Reading log 1
Text Title: The Body
Author: Stephen King
Text type: Novel
"The body" is a short novel written by Stephen King. It is in a book of 4 different stories called 'Different Seasons' which take more of a dramatic turn rather than the horror that he usually writes. It is about four, twelve years old best friends, Chris Chambers, Gordie Lachance, Vern Tessio and Teddy Duchamp, who go out to find the body of a kid who has been missing and presumed dead.
The theme of friendship is shown throughout the book. Although the boys are very different to each other, they still have a very strong and trusting bond. They were able to be very open and honest about themselves to each other. Chris really looks out for his friends in a way a brother would, he was "the best at making peace". He tackled Teddy to the ground to stop him for trying to play chicken with an oncoming train and when Gordie breaks down about how his parents neglecting him, Chris says this "Kids lose everything unless there's someone there to look out for them. And if your parents are too messed up to do it, then maybe I should." It shows how much he really cares for Gordie and his well being. This can relate to me because of my close relationship with my friends. We do anything and everything to make sure one another is happy just like the four boys. Growing up is tough but the friends you have at a young age are friends for life.
Throughout the story we learn that 2 boys, Gordie and Teddy, suffer from neglect and abuse. Teddy's father had held his head down on the stove for about 10 seconds each side and burnt his ears. And Gordie's parents ignore and neglect him because of the death of his big brother, Dennis. In one part of the story, the boys are in a junkyard. The groundskeeper yells at them and starts talking really bad about Teddy's dad and that makes Teddy really mad. A quote from this part is "it was weird to me how Teddy could care so much about his father, who practically tried to kill him. And I couldn't give a damn about my old man, and he hadn't laid a hand on me since I was three! And that was for eating the bleach under the sink". Although I can not relate to this personally, I still hear about people who are neglected and abused. From the years 2007 to 2011, 843 children aged 0-14, were admitted to hospital with injuries from either assault, neglect or maltreatment. Which relates back to Gordie and Teddy because of the abuse they both receive.
Overall, This book is a tale about coming of age, friendships and tragedy. They learn life lessons and discover how cruel but wondrous life can be.
"The body" is a short novel written by Stephen King. It is in a book of 4 different stories called 'Different Seasons' which take more of a dramatic turn rather than the horror that he usually writes. It is about four, twelve years old best friends, Chris Chambers, Gordie Lachance, Vern Tessio and Teddy Duchamp, who go out to find the body of a kid who has been missing and presumed dead.
The theme of friendship is shown throughout the book. Although the boys are very different to each other, they still have a very strong and trusting bond. They were able to be very open and honest about themselves to each other. Chris really looks out for his friends in a way a brother would, he was "the best at making peace". He tackled Teddy to the ground to stop him for trying to play chicken with an oncoming train and when Gordie breaks down about how his parents neglecting him, Chris says this "Kids lose everything unless there's someone there to look out for them. And if your parents are too messed up to do it, then maybe I should." It shows how much he really cares for Gordie and his well being. This can relate to me because of my close relationship with my friends. We do anything and everything to make sure one another is happy just like the four boys. Growing up is tough but the friends you have at a young age are friends for life.
Throughout the story we learn that 2 boys, Gordie and Teddy, suffer from neglect and abuse. Teddy's father had held his head down on the stove for about 10 seconds each side and burnt his ears. And Gordie's parents ignore and neglect him because of the death of his big brother, Dennis. In one part of the story, the boys are in a junkyard. The groundskeeper yells at them and starts talking really bad about Teddy's dad and that makes Teddy really mad. A quote from this part is "it was weird to me how Teddy could care so much about his father, who practically tried to kill him. And I couldn't give a damn about my old man, and he hadn't laid a hand on me since I was three! And that was for eating the bleach under the sink". Although I can not relate to this personally, I still hear about people who are neglected and abused. From the years 2007 to 2011, 843 children aged 0-14, were admitted to hospital with injuries from either assault, neglect or maltreatment. Which relates back to Gordie and Teddy because of the abuse they both receive.
Overall, This book is a tale about coming of age, friendships and tragedy. They learn life lessons and discover how cruel but wondrous life can be.
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22.6.17
Reading log 2
Text Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E Hinton
Text Type: Novel
The Outsiders is about a gang of teenagers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who have a constant rivalry with the Socials, also know as the rich kids of the south side. When two Greasers Ponyboy and Johnny get into a fight that results in the death of a soc, Bob, the two boys go into hiding at an old abandoned church in Windrixville. Ponyboy and Johnny, as well as Dallas and their other Greaser buddies, Steve, Two-Bit, Sodapop and Darry, must cope with the consequences of their violent lives. While some Greasers try to achieve redemption, others meet tragic ends.
It got me thinking about the social classes that we still have to this day. The socs think they are high and mighty and have power over the greasers because the socs are rich and the greasers are poor. We see this when Ponyboy says "No rival gangs, only Socs. And you can't win against them no matter how hard you try, because they've got all the breaks and even whipping them isn't going to change that fact" and when Randy says to Pony "You can't win, even if you whip us. You'll still be where you were before- at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing. We'll forget it if you win or if you don't. Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be socs." At this part, I think Ponyboy means that your social status is the deciding factor in every situation. This relates to society because of the discrimination that is shown towards black people. White people thought and some still think that white people are superior to black people because they were different than them. They had less money and had less of an influence to the society which relates back to the greasers and the socs.
Loyalty, self sacrifice and honor is a also a huge theme in The Outsiders. We hear about how Darry had to turn down his scholarship to college so that he could support his two younger brothers after their parents had died. Dally also risks quite a lot for loyalty. He could have gone to prison for hiding Johnny and Ponyboy after the incident but instead he risked it and gave them get away money and a place to go. I can relate because I too have had to risk things for the ones I love. “ When you’re in a gang, you stick up for the other members. If you don’t stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn’t a gang anymore.” I think this means that when you are in a gang, you are as close as family and in this case all the family that the boys have, then you would do anything for them, including murder.
Overall, The Outsiders is a great book about brotherhood and loyalty and full of adventure. It covers themes such as two groups divided because of wealth. I highly recommend this book.
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Reading log 3
Text Title: A League of their Own
Director: Penny Marshall
Text Type: Film
A League of their Own is a movie directed by Penny Marshall. It is about two sister, Dottie and Kit, who join the All American Girl Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in 1943.
Sexism and stereotyping is a big theme in this movie. The whole team have to deal with men saying that baseball is a man sport and women can't play. Nowadays, people still think that there are things that men can do that females cannot. It made me disgusted because of the sexist things that were said. In a scene where the girls are about to play their first game, the audience laugh and mock them by saying things like "what makes you think you can play baseball?" One guy even goes as far as to get up in front of everyone and yell "Girls can't play ball" he mocks them by saying "look at me, i'm a ball player, i'm a ball player. Gotta look out, I might break a nail." Women still struggle with this issue even after almost 80 years. At the end of 2016, the USA Women's National Soccer Team, hit headlines because of their uproar with equality. They demanded that they get paid the same as the men's team. In the end, the girls soccer team got a raise, bigger bonuses and the same per diems as the men. Just like how the Rockford Peaches got accepted for who they are and what they play.
Overall, I feel that this movie is really empowering for women. It shows that women are capable of doing the same things that men can do, even if its a game that 'only men play'. A league of their own is not only important to pop culture but also to the real life women who played in the AAGPBL.
Reading log 4
The basketball diaries is a book turned movie by Jim Carroll and directed by Scott Kalvert. It is a edited collection of the diaries that Jim Carroll wrote between the ages twelve to sixteen. He talks about his daily life, his high school team and his addiction to heroin.
Jim Carroll was very addicted to drugs. Such as marijuana, heroin and alcohol. He was kicked out of school and his home because of his problem. This can relate to society because in 1 year about 1.3 million teenagers have an addiction problem. This movie made me feel scared and worried for the teenagers who go through addiction and how easy it is for them to get into the bad habit of doing such things. Jim says: "First, it's a Saturday night thing when you feel cool like a gangster or a rockstar- just something to kill the boredom, you know? They call it a chippie, a small habit. It feels so good, you start doing it on Tuesdays... then Thursdays... then it's got you."
Reading log 5
'Where is the love' is a song written and composed by the Black eyed Peas and released in June of 2003. It covers social issues such as terrorism, racism, gang crime, war, and violence against LGBT people.
One social issue that is talked about in the song is terrorism. "Overseas,we try to stop terrorism but we still got terrorists here livin'
in the USA." In 20 16, there were about 11,072 terrorist attacks that happened worldwide, resulting in more than 25,600 total deaths and more than 33,800 people injured. The song made me feel sad about the cruel world that we actually live in. Although it will never be a safe or secure society, we can still help to make it better.
"But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate" Racism is also a theme in the song. Racism has been around for hundreds of years and still goes in to this day. Out of 5,818 hate crimes in 2015, 3,432 of those were crimes committed because of someones race and ethnicity. On the 6th of August 2017, an improvised explosive went off in a church while Muslims were inside, luckily no one was injured. Police are investigating whether it was a hate crime or not, most evidence s, it was. It makes me sad that after years and years of being together on Earth, people still discriminate others and are racially bias.
Overall, the song is very important and empowering. It sends a powerful message about how bad this world is and if something doesn't change fast hen who knows what will happen.
Submitted: 12.8.17
'Imperfect' is the new perfect is a song written and composed by Caitlin Crosby in 2009.
A League of their Own is a movie directed by Penny Marshall. It is about two sister, Dottie and Kit, who join the All American Girl Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in 1943.
Sexism and stereotyping is a big theme in this movie. The whole team have to deal with men saying that baseball is a man sport and women can't play. Nowadays, people still think that there are things that men can do that females cannot. It made me disgusted because of the sexist things that were said. In a scene where the girls are about to play their first game, the audience laugh and mock them by saying things like "what makes you think you can play baseball?" One guy even goes as far as to get up in front of everyone and yell "Girls can't play ball" he mocks them by saying "look at me, i'm a ball player, i'm a ball player. Gotta look out, I might break a nail." Women still struggle with this issue even after almost 80 years. At the end of 2016, the USA Women's National Soccer Team, hit headlines because of their uproar with equality. They demanded that they get paid the same as the men's team. In the end, the girls soccer team got a raise, bigger bonuses and the same per diems as the men. Just like how the Rockford Peaches got accepted for who they are and what they play.
Overall, I feel that this movie is really empowering for women. It shows that women are capable of doing the same things that men can do, even if its a game that 'only men play'. A league of their own is not only important to pop culture but also to the real life women who played in the AAGPBL.
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Reading log 4
Text Title:The Basketball Diaries
Director: Scott Kalvert
Text Type: Film
The basketball diaries is a book turned movie by Jim Carroll and directed by Scott Kalvert. It is a edited collection of the diaries that Jim Carroll wrote between the ages twelve to sixteen. He talks about his daily life, his high school team and his addiction to heroin.
Jim Carroll was very addicted to drugs. Such as marijuana, heroin and alcohol. He was kicked out of school and his home because of his problem. This can relate to society because in 1 year about 1.3 million teenagers have an addiction problem. This movie made me feel scared and worried for the teenagers who go through addiction and how easy it is for them to get into the bad habit of doing such things. Jim says: "First, it's a Saturday night thing when you feel cool like a gangster or a rockstar- just something to kill the boredom, you know? They call it a chippie, a small habit. It feels so good, you start doing it on Tuesdays... then Thursdays... then it's got you."
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Text Title: Where is the love?
Artist: Black Eyed Peas
Text Type: Song
Submitted: 10.8.17'Where is the love' is a song written and composed by the Black eyed Peas and released in June of 2003. It covers social issues such as terrorism, racism, gang crime, war, and violence against LGBT people.
One social issue that is talked about in the song is terrorism. "Overseas,we try to stop terrorism but we still got terrorists here livin'
in the USA." In 20 16, there were about 11,072 terrorist attacks that happened worldwide, resulting in more than 25,600 total deaths and more than 33,800 people injured. The song made me feel sad about the cruel world that we actually live in. Although it will never be a safe or secure society, we can still help to make it better.
"But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate" Racism is also a theme in the song. Racism has been around for hundreds of years and still goes in to this day. Out of 5,818 hate crimes in 2015, 3,432 of those were crimes committed because of someones race and ethnicity. On the 6th of August 2017, an improvised explosive went off in a church while Muslims were inside, luckily no one was injured. Police are investigating whether it was a hate crime or not, most evidence s, it was. It makes me sad that after years and years of being together on Earth, people still discriminate others and are racially bias.
Overall, the song is very important and empowering. It sends a powerful message about how bad this world is and if something doesn't change fast hen who knows what will happen.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Reading log 6
Text Title: Imperfect is the new perfect
Artist: Caitlin Crosby
Text Type: Song
Submitted: 12.8.17
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Julia ,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you included a quote for why it teachers teenagers to stand up for what they believe in. I think your reading blog would be stronger if you included a personal quote. Other than that your work is good and interesting :)