Friday, February 10, 2012

Happy end :)

[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

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Out of the "Holes"


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.:)






 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

From Mr. Pendanski's diary...

[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 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Unknown 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

Toxic nail polish

[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]