Reading Focus: Evil (4-11)

So far in my reading focus tracker, I've done pretty well. I personally think evil is a very hard subject, partially because in the beginning, most characters are innocent. However, it changes throughout the book, as they develop savage-like personalities. If you look through my tracker, you'll see the later quotes are more easily defended, whereas my earlier quotes I have questionable evidence.

"'His specs -- use them as burning glasses!' Piggy was surrounded before he could back away" (40).

I chose this quote for one of my key moments because it marks the first serious act of evil. The entire crowd takes Piggy's glasses by force, rather than asking him. I'm sure Piggy would've understood if they asked, but instead, they do an immoral act that just shows the potential of a mob.

"'Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood'" (69).

The hunter's chant appears on page 69 after killing the first pig. This disturbing chant normally leads to the death or pain of something--It resulted in the death of many pigs and our innocent Simon.

"Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea" (181).

The dispute on the bridge lead to violent actions between Jack and Ralph, as well as the death of Piggy, a main character. The hunters always seem to be involved in the suffering and death included in the book. They very well may be a symbol of evil itself. Roger pulls a lever, releasing a boulder knocking Piggy off the cliff. What bothers me, however, is that it was INTENTIONAL.

I guess you could say these are my current "top 3" evil quotes.

Semester Reading

This semester and summer, I read Nation, a few short stories, NoMansLand, The Housekeeper and the Professor, In Defense of Food, Feed (in order from most challenging to least challenging).

I have come to the conclusion the efficiency of my reading is influenced on the story. Depending on the book,  my reading speed varies. Books I enjoy are normally ones that have unique story lines. For example, Feed is set in a future where a society relies entirely on a computer chip implanted into their brains. I liked this book because it not only is original, it strays from the zombie cliche you would expect to see. My reading skills could be interpreted in this situation as one of my weaknesses - I'm a very picky person. However, I think I've developed strong reading HABITS. I most of the time read in quiet places, devoid of distraction. Rarely I'll have the problem of not being able to read due to interruptions.

Next semester I will try to expand my reading list. In the past, I've always been stuck reading fiction stories. This semester, however, I want to read other genres, mainly nonfiction. The reason I'm looking into nonfiction books is because of our summer reading this year. I know numerous students despised In Defense of Food but I found it both interesting and informational. For this reason, I'm curious to explore what our library has in store for me.

12/04 - 30min., 12/05 - 30min., 12/06 - 30min., 12/07 - 60min., 12/09 - 30min.
Total - 180min., pp. 94-182 (Lord of the Flies)

Focus Tracker (1-5): Evil

Throughout Lord of the Flies, I will be focusing on the recurring theme of evil. Having read Lord of the Flies before, I already know evil is a strong focus to read for. I look forward to the later chapters of this book for more substance, because I've noticed a gradual increase of "evil" ideas or actions from what we've read so far.

At the start, we are introduced to a group of schoolboys stranded on an island after a plane crash. They are mostly innocent people - almost everyone cooperates and is respectful besides the few insults directed toward Piggy. This idea is later reinforced when Jack fails to kill the pig. The pig makes it away because Jack didn't like the "unbearable blood." Jack didn't like the thought of stabbing a living animal.

However, as we progress through the story, we can see the boys become more ruthless. Teasing Piggy changes to hostile actions against him. After Jack manages to kill a pig (developing that sense of evil), he is accused for not lighting the fire when the ship came near. Piggy bluntly points this out as an insult, and as retaliation, Jack punches him in the stomach.

It's interesting to see how the boys are influenced by evil in such situations. Their bullying slowly developed into small, but hostile actions. I look forward to applying my focus in more detail later on in the story. From what I've read, there'll be quite a bit of substance for me to use.

11/12 - 30min., 11/13 - 30min., 11/14 - 30min., 11/15 - 30min., 11/16 - 30min.
Total - 150min., pp. 32 - 94 (Lord of the Flies)

Reading Times

11/27 - 30min., 11/28 - 30min., 11/29 - 60min., 11/30 - 60min.
Total - 180min., wrote 7 pages (Literary Analysis)

Semester Review

Looking back, I think there are many places in which I can improve. So in preparation, I will be developing sort of a study guide for myself; the units that I had trouble with would be studied prior and more thoroughly than my better units. This semester's units are: summer reading, literacy narratives (positive traits of writing, writing process), short stories + literary elements, literary analysis, and Lord of the Flies.

My two strongest subjects this semester are probably short stories + literary elements and literary analysis. The process of applying one element to each story helped me learn each story/literary element individually. After using all the elements separately, I can interpret stories with a much broader view. In addition, analyzing text has been easier for me. Using the literary elements as a guideline, I know what to focus on. I personally think these two units went hand-in-hand, just because they complimented each other.

On the other hand, there are also many difficulties I have encountered. Already halfway through the year, I feel as though In Defense of Food and Nation are losing their spot in my mind. Remembering some scenes has become a problem for me. Next come literacy narratives. I know the positive traits of writing well, but not the writing process. I believe that each writer has a different view on how to develop papers. I don't  like making a paper based on someone else's idea of how it should be  created. Lord of the Flies looks like it'll be giving me a headache. Normally, I tend to miss small details of a book that hide valuable information. I would never have thought about the recurring color of pink in the story, but luckily Dr. deGravelles pointed out this.

So, my study guide will be categorized based on difficulty, with the hardest ones first and the easier ones last. At the moment, it looks like this (most difficult to least difficult): Summer Reading > Lord of the Flies > Literacy Narratives > Literary Analysis > Short Stories + Literary Elements. I believe this guide is going to help me a lot in the future; It's been nice to take a moment and look over the units to prioritize.

Reading Response: Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies was a great book. Yes, I have read it. Last year, I was running low on my book list and independent reading was ongoing. After my sister told me we'd have to read it eventually, I took the opportunity to get two things done by reading one book. So the following response is my interpretation the second time I read Lord of the Flies: 

A recurring theme I discovered was dominance. Throughout the beginning, the older boys tended to show their superiority. Ralph claimed he was leader after finding the conch whereas Jack Merridew showed his leadership through his choir. To show their control, Ralph teases Piggy and Jack harshly commands his choir.  I found this to be an interesting aspect in Lord of the Flies.

Since this is my second time reading it, I can't really say I look forward to it. Though I see the book through blurred glass, I still remember significant scenes. I loved reading this book and I'm happy to analyze it in more detail. The idea of applying human nature to this book really opened up more doors for me, meaning Lord of the Flies made more sense.

11/05 - 30min., 11/06 - 60min., 11/08 - 30min., 11/09 - 30min.

Total - 150min., pp. 60-90 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) pp. 1-32 (Lord of the Flies)

Class Discussion

Our plane crash activity during class went fairly well. We managed to have a  civilized discussion, whereas in other classes opinions were screamed and shouted. Our unofficial leader, Diamond, was basically pointing to those who wanted to speak, and when they spoke, everyone else was quiet and listening. For this reason I give credit to Diamond for good leadership. She helped develop a sense of organization, our greatest strength.

However, though we were organized, some of the ideas may have been a bit crazy. Eating the first-graders happened to  be a common topic that really caught me off-guard; it was too absurd for me. We had a pretty light approach to the activity, but I think if we were in a real situation we'd take the matters more seriously. This was our weakness in my opinion.

Really quickly, I just HAVE to point out something I discovered. (SPOILER ALERT!). Near the beginning of the book, when all the boys were crowded around, the person who possessed the conch could speak. In our class, Diamond gave permission to those who wanted to speak. I thought this was an interesting relation, partially because we hadn't read the book yet. It could be part of human nature...

Reading Response: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Yes, I know we never got to Feed but I have my reasons. My reasons are that at the time we were assigned different blog posts, since the literacy narrative was a big part of class. So unfortunately, we won't be able to talk  about Feed. But don't be too sad! Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? looks very promising for me.

It is based in a society after a world war, which made many animals endangered/extinct and led to most of the humans evacuating Earth. The humans that stayed protected the few remaining animals, but for those who couldn't afford them, companies built animals, and humans. These androids are equipped with the Nexus-6 brain, a advanced system that is basically just as smart as a human. The government of Earth feared these androids and banned them. Those who remained were being "retired" by bounty hunters - one of them, Rick Deckard, our main character.

Now maybe you can see why I think it looks promising. Personally, I find this plot very original. The "prologue" plays a huge role in the story and is slightly realistic. It's not a boring event, nor is it out of this world. It's something that is possible, but unlikely.

Lastly, when I was reading this week, I was distracted. I found it difficult to get through a single chapter of this book, but I did very slowly. It could be caused by my location (upstairs in my cousin's house - not necessarily noisy but occupied), lack of a bookmark (sometimes causes me to reread certain portions of a chapter I had already read), or emotional stress (my great uncle just passed away). 

In conclusion, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? looks very promising and is so far enjoyable. However, I encountered difficulty in the process of reading it.

10/29 - 30min., 10/30 - 30min., 11/1 - 60min., 11/2 - 30min.,

Total - 150min., pp. 10-60 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Free Post: Absence

As some of you may have noticed, I wasn't at school on Friday. A close relative of mine passed away and my family and I attended the funeral. His whole family was devastated. We came in attempt to provide moral support and see my great uncle for the last time. It was a heartbreaking occurrence for all of us, but it also shed some light on foreign grounds.

I had never been to a funeral. Coming to this one taught me about the various traditions and rituals we Muslims do in burial ceremonies. It all started with the location. Relatives from all across the U.S came to a  small chapel in Houston. Tears were shed and prayers were said. Afterwards, we carried the coffin to the grave, chanting numerous prayers along the way. Lastly, we placed his body in the tomb, making sure to tilt the head slightly towards Mecca, the holy city.

Though I learned many things, I didn't enjoy it. He was an important person in the eyes of my cousins and me. He will be truly missed, but something we must understand is that it is just another turn in the cycle of life.

Short Stories

After we read eight short stories as a class, we were assigned three more. I read Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway, The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty, and The Return by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. Of these three stories, I plan to use The Return. I picked this one just because I really liked it. It is about the return of a soldier to his own village and the villagers' reactions. I think plot structure and characterization are two important features of this story.

After reading The Return I reviewed all the literary elements. Soon, I noticed characterization related to the story's plot structure. Throughout the story, Kamau's emotions are very dynamic. First, he is hopeful when returning to his village. However, when he arrives, his hope turns into anger after realizing the villagers don't remember him. Then, his anger turns into sorrow, because he soon reunites with his family and learns his wife was given away. And lastly, he becomes relieved at the end of the story after losing his bag in the river.

In my opinion this relates to plot structure because at each turn of events his emotions change. I find this an important aspect to the story that involves both characterization and plot structure, so after reviewing this with Dr. deGravelles, I may try to make it into a thesis. I think it matters because his thoughts influence his actions which eventually affects the whole story.

8/22 - 40min., 8/23 - 40min., 8/24 - 40min., 8/25 - 40min., 8/26 - 40min.
Total - 200min., pp. 20-30 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), science notes

Reading times

10/15 - 30min., 10/16 - 60min., 10/17 - 60min.
Total - 150min., pp. 252-299 (Feed), 1-10 (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)

Participation Evaluation

Can you believe the end of the quarter is already here? The teachers must have kept us busy so we didn't even realize it! The tedious hours of homework must have disguised the actual quarter length.  But onto the English class of this quarter:

1. General Procedures: In all honesty, I think I did well in coming to class prepared, checking email, responding to emails, reading during class, not packing up early, and waiting to be dismissed. However, I do recall having to go to the bathroom once or twice during class.

2. Lecture, announcements, whole class discussions: I feel as though I've done this in the years before. Participating in class has always been an essential aspect to my learning, especially in English. But I may not have done well asking questions during the lectures.

3. Individual and Group Work: When I work by myself, I think I do better. I get more done in a shorter period of time. I find it is hard to get distracted or procrastinate. In groups, I still try to be productive. Yes, it is easier to get off-topic, but I know the more I get done in class, the less I have to do out of class. Everyone knows I DESPISE homework.

4. Growth: Hmm....Growth.... Let me start by saying that Dr. D did a fantastic job explaining the literary elements to us. I love how she broke it up, giving us a short stories to focus each element. However, I think she understood that theme was a difficult one, so in my opinion she should have given more time for us to soak it in. So I guess Dr. D can better help us learn by giving us more detail and time for difficult subjects.

All in all, this whole quarter has been very interesting for me. It is a big leap from middle school to high school, ranging from freedom to academics. I've enjoyed it all, strangely even English. It used to be full of boring work that in the end never really taught me anything. From what I've seen so far from this blogging experience, I am PUMPED for next quarter.

Literary Elements: Plot Structure of "To Build a Fire"

Hey all! It's been a long time since I've posted, but hopefully I'm not rusty. This blog I'll be talking about a literary element that really stood out to me when reading our short stories. The plot structure in "To Build A Fire" is a fairly obvious literary element. It is composed of four parts: rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Characterization and setting make up the rising action. The man was stubborn. We can assume this because he disregards the old man's advice to go in the cold with a friend and pays the consequence for it. However, his dog was loyal. Even after the man kicked him away, it stayed with him through the thick and thin. The climax is a short scene, which is when "the man broke through." He broke through where the snow seemed solid, but was in reality soft and wet. The falling action is when the man scrambles for his life. He first maintains a calm expression, but is soon overwhelmed by fear and panics. He striked matches against his hand (set it on fire), tried to kill his loyal dog, and made a mad dash for the camp which was miles away.

In the end, the story is resolved after he dies. There wasn't much to it. He regrets not listening to the old man, and the dog walks away in search of help. And that's the end. I personally enjoyed the story; I thought the vivid details of his character really changed the outcome of the story in a entertaining way. I may be sadistic, but I enjoyed his panic after falling. It may be because I know he wasn't a good person after kicking the dog and trying to kill it like a savage. The whole short story assignments were a pleasure to read, and I hope we will come back to them sometime.

10/08 - 50min., 10/10 - 40min. 10/11 - 30min., 10/12 - 30min (Short stories added as well)
Total - 150min., pp. 170-252 (Feed)

Reading Times: Feed

10/01 - 30min., 10/02 - 30min., 10/03 - 30min., 10/04 - 30min., 10/05 - 30min.
Total - 150min., pp. 90-170 (Feed)

Reading Response: Plot Structure

I'm back with books! No more literacy narrative ideas or thoughts, I'm here to give you what you've been wanting(or not), a reading response on Feed. Well, sort of... We get to talk about its structure! Yay! Anyways, enough with the false enthusiasm, in this blog I'll talk about Feed's plot structure. Keep in mind I am currently reading  this; I have not finished with it.

When I read the first 100 pages of Feed, some parts of it were very basic and some bigger ideas were different. Part of the rising action was filled with the introduction of characters and some small events/scenes. The other side of the rising action I found interesting was the setting; it wasn't specific. We find ourselves on the moon, partying and talking, but soon we are in a hospital. Maybe the setting could be a time frame? It's obviously in the future; computer chips in head and colonization of the moon convince me so.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you too much more other than the rising action at the moment. I am still early in the book and look forward to the rest of it, because from what I've seen, it's a pretty good read. So hopefully next blog will consist of the climax and maybe even the falling action.

9/24 - 40 min., 9/26 - 30min., 9/27 - 40min., 9/28 - 40min.
Total - 150min., pp. 1-90

I am a writer who...

I am a writer who uses the variety of words to get across my topic. In my writing it's clear that word choice is one of my strengths. I always try to use unique words that will grab readers and pull them in. My goal in doing so is to put them in my shoes by giving them something to chew on. "The dog was an interesting blue that made it sparkle," is different from "The dog had an interesting shade of blue fure that glistened in the sunlight with every step." Yes, they are basically the same sentence, but one flows better and describes the dog  better.

However, I am also a writer who sometimes makes errors in ideas or organization. This mistakes could be two sentences controverting each other, or two sentences that may be ordering incorrectly. For example, in my recent literacy narrative paper my brother found a flaw. To summarize the lines, I was always scared of the WrAP tests, which had proven to be troublesome the years before, but I was prepared to end its streak. He said I was obviously not prepared if I was so nervous, which made sense to me.

I am a writer who has strengths and weaknesses, and I suppose many others do too. So I assume I am just among the other writers in my community, looking to strengthen my weaknesses.

Stuck Halfway

I'm currently stuck typing this blog in the cafeteria of a small hotel behind a dingy gas station. We have no access to transportation, nor do we have the comfort of  our house. The internet connection the manager very nicely let us use provided me and my sister with an opportunity to finish our blogs, both consisting of this  unique situation we are trapped in.

Right after school on Friday, we left for Houston. On a normal occasion, we wouldn't visit our cousins over the weekend. It was too short. But this weekend, our uncle from London was coming to visit. This was the impetus for our departure, to go out of our way to see someone I didn't know. In the end, I had a great time. We visited our cousins, and with those cousins, visited our other cousins, where Uncle Tiger was staying. We joined them for dinners, and late nights full of  fun and joy turned into early mornings.

At the end of the trip, I was sad to leave. It was so much fun; I'm so happy to know we'll be visiting next weekend as well. The fact we had school the next day made it clear that we needed to go. All the families exchanged farewells and my sister, parents, and I all piled into our old van. The five hour ride began.

Around two hours of sleep and gameboy games later, we heard a strange fizzle sound coming from under the hood of the car. Soon, the engine overheated, because the coolant water pump ceased to function. So we slowly made our way, stopping at fifteen minute intervals to manually wash the engine with our water bottles, until we were near empty. So we figured to stop at a gas station. We sent out numerous calls to various places: mechanics, brothers, sisters, uncles, etc.

After a few minutes, we had the problem solved; My brother in college was coming to pick us up. Until then, we decided to stay in the dining area of a high quality hotel, well... at least higher quality than the section of Lake  Charles we were in. So here I am, sitting in a cafeteria, rubbing my temple with my left hand, and writing a blog with my right.

Literacy Narrative Process: WrAPped in a Bind

Boy oh boy, do I have some news for you guys! Let me just start out by saying that the literacy narrative is working out better than expected. For those who read my last blog, yes, I am a liar liar with pants on fire (I will not be reviewing Feed). The reason I'm not talking about it is because the literacy narrative was a bigger challenge.

I actually didn't have much trouble developing the story, or coming up with the name. The title I used is the first one that came into my head; WrAPped in a Bind seemed to summarize the whole story pretty well, or at least the idea behind it, which was about my struggles during the WrAP. The story I made was very basic: "give vivid details in organization." When I say this, "vivid" refers to... well, being descriptive. Trying to make the reader  understand the position you are in is an important factor to writing. "Organization" could apply to order and sentence fluency.

Revisions were another joy to me. In the past, I normally had little written revisions, because I normally corrected my paper as I continued on the computer. This time however, was different. Instead of having a computer copy in front of me, I was prepared with a printed rough draft and a red pen. With the addition of Diamond and Emory giving me beneficial ideas to improve my work (Thanks to you guys if you are reading!), I succeeded in fixing many errors, whether they be conventions or vague ideas. If you compared one of my rough drafts from middle school and the one I made just a few days ago, you'd be surprised. Overall, I think my writing and processes have significantly changed in only a few months because of my fellow students and the teacher who developed this system. Thank you all.

8/17 - 40min., 8/18 - 35min., 8/19 - 40min., 8/20 - 35min, 8/21 - 30min.
Total - 180min., wrote 3 pages

Reading Response: The Housekeeper and the Professor

This week I finished reading The Housekeeper and the Professor. It is a magnificent book, from start to finish. It's surely going to be one of my favorite books of all time. Next week I'll be reading Feed, so prepare  yourselves for that. When I was reading this week, I found many interesting scenes that stood out from the other ones. Before I begin, I'd prefer that you read my first response if you haven't, as it explains much of the characters and story line.

One day, the housekeeper and her son decided to take the Professor out to a baseball game. They hoped it would relax him, but they didn't know he wasn't a fan of large crowds. After watching the game and making statistics, they are all ready for bed. The housekeeper shortly finds out the Professor is sick, and is in need of attention. She spends the night without telling the widow, or his sister-in-law, who then complains to the housekeeping agency. On the verge of losing her job, the housekeeper visits the Professor one last time, where she finds the widow with him at the time.

This is special because the widow immediately fires her, but the Professor stands up for the housekeeper and Root. The Professor, the man with an 80-minute memory "tape" stood up for someone he shouldn't technically have known. To me, this was exciting. They had surely developed some sort of bond between them, and surpassed his memory problem to some extent.

Another scene that caught my attention was probably the most exceptional. This scene was two days after Root's eleventh birthday party, when the Professor was put into a long-term care facility when his "eighty-minute tape recorder" broke. The widow said, "His memory no longer goes beyond 1975, not even for a minute." This was heart-breaking. After all they have been through, his head injury is too overwhelming and eventually comes out on top, leaving the Professor still in 1975, when it was clearly in the 1990s. I felt so sad after this, and I've never felt sad about a book before.

Nothing made up for that moment. Throughout the years they still visited him, even knowing they wouldn't have known them. Then he died. By then Root was twenty-two, and ready to become a math teacher. In mind my these were sad connections. Root had struggled in math as a child, but taught by the Professor, decided to major in it. The fact that Root wanted to become a math teacher just goes to show how much the Professor moved him and the housekeeper.

I don't know how else to close this. Well, let me just say that if you happen to come across it with nothing else to read, it's a great choice and a good read. Yoko Ogawa, the writer, has done exceptionally well in developing this book. She has a way with words that gives you valuable information concisely. Here I'm going to apologize for the huge post you read, it's just that there is so much in these 70 pages I read this week.

9/10 - 100min., 9/16 - 70min.
Total - 170min, pp.102-180 pp. 26-27, 564-570, 577-581

Literacy Narrative Ideas

Uh oh. Literacy narratives are back. I already know some people are excited, and the rest are sad. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm  as happy as a clam. The reason I don't like writing is that I always manage to get stumped on the subject I should write about. Nevertheless, narratives or any types of literacy are important in my opinion. I'm sure you'd come across writing many times in your lifetime.

This blog I'm just going to throw some ideas at you readers. But first I have to develop a good foundation for my information, the subject. I thought about using a WRAP scene. I always struggled on them even with the preparation. I could write about whenever I did begin writing, how the pieces came together in my mind using strategies we learned beforehand. But I don't remember too much about the scene nor do I think it changed me in any way.

Other than that, I don't see much opportunity. I could talk about books, but The Housekeeper and the Professor hasn't really taught me anything significant about how I write. Fictional books like these are just fun reads; Stories intended for an entertainment purpose, not to deliver a specific reason. It has taught me something, but I think it isn't very important. The book adds flavor to its writing by putting in equations, something you normally don't find in books, but I found it a great aspect to the story, because the The Housekeeper and the Professor revolves around math. The math in the story may be a reminder of the main idea.

Another obvious idea that influenced how I write today is education. But of course I can't use it. It has to be a scene. To be honest, even this blog assignment left me speechless. I thought I had no substance, and I probably don't. You may say, "Whoa, four paragraphs! Akbar you overdid it!" but I disagree.

So from here I'm going to put it in your hands; Help from comments that could jog my memory would be fantastic. And of course, you are welcome to ask your usual questions and regular comments. Just for the record, I love reading my comments on all my blogs, so keep them coming! I'm off to go eat some pizza.

Comment Response

Hey guys! I just wanted to thank you guys for all the good feedback. In this post I think I may just answer a few questions I found on my blog, whether it be about my independent reading books or personal thoughts, in the form of a Q&A session.

1. "I am a little bit confused here about who is arriving where - you are at the cousins' house, but the cousins are travelers?"

This first question I came across was about the scene we had to write over the "hurrication." I wrote about seeing my cousins after a few months of school. During the passage when I said they were travelers, I meant that they often went vacationing all over the world in summer and other breaks, but they live in Houston, Texas. I just wanted to have that clarified.

2. "What type of stories did you and your family talk about? Where they fiction or non-fiction? What board games did you all play?"

Well, we talked about their experiences during their vacation. That summer, my cousins had gone to India and London, so they had plenty to share. When I said stories, I think the  types of stories were misunderstood; They weren't books, just memories. There was a variety of games to choose from, but the two main games we played were Apples to Apples and Monopoly.

3. "Also, did you choose this book? Was it recommended to you? Did your parents make you read it?"

Yes, I chose NoMansLand of my own will. I didn't really have a specific book in mind, so I just ventured the Episcopal library, and found something that I thought I would find good. I didn't have any idea or recommendation. I hope this answers your question.

I hope all my answers clarified everything related to my earlier posts. If not, post a question! Don't feel like you'd be judged if you thought you'd be asking a "stupid" question. Like I said before, I appreciate all of the feedback and replies I've gotten from all you bloggers.

Reading Response: The Housekeeper and the Professor

This week, I finished up NoMansLand, and began a new book, The Housekeeper and the Professor. When I was searching through our bookshelves for a good read, my brother recommended this book and many others like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Slaughter-House Five, and Feed. Those books are on my list, so expect to hear about them in my later posts.

But this week I decided to read The Housekeeper and the Professor. The Professor, whose name is unknown, is an old, but brilliant mathematician who had a head injury, so his memory only lasts for 80 minutes. The young housekeeper, whose name is also unknown, is working to get pay to feed her small family, after her boyfriend left her. During the introduction to all of the main characters, I recognized these two didn't have names, which I found absurd. However, this may not apply to all the characters. Later on, the professor called the housekeeper's son "Root," because of the shape of his head. I said "may" because it was a nickname, not his formal name.

Each day, the same "formal" introduction was given but the housekeeper and son both played along. Yes, they had known him, but because of the professor's lack of memory everyday was a new day. They did it sincerely without any frustration or irritation. I thought it told me more about their personalities, that they were good people even to a man who wouldn't know them the next day. One day, Root had cut his hand trying to peel an apple, under the supervision of the Professor. When the Housekeeper came back from her errands, she found him pale and holding Root in his arms. Root himself was trying to calm the Professor. On their way to the dingy clinic that was still open, the Professor (keep in mind he's old), picked Root up on his back, and carried him to the hospital. I found this was a great act of friendship, driven by some source of friendship deep within the Professor's mind.

Root struggled in school, specifically mathematics, which was a great opportunity for the housekeeper; to get him tutored by a mathematician. But when she intended to have her son tutored, the whole family is tutored. She herself learns more and more about math, ranging from factorials to amicable numbers. I personally think  these equations are providing a foundation for a bond that is slowly creating, with the help of the notes pinned on to his suit. From the 92 pages that I've read, this book is magnificent, and is easily one of my favorite books.

9/4 - 5min., 9/5 - 25min., 9/6 - 30min., 9/7 - 30min., 9/8 - 40min., 9/9 - 20min.
Total - 150min, pp. 221-224, 1-92

Reading Response: No Mans Land

When I first began No Mans Land, by Lesley Hauge, I found it very slow and uninteresting. It mainly spoke of the Trackers' daily lives in their strict society. From page 118, the pace began picking up. The patrol group discovered a dwelling that supposedly existed before the great devastation. I found this interesting, to see them enthralled by items our society sees daily.

Because they found the place, a chain of events begin happening. All sightings of evidence of the past had to be reported, which was impetus. The book started covering more in a shorter time. The cleansing of the traitors, and chasing the escaped all happened in two chapters. I like these parts because they don't focus on details. Too much fluff is bad, but too little is bad. The later parts of this book satisfied me, giving the perfect balance.

8/26 - 30min., 8/27 - 30min,. 8/29 - 40min., 8/31 - 30min., 9/2 - 20min.
Total - 150min., pp.118-221

Cousins

My pupils shifted as I opened the heavy car door into the bright sky. The sky was a clear blue one, the grass a rich green, and the trees swaying with grace, unlike the recent scenery of Louisiana. Stretching my legs for the first time in five hours, I noticed three figures bolting across the driveway, each with huge smiles on their faces. We were graciously welcomed and began talking right away, knowing there's much to be covered since the last time we've met. But before we settle down, it was clear unpacking was necessary. My sister heaved open the backdoor, and everyone grabbed a bag. In just a few minutes, we were all arranged.

The tiled floors slipped from underneath us with each step in our socks. Each step along the way was spent updating on how life was since the last visit. Up the stairs was the kids' territory: soft carpeting, fluffy couches, three computers, a big TV, a table, board games, and a bathroom were all the special elements that made the upstairs what it is for us. Each person made themselves comfortable (which wasn't difficult), and we talked. We expected much from the travelers our cousins were. The stories began.

In Defense of Ponies: A Brony's Manifesto

Yes, you heard me right, ponies. I, Akbar, like the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Before you think I'm weird or creepy, hear me out. I am not alone: A massive audience of males have risen around this show, rather than the young female audiences expected. We call ourselves "Bronies," a combination of "Bro" and "Pony." Some of us don't know what about the TV series entertains us. There could be many elements that appeal to the community, like the animations or plot.

So why would bronies need defending? Before bronies existed it was clear the show was intended for little girls. With the creation and growth of bronies came the creation and growth of haters. These haters are the ones who believe bronies are the "cancer of the internet." Derogatory remarks have rained down upon us from a whole slew of haters ranging from "gay" to even more foul language. Watching a show intended for little girls doesn't make you effeminate, it just means you take interests in entertainment for other ages. As a response, most bronies follow the rule of "love and tolerate," a common theme throughout the entire series. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's difficult to argue with someone when that person isn't arguing at all; You're basically arguing with yourself.

It's easy accepting the fact that My Little Pony was intended for little girls and saying I'm a fan of it in the same sentence. When haters think they can use that against me, I completely disagree. I personally believe it is one of the best cartoons on TV, suitable for any demographic, from little girls to bronies.

Reading Response: No Mans Land

No Mans Land, by Lesley Hauge, was a book I didn't expect to read. I was just wandering the library, looking for a book to read, and this cover just caught my attention. Now before you start pointing fingers at the kid who "judges a book by its cover," let me just say that I always read the back and take note of the author.

I'm not too familiar with Lesley Hauge but after reading the back I found out that this book is about a post-apocalyptic society consisting of only women. From these women arise Trackers, people who protect the borders from men.One group of Trackers, just happens to discover a room underground full of the artifacts, like magazines and high-heeled shoes.

This summary sparked my interest, and I got the book. At first, it started out a bit slow, talking about the general lives of the girls. This bored me. Later on however, the book started moving faster, with training and the discovery of the underground room. Because they had been out after curfew,committee members were looking for them, adding to the action. Overall, I look forward to the rest of the book, because I assume there will be more content. From the 100 or so pages I've read of No Mans Land, I felt it started a bit too slow for my liking.

8/20 - 30min., 8/21 - 40min., 8/22 - 30min., 8/23 - 30min., 8/25 - 20min.

Total - 150min., pp. 1-118

Summer Reading

In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan, was a non-fiction assigned summer reading book of 2012. When I came to school, it was very clear many of the students who had to read this found it boring, repetitive, and just pessimistic. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I had different views.

I thought the book was fine. Yes, I understand the introduction was dull and long, but it actually sums up the book very well. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Throughout the book, he defines nutritionism and what it's done to the western society. He compares our modern lifestyle to more ancient lifestyles or those revolving around nature. He makes it obvious that industries will produce unhealthy foods, with the help of science and journalists, to make money. I believe Pollan holds valid points, with evidence and facts to back him up.

For these reasons I recommend this book to anyone who is looking into changing how they eat. In fact, I may even read his other literature, because if I'm correct, all of his books have a common theme, eating.  All of his literature could very well be the key to a new healthier lifestyle, which gives me a reason to support and promote his writing.

Who are you?

Hello, I'm Akbar and welcome to my blog. Here, I'll be posting weekly blog assignments; This week's assignment just happens to be a free post, so I'm taking this opportunity to say something about me. Well to begin, I'd like to say I have never blogged before so I hope you can understand why I'm so late to post. It took me quite a while to figure out this system. The reason behind why I never used blogs, was because I thought they were linked to social networks like Facebook and Twitter, which I didn't use. Don't get me wrong, I still look forward to this blogging experience, because I expect to learn a lot from my peers and teachers about blogging.

Anyways, I don't think just giving my name was enough for an introduction, so let me just restart. Hello, I'm Akbar and I'm just starting my freshman year of high school. From what I hear, it's a hard year with plenty of assignments to keep me busy, so I anticipate a challenge. And that is what I want. I want difficult classes to keep my on my feet and teach me a lot academically and personally. I look forward to meeting new people, teachers and students. Additionally, I can't wait for soccer season! As weird as it sounds, I find soccer very relaxing. Instead of learning about mathematical equations, we learn about positional plays, which I find much less demanding mentally.

I have a feeling that high school will be an experience hard to forget for all of us.