Circe Wordle by Hunter Mathis

Evan Moore - Circe

Circi word cloud By Ellis

Sack of Winds Wordle

The Sack of Winds

Circe

Michael Aronson

Cyclops

Circe

Cyclopse

Listening and Reflecting

What did I enjoy about listening to this story?

I enjoyed listening to the reader's tone of voice and how he seemed to bring the story to a different level. It felt as though I was listening to a play, rather than an audiobook, and the man's voice had such strong emotion throughout the story, such as his "singing/storytelling" during The Stranger.

What frustrates you about listening to the book rather than reading it.

I have always preferred reading a book over listening to it, even when I was really young and teacher would read stories aloud to the class. I like seeing the words in front of me, having something substantial in my hands as I watch the story come to life in my head. The act of reading a book  is much different from listening to it. If I get distracted, stop paying attention to the story, the one sentence continue to play through my head until I start to focus again. However, by listening to the audiobook, there are so many possible distractions that would keep me from understanding the novel, and understanding it in a deeper way.

Listening to the Odyssey

What did you enjoy about listening to the story?

While I was listening to the story I enjoyed the expression that the reader used In his voice because it helped to paint a picture in my mind about what was happening in the book at that moment. I also enjoyed listening to the different voices the reader uses when introducing new characters.

What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it?

While I was listening to the story I disliked the inability to reread a passage if I felt as if I had missed something. Instead I have to go to the webpage and approximate the spot in the passage to where I need to rewind and I was often wrong. I also found that it was harder to focus on what the reader was saying than it is for me to read from the pages of a book.

Listening Vs Reading

1. What did you enjoy about listening to this story? 

It was more immersive that just reading, the persons voice was very interesting. It got me more involved in the story. It also is easier on the eyes, i get headaches after reading for too long. 
2. What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it?

It's harder to go back and look at something, say, you missed what he said a moment ago, it's harder to pinpoint the spot he was talking at. It's also harder to keep focused, i feel like if I'm not physically doing something (holding book, flipping pages, etc.) I'll just wander off and zone out.

Listening

What did I enjoy about listening to this story? What I thought I enjoyed most about listening to the story was probably being able to listen to how the story teller reads the story and his accent. I also like the fact that I never really get to listen to a book since I always read it, so I thought it was good to try something new. What I found challenging was that it is easier for me to comprehend a book when I am looking at the words while i'm reading it instead of just listening to the book.

Listening process

Some things that I enjoyed about listening to the story were that I could picture things better in my head without having to focus on reading the actual book.

Some things that I didn't like about listening to the story rather than reading it was that the narrator read much slower than what I was used to. There were points where I was wanting to look up what happened just because he was so slow. I also felt that at some points, I couldn't get focused on the story.

Listening Process

What did you enjoy about listening to the story?
The reader's tone and voice allowed me to have a greater imagination and visualize the characters as being ancient and greek.  The added sound affects in the beginning and his accent gave the impression that I was listening to a performance or a play rather than just text on a page, which was a unique experience and way of viewing the story.

What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it?
If I missed a part or wanted to reread something, I couldn't just look back at the page, which I found frustrating. In addition to this, I like to highlight and write notes in books to help me study and understand the story, however I wasn't able to do this listening to The Odyssey. It was also easier to become distracted.

What did you enjoy about listening to this story?
I enjoyed learning about the background behind the war and what happened with the three goddesses and the theory of how the war started.

What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it?
What was frustrating about the reading was not having any visuals to guide you through the story because you can get lost for certain parts. 

1. What did you enjoy about listening to this story? I liked how its easier to understand the vocabulary in the book when someones saying it out loud rather than figuring it out in your head when you are reading.
2. What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it? I was frustrated how It is so easy to loose when you track of where you are in the book while your listening.

Reflecting on my listening process

What did you enjoy about listening to this story? What I enjoyed about listening to this story was the enthusiasm and tone the reader gives while telling it, it really helps to picture what is happening.

What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it? Something that frustrates me is not being able to see the text of the book because then I feel like I can't follow along as well and I could get distracted easily.

1. What did you enjoy about listening to this story? 

About the content: Although I heard part of the story before, I enjoy listening to the record, and I have new point of view about the story. Before, I just knew that Odysseus was a intelligent and brilliant hero, who helped Greek win the triumph. However , after listening to the story, I learnt that instead of a hero, Odysseus was a miserable husband and father. He was compelled to leave his lovely wife and son, who was so young. He have suffered from countless mental painful during his glorious journey. Simply put, after listening to the record, I know a realer and more emotive Odysseus.

About the speaker: I think the speaker is pretty good. He has very emotive tone, which made me resonate when he was telling the miserable life of Odysseus. In addition, I love his speaking pace, which was slow and smooth and made me really comfortable.
2. What frustrates you about listening to a story rather than reading it?

One thing that annoyed me is the speed of the speaker, which also make me enjoy it. Comparing to read the book, the slow speed kind of make me boring. Another frustrating thing is that though the speaker have really emotive tone, the tone also restricted my imagination. When I am reading a book, I will envision the features and the tone of characters. However, when I was listening to the record, the speaker voice stifled my imagination.

Steve Howard

English 3 B

9/18/15

1. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook because it made the story easier to understand and helps me stay on track while reading.
2. The only thing that frustrates me about audiobooks is that you can have technical difficulties and they do not work all the time.

The Glass Castle, A story of Jeanette Walls

The memoir The Glass Castle is an incredible memoir. I believe this because of how she didn't hide anything, even though it may have been personal. She also told her life story more like a fiction book than an autobiography, throwing in humor, and constructed her story well.
I liked how in The Glass Castle, Jeanette didn't hide anything from her childhood. An example of this was the story of how she was basically raped by a boy in her town. Many women are extremely uncomfortable sharing their stories similar to what Jeanette went through, however when she put it in her story, it only helped you understand how different her life was than most.
Another reason The Glass castle is a good memoir is because of how the author made her story funny, interesting, or even suspenseful at parts. Much of the time, when reading an autobiography, elements like suspense or action aren't usually expected, however when I came across a moment where the author included some humor, it only added to the story.
Lastly, the author structured her story really well. The way that she told her story from a first person perspective and included stories about not only her but her parents and sisters. When she talked about moving around she would include stories about how the people around her acted and how they influenced her throughout her life.
The memoir The Glass Castle is great because of how Jeanette Walls didn't hide anything from her life, how she made her story sound almost like fiction, and how she constructed her story. 

CoW

Ellis Winfree

        Imagine finding out you were not the same as the people around you. Would you care, when everyone that looks normal turns around and stares with those eyes, eyes that pierce soul, would you hesitate. We all react different in certain situations or challenges but we always find a way to overcome that intervention. And sometimes that may include escaping the situation. The point of reaction to situation, and its intriguing desire to pull in the reader so that we can almost experience the situations that are displayed to us are the reasons why i loved the book.

         Now I love parts on books when the character gets into a certain situation and has to find a way to overcome the problem. What this allows me to do is replay the situation in my head and play out how I might go about it. I feel this helps us as a reader because it gives a deeper understanding of the characters decision. After comprehending the decision we may decide whether their decisions were reasonable or if what they did will screw them over. This is one thing that CoW did well it gave us problems and solutions to think about.

         In terms of pulling the reader the author told the rabbi's story so well and used it to get the reader to to understand his situation and struggles.  I feel it a more creative way to show of personal experience through another story. It just doesn't tell another person's story but it also reminds us that other people have similar problems and experiences to. It helps us be more surrounding of the activity and actions of people all around us and that is what i feel really had this story going.

         Lastly i would like to touch on the way the construction of the book. From the visual settings and the dialog the story kept its readers intrigued. These factors made it a great read. It just wasn't some story when a girl runs away but a gateway telling a strong story as a tribute.

         In my opinion CoW was a great read. It had me intrigued all the way through, and it alway kept thinking an on my toes. This is why I felt it was a strong read. There is was always a lot to take in but once you fully understand what you read you can comprehend all its little details.

     Steve Howard

           English 3 B                                                                                                                             

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a great memoir. In some people's eyes the author might be blaming other people or trying to be a victim, but instead he is telling an amazing story about his past and the bone crushing reality that is his people. Sherman Alexie finds a way to not only talk about his sorrows but how they shaped him and led him to new places. Alexie wants his readers to be able to take away that no matter what situation you're in you can always find a way out and find a way to a better future. In Alexie's memoir he finds a way to create a well constructed story out of a unconstructed life. He uses both art and craft to tie his interesting life together in a way where the readers can feel pain but still learn lessons and morals. In the end, Sherman Alexie wrote a fantastic memoir that gave readers a real and absolutely true look inside his life and what kind of reality he faced as a kid. Even though some parts showed themselves as tragic and sad, each event or moment shaped Alexie into the person he is today.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir

The Glass Castle, written by Jeanette Walls, was a great memoir because it was well constructed, honest, and it allowed the reader to gain a sense of the experiences she went through during her life, and how her life was shaped because of them.

The Glass Castle was very well constructed throughout the book. The events in the book were put into a chronological order, starting from when she was was very young to her adulthood. However, throughout the book Jeanette was able to weave brief, interesting memories or events, either past or future, into her story, enhancing the plot line and engaging the reader more. The first page of her story is an event that happened a couple of decades before the description of her earliest memory, and her whole childhood. This story, on page 3, is well placed, triggering the reader’s interest as she describes her shame about her parents, and gives the reader the sense of what the problem was during her childhood, such as her parents. It makes the reader want to continue, and read through her childhood to learn what her specific situation was.

Jeanette wrote The Glass Castle very honestly. She did not write it for the purpose of complaining about how difficult her childhood was. She did not exaggerate her situation to make it seem worse, nor did she whine and blame all of her situations on her parents. In fact, throughout the story, she wrote of how she cared for her mother, and her deep admiration for her father. She did not make her entire life seem desolate and hopeless as one might expect. Instead, along with the difficulties, she described the positive aspects of her experiences. She described many experiences that seemed fun, at the time, such as exploring the desert and the “adventures” she would take with her family as they hopped from town to town. She wrote the story to convey to the reader that, even if she was in an extremely bad situation, it can get better if she tried hard enough and is determined.

Jeanette describes how the experiences she went through, both good and bad, shaped her. Throughout the story, from being a child to growing into adulthood, Jeanette’s perspective grows and changes. Her experiences and the hardships that she went through shaped her and encouraged her to work hard and lead a successful life. A prime example is how she didn’t let herself fall into the same hardships her parents did, such as poverty, crime, alcoholism, and more. Instead, she took the her knowledge of how bad those situations could become, and worked hard to not encounter them in adulthood.

All-in-all, The Glass Castle, written by Jeanette Walls, was a very well written memoir. It was well constructed, in both thought and writing, along with its being honest and demonstrating her growth throughout the book and how her experiences shaped her.

- Talitha Holcombe

The Color Of Water

The Color of Water is a good memoir because the author, James McBride, describes his life in vivid detail about the unique situation he grew up in. As an African American child growing up in the 1960’s he was exposed to various levels of racism, prejudice, and judgement. Though this book does consist of topics of hate such as racism, you never get the sense that McBride has any feelings of reprisal or wants the reader to feel contrite because of what he has experienced. His mother also contributes to the novel sharing many of her darker stories which I consider being borderline bad memoir topics but explains them in a way that you get the sense she is not looking for people to feel sorry for her. Throughout the novel McBride and his mother shared the lessons they learned, questions he has asked, and experiences they have gone through to help piece together his story and thus, making it a good memoir.

The protagonist and author of The Color of Water clearly had an uncommon upbringing which consisted of his two fathers (after one died and his mother remarried), eleven African American siblings, and a white mother. He spent a lot of time throughout the book contemplating whether he was part of the white or black community. He had a different view of each race as he shares his description of his father “Whatever he believed, he believed. It didn’t matter to him whether it was really true or not. He just changed the truth till it fit him. He was a real white man.” He described his story throughout the book not as a depressed child lost and not knowing where to turn but rather as a curious boy trying to experience as much as he could to help him figure out who he is. His mother also had trouble figuring out who she was at his age. She resented her father for treating her mother so poorly and looked for someone that would respect her views. With her search she found the open minded African American community throughout her life. “...in fact that’s what I liked about black folks all my life: They never judged me. My black friends never asked me how much money I made, or what school my children went to, or anything like that. They just said, “Come as you are.” Blacks have always been peaceful and trusting.” Like his mother,  McBride wanted that sense of belonging. To try to find answers he would ask questions to mainly his mother and siblings all of which who would give him a vague answer. “I asked her if I was black or white. She replied ‘You are a human being. Educate yourself or you'll be a nobody!’” Though he was confused, he never stopped asking those questions and searching for answers in a way that kept the reader from getting the sense he felt sorry for himself, but rather that he was open to new ideas and concepts.

McBride, as well as his mother, also shared many of the mistakes and lessons they both have experienced personally and witnessed from others. He explains this in a way that neither exploits nor shows any sign of retribution towards another person except for one instance on the mother's behalf. This instance consisted when the mother was a young child and the father acted on her in an inappropriate manner. This shows what a repulsive human being this man was and in my opinion McBride’s mother Ruth has every right to resent him for being such a sick person. Besides this rare event the rest of the book shows both mother and son taking full responsibility for their actions and trying to learn from them which is another sign of a good memoir. For example, when Ruth was pregnant with her African American boyfriend, Peter’s child she never tried to place the blame on anyone else. “What a fool I was to believe we could get away with it!... ‘We are lucky no white folks knew about us’ I was sure no one knew.’”  This shows how she never tried to pin the blame on Peter or anyone else and took responsibility for her own actions. This is a major part of a good memoir.

Throughout the book both Ruth and James share many of their experiences good and bad with the reader. Most of the time the anecdotes shared involve an experience consisting of a time where the objective that was thought to be the right thing to do at the time turns out to be completely the opposite. Take, for instance, when young James McBride became disarranged and he began flunking most of his classes. “...while I had been a good student in ninth grade, the following year I more or less dropped out. I failed everything. I left home in the mornings and simply didn’t go to school.” Later he admits that the choices he thought were the best decisions then were the wrong ones looking back. Though he does acknowledge and regret his decisions  he does not dwell on them which always is a big component of a good memoir.

The memoir The Color of Water is a good memoir because it contains the proper elements such as honesty, integrity, humility, and modesty. These traits of James McBride’s book show that it is in fact a well written memoir. As I read this book I rarely, except for a few times, felt any feelings of hostility towards any of the characters in the novel. If anything this shows that his mother and McBride have both learned from their past and have a better sense of who they are today.

The Color of Water

The Color of Water is good memoir because of its careful construction, blatant honesty, and the author's journey of understanding who he truly is.

    "It took me 14 years to unearth her remarkable story"(pg. xix). James McBride, the author, claims this fact before the novel begins, showing how much craftsmanship went into his work. He spent years talking to his mother in intervals, entering her childhood and memories. Traveling back to Virginia, tracking down necessary people, and investigating records were all part of the process that allowed this book to become a well-constructed memoir. All of this research let The Color of Water be a full, complete memoir. There were no details left out or holes in the story. In addition to all of his research, James McBride created a powerful work of carpentry because he used two viewpoints. Amidst his mother's tale, we find James's own childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This lets us hear, word for word, what Ruth's upbringing was like, allowing us to make connections and have background on her while reading James's story. This unique way of organizing is beneficial to the reader as there are two perspectives.

    There is no beating around the bush when James and Ruth describe their life. They tell everything exactly how it happened, what they felt, and why, even though it may cause a reader to look upon them with shame. For example, both are truthful when revealing that they were ashamed of their mothers at times. Individually, James describes his struggle with drugs, shoplifting, and dropping out of high school as they happened. Similarly, Ruth honestly describes how she was treated in her childhood by her parents, specifically her father. She tells us how she was abused by him, without going into exaggerated details. Ruth describes this not to make us feel pity for her, rather to tell James her past and move on. She is also equally honest saying that it wasn't all traumatizing memories, there were happy ones as well, such as Passover. James and Ruth are honest so that they can explain their story, forgive, and move on, instead of making the reader view them as victims. This sincerity allows us to fully grasp the story and appreciate the character's grapple even more.

    James comes to the conclusion of who he is and the secrets his heritage holds by the end of the novel, satisfying not only him but us readers as well. We have traveled through his and Ruth's life,experiencing their pain and joy, and are content that James has arrived at the truth of his identity. He has learned of his mother's jewish past, and how that has shaped him into the man he is today. His mother instilled jewish values, importance of education and religion, into her children's lives, and this prompted them to be triumphant. All of Ruth's kids graduated from college and most went on to graduate school. James has learned that despite the fact that him and his mother do not look alike, the most important thing is the love they have for each other, a pleasing resolution for us readers.

    The diligent structure, clear candidness, and arrival of James' unique background creates a successful memoir, The Color of Water.

    

    

The Glass Castle

Although the many of the hardships her parents have put her through are unimaginable, Jeannette Walls was able to always speak about them with compassion. In The Glass Castle the author tells a story of the highs and lows of her life and the love that she has for her family. This makes The Glass Castle an excellent memoir. I believe The Glass Castle is an excellent book because it is well constructed, gives an honest sense of the many characters she encountered during her life, and takes the reader on a journey through her her life and describes it in a way that seems optimistic throughout the book.

Jeannette Walls opens her book with herself as a younger child describing an instance when she had caught herself on fire due to the carelessness of her parents as she remarks,“I was on fire. It’s my earliest memory… I felt a blaze of heat on my right side. I turned in fear to see where it was coming from and realize that my dress was on fire.”(pg 9). Although this problem could have easily been prevented if her parents had been more careful, Walls speaks about this instance as though it was just another normal day. This is one of the elements that makes a good memoir and was used well in this book.

Another thing that made The Glass Castle an excellent book is the construction in which the author has put the story together. She begins the book talking about her younger life and giving every important detail necessary before moving on without making the book feel slow.

Wall’s mother was an artist who seemingly was more obsessed with painting than her kids in many parts of the story. Although this obsession lead her to be rude to her children the author talked of it as if it was a strength and it shows her compassion and love for the natural world for people. This shows the author's ability to make light of even the darkest situations and also shows that she is not out to get revenge by exposing her family but instead is simply relaying her experience to the reader. Although the authors experiences throughout the book have been graphic, she was honest instead of seeking for attention which makes for an excellent memoir.  

The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle was a great memoir because of how it was constructed, its honesty, and the integrity of intention.

One way that this memoir was helpful is how it is constructed by the organization of events. I think that this was extremely effective when reading because it helped understand Jeanette's life story. It also helped visualize her life as if you were by her side every step of the way. In addition, the memoir was constructed in a way that Jeannette was able to tell her whole life story in just three hundred pages. She included the major details and parts of her life that helped lead on to the next event. If it wasn’t for the organization in this memoir, reading it would have been confusing.

Another part of this memoir I liked was its honesty. Usually when people experience things like Jeannette did, such as growing up with no money, constantly being on the move - having no permanent place to live, and a drunk as your father, you usually do not share it. However, Jeannette was courageous enough to have a book written about her whole life from when she was three years old to her present, which I have to say takes a lot of bravery. Jeannette would have to possibly deal with judgement, hate and criticism but I don't necessarily think that was what she cared or worried about. Jeannette wanted to be honest with her readers and tell a story that could make people appreciate what they have and know that there is always someone else out there in the world that has it tougher than you.

The final part of this memoir that made it great was the integrity of intention. The way Jeannette was brought up definitely could have made her pick a poor path to take when she grew older. She did not have the basic necessities to living such as moving from house to house in awful conditions where she had no heat, no running water, and a scarce amount of food. Jeannette could have easily followed in her parents footsteps but smartly chose to live like “normal” people with all the necessities she needs in order to survive. However, without her childhood Jeannette would not have become the strong independent woman she is today.

Finally, I think that The Glass Castle is a great memoir because it made me realize how much I have are nothing compared to what she handled.

The glass castle: a great memoir

THE GLASS CASTLE

The glass castle, written by Jeannette Walls, is a great memoir and book. Along with being made wonderfully and truly honest, it does not blame people; it shows the good and bad in everyone.

Jeannette Walls grew up in a poor, harsh environment: her father was an alcoholic, her mother irresponsible, and many of the people she encountered were unfriendly in many ways. They almost always didn’t have enough money for food or water, it would all be spent on alcohol and cigarettes for the father, and paint supplies and candy for the mother. Despite the obvious failings of her parents, she still continued to find the good in them, loving her fathers intelligence, spirit, and humor, and admiring her mothers art skill and knowledge. She never outrightly blames her parents for their poverty, almost always purposely turning the blind eye every time they had a failing.

Although she avoids personally blaming anyone, she does not lie to cover up their failings. the book is truthful about her experiences, not covering for her parents of siblings, and most importantly, not covering up her own failings. She does not avoid writing about the times she made a bad choice or hurt someone, opting to tell the truth even when it is inconvenient for her. She also tells the truth even when it was a particularly unpleasant experience for her, one she most like would not want to remember. However, she does not go into such graphic details as to make it unenjoyable for the reader.

This book is also wonderfully made, both being in chronological order as well as having fluid, smooth transitions from one event to the next. It is not cluttered with unnecessary stories, but has enough events as so that you can accurately imagine what her life was like. It tells enough about each character that you can get a sense of their personalities, but not too much so that you get bored of them. The writing is both elegant and easy to understand, and the dialogue is well written.

James Amenta

The Glass Castle is a good memoir because the author (Jeannette Walls) grew up thinking her life was normal when it really wasn’t, she had many near death experiences, and left her crazy parents after high school for a new life in New York. All these reason show how interesting and abnormal the author's life was growing up.

One example for when the author was growing up an abnormal life was when she was always moving place to place with her family to get away from the law and other people chasing her father. They called this the skedaddle when they always moved from place to place. In the book it says, “We were always doing the skedaddle, usually in the middle of the night. I sometimes heard Mom and Dad discussing the people who were after us. Dad called them henchmen, bloodsuckers, and the gestapo.” Later that page it said “FBI agents who were after Dad for some dark episode that he never told us about because he didn’t want to put us in danger, too.” Usually most families don’t move from place to place to avoid the law.

Another example would be how she had some near death experiences. For example in the beginning of the book when Jeannette was three years old she was cooking hot dogs by herself without her parents helping her, which ended badly. On page 9, it says, “I was standing on a chair in front of the stove, wearing a pink dress my grandmother had bought for me.” Later on that page, “I felt a blaze on my right side. I turned to see where it was coming from and realized my dress was on fire. Frozen with fear, I watched the yellow-white flames make a ragged brown line up the pink fabric of my skirt and climb my stomach.” This makes the book interesting since not many kids make hot dogs alone that small which is why she wasn’t cautious and almost died.

One more example would be how she had moved to New York after high school and got a job, apartment, and more. After living most of her life with her horrible family in poverty she decided to move to New York in search for a better life. When she is there she goes to live with her sister who previously moved there and she finds a job at a burger joint. After living there she decided to go to college and study as a writer. She gets a writing job for a newspaper. This shows how the book is also inspirational because she went from nothing and got a decent job in New York city.

These three reason provide information on why The Glass Castle is such a good memoir from all the interesting event that took place in the book.

Why Glass Castle is a good merior

The Glass castle is a good merior, because of it carpency, art  and the author’s optimism and forgiveness.

To begin with The Glass Castle has very clear and direct construction. The order of the whole book is time sequence, and the book describes a story that a little girl gradually become a young and brilliant woman. In view of the clear construction, it is pretty easy for me to understand the story and expect what will happen. To a foreign reader (me), this really help me a lot.

Secondly, this book really affected my mind. Before reading it, I am not satisfy with my life--- too much homework, no time for hanging out and too many rules. However, when I learnt that there is somebody in the world is grow in desolate desert with her terrible parents and suffer from starvation, suddenly, I am so glad that I can have such wonderful life. This book really teach me to be thankful, and be satisfied with what I already have.

Thirdly, during the whole book, the author never blames her parents, her siblings and her fate, though she experienced countless hardship and had a miserable childhood. If I was her, I would not be as optimistic as her in such harsh environment. However, she did, she always enjoys everything that she owned, and never blames that her fate is unfair.

     The book, When I Was Puerto Rican was definitely a great memoir because it was very well constructed and descriptive. This memoir was well constructed because it showed where the author, Esmeralda Santiago, was coming from and  it was also very well descriptive.

    

      First off, one example of how the author was showing where she came from was when Esmeralda’s family was changing out their floor. When Esmeralda’s family took out their floor it really showed me how she lived when she was a kid. For example, once the floors were taken out, it was just a dirt floor with many holes from all sorts of animals like scorpions. Esmeralda’s mom made them stick rocks in the holes to make sure no animals could come in the house. I thought that this showed the tough life she and her family had having to worry about scorpions digging through the ground into their home, while a lot of people in our country’s  biggest problem is just trying to get their wifi or T.V. to work better.

       

       Secondly, one other way this memoir was well constructed is because the author wrote this in a meaningful way. One example I thought that shows this is when Esmeralda and her dad were staying at her grandma’s. Later during their stay Esmeralda’s dad said he was going to see someone in San Juan, although Esmeralda knew he wasn’t coming back and got a little depressed. After Esmeralda thought about her father leaving and why he might of left on page 92 it says, “My eyes watered, my mouth filled with a salty taste, but I cried, Abuela would here me and think I didn’t want to be with her.”

      Lastly, another reason why I thought this was a good memoir was because the author was very descriptive. One way I found this memoir descriptive was during a fight between her parents when they were going to bed. During this fight Esmeralda was explaining that she could hear every word perfectly clear and the creaks of the bed from her hammock she used as a bed. In addition one other way she was very descriptive was when she was explaining the type of women her mom doesn’t like who wear short skirts, short shirts, and wear high heels to pimp up their calves.

Michael Aronson

In my opinion When I was  Puerto Rican was a horrible book because the author was writing in a style that blamed other characters, wallowed in her own ideas, and the book was a little disturbing.  Santiago writes about her immigration from puerto rico to the United States of America.  She blames her father completely for the move.  I was all his fault that the moved to the city and then to the states.  If it was a good memory she would of moved on a noticed that her Dad was in and out of the family's picture so there were other reasons she was to young to understand.  She wants you to feel bad for her but truly she should of moved on and left the past in the past.  Secondly Santiago writes with the idea that everything is based around her.  If something bad happens to her it should happen to everyone.  Her opionion on how she was force to move comes out through the novel as if she wallowed in the every single detail for the greater good of her self.  Lastly in my opinion When I was Puerto Rican was a little graphic.  She explained to many little details that had nothing to do with the plot but were slightly disturbing.  For example when she is in the US she sees a truck drivers with his hands in his pants and goes on and explains how she watch and was interested in what he was doing.  

Hello my name is Evan Moore. A story that has impacted me and has helped me become the person I am today is the career of now retired baseball player, Derek Jeter. Being a Yankees fan, Derek Jeter was always my favorite player and I aspired to be, and play like him. Jeter spent a total of 20 years in the MLB playing all of them with the Yankees and has played in 14 all star games. Though as any professional athlete would agree, the road to the MLB was one that took a lot of effort, mental toughness and perseverance. In the minor leagues it looked as if his dream was hopeless. The Yankees already had a shortstop so it looked as if Jeter would never get his chance to play. That was until Tony Fernandez was placed on the disabled list. He struggled immensely his first week. He thought about just giving up and that maybe his goal was unattainable. Although these thoughts crossed his mind, they provided the need to work harder. He then started to improve his athletic abilities and thus became one of the greatest players that baseball has ever seen.   

Adventures Await!

My name is Tally. The story that truly resonates with me and inspires me each day is an adventure that my friend, Frank, experienced and shared a few years ago. Frank, who was around nineteen at the time, had taken a gap year after his freshman year at Yale. During that gap year, he travelled the world and experienced new cultures, environments, and people. He went to many different countries and continents, with his focus being located in Asia, specifically the China area. Now, this might seem like a typical gap year: a whole year spent simply on traveling the world, a vacation for a year year as some might view it. However, Frank is an adventurer. He likes taking risks, being different, and exploring. He brought these characteristics with him on his trip. Instead of going sightseeing whilst  in the laps of luxury, with comfortable beds and room service, he decided to take it a step further. He put a budget on his trip. He spent the year with only $5000 dollars to spend for his food, travel and shelter. There were instances where his tight budget left him in difficult situations that forced him to swallow his pride in order to survive, allowing him to realize that the ways others, who are less fortunate, have to live on a daily basis. He encountered other difficulties a well, such as muggings, physical confrontations, and aggressive cops. In fact, the whole trip was based on him stepping out of his comfort zone, such as interacting with strangers who don't speak English and experiencing genuine Asian delicacies.

While many would view his trip as foolish and dangerous, I see it as inspiring. He had the courage to take the adventure, even though it’s outcome was unknown, and in the end, he believed it was all worth it. When he told the story, his face lit up as he remembered all of the experiences and connections he had and made. His story reminds me to step out of my comfort zone, no matter how drastic the idea or even may be, and it will most likely pay off in the end.

First Blog English

Hello, my name is Hunter, and a story that is important to me is the story of Jeanette in the Glass Castle. Despite having to read it for school, I could relate how she grew up to how my parents were also raised. It helped me see how some people can really struggle in life and despite that, they can be successful and intelligent. When I was reading through the book, I could relate a lot of the experiences of Jeanette and her family to the way my father was raised. He was raised in a small house, constantly moving around with a father who drank and smoked in excess.

Break! Everything shatters. By Ellis

Hey everyone,  this story is about my first experience  with the hospital, enjoy

      When i was was young about seven or so I loved to play outside. Unfortunately  I had no sibilings so i used my imagination a lot. As I was playing outside I

rushed inside becuase I need something  for the "game" so to speak I was playing. I had gotten so mixed up in my game that I had blanked out everything  around me. So as I was running  back to go outside I had completely blanked on the fact that there was a glass screen door separating me from the outside. So as you can assume I went through the glass screen door, but being me I didnt think it was a big deal until my father lifted up my shirt revealing a huge gash. We then rushed to the hospital, I was worried because I thought they might hurt me. But it turns out my initial thought was wrong especially since I was at the kids hospital. All the staff were super nice and a lot of friend and family came to visit. I was in rehab so long that I had even missed  mothers day. To make up for that they sent a clown in the cheer me up and in the end we all took a nice photo. We may have had some scares along the way but everything was okay.

Hi my name is Steve. The story that I am going to tell does not have a title but means a great deal to me because it changed how I look at life. There once was a man who wanted to be successful very bad. He didn't know how to become successful or the perfect way to achieve success. So one day he went to a very rich and powerful guru and asked the guru what he had to do to achieve his goal of success. The guru said to him " Meet me at the beach tomorrow morning at 4 am and I will teach you how to become successful." So the man woke up early and met the guru at the beach as he was told. when he got there the guru greeted the man and told him to get into the water. The man walked out to the water about knee high and waited for further instructions. The man was confused why the guru had told him to get into the water. The guru told him to walk further so the man walked waist deep. Now the man started to get angry with the guru. Finally the guru told the man to walk until the water was above his shoulders. Once the water was above the mans shoulders the guru walked out into the water with the man. Before the man could say anything the guru dunked his head under water and held the man down just before he was about to pass out. The man was kicking and screaming until the guru lifted him above the water. The guru asked the man, "When you were under water what was the thing you wanted to do most?" "Breathe," yelled the man. The guru then said to him, "Once you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe then you will truly become successful." This is not the whole story but still covers the main aspects. This story means something to me because it changed my mindset about success and how to achieve it.

Dean Smith

By- Karlton Gaskin
One story that has influenced my life was the story of Dean Smith. Being from North Carolina I was already a fan of dean smith and Carolina Basketball, but it was not until his passing that I realized all that he has done for the civil rights movement. Dean coached from 1961 to 1997 and retired with 879 victories, which was the NCAA Division I men's basketball record at that time. By the time he retired Dean Smith from head coach, the Carolina men’s team had won two national championships and appeared in 11 Final Fours. Not only was he successful on the court but he also recruited the schools first African-American scholarship players. He has also mentored basketball stars such as Michael Jordan and Kenny Smith. Dean Smith is an inspiration to me because of his determination and care for all of his players on and off of the court.Without Dean Smith North Carolina would not have the basketball program that they have today.

The Window

Hi I'm Mia Seymour, and the story I am sharing is one that makes me think about how I act everyday. The storyteller never told me the name of this story, however she described it like this: There were two nursing home patients sharing a room.  One man, sitting near the window, was allowed to sit up for an hour each afternoon because it helped him breath better, while the other had to lay on his back all the time. The men would converse for hours everyday, spanning topics like their family or their jobs. Yet for the one hour the first man could sit up and look out the window, their whole conversation changed. He would start describing everything he saw outside of the window to the other man, who, as a result of laying down all the time, was shut out of society. The man sitting by the window would describe everything he saw-the people, the nature, celebrations, and anything that passed by. One morning, a nurse came in to find that this man, who gave life to the one laying on his back everyday, had died peacefully in his sleep. Some time after his death, the man who had been on his back asked if he could move to the bed near the window. The nurse moved him and he excitedly, yet painfully, rose up on his elbows and took his first peek outside the window. What he saw dumbfounded him. The window looked out onto a blank wall. The patient asked the nurse what would have compelled the man to create a beautiful world outside the window. The nurse simply replied, "Maybe he wanted to encourage you."
         I take the story for more than this, and see it as a perfect example showing how greatly we can affect others. The man near the window had a choice whether or not he could give the other man hope and brighten up his day. We have this choice too, through what we say and our actions. We can either ignite or extinguish someone's spirit. We have the opportunity to be optimistic and share positive thoughts with others. This story inspires me to be a better person and brighten up other people's lives.

Hi, my name is Mckenzie and the story of Gabby Douglas inspires me. Gabby Douglas was a member of the U.S. Women's Gymnastic team in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She won gold medals in both the team and individual all-around competitions. However, the journey to win the gold medals was difficult for her. She was one of four children and her mom was a single parent. Money did not come easy for their family, her mother had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. During Gabby's free time, her older sister taught her some gymnastic skills and by the age four she was doing flips and tricks in her house. Although two years later, Gabby was able to go to gymnastics class, where she tried out and blew away the instructors with her talent. As Gabby grew older money was still tight, but that did not stop Gabby from achieving her dream. Her one and only dream was to go to the Olympics in 2012. Being an elite gymnast took a lot of determination but she had the drive to overcome the obstacles her family faced. This story is important to me because Gabby worked hard and made me realize that if I stick to what I want, I can achieve it.