Thursday, August 15, 2013

View on English Classroom Discussion



I was a very precocious kid; I liked to learn. I can remember my whole schooling career, up to college where I'm in my second year and they allow you to gain your own understanding, being frustrated with my teachers telling me what an author meant. I would sarcastically think, "What, did you know {said author} and they told you what meaning they were trying to give their readers?"

I loved to write from a young age and I would think that when I wrote poems especially, I barely thought about what meaning I was putting into my poems. Poetry is about expression and I don't know anyone who didn't care about what they were writing, sitting down and trying to pack meaning they didn't care about into their writing.

All of my teacher analyzed everything to death too. Every word meant something; every comma or new stanza or paragraph was done purposefully. What if they were just trying to make things look better?! What if they just wanted things to flow more easily?

I always just wanted to read a poem or story first and feel it. Just feel the tone and then go back and see what it was all about. I know a lot of authors, like Poe for example, went back and edited his writing to make sure every action in the story fit the plot and was helping to makes it apparent to his readers what the feeling or though behind the piece was about.

But not all authors or not all of their stories or poems need to be analyzed the way curriculum is set up. I know they're getting us ready to write papers in later grades and college and give us some insight, but that's why a lot of kids lose interest. They push it too far and leave no room for individuality and creativity.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Teaser Tuesday (2)




This weekly meme is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. All you have to do is:
  • Grab the book you're currently reading.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page
  • DON'T INCLUDE SPOILERS
  • Share the title and author so other participants can add the book to their TBR pile, if wanted.

"I was turning to look for Stark when he was suddenly there beside me, His hand trailed down my arm until our fingers met and threaded together."

pg. 75 of Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast



Monday, August 12, 2013

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer Review



From Goodreads: Calla has always welcomed war.

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.


Rating: 4/5

Plot: 4.5/5

Characters: 5/5

Ending: 4.5/5

I rushed right into this book, needing to find out what happened after Calla brings Ren back to the Searcher's in Italy. I'm a Team Ren member and gained a lot of satisfaction from Calla rescuing him. The old Calla is finally back after her departure from the last book. In my review of Wolfsbane, if you didn't see it, I had some complaints. She becomes her alpha wolf and forces the love triangle between her, Shay, and Ren to become second to their mission to finish the Elemental Cross and destroy the Wraiths and, essentially, the Keepers.

The story is fast-paced as usual, because the Searchers have to work fast. Ren and Adne are also able to meet and start to develop a relationship--one of many relationships that get to develop! There's a lot of action and I loved reading about the adventures and new information the pack and the Scion gets to learn about their world. One of the only reasons I stuck with reading the last book, besides curiosity, was all the great information we got about The Keepers and the pack.

I was surprised and amused, gaps in stories and actions are close up, and felt closer to the characters a lot more in this book. Ren is more dimensional and most other characters' lives and actions are given explanations. Call is as confused as ever but as the end of the book nears, her feelings become more clear. Bloodrose is a huge step up from Wolfsbane, for me and very, very engrossing and emotional. I don't think it's really because of any major flaw, but the story changes so rapidly that it's hard for the readers emotions to catch up.

**SPOILERS**

I think Cremer created the love between Calla and Ren so well that their love isn't seperate or different enough to the love of Calla and Shay. Yes, she "had" to be with Ren but her feelings were real, she even admits that. Honestly, I think she could have gotten away with choosing either one of her guys and it would have made sense.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ALL ENDED UP BEING WOLVES. IT WAS PERFECT BUT ALSO VERY, VERY UPSETTING. AND REN, MY POOR REN.

I think it was a little convenient that Ren and Shay are both alpha males and Calla doesn't want to hurt Ren because she knows she's already made her decision, and then he is killed. I'm glad he died fighting Emile and that Calla had such a strong reaction to it. It was very touching. It was also very conveneient, but nice, that the wolves got to become wolves and basically not deal with all the pain and deal with living in new world.

I was very shocked though, that 1) The Searched knew that the pack would be destroyed of their human lives and yet they carried on 2) the pack seemed to accept it so easily and 3) Shay was Scion and a wolf.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

One of the World's Smallest Books




I saw this article on the main Yahoo! page and I had to share it because I'm a fan of miniature books (aren't they so cute?) and I thought it was interesting.

The article, Revealed: A Book the Size of a Ladybug, explains that miniature books are recognized being fewer than 3 inches in length and width; this book is a .138 inches square and .04 inches thick. The university of Iowa owns it, among other books, and before they knew for sure, using a high-end microscope, figured it was a Bible.

It has a larger, sister book and they were both sold at the World' Fair in 1965. After decades apart, they are both now together and it was found out they contain the same content.

I don't know about a book this small, but I would love to have a miniature book collection of my favorite books, just for fun.