1. Wuthering Heights

       I am reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The reason I wanted to read this book is because ever since they mentioned it in Twilight, I have been wanting to read it. The book just sounded interesting to me so I finally decided to start reading it. Right now I am on page 50 of 320, so I am not very far.
      The book takes place in 1801 with Mr. Lockwood writting about his experiences in his diary as a tenant at Thrushcross Grange. His landlord is Mr. Heathcliff who is a very dark, mysterious man. While visiting him at Wuthering Heights he gets trapped in a snowstorm and has to spend the night. He stays in the forbiden room without Heathcliff knowing and sees the ghost of Catherine Heathcliff, I'm guessing Heathcliff's dead wife, and screams bringing Heathcliff upstairs. Heathcliff is very upset so Mr. Lockwood decides to walk home. When he gets home he talks to Mrs. Nelly Dean about Heathcliff and the story goes to her point of view.
       So far the book is ok, it's just at times its really hard to understand. There will be parts were its really easy to read then it will get into these big words that I have never heard before, making it difficult to follow. Along with the begining of the book I read the forward. The forward was all about Emily Bronte and how she  had spent all her childhood reading and writing. She had many brothers and sisters whose books were far more recognized then hers, until today. Bronte was a strong, but struggling person and thats why I think she wrote Wuthering Heights. To express how she felt along with creating something different as well as passionate.
      I haven't read very much yet so I haven't really noticed much of a theme, but so far I guess the big idea the author wants us to think about is people aren't always who they seem. She makes Heathcliff out to be this mean, mysterious, held-back person, who seems to not like very many people, but I have a feeling there is something more between him and this Cathereine who we have seen the ghost of. This is why Heathcliff is my favorite character, because he is so different from everyone else.
      "But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman, that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure—and rather morose." This is an important quote in the book because it really describes who Heathcliff is and what kind of a person he is. The only questions I have is, what is the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine?
                                                                                                      -Tiffany Ryan

The Last Apprentice

1. The Last Apprentice

2. Joseph Delaney

3. Chapter 11.

4. Well they have just moved in to the Spook's house. Tom has learned about boggarts and witches. There is a young girl named Alice who wanted him to do her a favor. He has to feed a very powerful with three muffins. He later realizes that those muffins are making her strong enough to be free. Then he has to fight her with his staff and kills her. That is very bad though because she can reform as anything an he will never know who. In the end he learns how the Spook's last apprentice died.

5. I really like it because something new is always happening so I want to keep reading. This is a really good book that I would highly recomend.

6. It is possible the author had a dream or was really into witches.

7. I think the theme is about people that are outcasts helping others even if they don't like them. I think the big idea is helping anyone in need.

8. I like Tom the most because he is very honest. He has become stronger but has the same personality.

9. "I've come for the child." That is when Tom rescues the baby from the witch.

10. Is Alice a witch?

By,

Adam N.O

Hyperion

The book I am reading is Hyperion, and the author of this book is Dan Simmons. I haven't read very far yet, but that is for now. (page 50) So far, the book is from "The Consul's" POV. They just came out of a 150 year cryogenic-freeze in space and are learning about their mission in the "war zone". I think that it is a great book, I think this because of the humorous atmosphere that the writer creates. The author, (to my knowledge), was prompted by his readers to write more works like his other ones. The theme of the book is Science-fiction. A quote of a poet in the book is:    
   
 "No smell of death- There shall be no death, moan, moan; Moan, Cybele, moan; for thy pernicious Babes; Have changed a god into a shaking palsy. Moan, brethren, moan, for I have no strength left; Weak as the reed-weak-feeble as my voice. Oh, oh, the pain, the pain of feebleness. Moan, moan, for I still thaw."   It is important because it shows the mental stability of some of the characters is questionable and will be tested.   So far, I have no questions about the book.

1.) Atlantis Found

     

I am reading a book called Atlantis Found, by Clive Cussler. So far I am on Chapter 23 out of 51.

            So far a miner in Colorado found a chamber in one of his mines with inscriptions and a black skull. When scientists came to research three men tried to kill them. Dirk Pitt was a marine scientist with an organization called the NUMA. It turns out that the same kind of chamber was found on St. Paul Island. When two researchers from NUMA went to look at it, they were almost killed again. All of the artifacts had been taken from the chamber on St. Paul by a whaling boat in the early 1800's. Now NUMA has all of these artifacts. When people went to discover the whaling boat in the Antarctic Ocean, a U-2015 military boat tried to sink the research ship.  The murderers who aren’t trying to let anybody know about these chambers say that they are from The New Destiny. No one is sure what that is. In the last chapter we met a family called the Wolfs. They are very rich and are funding the New Destiny. Their plan is to destroy the world in ten days to protect their ancestors.

I think this book has gotten better. At the beginning it was a little slow and confusing, but it is slowly getting better. I think that now it is starting to get interesting and it's easier to understand what’s happening. I like fiction books, so this is kind of interesting to me. I think that Clive Cussler wrote this book because he was interested in the story of Atlantis and wanted to learn more about it. Also it was a way for him to take a story that is told and expand on it to make it something he thinks is interesting. I think that his motive was just that it was something that he thought would be fun to research and write about. 

      The theme of this book is probably like a science fiction. I would say that Clive Cussler wanted the readers to think about how anything is possible. And just because you can't see it, that doesn't mean that it is really there or true. Also, that when the characters are attacked in the book, they always have each others backs.

       I think that the best character is Dirk Pitt. No matter what, he always does what is right. He also will do anything to make sure that everyone is safe. Dirk is pretty good at everything and knows how to defend himself and others. Also, Dirk is the only one that really thinks that Atlantis possibly exists. In many ways, he has grown in the book. At the start of the book he wasn't really that caring and seemed like it was hard for him to make friends. Now he jokes around with everyone and wants to make sure everyone is safe. When the ship was being attacked by the U-2015 he threw himself at someone he barely knew to protect them from the bullets.

          I think that an important quote is, "Life is for the fittest, and those who plan."
This was a quote made by Elsie Wolf when she was in prison. I find this to be important, because it shows how she isn’t empathetic. And although her and her family are supposed to be completely perfect, they aren't. They only care about themselves. This makes a powerful point because there are some people in real life that would agree with Elsie.

        My qustions are mostly just ones that will be answered at the end. I don't really get why the Wolf family won't tell anyone about the comet that is going to hit Earth. I would also like to know how the Wolf family has genetically made all of their family perfect. For the most part I just want to see what happens in the end.

Clarification

When you post, I want you to write in sentences and paragraphs.  Do not use bulleted or numbered lists.  Write about your book, don't just write the briefest possible answers to each question.

The Last Apprentice

1. The Last Apprentice

2. Joseph Delaney

3.Chapter 5 Boggarts And Witches

4.He has been accepted as the Spook's apprentice and just passed his entrance exam. Now they are heading to another town called Chipenden.

5.I like it because it is suspenseful and I want to keep reading. It is a really good book i might start to read the series after I finish this.

6. I do not know the motivation for sure, but it is possible the author had a dream. The author could also have been inspired by other adventure books and just added some twists.

7. So far I think the theme is about a Spook and his apprentice trying to protect the real world from ghasts and other evil things.

8. I like the Spook the most because he seems old and frail but really is strong and courageous.

9. "What kept you?" is what the Spook said to Jack when he finally came into the basement.

10. I am wondering what spells Jack will learn to help him in his job.

By,

Adam Nelson-Ockenfels

1. Around the World in Eighty Days

Right now I am reading Around the World in Eighty Days. The book was wrote by Jules Verne in 1873. I haven't got very far in the book yet. I am only at page 60 of 280 pages.

So far in the book though the main character has been introduced as Phileas Fogg. He made a 20,000 pound bet on if he could make it around the world in eighty days or not. He has mad it through Paris and parts of Africa. At this point in the book though he is in India, but his train had to stop due to railway problems. So instead of waiting for the railroad to be fixed Mr. Fogg goes out and buys and elephant to take him to his next stop faster. The farthest I've made it is when Mr. Fogg and his assistant are riding the elephant to the next station. Then there is a detective following them because he believes that Phileas is the thief who stole a lot of money from a bank in London.

To me the book is pretty boring so far. I think that it needs to move just a little bit faster, but then again most books start slow and progress on to the better parts. I think the author wrote this book to show how the world has evolved over time. Like all the trains and steamboats that they have only had for a few years. Then it shows how hard it could be to travel around the world and what difficulties that could happen. I think it also had to do with how science was starting to be a huge thing when this book was wrote. So traveling the world in eighty days was unheard of back then. The author's idea in the theme was to show what the world looked like and how different people on different parts of the world act. While reading this I think the author is really trying to show the world's advance in traveling technology.

So far in the book my favorite character is Phileas Fogg. He seems to be a smart man who looks far into the future and everyone one of his moves are planned in advance. That is why he is my favorite character in the story. I can see him change a little each day because he is getting to be more and more determined to make it all the way around the world in those eighty days. "Unless," objected the consul, "he is exceptionally shrewd. An English criminal, you know is always better concealed in London than anywhere else" on page 31. This quote was when the people that Phileas Fogg made a bet found out that Fogg may be the thief who robbed the bank. This I think will cause a lot more problems for Phileas later on in the story. At this point I am wondering how will Mr. Fogg's accusations about robbing the bank will come back and what problems it could cause for him.

Michael Kline 1st

Dante's Inferno, retake!

I read Dante's Inferno (Part one: Hell), but am choosing to read a different book. 

Thanks for understanding. 

~Sam C.

1. A Girl Like Moi

I am reading A Girl Like Moi, by Lisa Barham. I have only read the prologue and chapter 1. This is about a girl who loves fashion. She loves to design, but the problem is she is low on money. She has a large credit card debt because she loves to shop. Her and her friend Evie have a little business for themselves. They buy knock-off fabrics to make clothes and accessories that look like brand name clothing. They both work at McDonalds to try and make a little extra money. The problem is they HATE the uniforms and the food. So for months, they have been planning a new menu, new decor for the restaurant, and brand new uniforms. They make new uniforms for all the employees. The uniforms are high fashion. The food is gourmet. The decor is relaxing and modern. The thing is their boss doesn't know anything about this. On the day of the reveal, the restaurant is booming and people are calling in from all over to get directions. This is where I left off in the book.


I am really enjoying this book because I love hearing about the style they are creating. I am really excited to find out what their boss thinks of the whole make-over. Will he be mad? Thankful?


I am not sure why the author wrote this yet. I haven't read far enough into the book to know the message or moral of the story. My guess would be that it has something to do with following your dreams. You don't need a ton of money, you have to work hard to get to where you want to be.


Right now the best character is the narrator. She is kind of the master mind behind the whole McDonalds makeover. She is very high fashion. She seems like she wants to do charity, but is also prissy and judgemental. She seems kind of two-faced and I think this makes her interesting and maybe unreliable. I am interested to see where this takes her.


"...ultimate secret weapon in the battle of the budget was my very best and sweetest girlfriend, Evie. We have this whole system down. It's called shop and return. Once a month we take the train into the city to shop the stores...We sketch, photograph, and buy samples. Then we scurry home, where Evie copies the pattern, sews it up and viola, instant prada!" This quote is important because it sets the scene for how these girls came about.

The only question I have about my book is I am wondering how their boss will react to the McDonalds Transformation.


--Alex Smith

1. A Tale Of Two Cities

Right now I am reading A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I have only read two chapters so far, and it looks like a book I would usually read. Basically what happened so far is it described the setting. The book takes place in Paris, but the characters flea to London during the French Revolution. I have only met one character, and his name is Charles Darnay.

I think the book is good because it sounds action packed and it has war in it. I usually prefer books with a war taking place. I Think the author wrote this book maybe to tell the story of some one living in the time of a revolution of Europe. It stands out because there are not many books that has this type of setting.

Charles seems like he is the main character knowing the fact that he is the only character we met and he be the only one I could elect to be the best. He has not changed yet, we are just getting to know him. A question I have is, will Charles go into the war or will he just stay in london were it is "safe".

Reminder: Use correct conventions!

This blog is public, which means that anyone can read it.  I want the whole world to know what brilliant students Solon has.  Therefore, you should use correct conventions, even when commenting on someone else's post.  In particular, remember to capitalize "I."
Happy blogging!
Ms. Nielsen

If You Liked The Prince and the Pauper, The Minstrel's Tale Might Be for You

A couple weeks ago I was browsing around for soemthing to read next.  When I'm not raring to start a particular book (usually because I've forgotten what I've been wanting to read-- I need to keep that list handy), I default to one of my standard genres or subjects.  So I went looking for something medieval.  I can easily lose myself in the Middle Ages.  It's fascinated me for years.

The book I ended up with was The Minstrel's Tale by Anna Questerly.  I wanted something quick and easy, and this book fit that bill perfectly.  It's at the younger end of the young adult spectrum.  My eleven year old could easily understand it.  It's a piece of historical fiction that wonders what happened to Richard II of England on his way to his coronation.  In Questerly's story he becomes an apprentice to a minstrel traveling through north-western Europe.  It was a fun, light read.

I got the impression that Questerly is herself a fan of medieval Europe who wanted to use her imagination to transport her reader to this complicated, violent, beautiful time and place.  She did a good job.  If she had an education similar to mine, European history courses often focused on the power struggles of the times, and her book definitely speaks to those with her use of a crown prince as the central character.  However, what I like about her book is that she also shows us what it was like to be an average, working-class person at that time.  Maybe like me, she liked to image herself in this world, not as a duchess or princess, but as someone closer to our real positions.  To that purpose, Amos the minstrel narrates the story.  I love little details like the description of Amos's methods for fishing and cooking.  She shows us the moment right before he begins a performance: "This was my favorite moment as a minstrel." I fell in love with his profession.  Amos was a sympathetic, believable character.  I enjoyed spending time with him and was glad when he began to consider romance for the first time since the death of his wife and child.


The one drawback of the novel was the framing device.  We are supposedly reading Amos's memoirs, and I felt that this could have stood on its own as a complete book.  However, Questerly chose to have a modern young woman find Amos's book in her family's ancestral home in France and present it to us.  This must have been a concession to her target audience.  It wasn't enough to have the (perhaps too) young Richard.  There had to be a tried-and-true, somewhat stereotypical teenager involved.  For an actual young adult reader, maybe this frame would be important.  For me, it added nothing.  Just give me Amos and Richard exploring medieval France and England!

Although the book does explore how power can corrupt and the sad gulf between the haves and have-nots, its real charm lies in the detailed picture of the Middle Ages.  If you look for themes of class division and the misuse of authority, you'll find them.  However, if you just want to go on a fun adventure in medieval Europe, you're more likely to be satisfied by The Minstrel's Tale.