I chose this picture because the main character Miles loves to read biographies which is something he has in common with his friend Alaska who is another main character in the novel.

Summer Reading Entry 4

     I chose this book because I read a book by the same author last year that I really enjoyed so I figured I would like this book too, which I did. The thing that drew my attention to this book was the fact that one of my friends decided to read it and so I would have someone to discuss the book with and she had also already gotten a few pages in and said it was a good book so I took her word for it. Usually in a book I do have some sort of personal connection to it but that wasn’t the case with this book. I read the requirements before I started reading and as I read the book I tried to look for any sort of connection but I just couldn’t. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book because I really did but I just did not find a connection. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little romance without going overboard. I’ve never been into the whole romantic book thing but when it’s included in the plot without making you drown in it I find it interesting and that is how this book was for me. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it for anyone who can read.

Summer Reading Entry 3

     I honestly can’t stand books that start off slow because I can’t get myself to really dive into it and wait out the long beginning. So that being said I chose a quote from the beginning of the book (actually it’s the first sentence) that I found “hooking” because it really gave me the sense that I wouldn’t have to wait for the real story to begin. The quote I chose was “The week before I left my family and Florida and the rest of my minor life to go to boarding school in Alabama, my mother insisted on throwing me a going-away party.” This sentence showed me that A) there’s only a week until the main part of the story begins, B) He’s traveling to a whole new state and lifestyle which should be interesting, and C) That this main character who I presumed was telling the story had a bit of an attitude and kind of showed his opinion right off the bat by using the word insisted instead of decided or another word like that. Now, usually I don’t get hooked right away in a book and it takes a while but in this book I knew I would like it right from the start and I felt the same way the whole time I read this book.

Summer Reading Entry 2

       The character of Looking for Alaska I’m going to focus on for this post is Miles. He’s a pretty simple guy who really just doesn’t feel like he belongs anywhere or feel comfortable anywhere. But he does have a complicated desire. Her name is Alaska and she’s the complete opposite of him. She’s very complex and hard to read but she shares similar interests like reading for example. His other want is a desire for friends. He’s never had a solid group of friend where he really can be himself and fit in which is really all he needs. An appearing theme is something about sociality or friendship I’m not quite sure what it is though. The construction of this book is interesting. It counts down by saying a number and then before. For example, “one hundred twenty six days before” would start a section of the book. Almost like chapters but not as separate. The book doesn’t cover every single day that happens in the duration of the book. It will skip a few days and then pick back up. I enjoy the way the book is constructed because it really gives you a good sense of time and when the events are happening in relation to other events.

Summer Reading Entry 1

   

     In Looking for Alaska the major characters are Miles, Alaska and the Colonel. The book is based off of Miles’ life and the story revolves around his actions more than the other main characters. Miles isn’t very outgoing in nature and is sort of an outcast. He’s never found a place where he belongs socially and seems insecure with himself. That is, until he meets the Colonel and Alaska at his new school. They’re almost completely different from Miles personality wise. They’re very headstrong and outgoing. They seem to get into a lot of mischief (which Miles was advised not to get into). But considering the Colonel is his roommate and is his only friend he decides to go outside of his comfort zone and befriend the Colonel, who is friends with Alaska who is the prettiest girl Miles thinks he has ever seen. The setting of the book takes place at a boarding school called Culver Creek that Miles decides he wants to attend thinking it might solve some of his issues of no social life and his dad attended the school so he might make his parents proud in the process. Although the school isn’t all he dreamed it would be considering it’s a hot school in Alabama with no air conditioning and drab dorm rooms, it will have to do. I predict that by the end of the book Alaska will like miles the way Miles likes her and that the Colonel will resolve his issues with the bullies at the school.

Final Blogger Assessment Post

1. What specific words/phrases demonstrate your writer’s voice? How do these words/phrases showcase your personality as a writer? 

 

     Specific words and phrases I use in my suspense post that demonstrate my writers voice are when I say "Add excitement to a book that might be boring otherwise", "I honestly", and " I'd rather watch something happen in a movie or on TV, rather than imagining everything going on. I mean, I do read for "fun" (even though its not actually fun)". These words and phrases showcase my personality as a writer because it shows how i dont like to read which is part of my personality. It lets people know how I honestly feel about something. That is voice because it is opinionated and shows what I feel and what i would say in a conversation abut the topic.

 

 

 

2.  What purposeful diction AND syntax choices did you make to enhance your writer’s voice? You must choose to discuss at least one diction AND one syntax technique from the list below. Make sure to include textual evidence from your post where you included the diction and syntax choices you discuss.

 

     Purposful Diction that I use to show my voice in my post is low/ informal diction. I use informal diction when I say words in the text including "Honestly, struggle, battling, fun, excitement, boring and good". These words are informal becuse they are words you would use everyday and they are casual not formal. This adds to my voice because than my post sounds like me, instead of a drone that spits out elegant words to make myself sound smarter.

     Purposeful syntax that I use to show voice in my post is word order/ sentence structure. I use this element when I use parentheses throughout the text " (even though its not actually fun)", is an example of this. These parentheses enhance my writers voice by adding an input on what I really think, which is voice. This gives my opinion and helps the reader understand my views on what is being discussed.

Fahrenheit 451

Okay so, I know everyone wants to make a good impression on the teacher and never say anything bad about a book in class but I don't feel like that's right in this situation considering its a mandatory school read I' pretty sure. So I'm just going to say it. I hated this book. It was too long for the concept and boring. I understood it and did read t but I dreaded every second. I did however like the purpose behind it. I think that the government does withhold things to make them look better, and maybe some day it could come to firefighters burning people  and houses and books due to the knowledge of the people. But I did think this book was boring. Sorry to those who liked it.

Favorite character

My favorite character in the book Catching Fire would have to be Katniss. I think that the best thing about her is the way she carries herself. She is strong and confident, and is good at just about anything she sets her mind to. I like the way the author included this very self sustaining girl who can fight off a competitor and do everything for herself. She doesn't need help from anyone unless she wants it. Like Peeta, she doesn't need his help(well kind of) but she takes him on as an ally anyways to benefit her. she's smart and I like that.

Recommendations

I would recommend the book Catching fire to anybody who likes suspenseful, romantic, science fiction or action filled books. The book included all of these features well which is hard I feel in a book because they are all so different. I think this book is good for anyone over about the age of ten or so up to however old you lose your eyesight at. Because there are so many elements it wouldn't be hard for anyone in this age range to like this book. I for one like it because of the action. I was never into romantic books because they bore me and always turn out the same. This book was unpredictable too. You never knew if one second a character would be alive or dead.  Overall I really enjoyed it and I think you would too.

Conversation with a Character

   If I could have a conversation with any character from the book Catching Fire, I think that I would choose Effie. I know she isn't the main character so it seems weird that I chose her. But I feel like she is one of the only characters that you meet and don't get her real opinion about the Hunger Games. She puts on this fake mask when she speaks and with her actions so you don't ever really see what she thinks. She usually has a smile on her face, but You can tell by her words actions that she doesn't really like the situation.
  
    I think throughout the conversation she would be trying to lighten the subject and not stay on a dark topic for long. I also think that she would be smiling a fake smile haha. But seriously she is fake in both the movie and the books so..what can you expect when talking to her.

Suspense

The author of Catching Fire builds suspense in the book by having a lot of action scenes in the book. Since the characters are in an arena battling to stay alive for most of the book, you never know when or if they will die because they are faced with many life-threatening struggles.

I honestly enjoy books with a lot of suspense. I think I like suspenseful books because it makes me want to read more and I don't really enjoy reading. I'd rather watch something happen in a movie or on TV, rather than imagining everything going on. I mean, I do read for "fun" (even though its not actually fun) sometimes to pass time or if I'm reading a good book.

Getting back on topic, this book does have a lot of suspense in it, which is good because it adds excitement to a book that might be boring otherwise. I would recommend this to anyone that likes suspenseful books because I know that I will put down a book and never look back if it doesn't have any suspense incorporated into the storyline.

So my question is, does anyone have any suspenseful book suggestions?

Setting of Catching Fire

The setting of the book I chose to read Catching Fire is in Panem, which is like the United States. Panem consists of twelve districts (used to be thirteen) , all in charge of creating different resources. The two main characters, Katniss and Peeta, of the book live in district twelve, where they are responsible for coal. This is just one of the multiple settings of the book.

Another setting of the book are in the other districts of Panem, where for a short period in the book, Katniss and Peeta travel around to each district to speak about their victory and pay tribute to the family and community for the loss of their loved ones. Even though The families knew the risk of their child being in the games, of coursethey and other family members were still heartbroken.

The last setting of the book is in the arena where they fight again against fellow victors and try to survive. Before they can go to the arena they stop at the rich area of the future world where they practice for the upcoming games and try to win the affection of people who can buy things that can help them in the arena.

My question for you is, would you want to live in the united states we have now or the future version?

Personally i Would not want to live in this time period and would rather live in the one we live in now. I would rather live like it is now because the futuer world seems very unpredictable, and i like to be able to know (to some extent) what happens next and not have to wonder if i will still be alive tomorrow.