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.

Reading Log Week 12

Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 103 - 150

Shuya's, Shogo's, and Mitsuko's morals are so very different. Shuya will fight for anyone he loves, and still can't believe anyone would kill each other. He doesn't want to kill, and is determined not to and to lose as little lives as possible. This is shown when it says, "'Shuya. You're pale. Are you okay?' Noriko asked, but Shuya couldn't respond. A shiver ran through his body, and he began to tremble....'I'm scared...I just killed someone.'" (Takami 142) This shows that Shuya was scared out of his wits, and couldn't believe that classmates would actually murder one another. I believe this is because of his natural personality, and how he had been with each and every classmate from when they were toddlers up to that moment, and he couldn't believe they were killing each other. On the other hand, Shogo believes that people should do what their instinct tells them to do, and if that means kill, then so be it. However, he still has certain ethics in the sense that he will not kill unless he has to, and he would much rather make friends than be suspicious and deadly around everyone. This is shown when he says, "I didn't have any choice. Are you saying I should have let him kill me?" (Takami 145) In this, it displays that he mostly relies on primal instincts and natural survival tactics, and looks at everything from a perspective with no emotion. I believe this is because his ethics are embedded in his personality, and he has had past experiences that make his mindset one where survival is key, and all other things come as an afterthought. As for Mitsuko, she only wants to win. It isn't even a matter of survival, she doesn't care if others die in her hands, as long as she survives and is victorious. This is shown when it says, "Mitsuko quickly turned off her flashlight and stood up. She wiped away the annoying tears (which she could produce any time. It was in fact one of her special talents)." (Takami 118) It displays here that Mitsuko really had no feelings or emotions that blocked her from winning and being the only survivor. She was completely willing to play this game, because her ethics are that of a bully. I think this is because she knows how to take advantage of people, because of her pretty face as well as her bold personality. This simply became more extreme as the "game" began.


Book: Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Pages read: 150 - 204

It seems that the story has been foreshadowing that Shinji and Shuya will meet up at some point in this story, and that will cause something extreme and large to happen, such as their escape. This foreshadowing may be seen when it says, "Yutaka nodded again. Then he looked down. 'I wonder where Shuya is. We'd be so strong if Shuya and you were together.' ...it was true, Shinji also thought, Shuya Nanahara would be a great partner.'" (Takami 204) This shows that both Shinji and Yutaka thought that being with Shuya was a good idea, because Shinji and Shuya would be a nearly unstoppable pair, and they just might have a chance of escape. I believe that this is foreshadowing their meeting up, because otherwise they wouldn't be mentioning this imaginary reunion so frequently and often. Therefore, I can safely conclude that at some point, most likely soon, Shinji and Shuya will unite and something substantial to the plot will happen because of it.

Reading Log Week 11

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 266-309

Percy has had doubts about whether the gods are even worth saving, on whether or not they have their priorities straight, and on whether they are any better than the Titans. This is shown when it says, "Olympus was on the verge of falling, and I'd seen so many cruel things the gods had done...Then I looked at Hestia. Her red eyes glowed warmly. I remembered the images I'd seen in her hearth - friends and family, everyone I cared about." (Riordan 307) This displays that Percy was debating on whether or not the gods were even worthy of saving, if the Titans were really that bad compared to the gods. I believe that he is even pondering fighting for the gods because Zeus killed an innocent mortal woman, Hades cursed the Oracle to a horrible life, and death, and Hermes turning his back on a son he knew would turn evil. All these things, and more, most likely led up to his contemplation of whether or not the Titans would be so much worse than the gods.

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages read: 309-381

This story finished dramatically, yet peacefully at the same time. Percy finally defeated Kronos, got the girl (Annabeth) and his friend got her true destiny. This destiny is becoming the new host of the Oracle of Dephi. Generally, it all ended happily. For example, it says, "Camp went late that summer. It lasted two more weeks, right up to the start of a new school year, and I have to admit they were the best two weeks of my life." (Riordan 375) This shows that Percy was incredibly happy with the ending of the book. He says that they were the best last weeks of camp of his life, which means he was satisfied with it. The average happy ending.



Reading Log Week 10

Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 1-64

I believe that Percy's morals are true and just, but what he has to do because of his nature prevents him from having proper manners and normal priorities. This is shown when it says, "'Demigods,' Rachel muttered as she threw another dart at the canvas. 'And their stupid quests.'" (Riordan 64) This quote shows that Rachel, a normal mortal, has different, more "normal" priorities than Percy, thus showing that she has resent for how different Percy is from her. She resents this because, in my opinion, he is above average in immortal terms, and he is off on quests that she cannot tag along in. She cannot be with him as much as she would like because of the fact that he leads a different type of life. Percy's morals and ethics are all there, and they are all very true, but his demigod nature and lifestyle prevents him from staying with friends like Rachel, who covets being with him more than he cares about stopping a war. Therefore, Percy means well, but does not have normal priorities, thus making him less understanding of others' feelings.


Book: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages read: 64-130

Currently, Percy is in Hades's dungeon, while Nico, Hades's son, just appeared in his dungeon to try and rescue him. Hades is keeping Percy in his dungeon because he made him angry and irritated when he started snapping at Hades and coming up with snide insults. This is shown when it says, "'You're crazy,' I said. 'Kronos will crush you, right after he finished pulverizing Olympus.' Hades spread his hands. 'Well, you'll get a chance to find out, half-blood. Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons.'" (Riordan 125) This displays that Hades was irritated with Percy, and it is very easy - yet not a good idea - to irritate a god. I believe that Percy annoyed Hades just because that is his personality and nature, though Hades simply saw it as a trangression, especially because he was in his own realm. Percy is generally very outspoken and restless, which causes him to say whatever is on his mind at the time. This is what happened here, and since Percy was a little angry, it did not help his attitude toward the god. Thus, this is what happened here, and now Percy is wallowing away his time, becoming more angry, in the god's dungeon.