I have read the Shakespeare play 'The Merchant of Venice'. Although I have never seen a Shakespeare play I got the basic idea of it from reading and analizing The Merchant of Venice. I have read some of Shakespeare's sonnets but I did not really enjoy them, I did enjoy certain parts of The Merchant of Venice but some parts became confusing when he used metaphors to describe other metaphors.
I have seen parts of the movie 10 things I hate about you but I was unable to figure out the connection between the movie and the works of Shakespeare. I wouldn’t really be interested in participating in Mr. S's play only because I have never really been much of an actor/singer/dancer so I don’t believe I would be of much use. The only thing I really know about Shakespeare's work is that it was heavily influenced by his religious views, this shows in The Merchant of Venice, they consider the Jewish people 'devil worshippers' and the Christians as harmless angels not capable of any misdoings.
It is bad luck to say the word Macbeth during the play because it brings the actors and basically the whole productions the only way to prevent this is to exit the theatre and do one of the following-
1. Cleanse the air with a quote from Hamlet.
2. Spin around three times while saying profanity and then ask for permission to enter.
Or 3. Repeat the incantation "Thrice around the circle bound, Evil sink into the ground".
It is just easier to refer to Macbeth as 'the Scottish play' as this will prevent you from having to perform one of these actions.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
6th Entry
1. I believe the author has started this blog in order to raise the awareness of both the increasing feminization of our culture and education as well as the lack of boys reading books, due to the lack of action adventure books.
2. The slogan “readers are the leaders others follow" refers to people who have read a lot of books and gain the ability to imagine and contemplate writings. This can involve contemplating things such as a fiction book to other things like an ancient Egyptian papyrus.
3. People such as political and educational activists may be interested in reading this blog in order to gain another mans opinion on what is happening to modern day books and education. Other people such as disgruntled parents who wonder why their son/s do not read might also read this blog for a simply explained reason.
4. I have read the blog entry titled "The Dangerous Book for Boys", published on Wednesday, May the ninth, 2007. This is his seventh post.
5. This post is about how Mr. Anderson was trying to spread the awareness of how feminized modern day education is becoming. He then goes on to say how he visited two schools in the Beloit, Janesville, Wisconsin area. He asked the students if there was anyone who didn’t like to read and the majority of the hands that went up were that of boys. He then claims that this is because of the lack of action-adventure books that get published.
6. I found the opinion that our culture and education is becoming more feminized strange because it is apparent to me that more and more books and movies coming out are based more around either superheros and or violence. This might just be because of my perception or the fact that these movies and books are more advertised than others.
7. I did not feel inclined to comment on Mr. Anderson's blog particularly the post I was reading because the way he had written it did not leave it open for discussion, instead he just ended the post with the words 'My twenty-eight available manuscripts of action-adventures and mysteries would be a good place to start'. Unless you were strongly for or against this then there is really no need to leave a comment.
2. The slogan “readers are the leaders others follow" refers to people who have read a lot of books and gain the ability to imagine and contemplate writings. This can involve contemplating things such as a fiction book to other things like an ancient Egyptian papyrus.
3. People such as political and educational activists may be interested in reading this blog in order to gain another mans opinion on what is happening to modern day books and education. Other people such as disgruntled parents who wonder why their son/s do not read might also read this blog for a simply explained reason.
4. I have read the blog entry titled "The Dangerous Book for Boys", published on Wednesday, May the ninth, 2007. This is his seventh post.
5. This post is about how Mr. Anderson was trying to spread the awareness of how feminized modern day education is becoming. He then goes on to say how he visited two schools in the Beloit, Janesville, Wisconsin area. He asked the students if there was anyone who didn’t like to read and the majority of the hands that went up were that of boys. He then claims that this is because of the lack of action-adventure books that get published.
6. I found the opinion that our culture and education is becoming more feminized strange because it is apparent to me that more and more books and movies coming out are based more around either superheros and or violence. This might just be because of my perception or the fact that these movies and books are more advertised than others.
7. I did not feel inclined to comment on Mr. Anderson's blog particularly the post I was reading because the way he had written it did not leave it open for discussion, instead he just ended the post with the words 'My twenty-eight available manuscripts of action-adventures and mysteries would be a good place to start'. Unless you were strongly for or against this then there is really no need to leave a comment.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
5th Entry
I normally choose a book by either choosing by author or by genre. Usually I read a whole series before I decide to move on to another book. Some times when a series either is finished or gets extremely boring then I decide to swap to another. The current series that I am reading is the inheritance series but unfortunately the last book is yet to be released. One other method that I use to pick a book is to read some reviews. If a certain book has received extremely good reviews and fits into the genres that I like then I will usually read it. The last way that I choose a good book is to read the blurb. This makes it extremely easy to get a grasp on the story as well as some of the main characters.
These methods usually work for me but I can recount some certain times that they have failed me. It usually happens when I don’t really mind because I have nothing else to read. Unfortunately due to my curiosity I pick a very boring and repetitive book. I usually stick with these methods though because they have worked well in the past. I only started to read the Inheritance trilogy because I needed something to read and the book was there.
The book I am currently reading is a science fiction book called Time. I borrowed this book from the library on the basis that it looked like a good read and had a very interesting blurb.
After I read the book I realized how different it was from the blurb, it was very scientific but it was still a very good and detailed book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is either very interested in astronomy and physics or to people who love a book about the apocalypse and the purpose of humans.
These methods usually work for me but I can recount some certain times that they have failed me. It usually happens when I don’t really mind because I have nothing else to read. Unfortunately due to my curiosity I pick a very boring and repetitive book. I usually stick with these methods though because they have worked well in the past. I only started to read the Inheritance trilogy because I needed something to read and the book was there.
The book I am currently reading is a science fiction book called Time. I borrowed this book from the library on the basis that it looked like a good read and had a very interesting blurb.
After I read the book I realized how different it was from the blurb, it was very scientific but it was still a very good and detailed book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is either very interested in astronomy and physics or to people who love a book about the apocalypse and the purpose of humans.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
4th Entry
1. The book that i have read was called the Traitors Sword by Amanda Hemingway. The character that I have chosen from this book is a boy named Nathan Ward. Nathan is the main character in the book.
Nathan is a very dark skin boy who is good at his schooling, cricket and rugby. He manages to get a scholership at a private school called Flyde Abbey. Nathan soon realises that he has the power to teleport across different universes in his dreams. He then is forced to retreive an ancient artifact called the Traitors Sword. unfortunalty the sword is guarded by a ancient demon. Nathan narrates some parts of the book such as when he is unconcious but other than that he is narrated.
2. The author has created this character to create a teenage veiw into a heroes lifestyle. Although Nathan is forced to do all the jobs of a hero he still continues to run through his daily teenage lifestyle. The author has also created this character because she wants to put in a character that doesnt know his father and forces it to become a major mystery.
3. If the protaginist was female instead of male it would make a few differences but not many. The main charcter in this book is Nathan Ward, the only main things that would change if he was a female is the school that he goes to. In the book he is attending an all boys school as a border. If he was changed to a female we would have to attend a different school changing a few charcters such as the pricipal (who figures out Nathans special power.)
Nathan is a very dark skin boy who is good at his schooling, cricket and rugby. He manages to get a scholership at a private school called Flyde Abbey. Nathan soon realises that he has the power to teleport across different universes in his dreams. He then is forced to retreive an ancient artifact called the Traitors Sword. unfortunalty the sword is guarded by a ancient demon. Nathan narrates some parts of the book such as when he is unconcious but other than that he is narrated.
2. The author has created this character to create a teenage veiw into a heroes lifestyle. Although Nathan is forced to do all the jobs of a hero he still continues to run through his daily teenage lifestyle. The author has also created this character because she wants to put in a character that doesnt know his father and forces it to become a major mystery.
3. If the protaginist was female instead of male it would make a few differences but not many. The main charcter in this book is Nathan Ward, the only main things that would change if he was a female is the school that he goes to. In the book he is attending an all boys school as a border. If he was changed to a female we would have to attend a different school changing a few charcters such as the pricipal (who figures out Nathans special power.)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
3rd Entry
1. Some people would choose to have a blog instead of diary because of the people who can read and respond to it. Some people would rather type their thoughts on the internet and gather responses from people who have answered their blog. Also a blog is used over the internet making it very easy to acess as well as the fact that you could do many other things at the same time as reading a blog, while if you were writing something by hand not only could no one read it but you wouldnt get that same freedom as you get when you are on the internet. Also it gives you the freedom to read other peoples blogs as well as your own making it easier to obtain ideas.
2. A blog is different from a diary because it is more public, other people are able to acess it besides yourself. Also you would write it towards an audience since other people will be reading it, no use writing to yourself or someone might call you crazy. The last thing about writing a blog that makes it different from writing in a diary is the fact that you are able to ask questions to people and if they wish to they can answer them, there can be some philisophical questions or just some normal questions, in a way a blog can become msn.
3. I have decided to have a look at a blog written by a man who calls himself the 'Captain'. He seems to be a very opinionated man and get it across very strongly through his writing. His last post is written very angrily. He claims that nobody can take away his rite of passage and emphasises it strongly. He doesnt seem to have a lot of comments but that doesnt mean that no one is reading his blog. This man (presumably) has just recently updated his blog after leaving it since the 17th of April. Although his blog comes off a bit strong it is written very passionatly and brings forward many points about freedom. http://capitansblog.blogspot.com/
2. A blog is different from a diary because it is more public, other people are able to acess it besides yourself. Also you would write it towards an audience since other people will be reading it, no use writing to yourself or someone might call you crazy. The last thing about writing a blog that makes it different from writing in a diary is the fact that you are able to ask questions to people and if they wish to they can answer them, there can be some philisophical questions or just some normal questions, in a way a blog can become msn.
3. I have decided to have a look at a blog written by a man who calls himself the 'Captain'. He seems to be a very opinionated man and get it across very strongly through his writing. His last post is written very angrily. He claims that nobody can take away his rite of passage and emphasises it strongly. He doesnt seem to have a lot of comments but that doesnt mean that no one is reading his blog. This man (presumably) has just recently updated his blog after leaving it since the 17th of April. Although his blog comes off a bit strong it is written very passionatly and brings forward many points about freedom. http://capitansblog.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 10, 2007
2nd Entry
The first book i read was called Plague by David Orme. It is from the Shades series. The basic idea of the book is that an apprentice of an apothocary named Henry Harper. His masters name is John Coulter who was already affected by the plague and so he cannot be affected again. Henry's dad dies because of the plague. His mother and brother leave for his uncles house in the country as it isnt affected by the plague. Henry then organises a burial for his father. When the men come for the body they notice Henry, they lock all the doors and windows and paint a red cross on his door meaning quarantine. Henry then fakes his death in order to escape. He crosses the bridge and makes a run for his uncles house, he begins to fall ill feeling extremely hot and begins to lose control of his body. He hides underneath a rock and notices he has black spots under his arms, the plague.
The second book i read was called the Rainmaker by John Grisham. It is from the Pengiun Readers series. The basic overveiw of this book is that Rudy Baylor is a law school student who is just about to start his last test. Unfortunatly he gets fired from his job before he even got a chance to get into court, but before he left he was able to get one case. Dot and Bud Black ask Rudy to help with there fight against a major insurence company. There son Donny Ray is dying due to leukeamia and his claim for insurence is rejected. He then gets a job with one of the least respected lawyer in the business but hey its a job. When he begins to sue the company he gets stuck against the best lawyers in town and a bias judge, but due to the fact that the judge dies and the new judge hates big business Rudy is given a winnable chance.
I liked the storyline in The Rainmaker it kept me intrigued and it had a few plot twists. The good thing about this book is the way that the court case is written about as you could actually believe that it was real because of the way it was written. The Plague was good because it had a really believable storyline but it was considerably short and left you wondering what happens at the end.
I dont believe that the Rainmaker could be improved that much although if it had a bit more detail in the actual story then it would have been better. The Plague as i have already said needed to be longer as when you get to the end you are left wondering what happens next and a whole lot of other questions arise.
After reading these short stories I realised that they were not as good as a novel only because a novel has a lot more detail while a short story leaves you wondering what happens next. Also a novel ties off all the loose ends when it finishes in a short story some questions are never answered. I wouldnt select from these short stories again only because after I finished the books I read the Greenstone Grail and realised how much better it was but that was only one book.
The second book i read was called the Rainmaker by John Grisham. It is from the Pengiun Readers series. The basic overveiw of this book is that Rudy Baylor is a law school student who is just about to start his last test. Unfortunatly he gets fired from his job before he even got a chance to get into court, but before he left he was able to get one case. Dot and Bud Black ask Rudy to help with there fight against a major insurence company. There son Donny Ray is dying due to leukeamia and his claim for insurence is rejected. He then gets a job with one of the least respected lawyer in the business but hey its a job. When he begins to sue the company he gets stuck against the best lawyers in town and a bias judge, but due to the fact that the judge dies and the new judge hates big business Rudy is given a winnable chance.
I liked the storyline in The Rainmaker it kept me intrigued and it had a few plot twists. The good thing about this book is the way that the court case is written about as you could actually believe that it was real because of the way it was written. The Plague was good because it had a really believable storyline but it was considerably short and left you wondering what happens at the end.
I dont believe that the Rainmaker could be improved that much although if it had a bit more detail in the actual story then it would have been better. The Plague as i have already said needed to be longer as when you get to the end you are left wondering what happens next and a whole lot of other questions arise.
After reading these short stories I realised that they were not as good as a novel only because a novel has a lot more detail while a short story leaves you wondering what happens next. Also a novel ties off all the loose ends when it finishes in a short story some questions are never answered. I wouldnt select from these short stories again only because after I finished the books I read the Greenstone Grail and realised how much better it was but that was only one book.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
1st entry
Whenever i am bored i have always turned towards reading, probably becasue my Mum and Dad were such avid readers. At my house we have a massive bookshelf which contains many different genres, most of them are crime.
My favourite genre of book is the mythical horror. Anything that uses Demons and Magic to scare me is a good book is my opinion. My favourite authors would have to be either Darren Shan and or Christopher Pauolini. I have read all the Darren Shan vampire series and I am currently up to the last book in the Inheritance trilogy by Christopher Pauolini.
The best book I have ever read would deifinatly have to be Eldest by Christopher Pauolini. It was such a good read I had to read it again. There are many plot turns so it always keeps you interested. It is set in a medievil background where the land is ruled by a dictator, unfortunatly it falls to one boy and his dragon to save it.
I am currently reading The Traitors Sword by Amanda Hemingway. I havent read the first one so its a tad confusing but I am gradually getting into the plot.
I believe that I am a relatively fast reader but only when I like the book, when the book drags on and has no appeal to it I tend to take a while but when the book is really fast paced and I get into the plot I tend to read it very fast.
My favourite genre of book is the mythical horror. Anything that uses Demons and Magic to scare me is a good book is my opinion. My favourite authors would have to be either Darren Shan and or Christopher Pauolini. I have read all the Darren Shan vampire series and I am currently up to the last book in the Inheritance trilogy by Christopher Pauolini.
The best book I have ever read would deifinatly have to be Eldest by Christopher Pauolini. It was such a good read I had to read it again. There are many plot turns so it always keeps you interested. It is set in a medievil background where the land is ruled by a dictator, unfortunatly it falls to one boy and his dragon to save it.
I am currently reading The Traitors Sword by Amanda Hemingway. I havent read the first one so its a tad confusing but I am gradually getting into the plot.
I believe that I am a relatively fast reader but only when I like the book, when the book drags on and has no appeal to it I tend to take a while but when the book is really fast paced and I get into the plot I tend to read it very fast.
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