The Hunger Games

     Recently there has been a lot of craze over the book, and brand new major motion picture, The Hunger Games. I have not read the book for myself, but I have heard from friends and acquaintances that the book is good. Many people have read the book and the movie appears to be equally popular. A lot of people who liked the book are going to see the movie. I have heard from people who have seen it that it is exactly like the book, but they still recommend you read first.

     The Hunger Games is not just a book, but a series. Yes, this New York Times best-selling series is amongst the most popular. Many of her fans agree that Suzanne Collins did a wonderful job. With the hoop and holler all over the book made into a movie, I'm almost positive that it will be #1 most seen in theaters currently. As for myself, I don't really have a direct interest in seeing the movie. I haven't read the book and I'm not clear on what it is about, so I'll stick to my action movies.

Outside Reading Response: Fade

     I have informed you that I am reading the Trilogy of Fade by Lisa McMann. Well, I am finished with it.
I am pleased to report that it was just as fantastic as the first, and I am looking forward to reading the last book in the series: Gone. I have noticed a pattern in the trilogy, however: all the books' titles are four letters each. While McMann, may or may not have done this on purpose, I think she did. It could be that she just wanted to, or maybe it is supposed to someone connect to the context (but I haven't seen the relation).

     I won't spoil anything just in case someone is interested in reading the book, but I will share a little more of what has happened in the plot. Janie and Cabel have a relationship like any other teens: drama. They have hit a few ups and downs recently and both went into a depressed state. After looking through Miss Stubin's (another catcher) files, Janie has found out the positive and negative aspects of being a catcher, and there are more bad than good. I guess I'll have to wait until I read Gone to find out if Janie will see it through.

150 minutes - Fade by Lisa McMann

Hard to Write About Anything

     So, here I am, writing about not being able to think of a topic to write about again. I remember when we used to all have to write 4 paragraphs on the reading response. I don't know if anyone liked doing it or not but I must say it seems a litter easier than what we do now.

     It's nice that we get the option to choose about whatever we want to, but you don't always have a topic in mind. At least we used to already know what to write about before. I guess this could potentially help out in the future though. And I'm not sure how many other people are having this problem but to show you how bad it is: this is my second time writing about not having a topic to write about.

Outside Reading Response: Fade

     I began reading Fade by Lisa McMann this week and again I must reiterate that it is such a great book. Recently in the book Janie Hannagin (the main character) has been learning more about her power as a "catcher" with Miss Stubin as her mentor. Janie has a job of using her power to be able to enter people's dreams to help the police. Miss Stubin was the former holder of this position and has died but helps Janie while she dreams.

     Some interesting new things have surfaced as well. Recently, Janie has lost vision and had to get glasses. Miss Stubin, when she died, was blind. I believe using her powers (going into people's dreams) has a side effect. My prediction is that if Janie continues to to this, her eyesight will continue to wane until she is blind, like Miss Stubin was. I also think that her secret boyfriend, Cabel, is thinking this as well based on some happenings in the plot. Well, the only way to find out is to read, and I will be doing so.

    

Outside Reading: Fade

     As some of you may remember, I finished reading Wake by Lisa McMann. On my second response to it, I mentioned how I finished and planned to read the rest of the trilogy. I kept true to my word and checked out Fade, the next book in the trilogy, as soon as I could. I will not mention any details of the book in this update because I haven't read a lot of it.

     I can tell you this, it is not like one of those instances where you read a the first book or watch the first movie in a series and say, "Wow that was good! I must look at the next book/movie in the series!" Lisa McMann does as wonderful a job in the Fade as she did in Wake. If you have read Wake, I urge you to read Fade. Although, if you read one, then you know for yourself what a wonderful job Ms. McMann has done with this trilogy. I look forward to finishing this book and moving on the read the last in the trilogy.

A Breath of Relief

     It's finally over. We are all done reading Nervous Conditions and we lived to tell the tale! We have been through ten long chapters of a very thought provoking, complex book. It seems like we have a project to do every week but we are all doing seemingly well.

     On another note, we got through our third quarter of high school! I don't about anyone else but this was definitely not  my best (grade-wise). So hopefully we can move into our fourth quarter excited, ready to learn, and attempting to make up for out faults from third quarter! Let's all try to come back strong and finish Freshman year. Good luck everyone!

Outside Reading:

150 minutes Fade, by Lisa Mcmann

You Want What You Can't Have

     As the saying goes "You're only young once." This phrase can be defined in many ways, but the ones that most vibrantly come to mind are "do all you want while you can" and "live life to the fullest." It is hard to imagine since we are so young that when we get older we won't be able to do some of the many things that we love now. But that's the way it is. Everyone has their time.

     Isn't it something how people are never satisfied no matter what? The get the exact thing they want but next week they want something new. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Our never-satisfied attitude is what prompted/prompts us to improve civilization with things such as technology. However, this attitude is also what drives greed, lust, and killing. When you're young, you can't wait to be older. But when you get older, you would do anything to have your youth back. I wonder if one day, this attitude will only drive us to the optimistic actions.

150 minutes - Research Paper