A Clockwork Orange 11

I have to admit that I did laugh a little bit when Alex got beaten up by the old men in the library and I also felt bad for him at the same time and that's actually a good thing because the author wrote this novel so well that I can feel bad for the antagonist.

A Clockwork Orange 10

I was disgusted by the passage that I read. After Alex completed the Ludvic procedure, they treated him like an object, not a human being. It interests me as to how he will adjust in the real world and I have a feeling that it's not going to work out in the end.

A Clockwork Orange 9

I can see why this novel is a satire now. One of the characters say that Alex is just a number, that they don't care what he thinks or how he feels, as long as they decrease the number of violence. It is a reflection of our own government. I strong agree that a lot of times the government cares more about numbers and statistics that the needs of individuals.

A Clockwork Orange 8

I have to admit that I found it relieving to see Alex go through the Ludvic procedure even though it's a horrible method to reform prisoners. However reading about the Ludvic procedure made me realize that it isn't ethical because it's brainwashing, a person should change his or her ways because they realize that the things they do are wrong.

A Clockwork Orange 7

I find it funny that in the passage that I've read Alex seems to think that going through with the Ludvico method was going to easy and that he was going to get out pretty soon. The author did an amazing job using an antagonist as a main character because he was able to get the readers to like Alex even though he does really horrible things.

A Clockwork Orange 6

From the way prison life was described I'm not surprised that the crime rate is high because prisons are supposed to reform criminals, but from the way it was written, it seemed like they were just being punished all the time. I know the turning point in the story is going to come soon because there was a mention of a new building and I'm guessing this is where Alex is going to be sent.

A Clockwork Orange 5

I found the passage that I have read to be one of the turning points in the story. Alex can no longer trust his droogs (friends) because they don't want him as a leader, but he did trust them so it wasn't surprising that they turned on him. I was also angry when the cops were treating him violently as if that would help the situation.

A Clockwork Orange 4

From the passage that I've read, I'm actually really surprised that there is really no reason why Alex turned out to be violent. He had a nice home, loving parents and education. It might be because of his surroundings, but the author never went into detail how he became to be who he is now. It's nice to see that there is still love in him, like his love for music, it makes him seem more human than a savage animal.

A Clockwork Orange 3

The passage that I've read with Alex and his droogs breaking into this house called Home was interesting because the title of the novel 'A Clockwork Orange' came up and I have a feeling that it will show up more in the book. It was really well written, you can really picture in your mind how terrified his victims might have felt and how violent they were with them.

A Clockwork Orange 2

The passage that I managed to read was definitely scary. The lifestyle Alex, his friends and the teenagers live in is horrifying. It makes me wonder how they got in to that state of violence (and why there isn't much police at night if the crime rate is that high) While I was reading it made me feel like all that I read was a big nightmare.

A Clockwork Orange

Before reading this novel I have actually watched the movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. One trouble I have with the novel is the consistent use of slang, so I would have to keep going back to the Nadsat dictionary to look up what the slang means. As a result, I discovered that I would find it slightly difficult to keep the interest in the story flowing because I would consistent have to leave the book so I could look up a word in the dictionary. I find it definitely terrifying to have to live in the main character Alex's world because there's a huge lack of order and there isn't much done with the teenagers who inflict these atrocious and grotesque acts of violence upon others. However, I can't deny that it is very well written.

Hamlet

I worked on my Hamlet essay from 4:30 to 5:10

Hamlet essay

I edited my Hamlet essay from 9 to 9:45 this morning.

Reading Blog 18

I knew Moses was alive because there was uncertainty whether he was killed or not. When Achak saw him I was delighted because he has been reunited with one of his closest friends. However, it was depressing reading about what Moses had gone through. He was treated like an animal and even marked! But he was very lucky to have been bought by people who wanted to free them. I hope that Moses won't die like William K.

Reading Blog 17

I could tell by the way the writer dramatized about Ethiopia, that it wasn't going to be like the place that Achak and the other Lost Boys expected. Going to the future, Achak finally got help by his roommate Anchor Anchor and they were able to go to the hospital, but help for Achak was delayed. He was being really impatient, but for some reason I would understand why. He's been waiting a lot in his life. He waited a long time to get to Ethiopia and waited a long time to get to America.

Reading Blog 16

When William K died I felt as if some part of Achak was starting to die even more such as his will to survive.  William K, as Achak had mentioned, was his mirror.  Seeing him dead convinces him more that he is not going to be able to survive the walk to Ethiopia.  At times it is a bit difficult to keep on reading the book because the amount of suffering the people had to endure and all the deaths are overwhelming.  

Reading Blog 15

Reading about how Phil, Stacy, and the Neymyers had helped Achak made me realize the beauty in the passages describing their help.  It made me realize that even though people can do terrible and awful things, they can also help each other unconditionally.  However, I do dislike the constant change of scenes from Achak's past to him in the present struggling to find help in his apartment.  

Reading Blog # 14

The deaths that occur in the book makes me realize just how dark humanity can be and how easy it is to have so much hatred for others to the point where people would start killing others.  When I read that part where the author talks about how Monynhial decided to "die in the hole" it made me very sad because this is something that no one should ever go through. 

Reading Blog # 13

Reading about the part where a lot of the Lost Boys weren't appreciating the things that Mary Williams were doing made me realize that when you help someone you should not expect much in return because knowing that you helped them is enough.  It was understandable that they would be a little cautious of Mary because they didn't really get why someone would help them that much. 

Reading Blog 12

I'm hoping that Michael would make be a character who makes a significant impact on the story, but after he had ignored Achak, I lost hope in him doing something good.  His character makes me question whether a person's choices are really shaped by his surrounding or by his own morals.

Reading Blog # 11

The tragedies that happened to Achak are really heartbreaking.  It convinces me to work in a career related to humanitarian work, especially since while I'm reading, it is as if the narrator is speaking to me in a very real way, not just telling a story.  It was hilarious when Achak ran to get water for a woman he admired.

Reading Blog 10

I have just started reading What if the What.  I love the simplistic writing style the author uses because it is easy to understand and it really does feel like the main character is speaking.  It makes me melancholy reading about the state Achak finds himself in especially since I know that he probably had a past filled with suffering. 

Reading Blog 9

I found it relieving that the author took a realistic approach to Sohrab's adjustment in the U.S.  He didn't write a fairy tale ending by informing the reader that Sohrab led a perfect life as soon as he stepped into America.  He didn't talk much and didn't participate in a lot of activities.  He contradicted the expectations of Amir's wife who gave up on bonding with him.  Overall, the story was beautifully written and reflected the brutalities of mankind. 

Reading Blog 8

Amir truly and finally redeems himself when he decides on adopting Sohrab .  I was right with my prediction that he was going to adopt him.  The author's language is emotionally appealing because it made me feel a strong sympathy towards Sohrab because of the many horrible events that happened in his life. 

Reading Blog 7

The way the author wrote the scene where Amir was fighting Assef for Sohrab was impressive because for all wrongful things he had done to Hassan, he was now repaying him back by being terribly beaten up.  His laughing in the scene signaled the end of the guilt that he had felt all those years, but for some reason I still have the feeling that he was being selfish.

The Kite Runner Blog 6

The passages that I read mark the turning point for Amir's character. This is his chance to redeem himself by bringing back Hassan's son. I have a feeling that in the end, he will end up adopting his best friend's son. It did irritate me when at first when he refused because up to now he has always been selfish.

The Kite Runner Blog 5

The passages that I read were really sad because Hassan and his wife dies. I keep thinking that Hassan lived an unfair life. He was a loyal friend, kind, and generous even though he was really poor, and in return he was accused of stealing, raped, and in the end gets shot because he was a Hazara.

The Kite Runner Blog 4

I was happy after reading that Hassan's mother comes back to him and apologizes for leaving him. That was her redemption, coming back to Hassan and caring for his child. It makes me realize that everyone makes mistakes, but you shouldn't give up hope that they can redeem themselves. I found it beautiful that Hassan forgave his mother and I realized that if he can forgive her for leaving him, then he can forgive Amir for leaving him behind, however, Amir still has to redeem himself. So I realized that this part of the story is going to be all about redemption.

The Kite Runner Chapter 10-15

Hassan and Amir no longer make contact and Amir goes to America with his dad. They weren't like they were before, but Amir and his father's relationship got better. His life seems to be going well, he married the woman he loves and his mother in law and father in law approve of him. However, his past comes to haunt him when he his asked to return to Pakistan. This was the part that drew me in because I'm sure that for all the wrong that he had done, he will be able to redeem it. Throughout reading the chapters, I keep thinking about what Hassan's life was like while Amir was in America. It did make me melancholy because if Amir had helped Hassan, then he would be with them in America.

The Kite Runner Chapter 5-10

After I finished reading chapter 10, I was angry at Amir's selfishness and his cowardly approach when Hassan was surrounded by Kamal, Wali, and Assef. Instead of defending Hassan - proving to him that for all the times Hassan had stood up for him, he was going to be there for him - he does nothing as Assef rapes his friend. This was the decision that ultimately determined the future of Hassan and Amir's friendship. After Hassan was raped, that innocence that he radiated prior, was drained. However, his character intrigues me because even after Amir betrayed him, he still had great loyalty and love for him.

The Kite Runner Chapter 1-5

I have recently started reading The Kite Runner and after finishing the first five chapters, I have the feeling that this will be one of the saddest books I will ever read. This book exemplifies that material objects can only go so far to fulfill a person's happiness; Amir's father is respected, wealthy, and a philanthropist ,however, Amir has a disconnected relationship with his father because he feels insufficient (he is not very good in sports and would prefer reading and writing stories) Amir's best friend Hassan is the family's servant and he is a Hazara while Amir is a Pashtun. It makes me angry how people cruelly mock Hassan and his father Ali. It is difficult to find a friend like Hassan; he is innocent, pure, unable to lie, incapable of being jealous, and he would never leave Amir behind. On the other hand, Amir doesn't see how lucky he is to have a friend like Hassan because of his jealousy and self-centeredness. Whenever his father gives Hassan attention, he becomes filled with jealousy. The writer from time to time gives us a hint that something terrible will happen to Hassan and I have the feeling that Amir is going to have something to do with it.