Reading Log #4
Title: Mocking Jay
Text Type: Novel
Author/ Director: Suzanne Collins
Mocking Jay is the last novel from the Hunger Games Trilogy written by Suzanne Collins and published in 2010. Following the quarter quell Katniss wakes up with a deep breath in the complex beneath District 13. District 12 has been blown up only left with the rubble of her district. Her "star crossed lover" Peeta Mellark has been brainwashed by President Snow. She then becomes aware of the rebellion spreading across Panem against president snow. Katniss then agrees to become the face of the rebellion using the symbol of the Mocking Jay.
An important idea of this book is the price of War. This is seen throughout the trilogy. Panem is still suffering from the war. Because of this all 12 districts live in poverty while the capital thrives and holds an annual hunger games to prevent another uprising. In mocking Jay the setting is in the midst of war in District 13. Katniss agrees to be the "Mocking Jay" which is the face of the rebellion against President Snow. There is no official Hunger games in Mocking Jay but Katniss plays a role as if she is fighting for survival like she did in the games just with different rules, and President Snow is a tribute.
Now that Katniss has stood up to the capital, they start to gain their merciless tactics against there oppressors. This is seen when Gale, Katniss's best fiend designed bombs for the Hospital which killed Prim. I particularly felt Katniss's pain when Prim dies. This is because Prim is a main character in the book, also throughout the trilogy Prim has been Katniss's hope since she took her place in the arena, and when prim died Katniss's hope for the future died with her. " You will never forget the face of the person who was your last hope". The quote "She was too young, too gentle, and i couldn't save her. I'm sorry" was said to Rue's family in district 11. I think that when Prim died Katniss felt like she had failed two little girls because "She couldn't save them". This plays with our heartstrings because they again were "To young, and too gentle.".
Even though Gale is loyal to Katniss he will do whatever it takes to destroy the capital and get revenge for bombing district twelve. This shows us how powerful war can be and how it can change someone from a person who wants to save everyone to someone who destroys everything. Katniss is then given the choice to hold another hunger games, except with the capitals children, she agrees. Peeta then reminds her that the games is what rebellion is fought against. War changes who a person is. "It costs your life" says Caesar. "Oh no it costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?" says Peeta. "It costs everything you are". In my opinion Peeta's quote highlights the reality of war, that even the winning side pays a price. But then no one really wins at all as the things you do is just as bad as the enemy.
Wednesday, 5 July 2017
Reading Log #3
Reading log #3
Title: Ode to sleep
Text type: Song Lyrics
Artist: Twenty one pilots
Title: Ode to sleep
Text type: Song Lyrics
Artist: Twenty one pilots
The song “Ode to Sleep” is a deep and meaningful song that masterfully bends the rules music with combinations of electronic, indie rock and rap. Tyler Joseph portrays a struggle between voices of darkness and trying to overcome this darkness.The alternation of light and dark tones of the instrumentals representing the night and day. The verses are a reflection of nights where one's thoughts can be more pessimistic and filled with doubt. Then once the chorus hits with a more buoyant tune representing the day where Tyler tries to fight the demons in which are haunting him.
The theme of the song “Ode to Sleep” takes a self-destructive path toward hopelessness and giving up. Some lyrics also seem to indicated that he may be struggling with guilt over his hypocritical thoughts and actions that betray his faith and beliefs. Tyler contemplates on the failure of living his life the way he wants to, and pleads for answers as he continues to fight off the darkness pulling him down and telling him to give up. Tyler is upset as he knows he’s not living in the freedom that is meant for him, and asks “is this living free?”
One of the lyrics that really stands out to me is "I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight." This phrase can be interpreted in many ways, but I see it as choosing to stay alive and not allowing your doubts to take your life. To stay awake against your struggles and not being “asleep” to the evil in the world. Tyler then writes about the voices of the demons that were speaking "crazy words" into his brain, telling him he "was gone” that his life is hopeless, and he might as well give up. He invokes the demons on why they continue to torment him, as he believes that he has no significance to God and that his life will not threaten the plans of the enemy. He clearly states that his testimony for God is absent because he is afraid to tell others who he adores. “I'm afraid to tell you who I adore, won't tell you who I'm singing towards,
Metaphorically I'm a whore, and that's denial number four.”
Metaphorically I'm a whore, and that's denial number four.”
The demons lies make Tyler believe that he is insignificant to this world, which is part of the struggle he is fighting against. The lyrics "I will set my soul on fire" portrays that he is so deep in the darkness of his thoughts that he wishes to destroy his life. In all this deception and denial of faith he asks "what have I become?" Even though Tyler's beautifully written lyrics have a deep spiritual meaning, they can be interpreted in many different ways, making it engaging to anyone struggling with their lives. I really enjoy listening to the honesty of the lyrics that deal with his real problems which are relatable to so many, and are not really talked about enough in everyday life.
Reading log #2
Reading Log#2
Title: The fault in our stars
Text type: Novel
Director/Author: John Green
The fault in our starts by John Green, published in 2014. It is a book about two star crossed lovers Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. Hazel was diagnosed with lung cancer at a young age, and Augustus was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, which is a rare form of bone cancer. They both share the same wit and love for books. Augustus and Hazel both share the same favorite book " An imperial affliction" by Peter Van Houghten. Although Hazel was advised not to go to Amsterdam due to her heath, both herself and Augustus embark on an adventure to Amsterdam to meet the Author of this book.
This book is very sad due to the fact it is based around cancer and death. But the love story is what makes it thoroughly enjoyable. John Green uses many metaphors in the book. One particular one that stood out to me was when Hazel was talking to her mum and said "I'm like. Like a grenade and at some point i'm going to blow up and i would like to minimize the casualties okay?" When she talks about "blowing up" she is referring to her death, and when she talks about casualties she is talking about the people who will be hurt by her death. This makes me feel sympathy for Hazel because she feels like she has to isolate herself from others so they don't get hurt when the cancer takes over. She says that "I can't be a normal teenager, because i'm a grenade." She thinks that pushing Augustus away is the only way not to hurt him and to keep him safe.
This makes me upset to read because Hazel did not asked to be diagnosed with cancer, she should get to live a normal life like most other teenagers and be able to live her life without being connected to a machine to help her breathe.
The use of the metaphor about the grenade is also seen when Gus plays this video game. His character on the game saves a school by getting his by a grenade. He then says "People don't chose who they hurt, they choose who hurts them". This made me realize that we chose to put ourselves in a position where we can potentially get hurt but its okay to be willing to for the right reason. This is like Gus choosing to be Hazels friend even though there is the risk of her dying.
Another part of that book that shocked me was that throughout the whole book we though that Hazel would be the one to lose the fight first. In the end of the book this was not the case. Augustus was the first to die from Osteosarcoma. This left Hazel heartbroken. At Augustus's funereal Hazel wrote a euology. “My name is Hazel. Augustus Waters was the great star-crossed love of my life. Ours was an epic love story, and I won't be able to get more than a sentence into it without disappearing into a puddle of tears. Gus knew. Gus knows. I will not tell you our love story, because-like all real love stories-it will die with us, as it should. I'd hoped that he'd be eulogizing me, because there's no one I'd rather have.......... I can't talk about our love story, so I will talk about math. I am not a mathematician, but I know this: There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a Bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” This euology made me feel her pain, and left me heartbroken with her. Augustus was the love of her life, and gave her a "little infinity" with the little time she had left.
In conclusion The fault in our stars by John Green is a must read. It portrays a number of important ideas and ways to cope and help through life. There are more people out there who are willing to support you, but you just need to let them in and allow it. This will help you feel better within yourself. I would recommend this book for Teens and Adults.
Title: The fault in our stars
Text type: Novel
Director/Author: John Green
The fault in our starts by John Green, published in 2014. It is a book about two star crossed lovers Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. Hazel was diagnosed with lung cancer at a young age, and Augustus was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, which is a rare form of bone cancer. They both share the same wit and love for books. Augustus and Hazel both share the same favorite book " An imperial affliction" by Peter Van Houghten. Although Hazel was advised not to go to Amsterdam due to her heath, both herself and Augustus embark on an adventure to Amsterdam to meet the Author of this book.
This book is very sad due to the fact it is based around cancer and death. But the love story is what makes it thoroughly enjoyable. John Green uses many metaphors in the book. One particular one that stood out to me was when Hazel was talking to her mum and said "I'm like. Like a grenade and at some point i'm going to blow up and i would like to minimize the casualties okay?" When she talks about "blowing up" she is referring to her death, and when she talks about casualties she is talking about the people who will be hurt by her death. This makes me feel sympathy for Hazel because she feels like she has to isolate herself from others so they don't get hurt when the cancer takes over. She says that "I can't be a normal teenager, because i'm a grenade." She thinks that pushing Augustus away is the only way not to hurt him and to keep him safe.
This makes me upset to read because Hazel did not asked to be diagnosed with cancer, she should get to live a normal life like most other teenagers and be able to live her life without being connected to a machine to help her breathe.
The use of the metaphor about the grenade is also seen when Gus plays this video game. His character on the game saves a school by getting his by a grenade. He then says "People don't chose who they hurt, they choose who hurts them". This made me realize that we chose to put ourselves in a position where we can potentially get hurt but its okay to be willing to for the right reason. This is like Gus choosing to be Hazels friend even though there is the risk of her dying.
Another part of that book that shocked me was that throughout the whole book we though that Hazel would be the one to lose the fight first. In the end of the book this was not the case. Augustus was the first to die from Osteosarcoma. This left Hazel heartbroken. At Augustus's funereal Hazel wrote a euology. “My name is Hazel. Augustus Waters was the great star-crossed love of my life. Ours was an epic love story, and I won't be able to get more than a sentence into it without disappearing into a puddle of tears. Gus knew. Gus knows. I will not tell you our love story, because-like all real love stories-it will die with us, as it should. I'd hoped that he'd be eulogizing me, because there's no one I'd rather have.......... I can't talk about our love story, so I will talk about math. I am not a mathematician, but I know this: There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a Bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” This euology made me feel her pain, and left me heartbroken with her. Augustus was the love of her life, and gave her a "little infinity" with the little time she had left.
In conclusion The fault in our stars by John Green is a must read. It portrays a number of important ideas and ways to cope and help through life. There are more people out there who are willing to support you, but you just need to let them in and allow it. This will help you feel better within yourself. I would recommend this book for Teens and Adults.
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