catcher in the rye. 2

The second part was so much better. I really felt like I got to know Holden, and what he was going through. I feel that Holden thinks its his job to protect everyone. He puts too much stress on his himself,and he doesn't let other people into his life help him out through this tough time he's having. For example when he talks about him standing on the cliff having to protect the children. I think this shows one that he is finally maturing, and seeing that he has to be responsible, and two he does take too much on. He needs to let other people into his life. Just like Mr. Andilini says he doesn't know how to deal with whats going on in his life. If he would just tell someone. I think that his relationship with Pheobe lets him express himself. But i also feel that he is that close with her because he wants to be a good big brother after loosing allie. He thinks that it is important for him to fill the role, and be the best big brother she has, so he doesn't think about how much he is missing his own. I find his relationships with his teachers/ former teachers really strange. Who just walks into their teachers house and spends the night? Holden shouldn't feel that he has to please his parents all the time. I know that now, parents are probably one of the main sources of stress in a teenagers life, but that they should be the people helping us get of it. Holden is afraid of what his parents are going to do after they find out that he has been kicked out of school, and that he has been wondering around NYC for the past three days. When he sneaks home to see his sister, he is very paranoid about his parents showing up and finding him there, which I think he should be able to look to his parents for help. This brings it back to the he puts too much on himself, because he can't look to his parents for that help, and loving support because he feels that he isn't as good as D.B. for them to deal with.
Well, this project is now over, so I will probably never come back on here, unless we have to use it next year.
i survived 5 books in 10 weeks. (they should make that a tee shirt or something)

Catcher first half.

So far, this book is extremely boring, and very slow paced. Maybe I just haven't gotten up to anything exciting. I don't like how it is almost written in a stream of conscienceness because it jumps around too much, and makes it very difficult to understand what exactly is going on. So far, I think that Mr. Spencer is a good influence on Holden because he pushes him to try and stay in school, and work hard and not fail so many classes. I feel that when we first learned about Holden and his life with his peers, it feels like he wants nothing to do with them. It shows that he doesn't want to be social, and wants to be left alone most of the time. Though he might have friends, he doesn't put any effort into the relationships he holds with them. This could possibly show us that something happen in his past that makes him unsocial. And that could be the reason why he doesn't like talking about his past. Maybe it had something to do with his brother, because that was a very touchy subject when he briefly talked about it. Also, I think that many of the kids at his school are very smart, and perfect, and that puts pressure onto Holden, who might not be that intelligent to not try to do so well, because he knows that he can't be as good as them. (&& every time they talk about how he's the manager of the fencing team i think of Uriel..just thought I'd throw that out there) Then we find out about his brother. That really threw me off. I didn't see that coming, and could definetly see why Holden acts the way he does. If he was really close with his brother, then I would be pretty traumatized, and be scared the rest of my life. Also, having to watch him suffer through those stages, could also potentially hurt Holden. I think that Holden has to go to therapy. (maybe he could join Esther) but he really needs to work the way he expresses his emotions. He's not very good at it, and is constantly taking them out on other people. IF he could just talk to people about being stressed, and having all these crazy emotions all mixed up, it could really help him, so it doesn't lead him to do something stupid, that he would regret.
I hope this book gets better. yay for memorial day break! only one post lefft!

Bell Jar 2

Wow, that wasn't as bad and dreadful as it looked. Though it was quite depressing, and pessimistic, it showed that some people do have mental slips, but they can eventually recover from it. Dr. Nolan was probably my favorite character because she really did help Esther get to where she had to be to become free, and get better. She was constantly there for her, and helped her through the shock treatments. After her 1st shock treatment with Dr. Nolan, the bell Jar comes into play. She says that "the bell Jar hung, suspended, a few feet above my head." (pg. 215) The bell Jar is a symbol shows how trapped Esther is not only in her self, but in her life. She was perfect before, and that lead to her traumatic down fall. Another thing I noticed is that the media played a big influence on her depression. That is a very big problem now a days because girls think that they need to be absolutely perfect, just like the girls they see on tv, magazines, and on the internet. Esther becomes very involved in the fashion magazine in the beginning, and her picture is taken and put into one which we find out later. Another thing that was common through the novel was that during this time period, Esther was stereotypically was supposed to be very upbeat, confident, and living her life to the best of her ability. This also brought on her depression faster than it would have if people were weren't so judgmental. After she had left the note saying "im going for a long walk" i became really frustrated with her because people would obviously figure out something was wrong. (i know this is going to sound horrible) but i wish she would have just killed her self there and then instead of putting her self through all that extra pain. I think that some of this might have had something to with not having a Dad for most of her life. I know my Dad plays a very important role in my life, and I think if my dad had died, I would not want to have to live with the pain, and the post depression that comes along with it. After reading this book, i have a pretty solid idea for my essay topic! wohoo!

I'm exactly like Meredith Grey.

*so as i wrote this blog, I came up with the title, so the part about meredith is closer to the bottom*
As I was reading this part of the Bell jar, I was thinking that this is probably one of the most pessamistic books i've ever read! Every chance she gets Ester puts something, or somebody down. I personally belive that life is too short to look t the glass half empty, you have to look at it half full in order to get the most out of your life. Slyvia Plath is so descrptive in her book that she makes me feel like i've known Ester and her friends for a long time. Though at some parts, she's a little too descriptive..but other than that I like this book. Its not that hard to get thorugh, and it is kinda of interesting and modern. I also think that Ms. McDonald picked most of these books becuase of their way of showing that women can step out of the boundraies, and not follow the common housewife way of life. Though Ester is kinda young, she still shows that when she grows up she's going to be the next Edna (well maybe not that extreme) but she's not going to get married, and start a family, like everyone wants her to do. (cough cough buddy cough cough) I really wanted them to get married, but then i was thinking, if they got married, this book would be so boring, and unorgiinal, it would follow the same old disney movie plot line where girl meets boy, they get married, have a family, grow old togethe & live happily ever after. So i thought it was good that Ester showed to us that she wasn't going to put up with men, and how controlling they are. (like the control their boats, and cars.or boys are just power hungry.) Another example in this book of boys who like to eat power, is marco. I hate him. I really do agree with Ester and her "women-hater" aspect. What he did to her was wrong on so many levels. And why wasn't anyone there to see it? Weren't they at a public place? Weren't they just off to the side...or am i really confused? But i think what Ester did was smart, and shows why every woman should take a self- defense class, just like the girls from keeping up with the kardashians (which by the way, i don't really watch, I only watched that episode) But think about it, if you were out, and someoem was attacking you, could you really get away? Probably not. The next thing that I found about this book, someone else pointed out to me, and then i followed the common theme. (props to Josh) When Ester goes out and she drinks, she most of the time doesn't get what she wants. This shows that she is unhappy with her life, and that she can never accomplish goals, or even reach them. For example, her summer course that she wanted to take, she didn't like her vodka, so she didn't get to go. Also when Marco ordered her a daquri, she had no control, just like she had no control over what he was about to do to her. So really, her drinks oculd forshadow what was in her future.
Since its Thursdays, and I'm counting down the minutes until Grey's anatomy, I sort of feel like Ester is like Meredith. She is always pessamistic, and never lets anyone close to her in her life. She has majjooor trust issues, and has tried to be in a realtionship (that was on off) and it doesn't last. Just like Mer & Mcdream. After hte interns found out that Meredith was sleeping with Mcdreamy, or when the girls in Esters house found out she was going to prom at yale, they seemed to grow in popularity, and had more friends, trying to get into their life.
Well its 9:00, and Grey's is starting!

Mango part dos

This book has inspired me to be spanish for the day, even though I don't speak any spanish what so ever. (well besides the common words such as hola, adios..etc..) So the second half of the book was pretty good. I liked this book, so far out of the three..its probably 2. Sorry, but montana comes before it. The reason i like this book is becuase its a very easy read, but it left room for the reader to analyze and put their own personal expeirecnes, and point of view on topics in place. In the section "Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark," when Esperanza sympathizes with her Father for the first time after her Grandpa's death, it connected to my personal experience when last year around this time, My dad's best friend died, and I saw him upset for the first time in my life. It was an experience that I would never forget, just like Esperanza wouldn't. I thought it was really cute when Esperanza brought up Sire, and how he stared her down, and she tried not to look,but then she found out that he had a girl friend, lois, so that crushed her dreams of ever having any type of relationship with him. I think that her use of nature and comparing herself to the "skinny trees" shows that she is stuck where she is, and has no way of getting out until she dies. But that condradicts itself at the begging, and end of the bok (full circle endingg!) where she says that they didn't live at mango street forever, that they did live somehwere else, and that one day she was going to have her own home. The next couple of short chapters, Esperanza talks a lot about beauty, and the beautiful people in her appartment building. She talks about Rafaela, and she talks about Sally. Those two people do have different beauties though. Rafaela, is really pretty, and her husband locks her up when he goes out becuase he's afraid that she's going to escape. It also shows that people are really stuck not only at mango street, but in their own lifes. They have no where else to turn, and they can't express their real emotions, and personality traits becuase they are trapped inside these specific boudaries. Sally, which is the next section, talks about how this girl is really pretty becuase she wears a lot of makeup, and short skirts. Once again anoter high school, cookie-cutter, stereotype of a "pretty girl" I absolutlely hate this sterotype becuase I think people can be really pretty without wearing a lot of makeup, and wearing the shortest skirts. Now a days, people are too into the outside, and don't really get to know people on the inside, and that really buggss me, but whatever. Back to mangos. These few sections about the women show what Esperanza's fate is going to be if she stays on Mango street. This shows that she needs to leave, so she can persue her dreams and become a writer, but in order to do that, she must leave Mango street. Through the rest of the book Esperanza goes through what every teenage girl goes through. She feels she's unattractive, and that no one will every marry her. She talks about how she wants to be the damsal in distress (hmm...Catherine much?) and have every boy fall in love with her. I think this book hits many important subjects. It talks about stererotypes, and being yourself and not being able to change it. It talks about how many people are trapped inside themselves, and feel like they can't express themselves, becuase if they do they won't be accepted into the community, and it talks about more physical topics, like abusive parents, and rape, and death, many subjects that people do not like to talk, or even relise that it is happening to them. This book was pretty good..and I think that its going to definetly be on my list of favorites.
next book: The Bell Jar.

mmmmannngooo

I love this book. Its so easy to read, and by the short chapters, I feel like I'm getting so much accomplished, that I should keep reading more. (even though I'm half asleep, I need to keep reading.) So I'm a little past half of the book, so hopefully I'm not ruining anything for you guys, because I forget whats in what half, and I don't feel like getting my book. So I'll try my hardest not to give anything away thats too important. But I feel like there is no story actually taking place. I feel like theres no important plot that makes the story interesting, but at the same time its really good. It's not like Montana where you have a freaky Uncle, and people shooting guns, but it has a different type of energy, and glow. A common theme that I find through out the book, is that they don't like who they are. They are always trying to change who they are, or imagine their lives as someone different. From the start of the book, Esperanza talks about how she doesn't like her name. She can't stands it, and wants to be called something else. They also play games to change who they are. This whole theme makes me think of this song by the Jonas Brothers called "I am what I am" where they talk about being themselves, and no one can change it. Going back to the chapter about hair, I think that when they discribe their hair, its not only talking about their hair, but their personalitys that go with them. She also talks about the sky, and the coulds a lot. I think its saying that her life is calm, and peaceful, and everything is okay at the current moment. I feel that Esperanza is very steryotypical, and has no hope for people that are not her friends, or her neighbors. I also think that she is very nosy, and knows everyone. I'm not sure if this is half way either, but the character Ruthie, reminds me of Carla Tates from the movie The Other Sister. I feel that Ruthie is very against her mom, and is in her own world. The character Carla Tates, (a mentally challanged girl,) is in her own world, and through out the movie begins to move away from her mom, and Ruthie asks her mom permission, and then starts to make decisions on her own. But we only know her for one chapter..so that comparsion is really pointless. But i don't like how Esparenza has to give money to Rachel and Lucy to be her friend! thats terrible. She should have just stayed friends with Cathy. So overall, I think this book is pretty decent. Can't wait to finish it!
have fun everyone whose going away over break!

The awakening (or not)

I am so happy that this book is over. It was slow moving, and too dramatic. I think that Edna has a lot of family issues. She no longer spends time with her family, or children, and on the days that she would spend at home on Tuesdays, she no longer does. Also, she does not want to go to her sisters wedding (which I don't really understand? Its her own sister....) I think her turning into an artist, helps her to escape and to relax a little from her crazy world. Another reason why I think she paints is because she needs a confidence booster. She is always after people to compliment her. I feel she is very self-conscience, and needs someone to always be there telling her what a good job she is doing. One of the reasons why Edna is beginning to separate from Mr. P and the family is because he is never at home with her, and is always at the club, or on business trips. I think Edna needs the love and care like a little child does. She is constantly craving attention, by starting drama, or being depressed. When Mr. P leaves on his trip to New York, I think it finally hits Edna that she doesn't appreciate what she has, and doesn't see what she has until its all gone. Before Mr. P left for his trip, when they had the Dr. over, and he figured out that Edna was seeing someone else && that he said that he doesn't want to know anyone else secrets, it relates to Nannies today. (they were talking about it on the radio today, thats why I brought it up.) The Nannies in modern life don't want to know the secrets that are going on with the families they work with , because some times it can mess things up between the wife and the husband if something does get out, and no one wants to be the person to split up a wedding. But anyways, back to when Mr. P left, and Edna was home alone. When she was cleaning out the garden, and realizing what a great life she has, she was taking her life from a new aspect, and wanted change. So by cleaning out the garden, it showed the change that she is going through into a strong independent women. Of course she falls for Arobin, but than freaks out on him and leaves. I think the biggest thing that made Edna the independent person she is, is when she moves out. That was big for people in that time, and not many people did. By moving out, she claimed her own territory, and became someone she wanted to be.
I think the title of the book shows that she is waking herself up, and seeing that she is unhappy with the life that shes living. she can't be independent, and do what she wants to do. She is not happy when she is with her family, and have the burden of a family, and a husband. She need to be free, and I think thats why she likes the water so much. The water lets you be free, and have complete control over your body. You can just float away, and let reality leave. When I'm in the water, at swim practice, it is my escape from my life because at that time I can just let myself free, and not think about anything.
So happy this book is over =]