Katie's Blog! :o)

My Blobby Essay

2005-06-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Katie Olsen
Honors Humanities Essay

If there was ever a better way to learn historical information than reading well-written novels, I have never heard of it. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Shane, The Call of the Wild, and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman used many historical facts to guide their stories.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer chronicles a short period of time in young Tom Sawyer’s life. In this novel, written by Mark Twain, we read about many of Tom’s adventures, from relationship problems, to the unfairness of school, to a hunt for treasure. But, in addition to the above, this book tells about the growing population of Missouri (where Tom lived) and other Midwestern states in the 19th century. This process was called westward expansion. We did an integrated U.S. History/English project on this a few weeks ago. Many people claimed land in the Midwestern states back in the mid-1800s. Also, we learn about what kind of schooling the children in these areas received. Tom was taught in a one-room schoolhouse with many different grades in it. I remember reading about such schooling in my U.S. History book a few months back. The novel was right on target. To add on, religion also played a big role in people’s lives. Verses from the Bible were followed, or at least ideally, and Sundays were observed for resting. In conclusion, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer teaches one what life was like for early homesteaders in Missouri, as well as other states.
Shane, much like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, gives historical information and takes place in the time where homesteading and farming were mandatory to the economy. A gunman, Shane being his name, is analyzed through a boy named Bob’s eyes. I learned from this book that it was usual for people to carry guns. This did not relate to what we have been learning in U.S. History this year, but it made me less shocked when reading about all the shooting and such that went on during the time before Revolutionary and Civil Wars. I also learned how much farming influenced the economy and welfare of the Midwestern states. Men, women, and children were up at dawn and down at dusk, working in the fields so the family could prosper. I enjoyed Shane’s depiction of the idea of homesteading and farming. I was unaware before reading this exactly how much fertile and large land was in demand. People, including Bob’s father, were very much involved in the acquiring of lands by more powerful men.
Next, we read The Call of the Wild. Through the eyes of Buck, a husky-like dog, we are led through the Alaska/Yukon Gold Rush. In U.S. History, I learned about the similar California Gold Rush. Men “rushed” to California for gold after a man named James Marshall discovered some on the banks of the American River. These courageous people traveled to California in wagons or by sea. In The Call of the Wild, the gold rushers used husky-like dogs to pull sleds through the Alaska wilderness. These dogs were not treated well at all. Buck was beaten very often and never given a warm place to sleep. I was glad to be able to learn about the other gold rush in the United States. A part of the book that affected me the most was the beating of the animals when they were extremely tired and could not move fast enough for the mushers, as they were called. All of the stress piling up on these dogs caused them to become cranky and irritable, and lash out at each other. One dog even killed another dog as a result of this sort of pressure and “who’s boss” attitude the dogs had. I think that this time in our history was very sad, mostly for the dogs, but for the mushers as well.
Lastly, we read The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Unlike other books, we discussed this one about midway through, and I think it helped me understand the book better. I was surprised as to how many people thought this book was non-fiction. Really, this book is written by Ernest Gaines. Gaines pretends to have interviewed a Miss Jane Pittman and recorded such an interview, then put it down on paper. I found this to be an interesting way to write a book. This book (the title is way too long to write out every time) is about a woman who has grown up with slavery and finally gets her freedom at eleven years old. A lot of the book covers her journey north, and a lot of it covers her settling down with Joe Pittman, and even more covers her working for certain people for certain kinds of payment. In U.S. History right now, we are learning about slavery. Slavery is very horrible, according to me. The way the slaves were treated on the Middle Passage (the trip over the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas) is so disgusting and evil that I simply can’t go into detail, as it would be painful to read. In all seriousness, I could not stop thinking about it for a few days afterwards. And that is not even the end! The slaves were auctioned off like a Monet landscape and brutally treated when they arrived at their new home. There was never rest for these poor people. They were looked upon as a lesser variety of human. Women (wenches, they were called) were (and I HATE to say this) frequently raped. Isn’t that awful? This book gives so much insight into how much the slaves wanted to be free and how horribly they were treated, even at Jane’s young age of ten or eleven. This book was read at a very timely time. And I have concluded that the dogs in the gold rush in The Call of the Wild were, and again in all seriousness, treated ten times better than the slaves were. And I thought that Buck was treated badly!
In conclusion, these books tied in well with what we were learning in U.S. History at the times we read them. It was helpful to be able to learn the facts and then learn what people actually felt in times of crisis and triumph. Personally, I believe that these last four books were better than the first three books. The fact is, what makes them so much better is that they were just so much more brutally honest. I enjoyed them in full.

Last Post for Anything and Everything 2004-2005 (YES!!!!!!)

2005-06-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Autobiography of Miss Jane PIttman was really hard to read, I reasoned. Long and descriptive, it reiterated the events of a fictional woman's life from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. I learned a lot from it, but the path to that learning was not enjoyable. I certainly hope that this reading pays off.

I think that Jane was a very strong person to have gotten through such a difficult life. I can't belive she even survived her childhood enslavement.

I think it is very sad how Tee-Bob is shunned becuase he is half African. Its so weird...that one man, Samson I think, has made a slave of his own son!

And that one other guy, Jimmy, is a very good character for Jane to have been in contact with. He is very righteous and yet so young.

TTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miss Jane Brown becomes Mrs. Jane Pittman

2005-05-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

That is the absolute best thing on the planet for Jane, to, when she lost Ned, have Joe to turn to. I find it so odd how, even though they are free, they are under all these rules and regulations still, like the rule that "slaves" can't marry.

In addition, I think it would be so hard for Jane to let go of Ned. I can't believe she could hold in her tears until after he left. And I can't believe he would ever leave!

Another thing that I would have liked to touch on at the discussion but didn't get a chance to was Ned and Jane's relationship, if you will. When I am reading the book, it seems so much like Jane is Ned's mom, but really she is only three to five years older than him. They are like siblings, not like mother and son. I can't believe the strength that Jane had to raise Ned and make sure he had a chance in life. Jane was a very strong person (fictionally).

Yes, this is a fiction book. It suprises me how so many people thought that this book was non-fiction. That was the author's focus, I guess. Ernest Gaines did make it very realistic, with the introduction and everything.

TAOMJP #1

2005-05-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

I am on page 50-something. I noticed yesterday that the way the slaves were treated is very similar to the way the dogs were treated in Call of the Wild. If you were too tired to do your work, you were beaten numerous times daily. It saddens me terribly.

It seems to me that Jane keeps meeting up with people who either show her the way to Ohio or shut down her dreams. I am so suprised that she even kept going when that one man told her that it would take her "30 years, give or take" to find Mr. Brown. I really hope someday she finds him.
By the by, this post is more than 100 words!

One...last..post...

2005-05-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to squeeze out the guts of this book. I don't think I should have to do this last post, as my last two posts were apparently "above and beyond the requirement". :o)

John Thornton is a kind man who knows what he's doing. Mercedes is stupid, self-centered, and doesn't know what she's doing. Hal and Charles are the "little brothers", if you will, of this book. They try to follow the "big boys'" example by beating and being extremely harsh, but they can't follow it up with sense and reason, as I'm sorry to admit, most of the mushers have done. Judge miller is a kind man who doesn't seem to have any involvement really in this book. Buck was his companion, but not his pet. His dog, but not his pet. His caretaker, but not his pet. As mentioned in the book, there wasn't love in the relationship, but Judge Miller was a good man.

Things Are Wrapped Up

2005-05-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

It is the saddest thing that John Thornton dies. But I'm glad that Buck can be "free" with his wolf friends, and not have to be subjected to cruel torture ever again.

I'm also content with the facts mentioned in the Afterword. I learned that the man in the red sweater was called a "dog-breaker", and that it was his JOB to teach the dogs to never again disobey for fear of getting a beating they won't soon forget.

I am happy that the writer of the afterword also realized that Mecedes, Hal, and Charles had no idea of how to survive in the harsh climate of the Yukon, and the harsh occurences that appeared in the Gold Rush in Alaska. They remind me somewhat of someone trying to swim that doesn't know how to, thrashing about and making themselves look quite stupid. One gets an entirely different view of another when one sees the other in such a vulnerable, innocent state. They may be a perfectly respectable person in "real life", but when put in a situation where they are not the master of whatever situation it is, what you see of them there affects what you think of them outside of the situation.

This may be the case with Mercedes, Hal, and Charles. We, as readers, only see them in a situation where they are not the masters and do not know how to do things correctly. It's hard to believe, but I think that maybe those three are actually respectable people outside of the book. I would love to know.

Oh...this book is sooooo sad

2005-04-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

I'm on page 90-something. It is about where John Turntable or something like that takes Buck in and saves him from DUMB, DUMB Hal and Charles and EVEN DUMBER MERCEDES. Mercedes is the stupidest person in the whole world!!! She upsets me terribly.

The Scottish half-breed was the nicest guy that had the group of dogs before John. Francois and Perrault were kind of mean at the beginning, but it was kind of touching to me when they lifted up Buck's paws to check for cuts and such. Then it was the Scottish half-breed, I think. He was really nice, and it seemed like he knew what he was doing and had been mushing for years and years and years. Mercedes, Hal, and Charles, though, were always fighting and stuff and it seemed to me that they had no idea what to do. Hal's beating Buck was the most un-understandable thing in the whole book, it seemed. Buck was too tired to go on, so he was laying down, and, to make him get UP, Hal (or maybe it was Charles) BEAT him numerous times with first an ax, then a CLUB! Oh yeah, that'll sure make it EASIER for him to get up and run as hard as he can (not to mention with all of Mercedes dumb clothes and stuff on the sled).

But I am enjoying this part of the book. Buck even hints that his life with John is even better thatn his life with Judge Miller because there was actually love there, not just friendship/companionship. John is soooo kind. And, when I read a little bit of the foreword, I think it was, it said that Jack London actually experienced the Gold Rush and was involved with it. I hope he didn't beat his doggies. He couldn't have, though, because in his book he regards it with what seems to be disgust. And he must know what it feels like to the dog, so he CAN'T have. I hope he didn't.

The Call of the Sad

2005-03-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

Buck's life was so good before he was taken away!!! He had a nice house and fun places to roam, he had good food, kind masters, etc. It is soooooo sad how someone who he trusted took him away from his family. Buck does not know what is going on. His only friend that he knew is dead, killed by another mean, mean dog, and everyone gets clubbed on the head or beat regularly!!!! I simply can't stand animal abuse. It is really hard to read stuff like that. I hope (against hope) that this didn't really happen, but I know it did.

I really wish that Judge Miller (I think his name is) notices what happened to Buck and tries to find him. I hope (again, probably against hope) that he wasn't in on the deal. Buck really was a good dog.

And I like how this book is mostly written in the point of view of the dog, or at least like what everything feels like to the dog and what he thinks, even though it isn't written in first person. (You guys know what I mean.)

By the way, I am on page thirty at the moment.

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH no... (the call of the wild #1)

2005-03-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

Oh dear God. (Please no one take offense at that comment.)

I have read the very first paragraph of The Call of the Wild and there are six, count 'em, SIX commas in the first sentence. I can't follow the thing. Please, let this book get better as it goes on.

Well, so far there is this dog. I think he is a husky or something, and his name is Buck. Buck does not read the newspaper, so he doesn't know what is going on. Buck is going ot be needed, along with all the oher dogs of his kind from "Puget Sound to San Diego" to go to the North as men have found a "yellow metal" (a.k.a. gold) there. I get the impression that this is going to be a really sad book. From reading the very first paragraph, even, I notice that the way the author has of telling the story tells everything form the dog's point of view, kind of, and usually dog's like Buck don't have the best lives. I hope they dont', you know, beat him or anything like that. I couldn't bear it.

NOW I know

2005-03-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

By looking over SparkNotes to review the major points of the book before I took the AR test (and I'm so excited, I finished the book practically on time!!!), I read an analysis and it said that Marian and Shane both have feelings for one another, but Shane knew that he couldn't take Marian away from Joe and Joe knew that they had feelings for one another but he also knew that Shane was a good man and he was very understanding. Finally, there is CLOSURE here. I really don't like confusion.

But I think I have figured out Shane's past. When he says something to the extent of, "When a man kills someone in a town, he can't stay", he's meaning that that is his past. That is what he is running away from - THE LAW. THAT is why he doesn't carry a gun - becuase he doesn't want people to think that he could kill someone. But I think that Shane is a good man, so perhaps the only people he kills are those who DESERVE to die (although I don't think many people deserve to die). Now he is probably going to go onto the next town, fall in love with a married woman (doesn't that sound bad), help the husband out, and kill the husband's enemy, then move on again. Wow. That was sure a weird book.

What else is there to say?

2005-03-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well, Shane is a little odd. I am getting interested in Shane's past now. I find it funny when Shane goes into these little trances where he stares off into the distance and such. I really wonder what sort of past he is running away from.

Right now, I am at the part where Fletcher asked Joe and Shane to work for him in return for Joe's land. Of course, Joe and his family could still live on it.

Joe hasn't told Fletcher yet what he will choose, and even though I know he is going to choose to not work for Fletcher, there is still a little bit of doubt in my mind. I mean, it is a great opportunity. And it would give him more income. But really, what is more important, family or money? (or land?)

I am truly sorry for the absence of color in this post as I am posting at the school library, and for some odd reason, the computers here don't have color. It probably doesn't bother you as much as it bothers me, though.

Marian's confusion

2005-03-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

I am becoming very vexed at the mere thought of the actions described on pages 79-80.

This is where Marian is cleaning out Shane's cuts and such and spends a lot of time on him and then spends a little time tending to Joe, and decides that Joe should keep the rip in his shirt as a memory for his fighting.

I really wonder what Joe means when he says, "Do you think I don't know, Marian?"

You guys might think I'm really in to looking for romance and such in these books when I say this but I think that it could be that Marian likes Shane "more than just a friend" and that Joe could be accepting that. Could anyone shed light on the matter? It really is confusing to me.

By the way, the only reason I think such a thing is becuase Marian spent so much time and care in cleansing Shane's wounds (***stephanie***) and because after Joe says does she think he doesn't know Marian practically freaks out and says something to the extent of, "I don't even know myself right now."

Shane - very descriptive and yet unreal

2005-03-24T21:33:00.000-08:00

Well, this post analyzes the way Shane is written and Shane's behavior when confronted, just in case anyone wanted a "brief overview".

First of all, the book Shane is VERY descriptive. Sometimes it is enjoyable to read but most of the time it gets boring. I have even skipped the ends of a few paragraphs because I know exactly what it is going to be like - "He dropped one shoulder and rammed it into Chris' left armpit..." "He took two paces and turned to the forty-fifth degree..." I find that most of the describing comes when Shane is in a fight or when Jack Schaefer (that's the author) describes people's appearances.

Secondly and more importantly, I find Shane's smoothness when confronted and fighting sort of unreal. It really is unimaginable how Shane manages to get up after being thrown down and just calmly take someone by the "lower ribcage" and "fling him two and a half yards". But I do like reading about, if I have to read about a fight in a saloon, someone being all calm instead of yelling and screaming and really not being too mature.

But I have started to enjoy the conflict with Fletcher, as he is quite the boss, if you will. I have really begun to wonder what will happen, and I really hope Shane doesn't leave the Starrets. I don't think Bob, Marian, or even Joe could stand it.

By the way, I am on page 72.

Shane, Bob, Marian, Joe, and whats-his-name

2005-03-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well, now I am on page 32. This is a VERY exciting thing as it took me about a MONTH AND A HALF to finish TAOTS, and this is only my second day of reading Shane. I have been quite amused by a few select happenings in this book.

First, Shane's mysteriousness about his past is irksome. I really do wonder why a fairly polite, sensible man would have any major troubles.

Second, the touching event of the pulling-out of the stump. Shane seems to have just felt the urge to pull it out. And I think when they were locking eyes over the pulled-out stump, there was some sort of knowledge that what they were doing was representing something, maybe an annoying secret that was revealed.

Third, that Jake Ledyard guy seems pretty nice, just trying to make a profit, but his efforts were made to seem criminal by Shane's intereference.

Fourth, this whole "lookahere" business. As Mr. Newvine would say, it is a very significant show of a Southern dialect. I really do find it funny when Joe (Bob's dad) says, a number of times, "Lookahere, Marian."

Hope that was informative...I doubt most people read it anyway :o)

Wrap-up of TAOTS

2005-03-14T19:21:00.000-08:00

Well if you want ot be frank, sly, and altogether amusing, you could call TAOTS an ananagram or whatever and that would make my day. :O) It would make me, as an individual, feel also altogether amusing and surprised at my utter intelligence and HUMOR (although, Stephanie, you must admit you do have more of it :oD)

In the end, Mark Twain doesn't wrap up anything whatsoever. He simply calls this tall tale, as Mr. Newvine says, if you will, a history of a boy and had he gone any further it would have been the history of a man.

TOM Sawyer: Tom Sawyer is a very carefree young boy. He has many adventures and is always excited about being heroic, mischeivious, and daring. I do wonder whatever happened to his father, as Aunt Polly only mentions that he is her "dead sister's boy".

BECKY Thatcher: I did not enjoy Becky as a character in this book. Becky was very, very rude to Tom over a minute mishap on Tom's part, and was as well not of help when they were stuck in the cave. I was distraught to the max when Becky was "too weak" to help Tom find a way out. It really was quite stereotypical, if I do say so myself (and Stephanie, I am well-aware of the correct usuage of that word that is italicized and bolded, as I just showed you).

HUCKLEBERRY Finn: Huckleberry's name simply cheats you out of finding out his personalitlty while reading the book. I am SURE he named himself, as A) No one in their right mind would name their child after a small, spherical, pinkish-red berry that grows in the woods and B) Mark Twain doesn't relay the message that he has a mother, and his father is the town criminal or drunkard or something, so I doubt that his parents named him. Huckleberry (I prefer to call him by his full name, as "Huck" sounds too much like "hock" as in "hock a loogie", meaning "spit out a large phlegmy ovalular thing from one's inside of their throat") has Tom's dream life and although one must feel a wee bit of pity for him, he really does have a good life.

I was going to describe and opinionize all the main characters, but who doesn't have time? Me! so I will just end this post here.

Tom Sawyer's Way Of Life

2005-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

I know when I am using this template you can't see the title, bt this post is called "Tom Sawyer's Way Of Life". I am going to write my opinion on the events in CHapter Five. This is one of my favorite chapters of any book I have ever read because it relates Tom's attitude the best. The way he set loose a beetle with care and thought to what it would do really sparked my interest in this part of the book.

I also liked how when he saw Becky Thatcher he wrote, so directly, "I love you" onto his chalkboard. This shows that he is not a really shy person. And when Becky simply responded with an off-hand comment like "I wish I could draw," I learned that that sort of thing wasn't a really big deal with kids that lived back then and that were that age.

When Tom saw Huckleberry Finn for the first time in this book, I liked how their correspondence was "strictly business." It added some sort of, oh I don't know how to explain it, dimension, humor, pretending-to-be-grown-up actions, to the book. I really don't knwo how to say it. It was just funner to read that part becuase it was simply funny how they are pretending to be so involved and interested and like the business they are dealing with is very serious.

That wasn't a very good post. Sorry if it is boring anyone. :o)

Tom's Magnificent Chruchgoing Experience

2005-02-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

My second post is coming up...

This post will be discussing the experience Tom had at church the first time.

I am wondering, did Aunt Polly attend as well? I did not seem to read anything about her presence. I only read about Tom.

Also, how long did these services usually last? The book was written in a way that made it seem like they only lasted approximately 10 minutes, but I have a feeling they lasted a little, if not a lot, longer that that.

In addition, I do not undertsand the whole tickets fiasco. You know, blue tickets, red tickets, yellow tickets, etc. Would someone kindly refresh me on what they do and why a boy would want to trade them away (as 10 red tickets equal a blue one, 10 blue ones equal a yellow one, so they are all really equal in the end)? I know that Tom got a Bible or summat (tawkin' a li-ole eye-wrish heea) for having a certain amount of tickets, then he had to recite verses or something. So really, he didn't have to memorize the two thousand verses that Mary did, he could have just had the tickets. And the adults must be knowing what is going on, if ticket-trading is "illegal". I mean, it seems like they were doing it in the open, in front of everyone (the trading of tickets, I mean.) Oh, and I apologize for the lack of clarity in some parts of this post. Bye. :o)

Tom Sawyer (the actual first post)

2005-02-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Now that I am finally back to blogging, here is my actual first post on Tom Sawyer.

This post is devoted to analyzing the section where Tom first sees Becky and his behavior after such seeing. When Tom saw Becky, the book talks about how he was showing off, and I wonder what kinds of things he was doing. Knowing him and his attitude, I bet it was something like climbing a tall fence or running as fast as he could around a tree stump. I thought it was really the most forlorn thing when he was pondering how people would behave after a tragic death of his. It was very overly dramatic when he insisted upon laying underneath Becky's window and thinking something like, "And this is how he would die, no one cares, blah blah blah." I really wonder if people were that afraid (or unafraid) of people outside their bedroom windows. I mean a) they are so afraid that the first thing that came to their mind was to throw a bucket of water on him or b) they were so unafraid that all they did was pour a bucket of water over him. On a personal note, I would have thrown a clothes drawer or screamed at the top of my lungs if I was aware of a person hovering outside my bedroom window of whom I don't know. But, to comment on the first thing that they were so afraid, I would have at least called out first and asked who they were and what they were doing before I threw a bucket of water on them. I mean they could just be a little ten year old boy wanting to be near whom he likes.

My Essay (plus some other stuff)

2005-02-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I have figured it out. The comments are the problem. When I have comments, my blog is messed up. When I don't, it's not. So that's the way it is. And here's my essay.

I opened the book without enthusiasm, fully aware that this was what had caused my unavoidable grief two years ago. I opened two others in a similar fashion. Johnny Tremain, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer were not on my must-read list at the time, so to speak. But now I believe that if one seeks insight into the lives of everyday people in historical times, these books are your saviors. I learned a lot about life for average people in the times these stories were placed in. I saw normal events through the eyes of a teenage boy, a growing young girl, and now from the perspective of a cheerful 10-year-old male.

Johnny Tremain started out slowly, as if the author, Esther Forbes, was trying to explain everything before telling the story. I wasn’t interested at first, what with all the descriptions similar to "On rocky islands gulls woke. Time to be about their business." I stood by patiently as the author detailed endless piers and fully packed ships. And then Johnny’s hand became crippled. His life would never be the same. This definitely hooked my eyes to the words. I learned about the Revolutionary War and plans that led up to it. Johnny Tremain helped the rebels by allowing secret meetings to be held in his living quarters and running around town telling, in secret code, when the next meeting would be. Johnny was also interested in helping his older friend Rab with his duties as a rebel against England. It was very intriguing what the rebels thought would solve the problem, and very surprising how it worked out. Before reading this book, I also had no real knowledge about the Boston Tea Party. I discovered that the rebels dressed as Native Americans and that the time they did this dramatic task was crucial and strictly accorded to how long ships had been in port, what ships were where, etc. It seemed as if the rebels would have to have done it (poured out the tea) at night as to be more secretive, and later I learned why they didn’t. This tied in to what I was learning in US History at the time, but I liked how the book gave more personal, in-depth experiences than the textbook did.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond began very differently than Johnny Tremain. Kit was riding on a ship to a new land, and the reader empathizes with her as the author explains the hard life she had been living for the past few weeks. In this book, I learned about the differences between life on Barbados for Kit and life in colonial New England for her relatives. When Kit came to New England, I was surprised with her about the tasks that people in New England found important. Things like cooking, cleaning, mending, and going to church outnumbered the tasks that Kit had in Barbados. Of course that wasn’t the main point of this book, though. The Salem Witch Trials I had heard about in passing but I never really knew the specific reasons that the Puritans had for suspecting the so-called witches. Apparently if one could swim, was old and lonely, or was a friend of one who had these characteristics, they were witches. The Puritans believed that witches brought illness, bad luck, storms, and disappearances. It was surprising to me how people would actually want to find a reason to hate another person. I haven’t yet learned about this time period in US History class, but I hope to find the technical reasons and facts such as how many people suspected as witches were killed, brought to trial, etc.

I haven’t read enough of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to write what I have learned from it. But as you can see, I have learned a lot from these books and reading them helps me understand what I am learning in US History a little better. I enjoy how the authors of these two books intertwine factual information with good descriptions and dialogue to create a good story.

At first I wrote a really funny, good essay, but I guess it didn't have enough about what I have learned, so this is the worse, less fun version.

Tom Sawyer #1

2005-01-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

Hi again. Sorry for changing my blog skin so many times but when I saw this one I almost cried the puppy is SO ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I started Tom Sawyer and I'm on like the fifth actual page of reading (even though the page number is 14). Tom basically got in trouble for having jam or something on his chin but then played a trick on his aunt so he wouldn't get in trouble. This seems to be a really light-hearted book. I'm glad it is because I don't think I could stand another book like Johnny Tremain. This post is basically just to try to remember what happened so don't really expect too much opinion or anyhting like that.

Last Witch at Blackbird Pond Post!!!

2004-11-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

So, this is my last Witch at Blackbird Pond post...hmmm...what else is there to say?

This was a good book. It grabbed my attention from the start when Kit is just getting a glimpse of her new home. Then when she had a surprise visit to the Woods', I wasn't sure if they would like her, and so I was worried then. When Kit met Hannah and found out that Nat knew her to, it seemed like her life was going well. But when everyone though Kit was a witch, I was worried right along with everyone else about her future and Hannah's as well. I'm glad that, in the end, everything with Prudence turned out well and her dad started sticking up for his daughter more. It was also great that he finally had the guts to go against his wife. I thought the men were the most controlling of women in those times! I loved the ending where John, Mercy, Willaim, Judith, Nat, Kit, and Hannah all end up with their respective partners (spouses) except in Hannah's case where she just lives with Nat's grandma.

If I were to rate the book on a scale of one through ten, I would rate it a ten. It's not boring, not unrealistic, and weaves facts together in a more interesting way than Johnny Tremain did. I like that everything turns aout as it is supposed to and that Hannah gets to live in a place where she can feel safe that she is not going to be attacked by people who don't approve of her religion.

Johnny Tremain vs. The Witch at Blackbird Pond

2004-11-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

This is very odd. I had no problem writing seven posts about Johnny Tremain and now I only have three posts not including this one about the Witch of Blackbird Pond! Oh well, I finished. I'm so proud of myself that it only took me a week to read it and it took me like a month to read Johnny Tremain. This book was pretty good. Some parts of it were really suspenseful, like when Mercy was sick or when Hannah almost got nabbed by the townspeople. That kept me reading this book, and I think that is why I didn't like to read Johnny Tremain, because there wasn't that much suspense.

Okay, to the book. I think it is SO MEAN that the townspeople went after Hannah Tupper. Just because you are a different religion and you don't leave your house because people will kill you otherwise doesn't mean you are a witch! I was so happy when Kit saved her. But it was so sad when her entire house was burned down. And I love the ending where Hannah gets to live with another little old lady. It is so cute! But I was wondering why didn't she also discriminate Hannah becuase she was a Quaker? I thought that everyone in Connecticuit did. But obviously I'm wrong.

I like the ending where John marries Mercy and Willaim marries Judith and Nat hints at marrying Kit. It was very heart-wrenching :o) when John came in the door and kneeled down on the ground and put his head on Mercy's lap. See, this is the kind of romantic mush that I like to see in books. Where it is actually meant to be. Not like Johnny and Cilla who acted like they liked each other but really weren't willing to do everything for the other one. I know I said I dont' like romance, but here is exactly where I stand on the subject.

Well, I have to leave something to write about in my next post, so I'll cut the post right here. (snip, snip, snip)

Getting a little boring...

2004-11-20T08:03:00.000-08:00

I'm on page 168. That was absolutely adorable how Prudence brough flowers for Kit. And I think it is great how Kit is teaching her. Hannah is so good at making new friends out of former enemies. I know its mean, but I kind of don't trust her that much. Especially when she goes into these trances about her dead husband. I think someone who doesn't want to communicate with the greater public must have some sort of a problem. It was surprising how Nat was her "seafaring friend". But it was very cute at the same time. And how times have changed from back then! Everyone halfheartedly tries not to discriminate against religion, but back then they did it openly. And it's not like it was the worst crime in the world not to believe in the Sacraments! If Hannah Tupper wasn't discriminated, she would probably me more a part of the community. It just makes me mad.

On another note, where I am in the book right now is describing the feelings of the people of Connecticuit when Governor Andros comes to town. It is kind of boring. I might have to reread some sections. But anyways, Willaim has just come to the Woods' house in the middle of the night and told Matthew tat the charter has been lost, and he doesn't know where it is, but he knows that it is somwhere safe. It just doesn't make all that much sense. What is a charter again? Then, Willaims' house gets illuminated with jack-o-lanterns and the people who did it aren't allowed to enter Wethersfield without having major punishment. And when I was reading this, I was thinking of the Bill of Rights and how wasn't cruel and unusual punishment not allowed (I'm referring to the sentence of thirty lashes on a whipping post for entering Wethersfield.) But then I remembered that the Constitution wasn't written yet in the 1600's! The people hardly have any rights and the govenremnt seems so out of control. The people must not know what to expect next! I think that would be really scary to live in those times.

ROMANCE

2004-11-17T07:42:00.000-08:00

Romance is such an overused topic in books. It's like the only thing that keeps people reading boring books like Johnny Tremain. Judith now has her sights set on John Holbrook, Mercy probably likes someone but is keeping it a secret, and Kit is starting to like William Ashby's visits every Saturday. I think William and Kit are perfect for each other. William seems like someone who will stay with Kit through good and bad. I mean, he sits for hours on end just waiting for her to look up from her knitting. Judith kind of changes her mind alot and I don't think that will fare well when John Holbrook finally notices her existence. The next time she sees a man that is foreign, handsome, and smart, she will fall for him and leave her old love for someone else to find. Judith is very unrealistic. She also thinks that William only liked Kit because of her dress. As she says in the book, "Well, you aren't exactly pretty, but naturally William would be impressed by a dress like that." It's like she is just trying to make Kit feel bad and "below" her.

On another topic, the Sabbath seems very boring. Why do people have to endlessly listen to the monotonous voice of a priest losing his voice? The people that enjoy it probably only listen to it because it is what their ancestors did before them.

This book is excellent!

2004-11-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

I've read 50 pages of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, up until the end of the first day that Kit has with the Woods'. I'll start from the beginning concerning my opinions. First of all, I think that Kit definitely likes Nat. Why is there always romance in these stories? It seems overused, so I won't dwell on it. Second, I think Kit was very kind and brave to go in after Prudence's doll. But Nat was so stupid to think that she would dive in without knowing how to swim. He was weird to get mad at her for "making" him ruin his clothes, even though he didn't really ruin them. Goodwife Cruff (Prudence's mom) is so mean to her daughter. My mom would never have been that mean to me when I was seven (or however old Prudence is). But Prudence seems to have found a way to deal with it. Third, I was disappointed with Kit about Aunt Rachel. It would have been very nice if she was just the way she imagined, looking just like her. But it was very nice for Aunt Rachel to act so happy to see her. And Matthew Wood is such a bottom-brain (trying not to use inappropriate language here). Why is he so cooped up in his little world? What is so bad about allowing his wife and daughters some fun every once in a while? I doubt if Aunt Rachel and him have had a very happy marriage with "equal power granted to all." Even though marriages in those times probably weren't supposed to be equal. The man probably had a lot more power than the wife. And Judith, how can she expect Kit to know how to do chores when she has never EVER done them in her life? Mercy seems nice and patient enough. But what happened to her leg. Oh, and I forgot to mention John Holbrook. He's nice, but he seemed so surprised with everything that Kit did. She probably wasn't the ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD that could read and swim. I hate that theory of every woman being able to swim is a witch. It's outrageous, even though how can a person swim with such thick clothing around them? It would be impossible, but I MOST DEFINITELY don't think that Kit is a witch. Witches are mean, and Kit is not.

Johnny's Stupid Ideas

2004-10-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

This isn't fair! They don't have color choices or size choices or any fun stuff like that on the library computers when you try to post. Oh, well, I practically have forgotten where I am in Johnny Tremain. It has become such a bad book, but it kind of helps me understand what we are doing in U.S. History more. Do you believe that Margaret has finished the third book already? Some people haven't even set up ther blogs yet! I better start reading and making new kinds of comments. So, back to the book. I think that Johnny should have, when he found his family tree at the Lyte's country house, tried to convince Mr. Lyte that they were related. Maybe the reason he didn't do this is that he doesn't like the Lytes, and doesn't want them to think they have control over him. But I think that he still should have done it, especially since we all know that he likes money and thinks it grows on trees. He could get some inheritance after Mr. Lyte dies, if it will be allowed. Changing the subject, Johnny should have taken his chance with his time alone with Cilla to say he was sorry for not meeting her at the well, since obviously he was jealous when, kind as he is, Rab spoke to Cilla, laughed with Cilla, bought sweets for Cilla, and later, ate the unsymbolic apple, that Johnny designated as being he and Cilla's relationship. I was really not that disappointed when people who have finished wrote that Johnny and Cilla didn't get together. Johnny isn't really what Cilla deserves, with all her sweat, blood, and caring strength and Johnny's weak personality and uncaring, fake heroism (is that even a word?), and his stupid widow's peak } :o). And, changing the topic again, Johnny was not good enough for Rab either. He does not have the knowledge and the strength (mental and physical) that would allow him and Rab to communicate on the same wavelength for very long. This might not make much sense, I'm basically rambling on about nothing. I am really going to set and meet my goal of reading 50 pages at least today. And, in conclusion, this will probably be my last post on this book because I already have way, way too many, so I'm just going to say, pretending like I've finished: "I've read better books but I would recommend this book to those interested in Historical Fiction, and those wanting to learn about U.S. History. It gives factual information on real events and helps you understand a simple colonist's point of view. Hopefully the next book will be more realistic as far as characters are concerned."

Just Wondering...

2004-10-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

I appreciate "Bob's" clarifying of my questions from my previous post. Does anyone think of what would happen if the Americans didn't rebel? Would the British just end up giving up in the end without getting a fight out of the Americans? I mean, they can't just eternally have troops stationed in Boston. And the land would really be disputed. I mean, where we are living right now, it could have been purchased by the Germans, and we would all be speaking in their native tongue! It would really give us a taste of what it would be like not to be the richest and most powerful force in the world. Now, after thinking about this a little and writing about it, I think I will enjoy this book a little more. I can think that if what I am reading about didn't actually happen, then I could be reading about how another country bought where I am sitting this very moment. I guess it makes it seem a little more interesting, but, as I have posted and commented on many times before, there isn't really that much action in this book.

Really Very Confused

2004-10-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

I've just finished reading about 20 pages of the part where the British catch someone trying to sell their arms (guns, muskets, etc.). I have a few questions, though. Did they kill the person who was "tarred and feathered"? And, even though this is partially off the subject, what is the relationship between John and Sam Adams? Is war the only option for the Minute Men and the Sons of Liberty? It seems to me that they haven't considered anything else. Maybe they could...just ask the British...but for what? At this part of the book I am really very confused. What do the British want? What do some Americans want? Uggh! The book is just getting a little bit more boring each page I turn.

What will happen to Johnny?

2004-10-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

I wonder what will happen next to Johnny. Will he join the Sons of Liberty? Will he (oh no) go back to the Lapham's house? Will he help Cilla escape from the evil wrath of the Lytes? I have a lot of questions that I would really like to be answered about Johnny Tremain, but I just don't really feel like reading the book. I haven't read at all for a few days (since Wednesday) and I've forgotten a few parts of the book. But, anyways, I should probably keep posting. Well, I'll just write about the events that happened earlier in the book. About the Boston Tea Party...what happened to Dusty (or was it Dove) when he got pushed in the water? I always thought that the Boston Tea Party had such a big impact on our history, but after reading further, the only thing that seems to be different is that there are British troops lining the Boston roads. And the thing is, they don't seem that bad. Johnny even got a job working (kind of) for one.

Character Evaluations

2004-10-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Since my last post (which was earlier today), I haven't read any more of the book, but I have read a lot of other people's opinions on the book. I would like to add on to my thoughts about Johnny Tremain and his fellow characters. First of all, I think Isannah is just a little snot. She leaves her family for a "better life" being Lavinia Lyte's doll and doesn't care how poor Cilla gets treated. She is favored by every elderly man who roams the streets of Boston, and all Cilla can do is look on as her sister gets all the attention she doesn't even deserve. I guess I'm not comprehending very well, or maybe I haven't even gotten to that part yet, but I didn't know that Isannah was going to be an actress along with Lavinia Lyte. And also - this has been brought up a few times - what is with the line on her forehead? Why is it such a major part of the physical descriptions of her? Of course I must also mention Rab. I'm glad Johnny found someone like Rab, someone who is a little older and most definitely more mature than himself. He has male companionship that is actually real, not like his fake allies Dove and Dusty.

Where's the Action?

2004-10-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am going to write about the parts of the book that I have already read, so if I spoil some parts for anyone, I'm sorry, but there aren't very many things you could spoil in this book, seeing as there isn't that much action besides the Boston Tea party, and even that didn't seem as exciting as I thought it would be. I am right at the part where Johnny found his family tree at the Lyte's country house and he is heading back to the city with Cilla in tow. The question has been raised about if Cilla and Johnny will "hook up" some day (in other people's blogs). I don't think they will. I think if you live with someone for that long then you don't have that much of an interest in them because you already know a lot about what there is to know about the other one. I think that they are on the path to becoming really good friends. That's just my opinion, though. I did see the play but I don't remember hardly anything since it was in fifth or sixth grade. Anyways, I also think that this book is kind of mushy, lame if you will. I mean, on the back of the book it says that there is a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life, and I really don't think that anything has even come close yet to being a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life. Do you?

Bad Choices

2004-10-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have about 100 pages left of the book. I think it's pretty good, but I'm not really a reader of historical fiction very much. First of all, I like the really good descriptions of the characters and the settings. The information seems like it is very accurate. I learned a little bit about what the times were like for middle class families living in that time period. But what I don't understand, (and I know Stephanie wrote about this too) is why, if Johnny was given so much money from John Hancock, that he just spent it all in a span of an hour or two. He could have saved it and used it to pay for things he really needs, like fruit and water and bread or clothes, not spent most of it on an expensive dinner at the Afric Queen and to buy limes for Isannah.