The Kite Runner Blog Post #3

         One thing I love about the Kite Runner is that how much the books content relates to real-life Afghanistan. Many of the social and political issues that are prominent in the novel also are occurring in present day Afghanistan. One example of a real life issue is the harsh rule of the Taliban. When Amir was a kid, growing up in Kabul, there was no Taliban. However, after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the 1980s, the Taliban began to form originally to drive the Soviets away. Once they did successfully, they began to rise as Afghanistan's leaders. The Taliban enforced strict sharia law. Some of the laws were unjust and unfair, as Amir observed once he returned to Afghanistan. Textual evidence supporting this is, "I accompanied Farzana jan to the bazaar to buy some potatoes and naan. She asked the vendor how much the potatoes cost, but he did not hear her, I think he had a deaf ear. So she asked louder and suddenly a young Talib ran over and hit her on the thighs with his wooden stick. He struck her so hard she fell down. He was screaming at her and cursing and saying the Ministry of Vice and Virtue does not allow women to speak loudly," (pg 216). This shows how unjust the Taliban can be. They beat up a young woman just because she spoke too loudly. That's not fair at all, and she hadn't done anything wrong.

          Even though that last incident I had mentioned was fictional, many instances similar to that happen in current day Afghanistan. The Taliban do have a strict code of conduct, a citizen here may find unjust and unnecessary. Some of the items/practices that are banned include music, TV, books, clapping during sporting events, and taking photographs. The Taliban have also been noted for their abuse against women, and their part in human trafficking. Even though the author's purpose is to entertain the audience, the author also wants to inform. He wants to inform some of the issues in Afghanistan, as mentioned above, and raise awareness towards the continuous violation of human rights that the Taliban inflicts on the Afghan citizens.  

The Kite Runner blog post#2

        Amir, who is the protagonist and main character of my novel, The Kite Runner, is definitely a dynamic character. He has changed a lot throughout the novel. When he was a kid, his character remained pretty much the same. Amir's personality never differed too much in anyway. As a kid, he was nice, however he was a coward from his weak ways. For example, when Hassan got cornered by the bullies, Amir did nothing but run away from the scene. When the same bullies apprehended Amir, Hassan stood up for Amir. Unfortunately, Amir could not be a loyal friend. Textual evidence supporting that statement is as follows, "I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. I actually aspired to cowardice," (pg. 77). This shows Amir's true character when he is brought into trouble, and his lack of strength to his loyal friends. This also shows that he is very selfish, considering he takes his own safety and well-being first, rather than his best friends.

        However, Amir eventually changes throughout the story. Fortunately, he doesn't just accept his cowardice. He decides to overcome his guilt and sins by changing the man he was. This is proven when Amir decides to journey to Kabul to adopt a kid. Without giving too much information, I'll just say that this kid is very special to Amir, and it is necessary for his redemption. Going back to Kabul must have been very hard for Amir. Certainly, no coward could have gone there on his own. Kabul was a desolate, and dangerous environment for anyone, as the streets were riddled with the armed Taliban. At that journey, Amir changed for the better, into a much stronger man who was ready to face any circumstance, and he put others above himself.

The Kite Runner blog post 1

        My independent novel which I'm reading is called The Kite Runner. It is a really good book, with many great features that make it stand out. However, there is something that cannot be matched. That would be its imagery. The best thing about The Kite Runner is its imagery. The Kite Runner takes place in Afghanistan, and it seems so realistic. The reason I say this is because it uses such descriptive words that it makes the reader actually feel like their in the novel. The author does its best to capture images and store them in the reader's minds. In the book, hope and despair is a common, reoccurring theme in Afghanistan. The author even combines diction and imagery to really portray where the action is taking place. While I read it, I understood it a lot better because of its imagery. This is why imagery is the best feature of The Kite Runner.

        The Kite Runner is about a man from Kabul, Afghanistan when it was in its golden period. Western movies, theme parks, and lavish culture made Kabul a standout. The man lived a wealthy lifestyle when he was a young kid, and he is on the search for redemption for an incident that happened many years ago. As he sets on his journey, numerous setbacks and problems occur. They will change his life forever, and he will have to do some of the most courageous things for the redemption.

        So far, I am enjoying The Kite Runner. It is a very good novel and extremely interesting. It has a great plot that I guarantee will draw you in as a reader. The author uses many literary techniques to make it sound authentic and fun to read. So far the tone is guilt, and remorse from a past action that I cannot say, as it may spoil some of the upcoming events coming forward in the novel. I'm getting very hooked as a reader, and I feel like the plot is getting more intense and bigger, more dramatic things will happen. I recommend it to anyone, although it has some language and violent content.

Voice assignment 5/13

4. Syntax, as you know, is the way words are arranged in sentences.  Look at the first passage.  When describing the behavior of the class, the author uses a series of short sentences with active verbs; the sentence structure is repeated several times.  What effect does this structure and repetition have on the reader? 

One of the effects of the short sentences, with numerous verbs is the reader getting a better idea/understanding of the class. If the author described the class in a format/structure in which he would use a long paragraph, then that would really bore the reader. They'd also be somewhat lost. The short sentences are easier to read and understand. This also helps the story progress further, and not stay on one point for a long time. The short sentences also helps us characterize the class better. Overall, the structure of Excerpt 1 has a good effect on the reader and is easier to understand.

6. What is the tone of each passage?

I believe the tone of the first passage is light-hearted. I think that because the way the author talks/describes the subject is in a rather light, playful manner. It displays the class as rude and uncaring, however, the author doesn't do it excessively/push it too far to change the tone. Even when the new teacher who was displayed as more mean and serious, the tone is still light-hearted. It it is not too serious nor anxious. The tone of the second passage is rather dark and bitter. She's trying to change her identity in rather alarming ways, and it's not working too well. There's no light/humorous tone.

7. Characterize the voice of your creative non-fiction piece

I would say the voice of my piece is light-hearted and somewhat humorous. However, parts of it aren't. It can also sometimes be serious, exploring dark topics. I know this by looking at my piece's content, including its syntax, structure and overall content. I did this purposefully to make my piece look fun to read, yet it also makes you think. This is a strength of my writing piece.

How to Survive Middle School Column

How to Survive Middle School

(in the style of Benjamin Franklin)

Middle School. Everyone dreads it. There’s no way to avoid, unless you take advantage of home schooling. If that’s not the case, then you’re going to have to experience it.

The transition from elementary school to middle school is tougher than middle school to high school. Why? Everything was so easy in elementary school. Teachers literally told you EVERYTHING to do. What to turn in, how to finish an assignment, remind you things, even when to go to the bathroom, you name it. Yeah, that’s not the case in middle school. You got do most of the stuff on your own, that’s right. Even though middle school can seem tough at first, you’ll be able to fit in and survive the first week, by just following these steps.

1: Don’t think you’re the “stuff” in your school- kids older than you will think you’re a brat who should be left alone

2: Don’t attract lots of attention to yourself in bad ways (ex. Yelling in halls, pushing around other people)

3: Avoid hanging out with the wrong crowd- lets face it, there’s always those groups that are going in the opposite direction don’t be affiliated with those kind of groups; it may ruin your success

4: Don’t anger your teachers off too much- last thing you need is for the staff to think you’re some fool; try to stay on their good side

5: Stay on the right side of the halls-this is a bigger issue in high school, but either way don’t get caught up in school traffic

6: Get involved!- one of the best ways to make new friends and get to know your school better is by getting involved in more extra-curricular activities

7: Don’t fall behind- don’t get drowned in missing work, that sort of situation isn’t fun

8: Don’t let people (especially older kids) push you around- nobody likes being picked on, so if you’re in that scenario, stand up to them and show who’s boss

9: Don’t push other kids around- no one likes jerks, so treat other kids how you want to be treated

10. Don’t procrastinate on assignments- it won’t end well, and it isn’t fun in the long run

11: Don’t Instagram everything you see- I don’t think I need to explain this

12: Stay calm about things- Don’t lose your mind over the simplest things

13: Don’t start food fights- As fun as they seem, you’ll definitely get in trouble and the janitors will probably always have a grudge

           

            14. Always put 100% in whatever you do-you’ll be very satisfied with yourself

            15. Don’t get caught up in drama-it’ll hinder your learning abilities

            16. Eat a good breakfast everyday-that will make you learn better, trust me, you don’t learn much on an empty stomach

            17. Don’t do drugs- I don’t think I have to explain this either

            18. Don’t flip out if you get one bad grade- you’ll have plenty more grades and it won’t destroy your grade forever

            19. Ask for advice from teachers if needed- there’s nothing wrong with it

            20. Have fun!-The best way to enjoy middle school is to have fun and enjoy the environment around you.

Maximum Ride:Book 1

    Yesterday I started a book called Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. I just started reading that book, and I instantly became hooked. The more and more I read it, the more I couldn't stop flipping the pages of that book. So far, the plot had many intense moments and encounters which the characters had expierenced. Those are the type of books that I generally liked. So what is this book about? Maximum Ride is a story about 6 kids-Max (main character/protagonist) Iggy, Fange Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel. All of them were born through the result of genetic experimentation, and as a result they could fly. Despite that, they live a normal life in a house that is surrounded by mountains. However one day, a group of mutants known as the Erasers, abduct Angel,  the youngest member of their group. The rest of the group then go on a journey to retrieve Angel. There are many obstacles in that journey. That's all I know right now of the book. I can tell that the rest of the book is going to be just as intense.

     The thing about Maximum Ride is it is a sort of all-rounder book. The book has plenty of action, suspense, fantasy elements (the kids are half-bird) yet it also has realistic elements. The book also has comedy and funny parts in it too that break some of the tension. That is what I really like about Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. There are many thrillling moments. Moments that make me want to think of predictions. I am on one such moment right now. Max saved a little girl who was about to be shot by an older group of teenagers. However, while she was escaping, Max gets shot by one of the armed teens. The chapter ends with her limping with her wound through a forest. She can either hide it and not get help from anyone, protecting her true identity and wings, but risking her life. Or she can get help and save herself, but revealing what she actually is. I think she will get help, but she'll reveal herself, and whoever she revealed it to, will report it to local law enforcement. However, I hope that doesn't happen to Max

     I hope this has convinced you to read the book. I will continue reading this book, and make updates on what is going on in the books.

Review of Scorpia Rising

     Scorpia Rising is the ninth book in the Alex Rider series. It is, in a way, the finale of the Alex Rider series. The reason I say that is because the next book in the series does not pick up after the events of this book. Scorpia Rising is in my opinion the best book of the Alex Rider series. It had tons of action and adventure, the setting was stunning, and the plot was amazing, and just as thrilling. In my opinion, this is probably the grittiest, most intense book of the Alex Rider series. However, that doesn't stop it at all from being excellent. Let's start with the plot. The beginning is all about Scorpia and its current state. As they failed their last two missions, it is steadily losing its reputation and they aren't even considered a threat to any part of the world anymore. Scorpia wants to change that. Their new assignment is given by a dying billionaire. That assignment is to collect the Elgin marbles from Britain, as they formerly were owned by Greece. The billionaire is very dissatisfied with that, and is giving Scorpia a chance to steal them back. An the project is given to a new member of Scorpia, Razim. He has a devastating plan involving Alex Rider...you have to read this book to figure out exactly what he plans. The plot then switches to Alex's perspective. He is a normal teen, now 15 years old. He is no longer a kid and he is in 10th grade. The most important fact is he is no longer being used by M16. He no longer associated with them in any way. Same with his housekeeper, Jack. On a regular day in school, a sniper attempts to shoot at him. He misses, how ever very narrowly. Instead he hits Alex's best friend. Alex evades the sniper and attacks him back, getting revenge at the sniper. However, MI6 now contacts him and they say that England is no longer safe for Alex. He must go to a new school in Egypt, until he is safe again. He and Jack argue against M16, but reluctantly agree. He then is sent to Egypt, only to find that Alex and Jack are now pawns of Razim now. Read to find out what happens next to Alex...

     This was a excellent book, probably the best Alex Rider book. The past Alex Rider books often suffer the same mistakes. Alex often gets lucky and the plot is sometimes a little too far-fetched. This book really proves that Alex is unlucky and is finally caught, with real consequences happening to him. It seems very realistic. The plot is probably the best of the whole Alex Rider series. There are many twists and turns in the book that really kept me to the edge, with plenty of intense moments. Some of the biggest secrets that are hidden throughout the series, are finally revealed. There are no cliche moments in this book either, as there were in other books. I felt that this novel was the most emotional in the series, which is definitely a pro. The setting is excellent too. Egypt is very well described, and it seems so alive and vibrant.

     The villain, Razim, is the deadliest, most powerful one yet. Without spoiling too much, I'll tell you that he has no emotion at all. He is cold, calculating, and brutal. Some of the other villains in the series were often portrayed as unintelligent, or downright corny. Not in this one, though. Razim is the best villain in terms of ferocity. He is clearly a guy you don't want to mess with.

     I would rate this book a 9.5 out of 10. The only con is the beginning was a little boring, but that is solved as the book goes on. The plot, the characters, and the setting were all excellent. This time,
Alex Rider is tested beyond his limits. Definitely read this soon! If you haven't read Alex Rider books before, make sure to read the past ones. You'll be very confused if you don't.