The Soloist 23-31

The soloist has been a very interesting book to say the least. From begining to end, Lopez is there for Nathaniel and trys to help him in every way that he can. Although Steve could not cure Nathaniels mental illness, he cured his lonesome by becoming his best friend. It was a good thing that Steve realized curng him was almost impossible, because becoming his friend was so much better for Nathaniel. A story about helping someone is my favorite. It cannot get any better than that.The Soloist definetely brought up many modern day issues. I cannot beieve the fact that Nathaniel remained homeless for so long. That is proposterous. This goes to show how people only socialize with "normal" human beings. We need more people like Steve who would be willing to do things out of the "ordinary."

I am happy that Nathaniel finally agreed to live in the apartment despite the confrontation him and Lopez had. Another thing I liked was the growth of an irregular friendship. This is a good moral that the readers have learned. Befriending people that normally would not have any friends is a great deed.

Overall, reading the Soloist was a unique experience but overall im glad i did.

The Soloist 13-22

Once again this book has exceeded my expectations in a good way. The persistency of Lopez really astounds me, but I still don't really understand why he's going through all this trouble. Even though I don't understand Lopez, I definitely respect him for what he is doing. Not many people would take time out of their everyday schedule to help a poor, schizophrenic, violin player, playing violin on the streets. But the impact Lopez has on Nathaniel is incredible. He has almost completely changed Nathaniel's life for the better. I know personally if I was in Lopez's situation when he first met Nathaniel I would not have given him the time of day. Over the short period of time Lopez and Nathaniel have known each other they have become very close friends and more has happened to Nathaniel then expected. I thought that Lopez would write the article and readers would be interested but I didn't they would go as far as to send him equipment and sincerely care for him. Nathaniel has a bright future because of Lopez.

The Soloist 1-6

So far in chapters 1-6, I have really enjoyed this book. Although I am enjoying it I find myself with a lot of questions and no answers. Why is Lopez helping this guy out? How far is Lopez willing to go? How does a poor man from the streets get into Julliard? Although I ask all of these questions I can sympathize with Lopez. I mean if I met a poor, homeless, schizophrenic that could play the violin so well that he got into Julliard, I would make a fuss about it to. So far this book has been one of the most interesting books I have read. The story of Ayers is astounding to me and I can't wait to read more.

The Catcher in the Rye

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield remembers the days following getting kicked out of Pencey Prep, a private school. After a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden leaves school two days early to explore New York before returning home, interacting with teachers, prostitutes, nuns, an old girlfriend, and his sister along the way. This book was interesting but I'm not quite sure it was my speed. I didn't really feel like J.D. Salinger portrays the "teenager" in a proper way. However J.D. Salinger was very vivid and descriptive in the way he told the story and at some points it was like i was actually there.

The Soloist 7-12

These last chapters have raised a lot more questions then the ones before. One question is whether Steve Lopez was an under-privileged kid because he always writes about those who are less fortunate. Does Lopez ever write about upbeat stories of people who have great success? What is so special Nathaniel that Lopez is going through all this trouble? Is Nathaniel Lopez's favorite story? One of my previous questions had been answered though. My question was whether or not Lopez himself had ever played an instrument but he states that he always wanted to learn an instrument but never had the time or the ambition. I am very interested to see what happens next in the story.

Death of a Salesman

There are many reasons that Willy Loman dies. One is that he was an elderly salesmen lost in false hopes and illusions. Another is that the sales firm he works for no longer pays him salary. Because he is working on straight commission, Willy cannot bring home enough money to pay his bills. After thirty-four years with his firm, they have spent his energy and discarded him. You can tell Willy Loman is delusional because everyone knows that his son Biff is a failure, but Willy is the only one who doesn't see it. He wants his son to succeed where he has not. He believes his boys are great and cannot understand why they are not successful. As Willy gotolder, he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present, and is often lost in flashbacks where we find out about much of his past. These flashbacks are generally during the summer after Biff's senior year of high school when all of the family problems began.The reason Biff is not successful is because once, Willy Loman was having an affair with another woman on a business trip and Biff caught him in the act. Biff was so angry at his father that instead of going to summer school he fled and never got his diploma. Now, Biff does not respect Willy and they do not get along. In the end Willy commits suicide so that Biff can have the insurance money to become successful and be everything Willy wasn't.

Third Quarter Reflection

Using blogger during the third quarter was a wonderful surprise. I'm not usual a person who likes to embrace technology for all it's worth, no matter how convenient it is. In a way using this online "blogging" technique is convenient and in some ways it can be an annoyance. It is nice that you can hand in an assignment anytime you want instead of having to wait until the next school day, and you know it will always be there. It is sometimes an annoyance if you do the assignment and there is a technical problem and your posts don't get published. Overall I think it is great that we are using this online system and it is an enjoyable change of pace from the usual homework experience.

A selection of quotes

“Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.”
–Letter, Aug. 1936, to Ernest Hemingway

This quote relates to the saying that money cannot buy you happiness. In this part of the letter he is stating that money and riches are not important to him. The only way that money and riches held interest to him was if it brought something more important to him. Fitzgerald could also be implying the idea that riches can change people. In most cases, riches and everything that comes with it change people for the worst. He wants people to know that in his eyes, if the riches do not bring good character to you then it’s worth nothing and people need to see that.
This quote can be related to The Great Gatsby. Gatsby had plenty of money and lived the way any person would only dream. He had the fortune and the great lifestyle, however he was not entirely happy. He didn’t have the charm like the quote, or the distinction of his character and true love. His past true love Daisy was married to someone else and he longed to be with her again. This hole in his heart proves the quote true. All the money in the world, the big houses or the fame cannot buy your happiness. The only way that it can buy you happiness is if there is something more meaningful attached.

Great Gatsby Journal

In the first few chapters I have so far read that Nick Carraway, the narrator, announces that he is writing his account two years after the events he is talking about. Age twenty-nine, in the spring of 1922 he travels East from his midwestern home to work as a bond salesman in New York. He has rented a house on West Egg, in between the mansions along the shore of Long Island Sound. He knows nobody except his distant cousin Daisy Buchanan, who lives with her wealthy husband Tom on East Egg, across the bay. Nick drives over to dinner with the couple, who he has not seen in years, and their guest Jordan Baker. Tom, an athletic polo player, betrays his cocky arrogance as he tells of a racist theory he has read. Daisy's magical voice compels Nick forward to listen to her, but he suspects her sincerity when she says she is unhappy. I am a little confused at whats going on, but I think I get the main jist of it. Also I cannot figure out how to get my wordle document onto my blog.

American Poetry Supermarket

Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, renowned for having lived the doctrines of trancendentalism as recorded in his masterwork, Walden (1854), and for having been a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, as evidenced in the essay “Civil Disobedience” (1849). Thoreau attended Harvard University and was good friends with Ralph Emerson during his life.
I chose "Light-Winged Smoke Icarian Bird" because I had never seen poetry like it before. It sort of synyster and even evil in a way think. Like the line "melting thy pinions in thy upward flight" seems pretty evil. It could also have sort of a big brother is always watching theme to it. There are many ways to interpret Thoreaus work and that why I like him as a writer.

American Realism-Short Story Journaling

For my assignment I chose Mark Twains short stories and they were fun to read. Twain writes stories that almost seems real but it is fiction after all.
Twains stories are very entertaining and you never know what will happen next. The story of "The good little boy" and "The bad little boy" are very ironic in a sense. The good little boy would do nothing but nice things and nothing but bad things would happen to him. On the other hand the bad little boy would get rewarded for his naughty deeds.
When I was reading these two stories I thought that maybe Twain writes to teach a lesson, sort of like a fable. Like in "The jumping frog of calavares", Twain could have been teaching a lesson about karma, or to be careful who you mess with because no matter how good you are at something, theres always gonna be someone better.

Can writing enact social change

I believe this question can go two ways. Yes writing has the power to enact social change, but it highly depends on the reader. If the reader is stubborn as a mule then he will not be changed, but if the reader is open to new ideas then they can most definitley be changed.
Also, the piece of writing has to truly be meaningful because if you write any old piece of crap then the reader is not going to soak any of it in. For instance, some people who sparked social change by writing are Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and of course Jesus and the disciples. JFK and MLK's speeches both sparked huge social change and the bible is one of the most, if not the most, influential books in the world.

Light-winged Smoke, Icarian Bird

http://www.poetry-archive.com/t/light-winged_smoke.html

James Coin
Newspaper Article

Mercer Gray vs. Jackson Pryor


A short while back Mercer Gray, a slave owned by Jackson Pryor, had escaped due to the help of William Still and Passamore Williamson. Mercer Gray, originally known as Ginnie Pryor, had been on the run with two of her three children, Etta and Mattie. They were not alone though. They had a lot of help from the quick family, who helped them escape and kept them safe. Ginnie Pryor changed her name to Mercer Gray to represent her new life. Though she changed her name the past caught up to her andas was feared Jackson Pryor pressed charges. William Still was arrested for assault and battery, while Passamore Williamson was imprisoned for contempt of court because he refused to give up Mercer when he was ordered to. After Jackson Pryor pressed charges the family decided it would be smart to split up Mercer and her children. Mercer moved to West Chester with Aunt Zilpha, a member of the Quick family, while Etta and Mattie stayed in Philadelphia. Mercer visits Passamore Williamsons cousin Eliza who
convinces her to sign and affidavit stating that Mercer left Jackson Pryor on her own free will. Even though she signed the affidavit she still had to come in to the courthouse and testify under her slave name, Virginia Pryor. After hearing all of the testimonies the judge finally reaches a decision. Mercer is reunited with her kids and is a free women and all the charges are dropped against the men involved in the escape of Mercer Gray. As a result of this desicion a young man Nig-Nag, who helped Mercer escape, was beaten and killed by a slave catcher hired by Pryor named Keller. This event opens Mercers eyes to the horrors that occur to slaves every day. As of now Mercer is traveling and telling her story to others hoping to inspire them and open their eyes to these horrors as well.