Journal September 19

I don't completely agree that when you want something the whole universe conspires to help you. If Santiago wanted to go to the pyramids, the universe should've helped him, using this logic. However, they made the trip expensive, long, and hard. He had to spend all his money that he earned from herding sheep to just travel to Morocco. Once he got there, he had to work for about nine months to go on the trip. He almost didn't even go on the trip. The universe could have made it so much easier for him to get to what he wanted. Also, not everyone gets what they want. Tons of people want to get rich, and famous but they don't. I think that the universe helps you sometimes, but not all the times. However, it helped him get to the pyramids, since he eventually decided to go there.

Journal Sept. 13

I think that the author started the book wit this modified version of Narcissus because in this story, the lake finds it true beauty through something else. I think that the lake symbolizes Santiago. In the story, the lake finds its true beauty by accident. It was only when someone else did something to the lake, 'looked in it', he was able to find himself. He was just thrown into this situation, and found his inner self through it. I think that this is kind of like Santiago. I believe that Santiago will be thrown into a journey to find this treasure because the king and the gypsy were so persistent about the treasure in Egypt. During this trip, I think that he will find his inner self, or inner beauty, just like the lake.

Journal September 4

This year in ELA, I want to become a better writer. I plan to do this by expanding my vocabulary, reading different styles of writing, and just practicing. I think that my writing could be greatly improved through out the year. I also would like to work on being able to pick out symbolism in books. I plan to do this by just reading more and more book that have multiple layers of symbolism. I would also like to just read some interesting books, as well as develop my video making skills.

Journal May 23

1. Critique of The Fault in our Stars. MONTROSE MAVENS ROLL OUT!!!
My book, The Fault in our Stars, is a very interesting book. I was really excited to read it because it is so popular, so I assumed that it must be great. However, I found that it was overrated. The plot was predictable and followed the same plots as most generic love stories. It was written very well, and I seemed almost like the main character was writing it. However, I predicted the ending as soon as I opened the book. I thought that the author did a great job of making the book very realistic, and he must have done a lot of research on cancer. I also liked how the plot was similar to the cancer the main character has. Everything was good and happy, but then one day basically, s*** hit the fan. After s*** hits the fan, the 'fan' breaks and things further deteriorate at a faster speed, until everything stops. This is similar to the protagonist's cancer because everything seems good until the cancer gets worse. Things deteriorate in their body faster and faster, until everything stops. Everything stops when the cancer finally wins, and the protagonist dies.

Journal May 17

*SPOILER ALERT*

My book, The Fault in Our Stars, contains many different climaxs. However, I think that the main one is when Agustus, the protagonists lover, says that he has cancer. Before this the book is on an uphill slope, and everything seems to be getting better, but after this things start to mess up and spiral downwards. Agustus gets more sick and eventually dies. I think the main conflict in this book is man vs. self or man vs. nature. I believe that it is man vs. self because it is all about people coming to terms with the fact that they are going to die soon. However, it is man vs. nature because it is also people battling cancer. I believe that the protagonist loses her man vs. nature battle because she is terminally ill, and her boyfriend dies from cancer. However, she wins her man vs. self battle because she comes to terms with the thought of death.

Journal May 10

2.  

 My book, The Fault in Our Stars, starts off with Hazel Grace, the protagonist. She is going to a support group for people with cancer. She is friends with Issac, a member of the support group who is going blind from cancer. Through Issac, she meets Agustus, or Gus. Agustus has overcome cancer, and is in remission, Agustus and Hazel meet and become friends. They are both teenagers around the age of 17. It is unclear, what Agustus's goal in life is. However, I believe that Hazel's goal is too overcome cancer, or just live a happy life for as long as she can. It also seems like another goal of her's is to fall in love. This book is set in the present time, and in Indianapolis.  

Journal April 26

Feed, or feed, as it is written in the book, was a mind-boggling book. One thing that I noticed through-out the book was the lack of correct capitalization. For example, on the first page of the book (where it said the title), I noticed that feed was not capitalized.

At first, I thought that this was just a simple mistake, but then I noticed that none of the chapters were capitalized. I believe that this was to further enforce the point of the book. I believe that this book was showing that society is getting dumber and dumber because we are getting more connected to technology, and we are not having to do as much for ourselves. I also noticed that none of the pages, which said the chapter name, had page numbers. I think that this is also put in their to further enforce the point of the book.