Blog Post #3

Engaging with difficult, uncomfortable thoughts and experiences is the only route to true happiness. Lydia Meredith, Lindsey Learned, Alex Gao, Natalee Jobert, Mariana Vinseiro: Bell 7 Timeline of the Development of Theme: Montag Montag Montag’s house Granger tells The group meets witnesses a is burned due Montag his leaves to Clarisse woman die to the books plan for society rebuild society Montag and Montag begins Montag meets Montag and the Mildred grow to secretly read Granger and a men watch the distant group of men city blow up Three Quotes: Beginning: Montag’s unhappy Middle: Montag engages in difficult thoughts End: Montag is more happy Montag is living in a society full of censorship, hardship, and tragedy. Montag doesn’t question society and enjoys his job to burn houses. When a girl name Clarisse questions his marriage, job and life in general he realizes he’s unhappy. We chose this quote to show how Clarisse had effected Montag, and how Montag wasn’t happy. Montag begins to question society and wants to change the rules regarding books. Montag doesn’t wants to be a fireman and doesn’t want to burn books. This is an example of Montag beginning to go against society. This is the main conflict throughout the book. We chose this quote to show how Montag is beginning to think that books are important and he wants other people to know. Montag joins a group of men who enjoy reading and want to change society. Montag and the group watch the destruction of the city. They plan to memorize books and eventually when society is rebuilt they will rewrite the books. We chose this quote because it shows how Montag is doing better and is already beginning to move on from the evil society. “He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back.” (Bradbury 9) “This afternoon I thought that if it turned out that books were worthwhile, we might get a press and print some extra copies” (Bradbury 81) “Perhaps later in the morning, when the sun was up and had warmed them they would begin to talk, or just say things they remembered, to be sure they were there, to be absolutely certain things were safe in them.”(Bradbury 157) The Theme is important to understanding the story because the theme shows how Montage has been able to change from being sad to happy by going against society. It is important to understand the theme because it shows that you need to confront your fears/concerns in order to be happy.

About the Author: Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich, the author of the current novel I'm reading, titled "One for the Money". This is the first book in the Stephanie Plum series. Janet Evanovich (formally Janet Schneider) was born on April 22nd, 1943. Her Stephanie Plum novels are her most best selling novers, and have made it on the New York Times and also the Amazon bestseller lists. She was also the first in her family to attend college; where she decided to attend Douglass College. When she first started her career, she went straight into writing romance novels, where she went under the pseudonym "Steffie Hall". Her first Stephanie Plum novel "One for the Money" was released as a movie starring Katherine Heigl in January 2012. Janet has 2 kids, a son and a daughter. They are both grown and work at their mother's business- "Evanovich, Inc.". Her daughter work the web and the technological sites, while her son works the financial side of the business. Her online business consists of contact information as well as fan merchandise, ranging from hats and t-shirts to survival packs created from and based on her Stephanie Plum novels. Her fanbase is focused on her most popular Stephanie Plum novels, which are myterey genre novels, about Plum going from a small town lingerie seller to a bounty hunter when she reaches rock bottom. Despite her lack of money, she meets many amazing and helpful people along the way, including the target of her occupation- Joe Morelli. Joe was her neighbor growing up, and was also the danger of the neighborhood: adults always telling Stephanie to stay away from him, and never get one-to-one with him. Yet Stephanie was very curious as to why every adult would tell her to stay away from Morelli. She had a few incidents where her curiosity got the best of her and he took advantage of her, and also periodically screwed up her life while permanently altering her perspective of society. Now, as a bounty hunter, she is more determined than ever to get her revenge on Morelli. "One for the Money" pdf (Chapter 1)- www.evanovich.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/01Chapter1.pdf Evanovich, Inc.- www.evanovich.com One of Evanovich's Interviews- http://www.cbsnews.com/news/janet-evanovich-talks-the-heist-teaming-up-with-tv-writer-lee-goldberg/

After reading Act 1, Scene 5, I do not believe that Romeo and Juliet are in love. I don't think there is such thing as love at first sight, like when the two saw eachother at the Capulet party. During this party, they saw eachother from across the room and imediately started engaing in a conversation. The nurse states, "His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy." This quote shows the reader that Romeo is forbidden to Juliet, since their families are enemies. By stating this, I believe that they want to be in a relationship more because of the fact that they would be star-crossed lovers. Their parents would not approve, which will make them more eager and rebellious to keep the relationship going. Even though Romeo and Rosaline were from different families, this relationship is different because Juliet likes Romeo back, and they both want to be part of a relationship. But, because of the complication being that their families are constantly feuding, this makes them want to be defiant against their families. I believe this is more debatable than simply stating it was love at first sight.

Book 4 Reflection

Shelby, the main character in Steel Magnolias, is a very likable character in the book/play because of many different reasons. Even Weezer, the old and snappy woman of the town, enjoys Shelby’s presence and tolerates everyone else in the small town. Shelby has quirks that set her off from everyone else that also makes her more interesting and likeable. 1. Shelby has diabetes and other sicknesses Her friends and family have known this, and have tried to make Shelby’s life as fun and care-free as possible. She has had diabetes her whole life, as long as a couple of other illnesses that aren’t as severe. Shelby’s family has dealt with the many life-threatening experiences Shelby has gone through, and this may be one of the reasons she is so likeable- everyone knows Shelby could come to a life-or-death situation, so they make sure to cherish every moment spent with her. 2. Shelby has a favorable mother Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn, has lived in the small town they still live in today. M’Lynn is a hardworking and caring person, and that’s one of the reasons her presence is still enjoyed. When the townspeople found out M’Lynn was pregnant with a girl, they were all very excited to know that Shelby would turn out just like her mother. Even though M’Lynn can get on Shelby’s nerves and annoy her, Shelby knows she does the same thing to her mother and has to accept their similarities. 3. Shelby is favorable Just like her mother, Shelby does things around the town that are helpful to many people. First of all, her father and brothers always shoot at birds chirping in the trees, which causes a ruckus of screams, dog barking, and words of annoyance. Shelby also gets fed up as well as her mother. When her father isn’t around, Shelby would find and hide her father’s pistol where he can’t find it. She especially did this because it was the day of her wedding reception, and didn’t want it to be a disaster. 4. Shelby is engaged As well as her family, friends, and neighbors, Shelby has a soon to be husband, Jackson. They are both deeply in love with each other, and are anxious to be married. Jackson is also aware of Shelby’s illnesses, and is why he does the best to keep her safe. All of Shelby’s friends and family also accept Jackson to be her husband, and are also anxious to know that Shelby will get to spend the rest of her lifetime with the man she loves. 5. Shelby ends up passing away As much as this was expected because of the many illnesses Shelby has had since she was young, it came to a surprise for many people to know that Shelby would pass away so early. Everyone also felt sympathetic for Jackson Jr, Shelby and Jackson’s son, to know that he would have to grow up without the support of his mother by his side. It will be hard to move on from this loss, but they know that Shelby would rather have them carrying on with the rest of their lives instead of mourning over her loss. Even though everyone would do anything to have Shelby back, they accept that the things they can’t control and continue their daily lives. They all cherished the days spent with Shelby, and still have memories spent with her so they can one day tell her son how much of a successful and beautiful person she was.

9. Book 2 trailer

8. Book Talk presentation

Book 3 Listicle

Charlie is a very laid back and care free character in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He doesn't have many friends, except for a few close ones. This may be one of the reasons he writes in his journal every day after school.

 1. Charlie has a limited amount of friends

 Even though he doesn't have the best social life, that doesn't stop Charlie from living a happy and successful life. He writes in his journal about the few friends he has come across during his high school career, during football games, and social events. He’s not the type to hang out with friends over the weekend or after school, and he would choose to do school work over things like that.

2. Charlie has a lot of time

He did many sports as a kid, but the coaches and doctors made him quit, because they made him too aggressive. Even though he was good at the many sports he played, it still wasn’t worth it to influence his character and personality. Now, Charlie has a lot of time on his hands and that makes even more time for him to write about the events and thoughts he has had throughout that day.

3. Charlie is a “good kid”

Instead of partying and  hanging out with his friends on Saturday nights, Charlie would much rather stay home and write rather than going to parties where he could risk getting in contact with drugs and/or alcohol. He is a very motivated and perseverant student, and wouldn’t want to use any of those that would lead him in the wrong path. “I usually walk home from school because it makes me feel like I’ve earned it.” (pg.25). Other students are probably getting together after school, while Charlie is walking home, anxious to get home and write in his journal.

4. He wants to be an author

Charlie is perpetually asking for extra credit and work opportunities. His English teacher helps him with that, and supplies him with more books and essays to type. Allowing this, Charlie’s teachers recommend writing opportunities for him, so he could possibly become an author and hopefully get into a college that encourages Charlie to continue writing and become an author. Aside all of the work and essays his teacher gives him, Charlie writes in his journal about his daily events.

5. Charlie enjoys writing

Charlie is in many excelled classes in school. Even though his siblings are in mostly standard classes, Charlie takes the opportunity to enroll in accelerated classes. It’s not because his parents make him, but because he enjoys writing and most class experiences to get him where he is today. Since he enjoys his classes so much, he incorporates this into his home life, where he takes the time to sit down and write about his recent experiences.

All of these reasons prove why Charlie isn’t like most kids, and how he utilizes his life to eventually become a successful author and not letting other kids influence his life. He is happy with the few friends he has in his life, because they are true friends and he would rather have a few true friends than many fake ones. Charlie is a successful student and will continue to live a successful life. He might even write in his journal about his later encounters in life.