okay, so we’re clear – this is one of those weeks that you’re not supposed to blog (i’m sure i’ll have sixth graders trying to – so don’t even try it sixth grade – i mean it:) i’ll block every single one of those blogs about your “baby” books – don’t push me…
“the last tycoon” by tj stiles – book about cornelius vanderbilt – guess what??? he was the last tycoon:) okay, so i’ve learned a bit more than that so far – i’m 400 pages into the 600 bio – it’s good – vanderbilt wasn’t studied a lot – he’s sort of lumped into the 1880s robber barons – but he was actually well before those guys – very imaginative – and creative – built an empire out of nothing – sort of represented the best of what america can produce – a guy that takes risks and pushes himself and succeeds – lots i didn’t know though and most of the names aren’t familiar so it’s slow reading
that was really the only book for the week – i’m down to like four books left in the old testament – zepheniah is next – read espn the mag – boston was the cover story – of course, the irony was boston collapsed this week – grr… at least bama is happier reading
enjoy finals week
mafeld
Alright so I am blogging.. I didn’t blog yesterday at all so I’m blogging today. I hope that other people blogged yesterday cause right now it looks like I’m the first person to blog. So anyways, I just fnished Holes a few days ago.
And we’ve started reading “A Christmas Carol” I hope that ends up being a lot like the movie.. (:
I’m also reading the book “The Teen’s Guide to World Domination” It’s a hilarioius book by a guy who has had many struggles in his life that he has learned from. When he was a kid his mom died and his dad was messed up on drugs and abused him so he had to grow up in several different foster homes. He was an angry kid growing up and ended up in jail for a few years. But when he got out he decided that he needed to turn his life around. He’s a christian and is now an inspirational speaker. His book is amazing and he’s got a sense of humor. The book is awesome. In the book he turned real life problems into mythical characters. For example, in his book, Ghosts represent.. Memories that can cme back to haunt us. It’s pretty awesome.
So anyways, I’m about halfway through that book.
And thats all.
-Julie
Ok so get this, I just finished reading “Kiss of Life” and “Maniac Magee” and now I find myself with the dire need to blog.
want the hidden message: You’ll miss Mr. Mayfield when you get in high school.
Anyway “Generation Dead” was the 2nd book in a series by some person with the last name of “Waters”. The first book is “Generation Dead”. Basically I found myself trapped into reading a book about zombies. But they had ongoing conflicts. Some cliche some not. Like it was pretty interesting when we find out they dissected a living impaired student, simply because they needed to solve death. Here’s the hidden problem with what these sociopaths did: You can’t solve death. Then to add the this tragic attempt for science they only did it because without the answer they would loose all power. So it goes to the repeated conflict of lust for power. The of course there were the EXTREMELY cliche conflicts about teenage love. (once again using the same idea about forbidden love for the 2nd time in the series.) Of course this was all wound up in many other conflicts but those two seemed worthy to make my comparison. Also there was some very perplexing characters throughout the story. We have the trusted betrayer, the hero that sacrifices themselves, another hero that is really filled with pain, the victim, the weaker one that keeps outrunning danger, the tragedy come back to life, and the beast that transforms to love. Also the plot of this story doesn’t really have a structure it continually rises and falls outta no where. Also, and Dr. Mafild you’ll love this, the point of view changes with each chapter to make sure you get 1. A view from each side of the story, and 2. a taste of each characterization.
Then something terrible happened to me @ high-school:
I lost my AR book.
-Now that put all reading on hold. (but I fixed it)
Then I got the book “Maniac Magee” to read, because it’s by Jerry Spinelli one of my favorite authors like EVER! then when in 20 minutes I read 101 pages I knew this book was WAY under my reading level, but I finished it so that on Monday I can get some quick and easy AR points. Honestly I was extremely bored with it’s simplified conflict and it’s inability to keep me entertained so I’m not gonna be like Hemingway and drag you out into my disaster of a reading experience like his disaster of obtaining pride. (Which 8th graders you will read about this Summer.)
I’m about to start a book that Heath Rylant suggested to me about the Salem Which Trials. OH YA!!
So hope your years your years going well DR. Mafild! Keep being awesome! 🙂 and don’t make the 6th graders cry too much 😉
(high V)
~Olive-A
Heather Rylant* whoops typo