Sunday, May 1, 2011

Breaking Dawn pg. 451-511

Not much has happened in the past sixty pages. The Cullen family fixes up a little cottage in the forest for Edward and Bella and Renesmee to live in as a wedding gift. of course it is adorned with a closet the same size as the house thanks to Alice filled with silk and satin gowns--completely impractical for a newborn vampire. really, the highlight of this section has to deal with Jake. he told Charlie (Bella's dad) about pretty much everything, but not really at the same time. He revealed his animal ways to him by phasing, explaining that he is a werewolf. Charlie cringes at the word before Jake can even get it out. Jake continues to explain that Bella was indeed sick and that in order to get better she had to change a little bit too. Bella freaks out when she discovers that Jake told Charlie all of this as she worries for her fathers life. Either she wouldn't be able to control herself around her human father or the Volturi would kill him if based on his insight knowledge. a sigh of relief is expressed when Jake tells the clan that Charlie has asked to know as little as possible about the situation. He just wants to see her daughter. Oh, and Renesmee is supposedly Edwards niece that he and Bella have adopted. However, as soon as Charlie sees the young girl, he can not get over those big brown eyes. Her mother's big brown eyes. His big brown eyes. Only time will tell if Charlie can line up the facts and figure out what is really going on but who knows.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Breaking Dawn 399-451

This has got to be one of the slowest books i've ever read. I'm half way thru it here's all thats really happened:
Bella and Edward got married.
They go on a honeymoon for a long time on some remote island that the Cullen's own.
Bella gets pregnant. By her vampire husband.
They return home and the baby grows at an alarming rate--as it breaks her bones.
Bella has to drink human blood to keep the baby healthy.
Bella gives birth to her baby girl and about dies, therefore Edward has to bite her.
She turns into a vampire.

Okay now that were all caught up, here's the new stuff:
The book switches from Jake's point of view back to Bella's. She wakes up with an acute sense of sight--noticing everything from the grains in the wood to the dust particles stirred up in the air. She becomes even more beautiful than she was before and much more graceful. She is so caught up in her new speed and strength that she almost forgets about her newborn baby. She asks to see her daughter, Renesmee (a combo of her mother Rene and Edward's mother Esme). She is denied this wish because the rest of the vampires know that as a newborn vampire, constantly craving human blood, she could possibly hurt her daughter.

So Bella and Edward go out into the woods on Bella's first hunt. Edward doesn't realize the innocent humans not far from them in the woods which is a major mistake when there is a newborn vampire on the loose. Bella is in mid-hunt of the humans when she suddenly realizes that what she is doing is wrong, so she stops herself. This amount of self control is not common in newborn vampires. Bella has brought forth her innocent nature as a human to her vampire life. She soon enough finds a mountain lion to feed on and some deer here and there. After she is full she asks to see her daughter once more.

Now i've said that this book is really slow so i'll try to speed the next thirty pages up a bit. Bella and Edward race home but are stopped by Jake right before the house. He wants to see how strong Bella really is before he lets her see Renesmee. Bella thinks that Jake is just looking out for her and trying to keep her from doing something she would regret. However, Jake has imprinted on Bella's daughter which is the real reason behind his over-protective behavior. Bella doesn't realize this until after she holds her baby girl and Jake won't let go of her. As soon as Bella understands what is really going on she starts going off on Jake. Although Bella doesnt make any attempt of an attack on Jake (which Carlisle is amazed by) Jake's pack comes to defend him, adjusting themselves on either side of him. Bella can't take it anymore and the chapter ends with, "And she lunged toward his throat."

It's Personal

stress. it controls my life. its the reason behind me supposedly not caring about school at this point. its the reason behind me keeping to myself lately. its the reason behind me. i haven't been keeping up with my blogs lately which let me tell you has not helped my grade much. ive taken a couple personal days this week and ive realized that its time for me to start caring about school again and opening back up to my friends. so here i am. im back.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

White Noise Discussion Response

Do you think Jack's question of "who will die first" is foreshadowing something? (The Final Countdown)
I do believe that Jack has an odd obsession with death and relationships. He is constantly discussing the question of death and who will die first between him and his wife Babette. The unexpected question pops up from time to time, mainly when Jack is not even talking about death. For example, the first time that he brings up the question is right after he describes some of his day-to-day tasks like taking out the trash and going on walks. He mentions Babette and how she talks to dogs and cats. Then all of a sudden the next line stands alone: “Who will die first?” Jack’s fixation on this question emphasizes his lack of entertainment and enjoyment in life. His life is so boring that he has nothing better to look forward to but death. I think this foreshadows the fact that one of them is going to die by the end of novel—probably Babette because I think that would cause Jack to fall further into this dystopian society and provide more of a storyline.

Describe the irony presented with Babette's teaching a class on good posture in context with the story. (Fifteen Miles East)
When I started reading chapter seven, when Jack describes how Babette teaches the posture class, I was just confused. The true irony in this is that she teaches old people how to sit stand and walk. I don’t quite understand why these old people would need to be taught how to be proper when they were the people who grew up in the early nineteen hundreds—when posture and manners were a complete reflection of who you were and where you stood in society.

How does Murray feel about Babette? (Symphony)
Murray is an interesting character to me. I think of him to be sensible, pragmatic, and on his toes with his thoughts and actions. He is also very strange. For example, at the grocery store he picked up Jack’s bottle of aspirin and honeydews and sniffed them. What’s up with that? To go along with his strange behavior, Murray notes that Babette’s hair “is a living wonder,” and that it is important. He implies that she should be appreciated for this. Murray obviously has some kind of physical attraction to Babette—with her hair at least. Based on her hair, Murray assumes that she is good with children and good to have around during a time of tragedy because “she’d be the type to take control, show strength and affirmation.” Good assumption Murray. In actuality Babette is quite emotional. Murray’s incorrect assumptions of Babette show that he is quick to judge.

dream home

After viewing all three homes I greatly appreciated the residence of photographer Dan Martensen and his artsy girlfriend Shannan Click. I am a country girl and would love to raise my family out in the country in a rustic farm house. I'm not saying that we have to seclude ourselves from society by growing all of our food, slaughtering and milking the cows, churning the butter, chopping firewood, and sewing our own clothes, but it would be nice and peaceful to do some of those stereotypical tasks of the country on a minor scale.

The vast land surrounding the battered farm house combined with the modern pool and artwork create a relaxed intimate setting and a sense of sentimental romance. The shocking red door of the discolored, worn farm house invites you in, like curious Goldielocks amazed by the Three Bears' home. The pragmatic use of the open door is to allow air flow, however, based on the hospitable personalities of the couple, the open door is most likely their way of showing their home is open to visitors. Dan is a laid back photographer who is kind and caring, willing to make homemade jam and butternut squash soup for his guests who stay in an humble "guest barn house." The guest house mixes modern and aged designs with a stark white interior and shiny chairs complete with old wooden doors and paint peeling off of the loft. Even the kitchen table of the main house is an insight to the vibe of the home. The long, knotted, wooden table is set with a couple melted candles--including an abstractly melted candelabra--an oblong ashtray sprinkled with cigarette buds, and an antique "genie in a botte-esque" lamp. The relaxed table setting highlights the home's sense of relaxation as well as the couple's carefree attitude. The majestic home is ideal with modern touches such as the rectangular, bright-blue pool, a flat-screen television, and inviting ping-pong table.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Mirror Poem

Driving to pick up my brother from baseball
I pop in the cd you gave me.
I know you don't like country but you suffer through it for me.
Would you listen to this "whining" as you call it
for any other girl in the world? Or am I special?
Each pluck of the guitar echoes through the speakers.
The melodies dance through my head
and crash against your eardrums.
It's moments like these that I do feel special.

Predicting the Future

Nathan Rebelo wants to attend USC and become an architect. He seemed very calm and confident in his future as well as pragmatic. He is reaching out for his dream in a realistic way. I thought I connected with him the most because we share similar interests. We both don't necessarily want to leave home to get away from our family, but to rather explore and discover who we are when separated from the people who have influenced and pushed their beliefs onto us. He said that his ultimate goal was just to be able to drive around downtown with his kids and family as he points out all of the buildings he has designed for the community--his personal stamp on the world. I thought this was awesome because family is very important to me. I too want to become successful not only for me but for my future kids as well. It's such a cliche, but I believe that everyone does want better for their kids.

Shauna Casale was the most deluded to me. She is the seventeen year old girl who wants to become a major motion picture actress, and based on her monologue from Silence of the Lambs, I don't think it's gonna happen. That sounds harsh, I know, but it really wasn't that good, or convincing. She states she excited to get out of the house and experience life without any restrictions. I don't think she understands how difficult it is to become as big as Angelina Jolie and how her fantasy outlook on life will effect her. She is in for a big shock.

My favorite quote:
I'm going to be the second person in my family to graduate, and I just want to make my parents proud.

Tudel Riek, 17