Summer Reading
Intro:
Before I start this blog post, I would like to make a little introduction. The first book I read this summer was Eleanor and park, and I found it on the middle school supplement list. I forgot we were not annotating all of the novels we read this summer, and so I did. When I finished the book, I decided I would record all of my annotations, and annotate all the books I read the summer. I often annotate books and I don’t really have a reason why I do, but it I think helps me understand the book. It also helps me think why the author did this or that. I am going to record my annotations and make a small review on the book from my annotations. Here is my summer assignment:
Eleanor and Park:
Review
I recently completed the amazing novel that is Eleanor and Park. I have been meaning to read this book for a while, and when I saw it on the Middle School Supplement List, I knew immediately I had to read it. The book consists of Eleanor, a girl with an abusive step-dad (Richie), a fearful mother and many scared siblings. She has just returned to her family after Richie kicked her out for a year. Starting the school year, she arrives at the bus a few days after the first day of school scared and isolated from society. She then takes the empty seat next to Park, who is almost Eleanor’s polar opposite. His family is caring and he has many friends, which all happen to be the kids who bully Eleanor. The book follows Eleanor and Park navigating their high school year together. When I first started this book, my mind was focused on how isolated the characters were from each other. Looking more deeply, you can find isolation as a common or maybe even the most prominent theme in the book. I loved this book, and recommend it to everyone. Below are my annotations:
Annotations:
I think a theme in this book is isolation. Page 15
Eleanor is isolated from her siblings. Page 16
The book starts with Eleanor and park being so isolated from each other they don’t speak. Page 24
Eleanor is also isolated from her family. Page 26
This is the start of Eleanor and park not being isolated. Page 39
Eleanor is isolated from her family from her mom because of her step dad. But, Park will be her friend. Right now she is isolated from society. Page 53
Eleanor and park are having their first conversation to avoid isolation. Page 59
Isolation fading from Eleanor and park. Page 64
Park referring to Eleanor as a friend meaning isolation faded. Page 70
Mental isolation faded and now that Eleanor and park held hands physical isolation fades. Page 71
All isolation of Eleanor and park is gone. Page 90
Richie (her step-dad) kicking her out for a year is isolation from her entire family. Page 153
When Eleanor says that parks Dad looks more like park now, she’s saying she thinking of him like she thinks of park. Isolation fading between them. Parks family will be like the family she doesn’t have. Page 200
Eleanor tells park everything now, isolation gone. Page 287
When Eleanor runs away, she is now 100% isolated from her family. Page 292
When Eleanor ignores park, she quickly makes a new wall of isolation from him. Page 323
Fangirl
Review
I read this book over the course of three days and am having a very difficult time having an opinion about it. I can’t call this book bad and say I did not lie, but saying this book was good is a lie too. The plot is simple, a girl named Cath and her twin sister are going to college. Both are obsessive when it comes to a book series called Simon Snow. Cath writes fan fiction. Her mother ran away when she was young, and her dad is fragile. Her twin sister (Wren) has moved on from fandom, but Cath still loves it. The book had some plot points that were smart, and some are not the best choice. This book is by Rainbow Rowell, and after reading her book Eleanor and Park, I was a little disappointed. I annotated on appearances, which may not have been the most prominent theme in the book, and I had a hard time annotating it. Below are my annotations:
Annotations:
I notice Cath is very shy about her appearance, maybe I’ll annotate that…. Page 15.
Cath cares what everyone thinks of her. Page 15
She cares what Reagan thinks of her. Page 38
Cath cares about what the people who read her fan fiction think of her. Page 51
When Cath meets the girl who is a fan of her fan fiction, she doesn’t tell her she writes it because she is scared of what she will think of her. Page 202.
Cath even cares what her boyfriend thinks of her. Page 290
The Haunting Of Hill House:
Review
I love the author Shirley Jackson, and when I saw her name on the reading list, I knew immediately that I had to read her book. I have read her short story the Yellow Wallpaper, and could easily say it was my favorite short story. But this book has to be my favorite thing written by her so far. When I first started reading this, I took note of the characters personalities. As time progressed in the book, their traits have a humungous change. If only could use adjectives to describe the book, they would be haunting and marvelous. The way the author takes something like a haunted house that is so cliche and turns it into such a perfect portrayal of reality is unreal. Below are my notes that are organized by person.
Annotations:
- Dr. Montague
Not respected. Page 1
Won’t beg
Wants to find history of house
Careful. Page 2
Intelligent. Page 48
Control Freak. Page 84
A little insane. Page 99
Obsessive. Page 100
Not as afraid of the house. Page 106
Lazy. Page 112
Terrified. Page 130
- Eleanor:
Loner. Page 3
Full of hate
Depressed
Does not care for anyone. Page 7
Dead inside. Page 12
Already hates the house. Page 16
Intelligent. Page 48
Lazy. Page 68
Dizzy. Page 83
Slightly Insane. Page 97
A little Insane. Page 99
Childish. Page 104
Not fearing the house. Page 106
Fears the house again. Page 108
Defensive.
Outsider. Page 109
Lonely. Page 110
Lazy. Page 112
Wants to kill Theodora. Page 117
Insane. Page 131
Insane. Page 171
Obsessed with the house. Page 177
Absolutely Insane
- Theodora:
Joyful. Page 4
Excited. Page 4
Happy. Page 32
Light. Page 34
Intelligent. Page 48
Hard Worker. Page 68
Slightly insane. Page 97
A little insane. Page 99
Childish. Page 104
Lonely. Page 110
Lazy. Page 112
Hysterical. Page 116
Insane. Page 131
Doesn’t like Eleanor. Page 156
- Luke:
Thief. Page 5
Liar. Page 5
Intelligent. Page 28
Brave. Page 102
Childish. Page 104
A little insane. Page 104
Lonely. Page 106
Lazy. Page 11
Coward. Page 137
- Hill House:
Lifeless. Page 23
Hated, Scared. Page 24
A little good. Page 37
Disturbed. Page 51
Insane. Page 52
Everything Leads To You
Review
I am finding making a review on this book almost impossible. I have conflicting feelings about this book, and it is really hard to have an opinion on it. The plot is about a girl who graduated high school, living at her brother’s house while he is away. She designs sets for movies. She finds a note in a house leading to the great granddaughter of a deceased movie star, who has no idea of her grandparents. While this happens, she is put as the production designer of a touching movie called yes and yes. She got the job from her ex-girlfriend Morgan. Ava has a mom that she ran away from, and when she confronts her again, all the emotion of the book just disappears. The book is very emotional, and what should be the most emotional scene of the book, is actually such a letdown. The author doesn’t describe any feelings, just dialogues. The dialogues are missing emotion and are disappointing. Throughout the book, some of the emotions in this just flow and work, while some try too hard. Themes in this book are hard to describe, and I couldn’t find a theme that stays prominent. Themes come and go, making annotations are hard to do. Also, I didn’t have a pen, so annotations were almost impossible. That is why I didn’t annotate this.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Review
Trying to explain my feelings while reading this book is almost the same as trying to explain life. Almost impossible. But I am going to try. The plot is about a black girl growing up in the times of racism, around World War 2. I am going to start my explanation with one word: flow. Now, something that makes me know I like a book is that I am so into it I am rooting for everything to turn out right. I wasn’t in this book. I was rooting for the plot. If things had to go bad, I was fine with that I was just rooting for the interesting plot to continue. The book just had this flow to it, that even if you don’t like the book, you were interested if that makes any sense. I wanted to know what happened next. Something about this flow didn’t make me want to stop and annotate. Maybe I wasn’t wrapped up in the book, but stopping this flow to take notes just seemed horrible. Still, I did and below are my notes:
Annotations
Segregation. Page 1
Would like to be white. Page 3
More segregation. Page 13
Race is a big theme. Page 14
Religion plays a major role. Page 41
A lot of prejudice. Page 50
Is she rebellious or dangerous? Page 66
Even general stores are segregated. Page 102
She cares for Bailey more than herself. Page 121
Religion=Theme. Page 123
She is finally okay with her color. Page 126
Religion again. Page 161
The family is a theme. Page 163
Racism. Page 177
More racism. Page 188
Religion is less important. Page 202
Less Racism. Page 210
Now everyone is lonely together. Page 248
She has no more friends. Page 256
The Savage Song:
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest:
(I lost the copy of the book that I annotated, which held my review in the back)
Like No Other:
True Letters From a Fictional Life:
P.S. I Like You:
