I read this for my global lit class and yes the book was thicker than i expected. But somewhat short in a way. I mean this book is a classic and i app...moreI read this for my global lit class and yes the book was thicker than i expected. But somewhat short in a way. I mean this book is a classic and i appreciate it for what it is. It was also out of my safe zone but im glad i read it because i manage to grow as a reader. Thats the magic of the Odyssey. I found Odysseus' main focus in returning home somewhat inspiring. Theres 2 goddesses who "want him as their husbands" but in the end they never won his heart and then is he ever more determined to go home. I thought a main theme i found in the Odyssey is temptaion because Odysseus did many things during his voyage that lead to consequences. For example during his stay at the cyclops cave, he had to do something before the cyclops ate his men. So he took matters in his own hands. Temptation is when you have to do something because the circumstances calls for it. (less)
First of all I thought it was remarkable how Samantha changed in the end. From becoming a popular traditional mean girls to sacrificing herself in the...moreFirst of all I thought it was remarkable how Samantha changed in the end. From becoming a popular traditional mean girls to sacrificing herself in the end, it's amazing how time can change someone. But most importantly, how another chance can change time and a person's heart and remind that no, it is never too late. Before I Fall is also a VERY though provoking book. What Samantha goes through really shows that sometimes what someone does, their actions as little as it seems can make a great impact in someone's life.(less)
Jodi Picoult is well known for her inclusive novels of love and bravery. It goes beyond the original standards of those and throughout the story it co...moreJodi Picoult is well known for her inclusive novels of love and bravery. It goes beyond the original standards of those and throughout the story it compells you with emotions. Emotions make you question the world and you realize that in "nineteen minutes", not twenty, not ten anything can happen. This novel makes you value time even more and makes you strive to catch time before it slipts through your fingers(less)
It's not that bad...seriously. Although honestly the movie made it cliche. But I've read the book 3 times. Each time, I notice something different. Th...moreIt's not that bad...seriously. Although honestly the movie made it cliche. But I've read the book 3 times. Each time, I notice something different. That's the magic of it. I noticed the humor that goes within Bellas and Edward's relationship. It relates to real life because their diversity reminds us that no matter what our differences are or our repuation, we can always look past it(less)
As rational as the storyline is, it's also another way to get a point across: that no matter what kind of strange someone else appears to us, we will...moreAs rational as the storyline is, it's also another way to get a point across: that no matter what kind of strange someone else appears to us, we will always treat them with disrepect regarding our differences. It's the truth. Many times in history has it proven this analogy. So when dead teenagers all around the world are coming back to life, crisis and turnoil rolls around. Although the living do not understand the pain the "living impaired" have been through, they choose to disrespect rather then hear their story and feel their pain. But I love how in this story, there is a hero, well not really. But she, Phoebe is the type of person who is just so curious about the "living impaired" that she even falls for one. While trying to know them better, she realizes and learns more about how life is so difficult for them; even in the afterlife. (less)
The moral of The Truth About Forever is that life isn't perfect,
Macy's father held a secret in his past, has i Everyone has that dark secret in their...moreThe moral of The Truth About Forever is that life isn't perfect,
Macy's father held a secret in his past, has i Everyone has that dark secret in their past, has that huge hole in their road, or is that girl who saw her father die. We should accept the imperfections and move on. I really empathized with Macy, because I too feel tempted to always have to strive for perfection, which makes me lose focus on the things that really matter, like what i am capable of losing but really should keep. This book also makes you think--what would you do if you saw your father die? Would you shut out the outside world and plaster on a mask of happiness, as Macy does? (less)
**spoiler alert** Because of a rebellion throughout the Districts to the capital, they invented the "Hunger Games" in order to keep order and prosperi...more**spoiler alert** Because of a rebellion throughout the Districts to the capital, they invented the "Hunger Games" in order to keep order and prosperity. So every year, a girl and boy tribute is chosen from each District to compete in the Hunger Games. They must fight to the death and the last one standing wins. This book starts with a year where the chosen tributes were considered disasterous because Primrose, Katniss' the main character's little sister was chosen to be in the Hunger Games. So Katniss makes a daring move and takes her place. Peeta, someone Katniss isn't familar with in the beginning, is chosen to be boy tribute. Whether they survive or not is for you to find out. But throughout the Hunger Games, you can feel Katniss' "hunger" to return home, her love for her younger sister that drove her to take her place, how it drives her to make an alliance to another District's tribute because that girl resembles Primrose. Through the end, she doesn't enjoy the game even though she won. I found Katniss to be a strong hero because she's smart and clever. She has good skills in hunting and foraging, this gave her an advantage in the year's Games. Although she's not soft, but she's hard, i don't think her life allowed her much for it. She does what she must to survive, so she can return home to her sister. I thought this was really expressed through the romantic subplot in which Katniss pretends to love Peeta in order to gain the audience’s sympathy was very clever, even if it becomes rapidly apparent that it was never an act for Peeta.(less)
This makes you question our society in general. Imagine a society where your love ones are chosen by a computer based off similarities; a society wher...moreThis makes you question our society in general. Imagine a society where your love ones are chosen by a computer based off similarities; a society where differences are stored behind everyone's ambition to follow the rules. The Society controls everything and it makes changes and interferes depending on what it sees fit, etc. One of my favorite quotes is: "Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that." I found this incredibly relatable because in life, we lose people. We deal with it but we never understand what happens to the relationship, to everything. We don't see that whatever happens, they still have a part of us with them. "our roots" is what keeps a tree in place and alive. In us, it is the memories that make us acknowledge each day with pride. i thought the magic of this book is how it takes on the protagonist, who doesn't save others but saves herself from fate(less)
This book had a very intereting storyline. It is about a coming to age girl who sees things that other people don't. Living with a constantly traveling...moreThis book had a very intereting storyline. It is about a coming to age girl who sees things that other people don't. Living with a constantly traveling single mom who produces movies for a living is not as easy as it appears. Daire is always certain that everything is not what it seems, that nothing lasts. This is evident in her many relationships with the stars that appear in her mother's movies, they say they love her but they leave her life when the movie's finished. Her mother, certain that this would help her, sends Daire to live with her grandmother who has always stayed low in Daire's life but suddenly wants to be with Daire. In her grandmothers, Daire is introduced to the common truth, that she was fated to fight a foe. This for is left for her to discover. But with the oh-so-many tests to encounter and pass, Daire was on the urge of giving up. It isn't until her father's psst, the fact that he died trying to run away from his fate, that took his life. Daire must find courage and find her foe, while trying to avoid falling in love with Dace.(less)
It just makes you wonder whether or not people are evil... or is it because of their intentions that end up having them mak...moreThis book is beyond amazing
It just makes you wonder whether or not people are evil... or is it because of their intentions that end up having them make the wrong decisions. This is evident in the blond soldier who I think Ruta portrayled as ittie little bit regretful for the death of Lina's mother.
I also really liked the cliff hanger at the end, when Lina visualizes Andrius arriivng at the camp, it makes you wonder what happens next and hope the best for them. But if you read the author's note, you see that they were spared, out of the thousands and they still are alive. I find that remarkable because nobody deserves more to live then these people.
Ruta has a good job of protraying a clear sense and reminding us what humanity is. This books reminds us that we should never take for granted what we have, that family is one matter but it is for some people what will holds them together in the hard times. (less)
**spoiler alert** The Color of Water is in fact a tribute to a mother of a black son. His mother, once a Polish Orthodox Jew left her home to be aroun...more**spoiler alert** The Color of Water is in fact a tribute to a mother of a black son. His mother, once a Polish Orthodox Jew left her home to be around blacks because she was more comfortable with them. She eventually married a black, but after he died, she married another. She nurtured and care for 12 children, one of them is the author. The issue of race affected his life while growing up in a black neighborhood. It is because his mother stood out like a "sore thumb" because of the color of her skin. But his mother never made is an issue, she avoided discussing the issue with him. But the author wrote this book so that his mtoher could discussed the issue of race withing the context of her own life. The Color Of Water expressed and emerges a closer look at the issues of race and religion and how it widely impacts an individual's identitfy from our race conscious society.
I read this for Global Lit But I know that most people found the first 100 pages interesting and everything went sidetracked afterwards. But i found it...moreI read this for Global Lit But I know that most people found the first 100 pages interesting and everything went sidetracked afterwards. But i found it interesting how the family delt with Susie's death.(less)
To be clear, this book is not about cheating. It is about second chances. If you look close enough you can find metacognition from this book to Pride...moreTo be clear, this book is not about cheating. It is about second chances. If you look close enough you can find metacognition from this book to Pride and Prejudice. Like the fact that Darcy, the girl who has it all appears in both books. Likewise, Darcy has always been the charmer. She is conceited yes, and she always wants to be the best. She entered New York City broke but came out with a successful job as a party planner. She is also engaged. Then there is Rachel White who has always been Darcy's best friend. For ages, she has watched her shine and no matter how hard she tries, Darcy always beats her in the end. This book is not about happily ever afters and blah blah blah. It is about choosing between who you love and your best friend. It is about finding out who you are after living in someone else's shadow for a long time. (less)
**spoiler alert** Basically this book is about one thing: being able to change your future by correcting a mistake of a past.Honestly everyone have wi...more**spoiler alert** Basically this book is about one thing: being able to change your future by correcting a mistake of a past.Honestly everyone have wished they could do so but this book makes this dream into a reality. Meet Devi Banks who is weeks from her graduation and prom, she should be happy but she's not because her boyfriend for 3 years, Bryan broke up with her. And when gals break up with their boyfriends, they run to their friends crying right? Well Devi has no friends. She wasted so much time with Bryan that her friendships fell away. But while standing in the mall near the fountain, listening to Bryan's voicemail, she drops her phone. 80% of you gals are probably flaborgasted <?> but when she recovers her phone, she tries to dial a number but it flashes her number, so she calls it. Devi soon realizes after several encounters on the phone that she is talking to her freshman self. And the rest you're going to have to find out ;) But Gimme A Call makes me think about what would I do differently now. You see I'm a freshman, oh here call me Frosh, but I'm capable of making mistakes. And only from this book did I realize how big of an impact these mistakes maybe. So somewhere down the road, hopefully I can get some guidance from the future me. (less)