Howdy do?! :D

Ashley Nguyen Viet, 19

[its-ashree]

I enjoyed this class a lot. It was a lot of fun. From reading short stories some of us didn't seem to like or reading books with plot lines that seem to be good, okay, confusing or disliked in our own general opinion. Our class discussions we're quite interesting; listening and understanding others opinions and comparing it to your own. It really is quite interesting to hear what others have to say about the books we have to read for class because it gives me a whole other perspective about it. I am going to miss having this class; it was the only class keeping me sane from A&PII and Microbiology. 

Good luck on finals everyone! :)

December 6, 2013

[jeff-madison-blog]

The Road

After finishing “The Road” I can say that I really enjoyed it.  I liked the way the story was written as far as telling the story.  It took some getting use to but I liked how it didn’t have chapters or quotes, it made it flow a little better.  A major theme that I found during the story was trust.  The father had to trust the boy and the boy had to trust the father. If they did not trust each other they could not be certain that they would be safe and be able to keep on their journey south.

[its-ashree]

Trust between the father and son was definitely a big theme in the book; because they only had each other to rely on and they couldn't rely on anyone else that they came across with on the road. With the trust that they had with each other they were able to keep going and think positive. Such as when the little boy got scared during some situations the father kept saying "This is what the good guys do. They keep trying. They don't give up." Truthfully with this little encouragement that the father kept giving to the son they were able to travel and go so far even with the circumstances that they had along the way.

November 24, 2013

[its-ashree]

I never realized that The Road could be considered a biblical reference. Like I new that in the book they talked about God but I just didn't realize that some parts in the book would be referenced to stories and what not from the bible. 

In class I pointed out that the Grand House was Hell, the underground bunker was Heaven, and the road was earth. I never really thought of it that way until we had to discuss about it in our groups. Kinda ironic in away because hell is suppose to be underground but the house was above ground and heaven is above but the bunker was underground. 

I also kinda thought that the beach could be another reference to purgatory. Just waiting to see if you either go to heaven or go to hell. And the dad and son were just at the beach waiting and taking a break from traveling more.

Reading The Road gave me a whole new perspective about the book. It just gives me more of a reason to like the book even more then I did before back in high school.

November 21, 2013

[scoobyrocks44]

So…The Road….when first reading this, I was like ZOMBIES!!!!! Then I realized they were just cannibals. Did anyone else get that feeling? Anyways the writing style of the book in the lack of quotes is a pain in the butt. It’s hard to follow sometimes because while the child is still innocent„ he...

[its-ashree]

I remember first reading this back in high school I didn't think of zombies, I just kept thinking what's going on. I already figured there would be cannibals in this story but not zombies. Zombies never crossed my mind but now that I think about it kinda is like the walking dead in a way. Gotta survive and gotta keep on going. 

I also never realized that in the book it was missing marks such as quotations, commas, and apostrophes until someone pointed it out in class. Even so I still understood what was going on in a way.

November 17, 2013

[its-ashree]

You forget some things, don't you? Yes. You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget. ~Pg. 12

It's quite funny how we forget what we want to remember but remember what we want to forget. How true this quote is. All the things I want to remember from growing up to now is still there in my mind but fuzzy, some parts of it are a blur. I can remember intricate things that are really pointless but I can't remember what I need and want to remember, such as stuff for school or what I did a few summers back with my family. All the mistakes I've done so far I want to forget, but its something that will be forever sketched in my mind. I guess it helps me to learn from my past mistakes, and helps me become stronger day by day.

Maybe the reason we remember what we want to forget is really to learn from past mistakes so we don't ever do it again. But what is the reason why we forget what we want to remember? Is the reason because its a memory that wasn't bad and left a big impact to the mind. Just what is the actual reason behind this quote?

November 15, 2013

[alysmith92-deactivated20141124]

Okay, so I haven’t read much of The Road yet, but so far, it just seems like one long dark poem. The post apocalyptic setting really gives it a creepy feeling. I think there’s some ominous symbolism in ****SPOILERSSS**** the part where the guy was hit by lightning. I mean, it’s really weird that...

[its-ashree]

How badly I would like to tell you so much about the book but I know I will just end up spoiling it for you and I kinda don't remember much either. I haven't started reading it yet and I probably wont be able to till sometime Tuesday or Wednesday after my A&P II test before class. The book is really good, but sad. The story is kind of suspenseful, you'll be like omg why why why then all of sudden no no no. 

Yeah you wouldn't really think someone would get struck by lightning because the sky is already dark and they have to be able to tell apart form night and day. So it really was unsuspected. 

November 10, 2013

[its-ashree]

Chapter 12 from A Visit From the Goon Squad, was probably my favorite chapter, even though it was in slide show form....guess that is another reason why it is post modernism. I like chapter 12 because it talks about Sasha's family and see how she and the rest of her family are. It is also in the point of view of the daughter. You see the daughters opinions, likes, and dislike; which is the mind of most 12 year old girls pretty much. 

In all the book was okay, don't like it that much but it was okay. This book goes to present day, then to multiple back stories, and then the future. About 1 or 2 chapters were kind of unnecessary though, I just felt like they didn't really fit in. The ending of the book wasn't as good as I thought it would be, I didn't like it. It's just about Alex, Lulu, and Bennie bringing Scotty back to the music scene and then ends with Alex and Bennie looking to see is Sasha is still at the same apartment. I feel like Egan could have done better, I don't really know its just my opinion. 

November 8, 2013

[gramsey0507]

So far my impressions of “A Visit from the Goon Squad” are not great. As with “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” I appreciate the way the novel is written but the actual story itself doesn’t catch my interest. The unique techniques that are used to write the story are very interesting. I feel...

[its-ashree]

Gotta agree with you that the way the story is written is unique but still highly confusing. Switching from one story from a person to another, changing point of views, and adding more characters into it. But even so this story doesn't peak my interest either but I still would like to know how Bennie and Sasha come to be in the end. The more I read, it seems like the more I get confused in this book. I'm still trying to figure out what the whole point of the chapter with Dolly is all about.

November 3, 2013

[its-ashree]

A Visit From The Goon Squad is okay. Well from what I have read so far from the book it was okay. The book is really confusing for me. It switches to a different point of view at every chapter. I also can't grasp it, because of the switching of point of views I can't just sit there and keep on reading. I have to stop after a chapter and go do something else and maybe go back to reading after a while. With every chapter I want to know more why the characters are like this. With each chapter that I have read so far, it gets good then it suddenly just stops and you are reading about someone else. 

I guess I'll just have to read more later on this weekend to find out the reasons and details of why the book is written the way it is.

November 1, 2013

[starespera]

My father always told me that magic starts when you step out from your comfort zone, and that’s exactly what Selena did. She almost reminded me of Mulan and Pocahontas. She had that curiosity and daring attitude that her other two sisters lacked. I do not know if she died or not, but what made...

[its-ashree]

I have to agree with you that she did remind me of Mulan and Pocahontas. Doing something that others wouldn't even dared bother of trying to do. But another person that Selena also reminded me of was Merida from Brave. She was tomboyish, headstrong, and very spirited. Merida's dream was to follow her own path and living her own life not being told what to do. She wants to take control of her own destiny. That's what Selena pretty much wanted to do. Leave Texalohoma, never come back, and becoming what she always wanted to be, an artist. But because of the ending of the story we may never know if Selena was ever brought back to life.

"If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?"

~Princess Merida

[its-ashree]

I know this post was suppose to be writing a story but I can’t so hopefully this video makes up for it. Listen to the lyrics closely now. Generation X is not your normal fairy tale story and it wouldn’t be something I would read to my little cousins for sure. I want them to be able to enjoy their childhood till they come across stories like these when they get older. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It reminded me of the TV series Once Upon A Time, which I recommend you guys should watch. I like how this story is like awe another love story and then when you get to the ending its sad and funny. I’m still laughing how the sisters were just like what he said about the bringing back to life was just a bunch of bull shit. But hey it could be true because where he lives the technology is very high tech. October 25, 2013

[a-penewitt]

I don’t know exactly what to write about since we haven’t read anything new so I guess I’ll compare the two things that we have read.

I still haven’t decided which one I liked better but right now I think I like ELIC better only because it’s more modern and relevant to today. TTTC was very good...

[its-ashree]

I liked Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close out of the two. The Things They Carried was a good book, I just didn't enjoy just as much as I did with EL&IC. I also disliked how I had to stop reading and go look up some of the military words to just be able to understand what they were saying. When I was reading TTTC I didn't want to stop to look up the word because it just ended up ruining my mood to read and keep going on further. Because once I start reading and I'm in the mood to keep going to find out what happens next, I don't want to stop.

October 20, 2013 

[its-ashree]

Out of the 2 books that we read so far, I liked Extremely Loud & Incredible Close the most. And its on my list to read again when I have the time too list. But now that we are done with the first two books, I can't wait to read the other two books that we have to read after midterms; especially The Road. I have already read The Road back in high school, it is such a good book and it's also one of my favorites. I think some of you may like it, but I'm not sure. I wont say anything that may ruin it for you guys. 

October 18, 2013

[kathief4]

Seven 

  Communication.  ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ demonstrates the problems people have communicating with each other.  Sometimes the speaker of the message does not deliver the message they are trying to get across, like when Oskar’s grandfather loses his words and starts writing in books.  He answers questions with something he has already written that doesn’t quite make sense, but it would be close enough, like if asked, How are you?” he would show a page in his book that said, ”The regular, please.”  Sometimes the problem lies with the receiver of the message, like when Oskar’s mother tells him that she and Ron are just friends.  Oskar does not believe this clear sentence.  Sometimes the messages we think we are clearly communicating do not reach the intended target in the way it was meant.  We are this planet’s top species because we communicate, but it is amazing how often we miscommunicate.

[its-ashree]

The things you do to communicate but lack the courage to actually express what you want to say. Like how Oskar's grandpa never sent those letters who wrote to Oskar's dad. He only sent empty envelopes. Or how he was tapping on the numbers of the pay phone trying to tell a message to the grandma and she thought it was a prank. Also just like how Oskar couldn't tell his mom about the things he did and kept from her. He was scared but was able to open up to her in the end.

Communication is key if you want to keep/have a good relationship with friends, family, and a loved one going on for a long time. Even if we miscommunicate, we can always try say the right thing later one. 

[its-ashree]

I enjoyed reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close a lot. Definitely liked it better then The Things They Carried. There's nothing that I dislike in the book except during some of the times Oskar just needed a good slap in the face. But I also just wish there was more to read. The ending was okay, I'm just not satisfied with it......there is just so much more stuff I wish Foer would have added into the book that he left unanswered. WIll the grandparents relationship get better? Does Oskar get rid of his heavy boots in the end? I would also like to read a point of view from Oskar's mom and see how she actually feels about everything, just a simple chapter of point of view would have been nice.

 I'm just curious, that's all. And has anyone emailed "Oskar" yet? I want to do it, I just don't know what to say. haha

October 11, 2013

[lbblr]

The way the world is seen through the eyes of a 9 year old is hard to grasp because the age within itself sounds incredibly youthful and innocent. However, when it comes to modern day society, it is honestly not that hard to realize that one such as oskar’s thought process is indeed rational.

We experience and mature faster than we should. (ofcourse that is an opinion, and knowledge is power; but when relating to the age of a 3rd or 4th grader, I think we all want to believe they deserve their purity while it last.)

[its-ashree]

Oskar knew a lot for his age, too much actually. I remember reading some parts in the book that he wish he didn't know what some of the things meant. I wish he didn't have to go through the ordeal of losing his father. (No child should have to deal with losing a parent at all.) It hurts so much when you lose someone so dear to you, because you a part of you also dies inside.

He lost his innocence the day his father died, and grew up to quickly afterwards. But at the end of the story, he cried running to his mom telling her that he'll be okay sooner or later. The tears he shed was proof that he was still a kid hurting inside wanting his father. Proof that he still has some innocence left in him.

October 6, 2013

[its-ashree]

I must be really clueless if I hadn't realize it sooner that the Renter was actually the grandfather. When I came across that part of the book when Oskar finally meets the "Renter," I was just like "Yes, finally. Now who is he really." Then bam, I come to find out its the grandfather that left all those years ago. Yes, I'm slow but I was so giddy when they finally met and my mind was blown and I was just happy that Oskar got to meet his grandfather, even though he doesn't know that the Renter is actually his grandfather. 

I have yet to finish the book, but will do so probably on Sunday. I can't wait to see what else happens and then maybe I might be able to figure out what to write for the paper that's due.

October 4, 2013