A Rant About Book Deaths... (Class Connection Post) (WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and The Awakening Readers)

        Let me start with saying, I get very attached to the characters from the books I read. I'm sure that most people do. Books take us into an entirely different world, and we start to feel the emotions from those books rub into us. Therefore, after reading The Awakening, I can honestly say I am disappointed. Edna was truly engulfed in depressing emotions, but that is no reason to give up on life entirely. Some people may argue that it was the only way for her to escape, but I strongly disagree. Escaping from life is no way to solve problems! It will just make life worse for those around the victim, as well as a terrible end to anyone's life. Edna could have found another solution. In the worse case scenario, she could have left her town and started a new life, away from the people causing her distress. Still, she should not have given up on the rest of the people in her life.
        Pondering Edna's suicide, I started to think about all of the other books I have read where some of the best characters have died. I understand that sometimes it is necessary to kill off an important character, but it really tears at my heart when my favorite characters die. For instance, in Mocking Jay when Prim dies, I could not stop crying. Although it was in fact necessary for this to happen in order for Katniss to move on with her life, I was thoroughly angered by the book. After all of the other significant deaths like Finnick (in Mocking Jay) and Rue (in The Hunger Games), Prim was the final straw. Another book riddled with death was the last book in the Harry Potter Series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. What about Fred? Who could have ever wanted one of the Weasley twins to die? Who could have wanted Remus Lupin or Dobby or Hedwig to perish? I'm guessing that most people cried A LOT during the last book. Deaths like these truly leave a mark. It's hard for me to go back and read books with deaths in them over again. Every time I re-read novels, I carry a hint of sadness with me by knowing what will happen to characters who are currently alive but won't be for long.
        Deaths within books frustrate me. I understand why the characters need to die, but it breaks off a piece of the story. Every time a character is killed off, a fraction of the love for that book is ripped away. Books with suicide are the worst. At least when characters die from other factors, there is a valid reason. When characters go so low as to take their own life, I am very tempted to throw the book at the ground in frustration. This is the main reason I did not enjoy the end of The Awakening. Even when there are misunderstandings in novels or even plays like "Romeo and Juliet", I can't erase my frustration with the characters. I mean, I know that Romeo and Juliet loved each other and could not bear to face life without the other, but still! There are so many alternatives to death. Just think about what would have happened if Romeo had not killed himself when he saw Juliet's body? She would have woken up and they could have run away and lived a happy life together. Unfortunately, many stories do not end with happy endings.
         To sum things up, I strongly dislike book deaths. If it were up to me, all books would have a happy ending. Still, I know that if all literature had happy endings, there would not be nearly as much creativity in writing. Therefore, although I want all of the characters to live wonderful lives, I acknowledge the fact that not all stories from real life are essentially happy. Everyone lives in their own way, and we have no right to judge others on their own styles of living. I'll try to keep an open mind whenever I read books containing death. I may not agree with it, but there's no harm in giving them a chance. Who knows? Maybe one day I won't be as bothered by book deaths!

Making a Statement Through Poetry (Independent Reading Post)

       Poetry is an incredible form of writing. It allows us to portray our deepest emotions and thoughts through a true form of art. When I read the online article, "Dangerous 'truth': The Kabul women's poetry club", I realized just how much I take things like poetry for granted. For me, poetry has always been there. I can simply pick up a pen and start writing without any hesitation. In Afghanistan, however, woman are not allowed to do this. In their country, writing poetry is considered a sin that should be avoided at all costs. Now, women throughout Afghanistan are silently fighting back. They are forming poetry clubs in secret and writing to their hearts content. They generate words hidden deep within their hearts and fill the paper with their personal feelings about everything going on in their lives.        

       It makes me so happy to see women standing up for something that they believe in. Things like freedom of expression are essential to a true society. It takes a great deal of courage to go against the common beliefs of society. Imagine living in a country where you have to hide your writing pieces from your community as well as your own family and friends. Personally, I would be screaming in the inside. That's why it's such a pleasure to hear that these women are disregarding common belief and standing on their own two feet.       

       The situation in Afghanistan shows that women have the ability to stand up for what is right. Although they are ridiculed by those around them, they don't give up on their dreams. In the article, Karima Shabrang humbly explains, "I would prefer a dignified death to a life lived as a hostage in silence". The words of these women are small, but powerful. The women within Afghanistan support what they do with all of their hearts. When it comes to living life without the freedom to express your self through creative forms like poetry, it is better to follow your own beliefs rather than those declared by authority. I hope that soon, they will no longer have to live a life of secrecy. These poetic women deserve to be heard, whether it be through speech or writing. Since it is doubtful that the women of Afghanistan will give up in their pursuit of expression, I am sure that they will one day accomplish their goals.

Here is the Link to the article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24608666

A Review on "One Man" (TA Post)

        After watching the video on the "One Man" Movie Trailer Supercut, I was astonished. I have never really thought deeply about movie trailers before. I mean, we see them all the time, everywhere. They just kind of play through the back of your mind, and you don't really analyze the mass effects that they can have on society. The whole video took short clips from trailers that follow the "one ____" theme. Almost all of the videos filled in the blank with the word "man". In the trailers with women as the main character, the blank almost never read "woman". Instead it was filled in with words like "stranger", "person", and "thing". These kind of words make you wonder if the producers of these movies are actually trying to avoid using the word "woman" in the trailers. It sure seems like it. After all, the vast majority of trailers with male protagonists use phrases like "It's up to one man to save the world" and "Only one man could restore peace".  When woman are brought into the picture, why is it that they are more often than not referred to in ways that transform them into something that can be put into one's possession rather than an actual person? By declaring loudly that the main female character was "the one thing that he needed", trailers are becoming questionable on the terms of gender equality. Even at times when it would be perfectly acceptable to say, "The rest was up to one woman", the producers insist upon saying things like "The rest was up to one person". Why is it that men can be referred to as "men", but woman cannot be referred to as "woman"? Until these past few weeks, I had never observed the hidden messages of movie trailers and TV shows. It frustrates me that the writers of screenplay tend to portray woman as weaker characters than men. By avoiding the term "woman" in trailers, it suggests that they are not meant to have the best roles in stories and that they don't have as much character development as men do. This is, of course, not true in the slightest. All people can have strong characters, regardless of their gender. It truly amazes me that anyone would think otherwise. If someone is making a movie trailer about a woman, why not just say "woman"? It really makes no sense. Well, I think that concludes my long rant about gender equality!

"Les Physz": The Combination of "Les Misérables" and Foxtrot (Independent Reading Post)

        Normally, I'm not a big fan of cartoons. I occasionally find a few ones that are exceptionally funny, but other than that, I don't really read them. Well, yesterday morning I happened across a Foxtrot cartoon that made me literally burst out laughing-something that should happen when I read cartoons but didn't until I read this one. You see, I love the music from the musical Les Misérables, just like so many other people who declare themselves "Les Mis" fans. It is such an emotional play with so many amazing characters. Therefore, when I saw that Bill Amend, who wrote this Foxtrot cartoon, had combined the ideas of Les Misérables with physics, I just could not stop laughing. I took pictures of the cartoon and pasted them below so that you can see what I am talking about in the first place.

        In order, the physics phrases refer to "I Dreamed a Dream", "Do You Hear the People Sing", "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables", "On My Own" (my personal favorite), and "Who Am I?". If you have ever seen Les Misérables, you can see why this is the best cartoon I've ever seen. It relates the emotional music from songs like "I Dreamed a Dream" to physics, of all things. I think what makes this cartoon so hilarious is that it combines two totally unrelated things together. I mean, who thinks of something like physics when they are singing songs powerful enough to bring tears to your eyes? I know for a fact that this is the first time in my life that I have connected these two completely different ideas. I have to give the writer credit for having such a creative mind. Not many people can take two random concepts and combine them into a piece of writing that looks and sounds good. 

        I also like this cartoon because it shows how sometimes people do some crazy things when they are bored. I admit, even I have on occasion bursted into song after working on homework for so long that I can't think anymore. Sometimes I sing random things about what I am working on. It's just something that happens when your mind is so dead that you have words and equations running through your head and you don't know what to do with them. I can also relate to this cartoon because I have a problem with distraction, as many people do. I'll be working on something when I'll get distracted and start working on something else. Then, once I finish that task, I'll forget what I was doing in the first place! As you read through the cartoon, you can tell that as the scenes progress, the character gets more and more distracted. He starts out with a kind of multi-tasking attitude and eventually ends up belting out "Les Physz" and forgetting about all the homework right in front of him. 

        To sum things up, I now know what happens when you combine Les Misérables with physics. I honestly can say that I have never actually questioned what would happen with this combination, but now I know. We are all learning new things every day, whether they be character-building, educational, or just plain random. In this case, I'm perfectly fine with learning something random. After all, sometimes the random things are what we remember best!

        

Arabian Horses are the Best Breed of Horse (Convince Me Post)

       I grew up with a love of horses. Every single year for Christmas, all I asked for was a horse. Of course, my parents said no, but I still dreamed of one day owning my very own horse. I truly enjoy riding horses and taking care of them - it's just one of the things I love. Even though I have never owned a horse before, I still have been able to ride occasionally. You see, one of my aunts owns two arabian horses. She lives in a different city than me, so it's difficult to visit her a lot. Still, I never fail to ride at least two or three times a year. Every time I visit my aunt and ride with her, I am more convinced that arabian horses are the best breed of horse.
        Other than riding with my aunt and her arabians, I have ridden quite a few different types of horses. From summer camps and riding lessons that lasted a few years, I gained experience with quarter horses, draft horses like percherons, and mixes of different breeds, like horses that are part arabian and part quarter horse. The thing that makes arabians unique, in my opinion, is that they are so graceful, while at the same time sturdy. Arabians have a very distinct, fine-boned build. They have dished faces, unlike most horses, and very compact bodies. This is because they are built for speed and strength. Arabian horses are the most durable horse that I know of. For example, when I go camping with my aunt and her horses, one of her friends brings a few horses as well. Her quarter horses each eat one full bale of hay a day, while my aunt's two arabians go through a mere 3/4 of a bale together. They can also go without water for a much longer time than other horses. If I was going to ride through a desert, I would choose an arabian over another breed without hesitation.
        Another reason that arabians are the best is because of their personalities. Let me say one thing: Arabians are frisky. Some people are deterred from them for this reason alone, but people like me love them for it. A frisky horse is a horse with character. Whenever I ride arabians, they want to run. They cannot wait to break free of their bonds and fly through the wind as far as it will take them. I'm exactly the same way. Maybe this is why I have grown so fond of these wonderful horses. I see myself reflected in them and as soon as I hop onto their back, both of us are ready to take off. Other horses tend to be more stubborn about moving. One time I rode a horse that stopped every five feet because she wanted to eat grass (she was a paint). A lot of horses like to run, but not nearly as much as arabians.
        The first time I rode a horse alone was when I was about five years old. I had always wanted to ride alone but my aunt said that I was still too young. Finally, she said that I could try. So, she put me on top of her grey arabian, Candace, and I sat there peacefully for about two seconds before she took off, galloping towards the barn where the other horse was grazing. I had no time to think so my first instinct was to grab onto her mane. Looking back on it, that was the best thing I really could have done. I had no experience using the reins so her mane was the only option. Either way, I held on and never fell off. This may make arabians seem way too frisky for kids to ride, but any horse is hard to ride when you are little. Besides, as I grew older, I learned how to control horses and what to do when they do take off. After a while, you begin to understand horses and how they think. This helps you to make good decisions while riding them. The point is, arabians are amazing horses and once you learn how to control their friskiness, they truly are the best horses out there.
        There are so many reasons I love arabians. They are passionate horses will a pure spirit and a creative mind. It would take days to explain just how amazing these horses really are. There is no question that they are my favorite type of horse. Arabians just aren't like the other horses. There is something about them that makes them more interesting. They have this way of being that is unlike any other breed I've seen or heard of. I guess this ends my long explanation of why arabian horses are the best. One day, people will see what I see in them. All horses are amazing, but I love arabians the most.

The Mysterious Evolution of Music (Free Write Blog Post)

        Let me just say, I love music. So, of course, for my "Free Write" blog post, I couldn't think of anything else to write about. There are so many different types of music, and all of them have such unique qualities. There's Pop, Country, Broadway, Rap, Rock, Oldies, and so much more. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong generation because I tend to like older music instead of the newest songs that have come out. For instance, I listen to a lot of the songs that one of my sisters listened to when she was my age, and she's twenty five. I also love oldies and musicals from the 1900s. This may be because my absolute favorite type of music is without question Broadway. I just love the emotion that is put into Broadway music and shows! Like in The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof, some musicals just can't be replaced. This leads me to question why people choose to remake such amazing classics.
        Recently, I found out that The Sound of Music is being remade, and I almost cried. It was such an amazing movie to begin with, and who could ever replace Julie Andrews? She was truly amazing in The Sound of Music as Maria Von Trapp, and no other actress will ever be quite the same. In the new movie, they are casting Carrie Underwood as Maria, and I am very questioning as to why. I have nothing against Carrie Underwood, I just can't seem to see her as Maria. Someone who plays Maria needs to have a very powerful musical voice. Julie Andrews pulled this role off nicely. When I think of Carrie Underwood however, I think Country and Pop, not musical. I have never heard Carrie Underwood sing in a musical, so I have no right to judge. Still, I feel like it is an almost impossible feat to remake The Sound of Music. I can see new actors for the Von Trapp family and the other parts, but I just cannot picture The Sound of Music without Julie Andrews. It just won't be the same. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what comes out of this.
        This got me thinking about how as time goes on, it seems that many of the old musicals and songs from earlier years are slowly being forgotten. This truly makes me sad. There is so much beautiful music from before this generation. I feel like the people who remake musicals such as The Sound of Music do so in order to evolve the ideas from the past into the future. This is a brilliant idea, but it still makes me sad to think about the original forms of music that tend to be forgotten over time. I know that nothing lasts forever, but music is so pure, and so universal. If I could choose anything to be everlasting in this world, it would be music. With music, there are infinite possibilities. When writing a song, there are numerous pathways and outcomes. New ideas are always being created, and the foundation of music will continue to grow as the rest of the world changes. No matter what, music will not disappear. It is a part of everyone's lives, whether they know it or not. Without music, life would be a cold, dark place. It livens up the world in an array of colors, emitting a strong sensation to strive towards a new day, never forgetting the past, but always looking forward into the future.

The Wonderful World of Mail :) (Class Connection Blog Post)

        Last week in AP Language class, when we were talking about how to categorize essays into a grading system, I started thinking about mail. Since we were reading many different essays all about the postal service, I couldn't really help it! I started to think about the importance of mail, and how it has slowly been disappearing from my own life.
        I've always felt a strong connection to mail. I used to love walking down to the mail box and finding letters from my relatives for birthdays and holidays and other things. Okay, I still do! But the difference between now and when I was little is that I used to be able to find a lot of letters for me every once and a while. These days, I'm lucky if I find even a bank statement every other month! I can't help but feel nostalgic. I remember going to summer camp for about four or five years in a row up near Spring Lake. It was a horse camp, and I was always ecstatic whenever I got a letter from home or from one of my sisters who live in different states. Then, after the first few years, the letters turned into printed off emails, and these felt somehow less exciting than the hand written ones, where I would occasionally even get a package. It felt like the people writing were taking less time and just marking something off of their to-do list instead of writing a very personal letter.
        The world is accepting email and online messages so quickly that the post offices don't know what to think. Of course, people do still get mail, but it tends to just be junk mail and bills. Personally, I really do miss all of the hand-written letters people used to send me and my family. It was fun to pass letters back and forth and await the next one that would come in a few days. The internet truly does make it much easier to get things done and to get ahold of people, but I can't deny the fact the I love getting mail. I honestly do not know what I would do if I had to completely rely on the postal service because I use email and the internet all the time, including right now as I am writing this blog post. Still, I really miss being able to find lot's of letters in the mail box. Mail is just so nice to have! I still get a few birthday and holiday cards, but it isn't really the same. I realize that this world is changing and it is necessary to send things and get responses quickly, but I still wish people used the mail system at least occasionally.
        No matter what happens, I hope that the idea of mail doesn't die out completely. I would miss finding post cards and other letters in the mail, as well as creative packages that make my day. Although I find it essential to use the internet and telephone for most of my communication, I really do hope that this fun tradition does not fade away.

Are All Disney Movie Ratings Truly Accurate? (Convince Me Blog Post)

        As I was trying to think of a good blog post for the "Convince Me" theme, I started thinking about Disney movies. Whenever people think of Disney, they think about children watching G-rated movies like Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. However, sometimes movies that are rated G or PG are actually scary for young children. Movies like Mulan and Beauty and the Beast (Both rated G) have moments in them that could be quite frightening for young kids. Mulan is all about a war where people are dying and Beauty and the Beast has moments with a beast and a man who is trying to kill the beast. Concepts like death and war don't seem like good topics for an audience of little kids.
        Of course, it is always the decision of the parent to allow their kids to watch movies with specific ratings, but in my personal opinion, I believe that not all ratings for Disney movies are actually correct. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea for children to watch The Little Mermaid and Emperor's New Groove. No, these are the movies that I grew up on along with many other kids. What I'm saying is that these movies should be more realistically rated, instead of being skewed to the lighter rating of things.
        Example A: Spirited Away. I'm not sure how many people remember this Disney movie or have seen it, but I remember it very vividly. When I was little, I saw this movie. It is rated PG, but I would personally give it a rating between PG and PG-13. The movie is all about spirits and humans being turned into animals. What I remember the most though is the spirit that everyone in the movie was scared of: the spirit that ate other spirits. There were scenes with this particular spirit that gave me chills! Of course, I was less than six years old, but still, this PG movie seemed like a horror movie to me at the time!
        Example B: The Princess and the Frog. The first time I saw this movie, I was amazed that it was rated G. The villain in this movie is influenced by evil spirits that go after the main characters, the princess's firefly friend dies, and in the end the villain is sucked through a strange gate because he sold his soul for magic. This is probably the darkest disney movie I've ever seen, and even my mom agreed with me that it was strange that The Princess and the Frog wouldn't at least be rated PG. If I was under ten years old, I would have had nightmares.
        So, the main point of my argument is that not all movies can really be judged by their ratings. I've even see movies rated R that have less violence in them than a movie rated PG-13! You never truly know what you're getting into until you have seen the movie. That's the most reliable way to discover how violent a story is. Once you see the movie itself, you can form your own rating!

President Obama's Speech on Syria (Extra Credit Post)

        Hearing a speech live is completely different from reading one. President Obama delivered his speech in a very persuasive style. I noticed how he used a lot of hand motions, which made him seem more passionate about his speech. When we read the speech in class, it was much easier to pick out all of the writing fallacies hidden within it. While I was watching the actual thing, it was more difficult to critique the wording. Personally, I felt as though the live speech was more effective than the written copy. This is mainly because Obama talked in a persuasive manner and explained every detail in a slow, easy to understand way. Because of this, I believe that people would be more convinced that our government is making good decisions if they watched the speech and didn't read it. Once you read the script, it is extremely hard to not notice any fallacies and persuasive traps. I interpreted the speech in a very different way from when I read it. By hearing and seeing who was speaking, the ideas and explanations were much easier to follow and it was less confusing. This may be caused by the fact that when you are watching a speech, you are using two senses (hearing and sight), while when you are reading, you are only using one sense: sight without hearing. The more senses you are using, the easier it is to understand a concept. Therefore, I conclude my blog post by supporting the belief that Obama's speech was more effective live than in writing.

My Reaction to Pathos, Ethos, and Logos (Class Connection Blog Post)

         To be honest, at the beginning of the school year when we first learned about the concept of pathos, ethos, and logos, I was confused. It was hard to grasp the idea that you had to examine writing this closely to gain a full understanding of its essence. I also wondered how I was ever going to remember which rhetorical device was which. As the past few weeks have passed, though, I've started to get the hang of things. After a while, you start to associate each term with certain ideas and images in your head until they just sort of come naturally to you in a way where you hardly have to think at all. Now, I have a pretty good basic understanding of which is which and some of the ways in which they are used. Lately, I've been starting to notice them in everyday things that I read, and even in some of my classes. Before this year, I wouldn't have even acknowledged these specific styles of writing hidden throughout the world.
        For instance, a while ago, a read a book called Mistaken Identity, written by Don and Susie Van Ryn, along with Newell Colleen and Whitney Cerak. These four individuals worked together to write a novel about the true story of two girls who were caught up in a terrible car accident. One of them died during the accident, while the other lived but was in critical condition for almost half a year. The girl who survived was badly injured and was literally mistaken as the other girl in the car accident (the one who had died). Over time, the girl recovered and the truth came out, but for a few months, everyone's lives were mixed up and there were some very rough patches for everyone involved. To elicit pathos, or emotion, authors use their wording carefully. One wrong word, and the writing can give you an unwanted emotion by mistake. When people use pathos in their writing, they elaborate on the subject while strengthening it with a certain sense of emotion. In Mistaken Identity, the authors used emotion such as hope and faith. They also used hints of sorrow throughout the book, but it was not overused. By using strong feelings of hope and faith, the writing is able to enlighten the reader and give them the feeling that everything happens for a reason, and even when life gets rough, there is always a glimmer of light. Also, since the authors were all family members directly related to the incident, they were able to use the events that occurred to establish ethos, or character. Everyone is able to relate to hardships, and some are even able to relate to such severe hardships as the ones in the book. This shows that the authors were able to successfully use the concept of ethos in their writing. They were also able to employ logos, or reason, efficiently within the book. Throughout the entire book, everything was organized in a way so that the events made sense. Nothing was confusing and all of the elements had a special place. The novel contained knowledge of right and wrong as well as the reasoning behind all of the strange occurrences that took place. No one could have imagined that a mistake as big as this could ever occur.
        Ever since we learned about ethos, pathos, and logos, I've been noticing more and more places where rhetorical devices can be found, just like in Mistaken Identity. It is nice to be able to make connections between what is learned inside of class and in writing samples all over the world. I still have a LOT to learn about ethos, pathos, and logos, but I'm on my way!

Similes! (Rhetorical Device Post)

        The world is full of similes. A simile is a comparison between two different things by using the words "like" or "as". They are used all the time and are very common in everyday writing. For example, someone could say, "The singer's voice was pure as an angel". In this case, the two things being compared are the singer's voice and an angel, considering them both as "pure". Another example might be, "The summer day was like a fiery inferno". This time, a summer day is being compared to a fiery inferno.
        Similes are used all the time in advertising and other forms of media. They can be easily used to elicit pathos through the connections people make with them. This is extremely helpful in advertising because it makes it possible for companies and businesses to draw people in from allowing them to see a sign with a simile or something similar on it. Then, people make connections between the sign and their life, and many people decide to look further into that particular business.

        This picture is an example of a simile used specifically for advertising. It says, "Like that. BUT BETTER". "Like that" is referring to an old computer that is broken down and "BUT BETTER" is referring to a new type of computer that has just come out. When people see this, they will connect it with a personal memory, perhaps the memory of their own computer that is broken or not working in the exact way they would like it to. In this sense, there is a good chance that the person who saw the advertisement would soon buy this computer, therefore eliciting pathos.

        As you can see, similes are used for a variety of writing styles and purposes. They are extremely useful in everyday speech and writing. Without them, the writing world just wouldn't be the same. The simile is a great rhetorical device and I am glad that we are able to use them in our everyday lives. 

A Little Thought About Anne Hathaway (Independent Reading Blog Post)

        So, I just read a short article about the famous actress, Anne Hathaway. It lists many of the roles she has played and the films she has starred in. After reading through it, I realized that I have seen at least six movies that she has played a lead role in. Come to think of it, I've probably seen even more! I remember that the first movie I saw that had Anne Hathaway as the leading role in it was Ella Enchanted. Then, this year, she won a best supporting actress Oscar for her amazing performance in Les Misérables and I could tell that she truly deserved it. Through all of the movies I have seen her in, she is able to change her personality drastically to fit her part exactly.
        This got me thinking about the life of an actor or actress. They must be busy practically every minute studying lines or auditioning for a new part. We always hear the huge roles our favorite actors get while at the same time, we never hear about the roles they try out for and don't get. I then did some research but I couldn't seem to find any news about roles that Hathaway did not get. I looked through biographies and many different articles but I just couldn't find anything. Personally, I find it very doubtful that any actor, no matter how good they are, got every single part they auditioned for. Everyone has certain roles they can play, and certain roles they cannot. Even if the actor is amazing, some parts just don't fit them, usually depending on their age or what they look like. Still, who knows? Maybe Anne Hathaway has had good luck.
       Well, as I was researching, I discovered another article about her that sparked my interest. This article was about how Hathaway admitted that she almost didn't get the role of Fantine in Les Misérables because she was only thirty years old, and Fantine is portrayed usually as an older woman. Yet, she was so amazing in her audition that the producers casted her for the part. She was so into her role that she went thirteen whole days without eating during the production of the movie so that she would looked starved, like the character is portrayed. I feel like this was going too far, since you should never harm your body for a part in a movie. But it was her own choice, and she is her own person.
        Well, that about sums up my long rant about Anne Hathaway and the acting life! I have the links to the two main articles below. (:

http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/annehathaway.html

http://www.ivillage.com/anne-hathaway-admits-she-almost-didnt-get-les-mis-role/1-a-507267

Using the Rhetorical Triangle to Explain the Purpose of "A Walk in The Woods"

1. "Briefly use the rhetorical triangle to explain the purpose of the book."

        At first, the main purpose of "A Walk in The Woods" was to walk the Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson made it clear that this was the topic of his book. He told his story in a way that everyone in the audience who was reading could easily understand what was going on. At the same time, he balanced out the main subject with the events that happened along the way. Bryson met numerous characters during his adventure who added to his novel. He even had to change his original goal from time to time because he slowly realized just how huge a commitment walking the Appalachian Trail really is. Eventually, I came to conclude that the purpose of the book was not simply walking the Appalachian Trail, but gaining an understanding that the world is truly enormous, and full of sights that few people take the time to see. Bryson came to realize this and did not regret failing to walk the entire trail, but was glad that he could now see the world in an entirely different way than before. He could now look up at a mountain and appreciate the size and grandiosity of it all, rather than rush past quickly on his way to an event without actually acknowledging the significance of the structure.

2.  "How does the author elicit pathos?"

        Throughout the book, Bryson slowly develops a strong friendship with his friend, Kat. In the beginning, Bryson dreads having to spend months on end with a person like Kat. Kat is untidy, out of shape, not able to keep up, and he whines... A lot. Yet, as the story progresses, Kat and Bryson come to understand each other and they become good friends. This is a great example of how Bryson elicits pathos throughout his novel. He gains emotion and power through the friendships and relationships that connect the characters. Along the way, Bryson and Kat meet a great variety of people, some who they like, and some who they despise. Bryson also shows emotion in his writing when he talks about his doubts about their journey and the people he misses since he has been away from home for so long. In the end though, all of the loose ends are cleared up and Bryson returns home.

3.  "How does the author establish ethos?"

        The characters within "A Walk in the Woods" are developed extremely well. They each have unique personalities and behavior traits. Bryson establishes ethos through the people he writes about. He portrays Kat as a humorous middle aged man who has interesting habits and is thought of as quite odd until you get to know him. Once Bryson became good friends with Kat, the two of them stuck together throughout the journey, meeting more unique individuals along the way. For instance, at one point in the trail, Bryson and Kat meet a woman who is not the best company. They both become annoyed with her and hope that she will stop following them, since they are tired of listening to her chatting away about things that they really do not care about. Eventually the woman leaves them and Kat and Bryson can walk in peace again. Throughout the book, the audience learns to trust Bryson and his decisions, and the readers cannot help but grow fond of Kat's hilarious personality. Everyone in the book has a distinct sense of character, and Bryson added them all for a reason.

4. "How does the author employ logos?"

        Bryson did a great job of writing in a way that the reader can easily understand, so that they always know what exactly is going on. He employs logos throughout "A Walk in The Woods" by writing in a clear, distinct style and always focusing around the current part of the plot. Bryson organized the main ideas in a logical manner, which breaks down the context of the writing. In this way, the plot line feels complete and in a solid chronological order. Throughout his work, Bryson shows the reason behind his thoughts. He describes the emotions he has along the way as well as the decisions he must make in order to survive his journey. There are many struggles and hardships along the way, and at times it was very frustrating for him. It takes a whole lot of determination to go out and try something like hiking the Appalachian Trail because it is in no way an easy feat.  Bryson had to adjust his goal quite a bit, but he tried his best to accomplish anything he possibly could.

Question Nine: Would You Read Another Book by the Author? (This is my final blog)

        "A Walk in the Woods" was a very interesting book. If I came across another novel by Bill Bryson, I would most likely read it. Bryson's writing style is very easy to follow and he makes some very good points along the way. I also love books that are written in first person. It makes the story so much more real, as if it is happening right outside your door. Bill Bryson seems like the kind of person who loves to try new things, therefore, I believe that his other books are probably full of other adventures he took throughout his lifetime. He writes in a way that you want to keep reading no matter what because you do not have a clue what will happen next. Bryson's writing is also full of humor and the characters are developed so well that you grow very close to them throughout the book. I have a feeling that the other novels by this author are written in the same style, which is why I would love to read another one. I am glad that I chose to read "A Walk in the Woods" this summer. Even though I may not have liked the ending as much as I had hoped, I still gained valuable knowledge from the text. I read a very well written book, and I hope that I will read more books like this in the future.

Question Three: The Most Important Passage in the Text (WARNING: Spoilers)

        The most important passage in "A Walk in the Woods" was without a doubt the last page of the book. It is there that Bill Bryson states,

"I learned to pitch a tent and sleep beneath the stars. For a brief, proud period I was slender and fit. I gained a profound respect for wilderness and nature and the benign dark power of woods. I understand now, in a way I never did before, the colossal scale of the world. I found patience and fortitude that I didn't know I had. I discovered an America that millions of people scarcely know exists. I made a friend. I came home. Best of all, these days when I see a mountain, I look at it slowly and appraisingly, with a narrow, confident gaze and eyes of chipped granite. We didn't walk 2,200 miles, it's true, but here's the thing: we tried. So Katz was right after all, and I don't care what anybody says. We hiked the Appalachian Trail" (Bryson 274).

       The reason this passage is so important is because it shows that even though the characters did not end their journey the way they thought they would, they still learned many facts and important life lessons. Even though I was disappointed that the author was not able to hike all of the trail like he said he would, I felt that this last page of text was able to convince the readers that the moral of the story was not about the amazing distance of the trail, but rather that people learn from their experiences. The author and his friend Katz picked up loads of new knowledge about the woods, hiking, and even how to deal with certain kinds of people along the way. If they had never attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail, they never would have learned these things. When Bryson and Katz set out to hike the trail, they did not realize just how difficult and tiring the journey would be. Therefore, once they realized just how long it would take to get to the end of the trail, they had to make some big adjustments to their plan. Although they did not accomplish their original goal, they still tried their best, and that's really all you can do.

Question Four: Parts that Distract from the Work's Overall Effectiveness

        I finished "A Walk in the Woods" a few days ago and realize now that it was not as good as I thought it was. I loved the beginning and part of the middle, but after that I just got bored. As the book nears the ending, the author (Bill Bryson) progressively adds more and more facts and stories. This would not be a bad thing, but Bryson elaborates on these details so much that you occasionally wonder when he is going to get back on topic with the actual story. In the first half of the story, these extra things all make sense with the context and are just long enough for the story to keep flowing smoothly. Later on however, I found myself spacing out at these sections because they became so long and frequent that it was extremely hard for me to maintain a good attention span.Still, if you look past all of that, the story was pretty good. I do admit I was disappointed that the plot was a bit different from what I had expected (SPOILER: The author did not hike the entire Appalachian Trail), but I still enjoyed the story. I am very easily distracted, which may be the reason why it was so hard for me to sit through all of the long "extra" parts. I am only one person, so others may like "A Walk in the Woods" much more than me. Besides, most of the novel was perfectly fine and I had fun reading it!

Question Five: Dominant Themes

        Throughout "A Walk in the Woods", there are many interesting themes. I have noticed that three of these themes remain consistent throughout the entire book. The most important theme is most likely time and distance. The entire book explains how time-consuming and difficult a trip like the Appalachian Trail really is. The author reflects on the fact that after a while, you stop focusing on how many miles you walked, and instead on how many breaths you took that day. He also writes that maps of the Appalachian Trail are extremely frustrating because every kilometer you walk is usually only about a centimeter on the map. Another dominant theme within the book is humor. As I have read, I have observed that many events in the book are actually pretty funny. All of the characters are developed in a way that you start to understand what the individuals are thinking. There are also many risks and decisions within the novel. The characters must take many different factors into account as they walk. They need to keep an eye out for bad weather and dangerous animals, as well as think ahead in order to make sure that when they camp, they will be on flat ground. There are times in the book when the characters must make quick decisions that could even mean life or death. All of these themes are essential to this story and I will continue to observe them as I read.

Question Two: My Visceral Reaction to the Text

        My visceral reaction to the writing in "A Walk in the Woods" was not what I expected. I normally do not like reading nonfiction books, so I was expecting something similar to the writing in a travel guide. However, just by reading the first paragraph, I could tell that I was going to like this writing style. At first, I was surprised by how much I liked the first few pages. Then, as I continued reading, I realized that this is just the way that Bill Bryson (the author) writes. He uses a lot of different descriptions and expands on all of the different elements. I am impressed by the way he organized all of the different points in the story. It is organized in a way that everything makes sense and was put in the perfect spot. I love this unique writing style and look forward to reading the rest of the book!

Question One: The Significance of the Title

        Just by observing the title, one can conclude that the story is centered around wildlife and nature. The significance of the title, "A Walk in the Woods" is that it explains the whole plot of the book in quite a simple term. Normally, when people hear the phrase, "a walk in the woods", they picture a short walk through a forest trail as an afternoon or early morning activity. Still, books tend to have deeper meanings hidden behind the title. That is exactly the case for this novel. As I have read, I have discovered that this book is so much more than just an hour long walk through the woods. Instead, it is a painstakingly long journey through the Appalachian Trail. "A Walk in the Woods" is a perfect title, since it uses four words to simplify all of the hardships that can arise due to this enormous trail. The author saw the Appalachian Trail as a unique walk in the woods that would be a great challenge to overcome. So, he decided to walk it, and that was the start to an adventure he would never forget.