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The Final

I feel as though there’s some truth behind when Mr. Krienbring says “It’s the day before. Ya either got it or ya don’t”. Truth is I’m burnt out. I’ve printed out my 18 page paper. And I’m not really sure how well I’ll do. I hope I can graduate High School. I’ve put so much effort into this paper and I hope it can pay off. Last time I turned it in he said it was a C so Im #hopingforthebest.

It was alot of fun being with you Amir. Your story is one that not many people get to see from your side of the ocean. Thank you Khaled Hosseini for writing this awesome book. And thank you Mrs. Jodi Allan for recommending it to me! We’ll see what tomorrow has in store. Peace!

#aplit18writing

Kite Runner Research

So in this point I’m really done with my research and my paper. It’s really on the home stretch. It’s been fun reading into the criticisms and how to interpret them. Stay tuned for when I turn this bad boi in!!!

#aplit18writing

Some issues arise

So for the essay I was really behind in the first place. I didn’t get a ton of writing down in my WNB because I write at the speed of molasses. So most of these ideas I had just kinda came out onto the page while I was typing it.

My kryptonite seems to be finding a way in and then sustaining that one idea long enough to make an impact. And the problem is I really have no clue how to fix it. I’m just gonna keep chugging y’all. Looks like another all nighter for ya boy.

To be continued. Peace out.

#aplit18writing

Research on The Kite Runner number 1 :

Now, you may be thinking “Noah this is way too late to start your blogs” and you’d be right. I have forgotten to do them until now but, better late than never.

It’s really good that I enjoyed The Kite Runner. It has a story to tell and I want to really explore what it has to offer. Now I’m not going to lie I didn’t get the original criticisms I researched. But as I got them and read them arguments started to form in my head. Ideas like Afghanistan being exotic and Hosseini taking us on a tour of his home. There’s all these ideas but how the heck do I get it on the page? That’s where we’re at right now. See ya later. Peace.

#aplit18writing

Kite Runner Thoughts #5

Story update: Amir has been asked by Rahim Khan to rescue Hassan’s Younger son from an orphanage. He’s not there.

So this part of the story there’s a lot of self reflection about what happened to Hassan and how his son got to an Orphanage. You can feel the guilt Amir has. He’s the most human protagonist I’ve ever read. He has flaws. He doubts himself. And part of that is why he’s so relatable.

Stay tuned for part 6. Peace.

Kite Runner Thoughts #4

Story Update: Amir has met the girl of his dreams at the flea market. They get married after knowing each other for what seemed like 6 seconds. Amir graduates high school and college. And he becomes a writer. Now that his name is out there, life is good. Until Rahim Khan (his father’s best friend) asks him to come back to Peshawar for a meeting.

Feelings: I kinda knew it was too good for too long. But this section is really where it hits you: Amir is a grown, married man. You’ve literally grown up with Amir. And the story is only like 3/5 of the way done. So I get the feeling that He’s about to 1. Get the biggest plot twist I’ve ever read or 2. Have an experience that will shape him for the rest of his life.

Anywho. Back soon with part 5. Peace.

Kite Runner Thoughts #3

So, this is really getting heavy now. Amir is in his 20′s and he’s escaped the Taliban controlled Kabul (His hometown) He was smuggled out in a gas tanker. He now is living America and sends his days with his dad at the flea market selling junk for a profit.

What really impresses me about Kite Runner is Khaled Hosseini’s willingness to not sugarcoat anything. Every detail is left in and they break your heart.

It’s so easy to make Afghanistan out as this other world. But it’s not. People really did rise up and overthrow government. And then the new government became an oppressive and ruthless one. Giving birth to the Taliban. People died for no reason. And it still goes on today. This was a fictional boy’s eyes and it felt so real.

Part 4 to come soon. Peace.

#aplit18reading

Kite Runner Thoughts #2

Alright so the book is starting to get a little bit deeper. Amir and Hassan are growing up. The story centers on the kite tournament. And this is where it takes a turn for the worse.

I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it. But let’s just say something actually terrible and inhumane happens. And it is something that will scar both boys for the rest of their lives. It comes between their friendship, their lives, and their psyche.

Now let me say this book is so sad. It is truly the saddest story I’ve ever read. But it kind of hits you like a truck when this thing happens. Life could not get better until then. Which is kind of like a reality check in real life. Sunshine and rainbows never exists all of the time. And although I almost stopped, I kept reading. And I’m so excited to see where Amir takes me Next.

Peace.

#aplit18reading

Kite Runner Thoughts #1

So I just straight jumped into this book over spring break. And I have to say it’s coming along pretty well. Khaled Hosseini’s style is so hypnotic to me. It takes a while for me to really get into any book. So the fact that I was sucked into the narrative from the beginning is quite impressive.

The story is told from Amir’s eyes. What He sees, we see. He is a boy in Afghanistan who is very well off. He has a larger than normal house, he gets everything he wants, I mean his dad drives a mustang. But we quickly learn of the fractions in the family: His mother died in birthing Amir. His dad doesn’t give him enough attention. He’s often left to play with the servant’s son, Hassan. They are BEST friends. These two do anything and everything together. But there’s obviously a disconnect between the two. Hassan being a servant boy and Amir being rich. Kids make fun of Hassan and call him Amir’s “Hazara”. Probably something to do with the Sunni and Shi’a branches of the Islamic faith. But I’m not 100% sure yet.

It’s really going good so far. Stay tuned for more.

Peace.

#aplit18reading

Choosing a final book for AP Lit

So I really had a hard decision to make for my book. On one hand I wanted to read something with meaning, and on another I wanted something fun and exciting like an adventure story. So I went to the only person that could’ve given me a book I’d most likely like to read: Jodi Allan.

I DMed her on Instagram and she said I’d like it. And yes I’m going in a little blind, other than the fact I know it’s sad. But I think it’s a very nice choice of book considering all the scholarship it has to offer and the epic story it’s willing to tell. So, I’m just kind of diving in head first on this one with no real look at the bottom. Let’s see where it takes me.

#aplit18choose

5 AM Thoughts

This is a poem by me. For an AP Lit project. One of our criteria was to make it public so.......Here we go.

“GOOD MORNING!”

Your alarm screams to the tune of Juke Box Hero.

You tap the snooze button on Your phone and stare,

feeling an interesting mixture of

Regret

and

Happiness.

Yes! You’re blessed with another day!

another one where only 3/24 hours are spent in alone, in my head.

You sit up and wiggle your toes on the lukewarm hardwood floor.

You stretch, get up, and avoid that pile of dirty laundry. Above all, You

Keep On

Going.

Indie Write for AP Lit

I guess the way to exploring the world through writing is to use other writers. Over the years, most of my writing has come from inspiration (throwback to Everything is a remix). People have helped me and I have helped others to grow and to learn. Helping each other with papers, giving feedback and such. But poetry is a little different. Poetry kinda comes from within. It takes the shape of whatever you feel. It doesn't have to be grammatically correct or have to contain the correct quotation. I'm not very well versed in poetry to be honest. I've written maybe 3 or 4 poems ever. But I've read a lot of them. And the poems that always catch my eye are the really oddball ones. The ones about shoelaces or erasers. They somehow find meaning in the little things that most of us don't think twice about. And I hope that's the kind of poet I can be. Enlightening someone about something one stanza at a time.

#aplit18indie1

The Breakfast Club Breakdown

Tonight, the movie club of Rachel Hartrick, Annie, and I watched the breakfast club. Their first time and about my fourth. And relating to teen rebellion, here are our takeaways. ~ A little more realistic than Rebel. ~ They were all stereotyped separately. But have the same problems. ~ People see them as they want to see them. ~ Everyone seeks acceptance by someone. In this case it was more friends than family. ~ They're friends opinions were theirs (Corn Pone) ~ Both Rebel and this movie is about family in general. Rebel about wanting one and This one about rebelling. We all contributed to this list. And can't wait for the discussion tomorrow. Peace✌🏼

Rebel Without a Cause Observations

So tonight Annie, Rachel Hartrick and I watched Rebel. It was interesting to say the least. Here are our takeaways: ~ It all seemed to happen all in 24 hours. Heck of a first day of school. ~ Red clothing = Distress or trouble. Jim's jacket, Plato's Sock, and Judy's clothing in the beginning. ~ Value of acceptance. Particularly on family. All of them wanted a family member's attention. Teenagers specifically want to be accepted. That's why they all found each other. ~ They even created their own family in the end. ~ All families involved were pretty wealthy. ~ Material possession doesn't equate to love. ~ Primary Audience = Teenagers Secondary audience = Families in general We all contributed to this list and were generally confused by the movie.

#aplang17rebel

The Avengers was truly the first movie to combine such a stellar cast of characters into one universe. Instead of making a typical beat-em-up action movie, Joss Whedon has based this whole universe on his complex characters. And are they hilarious. Usual action movies have a very serious tone to them while the Avengers is about superheroes. The people you wanted to be when you were little. The comedic tone is definitely what differs this from traditional action movies. The fantasy battles on epic scales along with one liners that make you fall out of your chair. This is why the Avengers transcends genre.

Nowadays it is a common belief that classical music is a dying medium. No one is willing to create epic symphonies that sway and move us and our emotions. Enter John Mackey. A graduate from Juilliard school of Music for composition, he has created multiple pieces of epic and small proportions. And all of his works are unique. Not to mention the most original I know. The most common time signature in all of music is 4/4. Where there are four beats in a measure and the quarter note gets the beat. It's the basis for most top 40 pop songs. This is also true for classical music. Mackey takes this idea and literally turns it inside out and backwards. Using time signatures like 7/8, 5/8, 1/2, and 11/16. This creates interesting rhythms and melodies that almost no one can predict. He takes the ideas of a classical piece like Beethoven's 9th; A set rhythm and melody. The volume and scale of the piece is genius, but relatively predictable. All of John Mackey pieces are a ride from start to finish. Taking elements from Latin American percussion riffs and incredibly intricate interlocking parts. You never know what'll hit next. He is also known for his famously huge songs. Requiring a percussion section of 7 or sometimes more. From auxiliary percussion to the basics of bass drum and snare. I suggest if you want to listen more, find the third movement of Wine Dark Sea: The attention of souls and Aurora Awakes.

#aplang17original #johnmackey

My thoughts on a very interesting choice of book. 5番.

The last part to this narrative is “Judgement Day”. This is what Eric and Dylan called their attack. This last part tries to answer the daunting question of why?. It brings the whole book together and mourns the lives of all 15 students who payed the ultimate price. Cullen wraps up his cinematic-like experience with a first person account of the Columbine memorial opening. Keeping remembrance and hope that no other high school or community would experience something like that ever again.

#aplang17book

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