3.07 Free Choice Blog

• My summary is from the first chapter of "Shug" by Jenny Han. Annemarie Wilcox or 'shug' is twelve years old finishing up her summer and heading into junior year of middle school. She different than the other tween in her neighborhood. She's more guy-like than nails and make-up. Her last day of summer was spent with her best friend, Mark Findley. They've known each other since the age of five, and every last day of summer was spent with him, the sunset, and cherry Popsicles. Annemarie felt that this day wasn't like the other days of summer, that that moment her and him were supposed to admit the feelings they have for each other. She wanted him to just stop blabbing about his new mountain bike his dad is getting him and to lean over and touch lips. She knew not to expect 'fairy tale' lives, but this wasn't a 'fairy tale' life, this was real. She wanted Mark to see her, to really actually see her. He didn't and she knows that he won't. Mark is just a friend, he was always just a friend.

• What was your personal reaction to reading this selection?

The first chapter of any novel always has a big event that leads throughout the chapters. This chapter shares a lot about Annemarie, it states a particular characteristic that shows how she feels as the story leads on. She likes Mark, more than a crush, and only wants him to admit it. She knows he doesn't feel that way and he won't admit that. I like reading the first chapter of Shug because it refreshes my memory of what I was like as a tween.

• What do you believe the author's intent was, and what patterns of organization did you observe?

I believe the author's intent was to show that Annemarie was different. That she never really wanted much, but whatever she did want wasn't there for her. That Annemarie had something decent in her life, but it didn't turn out as she expected. I observed patterns of compare/contrast. Throughout the chapter as Jenny was showing you what Annemarie is like and how Jenny contrasts her to the others in her neighborhood.

2.07 Free Choice Blog

•  My summary is from the first half of the first chapter of "The Notebook"  by Nicholas Sparks. The beginning of 'Ghosts' (the first chapter)  Noah Calhoun was on his porch of his accomplished dream house in October of 1946. He was thinking back, of what he remembers, the summer of 1932. The summer where he first fell in love, where he did things that he would never do, with someone he thought he would spend his life looking for but would never actually find. When he thought back, it wasn't a force of habit or an action he chose. It's something he was trying to forget but it just doesn't leave his memory. It was the summer after graduation at the opening night of Neuse River Festival. It was a town festival, and everyone participated. At that time Noah had spotted his good pals Fin and Sarah talking to someone he had never seen before. She sighted her as being pretty and having emerald eyes. He joined the group's conversation and Fin had introduced each other. In that moment, Noah had realized she was the someone he would spend his life looking for but would never find again. 

• What was your personal reaction to this reading selection?

I know this novel like the back of my hand. It is a very touching story and very inspirational. When I read it, I feel like I am part of Noah's life, as well as Allie's. They're such phenomenal characters and you can truly feel the pain of each of them.

• If you were to create notes to help you remember the most important points from your reading, whats styles of note (lists, outlines, thoughts bubbles or webs, etc.) would you use and why?

I would use thought bubbles, because the selection varies, it doesn't go in chronological order. It distances off from the pain of Noah to the moment when he feels brand new. There's also certain phrases that touch your heart that you can't list or outline.

"What is the last thing you read that you enjoyed and why?"

The last book I read was "The Compound" by S.A Bodeen. The setting was an underground bomb shelter. It was during the Soviet Russia nuke test. U.S.A was intimidated by Soviet Russia and had a nuke war. The whole novel talks about how the family's son was trying to reach his dead twin brother.

"What Kind Of Reader Are You?" Quiz Results

My results were Fiction and Non-Fiction.
I feel comfortable with Fiction considering the fact that it is a genre that I enjoy. I like genres with scenerios that are unrealistic. Such as scenes that take place in outer space or in another dimension. On the other hand, with non-fiction, that doesn't really suit my interests. At least I don't agree with that half of the results.