zaaaAP Lit SuperBlog

Just Not the Same

Okay, so this is a book that really influenced me, but the only "catch" is that I first read it when I was five.
It's called Just Not the Same by Addie Lacoe.  It's about three triplet sisters who constantly fight over who gets what.  The common complaint when I was five was:"Why does SHE get that?"

This book accurately describes the minor problems that triplets may face especially earlier on in life.  Although I have to admit, sometimes my triplet sisters and I still fight over who gets to sit in the front seat of the car or who gets the TV remote.

I read this book early in life, but I must say, I very much enjoyed reading about girls (even if they were fictional) who were "just like me".

The Final One

So this is the final post and frankly Im happy about it.  Anyways, there is no one book that has been life-changing for me that I have read so far, but there are some that have changed or altered my way of viewing certain things in a positive way.  One of the books that has done this is Running With Scissors.  Some of you may recognize this title because it was later made into a movie, or should I say a bad movie.  This book was not only funny but really allows you to appreciate others opinions and way of life; it makes you judge others less for truly being themselves and motivates you to do the same.  Not only would I highly recommend this book for its wit and self-relization, but also because it is one that you can just loose yourself in.  Farewell Mr. Heidkamp and thanks for the ROAM today.

The Last Lecture

I enjoy reading, and like others, it is hard for me to pick out just one book that either I have enjoyed, has influenced me or has changed my life.  One book that I really enjoyed and got a lot out of was Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture.  The book is based off of Randy's last lecture (hence the name of the book) at Carnegi Mellon University.  The Last Lecture talks about overcoming obstacles and Pausch basically gives advice throughout the book.  Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before he gave his last leacture, which was ironic because it could very possibly have been his last lecture, but he didn't talk about death.  Pausch instead talked about life and how to overcome troubles, and the book captures everything.  He tells us his story and talks about how he became successful while adding his advice without preaching it.  The book is filled with words of encouragement, wisdom, and intelligence.  The Last Lecture is and inspiring book that has changed my life and I think that everyone should read it.

Maybe "Life-Changing" Was the Wrong Way to Put It

Then again, maybe not.

Your "last posts" have been truly enjoyable.  Thank you. 

I've also enjoying all the hemming and hawing over identifying the most influential book in your lives -- and it has made me rethink how I present this final blogging assignment.

The actual prompt for this final post was to write about a book that changed your life.

It didn't have to be the only book that changed your life -- or even the book that changed your life the most.  Most of you, however, took it one or both of those ways.

I personally hate to give my "favorite" anything.  I don't like to pin myself down -- or to rank things I enjoy.  In the future, I'll make sure people know there's a lot of flexibility here.

If I had to answer this prompt myself (and Ruth reminded me that I promised to), I would choose the most recent book that blew my mind.  And that would be A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge.

It's a science fiction novel -- which, as many of you know, is my not-so-secret literary love.  It's long and complex, but here's a good summary/review. 

I should warn anyone who might be intrigued enough to pick it up -- it's not a great introduction to the genre of science fiction.  It takes place in far, far future with little connection to what we know as Earth.  You have to be willing to take that leap and let the world build around you.

But what a world it is!  What's most remarkable about it is how it forces us to rethink our cultural assumptions around technology, politics and even adventure and exploration.  As good science fiction does, it shows me a future I never thought of -- with far-reaching space travel and beyond-complex computer networks -- but it is rooted in our own culture's present-day cultural and political conflicts.

*   *   *

Thanks for indulging me in this final assignment.  If I could ensure you took one thing from our class, it would be these four words:

Keep reading.

Keep thinking.

I actually loved a school book..

My favorite book I’ve ever read would have to be The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I read this book last year in my AP English class with Ms. Rosas and fell in love with it. My favorite aspect of the book is the amount of symbolism Hawthorne put into the novel. Knowing and understanding all the symbolism that takes place, really takes the novel to the next level and makes it much more interesting to read. Besides all the symbolism, I guess I am a sucker for the traditional forbidden love story lines and this one is one of my favorites. The characters had to go against society, religion, public humiliation, and death to conceal their undying love for each other that it got to the point where it made one of the characters physically ill. This just shows how strong and passionate this character was for his significant other and what he had to go through to protect her. 

A Need To Explore

It's hard to believe this is my last AP English blog post.  I remember at the beginning of the year when we were in the computer lab looking at examples from last year.  Every one I read said about the same thing, "it's the last blog and I don't know why I'm still posting".  I never thought I'd ever reach the day when I finally got to say "it's hard to believe this is my last AP English blog post."  And now, like everyone else, I'm going to start my thoughts in about the same way.

Thinking of a one book that has changed my life is really hard.  There are the books I read as a child which I still remember now, like The Beavers Echo.  There's the first chapter book I read, Riding Freedom.  And there's the Zombie Survival Guide which gave me the information I need to survive the zombie apocalypse, as well as gave me several nightmares.  (By the way, if there is ever a zombie apocalypse, do NOT hide in the school library.  I tried it... THEY WILL FIND YOU!)

The book I am choosing however is one I read last summer titled A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins.  The book is about Jenkins' decision to travel across the country with his dog Cooper after the Vietnam War.  After the war he did not have much faith in his country and was insulted by the decisions its leaders made.  And so he hit the road in search of the good natured hard working men and women who make this country what it is.  And along the way he found much more.

Reading this book made me really jealous.  It made me want to get out and see the world and go on my own adventure.  I believe it is because of this book that I want to see the world as much as I do.  I think it is also because of this book that I told my parents that my college had to be at least three states away from home.  This didn't quite work out, I'm in Michigan, but I still intend to get out and explore some day.  A Walk Across America sparked some adventurous side in me I never knew I had.  It is the reason I need to see something great.

Oh, The Places we are going...

It almost seems impossible to pick one book of all that I have read that have changed my life. From fiction to nonfiction, and everything in between, many books have changed the way I look at life and perceive things. And while sitting here, and trying to think of the one that has had the most profound effect, only one truly comes to by, “Oh the places you’ll go” by Dr. Seuss.

Dr. Seuss, despite being a children’s book author, has had some pretty deep thought. And even if “Oh the places you’ll go” may seem like a cliché book to reference at a time where we are all embarking on a new journey in life, it is impossible to ignore the great significance of this book.

The book is the story of a young boy embarking on a new journey, while a narrator guides him through it. Through the scary and through the unknown, the book tells the story of being able to do anything you set your mind to. And whether young or old, this book simply tells you that you can do it. No matter how hard the task may be, no matter how scary or unknown what you travel into may be, you can and will succeed. And yes, even though that is quite cheesy, it’s true, and to me, inspires hope.

 

I personally love this book because no matter how cliché it is, it makes you feel good. From the time I first read the book as a child to as I review it now thinking of leaving home and going off to college and starting a life of my own, it simply makes you feel good about the future.

 

 “You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)”

 

 

The Obvious Answer and the Real Answer

When asked to blog about the most influential book in my life, the most obvious choice would be the Bible because it guides all my choices, thoughts and actions (notice how I say guides, not decides). However, since I see nobody else has put the Bible as their most influential book, I assume the question is actually, "what book most influenced you besides your holy book?"

My answer to that abridged question is "Notes From a Small Island" by Bill Bryson. Ever since I started reading Bill Bryson in 8th grade, he has been hands down my favorite author. His sense of humor and keen way of describing situations greatly influenced my writing style, and "Notes From a Small Island" introduced me to the world of humorous nonfiction.

The book is about the author's final trip around Britain before he heads home to America after living in England for about 20 years. On his way, he makes sarcastic, mocking and rude comments on everything he see's wrong with life, while savoring the good moments with descriptions that leave the reader in the same state of contentment or happiness that the author is experiencing.

"Notes From a Small Island" is what made me want to be a humorous travel writer/columnist and live in England and is why many of my articles in the Trapeze started and ended with descriptions of scenes and why so many of my columns are centered on my experiences or making fun of what I see wrong in the world.

Inherit The Wind

While Inherit the Wind is not your normal, run of the mill book, it is by and far the most influential book of my entire life. I read it in my eighth grade class with my teacher Mr. Millet, who was a great, yet clueless, teacher. The play is centered around the scopes monkey trial which debated the hot topic of religion versus evolution in the 1930's. This was the book that first made me question my religion. All I could think to myself was, how can they punish an innocent man for teaching what he wants to teach. This topic was the one that I chose last year for my junior theme. I still think that this topic is controversial and I think it is one that should be brought to the forefront of our society. Why do religious organizations feel the need to impose their beliefs on everyone else. While I still believe in the existence of god, the book allowed me to challenge my catholic roots and allow me to discover the science of evolution, and that has without a doubt affected the way that I live my life.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

The book that has come closest to changing my life is Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. If you have ever read anything by David Sedaris you are familiar with his sardonic, satirical and completely hilarious writing style. All of his books contain a collection of highly embellished essays about his life ranging from his bizarre family, to many strange jobs that he has held(including playing one of Santa’s elf’s), and occasionally Sedaris will include a purely fictional short story in his books. One fictional story in particular “Seasons Greetings to all our Friends and Family!” is a incredibly well written black comedy, taking the form of a holiday letter describing a dysfunctional family’s holiday season.

All of Sedaris’s works I have fallen in love with, but since I have to choose one book that changed my life  I picked Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, which was the first David Sedaris book that I ever read . Before I read this book I had despised writing with ever fiber of my being. I thought it was a ridged way of organizing information into five paragraph essays. I had never really considered the more creative side to writing. As I began reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim I was inspired by Sedaris style and began taking more risks with my writing. And surprisingly enough I began to actually enjoy writing, the thing that just months before had made me feel like ripping all my hair out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdymtyXt8Y. This is David Sedaris, reading his essay about his experience with an external catheter- which I highly recommend (watching the video I mean, not the external catheter).

Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger's novel Catcher in the Rye is probably my most influential book. I read the novel for the first time as an eighth grader on my own because my teacher had recommended the book. After finishing, I just thought it was a disturbing book about a disturbed child, which is true to some extent. About a year ago however, I decided to write my junior theme on J.D. Salinger and chose to read Catcher in the Rye. After finishing the months of research on both the author and the novel itself I was able to grasp a much better understanding of the novel. I picked up on themes, symbols, and understood that it was a close reflection to J.D. Salinger's life. It made me feel better about reading, which I have never really been a big fan of, because it illustrated the progress I have made over four years in high school.

Oh Goodness, The Indecisiveness

If I was trapped on an island, I would bring these six books:  There Are No Children Here, Eat Pray Love, The Alchemist, Hoot, Flipped, and Stargirl, for they all changed my life, and I probably wouldn't feel as bored.  Although the latter four were made me think about about possibilities, faith, and being different from other people, There Are No Children Here and Eat Pray Love spoke to me more because they were real stories.  In the end, the fact that the words I was reading and the events I was thinking about were actually true influenced me to think about my own life in ways that were similar as well as different to the book. 

For example, Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love, wrote about her unsatisfying life with her husband, and how she realized one day how it was not healthy for her, and decided to change.  She took care of herself which seemed hard for her to do, but she did it because she knew what was right for herself.  Eat Pray Love taught me not how to be selfish, but to be healthy and recognize what is good and bad for me.

I first read There Are No Children Here in the summer before ninth grade.  I was as a young teen and living in a somewhat sheltered home.  In history class, we didn't quite cover the 80's and 90's, and it hadn't occurred to me that really terrible things had happened in the past two decades.  Reading about Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers's story opened my eyes to things that had happened, and somewhat still were happening in Chicago, the city we from which I live 2 blocks away.  I was startled and frankly, scared that these things were possible, much less real.  The novel was one of the things that influenced me to participate in community service and fueled my devotion to helping other people who are less fortunate than I am.

Patriot Love

Well, when it comes to deciding which book has impacted my life the most, I have some trouble deciding.  I could select The Homework Myth, which enlightened me about the dark reality of homework--which by the way, I recommend to everyone, especially any person who works at a school.

But then my thoughts turn to the famous Route 66 and a guide book I read about it that I found very engaging and got me all caught up in the sensation over Route 66, which also made me appreciate road travel even more.

Yet, my thoughts expand to a broader scope, and I finally make my decision:  The book that has most impacted my life is The Making of America.  I was at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library one Saturday in May back when I was in 6th grade in 2003, and I saw this book.  (By the way, Maze Library is one particular location that has impacted my life greatly, which is why I selected it as the subject of my Querencia composition.)  It was a new book, and it was prominently displayed.  Since American history is one of my favorite subjects to study, I decided to check it out.

And I remember that I started reading it not long after checking out—I even remember the setting of where I began reading it:  It was in my family’s car as we drove along Illinois Route 53 toward Elwood, IL, just after visiting Abraham Lincoln National Military Cemetery where we visited my grandfather’s grave for the first time since he went to Heaven.  As I started to read the book, I experienced what I like to call a lighting of the Patriot Spirit.  For as a dove lighted on the head of Jesus as soon as He came up out of the water after being baptized in the Jordan River, so the Spirit that instills true patriotism in a person came upon me.  I realized that America is a beautiful country, with a rich history.  This was the one event that commenced what I would later describe as a deep love relationship with America.  My love is a love that can't be taken away, even by the knowledge of terrible events from America's past.  It is a love that I hope all Americans embrace.

As an addendum, my love for America reminds me of another time when I discovered an amazing book at the library, which happened about a year after I came across The Making of America.  This time, though, I was at Dole Branch Library, at a party held for those who volunteered with the children's summer reading program.  After enjoying some pizza and drinks, I decided to go look at some books while I waited for my parent to pick me up.  I went over to the children’s nonfiction section again, and there displayed on a table was The Signers: the 56 Stories behind the Declaration of Independence.  I picked it up, and starting looking through it.  It was a very interesting book, which has a biography of each of the 56 people who signed the Declaration of Independence.  When it was time for me to go, I decided to check out the book and read it more thoroughly on my own time.

It was when I read the introduction that I experienced a moment of enlightenment.  The introduction told the whole story of how America became an independent nation.  Richard Henry Lee proposed the inpdendence resolution on June 7, 1776.  After weeks of pondering the matter, the delegates held a vote on July 2, 1776, and the resolution unanimously passed.  Then, the Congressional delegates spent the next two days finalizing the draft of the Declaration of Independence that Thomas Jefferson had been preparing for a couple of weeks or so.  The Congress adopted a final copy on July 4, 1776.  The author then went on to say that when copies of the Declaration were distributed, people looked at the top and read July 4, 1776, and thought of that as the day America became independent.  But the vote for independence was officially made on July 2,  1776.  Reading this made me realize that we’ve been celebrating America’s independence on the wrong day for years, all because people were misled by a single number.  I realized that we had to make sure to recognize the right day.  So after giving a speech before my language arts class in 8th grade about changing America’s Independence Day to July 2, I prepared and sent letters to several government officials and news agencies.  I actually got a response from Senator Durbin, and then-Senator Obama.  Not much has happened yet, but I’m determined to make sure July 2 gets its proper recognition.

"... became caressing." What?!

After reading "Bloodchild", I was frozen for a few seconds, my face distorted in a look of disgust. Now don't get me wrong, it was a highly entertaining and captivating story, but it made me extremely uncomfortable. It was pretty hard for me to picture everthing that was being described, and what I did picture creeped me out.

The whole part with Lomas and the grubs was weird and gross. The part at the end with T'Gatoi and Gan was also very discomforting to me, too. But one line really disturbed me. I don't have my packet, but it was the line in the beginning that mentioned how T'Gatoi's probing limbs became caresses. Melissa mentioned this in class today, and I completely agree- this little line made me very uncomfortable. I don't like the relationship between T'Gatoi and Gan. 

It's interesting how one line can be so disturbing. Did anyone else see any other lines that made them uncomfortable? I can think of a few more...