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Thursday, November 29, 2012

"11 Birthdays"

I am currently reading the book "11 Birthdays" by Wendy Mass. This book is already showing interesting aspects of possible supernatural powers and maybe even prophecies! This book is really fun and captivating and always leaves me wanting more. Some character relationships are stronger then others though. Mothers to daughters, sister to sister, and father to daughter. All of these relationships make the book even stronger and allow you to zoom in on the really interesting parts.

I think that the relationship between the protagonist Amanda and her sister Kylie have a bipolar relationship there are some times in the book where they will constantly fight and just not talk, and then there are other times in the book where they will complement each other and talk. I think that having a rocky relationship between them makes the book more real and not like a fairy tale. I also think that having a older and prettier sister makes the book a little stereotypical. I mean aren't a lot of books about younger sisters and their older prettier sisters that can sometimes be mean to them? Overall I would like to keep focusing in on this relationship.

In conclusion even though I have just started the book it is already really good with lots of different plot twists and I would like to keep thinking about the relationship between older and younger sisters.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

"I was a Teenage Fairy"

Right now I am currently reading the book "I was a teenage fairy" by Francessca Lia Block. This book even though I have just started reading it has already got me very engaged in the setting and surrounding. The book so far has taken place in suburbia Beverly Hills and is about a girl whose name is Barbie and may look like one too buts thats not how she feels on the inside. Her mother forces and pushes her around like she's plastic and that is not how she wants to be known. Her mother, it feels, just cares about her model career and not the way she really feels.

To me it seems like Barbie does not have a strong relationship to or mom, or her dad. Her mother only cares about her modeling career and her father doesn't care about anything but her work. Her mother forces her to go take head shots for her portfolio and go to fancy schools and all Barbie wants is to be like every other kid. Normal. In the book while the agent is fussing over how she looks Barbies eyes immediately go to the plant sitting in the corner. She wants nothing to do with them and everything to do with the plant. She studies it and notices every crevice instead of applying make up and hair spray. I think Barbies life would be a lot easier if her mother would just be a little on Barbies side and just follow along.

Then there is another whole side from the story. Aside from the whole model career there is Mab. Mab is a fairy. Yes, I said it a fairy. When Barbie hear something from the back yard she went to check an it ended up being a fairy. In the book it states that she doesn't know if Mab is real. She seems pretty real to me. I think Mab symbolizes the one side of her that is obsessed with beauty but then again I could be wrong. I just started the book. Mab loves herself, she is constantly calling herself beautiful and from the way the author describes her she might be on the outside but on the inside she seems like a snob. I look forward to learning more about this relationship.

In conclusion, I can't wait to learn more about this fairy and more relationships between fairies and her family and modeling career.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The final blog post for "The Lovely Bones"

For the final blog post on "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold Susie faces her self in a strange but sweet situation and ending. I very much enjoyed reading this book and I think I can add it to my list of favorites. The language is very detailed and tough but that's what gives the book a little more liveliness and edge.

The part of the book which was veering towards the end really made me emotional. Susies friend named Ruth on earth faces a near death experience and soars up towards heaven, but on the other hand as Susie watches her, she gets a little to close and falls and tumbles down into Ruthes body. I think this is a very interesting choice the author made because Susies boyfriend just so happens to be having lunch with Ruth. Her boyfriend immediately notices a change then discovers it's Susie. I was very happy at this point because throughout the book Susie longs to be with her boyfriend and when she finally gets the chance it was very moving for the two of them. 

Can you imagine somebody from the dead going into another persons body. This part in the book was definitely a highlight for me. All throughout the book: When will they meet? Will they meet? How will they meet? These questions were answered at this point.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book a lot and hopefully others will agree with me about the flaws and highlights

Thursday, October 25, 2012

"The Lovely Bones" #3

I am currently reading "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. Don't judge, I am a slow reader! Right now in the book everybody is making decisions. Some of the decisions may be bad and some of the decisions may be good. But the main theme is the growing and shrinking love inside the family with or without their daughter and how it endures and changes over time.

One of the main issues of the book right now is how each member of the family is slowly drifting apart and resorting to having affairs. The mother is resorting to having adultery with a family friend. And how the father is slowly losing himself in depression. Lindsay, Susie's sister is growing farther and farther apart with her boyfriend and resorting to alcohol and growing up. The whole entire family is gravitating away from each other and Susie. Just like I predicted after long periods of time death is in the path and there is just nothing you can do about it.

In conclusion, I have got to say that I look forward to anyting happy in the book because at the point the family is molding into depression. More to come!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Lovely Bones #2

I am currently reading the "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
I love this book. The details are so vivid and really show me and take me into the world of this book and really gives me different perspectives of the seventies. I know all the characters so well. The author has a clear focus on all characters and really shows me their characteristics. 

In "The Lovely Bones" the author really makes every sentence affecting and really makes me think about life for this young deceased girl. The plot is completely accomplished and their are no loopholes what so ever. She begins the story with a girl named Susie Salmon adjusting to her new life and heaven. Heaven although is not the place she expected. She watches life on earth go on without her. Her family is slowly unraveling, her friends are leaving her behind and we are learning more and more about her killer trying to find himself as we discover who is and his past. I think all of these are signs that Susie was a great impact on everyone around her.

Fro the start of the book to where I am now, Susie's younger sister Lindsay is changing. Changing from a little kid to a teen who wears makeup and has a boyfriend. As Susie watches her younger sister get older for heaven Susie realizes that she will never get to do the things that her younger sister is doing. Growing up. I think that Susie discovers heaven is not all clouds and butterflies but watching your loved ones lives go by.

In conclusion I think that so far the book has a lot of cool and interesting plot twists and I would like to read more!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Lovely Bones

Right now I am reading "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. I already am loving this book. Although it might be a little creepy and a tad disturbing, it is clearly written and the author definitely put a lot of thought into making it the best she could. I constantly want to just lay down and read this book to see what happens next. Every inch is filled with excitement and never for a second have I been bored. I am definitely lovin' this  book!

I think in this book the main character Susie and her father have an extremely strong relationship. Well obviously when a fathers daughter passes away he will feel melancholy and depressed. When anybody loses a family member there is a sad vibe around the house. But throughout the story their are little flashbacks of Susie and her father being together in a loving community. Then it goes back to the present where her father is hunched over crying even after months and months have passed. Sometimes Susie shows pieces of her to her father meaning for example when her father was smashing all of the little ships Susie made with her father Susie showed a flash of her face in the broken glass. I think this relationship between them is beautiful and wish that the father didn't have to go through this unhinging event.

Another strong relationship in this story is Susie and her sister Lindsay. Lindsay is different though. Instead of expressing her feelings by crying she is bottling them up inside her and not wanting to talk about it with anyone. In the book after her sister dies she goes to see a therapist her that her parents are forcing her to go to. When the therapist asks her: Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? She just replies: What are you talking about? What do you want me to talk about? She refuses to answer any of the questions and doesn't cry in front of anyone or if anyone is around her. But throughout the story moments between her and her sister spark and moments that are between them that are touching.

In conclusion I think that these two relationships are even though both characters have lost someone really connecting into themselves and getting stronger if that makes any sense... Overall still reading and more blogs to come!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

"Am I Blue?"

I absolutely fell in love with the short story "Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville. This book tells a story that is heart warming but at the same time put me to tears. (sorta) This story is also hilarious. It tells a story about a young boy's confusion with his identity and his Gay Fairy Godfather  who helps him overcome homophobia with the kids who bully him at school, and helps him discover who he really is. This book is also about learning to be yourself, which I think is the main theme.  

In the story Am I Blue? the main character Vince is getting bullied because of his sexuality or in other words, people think he is gay. Vince himself doesn't know if he is gay. Anyway, this is a question asked a lot in the story. Then a miracle happens. A gay man named Melvin comes into Vinces life. Melvin is a fairy godfather! Melvin is very gay and doesn't care what him looks like, what he wears and what people think of him. This is something I admire about Melvin. I could never have the courage to tell people something that important about myself. Melvin explains to Vince that Melvin was beat to death. Can you imagine that? Somebody being beaten up to death just because of their sexuality? I think that is disgusting. He gives advice to Vince saying nobody should tell him what to do. Melvin expresses himself the way 3/4 of the planet can't. Even if he is a fictional character.

I think Melvin and Vince's relationship really grows stronger throughout the story. At the beginning of the story I think Vince is sort of afraid to really talk to Melvin about who is, but by the end they have talked a lot and have really gone through a life changing experience. An example from the text showing that Vince is embarrassed of Melvin at the beginning is
"Do you have to walk like that?"
"Like what?"
"So swishy?" I said blushing.
In this conversation at the beginning you can definitely tell that Vince is embarrassed of Melvin. Towards the end they really bond.

In conclusion. I think Vince and Melvin have a really strong relationship and I am glad that Vince probably won't get bullied anymore! I loved this book and I wish it had a sequel!!