Willa Cather in her novel My Antonia offers her view of life during the pioneer time.The novel is very entertaining, if expressed from Antonia's point of view, the story would be completely different. The introduction would have started differently, not explaining Jim's travel to Nebraska. I'm sure some of the novel would be written in Bohemian because Antonia does not learn English until Jim teaches her.
The author, Willa Cather, is a lady writing a book from a man's point of view. She is successful in completing that specific goal. In the scene where Jim kills the snake, I felt as if a man was actually telling the story. I'm sure if I were telling the story, Jim would be screaming like a girl and jumping into Antonia's lap because I know that is what I would be doing.
The title, Antonia, is not descriptive enough for me. My Antonia is much better because that explains so much. Willa Cather chose My Antonia to explain that Jim loves Antonia and she, metaphorically, is his. They spend so much time together in the first half of the novel, I knew they held sentimental value for each other.
My Antonia by Willa Cather was a great book. The novel demonstrates the times of the Pioneers. A fun read always gets me interested and I am glad this book was chosen for us to read. An experience through the eyes of a pioneer.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Effects of Setting
Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: In the time of a crisis, people come together to solve and deal with the issue. In, My Antonia, the winter was a rough time for all the characters, so they came together to help one another. One of the quotes states, "the houses seem to draw closer together." It looked as if they were physically moving closer, and mentally they were because everyone helped everyone else. Which made the characters within the novel come closer together.
Chunk #2:
I have always dreamed of going to New York City, The Big Apple. I imagine the noises of traffic seeping through my window in the wee hours of the morning, and the smell of the cultural food on the streets. I wonder about the experience of shopping on Fifth Avenue or visiting the grand museums. I fear for the homeless in the alleys and the smell of the subway. New York has spoken to me through movies and songs. I cannot imagine that what I see in the movies is what I will see in real life, but I will not know until I go. I am sure New York will be an experience for me. Good or Bad? I do not know.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: In the time of a crisis, people come together to solve and deal with the issue. In, My Antonia, the winter was a rough time for all the characters, so they came together to help one another. One of the quotes states, "the houses seem to draw closer together." It looked as if they were physically moving closer, and mentally they were because everyone helped everyone else. Which made the characters within the novel come closer together.
Chunk #2:
I have always dreamed of going to New York City, The Big Apple. I imagine the noises of traffic seeping through my window in the wee hours of the morning, and the smell of the cultural food on the streets. I wonder about the experience of shopping on Fifth Avenue or visiting the grand museums. I fear for the homeless in the alleys and the smell of the subway. New York has spoken to me through movies and songs. I cannot imagine that what I see in the movies is what I will see in real life, but I will not know until I go. I am sure New York will be an experience for me. Good or Bad? I do not know.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Is Cleanliness an Issue?
Some people believe hospitals are unsanitary, I am unsure of this assumption. I do believe however, that it was once an issue quite recently. February 2, 2011 VA Medical Center in St. Louis was temporarily shut down because of some unclean surgical equipment. I am glad that the medical center cancelled surgeries, and luckily before anyone was operated on with the unsterilized utensils. This particular place operates on veterans, I believe that our diligent veterans deserve much better care and extremely clean medical utensils when undergoing surgeries. This isn't the only filthy incident that occurred. In July, the VA had to send letters to 1,800 veterans explaining to them they could have HIV and Hepatitis from unsteraliation at the Dental Clinic. I do not believe in second chances on a topic this huge. First the cancelled surgeries, then in the summer another problem with unsteril equipment! Something so serious as disease should not be taken lightly especially when it comes to the people that fight for our country. I do believe that some hospitals are unsanatary and unsafe. I just hope the problem gets fixed soon, and for good!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
AAAWWUBBIS
As the trees sway,
While the wind blows,
When the sun hides,
Before the storm,
I roll up my truck windows.
After its over,
While the sun shines,
Beacuse the rain stops,
If I feel like it,
I go outside to enjoy the calm.
While the wind blows,
When the sun hides,
Before the storm,
I roll up my truck windows.
After its over,
While the sun shines,
Beacuse the rain stops,
If I feel like it,
I go outside to enjoy the calm.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Book Review:Dead in the Family
Do you ever become bored with the average novel? Well, I do, so I settled for Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series. Settled may be an understated term though, obsessed is more like it. This particular book in the series is book number ten: Dead in the Family. Charlaine Harris never upsets me with her books, and this one was a particular favorite of mine.
In these books, Sookie, the main character, surrounds herself with several supernatural creatures such as werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and other supernatural creatures. Becoming involved with these fiction characters, Sookie has several near-death experiences. Though this makes the books very interesting, if Sookie wants to keep her precious life much longer, she better make some changes.
I have always had a fancy for the fantasy novels but, as I read the words Charlaine Harris has smoothed onto the paper, I become more and more involved and interested in the books. It is almost as if I could be a character within the novel. This book as well as the others have won a spot in the Top Ten Best Reads in my mind, as well as number four out of one hundred in Amazon's Best Books of 2010 list. That is accomplishment to me.
There are several reviews on the book, but one stuck out to me like a marker in a box of crayons. ,"Mixes humorous Southern-fried fantasy with biting satirical commentary." stated Publishers Weekly, and this is so true to me. This book review states all my jumbled thoughts into one exact, accurate sentence.
Dead in the Family is such a success, and I love to read this series. I would read any book with her name on the cover in a heartbeat. I would also recommend this book as well as the others to any person who asked. I rant about them twenty four/seven, and I do believe that Dead in the Family is a fantastic read and will suffice for my taste in books.
In these books, Sookie, the main character, surrounds herself with several supernatural creatures such as werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and other supernatural creatures. Becoming involved with these fiction characters, Sookie has several near-death experiences. Though this makes the books very interesting, if Sookie wants to keep her precious life much longer, she better make some changes.
I have always had a fancy for the fantasy novels but, as I read the words Charlaine Harris has smoothed onto the paper, I become more and more involved and interested in the books. It is almost as if I could be a character within the novel. This book as well as the others have won a spot in the Top Ten Best Reads in my mind, as well as number four out of one hundred in Amazon's Best Books of 2010 list. That is accomplishment to me.
There are several reviews on the book, but one stuck out to me like a marker in a box of crayons. ,"Mixes humorous Southern-fried fantasy with biting satirical commentary." stated Publishers Weekly, and this is so true to me. This book review states all my jumbled thoughts into one exact, accurate sentence.
Dead in the Family is such a success, and I love to read this series. I would read any book with her name on the cover in a heartbeat. I would also recommend this book as well as the others to any person who asked. I rant about them twenty four/seven, and I do believe that Dead in the Family is a fantastic read and will suffice for my taste in books.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wounded Warrior Project
I support the Wounded Warrior Project one hundred percent. This fantastic program focuses on Veterans that return from war wounded; both physical and mental.
Every soldier that comes home brings memories of war and battle with them, they may not develop PTSD or be injured in a physical way, but no one can erase the images, sounds, and the horrible experiences from their mind. It takes great courage to enlist in the Army and even greater courage and strength to march into battle to fight for your country.
Soldiers have done so much for us American citizens, and if they return injured in any way, we should strive to help them the best we can, and that is what the Wounded Warrior Project does. We can help them with Physical Therapy and other medical help or we could talk to them, so maybe they can relieve their brain of painful sights and memories.
As American Citizens, we should feel obligated to help the people that serve our country. The Wounded Warrior Project helps us accomplish that. I believe in Heroes.
Every soldier that comes home brings memories of war and battle with them, they may not develop PTSD or be injured in a physical way, but no one can erase the images, sounds, and the horrible experiences from their mind. It takes great courage to enlist in the Army and even greater courage and strength to march into battle to fight for your country.
Soldiers have done so much for us American citizens, and if they return injured in any way, we should strive to help them the best we can, and that is what the Wounded Warrior Project does. We can help them with Physical Therapy and other medical help or we could talk to them, so maybe they can relieve their brain of painful sights and memories.
As American Citizens, we should feel obligated to help the people that serve our country. The Wounded Warrior Project helps us accomplish that. I believe in Heroes.
Monday, September 26, 2011
War
War is scary, creating uneasiness is every citizen's stomachs
War is expensive, spending money we don't have
War is unhealthy, teaching kids it's okay to fight
War is cruel, killing people harshly
War is sad, dealing with loss
War is needed, fighting for freedom
War is expected, used since beginning of time
War is huge, exploding bombs
War is dictating, doing what is ordered of you
War is tearful, shedding tears for the lost loved ones
War is expensive, spending money we don't have
War is unhealthy, teaching kids it's okay to fight
War is cruel, killing people harshly
War is sad, dealing with loss
War is needed, fighting for freedom
War is expected, used since beginning of time
War is huge, exploding bombs
War is dictating, doing what is ordered of you
War is tearful, shedding tears for the lost loved ones
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Book Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Stephanie Meyer's The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner in my opinion, was stale. Looking forward to reading it was unnecessary; this book definitely was not as interesting as her Twilight Saga. The plot was okay, but the so-called "action" was not action at all.
For example, normally I cannot wait to read the next word, sentence, and paragraph of a book. Unfortunately, with this one, I couldn't wait to put it down. I definitely was not entertained; I inferred this may happen, but I had to be difficult and ignore my inference.
The entire book wasn't a total drag; there were some highlights and interesting spots. For instance, towards the end of the book, a fight took place. That was very descriptive and lively.That one chapter did not make up for the whole book though.
Overall, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was not a great read. Stephanie Meyer disappointed me with this one.
For example, normally I cannot wait to read the next word, sentence, and paragraph of a book. Unfortunately, with this one, I couldn't wait to put it down. I definitely was not entertained; I inferred this may happen, but I had to be difficult and ignore my inference.
The entire book wasn't a total drag; there were some highlights and interesting spots. For instance, towards the end of the book, a fight took place. That was very descriptive and lively.That one chapter did not make up for the whole book though.
Overall, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was not a great read. Stephanie Meyer disappointed me with this one.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
9/11
I remember September 11, 2001 as clear as it was yesterday. I was in Mrs. Reels first grade class having silent reading time.
Suddenly, my teachers went insane, became scatter brained and panicked. The television went on and all day every student and teacher watched the repeating clips on CNN.
Most parents picked up their kids, the ones who were still there sat in shock and stared at the unbelievable attack. For days people were shaken and did not know what to think.
The attacks that took place that day, unfortunately, still affect us today. We may realize it, or we may not.
Suddenly, my teachers went insane, became scatter brained and panicked. The television went on and all day every student and teacher watched the repeating clips on CNN.
Most parents picked up their kids, the ones who were still there sat in shock and stared at the unbelievable attack. For days people were shaken and did not know what to think.
The attacks that took place that day, unfortunately, still affect us today. We may realize it, or we may not.
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