reading BLOG ENTRY 5

The book I'm still reading is Dear John. And yes, it is as romantic as ever. I can't explain how touching it is for me. I really like the character John. He is so understanding even though he's a soldier! Most guys like him probably don't understand how their girlfriend feels and aren't so aware of what to do to make her feel better. But John is so sweet that in his mind, he's always thinking of how Savannah feels. And I love how the author describes how John feels so ecstatic in certain moments. Plus, I liked it when John takes Savannah to old, shaggy places that are so intimate internally; such is the Shrimp Shack, the deserted ship, and the burger shop. There is absolutely no materialism in this love story but only true, genuine love.

When I read the part about John getting frusterated at Savannah for saying that his dad was mentally ill, I felt sad myself that those two were fighting. I just wished they would stop fighting but then, I knew later that this fight would really bring them even more closer after they made up. Sometimes, fighting can really bring two people more closer because it really clears up the mess that was piled up previously. This relates to me and my mom. After we had this huge fight, I knew that from then on, we really knew about each other and that we will try our hardest to avoid frusteration.

reading BLOG ENTRY 4

I read the book Dear John by Nicolas Sparks. One thing I have to say is that I'm loving it. The author's writing style is so clear, descriptive, and understandable that I can actually feel what the characters seem to be feeling. Everything seemed so real that I got so excited while reading the book. Again, it's a love story between a soldier, John Tyree, and a college girl, Savannah Curtis. Right now, they are in the stage of dating and liking each other and thinking about each other a lot. Sometimes, when I read this book, I feel like I, myself, am in love and that some guy like John loves me back. I love it how Spark's love stories are much more realistic than other love stories that consist of wealthy people with money who are handsome and beautiful with poor but extremely fair young girls and blah blah. This story is so unmaterialistic and the conversations are amusing too.

There are so many parts of this books that I like so I must write down a few.

" 'Are you asking me out?' 'Yeah,' I admitted. 'I'll have you back tomorow whenever you want. I know you've got to work tomorow, but there's this great place that I want to show you.' 'What kind of place?' 'A local place. Specializes in seafood. But it's more of an experience.' She wrapped her arms around her knees. 'I ususally don't date strangers,' she finally said, 'and we only met yesterday. You think I can trust you?' 'I wouldn't,' I said. She laughed. 'Well in that case, I suppose I can make an exception.' 'Yeah?' 'Yeah,' she said. 'I'm a sucker for honest guys with crew cuts. What time?' " * the guy has crew cuts b/c hes a soldier.

Another fabolous imager is this part:

" Above us, a few wispy clous were spread among the stars, and the moon, still full, hovered just over the horizon. A light breeze fanned my cheek, and I could hear the ceaseless motion of the waves as they rolled up the shore. The tide had gone out, and we moved to the harder, more compact sand near the water's edge. Savannah put a hand on my shoulder for balance as she removed one sandal, then another. When she finished, I did the same, and we walked in silence for a few steps." This part is beautiful. I can just totally imagine the whole scene and the scent and the touch. I love this kind of writings: not too deep and un-understandable and beautiful in description.

reading BLOG ENTRY 3

This week, I read a short story in our little textbook called "The Bracelet" and a novel called River Boy. For the short story, "The Bracelet," it definitely connects to the time during the 2nd World War when the US put all the Japanese immigrants into concentration camps. I like it how the author's writing style is extremely clear so that I can depict the situation in my head immediately. Therefore, due to this imagery, I felt compassion for the Japanese people, even though I personally do not like Japan, especially the people. The author just depicted them as so innocent and pitiful that even I felt heart-broken when the girl had to say goodbye to her friend. I had a time during 3rd grade when I had to say goodbye to all my friends in Canada, for I had to leave for Korea. However, I never really felt sad about it; I'm not sure why. But in the story, how Ruri and Laurie were so sedate and calm made me feel jealous of their maturity. Even adults probably can't say goodbye like that. Most people would cry their hearts out and leave all teary. But these two girls said little to each other, making those words seems so precious. Plus, I loved how Laurie even walked backwards to have one last look at Ruri to wave. Maybe these two girls were just too young to understand the reality...? Anyways, I think the theme of this story is friendship, love (mentally), and separation. All these three things have to do with the relationship between Laurie and Ruri.

The novel I read called the River Boy, was also an interesting one. It wasn't all the thrilling, exciting type of book. I would have to say it was also a tranquil type. Plus, this book also deals with separation because Jess's grandpa died, who was a big part of her. But it was boring at times. The author's writing style is very easy. Everything is straightforward and the vocabulary are in the middle school level. I think this book was meant to be sad, but it wasn't because it was too dragging, dull, and obvious. It was so clear that the "boy" was the grandpa of Jess. Nothing was mysterious about this book. So I'd probably never read it again. It was just a waste of time.

reading BLOG ENTRY 2

For the second time, I read the novel, The Notebook. Honestly, I do not know why but I sort of like the movie better than the book. Maybe it is because the movie has much more dramatic events in it. However, this book is also quite amazing. I think I actually felt the passion of love between the two characters, Noah and Allie. Noah...he's just my favorite character. I have never seen anyone so devoted and romantic as him. He is a sweetheart, the kind I want to marry. I love the quote in page 164 when Noah tells Allie who she is (because she has alzheimers and can't remember and is lost....etc). He says, "You are Hannah, a lover of life, a strength to those who shared in you friendships. You are a dream, a creator of happiness, an artist who has touched a thousand souls. You've led a full life and wanted for nothing because your needs are spiritual and you have only to look inside you. You are kind and loyal, and you are able to see beauty where others do not. You are a teacher of wonderful lessons, a dreamer of better things."
I just wonder how a man could come up with such words? It was so touching that I read it over and over again.

Another section of this book I adore is the letters from Noah to Allie and Allie to Noah. They just love each other so much! And they raised their children so well! Their love story is just so amazing starting from when they first met. The letters describe what they mean to each other and how special their past is. I am so jealous of the thought that these two people, so old, could adore each other so much. This book inspired me so much. I realized that I too, should marry a man that really loves me so that we could grow old with grace, just like Noah and Allie. In Korea, I have seen many grandparents who grew old with laziness, annoyance, hatred, and absoultely no love. Some men, I can just see from their eyes and words, do not even love their wives. However, Noah and Allie represent the contrary that everyone should follow.

reading BLOG ENTRY 1

For the past two weeks, I've been reading the book, Love Story by Erich Segal. This book was written a long time ago, sometime around the 1960's and was immensely popular. Since the novel was so short and only 187 pages with very easy language, I finished it within 2 weeks. While I was reading through the book, I was quite pleased with it but didn't regard it as my favorite. There were very interesting, attractive parts about Oliver and Jenny (the two main characters). I especially liked the beginning in which they first saw each other and were having a fight in the library about how they didn't like each other but eventually went to coffee together. It was so cute. Opposites definitely attract to each other.

After finishing the novel, I was touched. So touched that I knew this book would remain as my favorite in my whole life. It was the ending that made me feel like this. The main theme or quote of the novel was "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Jenny used this quote to Oliver when he apologized his inappropriate behavior to her. However, after Jenny, the love of his life, died, Oliver finally met his dad, whom he ended contact with for a long time. When his dad said sorry for her death, Oliver replied, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." and surprisingly unlike himself, cried in his dad's arms. This was how the novel ended. It was so sweet, I can't explain how much it struck me.

People I Commented On (2nd)

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a Special Setting

There was this one setting that I personally truly liked. It was finally away from all the scientific, boring, technological areas. It was on Earth, in a place called Greensboro. This setting was the place where Ender had a quick visit on Earth before he went to Command School. The setting was a natural, tranquil place that had a white mansion that sprawled on a hill. This mansion looked over Lake Brandt on one side and a five-acre private lake on the other. The water was clean, filled with living things, and the sunlight laid upon the whole setting. There were trees, fresh air, and you could probably hear the birds chirping beautifully. I loved this setting; it would be my dream to go and live there. One of the reasons why this setting is so meaningful is because it's so pretty, relaxing, AND AWAY from the complicated machines, artificial air, and recycled water. It's finally real and not to tense and depressing like the setting in Battle and Command Schools. I actually always wanted to stay in these kind of areas all my life; it would feel like heaven :) I guess it was the perfect place for Ender and Valentine to have a sincere conversation

an Important Passage

pg. 241-242 bottom of pg. 241 to the middle of pg. 242

"I could never beat Peter. No matter what I said or did. I never could."
So it came back to Peter. "He was years older than you. And stronger."
"So are the buggers."
She could see his reasoning. Or rather his unreasoning. He could win all he wanted, but he knew in his heart that there was always someone who could destroy him. He always knew that he had not really won, becasue there was Peter, undefeated champion.
"You really want to beat Peter?" she asked.
"No," he answered.
"Beat the buggers. Then come home and see who notices Peter Wiggin anymore. Look him in the eye when all the world loves and reveres you. That'll be defeat in his eyes, Ender. That's how you win."
"You don't understand," he said.
"Yes I do."
"No you don't. I don't want to beat Peter."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want him to love me."


When I read this passage, I suddenly got flicked on. It was such a short statement, but the quick shock I received totally changed my view of the whole story. The last sentence, "I want him to love me" was the special one. I couldn't believe what I read so I read that area over and over again until it got stuck in my head. Ender wanted to make a truce between Peter. He actually wanted to have Peter love him. All this time I thought Ender abohorred and also was frightened of Peter. I thought there was a serious hate between them that Ender wanted to win. What Valentine thought up there was what I thought too. Reading this almost made me cry; it was so touching. All Ender wanted from Peter was love, but it was clearly shown and written that Peter never loved anyone but himself. Ender had and wanted affection, not only to Valentine, but to the antagonist of the book: Peter. I realized that Ender was not just a cold, boring guy who is just a genius; he was a child, an innocent boy who's reaching out for love. This passage was quite meaningful; so touching and finally not about the subject of futuristic battles/war.
This scene reminds me of little children who just want love from their parent so much, but the parent doesn't give them that love because of work, apathy, or other personal reasons. I have always felt sorry for those children; they would always have a hard time growing up. For example, in the movie Nanny Diaries, the boy was so cute and was so reaching out to his dad, but his self-centered, selfish father was so careless and annoyed for his own family.

the Mood

The mood of the book Ender's Game is depressing, stressful, and desperate. The stress also made me extremely stressed while I was just reading. It mostly came from all the pressure and fatigue Ender felt when he was manipulated and pushed by the teachers. The burdensome and extremely challanging battles and games just never seemed to end. It kept coming and coming with more difficulty as time progressed. The rules were broken and going crazy while everything was so complex. Ender had to go through all this, as a commander and soldier, plus the isolation he had to face. Graff planned Ender to be isolated continuously; adding on to that, there was an "anti-Ender" group who seriously wanted to kill him. Bonzo and his cronies and friends all loathed Ender so that made Ender's isolation much more deeper. All of these obstacles made the mood stressful for Ender and the reader; they also describe how the atmosphere was also depressing. But how the Battle School and Command School felt so cold contributed to the depression. It seemed like there were no warm feelings anywhere Ender went. There was no affection at all. It was just all battles, battles, games, games. As for the desperate mood, it's because the book gradually gets more and more tense. The games get more and more stressful and difficult. The world needs Ender more and more. Everything was and went in a hurry. During the last battle, the mood was especially urgent.
However, I never found the novel saddening. Just because the atmosphere was depressing, anxious, and urgent, it doesn't mean that the atmosphere was sad. Sad, to me, means tears or death. This novel was just tense and full of pressure.

the Main Characters

Ender
Ender is the main character in the book that is the third born child of a family. He has a violent, strong brother named Peter and a mild, sweet sister named Valentine. The only true person that Ender loved was Valentine whilePeter was mainly one of the people who bullied Ender and possibly the only one who Ender is scared of. During the days Ender lived in, couples could not have more than two children so Ender had to experience constant bullying from others. Ender is the type of boy who does not want others to look down on him so he knows exactly what to do. Sometimes he can be the kind, gentle boy while in other occasions, he automatically turns ruthless and violent to protect himself. He is both alike in Valentine's and Peter's personality; however, whenever he knows he instinctively becomes like Peter, he becomes stressed and hates himself for being like that. For example, after he beat up Stilson and Bonzo, he felt guilty and depressed for quite a while and the memories kept returning to haunt him.
Ender is the genius that can understand people's minds which leads him to win in fights, whether it is a conversation or battle. At such a young age, he started to direct his own Dragon Army and wherever he goes, there always is something. He thinks immensely carefully and profoundly compared to what a six year old can be; he talks, speaks, and thinks almost like an adult. As his life progresses in Battle School, he knows that he is constantly manipulated and pressured by the teachers. However, he realizes that the manipulation is necessary and that he has to play the games. Ender is extremely intelligent in many ways which leads him to be the hero of the world . Even though he is supposed to be elated and proud of himself, he is not and keeps stressing over his murderous mind. When Ender finds a queen cacoon and his compassion leads him to repay his destruction and faults to the buggers, I think he finds his true happiness with Valentine.
Even though Ender is a nice, smart guy, I don't really like him because he's too perfect and seems to barely have affection towards others except Valentine. In my opinion, Ender reveals to us that there are times when we are forced to do something important and we feel depressed over what we are doing and just want to give up. However, this experience can be a lesson for us and that it will truly help us earning our true bliss of the world.

Valentine
Valentine is the sweetest and mildest of all the 3 siblings. She truly loves Ender with all her heart and is the only one that actually feels that way. She knows that Peter owns a ridiculous, violent mind that threatens to kill her and Ender which leads her to be always protective her younger brother with all her heart. Even when Ender was gone to Battle School, she secretly celebrated his birthday and helped save Ender a couple times from a mental breakdown. She only thinks good of him and always is compassionate towards most things.
As Valentine lived in Earth with Peter, she decides to plan with him to change the political world of the earth. Having an incognito Demosthenes, she turns out to write better than Peter and influence many people. As time passed, she gradually earned more and more power as she also worked under Peter's orders. She actually liked the control and saw no reason why she would want to stop her job as Demosthenes and a writer. However, she eventually did not fall for the total power Peter wanted but worked with Ender to colonize the bugger worlds to make a free, real land.
Valentine is one of my favorite characters in the novel. She is so sweet, compassionate, and especially towards the end she was so confident, sure, and righteous. In my opinion, she reveals to me that loyalty, love, and faith will always last till the end, no matter what changes you are going through.

Peter
Peter is the oldest sibling among the three and without doubt, the most violent and and brutal. He has absolutely no morality but is fascinatingly good at manipulation; he even influenced Valentine to work with him. Killing Ender and Valentine was probably a choice that he could have done. His self-centered mind only acts to benefit himself and use other people to satisfy him. He never thinks about others and always has this dark, deep, corruption inside of him that works together with his intelligence. While he acted as Locke, his greediness for immense world power eventually leads him to becoming the Hegemon. However, he does that through the Locke proposal which is barely like him at all.
Obviously, I don't like Peter. He's way to greedy and self-centered. How can he think of killing his own siblings? I wonder how if he even felt a tinge of compassion or guilt right before he died. Oppositely from Ender and Valentine, Peter reveals to me a dark, evil side of the world. He represents how people's greeds have no limitations.

Colonel Graff
Colonel Graff was the head of Battle School who mostly expected something from Ender. He was the one who constantly manipulated Ender and stressed him to the top that even I felt stressed reading. However, regardless of the depressing jobs he assigns to Ender, he still loves him very much. He was with Ender from the beginning of Battle School to the end of battles. I think Graff was a serious workaholic; he never seemed to rest. Plus, he got fatter every time and he never cared about his appearances.
Graff was an okay guy. To me, he just seemed so hostile whenever he said he will pressure Ender more and more. He should have thought more about Ender's feelings and not only about his concerns. Nevertheless, he became better towards the end when I saw the deep, affectionate feelings he actually had. Graff reveals that the diligent, passionate workers of the world that eventually earn what they worked for.

the Entry of My Choice

For the entry of my choice, I was want to talk about some thoughts I had in mind as I was reading the book.

When Ender was in a room after the major battle, that destroyed the buggers completely, he slept and rested. Later, his close friends Alai, Bean, Petra, and Dink all came in to see him but when Petra and Dink entered, it was written that they were holding hands. Did they have a relationship? If they were, I think it would have been really cute because their "kind of" different personalities would have made a cute match. I think this book could have been better if there was a bit of a love plot because all the scientific battles and boring plots were truly never-ending and just time consuming. The book was a bit too long; overall, I did not like this novel at all. The story seemed so fake and "staged" with Ender being a genius who could do EVERYTHING. He was too smart and too mature; there were no cute childish scenes. I also found the book somewhat repetitive. Ender had the same battles (obviously winning all the time) and played that fairy game over and over again. I don't think I felt any ups and tensions until the climax.
About love plots, I thought there was a love story between Ender and Valentine. They definitely did not seem like siblings and they way they shared a conversation was so truthful, deep, mature, and full of intense love that I truly thought that there would be some drama between them. Whenever they were together, it felt like they were seriously a young couple.

the Climax

The climax of the book is when Ender is fighting the major game in the Command School, which he is tricked into thinking that it is his final examination. The major turning point is when he defeats the buggers and is told that the games he was playing in Command School were actual real battles of the Third Invasion; so that game was the final battle of the Third Invasion.
To defeat the buggers, Ender commanded to blow up the main land/world of the buggers (where the queens are) and destroyed every one of them completely. Finally, all the conflicts were over.

This is the climax because it is when Ender makes his most significant decision. Even though he is sick of all the games and on the verge of giving up to go home he rather wanted to win unfairly than to be defeated unfairly. So he made that important decision of blowing up that bugger home planet with his special tactics. This decision solved the major conflicts of the book: the war between buggers and humans which Ender has to win to save the humans as well as the problems with Ender and games. It is another reason for why the part was a climax.
Also, this scene was tensest part of the whole book (another characteristic of a climax) and it made me curious to keep reading. The enemies seemed so powerful compared to Ender's tiny army, which built up the suspense. Plus, the suspicious response and atmosphere of the officers made things much more tense. Also, it included the major turning point; it turned 180. The problems of Ender and his constant, stressful games were at the highest point because it was his last game regarding buggers, battles, and commanding.

the Second Book

posts above are regarding my second blogging book

ENDER'S GAME
ENDER'S GAME
ENDER'S GAME

MYTH ENTRY #3

If I were a Greek goddess....

I would like to be the goddess of mentalness and feelings. I would like to have the qualities of knowing anyone's feelings, thoughts, imagines, and motive just by looking at or touching them. So then if I was talking with someone, I would know exactly what they are truly thinking; whether they are thinking in true agreeance, annoyance, or indifference.
As for power, I could make a person change their sentiments and motives and suddenly make them be on my side when they were the opponents. Also, I would like to have this psychic blast so that I could knock off anyone that I liked.
If I were the goddess of feelings and of the mental world, then I would truly be in whole charge of the world. I could make anything do what I wanted :). I could get all the wealth I wanted by making a rich person have feelings of want to sacrifice money instead of animals to me. Or I could just make them hand over anything. In addition, I could make all the ones who hate me to love me. I would just have too much power and control.

As for physical appearances, I would like to be in a ritzy, exquisite, comfortable clothing or I would also love to wear pretty, 'well-heeled' pajamas. More importantly, I MUST need white, gorgeous wings so that I could fly, enjoy the wind and weather. My uniqueness would be to look like a normal human with wings so that people will mistaken me when we get encountered. I do not want to look like a monster/beast. Also, I would carry around a little wand or a cute teddy bear.

MYTH ENTRY #2

Argus Panoptes :((

This monster had hundred eyes all over his body ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). He was a guard in the greek mythologies. One of the tales claim that he went to kill a bull that was destroying Arcadia ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). There is not much tales about him regarding terroizing humans or causing much trouble. However, the significant and symbol story of this monster is the story of Io:

One day, Zeus was having an affair with a woman named Io. Hera, however, found out about this enraging act and got burned up. Zeus knowing that Hera discovered it, turn Io into a heifer for her safety("Argus in Greek Mythology"). Hera, who was quite jealous and full of bitterness towards Io, handed her over to Argus to keep guard ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). Zeus, who was not at all pleased and felt pity for his mistress, ordered his cunning servant Hermes to go and kill Argus ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). Hermes was dressed as a shepard and went to do his duty ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). There are different versions of the death of Argus by Hermes. But the most well-known story is that Hermes put the monster Argus to sleep with charms then quickly killed him ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). In the end, Hera lost the perfect, ideal guard. So to tay tribute and to commemorate her guard, she put all of Argus's eyes on the tail of a peacock, her favorite bird ("Argus in Greek Mythology"). Thus, Argus earned immortality ("Argus in Greek Mythology").

"Argus in Greek Mythology." Mythography. 2008. Loggia.com. 11 Mar 2008 http://www.loggia.com/myth/argus.html.

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MYTH ENTRY #1

APOLLO ;)


This god was the god of SUN, light, truth, prophecy, archery, medicine, healing, medicine, music (especially the lyre), poetry, and the arts ("Apollo"). Apollo was a cute, hot god with curly golden hair and was considered one of the most powerful ("Apollo"). His dad was Zeus and his mom was a nymph called Leto; however, when Hera found out about Zeus's affair, she was outraged and persuaded the earth to forbid Leto into labor ("Apollo"). Fortunately, Leto found a new island called Delos and gave birth to twins: Apollo and Artemis (Regula). Since he was a son of Zeus, he is born a god.

One of the most significant similiarity between Hercules and Apollo is their strength and looks. Hercules was immensely powerful with bulky muscles and so is Apollo (one of the reasons why Apollo is considered in the range of important gods). They both are good looking too. Hercules was so popular to girls in the movie and Apollo was always considered the male beauty of the gods ("Apollo"). They have fit bodies and have their own kind of attractive atmosphere.
Apollo's personality is more of an arrogant, proud, and romantic type.
Hercules is more gullible, smily, articulate, funny, and kind. Apollo has a extremely strong will and self-respect. If things did not go the way he wanted them to be, he always fought back ("Apollo"). He would just kill everyone he didn't approve of. For example, he did not like the Greek so he shot arrows of plague at them to suffer. He also flayed a satyr called Marsyas because Marsyas challanged him for music. So his stories and life was quite different from Hercules.
Hercules was a hero who saved people, not killed them (like Apollo), and worked hard. On the other hand, Apollo was a god who could do whatever he wanted; he barely worked.
Another major difference these two characters is the love life. Hercules had only one lover, Meg, and stayed with her till the end. However, Apollo was like a serial dater. He had no marriages but many women in his life. He was with these following women: Cassandra, Daphne, Calliope, Leucothea, Castalia, Hecuba, Coronis, and Acantha ("Apollo"). A LOT of women. Surprisingly he was a by too. Some of his male lovers were Hyacinth and Cyparrissus ("Apollo"). However, they are both similar in the fact that they have very strong affections when in love with someone.

Lastly, they lives are different in their actions. Hercules went around, killed monsters, and saved a town from danger. In the movie, he became the ultimate hero of the city, town, and country. However, as for Apollo, he never killed a monster to save humans. He mostly killed humans since he did not like many people.


1. "Apollo." Wikipedia. 8 March 2008. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 10 Mar 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo.

2. deTraci, Regula. "Fast Facts on Apollo." About.com. 2008. The New York Times Company. 10 Mar 2008 . http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythapollo.htm

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People I Commented On

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the ENTRY of MY CHOICE :))

For my very last entry, I have decided to respond to my overall feelings of this book, Fahrenheit 451.

To be honest, I actually like this book ;). Even though the genre is science fiction, which I don't read because it's boring, and that the setting is like weird, it was much better than I thought. Normally, I hate futuristic and technological topics (because they sound so hard and without any affection) but this book was pretty okay. In the beginning of the first few pages, I have to admit it was pretty flat and made me go to sleep. However, as the story progressed, it made me more and more curious. For example, when Beatty came over to Montag's house, it was pretty chaotic. And when Montag arrived at his own house to burn, that was such a tense excitement. I kept thinking, what's going to happen? Why? Who called the alarm? Will he burn it? The tenseness and excitement was quite high and I loved how I began to understand step by step. In the beginning, I barely knew what was going on and I felt so stuffed. However, it all began to unfold a bit by bit, which brought the fun of this book.
Despite the fun stimulation, I don't truly like the characters. They are all kind of weird, except Granger and Clarisse. Even they don't satisfy my thoughts. I wish there was someone attractive and strong that has a fine, elegant mood. Someone that is a little bit quiet, not like Clarisse because she's too weak. And not like Granger because he's too hoboish (Someone like Jude law :) Maybe it's just because of the setting of the future days that the characters are all weird and not like the ideal person nowadays.
Anyhow, I still like this book a lot :). It shows and teaches a lot of things. I hope to read it again sometime.

the PASSAGE

Montag placed his hand on the woman's elbow. "You can come with me."

"No," she said. "Thank you, anyway."

"I'm counting to ten," said Beatty. "One. Two."

"Please," said Montag.

"Go on," said the woman.

"Three. Four."

"Here." Montag pulled at the woman.

The woman replied quietly, "I want to stay here."
"Five. Six."
"You can stop counting," she said. She opened the fingers of one hand slightly and in the palm of the hand was a single slender object.
An ordinary kitchen match.
The sight of it rushed the men out and down away from the house. Captain Beatty, keeping his dignity, backed slowly throught the front door, his pink face burnt and shiny from a thousand fires and night excitements......
"Go on," said the woman, and Montag felt himself back away and away out the door, after Beatty, down the steps, across the lawn......
On the front porch where she had come to weigh them quietly with her eyes, her quietness a condemnation, the woman stood motionless. Beatty flicked his fingers to spark the kerosene.
He was too late. Montag gasped. The woman on the porch reached out with contempt to them all and struck the kitchen match against the railing.

pg 39,40

Everytime I read this passage and part, I always feel moved, compassion, and also awed. The woman just brings me these burst of emotions. Her passion just fascinates me. How could she feel so passionate about the books, her life, and the world? How could she be so confident, strong, sure, and CALM? Most people would scream, yell, cry, and go hesterical. However, there is something about this woman. Just, what made her into that? This passage is so meaningful to me because this woman is my hero. So unafraid, so brave, so strong. It was probably the books and novels that changed her life and aspects. She seemed she knew it was going to happen and she was so ready for it. I did not know how one's belief can make one be so mentally and spiritually burly, courageous, and changed. I can understand when Montag felt so bad, ripped, and stressed over this woman.

This woman reminds me of the believers in the old European times when they were martyred and burned at steak. They were confident and did not give up on their beliefs for death. They stood strong and stiff till the very end; I wish I could become like them.

the THEME

The theme of this book is,

Censorship is an idea and factor leads to laziness, apathy, a meaningless world, and destruction of books.

Ray Bradbury has made book burning or the banning of books represent the censorship occuring in books in the real world. He was definitely against the blackout and restriction because he thought the world would end up like the world in Fahrenheit 451.

There were three main reasons for the result of censorship. It was the indifference in reading books, the want of full happiness, and how some people hated books.

In this whole story, the society, world, and people do not even care about books. This was mostly due to the strong, new interest towards technology, entertainment, and speed. Everyone loved the 'parlor' and the Seashell radios. Montag's wife, Mildred, especially loveddd them; people were just totally addicted! Since those new things were so interesting and fun, nobody spent time reading and caring for them. Also, everthing was done so fast, especially the cars. In that high speed, nobody would take slow time reading, concentrating and thinking.

Secondly, the world wanted full happiness. For that bliss, the world would not want to ponder and dig through the complications of books. It was just too stressful, worrying, and overwhelming to think about it. So to get rid of that, the government banned books, or in the real world, censored them.

Thirdly, before the banning of books, it was told once in the novel that some people were offended by books. They did not like the opinions and thoughts of novels.

In the book, these seemed like the factors that led to book banning. Similarly with the same reasons in the real world, Bradbury has seen that people were changing and did not want to think. So they started to censor, censor, and censor the precious books. This censoring hides, tears out, and totally takes parts out of the book. Therefore, this action will eventually lead to the loss of truth and meaning of books. Burning books represents this censoring because censoring is similar to destroying and getting rid of books.

So, like what happened in the story censoring will make the world lazy, apathy, meaningless, and unhappy. Everyone was just stuck onto the technology and thought that they were happy, but actually, in truth, none of them were.

This theme is important to teenagers in the present world. Nowadays, teens do not want to think deep but to just read quickly. Everyone wants to be happy and not spend time reading the long books. They just want to read condensed and censored books; it's so much easier! And teens especially, are getting more and more addicted to technology, not novels. So this theme is especially significant to teens because they (we) are gradually getting more and more like the people and society in Fahrenheit 451, that should be avoided.

the CLIMAX

The climax of this story is when Montag burns and kills Beatty, his boss. It was around when the firemen had to go a house to burn the books when Montag realized that it was his own house. Mildred had betrayed him and called the alarm; Montag had no choice but to burn everything. After Beatty places Montag under arrest, he gets hold of the radio Faber had given Montag and tells him that he will trace it and find whoever it is. At last, Beatty gives another small talk and a quote, but then... Montag fires from his flamethrower he held in his hands and burns Beatty to DEATH. Easily, he knocks down the other firemen and runs away with a shot of anesthetic in his leg from a Hound.

This part is so totally the climax because it is the massive turning point. Who would have imagined Montag murdering his captain?? Just running away could have been a possible thought for readers, but killing? I guess he had to make the most significant decision to either hand himself over or kill or try to escape. It was exceedingly tense to read this part. I read it over and over again to make sure if it was true. The description was just, gross.

the CHARACTERS

Guy
Guy Montag is the official, primary character in the novel. He is the protagonist; however, he is sometimes tempted and led to the wrong areas. His occupation is a fireman, to set books on fire in the midnight while he is also the husband of Mildred. Later in the story, he gets tangled in the secrets and complexity of books and the meaning of the world, which causes him to constantly be in conflicts of frustration and questions.
Personally, I diapprove of him; he is irritating and sometimes tactless in his ways. Even though he tries to discover the goodness and beauty of books and the world, he is also incredibly dumb. He is short-tempered, does not think about his consequences, and is too gullible or affected. For example, he loses himself between the lectures of Beatty and Faber after all the time he spent pondering and being determined. He murders and blames his hands/legs for what he is doing, which is extremely lame.
Despite those characteristics, what he tries to reveal about the universal human experience is to not give up just because it is difficult. Keep on trying to realize what one needs to know, then one can find his/her's own happiness and path.

Mildred
Mildred Montag is the wife of Guy. She is like a total addict of the 'parlor', also known as the 3-walled TV. In the soap operas she watches, she is totally stuck to the 'families' more than her husband. She even betrays her husband after Guy tried to truly bond in affection and trust her fully; what kind of wife is that? She is an iceberg that is emotionless and so far away. Also, I realized that she actually tried to suicide when she ate all the sleeping pills. This could show her internal agony and hopelessness to solve her problems like her husband. Her addiction to the TV seems like she is using it to gulp down her true feelings that she does not want to face and using it to put on a smile that is truly not a real one.
So this is why I abhor her; so dumb, tactless, unaware, and weak. I just want to shake her and make her realize that she needs to truly wake up. In my opinion, I think she is trying to reveal to us to not avoid the problems we need to face. If we do, then we could end up like her, in an distant world.

Beatty
He is the captain of the fire department and also the antagonist of the story. Some time before in his life, he was extremely passionate about books, literature, and the truth of the universe, which led him to have an immense knowledge books. He is extremely complicated; sometimes he seems to be passionate about books, later he seems angry with books, and then he seems satisfied with books and his world (especially the time when he gave that long lecture to Guy when Guy was sick). However, it is clearly shown that he prefers the world with pleasure and without worries, which makes him just like the society Guy lives in.
This is why I loathe him. He especially got on my nerves when Guy had to burn his house. If he is the leader of book burning, then why does he keep using quotes from books? Why does he keep trying to ignore the universe when he knows what is in the books?
In my opinion, I think Beatty is trying to reveal to us that there are people who try to make everyone else to be unaware of the truth just because they do not want it known.

Clarisse MClellan
Clarisse is the girl who lived in Montag's neighbor. She is a beautiful, but pale, 17-year-old girl who has deep conversations with Guy. She was the first person to hint or show Guy about the world's truth and beauty. Her inquiring mind and sweet peacefulness is so much different from others. She also has a close relationship with the nature, such as tasting rain and playing with flowers. Even though the society does not like or care for her, she and her peculiar family are so much happier. Guy cannot help feeling attracted to her; her gentleness and knowledge of the world is so amazing.
I like her, a lot. She is so much different from the world, so smart, hopeful, and bliss. I don't think she was ever a pessimist! The fact that she is not at all ashamed of her identity is so sweet and charming to me. In my opinion, she reveals to us many things. However, I think the main idea is to not be a pessimist, but be an optimist even though you are different because happiness is all that matters.

Faber
Faber is the professor that Guy first met in a park. He is the person who understands the meaning of books and tries to persuade Guy into his side, not Beatty's. He helps Guy with the plan of books and the scene when escaping. Sometimes, he can be a coward, but at other times he can be pretty smart and confident.
I don't have strong, passionate feelings for his character. Sometimes, I feel pity for him for his cowardness. Other times, I cheer for him due to his smart knowledge. So my feelings are quite in the middle for him. He is trying to reveal about the human experience that it's okay to be a coward because some day, you might be a helpful use to the world.

Granger
Granger is the leader of the group of book-lover hobos Guy met when he escaped from the city after his murder. The group he was in charge of included people who all had memorized or known books in their heads. He is hopeful and quite sure that one day, the world will come to an end of forbidding books. When that happens, he claims he will write them and show the truth of the world and of books.
I am in love with his character. He seems so attractive and sure of his thoughts. He is manly, unafraid of things, patient, and intelligent. Also, he owns his gentle personality and does not have one of those crazy moments all characters have in this novel. In my opinion, I believe he is trying to reveal to us that there is always hope and that it helps to cling on to something you truly believe about.

the MOOD

The overall atmosphere of the book, Fahrenheit 451, was serious, bewildered, and foreboding. From the first page of the book to the very last page, everything seemed so humorless and weighty. There was not one second when I read and laughed at some kind of cheerfulness. Guy Montag was constantly in a situation of deep thoughts or anxiety. He was always in conflicts, questioning himself and the world, for the truth. Confusion of the world and the reality of books kept the bewilderment going. Therefore, this seriousness and bewilderment also kind of contributed to the foreboding mood of the book. There always seemed to have a hidden secret, which felt somewhat evil and dangerous. For example, when Montag first encountered the Hound, the growling and hostile response showed the foreboding mood automatically.

Even though this novel did contain an immensely dark image, it actually did not depress or sadden me. Most of the time, I just felt curious of what will happen next and of what the real truth is that kept making my understandings vague. The dark images and mood of the novel were not melancholy; it felt more of a mysterious and evil type. Plus, almost everyone in the story, except for the 'normal' characters seemed to be out of their minds and have no genuine feelings. There was no mourning from them, which is the only factor that saddens me in novels.