extra blog for 12-1

Dear Ms. Collins,
I am now at the end of Catching Fire, and I am glued to this book day and night. A copy of Hunger Games fell into my hands almost by accident, but I am so glad that it did! I was originally planning to read only The Hunger Games, but quickly realized that that was not possible due to the incredible suspense that you created. I even did some research on survival skills because of the interest that you sparked within me. How could I have not wondered what was going to happen to Katniss and Peeta? Even though I am a guy, and generally not interested in reading a romance novel, I am enjoying the "love triangle" with Katniss, Peeta and Gale. My favorite part of the book is the character development- particularly, Katniss. It is amazing how you were able to develop her from basically a tomboy, into a young lady that is not only capable of loving, but actually "hungry" for it, as she admits in Catching Fire. I do have a couple questions for you. I will not ask you how you end things, because I will be reading the last of the trilogy without a doubt! One thing that I have been trying to figure out is what is the approximate time period that the books take place? Some things about the book are based on technology that we do not have yet, but some things are clearly old-fashioned! One minute Katniss is trying to figure out what a monkey is and the next minute, she is using salt water to heal her scabs. Does this book take place during the Great Tribulation? In conclusion, I want to thank you for your literary contribution. I am sure that I am not alone in my enjoyment of this suspenseful trilogy!
Your friend,
Will Hoerr

November 17th Blog

The word "strange" is not a word that you would normally use to describe To Kill A Mockingbird, but there was one strange part that I identified. What seemed "strange" to me was that a black man could not get a fair trial in a court of law. Why did people lie, under oath, and why did they get away with it? And then the jury was willing to go along with the lie? Where was the justice in the justice system? It was clearly not there! The answer to this sad strange observation is that in the time period of the book, this is what was accepted in the United States, and even more so, in the South. Sad! Looking back from 2010, it is strange, but then there are other strange phenomena as well in history. Looking even farther back in history- what about slavery? The actual physical and mental bondage of people based solely on skin color(that did not end until after the Civil Rights Movement). Now fast forward from 1865 to 1973 and then we observe the strange phenomenon of legalized abortion. Where is the justice in abortions? How do babies get a fair chance? How a society treats its weakest and most vulnerable members is a large statement about themselves.  Doesn't anyone think that it is "strange" to kill a baby that is healthily growing inside its mother? The answer to these strange phenomena is for each person to take personal action to upright corrupt laws that allow these things. 

2nd installment for The Hunger Games

In The Hunger Games, there is quite a transformation in the character of Katniss Everdeen. At the beginning of the novel, she is a tomboy who has to fight for survival. The circumstances that she is in require her to have that focus. Considering her character qualities of determination, survival and her tendency to be emotionally detached to those around her, fighting in the arena appeared to be a good fit for her. Katniss was blown away when Peeta tells all of Panem in his interview that he is madly in love (secretly up to this point) with Katniss!! A love relationship with a man does not fit in with her character up to this point. Katniss's first reaction to this news is to determine whether this "love affair" is legitimate or is it a strategy that Haymitch helped Peeta devise to help him win the Games. Once Katniss and Peeta get into the arena, they initially do not even have any contact with each other. When the new rule is announced, Katniss and Peeta suddenly go from enemies in the arena to allies. Katniss is determined to find Peeta, but only as an ally, not for a love relationship. The real turning point in their relationship is when they have to not only depend on each other for survival but they also have to nurture each other back to health. Through a series of events, Katniss' hard outer shell melts away and a tender emotional side is revealed. What is interesting about this transformation is that it is totally unexpected. This certainly keeps me engulfed in the book!

11-3 assignment for TKAM

Harper Lee's intent when writing To Kill a Mockingbird was to tell an emotional story and cause the reader to be pulled into the emotions. Since this is the only book that Ms. Lee wrote, she packed quite a punch in this one work. She choose to fight prejudice by appealing to the common people, rather than fighting at a high governmental level. One of the emotions that the book stirred in me was anger. My anger was directed toward prejudice in general, and more specifically, toward the Ewell family. How dare the Ewell family lie, especially in court, in hopes that a black man will be condemned to death? Because the book is based on hard facts of the time makes my anger more intense. Another emotion that arose in me was compassion. Just as my anger was deep, my compassion was equally deep. My utmost compassion was for Tom Robinson and his family since he was wrongly accused of a crime and due to the society that he lived in, there was no hope for his acquittal. To my surprise, I even felt pity for the Ewell family because of their absolute ignorance! Because of their prejudice, the Ewell family was actually more hopeless that Tom Robinson. They were hopeless in the sense that if given the chance, they would do the same thing over again, just for the heck of it. There was also a great sense of satisfaction in the fact that Atticus was willing to risk his reputation, and possibly his life, for Tom Robinson. I believe that the book is as emotionally stirring now as it was when it was published.