Outside Reading #2

Book: Smashed
Author: Koren Zailckas
Published: 2006
Nonfiction
Pages: 343
Evidence: Some difficult vocabulary and 'adult' language.
I chose this book because Barnes and Noble rated it 4.5/5 stars.

Final Project - 4 maps

DBATB Reflection

Reflecting on ‘The Diving Bell’, I respect Jean’s attempt to create a masterpiece during his “locked-in syndrome.” I understand that it must be very difficult to write a memoir when you cannot transfer and organize your thoughts out loud or on paper but being the editor-in-chief of Elle Magazine I was expecting more.

The memoir ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ by Jean-Dominique Bauby was not the type of book I would normally choose to read. It did not have any of the characteristics of a book that I would find interesting. There were many different reasons I did not like ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.’ First, I am aggravated with the attention getter in the beginning which indeed caught my full attention, but was soon lost after the first couple chapters. I was extremely bored and completely uninterested the book because the following chapters made no sense. It skipped around to different subjects and that made it very hard to understand what was going on. Secondly, I feel it didn’t come together in the end and the book was just full of things he would dream and random memories that could not relate to each other. I feel the book had no purpose because Jean did not seem to live a thrilling life, or one exciting enough to write about. Thirdly, I couldn’t follow Jean’s thought process because his dreams and memories were not relative to each other at all. After reading the back cover I thought the book was completely about him being a quadriplegic. I believe the book should have revolved around that more. Since I found none of the characteristics of the book appealing it made it impossible to indulge myself in such a dull book.
Overall, if I were given a choice I would not have read this book at all. I would have chosen a book that was more straightforward in understanding with a character that gives lots of details and explains things thoroughly where something I'm interested in takes place. I would never recommend ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ to anyone looking for a book to read during their down time.

Becoming A Parent is a "GIFT" .........

1. A link to the essay
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11033022

2. Author
Chris Huntington

3. Title
Becoming a Parent Is a Gift

–4. One sentence of what the belief is
"I believe in adoption now."

–5. 2 examples from the story that showed their belief
"I love the idea that this girl will grow up to be a woman and still look nothing like me, but whenever she hears the word "dad," she'll think of me. "

"Now, I want my family to include a little girl who looks nothing like me or my wife."

–6. 1 favorite passage
"When I was a teenager, everyone said becoming a parent was easy — so easy, I had to be careful not to do it accidentally. I guess it's easy for a lot of other people, but not for me and my wife. "

Goal

One goal I have for myself in my sophomore year is to exceed my general effort towards school. I never knew high school would come so quickly and college soon after. With standardized college admission tests just around the corner, trying my hardest in school is essential. I plan to study and complete all work to my full potential. I anticipate applying myself more than ever in order to fully understand all material and to receive excellent grades.

Anxious

Something I am anxious about for this year is the football games this season. Generally, a football game to me is just an event where I am able to hang out and see all of my friends. Last Spring I joined the Varsity Cheerleading team which set a whole new perspective on things. This Fall I will no longer be a person in the stands but a cheerleader on the sidelines. Friday, September 7th is the first football game of the season and I am already feeling a load of uneasiness. I have never been one to get up in front of a crowd and perform, but with the help of my team I am hopeful enough to get over my anxiousness.