Post 3: Book 1

For my book one project, I read The Shack, by W.M. Paul Young.  In this novel, there is a man named Mac who is struggling with the death of his daughter.  She was kidnapped and later murdered while on a family camping trip.  Mac does not deal well with this tragedy, and ends up returning to the shack where she was killed.  When he visits, he finds something he never would expect to find in a million years.  He spends the weekend with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit.  I really enjoyed reading this and could not seem to put it down at times.  I highly recommend this book to anybody, male or female.  This is a great book and is a moving story about the journey of a man’s faith.

Post 12: Reading Wishlist

American Sniper (Chris Kyle)
The Wolf of Wall Street (Jordan Belfort)
300 (Frank Miller)
Webster's Dictionary (Webster)
Black Hawk Down (Mark Bowden)
Friday Night Lights (H.G. Bissinger)

Post 11: Book Talk

Post 10: Book 3 Project

The Lone Survivor is an action filled memoir that is based on a true story about a four man Navy Seal team in the heart of the Afghan mountains.  It was made into a movie this year and the story is being known throughout America.  This book is told from the perspective of Marcus Luttrell, a Navy Seal who took part in the heroic mission.  He describes his thoughts and motivations he has had his entire life, ever since he aspired to be a seal when he was only twelve years old. 

The characters in this book are described by Luttrell rather than having their own dialogue, for the most part.  Luttrell does most of the talking in this book, and he has a very unique personality.  He has a very serious attitude and perspective on life.  A lot of the things that he says are phrases or words that had been instilled in their minds since they were in boot camp, on day one.  He recites many sayings that show what a true soldier he is.  He states things like, “I persevere and thrive on adversity.  My nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies”.  He also says many things that are commonly repeated during war-time situations.  He is constantly screaming “Yes Sir!” and “Roger that”.  There is one word that is commonly repeated throughout the book, and that is “Hooyah”.  It is commonly used in place of the words: “yes sir” and “roger that”.  Most of the dialogue in this book relates to a sort of ‘military language’.  What comes with military talk is also the occasional swear word.  There is not excessive swearing, like The catcher in the Rye.  That type of dialect is only presented when the situation is relevant.  For instance, when Luttrell describes his experience at boot camp, there are swear words sporadically placed throughout the chapter. 

When reading The Lone Survivor, I found it fairly easy to pick up on a reoccurring theme.  The book portrays a sort of “bad ass” feel to it.  The confidence of the Navy Seals almost makes you want to be one of them; makes you appreciate what our American soldiers do for us just a little bit more.  I believe that the theme of the book is trying to convey comradery, brotherhood, and team work.  That is another phrase that is constantly mentioned throughout the book; team work.  Nothing that our countries military has achieved would be possible without team work.  Team work is the reason our country is as great as it is today.  This is because our country believes in team work, and brotherhood.  When Luttrell talks about his time at boot camp, team work is something that is constantly seared into their brains. 

Overall, I thought that this book was very good.  It was well written, and kept me on my toes throughout the entire story.  There is strong use of dialect, imagery, and plot structure in this book.  The Lone Survivor is a heroic act of team work and dedication by a few of the world’s most prestigious warriors.  The Navy Seals are highly trained soldiers that will fight to the death for our beloved country. 

Post 9: Characters

In my opinion, the narrator of the Lone Survivor is a very likable character.  His name is Marcus Luttrell, and he is a former Navy Seal.  He is a very passionate man; he cares about his duty to our country more than anything else.  Luttrell is part of the most elite combat force in the world.  Seals are highly trained warriors and are feared by opposing forces all around the world.  Luttrell is likable because of the attitude he has towards our country.  He is willing to risk his life and put it all on the line for the U.S. 

                I believe that there is a connection between the narrator and its genre fiction.  Lone Survivor is a non-fiction book.  Marcus Luttrell has a lot of personal stories that he tells throughout the book.  Many of his shared experiences are from his childhood, growing up in Texas.  They’re about his passion for wanting to be a Seal since he was twelve years old.  He also talks about experiences he’s had with his former Seal partners.  Experiences that involve real life combat scenarios.  Many of his combat stories are from actual events that have occurred throughout the world, and can be backed up by real and factual evidence.  Luttrell’s novel connects to its non-fiction genre because of his genuine and authentic personality.  Some of the quotes he shares from the time he served are encrypted into the Seal’s heads.  These are authentic actions that are portrayed by actual U.S. soldiers.

Post 8: Truth In Memoir

Memoir- a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.  I do not believe that a memoir has to be completely true.  Nowhere in this definition does it mention a memoir containing factual evidence of the events occurred.  Therefore, if the story is somewhat stretched, it shouldn’t be declassified as a memoir. 

The last part of the sentence states that a memoir is based off of personal observation.  The writing piece is seen through the eyes of the writer.  The writer perceives the events in their own unique way.   The reader doesn’t have the right to know if the writer’s perception was wrong, it shouldn’t matter.  The story does not change. 

I believe there should be a point in a non-fiction book where it is fully backed up with evidence.  Mr. Coates’ example was with a medical book.  You want that knowledge to be fully backed up, or else a possible operation might go terribly wrong.  If there is no label on that medical book as non-fiction, then some bum of a writer might make a bs medical book, just to make some money.  That is where the line should be drawn; if it effects the life of another. 

Post 7: Book Trailer

I Am Number Four book trailer:
http://youtu.be/etm0W92GGKk

Post 6: Readicide

I believe that Readicide is a huge problem in our schools today.  Children are growing up reading old time literature that is assigned to them that they have to read.  Kids are being forced to read and heavily analyze books that they have no interest in.

 While most of the school assigned books that are of literary fiction, we should be reading more genre fiction.  The books assigned for kids should be modern, new books that they actually have an interest in.  For example: a sixteen year old girl would much rather read The Hunger Games instead of Macbeth.  The students have a bad attitude towards the book before they read the first page. 

The language in older books is also much harder to comprehend and needs to be heavily analyzed.  Odds are that the student will spark note the entire book and still pass the given test.  I agree that a school’s reading list should include a fifty-fifty split with literary fiction and genre fiction.  I do believe that some famous older books should be read, but at the same time that shouldn’t be the only types of books we read.  If the reading has zero interest in the students, they will only turn to spark notes and won’t read a page of the book itself.  I know that from experience; I am guilty of spark noting an assigned book and I know that about half of my peers are as well. 

It is important that kids read books while they are in school.  Kids need to explore all the different types of literature and styles of writing.  They need to form their own opinions, not just the same opinion that most students have, which is “I hate reading”.  That seems to be the only opinion you hear from kids now a days. 

Post 5: Adapting My Book

The following are scenes found in the book that are necessary to keep when adapting the story into a movie.

One scene that would be essential to bring to the big screen would be John and Henri up and leaving their Florida home at the beginning of the book.   John was getting notified that number three was just killed, because of the scar forming on his ankle.  He had to leave his friends and his house that very moment.  I think this scene is important because it shows the lifestyle that John lives.  It shows that if need be, he will pack up the little belongings he has, leave his house, and start a new life, all at a moment’s notice. 

Another scene that would be crucial for the movie is when John receives his first legacy at school.  He is in the middle of class on his first day, and his hands start to glow and become very hot.  He locks himself in a classroom and waits for Henri to pick him up.  This is important because his first legacy is a big stepping stone for him and he has been waiting for it his whole life.  It is also important to show how his legacy arrives.  It doesn’t just come to him instantly, it comes through a process. 

The scene where John and Henri are talking to Sam about different alien conspiracies is very important.  Sam brings up the story of the Mogadorian’s quest for universal control; John and Henri’s situation.  Sam somehow read about it in a sketchy magazine subscription.  This means trouble for John and Henri because it shows that the Mogadorians are close and that the people on earth know about it. 

These next two aspects of the book are unnecessary to the plot and could be done without.

A scene that could be unnecessary for the movie is when Sam points a gun at john point blank.  John walked into Sam’s bedroom and said hi.  Immediately, Sam pulled a gun out of his desk drawer and pointed it at John.  After a short conversation, Sam put the gun down and they hung out for the rest of the night.  I thought that moment was just irrelevant and quickly forgotten about. 

A minor character that isn’t too important would be little Bernie Kosar.  He is a little dog that follows John around and randomly showed up to his school one day.  He is a very obedient dog and goes everywhere with John.  Since I am only half way done with the book, I don’t know of any impact Bernie has on the plot just yet, if there even is any.  But as of now where I am in the book, he serves no purpose.

Post 4: Book Project

The fan experience that will be provided for the readers of The Shack, is a business dedicated to customizing your own garden fractal.  This business would have the customer choose different types of floral arrangements that fit their personalities and desires.  A specialized worker will then show up to the customer’s house and produce the garden fractal.  It will be a garden that represents you and will make you feel like it is a part of yourself. Every garden will be unique in its own way, and will be a beautiful and perfect mess for whoever invests in one.

In The Shack, there is a scene where Mack is helping out Sarayu with some garden work.  The garden is filled with a bunch of random flowers of all sorts of color and sizes.  To Mack, it looks a mess.  “It was chaos in color”.  The flowers are arranged with no pattern.  Vegetables and herbs were randomly dispersed throughout the garden.  Sarayu tells Mack, “It’s a fractal from above”.  The book states its definition of a fractal.  “A fractal… something considered simple and orderly that is actually composed of repeated patterns no matter how magnified.  A fractal is almost infinitely complex”.  You can tell that Sarayu is very fond of this garden.  She takes very good care of it and has a passionate love for the garden.   After some hard work in the garden, Sarayu reveals to Mack that the garden is actually him.  The garden is Mack’s soul.  As they are working on beautifying the garden, they are actually beautifying his soul.  They are strengthening his beliefs and helping his relationship with God grow stronger.  The character and uniqueness of the garden are represented in his soul.  So the business I have created does just as Sarayu has done with Mack.  The business will customize your very own garden fractal.  The characteristics will be based on your very own personal characteristics.  However you want it to look.  The garden made will represent YOUR soul.  It will contain all of your favorite colors and shapes and it will be arranged just how you want it.  It will be your job to keep up the garden and maintain it.  The reason for that is so it reminds you that your own soul needs to kept up and nurtured.  Mack was really drawn to his garden and was fascinated by it, before he knew it was his soul.  He was almost familiar with it, like he had seen it before.  That is what the garden fractal business wants you to feel after purchasing your garden.  You will feel connected to your garden; you will feel like it is a part of you.

I think this idea will work with my book because it relates to the part of the book that may be the most impactful.  This part of the book stood out to me the most.  It was the big “ah ha” moment for Mack, and really helped him understand and strengthen his relationship with God.  This service will broaden the audience for the book because as people see the beautiful garden fractal, it will make them want to read The Shack and understand what the garden is all about.  I mean, how could you not want to read the book after seeing such fascinating garden? The garden itself will draw lots of attention to whoever owns it.  This business will keep readers involved with the book because they can always be updating or purchasing new gardens for themselves. 

Post 2: What is a book?

A book has a life of its own.   It speaks to your inner being, like nothing else can.  It reaches your soul through a variety of emotions and events that conjure your thoughts in a unique way.  It surprises you; a book can eliminate your expectations completely.  It affects every reader in a different manner, depending on their judgment of the book.  It can take you to places you have never been.  A book can take you on a trek through the pacific, or to a romantic love scene in the 15^th century.  In a way, a book is your own personal tour guide.  It shows you its marvelous features, but allows you to see them in whatever way you desire.  The book itself is a blank canvas.  It creates an image in your mind as you read, and the more you read, the better the painting becomes.  Words are merely a map, a set of directions that can take you to the edge of the universe and beyond.

A book is not a three by four inch screen.  A page is to be flipped, not swiped.  The thickness of a book allows you to feel the depth with your fingertips, unlike a cold, lifeless cellular device that is there to only distract you.  A book has memory.  It contains scratches on the binding, or wrinkles on page created by a simple tear drop from a previous reader.  If you get tear drops on a phone screen, the guy from Apple will simply tell you that there’s water damage.  A book does not have a battery.  Its light cannot simply go out, due to over usage.  A book can never be overused.  It gains value the longer it sits on the book shelf in your head. 

 

Post 1: Why I Read

If you are lucky to come across me reading, it is most likely because I have to for school. I typically only read when I am assigned an English project where I am forced to read.  But even when I am assigned to read for class, I don't always do so.  But I do plan on reading more often, that is why I took this class.  If  I am reading something that interests me, then it is a lot easier for me to read.  When I am reading something for a certain class that is not interesting at all, then I start thinking about something totally off topic from what I am reading.  I just can't seem to focus when I read.  I wish that I liked reading, because I truly think that it will make you smarter and strengthen your vocabulary.  I think that I am missing out on a lot of good stories and books out there because I am just too lazy to read.  Maybe it's because I most likely have ADHD.  I just can't focus for enough time to sit down and read a book just for fun.  But when it comes down to life or death, reading = life.