Final Blogger Reflection

Click here to view my best blog post.

 

My theme and summary post for Looking for Alaska was the best because it meets all the requirements, the theme is appilicable to other texts as well as life and it was well recieved in comments. The theme was that nothing will ever truely be gone. The requirements for the post are to determine a theme or central idea of atext and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text. In the post, I say, " Miles Halters who loses a dear friend (not saying who, how or why). So Miles and his friends have to cope with their disapearance. For most of the second half, Miles is very sad and at many points angry that his friend was gone mostly because of how he wanted questions answered that could only be answered by the person they could not find. But once Miles came to grips with his friend being gone was when the theme was realized." That meets that requirement. The theme (according to comments) was a touching theme worded well which is applicable to other texts which I point out about the end of Romeo and Juliet, or just applicable to life. 

 

My goals for next tri involving reading are to finish An Abundance of Katherines and read (or at least start reading) The Fault In Our Stars because I cannot read more than one or two books at a time. I want to read The Fault In Our Stars because 1) everyone says it is great 2) I really like the author and what I read of his and 3) it is being made into a movie and I want to read the book first. My goal for writing is to attempt to participate in NANOREMO (National Novel Writing Month) but I am almost certain I will not complete that task. But my trimester goal is to brainstorm and start writing a new novel or screenplay as a new project. My other goal with my writing is that I want it not to only be entertaining but helpful in others lives with relatable characters and situations.

Analysis of An Abundance of Katherines

"' Because of the whole genius thing...is nothing. That's just about wanting to be famous'
'No it's not. I want to matter' he said" (Green 11).

I think this is an interesting concept. Being famous and mattering seem like two different things to me but I can't put my finger on why. This is a problem that I (and many other people I presume) face. But is it just a euphemism for simple lust for fame. I think the arguement can go both ways. Collin goes to Gunshot, Tennesee to see the body of Archduke Franz Ferbinard. He meets a nice mother and daughter who give them jobs and housing. But Collin spends most of his time thinking about the most recent Katherine or battling the idea that he might just want to be famous. You can argue that they are the same thing that fame is a result of work that you have done that matters to people. And thats true. Many people revolutionized the world we live in like Albert Einstien or George Washington. But sometimes you either get one or the other. For example many people don't know who Martin Cooper is. But he invented the first version of an invention practically everyone has now (try to guess what he made and don't use google) and I think that mattering means someone who has found a way to positively impact your life or the human experience. The Kardashians are famous but they don't really do anything to positively impact society. From what I know, all they do is walk around, be rich and get divorced every once in a while. But they are well known...somehow.Sometimes the concept of fame confuses me. Should all people that matter be famous or do all famous people matter. What do you think makes someone famous and or matter? Do you think fame builds or destroys human culture and why? These aren't retorical questions and I would like to wrap up with this: fame and mattering is all about perspective. Someone can matter and/or be famous to a lot of people but not everyone.

New Book!

After reading Looking for Alaska, I grew an apreciation for John Green as not only a youtuber and a human being but now as a writer. So I started reading An Abundance of Katherines, his second novel. Everyone tells me to read The Fault in Our Stars (which I will read once I read this and maybe some of his other books). That got me wondering what made his books so good? As a child I loved the concept of magic, I would always pretend that I was a wizard because it is protrayed that there is a spell for everything in the universe of Harry Potter for example (which again, I still have to read. So contrasts between Green's work and Harry Potter will be based on the movies. Sorry) but I digress. Harry Potter is so imaginative in the universe it creates but I couldn't find the main conflict relatable. But that doesn't mean it isn't a compelling conflict. One of the goals I find in liturature is basically why we look for theme statements. When characters are put in relatable situations, we turn to them to see how they handled it. In An Abundance of Katherines, the main character Collin is a child protegy who has only dated girls named Katherine and has been dumped by a Katherine 19 times. But his main struggle in the beginning of the book is not his relationship problems (as much) but how he wants to matter. I can relate to that. So in conclusion books can serve as guides, warnings or just an escape from this world to enter another.

Wrapping up Looking for Alaska

I have just finished Looking for Alaska and FRENCH THE LLAMA it was awesome! (Comment below if you got the refference). So I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. The climax was somewhat predictable but it was still impactful. But what I thought was really well done was how the protagonist didn't have the same reactions to the climax throughout the book. It wasn't just sadness; it was anger, curiousity, happiness and at one point they said they felt pure. It followed the thoughts of the speaker very well and I could relate very much to some of the lines (to the point where I almost wanted to highlight my book). Check it out if you ever get a chance and what book should I read next if you have any suggestions.

A final word to the John Green fans out there (and everyone for that matter)
DFTBA

Theme and Summary of Looking for Alaska

The book Looking for Alaska is about a boy named Miles Halters who loses a dear friend (not saying who, how or why). So Miles and his friends have to cope with their disapearance. For most of the second half, Miles is very sad and at many points angry that his friend was gone mostly because of how he wanted questions answered that could only be answered by the person they could not find. But once Miles came to grips with his friend being gone was when the theme was realized. Even if something is lost to the naked eye, almost nothing is ever completely gone. Miles wrote in his final paper that, "Those awful things are survivalable, because we are as indestructable as we believe ourselves to be" (Green 220). Miles also mentions in the paper that energy is never created or destroyed. It only changes shape, size, etc. People (including myself) that in story telling (but mostly TV) characters never actually stay dead. This is more of a literal sense but in writing that is very true in a deeper meaning. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide which eventually results in the families making up. In conclusion whatever you may have lost, may it be as insignificant as your pencil, or as meaningful as a loved one. Nothing will ever truely be gone.

Looking for Alaska tone and mood.
The tone of Looking for Alaska changes as does the mood (this isn't necesarily spoilers but Alaska is a pretty moody character). Sometimes the tone is sweet and innocent, like when Alaska and Miles have their first conversation. So the mood is happy and optimistic. Sometimes the tone is for a "more adult pg-13 esc" and that makes the mood uncomfortable. I believe the mood/tone of the book always depends on the mood Alaska is in because she is the main subject/focus of the story.  The Colonel convinced Miles to take up smoking unintentionally because he was going to smoke anyway and it is apart of his lifestyle.Miles said, "The Colonel neglected to ask whether 4. I smoked, which 5. I didn't" (Green 14). But since he is trying to fit in and he just met Alaska (who he is obsessed with) it didn't take much to get him to start. He is not a good role model, what makes this absolutely halairous is his justification of his actions was three words, "when in Rome..."(Green 16) the only tone picked up from the Colonel is casual but the mood is awkward because the reader and Miles are trying to adjust to his lifestyle. But as Miles says, "when in Rome..." (Green 16) apparently it is ok going against your personal beliefs.

5 links about Looking for Alaska





The Author of Looking for Alaska is a youtuber so here are some of the videos he posted about the book
this link will bring you to a video about the setting of Looking for Alaska and the author's experience at his high school

The book is about a character named Miles who memorizes the last words of many famous people. These are 50 famous people's last words

These are the last words of every (deceased) president.
                                                                                                                                            www.helensbookblog.com 
                                                                                                                    

www.npr.org 

Looking for Alaska
In Looking for Alaska, Alaska has this large stack of books she wants to read when she is "old and boring" but a bunch of "weekday warriors" (as they are called) ruined them. I can understand someone getting angry if the books were heirlooms but she just found these books at garage sales and such. Not only that but she hasn't even read them. But this also shows people's connection to material items. I've seen people flip out when their Iphones touch the ground. I am no exception. I hate it when people take my stuff (and get extremely frusturated when people ruin my stuff) but why? it's replacable. This can also be related to the friend moving away. When the thought of your stuff possibly being ruined, you would have to adjust to a life without it is very difficult. Continue the conversation in comments.

Reading Skills for Looking for Alaska
Looking for Alaska is about two characters complex relationship between the two main characters: Alaska and Miles. The book discussing how much Miles cares for Alaska will (from what I predict) will show how much Miles can suffer the loss of someone he cares about. That is meerly based on the title, but I wonder: how this will be protrayed? Also how will Green show the suffering Miles goes through to a point where it is real emotions about fictional characters? But I have realized that is easier that I think it is due to all the "team Edward" and "team Jacob" but is that only when there is a relationship on the line or is it when character is fully developed when characters are sympathized for. I can relate this to the TV series Doctor Who when the Doctor loses Rose and is unable to get her back. But in reality it relates to when friends say they are moving away you realize how much they mean to you predicting what life will be like without them.

Last words continued
 A lot of people who responded to my last post said, "you can tell a lot about someone by there last words." What kind of things do you think are learned in last words? Or at least what should be learned? Also I have been thinking about death bed confessions. Do you think they are important? And if so, why are they important? Do you think it's more important for the person dying or the person recieving the information? These aren't retorical (like all of my questions) answer in comments!

Book Recomendation for Looking for Alaska

This book is about a boy named Miles Halters going to a boarding school in Alabama. Miles meets many interesting people including his roomate Chip (the Colonel), Takumi, and the girl of his dreams Alaska. Watch as they go through school dealing with different issues and situations in their lives. I really enjoy this story because the people seem real to me. The short stories are interesting and compelling but not out of the ordinary. Some issues are smaller like going to a basketball game for the first time at his new school and some are more pressing like tensions between characters before Miles gets there. But when I am reading I have a hard time getting into the story due to the boring exposition. That stuff is all exposition and its phenominal. I await the climax and I suggest you check it out.

In the book Looking for Alaska the main character Miles memorizes the last words of famous (and not to mention deseased) individuals. I find this very interesting. Just the thought of last words in general. Does one plan their last words or is it the heat of the moment decision? Are the last words recognized with the words they said or the person themself. Do they have to mean something? Marie Antionette, the queen of France and Austria, wanted important last words but ended up being, "I beg your pardon" when she stepped on her executors foot. None of the questions above were retorical so answer any of the questions above. And If you can, find a dead famous person, what they did/who they were, last words and state what their last words mean to you.

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States were, "I have tried so hard to do it right"

Analysis of Looking for Alaska

In Looking for Alaska,  the format of the first half is in the form of short stories divided by day. But the two halves are divided before and after implying that this is still technically exposition or rising action. At the moment the stories (which are interesting by the way) look for the most part unrelated unless on the rare occasion one of the stories of the previous day is brought up again. I think this could result in one of two ways. 1: all of the stories could just be unrelated exposition to get a feel for the characters. As un eventful as that sounds that's apart of life. Everything might happen for a reason but not everything has to do with everything else in your life. For example, your fifth birthday will not be important to you during your midlife crisis. or 2: maybe all of the stories will tie in after the event that happens that kicks off the second half of the story. Maybe not major ways but maybe following the train of thought of our protagonist and narrator, Miles. This rises the question, "what is happening to call the second half 'after'?" I don't know. But based on the title Looking for Alaska and Alaska being one of the main characters I believe that there is a good chance Miles, the Colonel and possibly Takumi will have to go find her. When the group is just sitting together smoking cigarettes Miles asks, "'Why do you smoke so... fast'... She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas case and said, 'Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die'" (Green 44)  If this is the case, her motives for getting lost are unclear and I feel there is a good chance it will be for most of the book because going off the back cover, it descirbes Alaska as, " The gorgeous, clever, funny...self-destructed, screwed up and utterly facinating Alaska Young" (Green). And Miles even said, "' Sometimes, I don't get you' ... She just smiled towards the tv and said, 'You never get me. That's the whole point" (Green 54). But not only is Alaska unpredictable, everyone is. You never know how someone is going to react to something because you only have the concievable power to use your own mind. But no matter how it ends, I am just happy it is not a mere page story about how to find the state of Alaska in a map.

Setting of Looking For Alaska Looking for Alaska's main character Miles moves from Florida to Alabama. The primary change Miles discusses when moving from Florida to Alabama is the different type of heat "Florida was plenty hot...that did not prepare me for the unique sort of heat from Birmingham, Alabama" (Green 6). Another primary change Miles undergoes in Alabama is the people he hangs out with. In the first chapter only two people showed up to his going away party. He expected this and replied to the reader, "The only thing worse than having a party that no one attends is having a party attended by 2, vastly uninterresting, people" (Green 4).

Characters in Looking For Alaska In the novel Looking for Alaska, the characters aren't the best role models but they seem like actual people. For example: Alaska, One of the main characters, is how Miles and Chip get cigarettes. And Miles, who narrates the story and eventually ends up falling in love with Alaska, doesn't automatically fall in love with Alaska; he spends the next page talking about how pretty Alaska is. And Alaska doesn't fall for him; she kind of flirts with him but constantly reminds Miles whenever something is about to happen that she has a boyfriend. The other enjoyable things about the characters is they all have little quirks. Miles memorizes the last words of famous people, Alaska has a really large stack of books she is planning on reading when she is "old and boring", and Chip can name all the countries in world on a map. But the way that the characters act as a group seems very real to me. Most of them have nicknames like Chip is the Colonel and Miles is Pudge but their conversations are really convincing. "'Anyway' Alaska said 'I thought the way he treated you was awful. I wanted to cry. I just wanted to kiss you and make it all better' 'Shame you didn't' I deadpanned and they laughed. 'You're adorable' she said, and I felt the intensity of her eyes on me and looked away nervously. 'Too bad I love my boyfriend.' I stared at the knotted roots of the tree on the creek bank, trying hard not to look like I've just been called adorable" (Green 43).

In the book Robopocalypse the central theme is a warning not to "play god" because at some point things will get out of hand. The book starts deep into the war and then the first fifth is told in flashbacks taking form of transcripts, security footage, etc. the first civilian attack happens in chapter 2 Jeff Thompson, a worker at a fast food gas station in Oklahoma, is encountered by a type of android called a "Big Smiley" during his shift. So his coworker Felipe have to defend themselves from the robot. This is a good example of the theme because the first quote of the chapter says, "It looks me right in the eyes man. And I can tell it's ... thinking. Like it's alive. And p***ed off" (Wilson 21).  It showed how innovation can go too far and how controlling everything can come back to bite us.

If you click here it will bring you to a review of the book. The review states that "Robopocalypse wants so badly to be World War Z (by Max Brooks) with evil robots that it's disappointing when it doesn't capture the book's best aspects" (VanDerWerff)  but I still recommend it.

this code leads to the book trailer
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