JLEW: Latest Entries

Thursday, May 8, 2008

DIS IS WHA I RED

I read "SPEAK" by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

What Do I Know Anyways? :(

Will i ever get married? This question has always loomed over me, because of my general values and the person who I am. The prospect of it is unnerving to me, that i can meet one man who i could spend the rest of my life with and not get bored (yes i understand how immature it sounds, but do i really or should i ever get tired of the person i marry?). Why is this so important to me? My personal stance on marriage is that it is a question of morality, love, and strength. I want to find someone who i can love and provide for the rest of my life, though it seems in modern times a much harder prospect. Its as if im in a search for my soul, a further quest to find out who I am.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Maus I 2

The second reading of Maus ran at a must faster a pace i felt. Maybe its because i have gotten accustomed to the reading of a graphic novel, or maybe in general there was just more action. Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed this reading. I nearly forgot about the ghettos they had for the Jews before they were even shipped off to the concentration camps. The novel went into great detail about the ghettos, and about how Vladek, Ajha and a few other hid out in a cellar concealed by a coal pile. After they emerged from their hiding, they came to terms that they must leave. The story taking place in presents makes it evident that Vladek is not in good health. Also, he regrets ever remarrying. Then the story goes back to WWII, and how they tried to stow away on a train out of Poland. The train stop in this one town, and i clearly remember this frame where they are shock to see a Nazi flag hanging in the middle of the town. They are the taken from the train, and shortly to the concentration camp of Auschwitz. This reading was a wonderful combination of fact and storyline, and how he intertwined the two so well. Despite this being such a great novel, it does not make you feel good. Things get worse as the book progress, and now that we have finally arrived at the concentration camp, i know things can only get worse.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Maus II 2

The end of this book left me feeling empty on the inside. besides the point, i found the same trouble i had at the beginning of the book following along. It jumped so much between the past and the present, it gave me a headache. The story starts progressing towards the release of the Jews from the concentration camps. however, it never seems to get to that point. They are taken away from Auschwitz and put in a rail car for days, some of which were never opened. Then, they are marched into the wilderness where they are suppose to be shot. It just angers me how the Nazi's are so reluctant to just release the prisoners. Thankfully, they are finally release by the Americans. What really left me feeling empty is how fact-based this reading was. Thats all it seemed to be, one fact after another, no heart. Also, Vladek dying was also depressing. I thought that maybe Artie would have something more to say. And then Mala came back, but she didn't say much either. However, i liked seeming how Vladek was buried next to his wife, and how they were reunited in the very end. It help ease the pain and the suffering that all the book had to offer.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Maus II 1

Vladek In this reading, Vladek goes on a vacation to some sort of condominium complex. It isn't a normal vacation retreat, there seem to be many other holocaust survivor around him. While he staying there, he calls to his son Artie to come to his assistance; Vladek says that he was having a heart attack. It turns out the Mala left him, which caused Valdek to feel such a pain. However, he didn't seem all too upset about it, almost as if he had been expecting such a breakup. We are the then taken back into the story of Auschwitz, and the grotesque details really start to come about. There are dead bobies everywhere, always people are dying from disease and starvation. The food itself is sheer torture. They are fed spoiled cheese and bread. Also, there are lice everywhere. When they went to get their food they had to take off there clothes to be inspected for lice. If there was any lice, they would not be given any food, which was nearly impossible because their were so many lice. One thing i found shocking was how these disposed of the bodies. Most bodies were burned, though there were also many who were buried. Those who were unlucky, the ones that didn't die while in the gas chamber, were buried alive. The conditions are so horrid and unbearable that when Vladek cut his hand, he purposefully attempts to make the wound worse, so he would have to go to the infirmary. This would give him, in a sense, some sort of a break. However, the one reason i believe that he still survives is because he is a skilled laborer. In a sense the Nazi's are taking advantage of him.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

MAUS 1

I have never seen anything like Maus in my life; a novel made into a comic. Not only is it a comic, but absolutely none of the characters are human. I haven't a clue why, but i find it a lot more appealing and entertaining to read. However, i found it hard to follow the panels at many points in the book. The book runs along two separate storyline. Vladek's is recounting his war experience from the Holocaust, which obviously happens in the past, and than there Vladek's son hearing his story in the present. It flips back and forth between the two lines, as well as going into detail about Vladek's current life. I found myself stumbling along at some points as the author transitioned back and forth between the time lines. The story really sucked me in. It seemed so real, it read like a historical novel. The detail of the dialogs along with the illustrations makes each panel so easy for me to understand. I had no trouble at all interpreting this novel what so ever. I'm am so anxious to read, despite already knowing the bad things to come. I just want to know how it all happens, and absorb every piece of it.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

6 Words Come To Mind....??Lunch, Time??

****Love me! I'm nothing, Sunday morning.****

Its really hard to contemplate a story from six words, especially when you go by Hemingways criteria. For six words to be anywhere near inspiring, they first must make you think. Without thought, your words are empty and without significance. Thats all i have to say about that.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Remember The Rain, Remember the Weather ^_^

Weather is an important aspect of Hemingway's novels. Weather has the quality of portraying feeling and emotions that the narrator could not express through their own words. Weather it just as important at giving us a protrayl of the emotion and feeling surrounding the book as is everything else. You must pay close attention to it, for it reveals things that, as i said before the narrator could not express. Its like when you are lost for words; you are unable to put into words the happiness or sadness that you feel after you received a really nice gift or one of your loved ones has passed away. Weather has the ability to express feelings which you could not.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Wait a Sec....I Need To Re-Read 6_6

Having a book re-readable, so to speak, can carry out the book's appeal through the ages. As Hemingway says, every time you read the book again, there is always something new to discover. In many cases, this can lead to great enjoyment, causing such reactions as, "Oh my gosh! I never knew!" or, "Wow, so that explains why...". Though all the information may not be right there in your face the very first time you read it, there is something to unlocked, lick progressing to the next level in a video game. Its a new experience every time you read, making that one book into a million books! Re-reading also stimulates the reader's mind and can get him or her further hooked on the book.

Par Example:

The significance of the rain representing death, and how the rain had taking such a great toll on th troops

How have these themes/ideas, carried out through the book?

Henry uses the scenery to describe how he feels at this point in time. There are no clues the way he is feeling but the rain, and the utter death and dreariness of the countryside and the valley below. And, on that note, rain still represents death at the beginning of this novel. The rain poured as the troops marche dalonside of the road, dragging their cold wet bodies along. In these conditions, disease must that taken a large tole on th troops, as it mentioned in the very last paragraph.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

GOALS 4 JONATHAN THE WRITER 9_9

I view Hemingway's wittings as real as life can possibly be interpreted into writing. Hemingway does not wish to make a mochary of his writing by putting a nice dress on in. No, instead, every piece of his writing is necessary and is there for a purpose. He want the reader to see exactly what real life is. He distinguishes himself by doing such a wonderful job of portraying the events of his books as close to what it would be in real life.