Books, books, and more books.

This previous nine weeks I've read Gone with the Wind, The Hunter Games Trilogy, and of course, Brave New World. But this next nine weeks I'd really like to read Jesus Freaks, which is about the lives of some seriously dedicated Christians, and should be extremely inspirational. I'd also like to read the Lord of the Ring series, because the movies were awesome, and it is also based on Christianity. It was suggested that I read the Wrinkle in Time series, and I remember reading it a really long time ago, and thinking it was pretty good. My friend Emily says there are some Christian themes apparent in that series as well. Picking up on a pattern? I'd also like to read The Hunt for Red October, partially because the movie was amazing, and also because it covers an important part in America's history. I'm currently reading Seabuscuit, and if I can find a book on Secretariat, I'd like to read that as well. I probably wont be able to read all of these books this nine-weeks, but stretch it out over the rest of the year. And if I get the chance, I'd like to reread Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers.

Independent Reading Reflection

The first nine weeks I didn't read as regularly as I should have, and read three of the books (The Hunger Game Trilogy) in one week, and read Gone with the Wind over 2 weeks during the last part of the summer. I plan on improving on reading regularly by reading each night, for about 30 minutes, before I go to sleep each night. I read often, during short periods of time. I try to read into the text, and ussually make connections to modern day political issues. Although, I didn't use my Reading Journal helped me to organize my thoughts, and connections, but didn't help me to think more deeply. Next nine weeks I plan on reading Seabiscuit, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, and if I can find a book on Secretariat, I plan on reading that too. I would also like to read Jesus Freak, if I can get my hands on it. If I have time I would like to reread The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers.

2nd Quarter Annotated Reading List...

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Swiftly Tilting Planet. New York: Square Fish/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1978. Print. (320 pages)

"It's the end of the world as we know it!" In this Wrinkle In Time book, Charles Wallace is put up against an impossible enemy: Nuclear War. In order to prevent nuclear war, Charles must travel back in time to change a "might have been" and ultimately change the fate of the world. Charles learns that we are placed where we are meant to be, and not necessarily where we think we should be, or where we want to be. And beyond that he finds that there is so much more to a situation then meets the eye. With the help of a time-traveling unicorn, his sister Meg, and even the wind, Charles unlocks the secret to saving the day.

More then anything, L'Engle captures how the impact of small decisions can spread far and wide and effect not only all of earth, but all of the universe as well. In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Charles is sent back in time to see how the family line of a foreign leader can change the world, and the choice between two brothers can effect the universe. The author was able to create a diverse and complex family tree, and weave the plot throughout it, with surprising twists. Although slightly confusing, this intense family tree make the book even more interesting then imagined.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wind in the Door. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1973. Print. (256 pages)

In A Wind in the Door, the previously large scale of A Wrinkle In Time was so large that it was almost unfathomable is reversed. Our main characters find themselves with in Mitochondria, microscopic organisms within Charles Wallace. In order to save him Meg, Clavin, and a cherubim named Proginoskis, and even with Meg's hated elementary school Principle, Mr. Jenkins. Meg discovers that love is not limited to the people we like, and that it's important to love everyone, even if it's hard.

One of the amazing things about this book in the Wrinkle In Time Series is that the author acknowledges the super natural abilities of animals. The twins, Sandy and Dennys, have a pet snake who is able to tell the evil demon-creatures known as echthroi, from the real people. The doctor that the snake is named after also admits to having a snake that could determine whether or not a person was trustworthy. This theme is also represented in A Swiftly Tilting Planet, when a golden retriever mix helps Meg to Kythe (a form of communication similar to telepathy) with Charles Wallace as he travels through time.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print. (211 pages)

The first book to the Time Quintet, this book opens the way for all the other books as Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and a new friend, Calvin, travel the galaxy with three mysterious... beings to save their father. Meg's father had previously being experimenting with something called a tesseract, a form of transportation that skips through space and time. The three moral characters begin to tesser with the three imortal characters: Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit. First they find themselves in a strange land to see what they're up against, a dark evil shadow, that transforms planets into dark, joyless rocks, where the inhabits are often brain washed or controlled by evil. When they finally reach the evil planet where thier father is being held captive, the are forced to loose Charles Wallace, while saving Meg's father. In the end, it's all up to Meg, and she only has one weapon left... If she can discover what it is.

Most book series seem to begin smaller and gradually grow bigger in scale as they come closer to the grand finale. L'Engle has reversed this usual practice and began in the biggest way she can, transporting characters through space and time, across galaxies, and through impossible feats. One of the main characters, Mrs. Whatsit, is a former star, who was forced to give up her life to save her system, and become a new form. What the reader can barely struggle to comprehend is described beautifully by the author. Charles Wallace, a small for his age, and seemingly dumb child, reveals himself as intelligent beyond human intellect, with possession of a knowing beyond scientific recognition. The scale of almost every aspect of the book is enormous beyond human imagination.

Socratic Seminar Reflection

During our class's Socratic Seminar, I had question 2, which reflected upon the conversation between John the savage, and Mr. Mond, and question 7 which reflected on the reality of Huxley's Brave New World, based on how society is now.

One of the things that interested me is that I learned a lot from listening to others Socratic Seminar, as well as my own. The group from question 3, brought in to account how Huxley felt about Henry Ford, and questioned whether he looked up to Ford, or blamed Ford for many of societies problems. This was something I had never thought about, before listening to this groups conversation. By talking with others about the book, and the ideas behind it, I was able to better understand the human element behind the book, and how Aldous Huxley presented his ideas through it.

I thoroughly enjoyed question 7, because I could relate Brave New World to present day circumstances, and was able to bring in a lot of outside sources, such as a communique from BRIC, and an article on stem-cell research. I felt I did considerably well. Question 2 I felt was slightly more difficult, because I was forced to step into two different characters shoes, in attempt to understand their brain and subconscious. If I could do the Socratic seminar differently, I would have studied the passage for question 2 more, and would've brought in more examples from the text for question 7. I discovered that I enjoy talking, and can communicate ideas with relative ease, and use my hands a lot during conversation. I really enjoyed how the Socratic Seminar was set up, but I think that have a conversation consisting of me and just someone else, would make it much easier to communicate, and wouldn't leave anyone without anything to say.

Annotated Reading List for Independent Reading

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print. (374 pgs)

In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins portrays and teenage girl named Katniss Everdeen, who is sent into a corrupt government's way of controlling the nation's districts. She is meant to fend for herself against Mother Nature's wilderness, engineered and twisted by gamemakers to be twice as deadly, and, to top it off, protect herself from other teenagers, who were forced to represent the other eleven districts. Not only does Katniss face death, but also emotional upheaval, caused by the male participant from her district: Peeta. Peeta is what all girls dread: That guy who claims to love you, who you can't help liking yourself. Although the plot was good, and fairly original, the mushy side of the story made the actions sequences seem sadly watered-down. Peeta is an extremely simple character, who, while adding to the plot, added little to the imagination.

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print. (391pgs)

Katniss is back, and after having won the hunger games, and saving her co-winner Peeta. Unknowingly, Katniss has stirred up some pretty rebellious feelings around the districts. Now she must prove her non-existent love for Peeta, in order to survive. To top it all off, she is forced to return to the arena. Again her wits and will to survive are tested. And so are her emotions.This time, the arena she's thrown into is completely unlike her home. She is forced to survive in a beech like environment, with tropical woods, booby-trapped with all forms of deadly snares. Collin does a relatively good job of explaining Katniss's surrounding, although she does not paint them as well as many authors are able to.

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print. (288pgs)

Katniss is FINALLY out of the arena for good... But life is still extremely difficult. Especially when she finds out that her home, District 12, has been almost completely destroyed. She is rescued, and then recruited to be the face of a rebellion she barely knew existed. Everything she stands for is tested, and she finds herself questioning the values that have held her together. She faces enemies who, can not only kill her with violence, but also with politics and words. For the first half of Mockingjay, the Collins' style is energetic, and pumped, rebellious, and encouraging. Toward the end of the novel, the town shifts into a much more serene quality. Everything has changed, and life itself seems to have fallen apart. There is a quietness, almost a fragile silence. The town becomes almost depressing, despite the changes that should seem positive. The book ends with a solemn view on life.

Mitchell, Margaret. Gone with the Wind. [New York]: Avon, 1973. Print. (1037 pgs.)

Scarlett O'Hara is a sly, and foxy young lady who reaches adulthood just as the civil war begins. Foolish and lovestruck, she chases after Ashely Wilkes, who is betrothed to Melany Hamilton, and makes many idiotic choices concerning the two. The Civil War takes hold of Scarlett's home, stealing places, people, and things she loves. In an effort to survive Scarlett becomes a strong, determined woman who handles the world in a unique, and sometimes immoral way. She continues to battle for what she finds important, while running from fears, until forced to confront what has been eating away at her subconscious for years.

In her novel, Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell expresses ideas in a way that captures the reader, and holds there attention. Her style is unbiased, yet sarcastic to the foolishness of society in general. Mitchell had an extraordinary way of understanding what truly makes people tick, and how the differences in people can cause truly interesting reactions to the situations life gives us. Enforced by tons of research and facts of the civil war, Mitchell reminds us of basic human nature, in a touching, and intriguing story of a girl changing into a woman. Gone with the Wind expresses determination and victory despite all odds.