I believe i chose this book for two reasons: i didn't intently read about all the other books on the list (i just felt like picking one that looked interesting so i could go ahead and start reading it for my summer work) and i just thought the title of the book was a pretty good title that was also interesting and eye catching (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe). But then i didn't find out until after i got the book that the font was rather large and it had quite a bit of space between each line of text, so it was really easy and fast to read. I don't believe i made many personal connections to this book, but it was mainly about friendship and trying to figure out who you really are (also sexuality is a major component of this book, as you will find out if you read to the end of the book.
I would probably recommend this book to people who like reading books that are about people trying to find themselves, their role in life, and friendships/relationships between people.
So, i personally thought this was actually a pretty good book, even if it was easy to read and i was finished with kit pretty quickly.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Getting reader's attention
The passage i chose from my summer reading book to get the attention of reader's is:
"Look,' he said. he pointed at a bird in the middle of the street that was trying to fly. I could tell that one of his wings was broken.
'He's going to die,' I whispered.
'We can save it."
Dante walked into the middle of the street and tried to pick up the bird. I watched as he picked up the frightened bird. That's the last thing i remember before the car swerved around the corner. Dante! Dante! I knew the screams were coming from inside me. Dante!
I remember thinking that it was all a dream. All of it. It was just another bad dream. I kept thinking that the world was ending. I thought about the sparrows falling from the sky.
Dante!" (page 107)
So the scene is pretty straightforward. Dante and Ari see a bird in the street, after it had recently hailed, and the bird can't fly. So Dante goes to help it, when the car swerves around the corner. And so because of the car and the hail, you can assume something exciting or sad will happen next(that's for you to find out though). Although at the end when Ari thinks about the sparrows falling from the sky, he is talking about a bad dream he had earlier in the book, as an event earlier in the book involved another sparrow. So, the rest of the scene is not difficult to figure out, as i said before. I hope you find this book interesting to read.
"Look,' he said. he pointed at a bird in the middle of the street that was trying to fly. I could tell that one of his wings was broken.
'He's going to die,' I whispered.
'We can save it."
Dante walked into the middle of the street and tried to pick up the bird. I watched as he picked up the frightened bird. That's the last thing i remember before the car swerved around the corner. Dante! Dante! I knew the screams were coming from inside me. Dante!
I remember thinking that it was all a dream. All of it. It was just another bad dream. I kept thinking that the world was ending. I thought about the sparrows falling from the sky.
Dante!" (page 107)
So the scene is pretty straightforward. Dante and Ari see a bird in the street, after it had recently hailed, and the bird can't fly. So Dante goes to help it, when the car swerves around the corner. And so because of the car and the hail, you can assume something exciting or sad will happen next(that's for you to find out though). Although at the end when Ari thinks about the sparrows falling from the sky, he is talking about a bad dream he had earlier in the book, as an event earlier in the book involved another sparrow. So, the rest of the scene is not difficult to figure out, as i said before. I hope you find this book interesting to read.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Summer Reading Assignment: Entry 2
I have continued to read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The two main characters aren't very complicated or complex. However, Dante is more complicated than Aristotle. Aristotle just wants friends, probably a girlfriend at first, and he wants his family to be ok and complete again. Dante is also looking for a relationship and more friends/some friends. However, his family is ok and fine. Also, he is the one actually looking to try to answer some of the questions of the universe. I personally do not think that he will end up getting answers for those questions, but you guys can form your own opinions of the book. The book is structured where events just keep the book going, and the book contains nothing like real flashbacks. The events just occur as the book goes along, but there are things that Aristotle remembers about his past.
With what i have read so far, there appears to be only 1 real theme in the book so far. This theme is: Your actions can have bad consequences. This is true because of Aristotle's brother, who you will find out about when you read the book, as i will not spoil anything for you guys.
With what i have read so far, there appears to be only 1 real theme in the book so far. This theme is: Your actions can have bad consequences. This is true because of Aristotle's brother, who you will find out about when you read the book, as i will not spoil anything for you guys.
Summer Reading Assignment: Entry #1
The book that i have chosen for my summer English assignment is titled Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. It is about two boys, Aristotle and Dante, who are friends and try to understand the world around them. They are best friends, however they have no (or very little) other friends. They are both about 15 years old, so still in high school. The whole book, as i've mentioned, is about them trying to answer questions that are commonly asked and philosophical in nature. For example, before the book actually starts, there is a paragraph with these kinds of questions, These questions are: "Why do we read poetry? Why do we feel shame? What is that thing in the pit of your stomach called desire?" There are other questions, but i don't need to put them down. So, the major conflict in this novel is that the 2 must stay friends in a world that gives them bullies and other people who look down upon these two, one reason being that Aristotle is rather violent and has no friends other than Dante and his parents (though Aristotle does have his mother and father).
I predict that they will stay friends throughout the book, and they may very well answer some, if not all, of the questions that the universe brings. Has anyone else read this book? If you have, tell me what you think/thought about it. I think it is a great book with a really good plot. However, one complaint i have so far is that it is really easy to read, as the font is rather large and most of the chapters aren't very long. But other than that, the book is really good. I don't believe i have many connections to make between this book and other things like movies, music shows, or other books, other than all the things about 2 friends who go through a lot of things that test their friendship. So, that is the only real connection i can make with this book.
I hope that any of you who are already interested in this book find it fun and interesting to read.
I predict that they will stay friends throughout the book, and they may very well answer some, if not all, of the questions that the universe brings. Has anyone else read this book? If you have, tell me what you think/thought about it. I think it is a great book with a really good plot. However, one complaint i have so far is that it is really easy to read, as the font is rather large and most of the chapters aren't very long. But other than that, the book is really good. I don't believe i have many connections to make between this book and other things like movies, music shows, or other books, other than all the things about 2 friends who go through a lot of things that test their friendship. So, that is the only real connection i can make with this book.
I hope that any of you who are already interested in this book find it fun and interesting to read.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Why this book part 2
I chose to read Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss for many reasons. One reason is that i really enjoy reading fantasy novels as a whole genre. Also, i enjoy the aspect of magic that is always present in fantasy novels. Thirdly, i like how fantasy novels incorporate mythical creatures/monsters, even ones that you may know and heard of before. Lastly, i like seeing the many different kinds of characters you see in fantasy novels, like how there are people that are totally amazed, and then there are people who are really interested but don't look like it on the outside.
So, i really like this book for its mythical creatures, magic aspect, and different kinds of characters that the author can incorporate into his/her novel.
So, i really like this book for its mythical creatures, magic aspect, and different kinds of characters that the author can incorporate into his/her novel.
Setting of a New Book Part 2
So as i've said, i recently finished Murder on the Orient Express. Now i have begun reading The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. As i've also mentioned in a previous post, it's mainly about the adventures of a young boy/teenager named Kvothe, and mostly of his adventures in the University. The time changes as the story of young Kvothe is told(story spans across many days and nights, also months and years), but the actual time and place is an inn run by Kvothe called the Waystone Inn over a couple of days and through the nights with little breaks in-between. The breaks are for the guy writing down the story and if either of them want food or a drink. This is a fantasy book, so i would expect fighting with not only swords and spears but also with magic. So, i would seem to also expect great detail from the author/characters.
This book would also have imagery, and very good imagery at that. One example that i found was, "He drew the sword without a flourish. It shone a dull grey-white in the room's autumn light. It had the appearance of a new sword. It was not notched or rusted. There were no bright scratches skittering along its dull grey side....It was slender and graceful. it was deadly as a sharp stone beneath swift water." This quote, with some other parts containing imagery, is a very good paragraph with great imagery technique. The words/descriptions used help me to visualize the sword, its color and general shape. I do believe this book will be very good and entertaining to read.
This book would also have imagery, and very good imagery at that. One example that i found was, "He drew the sword without a flourish. It shone a dull grey-white in the room's autumn light. It had the appearance of a new sword. It was not notched or rusted. There were no bright scratches skittering along its dull grey side....It was slender and graceful. it was deadly as a sharp stone beneath swift water." This quote, with some other parts containing imagery, is a very good paragraph with great imagery technique. The words/descriptions used help me to visualize the sword, its color and general shape. I do believe this book will be very good and entertaining to read.
Letter to the Author ( not really possible in this case)
Dear Agatha Christie:
I really enjoyed your book Murder on the Orient Express. I just finished it and i was very amazed at how you crafted this story and its plot. My favorite character is by far Hercule Poirot. He is very intelligent and has never lost a case. I like how at the end of one chapter, when Poirot and his 2 friends were done talking together and Poirot had gone to his room, the scarlet kimono ( a clue mentioned in the story) was laying on top of his luggage! And he took it as an act of defiance from the criminal! I thought it was very funny.
So, i really just liked all of the book. Your character Poirot really amazes me sometimes, but i've been able to start to expect his genius in your other books where he is the main character.
Sincerely,
Andrew Flurer
I really enjoyed your book Murder on the Orient Express. I just finished it and i was very amazed at how you crafted this story and its plot. My favorite character is by far Hercule Poirot. He is very intelligent and has never lost a case. I like how at the end of one chapter, when Poirot and his 2 friends were done talking together and Poirot had gone to his room, the scarlet kimono ( a clue mentioned in the story) was laying on top of his luggage! And he took it as an act of defiance from the criminal! I thought it was very funny.
So, i really just liked all of the book. Your character Poirot really amazes me sometimes, but i've been able to start to expect his genius in your other books where he is the main character.
Sincerely,
Andrew Flurer
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