Deadline- The Finale post

The book I chose to read was deadline by Chris Crutcher. The book was about a boy going into senior year in high school. He is diagnosed with cancer and his life turned around. He tried to hid his cancer from everybody and live a normal life. This book was romantic, funny, and very intense. The book was also very easy to read because it felt like you were with Ben Wolf just having a conversation with him. Flaws in this whole reading assignment was how I managed my whole time, because I really rushed to finish the book and I should have started it sooner. This assignment was really nice because I got to pick the book I wanted to read, not a book I was forced to read. I felt like I had more freedom and could read at anytime not have assigned chapters each day. Throughout the book I noticed total character development in Ben life throughout high school and with him dealing with his cancer. I cant say anymore though!!!! you will just have to go read it. But this book was a very good book with lots of funny things that made me laugh out loud and by the end of the book I was tearing up. Overall the book was a very good read that was fast paced and a page turner.

Eleanor and Park

I absolutely loved the book Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell. This was because, the book pulled me in from start to finish. The book was funny, empathetic, and romantic. I had trouble stopping at any point in the book and just picking back up again because it was so good. I remember stopping at the part when Eleanor went over to Park’s house for the first time and he walked her home only to give her the biggest surprise of her life. I regretted it because I didn't want to stop reading. I always try to stop at the end of a chapter, but it didn't always seem to work in my favor. Picking back up again at that part also was something I regret I didn't start only because I wanted to take it in all at once.  Reading this book for pleasure made me focus in on the important ideas on Eleanor and Park, for example, how Park admitted his love but Eleanor didn't say anything back, better because I could understand it more reading by myself and on my own time without over analyzing and under-appreciating the book. Personally reading, I was able to track important events, keeping up with the reading, and make connections to other texts and life in general well. I also was able to track Eleanor and Park’s character development. Park started off embarrassed for Eleanor until he realizes how great she actually is. He loved Eleanor mostly because she was weird. He called her a work of art and said that she meant something. On the other hand, Eleanor, started off as friendless and alone, she doesn't remain that way for long. She was able to become friends with Park, and later on, closer. She always hided herself, however, like she’s leading a double life, so that Park wouldn't question her. Although she never does admit to him that she really does fully love him, she says it to herself hoping that it’s enough. Even though I did most things well, I need to work on identifying literary devices while I'm reading. I tend to look over them and pay no attention to them instead of putting them into context. Overall, I loved this book, and now I’m reading Rainbow Rowell’s other book, Fangirl, because her writing is so amazing.

Deadline Final Post

Deadline by Chris Crutcher was a really good book. It was outgoing, romantic, funny, ironic at times, and sad when the main character actually dies at the end. Most books and movies end up resolving the problem from the beginning of the book and end it happy. The way the book was written made me feel like I was talking to the narrator, Ben Wolf, a senior in high school who was diagnosed with cancer. This book was very different from books I have read in the past related to school because it included some inappropriate words and content, and had a different type of writing to it. One thing that I really struggled with was my time management. Two days before the book was do, I hadn't even started which was not smart on my part. The one thing I really appreciate about assigned reading books is that we have to read a certain amount of pages for the next day in class which made me read. With the freeness of the outside reading book, I was immature and didn't plan it out, but I did get it done. Another thing I noticed as I was reading is that I need to work on staying interested in the book. I could not seem to just read it, even though what I had already read had been good so far. As the book went on, I felt like I did notice character development in Ben. He went from being an immature senior that thought it was cool that he chose to not his life was ending soon, to actually being a mature graduate of high school. Even though he never ended up changing his mind about the life decision, it showed even more maturity that he decided to go with his original plan and stick with it. This showed what type of character he was becoming throughout the book. Another thing as I was reading that I need to work on is that I read a lot when I find the energy and interest to, but other than that, I cannot seem to just read it, even though it has been good so far. Overall, the book was an easy read and a very heart wrenching story.

Third Rail- Final Post

I enjoyed Third Rail very much. It was a humorous, entertaining, hooking mystery that had me wanting to flip the page constantly to find out what was going to happen. I think that the author did a very good job making the topic realistic because in these situations some authors make it too fake or too dramatic. But, in Third Rail the author did a very good job with including current events about the city of Boston and even pop culture. I may have even loved the book a little more than o would because it takes place in my favorite city, Boston. The book started off a little slow for me, but it progressively gained speed and grabbed my attention. I couldn't stop reading because the action slapped me in the face and told me to keep reading. I liked this project very much because I did not need to stress about a grade when I was reading. I could read at my own will and whenever I wanted. I didn't need to read on certain nights like an in class reading book would make me, but I could read when I had free time that I wanted to fill.

Blood on my Hands Reflection

For me the book, Blood on my Hands, it was very interesting. First off I love murders and mysteries, I find them for intriguing than a sappy love story. However this exact book was kind of short, meaning it didn't really have a big climax. Throughout the book it was just about her hiding from the police and trying to find who killed Katherine. But when she finally got caught it was a to rushed ending of the story. I felt like "What that's it?" or "Are you serious?". Don't get me wrong it was interesting to finally see who the killer was. You would have never thought.
Reading for pleasure I believe was a lot more fun and relaxed instead of having assigned reading. Mainly because I had a lot of time to take it all in and I could read at my own pace. Plus i got to pick the book I wanted to read, instead of reading the boring ones in class that have no meaning. Even more, reading for pleasure actually turned me on to reading a little more everyday.
When I am reading I am able to track character development. I am able to see who they are as a person and what their actions will be in a lot of different situations. While I am reading, after very chapter, especially in a mystery, I will stop and look at all the facts or evidence that might have been mentioned in that chapter. Doing this helps me put into perspective who the killer could possibly be, and who was involved. Although I did that, this book was good at keeping me on my toes, and had in for a plot twist when I found out who the real killer was.
What I need to work on, is keeping up on reading. I should be more organized on everyday of what I am reading and how many pages it should be. I like to think I have enough time to read it, that near the due date I have a lot to read. Its not that the book is boring its just my procrastinating, that I really need to work on.

Gone Girl- Final Post

Gone Girl 

Hailey Daniel

Throughout the story, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Gone Girl is one of my favorite books. Each chapter it switches point of view from Nick to Amy, getting both sides of the story and getting a taste of their personalities. There are cliff hangers at the end of every chapter which makes it almost impossible to put the book down. I was very surprised when I found out that Amy had faked her death in order to frame Nick. It made me completely change my view on the characters. In the beginning of the book I felt bad for Amy, which was her goal, but by part 2 of the book I realized that Nick is the innocent one in the situation. I loved this book because it wasn't predictable. There were many plot twists which kept it interesting. Sometimes I just wanted to skip a chapter to see how the character continues to react to a certain situation, it always kept you guessing. I most definitely would recommend everyone to read this book when they have the chance and I would love to read more books by Gillian Flynn. 

Final Post- Third Rail

I for the most part enjoyed my reading 'Third Rail' by Rory Flynn. It began slow but eventually it caught my interest. The main character is hard to relate to at first but if you give him some time you will learn to relate.  Reading for pleasure allowed me to read for fun and not have to worry about a grade. If I had a busy night I didn't have to read but if I was free I could relax and read. With the reading I did a good job keeping up with character development because I was very interested in the main character Harkness. I was able to really see a change in him and a development of his character. However, in the future I need to keep up with reading more. Last night before it was due I had to read about 50 pages. Next time I would have liked to not have to cram in fifty pages and give myself more time to enjoy the ending.