Varnon's College Writing 2010 discussion
Independent reading response to page 100
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Max wrote: "My independent reading book is "Teen Idol" by Meg Cabot."Geri Lynn was always going on about the vital role journalist play in the making or breaking of a celebrity's career, while Luke made no..."
Max- I find it interesting that the beginning of the book is explaining more about characters than an actual story. It seems like once the actual story starts, it'll be easier to understand now that you know so much about the characters
Questions: What do you like most about your book?
How many characters have been introduced so far?
Are there too many characters to try to remember?
Vanessa wrote: "My independent reading book is “The Floor of the Sky” by Pamela Carter Joern. “One night she asks for a different story. “Was it a coincidence that David and Rosemary died on the same day?”
G..."
Vanessa-I find it interesting that Lila's mother sent her away to her grandmothers. This must've been difficult for Lila since she hadn't seen her grandmother in years.
Questions: Why did Lila's mother send her to her grandmothers?
Where does Lila's grandmother live?
What's been your favorite part of the book so far?
Varnon wrote: "By now, you should have read up to page 100 of your independent reading book. Now, I'd like you to share.Please respond to ALL parts of the prompt! USE AT LEAST ONE VOCAB WORD IN YOUR RESPONSE...."
My independent reading book is “The Subtle Knife” by Philip Pullman
“‘What is says,’ Lyra told her, ‘It’s saying in my language, right—the language of pictures. Like the alethiometer. But what it says is that it could use ordinary language too, words, if you fixed it up like that. You could fix this so it put words on the screen. But you’d need a lot of careful figuring with numbers—that was the compasses, see. And the lightning meant anbaric—I mean, electric power, more of that. And the angel—that’s all about messages. There’s things it wants to say. But when it went on to that second bit…it meant Asia, almost the farther east but not quite. I dunno what country that would be—China, maybe. And there’s a way they have in that countryof talking to Dust, I mean Shadows, same as you got here and I got with the—I got with pictures, only their way uses sticks….” P.94
Lyra, the main character, has an instrument called an alethiometer that tells her anything she asks. It’s shaped like a golden compass with three different hands and twenty or so pictures around the edge to point at. She can ask it a question by moving the hands to certain pictures and it responds by pointing to different pictures. Each picture means something different and sometimes it has multiple meanings. It takes years of SEDULOUS figuring, with a book that defines each symbol, by the most intelligent scholars. Yet Lyra, a eleven year old girl, has deciphered if within a few months. At this time in the book, Lyra is talking to a scholar from a different world. She is trying o find out more information about what is called Dust in her world. Dust is elementary particles and can create doorways between worlds as well as function the alethiometer. Lyra asks the alethiometer where she should go to find out more about dust and it leads her to Dr. Malone. Dr. Malone has a machine that works very similar to the alethiometer when it is hooked to your head with wires. You have to have the right mind set to use it and Lyra is the only one who has been able to use it successfully so far. This is significant because it shows how important and powerful Lyra is and yet she doesn’t even know it. Dr. Malone I blown away by what Lyra tells her and wants her to come back and help with the machine.
The authors writing style if very descriptive and fun to read. It is very easy to picture everything happening and understand it. I haven’t found myself reading and not knowing what was happening or not understanding how I got somewhere in the book. It’s an interesting book because the author switches back and forth between characters so you get information from many points of view. Sometimes I like that in a book but other times I don’t. I dislike it when I want to read about one character but have to go through fifty pages of someone else’s point of view. I can’t just skip over it because I could be important which is what I’m finding is happening slightly in this book.
Questions:
William: How do you plan on finding your father?
William: Do you plan to take Lyra with you to help find your father?
Lyra: Do you plan on helping William find his father?
Lyra: How do you plan on helping Dr. Malone?
Dr. Malone: Are you going to take Lyra’s advice?
Dr. Malone: How do you plan on taking Lyra’s advice?
"As Savannah took a seat next to me, I suddenly knew that coming here had been the right thing to do. It was the first time we'd really been alone, but as we sat side by side, it felt as though we'd been together forever."
At this point in the story, Savannah and John are visiting the house that Savannah has been working on for an organization called Habitat. Savannah wanted to show John all the work her and her group has put into the house. The reason Savannah is in John's hometown is because she went there to work on this house for a family in need. Habitat is something that Savannah has been doing for several years. This quote is significant because it shows how John feels about Savannah, and how he's really starting to fall in love with her. They've only known each other for a few days but they're already starting to fall in love with each other. It makes me wonder what's going to happen to their relationship when John has to go back to Germany to serve in the army.
The character development is very interesting in this story. John's dad hasn't developed so much as the book has gone on. He's always been quiet and hasn't talked much. This hasn't changed as the book has gone on. However; John has changed quite a bit. In the beginning of the book John didn't really want anything to do with a relationship. In his past, he always dated a lot of girls and he didn't want to do that again. He also didn't want a relationship because of being in the army. However; when John meets Savannah this all changes. John falls in love with Savannah, and wants to make things work when he has to go overseas again. John and Savannah's relationship is the main thing that has developed. Every day they fall for each other a little more. At first, it just seemed like a summer fling but now it's more of an actual relationship. So far, there haven't really been any hardships that have taken place.
I would describe Sparks writing style as very emotional and descriptive. Sparks wrote this book in first person which makes it a lot easier to understand how the main character, John, feels towards Savannah. Sparks also uses a lot of dialogue in this. "Instead all I could do was replay Savannah's gentle kiss on my check for the hundredth time and wonder how I could be falling for a girl that I'd met only the day before." This quote is John talking about how he was falling for Savannah. I think by Sparks writing in first person it makes the book a lot more emotional as seen in the quote above. It influences by enjoyment of the book because it shows more of how John feels about Savannah. John thinks Savannah has a very DEBONAIR personality. It makes the reader feel like they really understand how the character is feeling.
"Dear John" is a very compelling story in my opinion. It never gets dull. I always want to read on to see what happens between John and Savannah. It's also very compelling because it always leaves you wondering. When reading, I always have the question "What will happen to John and Savannah's relationship when John leaves for Germany?" in the back of my head.
John: How long will you be in Germany for before you return back home? Do you hope to keep the relationship with Savannah going when you're overseas?
Savannah: When do you return back to UNC? Do any of your friends ever try to pressure you to drink? (Savannah doesn't drink)
John's Dad: Did you have any hobbies before coin collecting? Have you always been quiet and shy even when you were younger?