1. The active reading is going great for me because it helps me understand the stories better. Marking in the books has made me pay attention more to the story being told. When I was in high school, I would read a book and sometimes have no idea what was going on. I’ve never been a big reader, so I’ve never really done active reading. I’m glad that we have to do active reading because I don’t feel confused or lost when we talk about what we read in class. I also feel prepared coming to class to discuss the book after my active reading.
2. Both The House on Mango Street and a long way gone are extraordinary books. In The House on Mango Street there are a few strengths. I like that the chapters are short because long chapters can be boring sometimes or can get confusing. I like that the book uses metaphors to describes how Esperanza is feeling. This book has many themes, such as identity, which many readers can relate too. One weakness I think is that the story can be confusing at times. We see things through Esperanza’s eyes, so it’s hard to keep up with all the characters she sees and to take in her. In a long way gone there are many strengths. I really like how Ishmael tells his story because he is very descriptive and blunt. I like that the story is a true story because it makes me want to keep reading. Beah uses great story telling and writing skills to make you feel like you are in the story. One weakness is the chapter’s don’t have titles (like we talked about in class). Titles usually tell the reader what will happen in that chapter or have meaning to the chapter. I prefer a long way gone so far because I never get bored or want to stop reading it. The story gets better and better each chapter.
3. A theme I’ve noticed in Beah’s a long way gone is trust. Trust is an important theme to understand because it is talked about often in the story. With the war happening people are losing trust in others. War can can destroy the enjoyment of others company or meeting someone new. Like on page 48, Beah writes, “I was glad to see other faces and at the same time disappointed that the war had destroyed the enjoyment of the very experience of meeting people. Even a twelve-year-old couldn’t be trusted anymore.” It’s sad to think that a twelve-year-old couldn’t be trusted.
I like how you plucked out some themes when talking about The House On Mango Street! I agree, the theme of identity is very easy to relate to for most people, especially when they're young and still trying to figure out who they are and where they fit.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Identity is a major theme in the story and many people can relate to.
DeleteI agree trust is an important theme in a long way gone, I also like the quote you used
ReplyDeleteI like that quote also because it really shows how people can't trust anyone including children.
DeleteI agree with you about not getting bored or wanting to stop reading it. There is never a dull moment in A Long Way gone.
ReplyDeleteThis book is so well written and nothing like anything I have ever read before. I'm glad you're enjoying the book too!
DeleteI agree with how you said a long way gone is never a boring book and how you always want to keep reading, and that is because it is just such a good and detailed book.
ReplyDeleteI know right! The book is detailed fantastic.
DeleteI used the same quote for Beah's theme but as I am writing this a question does pop into my mind. For them they were know to be very open people so the fact they don't trust foreigners makes sense. What I am getting at though is trust in America vs Africa. Where the level of trust shown in the book is basically trust in America citizens with strangers. So I don't find the level of trust shown to surprising even though, in the book, it's exploded because it's against the norm.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good point! Thanks for making me think a little more about the situation.
Delete