Reveiw

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan is (so far) a very wonderful book. It definitely fits up to his other books and takes the story even farther. Percy has met back up with his friends from Camp Half-Blood and they met his Camp Jupiter friends. There they embarked on a quest to defeat Gaea and find the lost statue of Athena. I'm not quite done so I'm still not sure of the ending yet.

I'm getting along well on my thesis statement too. I have one ready to turn in and I think it will be alright. My short story is The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty. I did it on the characterization that he uses to portray war through his main character. I hope it going to be a good one.

Reading Time
The Mark of Athena: pgs. 331-441 2 hrs. and 35 mins.

Free Post

Hotty Toddy! Well, maybe not this weekend. Because the Rebels lost to Georgia 37-10 this Saturday. We made the first field goal and touchdown, we just did not score after that. But Ole Miss is definitely getting better. But enough about them, how 'bout them tigers? I'm kinda mad that they lost, but being an Ole Miss fan, it doesn't really effect me.Now please, please don't tell me off about how great LSU is in the comments, I get enough of that already from my Mom and some of my friends. I take a great risk being in Tiger Country when I am a Rebel myself.

I really don't see why we hate each other (LSU and Ole Miss) that much. Maybe I just haven't done enough research, but no one seems to know why. We just simply hate each others guts. Every time I go to Oxford to watch a game, some one always has a "Go To Hell LSU" sign and people shout it randomly even though we aren't even playing LSU at the given moment, but don't act like y'all don't degrade us too. I'm just sayin' that maybe, just maybe we could cool down the hate for a little while. There is really no need (until we acually play each other).
   
<3 Emmy

Reading Time

Ok, so my short story book seems to have gone missing. It's not in my home or in my book sack or locker.  If you stole it, please return. Please.


My literary story that I am doing is "The Sniper." My literary element that I'm going to follow on is indirect characterization. I think that the Sniper (we never know his name) has mixed feelings about killing with his own hands. At first, we see him exited about his mission and being there, in enemy territory. Later, we see that he is filled with regret and bitterness for war.

My literary analysis will go something like this, The author portrays war in two points of view in his main character, who, at first, is exited but then later regrets his actions. This will probably take a lot of work to write a whole essay on this. Better get to work!

Reading time
Mark of Athena-- pgs 314-331 15 mins
Clockwork angel- pgs 30-119   2 hrs 5 mins

reading time

I just got a new book! I'm so exited! It is The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan.

Reading Time:
pgs. 1- 314
2 hrs and 50 mins

Literary Elements

I think that the setting in A&P was very distinctive. Sammy was a creep, but the setting details were very good and clear. I get the feel of a drab place with dull florescent lights and a slight hum to them. The tile floor is a very dirty place with visible dirt and mud. All of the products are concealed by the paint chipping white of the racks. All in all, a boring place with not much to do except count the seconds until you are out.

The description of the girls is very -although a little disturbing- good too. Sammy points out their flaws and beauties and definitely goes into detail about their bodies. Gross. Anyway, he tells us all about them, their bathing suits, the way they act, ect. He is very attracted to them and would even quit his job for them. My guess is that he doesn't think many things through. <3   

Participation

Over the first quarter, I have learned a lot in English class. No, really. The things I liked to learn about most were  the literacy elements. I always come to class with all of  my supplies, with the occasional forgetting of my Norton Field Guide. I have been good at coming to class with everything I need. I listen to Dr. D and try my hardest not to daydream. I copy everything on the board, because I learn well by reading, but not as well by listening. I am quiet in class, so I usually  don't comment or ask questions.

Whenever we are in groups, we keep on task well. On occasion, if I am with one of my friends, we get off task maybe for a minute, but usually not longer than that. But my friends and I can have fun while on task too. I would like to improve and work on my writing and I would like to start reading some class books, because that is usually my favorite part of the English class. <3

Reading

30 mins. on tuesday
1 hr 15 min on fri.
45 mins. on sun.

We made a long car ride to Oxford, Mississippi and back.

Writing

I am a writer who puts a lot of emphasis on my voice. Sometimes, I feel like I use too much voice, like it's a formal writing and I feel like I am just talking it too them and not giving a report or essay. I bet you can hear it now. My informal way of writing will eventually hurt me. I sometimes feel like I write like a second grader. Or, sometimes I write something and at the moment, it seems so awesome, then I go back to read it, and it sounds so stupid.
I think I need to fell better about my writing, I think everyone has this problem, and we just have to trust that it it sounds okay. I could work on my writing and spelling (need a lot of help there), and maybe I will start to become more confident in my writing self. <3

Life of Pi Plot

I know, I know, everyone is tired of hearing about The Life of Pi from me. It was just such a great book. At first, I was a little bored, but that was only for a little while. The book took me a long time to read, despite its' shortness.  I do think it could have gone to the part where his ships sinks, rather than stay on sloths and religion for such a while. Although he does bring religion back a lot through out the story. When Pi was having a particularly bad time.
He would also got repeatedly reminded of the oncoming danger of having a 450 pound tiger aboard. At given times Richard Parker, the tiger, would sleep under the tarp in the boat, and Pi would somewhat forget he was there. Then he would be forced back into reality when Richard Parker woke up. But the strangest thing happened one day. Pi discovered an island made entirely up of algae. It had trees on it and, of all things meerkats. It was a strange set of chapters.

I finished the book in 45 min this week, along with my new book Clockwork Angel, 1 hr and 10 min.

Mission: Impossible... Every Tuesday

It's six thirty and time to get up. I slowly drag myself up and stomp off to the bathroom to get ready. I eat my breakfast consisting of one piece of toast while brushing sleep out of my eyes. I hear a sharp cry and nearly jump out of my seat. It's my mom yelling at my little brother about how we are already late. I groan and get my booksack and swim bag while grabing a snack for after school. We are almost there, when we see police men cutting people off and checking inspection stickers. It's a slow going but at the same time we are rushed. I finally get to school at seven fifteen. It was going to be a long day.

I trudge through the day yawning and compaining like everyone else, but most people don't have as many things to compain about as to me and my friends. After school, we imeadatly go to swim practice, we better not be late or else we'll get yelled at. After our entrance abs, we do a warmup in the pool folowed by our first set the our main set. The sets usually contain 200's with techniqe, sprint, and stroke laps. we do these until four thirty. Then we go to dry land practice which is abs, weights, and sometimes running, depending on the set. One of the worst things ever are the munchkin jumping jacks. You do a squat while doing a jumping jack for a minute.

After swim ends at five thirty, I go with a few of my friends to wind ensable. Yes, it is a big privelage, but sometimes it is just a chore. The songs are compicated, I can barely breathe already, and now I have to blow into my flute for it to make a sound. At least Mr. Taranto gives us food.

By then I have had a twelve hour day at school... I guess it's time to go home and do homework now...

<3

Life of Pi pt. 3

Ok. I am almost done with the book. It took me a really, really long time, but I am extreamly close to being finnished. Pi has gone through some pretty rough stuff. First his whole family dies in the sinking of the ship that he is on. Then he gets stuck on a boat with a carnivorus tiger named Richard Parker. He suffers through exaustion, dehydration, and no food. The danger of a tiger is continuasly lurking just behind him. Thats not all. Sharks are always surrounding him, storms thraeten to bring his life boat underwater, and there seems to be no way out of the vast pacific ocean. He is barely alive for mor than half the book.

I can't imagine being in his shoes. Having to survive on barnicles and the occasional fish. The fresh water only comes when it rains and a dangerous animal threatening to kill and eat you every second. It dosen't sound exactly like my cup of tea. Maybe if I was on an island, but not a small lifeboat like Pi. It is truely a miracle how he survied for so long on a life boat with a 450 lb killer a board too.

Monday-Sunday: pgs. 112- 279. 2 hrs and 10 mins

Literacy Novel

I have a few ideas for my literacy novel. Okay, maybe just one. But before you judge, I think it is quite adequate for the assignment. I can't tell yet, for I don't like to share my ideas before they are finished. My idea, of course, is a personal story that has to do with my cousin and I when I went snow skiing with her last year.

What has that got to do with writing you may ask? Well, all of it. I will write it with as much skill I can muster seeing as that my writing skills are terrible. You know that just by reading this blog. I do like writing, I'm just not good at it. I would say reading is my better talent.

Life of Pi pt. 2

Finally! I have gotten to part two. It took hours upon reading, 155 minutes to be exact, but I have finally gotten to where his ship sank. I have also read two days into where he sank. He is terrified out of his mind being on a boat with nothing for a zebra, hyena, orangutan, and a tiger for company. His hopes of seeing a rescue boat have dwindled to almost nothing. Lost, and hasn't eaten anything for days. Poor guy.

I am really enjoying the book now. On my last post I absolutely loathed the book. It is starting to really warm up to me. I hope the plot keeps increasing and doesn't slow down any. It probably won't. A book where the main character is in grave danger will rarely decrease in plot when the story has just begun. <3

Comment response

Thanks for all of the comments! I really loved all the ones on my band post. I'm glad people agree with me that band is hard. But before I go onto another band rant I need to stop myself. It is mostly my friends posting on my wall and I understand that. Thanks for the tips Dr. D. I will try to do a better job at blogs. My writing isn't very developed. Sorry if my thoughts seem jumbled.

I had no questions to answer. I had two comments from Amiee Claire and Wendy from The Princess Bride. I recommend it to Amiee Claire and Wendy and I can talk about it now! I think it should be required. Just saying, Its that good. I am really thankful to all of the comments! <3

Life of Pi

The Life of Pie is by Yann Martel and it is o.k. I picked it up on Wednesday the fifth of September. I red the back and it sounded good. I like a good adventure. I started reading it and he started with sloths. Yes sloths. Three toed sloths. It was boring but i thought it would get better. So I kept reading it. He just went on and on about his name and zoology. Not to mention his three religions at one time. Christianity,Hinduism, and Muslim. The three leaders of the churches all ran into each other at Pi's zoo. They had an immense argument about which religion he should follow. Soon Pi walked away to get ice cream leaving them all disappointed.  

I think the book is alright, but on the back it says that he gets stranded with only a tiger for a friend. I just wish it would cut to the chase. I mean i'm seventy one pages into it and he still hasn't gotten on the boat yet.  Isn't that what the books all about? Hopefully he will get better soon. I have read one hundred fifty five minutes of this book. I usually read faster but this book is a little hard to understand. <3    

The Princess Bride

As y'all know, Hurricane Issac gave us a week off school. In that time, my power went out. So I read The Princess Bride. Overall it was a lot like the movie, although some scenes were not in the movie that seemed like little extras that were in the book. I liked the book better than the movie because the book gave more plot detail and described the characters feelings and emotions in words that the movie couldn't have. I liked how William Goldman, the author, tells the readers about Buttercup's nightmares before she was married to Prince Humperdink. Although I don't like how he interrupts the book with his own thoughts as part of the chapter. I still very much liked the book.

 One of the scenes in the book that was not in the movie was when Inigo and Fezzik needed to find Wesley to get into the castle. hey go to the Zoo of Death and ask the albino. He tells Inogo and Fezzik to go through the entrance and go down the stairs to level five. hey start to go down to the fifth level, but run into many dangerous creatures such as poisonous spiders and giant bats. Most of the book was in the movie- the main parts at least. The book was very good and the movie is good too. Both are hilarious!

I read pages 1 - 423 in 210 minutes over the past week. From August 22- September 1.

Hurricane Isaac: An Hour Without Power

I had just finnished reading a chapter in "The Princess Bride". We were at my gradparents because they had a generator. It turns out that it did'nt work. I was so bored. My mind is just droning on and on about the different things that come to mind when the power goes out.  Like "When is the power comming back on?", or simply "It's hot." Mostly complaining. My grandparents were trying to talk to me, too bad I had my earbuds in. I took them out, "What?", I said. "Your Mom says that y'all are going to your cousins." Yes. They have power! Finally I can stop sweting. I started packing all of my stuff. My clothes, computer, books, makeup, and so on. The rain was still beating against the windows ans the wind was blowing the trees bare. The curfew started at dusk, which was now. We scurried to the car, crossed the highway and got there without running into policemen.

When we got there, we were greeted by friendly faces, and air conditioners. Thank God. I went and immediatly plugged in my computer. My Uncle David was cooking macaroni and cheese for everyone. My grandparents got there a little bit after us. We did'nt have internet or cable so we couldnt look on the news for updates. At least we had light. After dinner my cousin, Connor, invited me to play Xbox with him. How could I resist? While we were playing various games like Halo and Lord of the rings Conquest, everyone else in town did'nt have power. It was awesome. No more suffering in the heat.

After we got home, it turns out that we had never lost power. <3

In Defense of Band: A Flute Players Manifesto

Band. What comes to your mind? A pop or rock idol singing on the stage when you so recently went to their concert? Maybe. But a school band? Probably a bunch of nerds spitting into over sized instruments playing classical music played Mozart or Bach. If you even know who they are. The truth is that band can be somewhat "cool". We play all kinds of music in band. Talk to anyone in band and I can almost guarantee that they will say that their instrument is hard to play. I my mind music is essential to the soul. All of those movies you watch have background music to them which makes the movie more dramatic or romantic. Who composes that music you ask? Band players. Or at least, started out as band players, and then became orchestra conductors and music composers.
Much of the music we play in band is from popular movies, like Titanic. Yes, I know, Its pretty amazing. Last year the high school band played "My Heart Will Go On", and other pieces from the movie. The wind ensemble(which I'm proud to say I was invited to) played Pirates of the Carribean. Yeah it was awesome. We will probably play music from more popular movies this year too.
Playing the flute is not an easy job. There is about fifty fingerings, a certain way to blow into the flute depending on what kind of pitch you want, tuning(the nightmare), learning where the notes are on the music and finding the corresponding fingerings to them, and doing all this while paying attention to the conductor and not getting out of beat. Not to mention that I can't see what I am doing. And I am a beginner on the flute too. As you get more experienced, more things come along, like blending, listening to the other band members, and demanding pressure on you on stage as you stand for your solo. Any instrument is hard to play. When I was in fifth grade, Mr. Taranto sent out invitations to go to an "instrument petting zoo". I have always wanted to learn to play the flute, and this was my chance. I got there and they let me blow into the flute. He said that i would be a good flute player. I was so exited! We had a lot of students in band at first, at least thirty, but over time people dropped out and only twelve were left in the class of 2016 band. I am the only flute player. Band is not an easy thing just for nerds who can't play sports. I am also on the swim team. Don't judge a band by its cover. :)         

The princess bride

I have just gotten The Princess Bride by William Goldman today at the library.  I haven't started the actual story yet, just the introduction sections. I have seen the movie and I can't wait to get started. I'm hoping that it will also include extra things not in the movie, like the zoo of death. My friend Wendy really liked the book, and if Wendy likes it, I know I will like it. The author tells in the introduction how many steps it took to become a writer and write the last chapter Buttercup's Baby.
So far its been a really good book. I like the way the author writes about his personal experience with The Princess Bride and goes into detail about researching the story and being on the movie set. Maybe he could've gotten to the story faster though. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the book. <3

In Defense of Food Review

I didn't really like the book, "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan. It is very boring, being more of an adventurous book kinda girl myself, and I didn't think even for the topic, it didn't need to go so deeply into food history and focus more on the present day.  It repeated many things already written and it sometimes contradicted them. It also used many words that weren't needed. I try to be as open-minded as possible and I hate to give things bad reviews but it was just too much. It felt like the writer was just forcing all the information into you. It wasn't my kind of book, and some people might like it (if your the nutrition freak). The third part should've been the longest part, when in fact, it was the shortest.That are my thoughts on the book, anyway. <3  

First Blog

Hey! Emma F. here! This is my first blog for the year and I will be posting at leat once a week. I
think that we are going to have a great year in english class! :)