Reading Response 7

       This week I worked on my literacy narrative, read "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, and continued Revelation, by Katie Klein. My log goes as such:


Literacy Narrative: 9/24- 20min. 9/27- 20min.
"To Build a Fire": 9/26- 45min. 9/27- 30min.
Revelation: 9/26- 10min. 9/29- 20min. 9/30- 20min.
Total: 165min.- Literacy Narrative finished, "To Build a Fire" 17pgs., Revelation- 46%-66% (kindle...)


          To discuss the plot of Revelation, I must discuss the entire trilogy, The Guardians. In the first book, there was a bit of exposition, introducing you to main character Genesis Green's personality and story, but it was written in through a fairly intense scene. In my opinion, this is the best way for an author to tell a story, especially in a novel. That type of introduction gives you the information you need, but still hooks you quickly.
          As always, next came the rising action. While there have been many tense scenes so far, keeping the story interesting and attention-griping, I still feel as if the balloon has yet to pop. Each book has had its own climax, but the story still seems far from over. I'm fairly certain that, even though I am more than three quarters of the way through the trilogy, the characters are still working their way through to the final battle, the last clash of good and evil, and revelation of Genesis's importance and larger role. It's pretty intense.
          I can feel the climax coming soon, but there are so many subplots and side-sotries that I can't yet predict the outcome. Being a sucker for fairytale endings, I want Genesis to prevail in the end, but I can't be sure of that "happily ever after" this time.

I Am a Writer

A canvas of paper,
A painting in ink.
Words spun from the imagination,
And drawn by the hand.

Nothing compares to the art of creation.
The creation of words, pulled from the heart.
Never be afraid,
 To say what you think.
Mean what you say,
Say what you mean.

I am a writer
Who loves to create.
Whose favorite canvas,
Is eight and a half
By eleven inches long.
Whose choice media,
Comes in blue and in black,
And spills from a fountain,
Or a rolling ball-point.

The rhythm of words,
The lilt of the tongue,
Are beautiful dancers,
To the beat of the right drum.
Be bold in your music,
and strong in your stroke,
The image is beautiful
To any ear that cares to look.

I am a writer

Who loves to create.

Whose favorite canvas,

Is eight and a half
By eleven inches long.

Whose choice media,

Comes in blue and in black,

And spills from a fountain,

Or a rolling ball-point.

Reading Response 6

          This week I worked on my literacy narrative and read Revelation, the last book of The Guardians trilogy. My log goes as such:

9/17- 20min. 9/18- 45min. 9/19- 1hr. 9/21-2hrs. Total: 4hrs 5min. 1%-46%

          On my literacy narrative, I've hit a bit of an issue. I don't know what to do now. I'm happy with what I have, but I don't know how much more I can revise without completely tearing it apart and rebuilding it (and I really don't want to do that because I think it's pretty much good where it is.) If we have another draft to do, other than the final, I may just be stuck.
         
          One suggestion in the writing group was to expand the ending more. I understand that my ending is somewhat abrupt, but I want to make it easy for the reader to connect the introduction, main body, and conclusion and understand my overarching point: that for one to write well, one must first read well. I almost want to avoid making my conclusion long and rigorous. It has power as it is.

Free Post 2

          Hey everyone! So this week I've spent a lot of time thinking about the car I want. A bright, electric blue Jeep Wrangler Sahara (by the way Aaron, I'm stealing yours at some point before I get my own...).  I know, it's great, isn't it? There is only one small kink in my plan: they don't, as of 2012, carry that color. Needless to say, I was heart-broken when I discovered that my dream car might not exist.  I was (and am) desperate to have this particular model, type, and color.
          I did my research. I found the name and address of the CEO of Jeep, did some digging as to the colors of the newest models, and slaved over the effort to uncover any information about 2014 Jeep models. A plan developed after I found no definitive insight as to the colors. I wrote a brief, careful letter to Mr. Mike Manley. It's going into the mailbox this weekend.
          Just in case you don't understand exactly what color I mean when I say I want "bright, electric blue," (and you haven't seen the desktop of my laptop), here's what I mean:

Reading Response 5

          This week I finished Vendetta, as well as quite a bit of AP World History reading. My log goes as such:

9/11- 30min. 9/12- 1hr. 9/15-2hrs. 9/16-1hr. Total: 270min. 43%-100% (kindle), pgs. 61-65, 181-187.

          Since I doubt that anyone really wants to hear about how exciting my AP World History reading was, as you all already know, I will make another response to Vendetta. I don't feel the need to write out any summary, because by last blog included a bit of that. I will simply say that I genuinely hate cliff hangers. I don't really care that there is another book in the series (which I intend to start as soon a I finish this blog.) They still frustrate me. Maybe that's why so many authors use them. They keep you turning pages, yearning for the closure that you'll have to wait until the next edition of the series to find.
          The next book of this series is Revelation. Hopefully my hunger for a happy ending will be satisfied. I know it's somewhat cheesy to want that ever predictable "happily ever after" kind of scenario, but I have yet to talk to anyone who likes it when a book ends in the tragic death of the main character or their love. It just doesn't work that way. If I'm going to read a novel, I want it to take my mind off of reality, not throw me into deep thought about the situation of the main character when one of their best friends dies in the last chapter of the book and it ends without wrapping it all up. I just don't enjoy that nearly as much.

Literacy Narrative

          I don't know about everyone else, but for me, the introduction is one of the most important pieces of any significant writing. I typically spend a lot of time forming a lead- tweaking, combining, reordering, and fine-tuning my "hook" until I am satisfied that its point is sharp enough. This one didn't take me terribly long to come up with, so I want to get some feedback on it before I do anything to change it. Here we go:

          “I think you could use any of these topics. You’re a good enough writer that you should be able to make something out of all of them.”

            “Okay. I think the football one would be the most interesting. Thanks Mrs. Milligan!”

            And so I wrote. Adding, removing, reordering, and twirling the words into Saturday Night in the South. I was, and am, so proud of that paper. Every trick, technique, turn of phrasing, and twist of tongue I knew was woven into not only the flow, but also the very essence of the article.

            That skill: to be able to spin an A paper (according not only to me, but to my teacher) out of almost any topic, is not just a God-given talent. Ability, of course, plays a part in the works of each and every author, but there are some points that simply must be learned. I learned from some of the best.

So what's the public opinion?

Reading Response 4

          This week I read and completed The Guardian by Katie Klein, and began Vendetta, its sequel. My log goes as such:

9/3- 2hrs 45min. 9/4- 40min. 9/5- 10min. 9/9- 1hr. Total: 275min. 1%-100%, 1%-43% (kindle again...)

          The Guardians series does not exactly carry the same plot as several of the other books I have read recently. While there is still the mortal/immortal, good guy/bad guy interaction, it does not take the form of an angelic apocalypse. Klein's novels include guardians, which are similar to the popular idea of guardian angels, though they themselves take offense at such a comparison. Main character Genesis Green meets and falls in love with her guardian, Seth. When Diabols (guardians-gone-bad) kill her friend Stu, Genesis swears to hunt and kill them, much to Seth's chagrin.
          Klein does some intriguing things in her writing. One characteristic I noticed quickly was her frequent use of fragments. While it is not something I would necessarily use in my own works to the degree she does, it certainly makes Klein's style interesting. Another enjoyable part of these novels was the depth of the characters. Twists and turns, scenes of anger, malice, love, and compassion lent vivid personalities to all of the important characters, especially Seth and Genesis. Such uniqueness paired with a nice, dramatic plot, make The Guardian, and from what I have read thus far, its successors, highly recommendable novels.