St. Patrick's Day is a very interesting Catholic feast day, that has made its way into American culture. However, I have never viewed St. Patrick's Day as a real holiday. I wore green some years, but never thought about the day as a symbol of anything. Therefore, St. Patrick's Day has no real meaning to me.
Some people think about luck, some think about parties, while some think about the actual saint on this feast day. I do not think about any of these things. I do not really believe in luck, I do not have parties on St. Patrick's Day, and I do not know anything about the saint. I have lived my entire 16 years, believing St. Patrick's Day was a fun holiday, where people wear green.
This has never really affected my life, until today. I heard a story about my English teacher's connection to St. Patrick's Day. Her daughter had a heart defect, and my teacher remember St. Patrick's Day as a symbol of the luck she had to survive. I heard another account from a friend. She is Catholic and to her, St. Patrick's Day is the day to honor a great person. These stories made me realize that I felt jealous for all the people who view St. Patrick's Day or any other holiday, as a symbol for something good.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Devil in the White City
The Devil in the White City is an amazing book that shows how The Great Expedition in Chicago was built and how a criminal mastermind uses the fair to lure his victims in to his clutches.
Erik Larson does an excellent job with his book. The book is written using actual excerpts from letters, press releases, and police statements. This makes Larson's style very unique and appealing, at least to me.
The characters in The Devil in the White City are very realistic. We learn what goes through their minds as they make decisions that affect the the greatest worlds fair ever. The characters make the book better, however they are certainly not the best part of an amazing novel.
Picture the 1890's boom town of Chicago, where crime and the upper-class live together in a mass jungle of metal. This is the setting of Larson's novel. The setting is not very well described as a whole, but the portions are well described. The setting, as were the characters, make the book better, but is still not the best part.
Chicago has been given the task or creating a world's fair to rival that of Paris' two years before. This already monumental task is made harder by the time period given to complete the project, two years. We follow the architects as they desperately try to finish the fair that will make Chicago in time. As all this is happening a handsome young man rolls into town. With him a shaky past. We follow this man as he goes on a disturbing killing spree, using the fair as his bait.
I would recommend this book to any history lover. The use of excerpts of actual documents is appetizing to the mind of any history buff. I would also recommend this book to non-history lovers who just love good books.
This book is 447 pages.
Erik Larson does an excellent job with his book. The book is written using actual excerpts from letters, press releases, and police statements. This makes Larson's style very unique and appealing, at least to me.
The characters in The Devil in the White City are very realistic. We learn what goes through their minds as they make decisions that affect the the greatest worlds fair ever. The characters make the book better, however they are certainly not the best part of an amazing novel.
Picture the 1890's boom town of Chicago, where crime and the upper-class live together in a mass jungle of metal. This is the setting of Larson's novel. The setting is not very well described as a whole, but the portions are well described. The setting, as were the characters, make the book better, but is still not the best part.
Chicago has been given the task or creating a world's fair to rival that of Paris' two years before. This already monumental task is made harder by the time period given to complete the project, two years. We follow the architects as they desperately try to finish the fair that will make Chicago in time. As all this is happening a handsome young man rolls into town. With him a shaky past. We follow this man as he goes on a disturbing killing spree, using the fair as his bait.
I would recommend this book to any history lover. The use of excerpts of actual documents is appetizing to the mind of any history buff. I would also recommend this book to non-history lovers who just love good books.
This book is 447 pages.
Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London is a very interesting tale told from the perspective of a sled dog. London's novel, considered a classic by some, started slow, but soon had me hooked.
Learning when to stay obedient is a main theme in London's book. Buck, the main character, struggles with this at first, but is forced to learn. Taking a stand is another major theme of the novel. Buck, has to deal with a major oppression problem. He deals with the problem by standing up to the leader of the pack. This stand results in a terrific battle for power.
The writing style of Jack London, especially in this book, is very interesting. London does a very good job of telling the story through the eyes of a dog. This feat makes the style of the novel better than most books told from the perspective of a dog.
The characters in The Call of the Wild are mostly dogs. However, the characters are still interesting. Even though the only dog that we hear is Buck, all the dogs have their own personality. Some are silly, while others are very mean and oppressive like Spitz, the first leader of the dogs. There are humans in The Call of the Wild as well. They have independent personalities but they are not described as well. Although the characters do not make the novel, they add to the book significantly.
The Call of the Wild is set in the Canadian North. The setting is well described. Buck tells what he sees as he travels on the dog trails. The settings could be described in greater detail, however the descriptions could ramble on if written by someone other than London.
The best part of London's novel is the plot. Buck is a very faithful dog who lives a very peaceful life. However, this is all changed one night. One of his masters helpers steals Buck and sells him as a sled dog. Buck is launched into a very different lifestyle and struggles to survive. However, Buck comes out of the experience and becomes a very good sled dog. However a strange feeling overcomes Buck throughout the book and makes Buck decide how to live the rest of his life.
The Call of the Wild is a very good short story for anyone. However, there are several disturbing scenes that younger children may find scary. Besides this, I would recommend this book to everyone.
This book is 78 pages.
Learning when to stay obedient is a main theme in London's book. Buck, the main character, struggles with this at first, but is forced to learn. Taking a stand is another major theme of the novel. Buck, has to deal with a major oppression problem. He deals with the problem by standing up to the leader of the pack. This stand results in a terrific battle for power.
The writing style of Jack London, especially in this book, is very interesting. London does a very good job of telling the story through the eyes of a dog. This feat makes the style of the novel better than most books told from the perspective of a dog.
The characters in The Call of the Wild are mostly dogs. However, the characters are still interesting. Even though the only dog that we hear is Buck, all the dogs have their own personality. Some are silly, while others are very mean and oppressive like Spitz, the first leader of the dogs. There are humans in The Call of the Wild as well. They have independent personalities but they are not described as well. Although the characters do not make the novel, they add to the book significantly.
The Call of the Wild is set in the Canadian North. The setting is well described. Buck tells what he sees as he travels on the dog trails. The settings could be described in greater detail, however the descriptions could ramble on if written by someone other than London.
The best part of London's novel is the plot. Buck is a very faithful dog who lives a very peaceful life. However, this is all changed one night. One of his masters helpers steals Buck and sells him as a sled dog. Buck is launched into a very different lifestyle and struggles to survive. However, Buck comes out of the experience and becomes a very good sled dog. However a strange feeling overcomes Buck throughout the book and makes Buck decide how to live the rest of his life.
The Call of the Wild is a very good short story for anyone. However, there are several disturbing scenes that younger children may find scary. Besides this, I would recommend this book to everyone.
This book is 78 pages.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Persuasion
Persuasion has become a very important part of my life and I have become very skilled in the art because of this use. To persuade, I most often use the technique of logos, or logic. I convince people that my logic is correct and I get my way. This use of persuasion has shaped my life. I would not have or have done many things in my life. I also like to use ethos, or to persuade.I also see persuasion used in everyday life by other people. These people are not only real but also are television characters. These characters use all the different techniques of persuasion in a variety of situations.
Being a Winner
Being a winner means that you have won competitions or events. However, this does not mean a reward is received. Sometimes winners only receive a pat on the back instead of a trophy of money. In my opinion, a true winner is someone who can win without receiving and actual award. People who get mad if they do not win a award are not true winners.
In my life, I am most proud of winning an event at an FBLA convention last year. I won an event in which I had no prior knowledge of until I decided to compete. This makes me very proud because I had to study and learn lots of information to the do well in the competition. I did not receive any money, but only a small plaque. However I was still very proud to win the competition.
In my life, I am most proud of winning an event at an FBLA convention last year. I won an event in which I had no prior knowledge of until I decided to compete. This makes me very proud because I had to study and learn lots of information to the do well in the competition. I did not receive any money, but only a small plaque. However I was still very proud to win the competition.
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