[Category: Analysis]
I've already said it in my first entry and repeat it again: "Holes" by Louis Sachar fits exactly my style! Simple language, an interesting story and a successful writing style... This is the best obligatory book we've ever read in English. And be sure, I'm not the only one who thinks like that. Almost everyone in our class ackknowledges they all enjoyed reading "Holes".
First -as I've mentioned maybe three or four times- Holes' language is really clear and not hard to understand. Also the plot is created really well. There are flashbacks in the book but that doesn't hinders you understanding all the events without confusion. I think that's an important speciality which can not been managed in every book.
Especially I want to say that there are some very interesting parts in the book, which stick in my mind. For example, that part about the Warden's toxic nail polish, that was really creative! I liked it a lot.
During my whole reading time I completely enjoyed the book but there was also something that I didn't like at all. A classical happy ending, that's OK, but the final part seems to be written in a hurry after all that well-told story. Sachar says "But it would be boring to go through all the tedious details of all the changes in their lives..." [p.180] etc. and that style made me uncomfortable. However I liked the sentence "You will have to fill in the holes yourself." [p.180, l.19]
I suggest you to spend some time inside "Holes" which you'll sure enjoy.
So, happy end of the book and happy end of my reading time&journal...:)
*271 words
I've read the whole book! Actually I've already finished the book, but I could write and publish my last entry about Mr. Pendanski's diary yesterday.
As it can be understood from all my entries, I enjoyed "Holes".:)
However I want to make a worthy end with my blog, so tomorrow I will write my last entry including my feelings and comments after finishing the book - I hope I don't break any rule, Mr. Siever.:)
[Category: Personal Connection]
Before starting with 43rd chapter...
"More than a week since Stanley's left the camp,too...
He and Zero are the first ones who could escape from the camp, well actually left the camp, so easily. It makes me still angry that damn-stupid boy, Zero, left after hitting me and we did nothing! But sorry those guys, this is Camp Green Lake. It's not same with the adventure films or cartoons they watched. They must have survived for maximum three or four days and now their dead bodies are laying somewhere in the lake.
I do not care about that homeless stupid, but poor Stanley... I'm actually sad for him, but he destructed himself. In a strange way, I often had a feeling as if he didn't commit a crime and was innocent. Anyway, not important anymore.
Nowadays, the Warden is too angry. Especially I try to make her a bit calm- as you know this is impossible.
Sometimes I'm also bored with pretending being very nice to the children. Speaking with them about their "futures", behaving them with a HUGE patience, being the "good" teacher... These make me tired. But we need someone to be like that and I'm the one who can do all these things best. To reach our goal, to find the treasure, I've to stand this.
Besides, you know what... I saw Stanley teaching Zero how to read and write. It's just... just impressive in all of the other boys... And sometimes... Sometimes I feel sad... I mean bad... about the children here... But I immediately remind myself that they are not 'innocent kids with big begging eyes'. Yes, they are all aware of lots of things, they're the ones who stole car, robbed shops!
I hope we'll soon find the treasure and leave this desert quickly!"
*300 words
[Category: Analysis]
Some new words in 37th, 38th and 39th chapters
Word Guess Meaning Dictionary Meaning
slope (p.132, l.9) top (of a mountain etc.) any ground whose surface forms
an angle with the plane of the horizon
steep (p.132, l.11) upright/vertical rising or falling quickly
weed (p.132, l.15) - a wild plant growing where it is not
wanted and that prevents crops or
garden flowers from growing properly
bug (p.132, l.21) a kind of insect a small insect, especially people
think that is unpleasant
dangle (p.134, l.5) to hang down/fall to hang or swing loosely
despair (p.134, l.26) failure/unsuccess a feeling that you have
no hope at all
remain (p.135, l.52) to stay in to continue to be in the same
the same situation state or condition
shade (p.137, l.11) tone (of a colour) a particular kind of red, green,
blue etc.
precipice (p.138, l.10) - a very steep side of a high
rock, mountain or cliff
[Category: Looking Back]
Especially the 20th chapter which the Warden scratches Mr. Sir's face with her toxic dark-red nail polish in is one of the most interesting parts in the book.
"The Warden opened the bottle. 'Rattlesnake venom.' With a small paintbrush she began applying it to the nails on her left hand. 'It's perfectly harmless ... when it's dry.'" [p.76 l. 1-2-3]
There is also a film made in 2003 of "Holes".
In the film Khleo Thomas play the role of Zero (on the right side)
[This really does not fit the type I imagined while reading! I expect that Zero seems more, well, stupid than 'sweet'.]
And also Shia LaBeouf as the lead role of Stanley Yelnats (on the left)
There you can get more information about the film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311289/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holes_(film)
[Category: Character Analysis]
A strange, rarely-really rarely- talking kid. The smallest but the fastest digger in Group D. Illiterate... Zero.
A good boy from a poor family. Fat, the biggest and new one in Group D. Optimistic in spite of unluck following him everywhere and everytime. Stanley Yelnats, Caveman.
These two opposite characters have a strange relationship in the book. Actually the amount of the days they have a one-minute-conversation is not more than "two" during twenty-one chapters I've read till now. But Stanley and Zero have something strange between them. Especially the last event, when Stanley is back from the Warden's cabin and realizes that Zero dug his hole for Stanley, shows the upward movement in their relationship. Zero, the quietest and strangest boy, feels himself close to Stanley somehow. Readers can understand that easily in 18th chapter which Zero asks Stanley to teach him how to read in.
I think Caveman and Zero will soon get along better with each other and Stanley will figure Zero's curious character/life out.
*171 words
[Category: First Impressions]
Finally I've begun reading the book! I have to say, it is clear that "Holes" won't be one of these 'boring obligatory books'. Since I've read its back cover, I'm interested in the story and it seems like I will be more interested and excited as long as I read it.
Holes written in 1998 by Louis Sachar is about a boy called Stanley Yelnats who has been sent to Camp Green Lake for a crime he did not commit. Camp Green Lake actually "was" a lake-over a hundred years ago- "now it is just a dry wasteland" [p.7]. In this strange camp children have to dig holes during the day to "improve their character" (Well, that's definitely the so called reason).
What I first liked most about the book was that: Holes has absolutely a simple language! Sachar's used a language which is neither so simple as if a primary school student has written it, nor so complicated that you have to look up in dictionary in every two sentences. You can guess the meanings of unknown words easily.
"Holes" fits just my style: Settle in your comfortable armchair and just read your book!
*195 words
