Reading Log Week 20

Book: Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales
Author: Ray Bradbury
Pages read: 343 - 394

The Illustrated Man, before he was illustrated, and before he had taken on the urge to be illustrated, was actually thin and happy. He was a helper who took down the freak show tents and put them up, and he had a loving wife, and he was fit and healthy, with fairly good pay. But for some reason, he started eating, and eating, and eating, until he became quite fat. The freak show leader told him that because he was so fat, he could no longer help put up and take down the tents. There was no more use for him. The Illustrated Man desperately asked him for another job, and then the leader suggested being...illustrated. So the man went to a tattoo place and became...illustrated.  I think that the Illustrated Man started eating because his wife fought with him. For example, it says, "They had fought deep into the summer nights, she like a brass trumpet forever blaring at him. And he had gone out to eat five thousand steaming hot dogs, ten million hamburgers, and a forest of green onions, and to drink vast red seas of orange juice." (Ray Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales, "The Illustrated Man", 383) Therefore, this fighting caused him pain and he needed to get away from it all. Thus, naturally, he began eating. And eating, and eating. And came to here.

Book: Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales

Author: Ray Bradbury

Pages read: 394 - 443

Willis's ethics are much different than the other spacemen. Willis believes that philosophy and thoughts, feelings, words will bring people happiness. The other men, especially Clive, believe in partying and not thinking about what you are doing. For example, it says, "'you're nuts. At dinner you should have heard the laughter! You and this old man, and just talk! they said. Just talk, talk!'...'Mr. Shaw.' Willis shook his head, snorting softly. 'Why is it you seem more alive to me than anyone I have ever known?' 'Why, my dear young friend,' replied the old man, gently, 'what you warm your hands at are Ideas, eh?'" (Ray Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales, "G.B.S.-Mark V", 436-437) This shows that Willis thinks that ideas are what actually fuel people to keep going, what makes life worth living. And the other people, they don't think very highly of "talk". They don't tend to think, in general.



Reading Log Week 19

Book: Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales
Author: Ray Bradbury
Pages read: 221 - 278

Why did absolutely everyone need to leave the cold places of the world? Is that really the history of Charles Dickens? I think that people in the future live more luxurious lives, so "bad" weather is considered too lowly for people to have to live in. For instance, it says, "'Why,' said Samuel Welles quietly, 'it's simple, Harry. The weather here is bad. Always has been. No one dared speak of it, for nothing could be done. But now, England is finished.'" (Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales, "Henry the Ninth" 273). This shows that the people of England have always tolerated the weather, but only now, because they have more luxuries, do they believe they should leave to go to warmer, more tropical places. Places with generally better weather. Question Two: Is, "Any Friend of Nicholas Nicklebey's is a Friend of Mine" really the history of Charles Dickensdo not believe that that it is actually Charles Dicken's history. Because, that would mean that Ray Bradbury was Pip, a child who inspired many of Charles' Dickens's stories. I do not believe that Ray Bradbury and Charles Dickens lived in the same time period. Actually, I am quite positive they did not live in the same time period, so the before statement is rather unnecessary. Charles Dickens was a writer who lived in the 19th century, and died in 1870. Ray Bradbury is actually still alive. In order to have been alive when Charles Dickens was, Mr. Bradbury would be over 150 years old.  Therefore, it can be made quite plain that Mr. Bradbury created a fictional tale of Mr. Dickens' origins.

Book: Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales

Author: Ray Bradbury

Pages read: 278 - 339



The biggest thing that will effect everything else afterwards, in my belief, is when all the authors and their characters attempt to kill the astronauts. However, I know Charles Dickens will partake in this particular endeavor. He supports the astronauts and also thinks of the other authors as monsters, just as the astronauts do. He accepts being killed by the burning of his books. This can be seen when it says, "'Help? Do you think I would help you fight against those good men coming in the rocket? I don't belong here, anyway. My books were burned by mistake. I'm not supernaturalist, no writer of horrors and terrors like you, Poe; you, Bierce, or the others. I'll have nothing to do with you terrible people!'" (Ray Bradbury Stories - 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales, "The Exiles" 337). This shows that Dickens does not support the other authors trying to destroy the astronauts to save their own books and thus themselves. This also foreshadows to how monumental the big event of attempting to destroy the astronauts might be, no matter if they are successful or not.



Reading Log Paragraph

Kaitlyn DeShon

Per. 4

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Mystery/Realistic Fiction

A girl is dead. Her name is Hannah Baker. She committed suicide. Why? No one knows. Until Clay Jensen gets a box full of cassette tapes. He pops the first tape into a stereo and listens as Hannah tells him that he is one of the reasons she killed herself, one of thirteen, and she was about to tell them why, in thirteen tapes. Each reason is a different person who affected Hannah’s life, and the tapes need to get passed around to each person. So they can find out why she did what she did, and why they are on the tapes at all. And Clay is scared at what he’s about to find out. More than scared.

I chose to read this book because my big sister was reading it and told me it was really good. Then I saw my friends suddenly talking about how great a book it was and how it was amazing. So, naturally, I had to read it.

Double Reading Log Week 16-17

Book: Darke
Author: Angie Sage
Pages read: 306 - 373

 Merrin Meredith has an incredibly twisted way of viewing the world. His goal is to take over the entire Castle, particularly the Wizard Tower. He is using Darke Magyk in order to do this, incredibly Darke. People are very nearly dying and experiencing horrors in the Castle because of this, and all because Merrin wants to prove to people that he is not simply the irritating boy that is always swatted away like an annoying fly. For example, the book reads, "'You idiot!' she yelled at him. 'You have no idea what you are messing with, do you?' 'Neither do you, Wizard-face.' Merrin laughed. 'Run away to your twinkly little Tower and take old haddock-brain with you. I don't need her anymore.' ... He had never had such an attentive - such an astonished - audience. It was wonderful. It was what he had always wanted." (Sage 342)  This shows that Merrin was basking in the "glory" of everyone knowing that he was responsible for all the Darkenesse shrouding the Castle. I believe that Merrin feels this way because he used to be apprenticed to DomDaniel, believing he was Septimus Heap, seventh son of a seventh son and therefore incredibly Magykal. But then when he realized he was not as incredibly gifted and Magykal, and wasn't even the actual Septimus Heap, the real Septimus took the only, if incredibly dim, spotlight he had. Since then, everyone had ignored him as a pestering, annoying bug and he wanted to show people how gifted he actually was. So he meddled with the Darke, and this is the result.


Book: Darke
Author: Angie Sage
Pages read: 373 - 430

What will happen once the Darke Domaine reaches the Big Red Door at the end of There and Back Again Row, where everyone lies in wait? What will happen to Beetle stuck in the Sealed Hermetic Chamber in the Manuscriptorium with no way out? I believe that once the Darke Domaine reaches the Big Red Door, behind which everyone - Sarah, Septimus, Jenna, Marcellus, Simon and Lucy - are hiding, that the more fragile, non-Magykal people - such as Jenna, Sarah, and Lucy - will be escorted out of the room, or into a safer place somehow. Most likely on Spit Fyre, who I believe will show up just in the nick of time. I believe this because it says, "Spit Fyre didn't like what was happening to the Castle either; he could smell the Darke, he could feel it coming closer. And then, suddenly, he saw a movement in the shadows. His Pilot's StaySafe kicked in and so, as a group of Things crept up on him in a pincer movement, knives at the reader, Spit Fyre raised his wings and, with one powerful downstroke, he was airborne." (Sage 384). This shows that Spit Fyre is flying somewhere right now at the moment in the story I am at currently, and based on the way the author states it - "he was airborne" - it leaves a mysterious question lurking as to where Spit Fyre is now. And he will most likely end up in the story soon. The rest of the people in the room behind the Big Red Door will show a great display of courage and Magyk in fending off the Darke, enough to escape and begin to devise a plan to banish it completely. I believe that Marcia is in the Wizard Tower, somewhat oblivious to exactly how far the Darke Domaine has gotten. I believe that Beetle will survive, but just barely. It is hard to say that he will find a way to escape the Sealed Chamber, but I believe he will survive the time one way or another. Perhaps he will find another Suspension Charm or something similar to it, or find a way to UnSeal the Ice Tunnels hatch underneath the desk. Whichever way, I believe he will survive.

Book: Darke
Author: Angie Sage
Pages read: 494 - 568

I believe that Marcia is going to perform the Great Undoing of the Darkenesse soon, which will save the Castle from the Darke that Merrin Meredith set about the entire Castle. Everyone who became trapped in the Darke Fog fell into a Darke sleep somewhere between life and death. It is my belief that once Marcia completes the Great Undoing, the entire Castle will be freed from the Darke curse made by Merrin, which will be one of the climaxes of the book. For example, it says in the very beginning of the next chapter, "Marcia was about to put the Paired Code together." (Sage 569) This shows that, because it was the very beginning of the chapter, it is very important to the plot of the story. Once Marcia put the Paired Code together, she would be able to perform the Great Undoing. Also, there was another climax very recently, when Septimus battled Merrin Meredith and his Darke dragon on his own dragon, Spit Fyre. There were several moments when it seemed as if Septimus would lose, but in the end, good prevailed as the Darke dragon sank to the bottom of the lake. This is an important climax reached by the small event of the Darke Domaine being created in the very beginning of the book.

Book: Darke
Author: Angie Sage
Pages read: 567 - 622

This book has finished. The main idea of the last part that I have just completed is that the Great Undoing created everything to become Magykal again, with no trace of Darke, which is extremely good. This can be seen when it says, "And then they saw the most beautiful sight they had ever seen - the Darke Fog rolling away." (Sage 585) This displays that everyone was indescribably relieved to have gotten rid of the Darke. Also, Merrin Meredith will hopefully not be performing any more Darke, though I have a feeling he will be returning in the next book. For instance, it says, "'Come on, dearie.' Nursie linked her arm through Merrin's good one. 'Let's get out of this place. I never did like the Castle. Nasty memories.' 'Me too,' said Merrin. 'It's a dump.' (Sage 601) This shows that Merrin is still the dark, Darke boy with a bad attitude and a dangerous amount of power, though not as much as before. Jenna has finally realized that she is royalty and therefore must be protected, whatever she may believe. This is shown when it says, "She had turned down offers from Silas and Sarah to come with her. This was the way she wanted to return to her Palace - on her own." (Sage 603) This means that Jenna has finally realized that she is the Princess and she is royalty, and although she does not like other people risking their lives for her, she has finally accepted the fact that the Palace is hers and no one will be there to take over if she dies. They need her.

Reading Log Week 15

Book: Inkspell
Author: Cornelia Funke
Pages read: 193 - 246

Fenoglio has such different morals than Meggie it is almost laughable. Fenoglio, author of Inkheart, thinks he is high and mighty, so when he noticed that the story was not going as he had planned it at all, he became determined to change it back to the story he once made. Cosimo the Fair, who was to become the wonderful ruler of Ombra, had died, and Fenoglio was furious. No, not devastated; furious. He was upset things were not going the way he had planned. For example, it says, "'Meggie!' Fenoglio placed his hand on her shoulder. 'You saw the Laughing Prince! He could die any day, and then what?...he's made Firefox, who is a murderer and arsonist, his own herald!' 'Oh yes? And who made him that way? You did!' Meggie angrily pushed away his hand. 'You always did like your villians best.' 'Well, yes, maybe.'" (Funke 243) This displays the mindset of Fenoglio in the sense that he believes that whatever best contributed to the story, whether good or evil, was the best for everyone, no matter how many people it killed. It is my personal opinion that if death is brought upon anyone it is not worth however good the story. This opinion is shared by Meggie, who later says, "'You like making them up!' she said quietly. 'All these monsters.'" (Funke 243) This shows that Meggie shares the same opinion as me, that villians should not exist if it costs even one life, no matter the story.

Book: Inkspell
Author: Cornelia Funke
Pages read: 246 - 302

I believe that Mo will actually be the Bluejay, and once he discovers that he truly is the Bluejay, the robber from the songs that acts like Robin Hood, this will set a large course of events in motion, ending with the Adderhead's death. I believe this because it says, "'No one drives us away, but once they hear the Bluejay is here, that will be over. They'll say we were hiding him.' 'But he isn't this Bluejay! I told you so before.'" (Funke 293) This shows that Resa is still arguing that Mo is not the Bluejay, but the author cleverly uses repitition to foreshadow that Mo could perhaps be the Bluejay. This is why I believe Mo will set in motion a course of events that leads to the happy ending this book is sure to have. The Adderhead's death.

Reading Log Week 14

Book: Warriors-Into the Wild Author: Erin Hunter Pages read: 204 - 272 Multiple perspectives: From Firepaw's point of view, Tigerclaw is the traitor who wants nothing but to seek power. From Bluestar's perspective, he is an extremely loyal deputy who will rise valiantly to any occasion for his Clan. And this is also the perspective shared by the rest of the Clan cats. Firepaw, for example, notices the untrustworthiness in Tigerclaw when it says, "What was it Ravenpaw had said? That Redtail had killed Oakheart? But according to Tigerclaw, Oakheart had killed Redtail and he, Tigerclaw, had killed Oakheart in revenge." (Hunter 147) This shows that Firepaw began suspecting Tigerclaw and putting the puzzle together at a very early start. This quote shows that Tigerclaw might have been lying, and Firepaw never really enjoyed the grumpy Tigerclaw's company, which leads me to believe that Firepaw had good reason to distrust Tigerclaw. As for Bluestar and the rest of the Clan, they thought that Tigerclaw was fiercely loyal to the Clan. This is obvious when it says, "'There was a time, when Tigerclaw was a young warrior, that I feared for the strengh of his passion. Such energy can need careful channeling. But now I am proud to see how much respect the Clan has for him.'" (Hunter 229) This means that Bluestar completely trusts and depends on Tigerclaw, because she has seen him grow up and become more mature, leading her to believe he was trustworthy. Book: Inkspell Author: Cornelia Funke Pages read: 1 - 80 Predictions: I believe that Basta, Farid, and Meggie are all going to be sucked into the Inkworld, and Fenoglio would reenter the story. Also, Mo, possibly Resa, and Elinor would try to follow them into the Inkworld, thus creating more conflicts. I believe that they will all enter the Inkworld because Meggie really want to go, Farid says he needs to go, and Basta would create mor conflict. For example, it says, "where the passage mentioned a boy, in the sentence left unread by Orpheus, Mwggie had added 'and the girl.'" (Hunter 72) This displays that Meggie desperately wants to go to the Inkworld to see all the things her family had described. This leads me to believe that she will go in order to add plot twist.

Reading Log Week 13

Book: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages read: 335 - 391

Katniss's ethics are nothing like Haymitch's or the Capitol's. She believes that she has to protect those she loves, and her life comes second to everyone else's, except those she does not care about. This is shown when she was contemplating running away with Gale's and her family and Peeta's family and leaving the uprisings and the Capitol behind, to take the ones she loved and leave everyone else that are not of consequence to her. Haymitch is actually very similar to Katniss in terms of personality, but his ethics are slightly different. He believes that if something, no matter how despicable, has to be done for the greater good, then it should be done. If he has to withold precious information from Peeta and Katniss in order for them to survive and let the other ones die, then so be it. For the greater good. This is shown when it says, "'Because once the force field blew, you'd be the first ones they'd try to capture, and the less you knew, the better,' says Haymitch....'For the same reason the rest of us agreed to die to keep you alive,' says Finnick." (Collins 386) it shows that Haymitch asked all the rest of the victors to sacrifice themselves for Katniss and Peeta, so they can lead the rebellion. The Capitol leads a completely different form of ethics, so different they cannot even be called morals. They do not exist. To the Capitol, there is only power, and the struggle of maintaining it.

Book: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages read: 1 - 44

What has the Capitol done to Peeta to get him to call for a cease-fire? What will happen when Gale and Katniss go to hunt? What is the weapon that Beetee has created for Katniss? I believe that the Capitol has struck a deal with him, bargaining Katniss's life for the calling of the cease-fire. I think this because Peeta thinks dearly of Katniss. She's all he has. This is shown when it says, "'This way, if the districts lose, there's still a chance of leniency for you.'" (Collins 30) because it is, in short, saying that Peeta is still trying to save Katniss's life in either way. But the rebels see Peeta as a traitor now for calling for a cease-fire, knowing at this point if they ended the war it would result in the Capitol regaining control. I think that something significant will happen when Katniss and Gale go out to hunt, because they have made it a rather large deal. An example of this is when it says, "Plutarch begins to explain the drawbacks here - the dangers, the extra security, the risk of injury - but Coin cuts him off. 'No. Let them.'" (Collins 39) This shows that the officials did not think it was a good idea, and that it was dangerous, but they are going to do it anyway. In most stories, this is when something goes awry. As for the danger that will happen, I have reason to believe that they could catch a glimpse of other districts or the Capitol or find some important refugees in the woods somehow, in order to make it more dramatic. As for the weapon Beetee created, I think it will be much smaller and less lethal-looking than Katniss thinks, when in reality it is just as deadly as any large machine.