Final Blogging Assesment

For anyone who doesn't know...This is an assigned project about how I've grown as a blogger. Enjoy!!

     The quality of my writing has improved over the course of the trimester in multiple ways. One way it has improved was shown by the amount of grammatical errors I made. Also, I have grown as a blogger because I have learned how to entice the reader to read my blog post. Lastly, I have grown as a blogger because I have learned how to create blog post that add a lot of detail and description allowing the reader to feel like they are in the book.
     One thing that I struggled with during this blogging experience was thinking of interesting topics to blog about. This was a big struggle for me because as I read different books I was unsure how to summarize what I was reading. I overcame this challenge by finding other books/topics that were easier for me to follow. I also reread multiple paragraphs to better understand what was going on in that passage. One strength that I had while blogging, was creating interesting post. Once I got a topic and had a good idea about what I wanted to say, I was able to tell the reader the story and aware them of what was happening. I did meet my reading goal. My goal for this trimester was to learn about blogging and to complete at least 5 books. I used goodreads.com by utilizing my ability to look at other books my fellow classmates used. This helped me identify different books that I was interested in. Due to this resource I believe I have grown as a reader because I was able to read other students reviews on different books and find ones that were most appealing to me.

Romeo and Juliet: Update

     So far in Romeo and Juliet, going of my last blog titled Romeo and Juliet, we finally got to read about the first meeting of R and J. It's slightly strange though because Shakespeare makes it seem that it's love at first sight, or as I was corrected, lust at first sight. Basically what happens is... they meet, then they dance, and when they get separated they are constantly searching for each other. Finally, after they search and search they find each other and have a strange conversation involving touching each other palms and Romeo stating that their palms are like how their lips should be. Finally they have a strange kissing scene and then the maid/nurse ruins it by telling Juliet that he's a Montague and he then discovers that Juliet is a Capulet. Now the question is... are R and J going to become star-crossed-lovers or if they will "fall out of love".
     As a class we also watched the comparisons from an older version and newer version of the movie. I personally enjoy the newer version of the movie because I feel like it is easier to follow and is much more humorous. Also, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Romeo which obviously means it's going to be better! Just kidding...but anyway, the newer version of Romeo and Juliet, in my opinion, has more details and allows you to understand the characters much better. It's also uses the same vocabulary as the older one, but is set in modern day times which is slightly strange but is added in such a way that it is funny and good at the same time.

Romeo and Juliet

     In English this past week, we started to read Romeo and Juliet. We have only read Scene 1, Act 1. I am slightly confused because the language is VERY different then what we use now in modern language. Basically, the 2 families get into a fight in a public area. The Prince, upset with these multiple fights that occur in public, tells the 2 families that if another fight occurs, they will be sentenced to death.
     My initial response to this piece was confused. It seemed strange that because of some public fights these families would be put to death. In modern times public fights are broken apart, and sometimes lead to time in jail or a court hearing. The Prince seems like a very outspoken, power driven person who will not stand any shenanigans.

Vampire Diaries Book/ TV Comparison

     If you enjoyed my previous blog post, I highly recommend reading the book and watching the TV series. The TV series follows an alike plot but differs slightly. In the beginning of the TV series Stefan shows little hesitation towards Elena and their relationship begins to form very early. Also, when Mystic Falls realizes that they have a problem with vampires once again, they do not even suspect the new members of their town, Damon and Stefan. Another difference would be between Damon and Elena. In the TV series, Elena meets Damon first and then Stefan. Stefan unaware of this try's extremely hard to keep Elena away from Damon and their dark secret. You can watch The Vampire Diaries on the cwtv network on Thursdays at 8/7c. you can also watch past episodes on Hulu. I highly recommend this TV series! Be sure to check it out!

Stefan's Diaries: The Origins

     In the beginning of the book Stefan and Damon are both humans. Damon is working as a soldier trying to do anything he can to go against  his father wishes of him running the family estate; because of this, the duty is left to his younger brother, Stefan, who is now in charge of carrying on the Salvatore name along with the duties. In charge of doing so he's told to propose to Rosalyn, a girl he does not love. As Stefan begins to realize he does not want this future.

     Arriving in all of these dilemmas, Katherine is a beautiful brunette who sweeps both brothers off their feet causing them to compete for her love even if they have to take down the other brother. Only one other thing can take the brother's attention away from Katherine though; the sudden deaths happening in Mystic Falls. The police state that they are animal attacks but a handful of citizens know better, they know that these are the acts of a vampire. Soon the people know that they have to get rid of the vampires at any cost.

    

     Be sure to check out this book on Amazon. Also be sure to check out a breif description of the next book in this series, Stefan's Diaries: Blood lust also you can buy it on Amazon.

 

    

Shadow Souls and The Return: Part 2 of The Vampire Diaries Series

     This book is the second book of The Vampire Diaries Series, following The Awakening and The Struggle If you haven't read my post about The Awakening and The Struggle be sure to check it out before reading this post.
     In this book a new thing has come to Mystic Falls and is leaving behind a destroyed town. As Bonnie and Merdith search for clues about the new darkness and ways they can stop it, Elena, Damon, and Matt (Elena's X-Boyfriend) search for Stefan. After being taken at the end of the last book they've been on a chase to find him before his time runs out. Damon, who know one is quite sure of his motives, leads them to The Dark Demension where he believes they are keeping Stefan. One Problem: The Dark Deminsion is just like it's name states...Dark. Supernatural cretures roam free and the only humans alive are kept as slaves to their supernatural owners. Elena is faced with the choice of going into The Dark Deminsion to save Stefan, risking her own life, or staying away from it all together.
    As Meredeth and Bonnie try to hunt down Damon and Elena to tell them that they have discovered somthing about the Dark Magic in Myatic Falls, tension grows between Elena and Damon and Elena begins to ask herself who does she really love; Stefan or Damon.
    Now, the struggle begins to find the two parts of the key that connect to make the one key that will let Stefan out of his cell in The Dark Deminsion.
     Bonnie and Meredith, Now wiht Elena and Damon begin to "act" like they live in The Dark Dimension; attending all the parties of people they believe to have the key. Searching everywhere until they finally find the 2 halves of the key. Together they find the prison and they find Stefan. No one though was prepared for what they were going to see. Stefan is no longer himself (for the time being). Stefan is rushed back out of The Dark Dimension back to Mystic Falls where the Dark Magic is yet to go away.
     Now as the group tries to identify who or what is causing this everything points to on name...SYLLIS...who will soon become their worst nightmare.

The Awakening and The Struggle

     After realizing that I loved the TV series of The Vampire Diaries I decided that I might as well try out the books. The book took me by surprise though and toke a different approach towards the plot. In the first book, Elena begins to meet Stefan, who, in the beginning of the book is very quiet and tries to avoid seeing or being anywhere near Elena for one major reason...he's a vampire.
     Most of these stories tend to be about a girl who is really beautiful and doesn't really know yet; Elena though knows that she is the person that every girl wants to be and every guy wishes was his and is actually quite ego-full. When Stefan shows up she is utterly surprised when he seems to pay no attention to Elena and basically ignores her after the multiple attempts Elena shows to get his attention. Elena then begins to have her friends Bonnie, who is sure that she is psychic(later on actually becoming a witch) and Meredith help her to make an extravagant plan to make Stefan hers. In the process of doing so Elena figures out what and who Stefan really is.
     While Elena is scheming the perfect plan to make Stefan hers, Mystic Falls is having odd events occur. Reports of people lying dead with their throats ripped out start to appear all around the town and Stefan is being spotted at each crime seen. As Stefan battles with the constant accusations, he starts to believe he could actually be the killer. Stefan though is a "vegetarian" with blood. He tries to be the kind gentle vampire (or however much he can be) and soon begins to worry that he has lost control and become the ripper he has tried so hard not to be.
     During all the attacks in Mystic Falls Stefan comes to the awful realization that his brother Damon is in town that then leads to Stefan relizing that Damon is the true killer of all the people killed in Mystic Falls that the press says are "animal attacks". Damon unlike Stefan is a full on vampire who chose to feed on humans and take advantage of what he is. Now, the battle begins of stopping Damon.

For this book I gave a 5 out of 5 Stars. I absolutely love this book and this series. Also, if you enjoy this book be sure to check out the TV series on cwtv network. Also, be sure to read the rest of the series by L.J. Smith. Also check out the preview for season one on youtube.

Hunger Games Part2

Going along with my last post here is a YouTube clip showing a preview for The Hunger Games movie that was released in 2012. Also soon to be released is the following movie of the series based off the book Catching Fire.

 

New Book: The Hunger Games

      Currently I am reading the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In this book the main character Katniss Everdeen faces an extremely difficult conflict: risking her life or her sisters.
     This all began at Katniss's districts reaping. At the reaping a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen as tribute in The Hunger Games, which are, (An arena is a large, enclosed, outdoor area where the Hunger Games are held each year. Arenas are designed by the Gamemakers and a new one is built every year. It could be a dense forest or a freezing wasteland. The Gamemakers plant traps and cunning ideas into the arena, to entertain the people of Panem. All arenas have a Cornucopia, where the tributes launch into the arena to begin the Games. Also all the arenas have force fields around the arenas that bounce back anything that hits it. Over the years a few tributes have used it as a weapon. The arenas were considered important historical landmarks, and were preserved after the conclusion of the Games. The arenas were also a popular tourist destination for many Capitol citizens, who would spend months' vacation visiting the arena from their favorite games, where they would be able to rewatch the Games, visit the sites of the deaths and even take part in reenactments. After the end of the war, all the arenas were destroyed, and memorials to the hundreds of teenagers killed within their confines were constructed in their place.) After her sister sister is chosen as tribute Katniss faces the decision of risking her life for her sisters. Faced with the decision, Katniss volunteers as tribute in place of her sister and is rushed off to the train to take her to the capital city, Panem.

The Dive from Clausen's Pier

Over the summer I read the book The Dive from Clausen's Pier. In this novel, the main character, Carrie Bell is faced with an incredibly tough decision regarding her fiance. Recently after diving off a pier, Mike becomes a quadriplegic. Carrie Bell is faced with, the theme, following her head, telling her that she is obligated to stay, and her heart, telling her to leave and "start" her life again somewhere else. As Carrie follows what feels right she is constantly questioned with this choice. In the end the decision she makes truly shows Carrie Bell finally following what she really feels is right. A part of the text that shows this best is when Carrie Bell is faced with the choice of leaving Mike to start a new life or choosing to stay with Mike due to her feeling of obligation.
Below a link is listed to an article written in a different point of view about this book. It discusses some of the feelings Carrie Bell deals with during the book and how what she choses to do about her fiance.
The Dive from Clausen's Pier Article