Lily Tikijian
December 6, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 146-213)
These pages of reading were by far the most interesting of the whole book. They were just she moved, she did more drugs, she went back home. There was more of a story to it. In the beginning of the reading, Alice is starting to like Joel a lot. She really thinks he is a great guy and maybe he could be the guy for her that could help her face her fears and get over her past. I think he could be that guy for her. While Alice is babysitting, the girl that is giving Alice a lot of trouble, Jan, came by and said she needed to babysit because she needed some money. Alice stepped it up and called her parents because Jan was completely stoned. Jan was really mad at Alice and said she would get her back for calling her parents and letting them find out she does drugs. Jan starts telling people rumors about Alice and now Alice can’t even walk down the hallway without getting laughed at or talked about. Not only is Alice having a hard school life, one night her grandma gets sick. Alice thinks she doesn’t want to go on with out her husband anymore. Someone put a burning roach in Alice’s locker and she got called into the principles office anymore and doesn’t tell him who she thinks it was. I don’t know why she doesn’t tell him, I would defiantly tell him if I was her because I would want them to get suspended or get in trouble. Alice’s grandma died. Not only has she lost all of her friends, now she has lost her grandpa and her grandma. All Alice can think about is her grandma getting eaten by worms, I still don’t understand what is with Alice and this whole worm thing. Joel was there for Alice and he called her and came over and helped her get through it. I really think he is a great guy. Jan is really hurting Alice. She keeps blaming her for things she didn’t do. Today Alice was stopped by a guy on the street her pulled her into the bushes and tried to kiss her, things just couldn’t get any worse for her. Things start looking up the closer her and Joel get. On July 7th, Alice was babysitting and the her diary goes back to the (?) dates. It turns out that someone put acid in chocolate covered peanuts that Alice ate while she was babysitting. Alice says she remembers getting dizzy and trying to call her mom but she couldn’t dial the numbers. She says she doesn’t really remember what happened next but she remember her grandpa trying to help her but he was a skeleton and covered in maggots and worms. She says she was trying to kill them by smacking them with her hands and jumping on them but they just kept multiplying. Then they came to her and they started climbing up. This is when Alice started ripping off her skin and huge chunks of her hair. Alice parents believe her that someone tripped her. Alice parents did decide she needed to go to a mental hospital to try and get passed this. Alice finally learns the whole story about what happened. The neighbor heard her screaming and ran over and she thought that Alice had gone insane so she locked her in the closet and ran to check on the baby, who was fine. By the time she got back, Alice had hurt herself very badly. She has a brain concussion and a fractured skull. Alice is scared out of her mind when she goes to the mental institution. She is locked in a little room and has to earn the right to go to school. She makes a friend Babbie who has an even worse story then Alice. Alice was only in the institution from July 23- August 8th so she didn’t suffer as much as the other kids in the institution. Alice is so pleased to be home. Because of all that has happened, Alice parents decided to pack up and move. In the new town, Alice starts making friends and she is a lot happier. This whole time, even when she was in the hospital and in the mental hospital, Joel has been writing her every single day. When Alice’s birthday roles around, her parents surprise her by having Joel come visit her. He gives her a ring as a present, and Alice swears she is never going to take it off. Alice is so happy. She is going to parties, she has friends, and she has Joel along with a loving and caring family. Her life is going so well she decides that she doesn’t have to start a new diary. She thinks that diary’s are great when you are young but when you get older you should be able to discuss your problems with other people. “I hope so, for you are my dearest friend and I shall always thank you for sharing my tears, my heartache, and my struggles and strife’s and my joys and happiness. Its all been good in its own special way, I guess. See ya.” She wrote this on September 21st. That is the last thing we ever hear from Alice. Her parents came home three weeks later from a movie, to find Alice dead. They called the police and the hospital but there was nothing they could do. I thought Alice would have died earlier in the book, not when she was happy and loving life. This was huge surprise to me and I feel terrible for her family and friends.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Go Ask Alice (Pages 101-146)
Lily Tikijian
December 2, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 101-146)
Alice has become so addicted to drugs that now she is even taking them in the middle of class. It says she was popping pills in the middle of her English class. That is just screwed up, that someone is so addicted to something that they have to take them during a class. I can’t even imagine being that addicted to something. She is also now getting high by herself in her room at night, what is the point of all of it? All of a sudden the diary stops and Alice ends up in Denver sleeping on a park bench at night. For like most of the entries they aren’t recorded very well. There aren’t any dates and the writing is quick a brief. This makes us believe she was on more drugs then ever and couldn’t concentrate enough to write. She is becoming more and more bipolar. One minute she hates Denver and she wants to go home and then two sentences later she is loving it. She attends a “rally” where there are drugs and alcohol everywhere. Alice meets a girl named Doris at a shelter and Doris becomes her new “roommate.” Doris gets really upset and sad all the time when they run out of drugs. The rest of the entries in this section are just like about how she has run out of drugs then she is back on them and “Oh, how wonderful it is to be stoned.” Its insane, I can’t stand reading about it. Alice goes back to a church and gets the priest to call her parents. Even after she calls them she spends a couple more weeks out on the streets. Alice decides that she is either going to commit suicide or she is going to devote her life to helping others that have been in her same situation. Alice runs out of pages in her old diary and starts a new one. It begins when she has decided to return home. She is so happy to be home and excited to get started with a new chapter in her life. She has decided to devote her life to helping kids just like her. Once again, Alice has started school. She is starting to focus more on her schoolwork and family and less on drugs and her past. Everyone at her school has become mean and nasty towards her and I don’t understand why. I mean, she is trying to stay off drugs, is that a good thing? Alice is so terribly lonely and she has no friends and to make matters worse, he grandpa has a stroke. Then he dies within the next couple days. When things start to look really bad, Alice makes a new friend Joel. I think Joel is really going to help her through her problems.
December 2, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 101-146)
Alice has become so addicted to drugs that now she is even taking them in the middle of class. It says she was popping pills in the middle of her English class. That is just screwed up, that someone is so addicted to something that they have to take them during a class. I can’t even imagine being that addicted to something. She is also now getting high by herself in her room at night, what is the point of all of it? All of a sudden the diary stops and Alice ends up in Denver sleeping on a park bench at night. For like most of the entries they aren’t recorded very well. There aren’t any dates and the writing is quick a brief. This makes us believe she was on more drugs then ever and couldn’t concentrate enough to write. She is becoming more and more bipolar. One minute she hates Denver and she wants to go home and then two sentences later she is loving it. She attends a “rally” where there are drugs and alcohol everywhere. Alice meets a girl named Doris at a shelter and Doris becomes her new “roommate.” Doris gets really upset and sad all the time when they run out of drugs. The rest of the entries in this section are just like about how she has run out of drugs then she is back on them and “Oh, how wonderful it is to be stoned.” Its insane, I can’t stand reading about it. Alice goes back to a church and gets the priest to call her parents. Even after she calls them she spends a couple more weeks out on the streets. Alice decides that she is either going to commit suicide or she is going to devote her life to helping others that have been in her same situation. Alice runs out of pages in her old diary and starts a new one. It begins when she has decided to return home. She is so happy to be home and excited to get started with a new chapter in her life. She has decided to devote her life to helping kids just like her. Once again, Alice has started school. She is starting to focus more on her schoolwork and family and less on drugs and her past. Everyone at her school has become mean and nasty towards her and I don’t understand why. I mean, she is trying to stay off drugs, is that a good thing? Alice is so terribly lonely and she has no friends and to make matters worse, he grandpa has a stroke. Then he dies within the next couple days. When things start to look really bad, Alice makes a new friend Joel. I think Joel is really going to help her through her problems.
Go Ask Alice (Pages 51-101)
Lily Tikijian
November 25, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 51- 101)
Alice has defiantly hit an all time low in the beginning of this section. She is now going to see a doctor to get drugs. She wants sleeping pills so she tells the doctor that she can’t sleep. That is about the lowest thing I think someone can do. She says, “I guess I’ll have to waste one of my good sleeping pills to stop it. That’s life.” Life isn’t about sleeping pills or drugs. Alice’s friend, Chris, gets Alice a job and Alice thinks she is on top of the world. I think this a perfect time for Alice to start turning her life around. She is one of the most popular girls at school, she has a job, and she has a loving and supporting family. She doesn’t realize how good she has it. Instead of taking a turn for the better, Alice takes a turn for the worst. She now has to take Dexies just to get through the school day and work and now she is using tranquilizers to deal with her home life. To make matters worse, she tries pot for the first time and she says it was even greater then she expected. Alice even starts to think about quitting her job because she “doesn’t have time to do the things she wants to do.” Like hang out with her drug dealing boyfriend and doing more drugs. She is apparently so in love Richie that she can’t see straight. Alice and Chris start drug pushing to earn extra money. Just when Alice is madly in love with Richie, she walks in on Richie and his roommate having sex and she is crushed. She and Chris decide that they are going to run away to San Francisco. They run away at 4:30am to board a bus to take them to San Francisco. When they arrive they buy a crappy apartment and go job hunting. Alice takes a job at a lingerie store and Chris finally finds a job at a great little shop. Alice gets more and more homesick with each passing day. She eventually quits her job and tries to find a more interesting one. She takes a job in a hotel selling jewelry. Her boss, Mr. Mellani, becomes more like a father figure to her then a boss. Chris and Alice even go and eat dinner and spend time with him and his family. Both girls are now eighteen and they start getting invited to fancy parties where they do drugs. They both get so trapped up in the scene of the party life. They decide they must leave. They find a new apartment close to Berkeley. By December 23rd both girls decide that they have to go home. Life starts to look a little brighter for Alice. At least she is home with a caring family, food on the table, and a roof over her head. Alice and Chris both return back to school and Alice gets pressure from a guy named Joe about her old “drug pushing” life style and it drives her crazy. She starts connecting with Lane and he gets her connected with more drugs. This is all her life is: drugs, drugs, and more drugs.
November 25, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 51- 101)
Alice has defiantly hit an all time low in the beginning of this section. She is now going to see a doctor to get drugs. She wants sleeping pills so she tells the doctor that she can’t sleep. That is about the lowest thing I think someone can do. She says, “I guess I’ll have to waste one of my good sleeping pills to stop it. That’s life.” Life isn’t about sleeping pills or drugs. Alice’s friend, Chris, gets Alice a job and Alice thinks she is on top of the world. I think this a perfect time for Alice to start turning her life around. She is one of the most popular girls at school, she has a job, and she has a loving and supporting family. She doesn’t realize how good she has it. Instead of taking a turn for the better, Alice takes a turn for the worst. She now has to take Dexies just to get through the school day and work and now she is using tranquilizers to deal with her home life. To make matters worse, she tries pot for the first time and she says it was even greater then she expected. Alice even starts to think about quitting her job because she “doesn’t have time to do the things she wants to do.” Like hang out with her drug dealing boyfriend and doing more drugs. She is apparently so in love Richie that she can’t see straight. Alice and Chris start drug pushing to earn extra money. Just when Alice is madly in love with Richie, she walks in on Richie and his roommate having sex and she is crushed. She and Chris decide that they are going to run away to San Francisco. They run away at 4:30am to board a bus to take them to San Francisco. When they arrive they buy a crappy apartment and go job hunting. Alice takes a job at a lingerie store and Chris finally finds a job at a great little shop. Alice gets more and more homesick with each passing day. She eventually quits her job and tries to find a more interesting one. She takes a job in a hotel selling jewelry. Her boss, Mr. Mellani, becomes more like a father figure to her then a boss. Chris and Alice even go and eat dinner and spend time with him and his family. Both girls are now eighteen and they start getting invited to fancy parties where they do drugs. They both get so trapped up in the scene of the party life. They decide they must leave. They find a new apartment close to Berkeley. By December 23rd both girls decide that they have to go home. Life starts to look a little brighter for Alice. At least she is home with a caring family, food on the table, and a roof over her head. Alice and Chris both return back to school and Alice gets pressure from a guy named Joe about her old “drug pushing” life style and it drives her crazy. She starts connecting with Lane and he gets her connected with more drugs. This is all her life is: drugs, drugs, and more drugs.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Go Ask Alice (Pages 21-50)
Lily Tikijian
November 18, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 21- 50)
Alice is even worse then she was in the earlier reading. She has become more addicted to drugs and now she is drinking and having sex. Her life has taken a turn for the worse and she doesn’t even know it. She came back from her grandparent’s house and now she has a new best friend named Chris. Chris is a little bit older then Alice and is on drugs as well. Chris is able to get a job Alice a job and Alice is happy. She tried pot for the first time and now she is so addicted all she wants to do is have sex with her new college boyfriend and do drugs. She even thinks about quitting her job because she feels like that she doesn’t have time to do the things she wants too. Her life is just very messed up and she needs to take a turn for the better. Her parents are very worried about her because she has changed. She is now the most popular girl at school and is no longer an outcast or reject. Alice just needs to find a way to clean up her life and start hanging out with the right people, but I highly doubt that is going to happen.
November 18, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 21- 50)
Alice is even worse then she was in the earlier reading. She has become more addicted to drugs and now she is drinking and having sex. Her life has taken a turn for the worse and she doesn’t even know it. She came back from her grandparent’s house and now she has a new best friend named Chris. Chris is a little bit older then Alice and is on drugs as well. Chris is able to get a job Alice a job and Alice is happy. She tried pot for the first time and now she is so addicted all she wants to do is have sex with her new college boyfriend and do drugs. She even thinks about quitting her job because she feels like that she doesn’t have time to do the things she wants too. Her life is just very messed up and she needs to take a turn for the better. Her parents are very worried about her because she has changed. She is now the most popular girl at school and is no longer an outcast or reject. Alice just needs to find a way to clean up her life and start hanging out with the right people, but I highly doubt that is going to happen.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Go Ask Alice (Pages 1-21)
Lily Tikijian
November 12, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 1-21)
When starting to read this book, I was expecting to start off with a girl that was already hooked on drugs. Instead, the book starts off with a happy Alice. She seems to be pretty content with her life. She buys a diary to start recording her personal thoughts. Within the next couple pages she goes from content to miserable all because of a guy named Roger. He didn’t show up for their date and Alice has been in love with him for as long as she can remember and she thinks he doesn’t feel the same way. By the time her birthday roles around, she is in a state of depression. She has put on seven pounds and doesn’t do anything. Everything turns around for Alice, he dad gets a job so they get to move out of the town that she has grown to despise. Of course though, once she hears the word she is moving, things turn around. She goes out with a guy named Scott and Roger talks to her again. But, she still wants to move. Once they get to the new town, Alice hates it. She says, “It was the loneliest, coldest place in the world.” Alice has made no friends at school and she is miserable, she gains another fifteen pounds and hates how happy her family is here. They all have friends and people to be with unlike her. At the end of our reading, the only thing she is happy about is that she gets to spend the summer with her grandma. I think Alice is a very fragile girl, one thing goes wrong and she thinks her life is going to be over. I truly think she is bipolar, her mood is always changing.
November 12, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Go Ask Alice (Pages 1-21)
When starting to read this book, I was expecting to start off with a girl that was already hooked on drugs. Instead, the book starts off with a happy Alice. She seems to be pretty content with her life. She buys a diary to start recording her personal thoughts. Within the next couple pages she goes from content to miserable all because of a guy named Roger. He didn’t show up for their date and Alice has been in love with him for as long as she can remember and she thinks he doesn’t feel the same way. By the time her birthday roles around, she is in a state of depression. She has put on seven pounds and doesn’t do anything. Everything turns around for Alice, he dad gets a job so they get to move out of the town that she has grown to despise. Of course though, once she hears the word she is moving, things turn around. She goes out with a guy named Scott and Roger talks to her again. But, she still wants to move. Once they get to the new town, Alice hates it. She says, “It was the loneliest, coldest place in the world.” Alice has made no friends at school and she is miserable, she gains another fifteen pounds and hates how happy her family is here. They all have friends and people to be with unlike her. At the end of our reading, the only thing she is happy about is that she gets to spend the summer with her grandma. I think Alice is a very fragile girl, one thing goes wrong and she thinks her life is going to be over. I truly think she is bipolar, her mood is always changing.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Choice Books
I really dont like any of these books.
I have read both to kill a mocking bird and the boy in striped pajamas...
I really didnt like either.
If I had to read one of these books it would be Go Ask Alice but I really rather not read any of them.
I have read both to kill a mocking bird and the boy in striped pajamas...
I really didnt like either.
If I had to read one of these books it would be Go Ask Alice but I really rather not read any of them.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapter 21)
Lily Tikijian
October 30, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 21
This chapter was a very interesting way to finish the book. I was left with so many questions that weren’t answered. Not only was I left with questions, I also got answers. It broke my heart when Ishmael’s Uncle died. I can’t imagine anything happen to any one of my family members. Not only did Ishmael lose one family, he lost too. His Uncle was the only family he had left and now he is gone. I would be filled with such agony and misery after losing the one person that I had left in my life. Ishmael is also going through the same process that he was about three years ago. He is running from the army. Its happening all over again, he keeps saying how this is all to familiar to him. Thank god he escapes instead of becoming a child solider again. I was surprised by the fact that he didn’t take anyone with him to escape. You would think he would want to take Mohamed or his cousin. I did find that very questionable and he never talked about his decision from then on. There were so many times that Ishmael could have been killed. He was stopped by so many soldiers on the way out of Sierra Leone; he is truly a miracle man. He has escaped death at least five-hundred times. Ishmael ended the book with a story he remembers from his childhood. I am sure there is a significant meaning behind the story but I couldn’t figure it out. I am a little disappointed in the way he ended the book. I wanted to know more about him going live with his friend in New York and if he ever went back and if he even made it! I just have so many unanswered questions. I did fully enjoy this book though. I thought it was filled with everything a good book should have. I could have done without the graphic images but that’s what made the story intriguing.
October 30, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 21
This chapter was a very interesting way to finish the book. I was left with so many questions that weren’t answered. Not only was I left with questions, I also got answers. It broke my heart when Ishmael’s Uncle died. I can’t imagine anything happen to any one of my family members. Not only did Ishmael lose one family, he lost too. His Uncle was the only family he had left and now he is gone. I would be filled with such agony and misery after losing the one person that I had left in my life. Ishmael is also going through the same process that he was about three years ago. He is running from the army. Its happening all over again, he keeps saying how this is all to familiar to him. Thank god he escapes instead of becoming a child solider again. I was surprised by the fact that he didn’t take anyone with him to escape. You would think he would want to take Mohamed or his cousin. I did find that very questionable and he never talked about his decision from then on. There were so many times that Ishmael could have been killed. He was stopped by so many soldiers on the way out of Sierra Leone; he is truly a miracle man. He has escaped death at least five-hundred times. Ishmael ended the book with a story he remembers from his childhood. I am sure there is a significant meaning behind the story but I couldn’t figure it out. I am a little disappointed in the way he ended the book. I wanted to know more about him going live with his friend in New York and if he ever went back and if he even made it! I just have so many unanswered questions. I did fully enjoy this book though. I thought it was filled with everything a good book should have. I could have done without the graphic images but that’s what made the story intriguing.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 19 & 20)
Lily Tikijian
October 28, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 19 & 20
I was actually quite stunned by these two chapters. Ishmael is asked to take part in a conference in New York City. I think that is so cool. That a little boy from Sierra Leone is given the chance to take part in a conference half way around the world. It must have been mind-blowing for him. Especially that it has been not even a year from when he was fighting for the army. Its crazy how fast things are moving along for him. Things are really looking up for Ishmael. I thought it was really sad that he saw Esther for the last time in chapter 19. He had a big connection with her and she was like the first person he trusted in a while. She was like a mother figure to Ishmael. He said that he loved her and he never got to tell her that. Even though that is really sad, Ishmael doesn’t really have time to dwell on that because he has to get ready to go to New York. He goes shopping for new pants, shirts, and everything. When Ishmael arrives in New York it is the middle of winter and it is freezing. Ishmael, of course, living in Africa has never come in contact with such cold weather. It is a real shock for him. He is freezing. All he knows about New York is what he has learned from his rap music. It is really amazing to think that this boy was standing at the JFK Memorial Airport, cause I have been there so many times. Its just really cool to think about. When they check into the hotel Ishmael is able to meet 57 kids from 23 different countries that are also taking part in this conference. He becomes really close with a girl named Laura. He says that the conference is a wonderful experience but he can’t wait to go back home.
October 28, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 19 & 20
I was actually quite stunned by these two chapters. Ishmael is asked to take part in a conference in New York City. I think that is so cool. That a little boy from Sierra Leone is given the chance to take part in a conference half way around the world. It must have been mind-blowing for him. Especially that it has been not even a year from when he was fighting for the army. Its crazy how fast things are moving along for him. Things are really looking up for Ishmael. I thought it was really sad that he saw Esther for the last time in chapter 19. He had a big connection with her and she was like the first person he trusted in a while. She was like a mother figure to Ishmael. He said that he loved her and he never got to tell her that. Even though that is really sad, Ishmael doesn’t really have time to dwell on that because he has to get ready to go to New York. He goes shopping for new pants, shirts, and everything. When Ishmael arrives in New York it is the middle of winter and it is freezing. Ishmael, of course, living in Africa has never come in contact with such cold weather. It is a real shock for him. He is freezing. All he knows about New York is what he has learned from his rap music. It is really amazing to think that this boy was standing at the JFK Memorial Airport, cause I have been there so many times. Its just really cool to think about. When they check into the hotel Ishmael is able to meet 57 kids from 23 different countries that are also taking part in this conference. He becomes really close with a girl named Laura. He says that the conference is a wonderful experience but he can’t wait to go back home.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 17 & 18)
Lily Tikijian
October 28, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 17 & 18
I loved these two chapters. They were so upbeat and happy, the total opposite of the rest in the book. Ishmael is starting to make connections again. He makes a big connect with a nurse named Esther. She buys him gifts and put music back into his life. She buys him a rap cassette that he listens to everything he goes to visit her. He develops a very strong bond with her and lets her into his life which I have to imagine would be very hard. He tells her about the dreams he has and she tells him what she thinks they mean. Ishmael is also reunited with Mohamed, a childhood friend. Even later in the book, Ishmael even finds out her has an uncle. Everything is turning for the better. Ishmael now has people who care about him in his life, he is happier, and he is not longer drugged. These chapters made me feel a lot better about reading the book knowing that not everything in Ishmael’s like was terrible.
October 28, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 17 & 18
I loved these two chapters. They were so upbeat and happy, the total opposite of the rest in the book. Ishmael is starting to make connections again. He makes a big connect with a nurse named Esther. She buys him gifts and put music back into his life. She buys him a rap cassette that he listens to everything he goes to visit her. He develops a very strong bond with her and lets her into his life which I have to imagine would be very hard. He tells her about the dreams he has and she tells him what she thinks they mean. Ishmael is also reunited with Mohamed, a childhood friend. Even later in the book, Ishmael even finds out her has an uncle. Everything is turning for the better. Ishmael now has people who care about him in his life, he is happier, and he is not longer drugged. These chapters made me feel a lot better about reading the book knowing that not everything in Ishmael’s like was terrible.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Choice Book
I think that one of the choice books should be Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer Mcmahon. This book truly made me love reading. Its a mystery novel about a girl who goes back to her home town when she is older and she has a mystery she has to solve. Its a little bit graphic and in some parts frighting but its an amazing book. I highly recommend it.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 15 & 16)
Lily Tikijian
October 26, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 15 & 16
Chapter 15 and 16 were the just more of the same brutal things. It wasn’t as brutal as the last chapters, it was more jaw dropping. By this time, Ishmael Beah has been fighting for two years. Killing is just part of a daily activity for him. He says, “My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed.” This is how Ishmael has been living the last two years of his life. Everything revolves around the war, and when something in his life doesn’t, he doesn’t know what to do. When the UNICEF people come to take Ishmael and some of the people from his squad to the compound where they would be living, he doesn’t know what to do or think. He just keeps thinking about killing and how he wants to hijack the car and steal the official’s guns and kill them all. That is really scary to think about. I would hate to be the official’s in that car. They must know that they are in danger riding with a bunch of young boys who know nothing but how to kill people. When all of the boys arrive at the compound they almost immediately break into teams: army vs. rebels. All they do is fight. They kill people with rocks and kick them to death and some boys sneaked bayonets into the compound. The boys had to be moved to another city. There, the same things happen, they just fight for no reason at all, that all they know. They steal, kill, and fight. They disrespect the official’s, the nurses, and the civilians. The main reason I think this happens is because, obviously this is all the know but I think that all of these boys are going through serious withdrawal. They haven’t had marijuana or cocaine in weeks. That is one think they always relied on. These chapters really made me see how difficult like is for these boys even after the war. It seems like it’s harder for them after then it was during the war.
October 26, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 15 & 16
Chapter 15 and 16 were the just more of the same brutal things. It wasn’t as brutal as the last chapters, it was more jaw dropping. By this time, Ishmael Beah has been fighting for two years. Killing is just part of a daily activity for him. He says, “My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed.” This is how Ishmael has been living the last two years of his life. Everything revolves around the war, and when something in his life doesn’t, he doesn’t know what to do. When the UNICEF people come to take Ishmael and some of the people from his squad to the compound where they would be living, he doesn’t know what to do or think. He just keeps thinking about killing and how he wants to hijack the car and steal the official’s guns and kill them all. That is really scary to think about. I would hate to be the official’s in that car. They must know that they are in danger riding with a bunch of young boys who know nothing but how to kill people. When all of the boys arrive at the compound they almost immediately break into teams: army vs. rebels. All they do is fight. They kill people with rocks and kick them to death and some boys sneaked bayonets into the compound. The boys had to be moved to another city. There, the same things happen, they just fight for no reason at all, that all they know. They steal, kill, and fight. They disrespect the official’s, the nurses, and the civilians. The main reason I think this happens is because, obviously this is all the know but I think that all of these boys are going through serious withdrawal. They haven’t had marijuana or cocaine in weeks. That is one think they always relied on. These chapters really made me see how difficult like is for these boys even after the war. It seems like it’s harder for them after then it was during the war.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 13 & 14)
Lily Tikijian
October 22, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 13 & 14
These chapters were by far the hardest to get through by far! I thought chapters eleven and twelve were hard but they were nothing compared to these. There was so much gore and violence and blood and hatred, it hurt to read it. Thinking that people could actually be filled with so much hate just scares me. I couldn’t imagine being able to slice open a guys neck with a bayonet or to just shoot some random civilian for nothing. I know that these kids have been trained to think that this is a good thing to kill the rebels, that they are the ones responsible for killing their families and loved ones. Even though this may be true, I don’t think it gives them on excuse to kill boys the same age as them. I have to say that I didn’t read all of these chapters. I had to skip some parts that were a little to graphic for me. I get nauseous just hearing the word blood, I can’t read about it. I find it ironic that just a few weeks ago, these boys couldn’t even hold a gun without shaking and being afraid. At the beginning of the chapter through they are clenching their guns like they are babies, like it is the only thing they have left in the world. Also, through out these chapters, all of the boys are drugged. You can tell that it made a difference in what Ishmael remembers. The memories become more vivid and less complex. One of the things that Ishmael said that shocked me was, “We exhaled quickly, afraid that our own breathing could cause our death.” After that quote things just got worse and worse. Ishmael was talking about how bodies split in half and flew everywhere, how blood poured out of the bullet holes on boys bodies, and how blood was splashed all over his face. I had to stop reading for a while after that. I just couldn’t handle it. When I picked the book back up, the little boy Joshia was tossed onto a tree stump and was stuck and blood was everywhere. Again, I had to stop reading. Ishmael said, “Suddenly, as if someone was shooting them inside my brain, all the massacres I had seen since that day I was touched by the war were flashing in my mind. “ He said he just started to kill everything the moved. He was filled with such anger and hate all he could do was kill. Both of his friends were killed. He said when they got back to the camp he couldn’t feel anything. He didn’t taste water or feel that his knee was bleeding. He is now completely desensitized. He is now so lost to the world except the war that he stopped playing soccer with the other boys, he jus sits around sniffing brown brown and cocaine, which he is obviously now addicted too. The last part of chapter fourteen almost made ma faint, I had to honestly try so hard not to pass out. The boys had a contest to see who could slit the prisoners throat the fastest. It gave every detail from the expression on the victims face to how Ishmael won, it was terrible. These chapters were honestly brutal and unbearable.
October 22, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 13 & 14
These chapters were by far the hardest to get through by far! I thought chapters eleven and twelve were hard but they were nothing compared to these. There was so much gore and violence and blood and hatred, it hurt to read it. Thinking that people could actually be filled with so much hate just scares me. I couldn’t imagine being able to slice open a guys neck with a bayonet or to just shoot some random civilian for nothing. I know that these kids have been trained to think that this is a good thing to kill the rebels, that they are the ones responsible for killing their families and loved ones. Even though this may be true, I don’t think it gives them on excuse to kill boys the same age as them. I have to say that I didn’t read all of these chapters. I had to skip some parts that were a little to graphic for me. I get nauseous just hearing the word blood, I can’t read about it. I find it ironic that just a few weeks ago, these boys couldn’t even hold a gun without shaking and being afraid. At the beginning of the chapter through they are clenching their guns like they are babies, like it is the only thing they have left in the world. Also, through out these chapters, all of the boys are drugged. You can tell that it made a difference in what Ishmael remembers. The memories become more vivid and less complex. One of the things that Ishmael said that shocked me was, “We exhaled quickly, afraid that our own breathing could cause our death.” After that quote things just got worse and worse. Ishmael was talking about how bodies split in half and flew everywhere, how blood poured out of the bullet holes on boys bodies, and how blood was splashed all over his face. I had to stop reading for a while after that. I just couldn’t handle it. When I picked the book back up, the little boy Joshia was tossed onto a tree stump and was stuck and blood was everywhere. Again, I had to stop reading. Ishmael said, “Suddenly, as if someone was shooting them inside my brain, all the massacres I had seen since that day I was touched by the war were flashing in my mind. “ He said he just started to kill everything the moved. He was filled with such anger and hate all he could do was kill. Both of his friends were killed. He said when they got back to the camp he couldn’t feel anything. He didn’t taste water or feel that his knee was bleeding. He is now completely desensitized. He is now so lost to the world except the war that he stopped playing soccer with the other boys, he jus sits around sniffing brown brown and cocaine, which he is obviously now addicted too. The last part of chapter fourteen almost made ma faint, I had to honestly try so hard not to pass out. The boys had a contest to see who could slit the prisoners throat the fastest. It gave every detail from the expression on the victims face to how Ishmael won, it was terrible. These chapters were honestly brutal and unbearable.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 11 & 12)
Lily Tikijian
October 17, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 11 & 12
Unbelievable. That’s about the only words that I can use to describe these two chapters. Its true that I was warned that these two chapters would be the worst ones of the book, but I wasn’t expecting anything as bad as that! The beginning over chapter eleven starts off with a lot of grieving and sorrow because Saidu just died. “We all knew we grieve only for a short while in order to continue staying alive.” That’s what Ishmael says. No matter how much grieve the boys have, they cant dwell on it because they have to keep moving in order to stay alive. In class, we were talking about how the weather in the book is kind of like a foreshadow to the bad things that are to come. In the beginning of the reading it says that one part of the sky was completely blue and the other part was filled with stagnant clouds. The weather is a foreshadow to these two chapters I think. That sky kind of describes these two chapters. I was so excited because Ishmael and his friends are about to get to the villages were there families are. Ishmaels says he couldn’t stop smiling; he was excited to see them. The boys see one of Ishmael’s old neighbors, Gasemu. He talks about Ishmael’s family and how excited they will be to see him. Once they got close to the villages there was, of course, bad news. The villages was pretty much all burned down. Ishmael says, “When I got to the village, it was completely on fire and bullet shells covered the ground like mango leaves in the morning.” This would have killed me. I honestly probably would have died right there. They walk into the village and there are bodies everywhere and houses are burned and there is blood. Ishmael runs to the house where is family was and there are piles of ashes on the floor, no solid body is there. He becomes so filled with anger and disgust that he almost kills Gasemu, right then I could tell that the war was starting to take a huge affect on Ishmael. He was going to kill one of his friends just because he didn’t know how to control himself, that’s scary. The boys have to escape the soldiers again, and Gasemu is shot and dies a few days later. I don’t really understand the rest of the chapters. The boys were taken to a village/camp where there are other civilians and they are treated well. I am assuming that these are the native soldiers that are fighting against the rebel army. Ishmael and his friends are soon put into training to becoming a solider. They have to carry guns, which just scares Ishmael more than anything. When they are in training one of the officers tells the boys to, “Visualize the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, you family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you.” He is telling them this as they are being forced to practice stabbing a banana. They have to pretend like the its one of the rebels. Ishmael can’t sleep anymore but especially after that. I would be the same way, my head would be full of terrible thoughts and I would be afraid to go to sleep because I would probably have nightmares about them just like Ishmael. I missed a lot of things in these chapters because I couldn’t read them; I had to skip over them. They were just so terrible I couldn’t do it. I really wasn’t expecting it to be as brutally as it is.
October 17, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 11 & 12
Unbelievable. That’s about the only words that I can use to describe these two chapters. Its true that I was warned that these two chapters would be the worst ones of the book, but I wasn’t expecting anything as bad as that! The beginning over chapter eleven starts off with a lot of grieving and sorrow because Saidu just died. “We all knew we grieve only for a short while in order to continue staying alive.” That’s what Ishmael says. No matter how much grieve the boys have, they cant dwell on it because they have to keep moving in order to stay alive. In class, we were talking about how the weather in the book is kind of like a foreshadow to the bad things that are to come. In the beginning of the reading it says that one part of the sky was completely blue and the other part was filled with stagnant clouds. The weather is a foreshadow to these two chapters I think. That sky kind of describes these two chapters. I was so excited because Ishmael and his friends are about to get to the villages were there families are. Ishmaels says he couldn’t stop smiling; he was excited to see them. The boys see one of Ishmael’s old neighbors, Gasemu. He talks about Ishmael’s family and how excited they will be to see him. Once they got close to the villages there was, of course, bad news. The villages was pretty much all burned down. Ishmael says, “When I got to the village, it was completely on fire and bullet shells covered the ground like mango leaves in the morning.” This would have killed me. I honestly probably would have died right there. They walk into the village and there are bodies everywhere and houses are burned and there is blood. Ishmael runs to the house where is family was and there are piles of ashes on the floor, no solid body is there. He becomes so filled with anger and disgust that he almost kills Gasemu, right then I could tell that the war was starting to take a huge affect on Ishmael. He was going to kill one of his friends just because he didn’t know how to control himself, that’s scary. The boys have to escape the soldiers again, and Gasemu is shot and dies a few days later. I don’t really understand the rest of the chapters. The boys were taken to a village/camp where there are other civilians and they are treated well. I am assuming that these are the native soldiers that are fighting against the rebel army. Ishmael and his friends are soon put into training to becoming a solider. They have to carry guns, which just scares Ishmael more than anything. When they are in training one of the officers tells the boys to, “Visualize the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, you family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you.” He is telling them this as they are being forced to practice stabbing a banana. They have to pretend like the its one of the rebels. Ishmael can’t sleep anymore but especially after that. I would be the same way, my head would be full of terrible thoughts and I would be afraid to go to sleep because I would probably have nightmares about them just like Ishmael. I missed a lot of things in these chapters because I couldn’t read them; I had to skip over them. They were just so terrible I couldn’t do it. I really wasn’t expecting it to be as brutally as it is.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapter 10)
Lily Tikijian
October 14, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 10
Even though we only had to read one chapter tonight, it seemed like we had to read thirty chapters. This chapter went by so slowly for me. In a way, things seem to be more and more repetitive as we read. Ishmael keeps telling us about the villages they stop in and about how he doesn’t want to think because his thoughts scare him. I completely understand that he is scared to think about his thoughts but it’s just a little to repetitive. One of the most descriptive passages that I have read in this book so far is when Ishmael says, “In some way my journey was like that of the moon- although I had even more thick clouds coming my way to make my spirit dull.” Ishmael is starting to realize that the way is affecting him and he knows there are more bad things coming his way. I think he is mentally preparing himself for more heartache and despair. The most gut-wrenching part of this chapter is when Saidu says, “Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies.” This is so shocking because it is foreshadowing. Later in this chapter, Saidu does pass away. I don’t think we even find out why. I think he just saw so many terrible things and was so scared that he lost the will to live. From what Saidu was telling us about his family and how he had to watch his sisters get rapped over and over again from the attic, I think if I had been him I would have wanted to die. I had to put down the book because I couldn’t imagine watching my sister getting rapped. I couldn’t deal with that. That part just struck me. All the boys are still losing their innocent side. When Alhaji wants to kill the dog, this proves that he is turning into a killer. When Saidu is buried, Ishmael says he couldn’t believe that he was gone. He says, “Who will be the next to leave us? The question was in our eyes when we looked at each other. We walked fast as if trying to stay in the daytime, afraid that nightfall would turn over the uncertain pages of our lives.” I would be so afraid to make connections with these boys if I were Ishmael because he knows that they are probably going to die or leave. I don’t think I could deal with losing one of them, especially since they are now his family. Its just un-imaginable.
October 14, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 10
Even though we only had to read one chapter tonight, it seemed like we had to read thirty chapters. This chapter went by so slowly for me. In a way, things seem to be more and more repetitive as we read. Ishmael keeps telling us about the villages they stop in and about how he doesn’t want to think because his thoughts scare him. I completely understand that he is scared to think about his thoughts but it’s just a little to repetitive. One of the most descriptive passages that I have read in this book so far is when Ishmael says, “In some way my journey was like that of the moon- although I had even more thick clouds coming my way to make my spirit dull.” Ishmael is starting to realize that the way is affecting him and he knows there are more bad things coming his way. I think he is mentally preparing himself for more heartache and despair. The most gut-wrenching part of this chapter is when Saidu says, “Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies.” This is so shocking because it is foreshadowing. Later in this chapter, Saidu does pass away. I don’t think we even find out why. I think he just saw so many terrible things and was so scared that he lost the will to live. From what Saidu was telling us about his family and how he had to watch his sisters get rapped over and over again from the attic, I think if I had been him I would have wanted to die. I had to put down the book because I couldn’t imagine watching my sister getting rapped. I couldn’t deal with that. That part just struck me. All the boys are still losing their innocent side. When Alhaji wants to kill the dog, this proves that he is turning into a killer. When Saidu is buried, Ishmael says he couldn’t believe that he was gone. He says, “Who will be the next to leave us? The question was in our eyes when we looked at each other. We walked fast as if trying to stay in the daytime, afraid that nightfall would turn over the uncertain pages of our lives.” I would be so afraid to make connections with these boys if I were Ishmael because he knows that they are probably going to die or leave. I don’t think I could deal with losing one of them, especially since they are now his family. Its just un-imaginable.
Monday, October 13, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 8 & 9)
Lily Tikijian
October 13, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 8 & 9
Chapters eight and nine were very different from the rest of the chapters I have read so far. These chapters seemed more…. Realistic. I don’t know why but they seemed to be more relatable because they weren’t so filled with blood and war. They had more to do with him be lonely and things like that. That’s why I thought they were more relatable, all of us have been lonely at some point in our life but none of us have been in a war. I am still in shock that Ishmael was able to walk for two days and night without sleeping. He said that he felt as if someone was after him. He even said sometimes his own shadow would scare him and he would run for miles. This is unimaginable. Being so afraid of something that your own shadow causes you to run for miles. The most horrid part of this chapter was at the beginning of chapter eight when Ishmael says. “I had passed through burnt villages where dead bodies of men, women, and children of all ages were scattered like leaves on the ground after a storm.” This sight is becoming more and more natural for him to see. At the beginning of his journey he probably would have been much more bothered at the sight of all of those innocent people that are dead, now its just like seeing leaves on the ground. The rebels are desensitizing him without even being one of them. Ishmael says that he has to try and not think, he is afraid of thinking. He is afraid of the terrible images that he has seen and he doesn’t want to think about them. He says, “I decided to just ignore every thought that came to my head, because it brought too much sadness.” How could he live like this? I couldn’t stand it, I would probably rather be dead. I was so happy when he met up with some boys and they saw the Atlantic Ocean. It was the first time he has smiled in practically the whole book. The last thing that struck me in the chapter was when Ishmael said, “… and laughed about what happened to avoid crying.” They were laughing about being captured by the villagers. It just hurts to even think about it.
October 13, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapter 8 & 9
Chapters eight and nine were very different from the rest of the chapters I have read so far. These chapters seemed more…. Realistic. I don’t know why but they seemed to be more relatable because they weren’t so filled with blood and war. They had more to do with him be lonely and things like that. That’s why I thought they were more relatable, all of us have been lonely at some point in our life but none of us have been in a war. I am still in shock that Ishmael was able to walk for two days and night without sleeping. He said that he felt as if someone was after him. He even said sometimes his own shadow would scare him and he would run for miles. This is unimaginable. Being so afraid of something that your own shadow causes you to run for miles. The most horrid part of this chapter was at the beginning of chapter eight when Ishmael says. “I had passed through burnt villages where dead bodies of men, women, and children of all ages were scattered like leaves on the ground after a storm.” This sight is becoming more and more natural for him to see. At the beginning of his journey he probably would have been much more bothered at the sight of all of those innocent people that are dead, now its just like seeing leaves on the ground. The rebels are desensitizing him without even being one of them. Ishmael says that he has to try and not think, he is afraid of thinking. He is afraid of the terrible images that he has seen and he doesn’t want to think about them. He says, “I decided to just ignore every thought that came to my head, because it brought too much sadness.” How could he live like this? I couldn’t stand it, I would probably rather be dead. I was so happy when he met up with some boys and they saw the Atlantic Ocean. It was the first time he has smiled in practically the whole book. The last thing that struck me in the chapter was when Ishmael said, “… and laughed about what happened to avoid crying.” They were laughing about being captured by the villagers. It just hurts to even think about it.
Friday, October 10, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 6 & 7)
Lily Tikijian
October 10, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldiers
Chapter 6 & 7
These two chapters were so hard to get through. I had to put down the book at least five times. Just thinking about being there and having to deal with everything that Ishmael and his friends had to go through makes me feel sick. Ishmael says, “People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.” I am a very open and trusting person. The thought of not being able to trust the people around me makes me feel so depressed and sad. If I had to deal with all of that, I don’t think I would want to live anymore. I almost started to cry when the villagers thought the boys were rebels and they said, “Drown the rebels!” But luckily they were saved and everything was okay. Well, as okay as it could be. For about a month, the boys were appointed as watchmen for a village. This is how they ate and got a place to live. I was realized that on that same page that there was a break from the war. Ishmael is telling us about farming and stuff. It gave me a chance to relax and calm down and clear my head. But, then again you turn to the next page and someone is getting set on fire and gets burned to death. I think that was one of the worst parts of the books so far. Just hearing the details about how they tied the priest to the post and set him on fire, it kills me to even think about it. That same night, Ishmael and Junior were separate because the rebels invaded the villages at night when know one was expecting it. Ishmael found one of his friends but then set off on his own and walked for five days without coming in contact with another human. One the sixth day he came in contact with some people but they didn’t seem to want to be near him, or trust him. He says that, “Even a twelve- year-old couldn’t be trusted anymore.” Even though these two chapters weren’t as bloody or gory it was still hard to read and get through. I truly feel for Ishmael and respect him for what he is going through and how brave he is. I don’t think I could even be like that.
October 10, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldiers
Chapter 6 & 7
These two chapters were so hard to get through. I had to put down the book at least five times. Just thinking about being there and having to deal with everything that Ishmael and his friends had to go through makes me feel sick. Ishmael says, “People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.” I am a very open and trusting person. The thought of not being able to trust the people around me makes me feel so depressed and sad. If I had to deal with all of that, I don’t think I would want to live anymore. I almost started to cry when the villagers thought the boys were rebels and they said, “Drown the rebels!” But luckily they were saved and everything was okay. Well, as okay as it could be. For about a month, the boys were appointed as watchmen for a village. This is how they ate and got a place to live. I was realized that on that same page that there was a break from the war. Ishmael is telling us about farming and stuff. It gave me a chance to relax and calm down and clear my head. But, then again you turn to the next page and someone is getting set on fire and gets burned to death. I think that was one of the worst parts of the books so far. Just hearing the details about how they tied the priest to the post and set him on fire, it kills me to even think about it. That same night, Ishmael and Junior were separate because the rebels invaded the villages at night when know one was expecting it. Ishmael found one of his friends but then set off on his own and walked for five days without coming in contact with another human. One the sixth day he came in contact with some people but they didn’t seem to want to be near him, or trust him. He says that, “Even a twelve- year-old couldn’t be trusted anymore.” Even though these two chapters weren’t as bloody or gory it was still hard to read and get through. I truly feel for Ishmael and respect him for what he is going through and how brave he is. I don’t think I could even be like that.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 3-5)
Lily Tikijian
October 7, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 3-5
When chapter three starts off, the boys are still in Mattru Jong. There were there a lot longer then they anticipated. None of them had heard news about there families and didn’t know what else to do except wait and hope that they were okay. There were messengers that reported news to the surrounding villages telling them when the rebels were going to attack and to be ready. They were talking about in the early chapters how the rebels would kill anyone, especially those who had escaped. I didn’t know how they knew that they were once soldiers but they tell us that the rebels carved their initials, RUF, on the bodies of the boys and some times they chop off all of their fingers except the thumb. The rebels finally come to the village of Mattru Jong, they didn’t come at the time they said they would though, they were late. No one was ready when they came. All Ishmael remembers is gunshots being shot into the sky and him running. He sees children that lost their parents and parents trying to find their children. He said he couldn’t stop and help anyone because then he would be risking his own life. He said, “My heart was beating faster than it ever had. Each gunshot seemed to cling to the beat of my heart.” Him and his brother and friends escaped the village and ran through a swamp with some rebels following them. After an hour or maybe more of running, the rebels gave up the chase and went back to Mattru Jong while the boys kept going. For several days the six boys waked on a tiny path that was walled by thick bushes. Ishmael says they didn’t speak a word, they didn’t know what to say. They were starving and tired. They reached some tiny abandoned villages but there was no food anywhere. They said that it hurt to drink water because they were so hungry; they felt the water cramp up in their stomachs. When they got to one village they were almost captured but the escaped by crawling through the tall grass over hundreds of freshly killed bodies. They made it to a village that was still populated and stole food. When they were out in the field they were captured by the rebel soldiers. They were going to have to watch the boys that weren’t chosen get killed but then for a split second there were more gun fires and the rebels who had captured them got distracted so the boys ran for their lives and stayed in a log for hours. Once it was clear they got to a villages and stayed put but they decided they were leaving the next day.
October 7, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 3-5
When chapter three starts off, the boys are still in Mattru Jong. There were there a lot longer then they anticipated. None of them had heard news about there families and didn’t know what else to do except wait and hope that they were okay. There were messengers that reported news to the surrounding villages telling them when the rebels were going to attack and to be ready. They were talking about in the early chapters how the rebels would kill anyone, especially those who had escaped. I didn’t know how they knew that they were once soldiers but they tell us that the rebels carved their initials, RUF, on the bodies of the boys and some times they chop off all of their fingers except the thumb. The rebels finally come to the village of Mattru Jong, they didn’t come at the time they said they would though, they were late. No one was ready when they came. All Ishmael remembers is gunshots being shot into the sky and him running. He sees children that lost their parents and parents trying to find their children. He said he couldn’t stop and help anyone because then he would be risking his own life. He said, “My heart was beating faster than it ever had. Each gunshot seemed to cling to the beat of my heart.” Him and his brother and friends escaped the village and ran through a swamp with some rebels following them. After an hour or maybe more of running, the rebels gave up the chase and went back to Mattru Jong while the boys kept going. For several days the six boys waked on a tiny path that was walled by thick bushes. Ishmael says they didn’t speak a word, they didn’t know what to say. They were starving and tired. They reached some tiny abandoned villages but there was no food anywhere. They said that it hurt to drink water because they were so hungry; they felt the water cramp up in their stomachs. When they got to one village they were almost captured but the escaped by crawling through the tall grass over hundreds of freshly killed bodies. They made it to a village that was still populated and stole food. When they were out in the field they were captured by the rebel soldiers. They were going to have to watch the boys that weren’t chosen get killed but then for a split second there were more gun fires and the rebels who had captured them got distracted so the boys ran for their lives and stayed in a log for hours. Once it was clear they got to a villages and stayed put but they decided they were leaving the next day.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider (Chapters 1 & 2)
Lily Tikijian
October 6, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 1 & 2
I could tell from the moment I picked up this book that it was going to be gut wrenching. We have learned a little bit about child soldiers in our history class and learned about there pain and suffering. Even though I haven’t read very much, I have read enough to know that this novel is going to be graphic and devastating. In the first twenty pages they are already describing the dead bodies that are on the street and the blood that is everywhere. This story takes place in Sierra Leone in January 1993. A twelve-year-old boy named Ishmael Beah is just a normal boy around this time. He has heard of the war but it hasn’t really affected him yet. He is just a normal boy who likes to be with him friends and likes rap music. Him and some of his friends are going to perform in a talent contest in the village of Mattru Jong. Then him and his friends end up in the town of Mogbwemo. There is where the war finally starts to affect him. He sees people who are injured, dead, and about to die. Ishmael says that they must go back to the town of Mattru Jong because they could no longer call Mogbwemo home. Ishmael has witnessed so many things already and it is just the beginning. On his journey back to the village he says, “ I barely noticed the journey, and when I drank water I didn’t feel any relief even though I knew I was thirsty.” I think this shows that he is already losing feelings that are normal. Later on in chapter two, he talks about killing and murdering people. He ends the chapter by saying, “These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past.” To me, this is a haunting statement. It proves that his childhood is over and he is becoming brainwashed by the war and the killing. I can tell this book is going to be graphic and hard to get through but I am looking forward to reading the rest.
October 6, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
Chapters 1 & 2
I could tell from the moment I picked up this book that it was going to be gut wrenching. We have learned a little bit about child soldiers in our history class and learned about there pain and suffering. Even though I haven’t read very much, I have read enough to know that this novel is going to be graphic and devastating. In the first twenty pages they are already describing the dead bodies that are on the street and the blood that is everywhere. This story takes place in Sierra Leone in January 1993. A twelve-year-old boy named Ishmael Beah is just a normal boy around this time. He has heard of the war but it hasn’t really affected him yet. He is just a normal boy who likes to be with him friends and likes rap music. Him and some of his friends are going to perform in a talent contest in the village of Mattru Jong. Then him and his friends end up in the town of Mogbwemo. There is where the war finally starts to affect him. He sees people who are injured, dead, and about to die. Ishmael says that they must go back to the town of Mattru Jong because they could no longer call Mogbwemo home. Ishmael has witnessed so many things already and it is just the beginning. On his journey back to the village he says, “ I barely noticed the journey, and when I drank water I didn’t feel any relief even though I knew I was thirsty.” I think this shows that he is already losing feelings that are normal. Later on in chapter two, he talks about killing and murdering people. He ends the chapter by saying, “These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past.” To me, this is a haunting statement. It proves that his childhood is over and he is becoming brainwashed by the war and the killing. I can tell this book is going to be graphic and hard to get through but I am looking forward to reading the rest.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Ibo People vs. The White men
Lily Tikijian
September 24, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Ibo People vs. The White Man
The Ibo people first believe that the white people aren’t so bad at first. They think this because of Reverend Brown. He tries to learn about their religion and there culture by talking to them. He tries to understand them and there belief system. All of the Ibo people respect him and think he is a nice man. Reverend Brown is the only one of the missionaries that tries to learn and respect their cultures and beliefs. Even though he doesn’t agree with them, he still tries to respect them and try to set them straight. He tells them about how there is only one main god and then they explain that they do only have on god but he created many other gods as his messengers. This starts to become clearer to Brown. The rest of the white men just automatically assume that the Ibo people are savages and that the culture is stupid and it doesn’t make any sense. When Reverend Brown falls ill, he must return to England. When he leaves Reverend James Smith takes over. Reverend Smith sees only in black and white, whatever he says goes, and he is very arrogant and selfish. This is really when the culture turns around and things start falling apart. The British think that the Africans way of life and culture is ridiculous and they don’t understand it. They think this because they don’t even try and understand it. They just think that what they belief in is right and everyone else is wrong. The Ibo people are taken advantage of and are the victims by the end of the story. They were once a string culture and now everything they ever knew has just fallen apart.
September 24, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Ibo People vs. The White Man
The Ibo people first believe that the white people aren’t so bad at first. They think this because of Reverend Brown. He tries to learn about their religion and there culture by talking to them. He tries to understand them and there belief system. All of the Ibo people respect him and think he is a nice man. Reverend Brown is the only one of the missionaries that tries to learn and respect their cultures and beliefs. Even though he doesn’t agree with them, he still tries to respect them and try to set them straight. He tells them about how there is only one main god and then they explain that they do only have on god but he created many other gods as his messengers. This starts to become clearer to Brown. The rest of the white men just automatically assume that the Ibo people are savages and that the culture is stupid and it doesn’t make any sense. When Reverend Brown falls ill, he must return to England. When he leaves Reverend James Smith takes over. Reverend Smith sees only in black and white, whatever he says goes, and he is very arrogant and selfish. This is really when the culture turns around and things start falling apart. The British think that the Africans way of life and culture is ridiculous and they don’t understand it. They think this because they don’t even try and understand it. They just think that what they belief in is right and everyone else is wrong. The Ibo people are taken advantage of and are the victims by the end of the story. They were once a string culture and now everything they ever knew has just fallen apart.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"Mother is Supreme"
In Mbanta, Okonkwo is scolded for not understanding the Ibo proverb that “mother is supreme.” In this culture the women are known for being more caring and compassionate about everything. They are supposed to cook and look after the children. That is there main part in society. Men are more known for physical and mental strength. They have to be able to hunt and take care of their family. Men don’t really show emotions in this society. If they do they are considered “weak.” Okonkwo ignores and refused to acknowledge the “female” virtues by acting manly. He has emotion but he thinks if he shows them that he is going to be considered weak and womanly. Because of this he is rude, self-absorbed, and mean. He beats his wives and children; he never shows that he cares about them. His one-sidedness creates many problems in his life. His son ends up hating him and refusing to be his son or call him his father. His wives and children are all scared to death of his. He beat his wife on the Week of Peace, so now the earth goddess supposedly will give him a bad year of crops. He just has a lot of problems because he only shows the “manly” side of himself. In a way, I think that makes him womanlier because he is afraid of what people would think. He just needs to show some emotion and maybe his life would make a turn for the better. Instead of getting worse like it has been.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
My Opinions of Okonkwo
Lily Tikijian
September 4, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
My Opinions of Okonkwo
Now that I have read the first 7 chapters of the book, I have a lot of opinions of Okonkwo. First of all, I think he is insane. If he was living in this time period, he would be in like in serious intensive care. He has a lot of problems that he needs to get in control of. The thing I don’t understand is that all of his problems revolve around his dead father. He doesn’t want to be known as a failure or to be known as a coward. But, he is turning out to be those things. He beats his wife and children, he murders his “son,” and he doesn’t enjoy anything but working. He does all of these things to prove that he is strong and isn’t afraid of anything and also to prove he is not a failure. But killing your own son, makes you a failure as a father and makes people lose respect for you. In a way all of those things make him a coward. He is a coward because he is afraid of what people think of him. And he does some really stupid things to prove he isn’t. But, since he does those things you know he is. Even though things like beating your wives and children was acceptable back then, he abuses that right. He beats them for simply picking leaves off of a tree. He beats his son for being “lazy” and for crying when he finds out his “brother” is being taken away. He also shoots at his wife but thankfully misses. I just think he is a terrible father, husband, and all together person who needs to go through some serious psychoanalysis.
September 4, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
My Opinions of Okonkwo
Now that I have read the first 7 chapters of the book, I have a lot of opinions of Okonkwo. First of all, I think he is insane. If he was living in this time period, he would be in like in serious intensive care. He has a lot of problems that he needs to get in control of. The thing I don’t understand is that all of his problems revolve around his dead father. He doesn’t want to be known as a failure or to be known as a coward. But, he is turning out to be those things. He beats his wife and children, he murders his “son,” and he doesn’t enjoy anything but working. He does all of these things to prove that he is strong and isn’t afraid of anything and also to prove he is not a failure. But killing your own son, makes you a failure as a father and makes people lose respect for you. In a way all of those things make him a coward. He is a coward because he is afraid of what people think of him. And he does some really stupid things to prove he isn’t. But, since he does those things you know he is. Even though things like beating your wives and children was acceptable back then, he abuses that right. He beats them for simply picking leaves off of a tree. He beats his son for being “lazy” and for crying when he finds out his “brother” is being taken away. He also shoots at his wife but thankfully misses. I just think he is a terrible father, husband, and all together person who needs to go through some serious psychoanalysis.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
So Much Unfairness of Things
Lily Tikijian
August 27, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
So Much Unfairness of Things
I thought that the treatment for P.S. punishment was fair. If he cheated, he should be kicked off. Even if he didn’t mean to cheat and even though he didn’t plan to cheat, it still wasn’t right. He violated the “code” for his school and if you do, you get thrown out. I don’t see why they would even have considered keeping him in school. I mean, I understand that his family is a part of the school and that they have built buildings and he is one of the most popular kids in the class, but it still wasn’t right. I think everyone treated him pretty well. Except for maybe his friend, Jumbo. I don’t think I could have ever turned in a friend if I had known they would have been kicked out. I don’t think I could have done that, knowing that I was the reason that they were kicked out. In the end, I kind of see his been kicked out as a positive thing. I mean, he gets to clear things up with his dad, which was one of the reasons this whole thing happened. I did feel sorry for P.S. though. He was ashamed and you could tell he felt terrible about what he had done. He ruined a family tradition, got kicked out of school, and possibly ruined his reputation. Even though I felt bad for him, I think kicking him out was the right decision. Because, if people found out that he cheated and got to stay at school, they might try it too and then the “code” would be ruined forever. The school would go from being a highly respected school to just another private school. I thought it was a god choice to kick him out.
August 27, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
So Much Unfairness of Things
I thought that the treatment for P.S. punishment was fair. If he cheated, he should be kicked off. Even if he didn’t mean to cheat and even though he didn’t plan to cheat, it still wasn’t right. He violated the “code” for his school and if you do, you get thrown out. I don’t see why they would even have considered keeping him in school. I mean, I understand that his family is a part of the school and that they have built buildings and he is one of the most popular kids in the class, but it still wasn’t right. I think everyone treated him pretty well. Except for maybe his friend, Jumbo. I don’t think I could have ever turned in a friend if I had known they would have been kicked out. I don’t think I could have done that, knowing that I was the reason that they were kicked out. In the end, I kind of see his been kicked out as a positive thing. I mean, he gets to clear things up with his dad, which was one of the reasons this whole thing happened. I did feel sorry for P.S. though. He was ashamed and you could tell he felt terrible about what he had done. He ruined a family tradition, got kicked out of school, and possibly ruined his reputation. Even though I felt bad for him, I think kicking him out was the right decision. Because, if people found out that he cheated and got to stay at school, they might try it too and then the “code” would be ruined forever. The school would go from being a highly respected school to just another private school. I thought it was a god choice to kick him out.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday Fill-In
1. the last meal I had at a restaurant was steak & mash potatoes
2. getting up in the morning is something i intensely dislike
3. the full moon is bright
4. hoosiers is one of my favorite local expression
5. sometimes it's best to sleep in!
6. Baby Mama is the best movie I've seen so far this year
7. and as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to is sleeping, tomorrow my plans include playing in 3 volleyball games, and sunday I want to sleep!!
2. getting up in the morning is something i intensely dislike
3. the full moon is bright
4. hoosiers is one of my favorite local expression
5. sometimes it's best to sleep in!
6. Baby Mama is the best movie I've seen so far this year
7. and as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to is sleeping, tomorrow my plans include playing in 3 volleyball games, and sunday I want to sleep!!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
"Not Waving but Drowning"
Lily Tikijian
August 21, 2008
Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
“Not Waving But Drowning”
In my life, I have had many people tell me that they thought I was one thing and I turned out to be very different. The most common things that people says about me is that I am blonde, bubbly, and I am “high” on life. That is usually people’s first impressions of me. All of these happen to be true. I am blonde, I am very bubbly and happy, and I love life. I don’t think there is a person in my life who would say any of those are wrong.
I have changed my mind on other people before. When I was in fifth grade, I meet my soon-to-be best friend, though at the time I had no idea. She was shy, quiet, and didn’t really state her own opinions. From the start my first impressions of her were that she was introverted, calm, and smart. I just thought to my self that this girl was never going to be my friend cause we had to many differences. I was wrong. Once I started talking to her and got to know her I found out she was an amazing person. She wasn’t quiet anymore; she was loud and obnoxious, just like me. She became funny and started to state her opinions and started to stand up for what she believed in. Today, we are still best friends but when I look back at what I used to think about her, it just makes me laugh. We talk all the time about what we first thought of each other and how all of our opinions have changed. From then on I have tried not to judge a book by its cover and I have tried to make better first impressions about people.
August 21, 2008
Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
“Not Waving But Drowning”
In my life, I have had many people tell me that they thought I was one thing and I turned out to be very different. The most common things that people says about me is that I am blonde, bubbly, and I am “high” on life. That is usually people’s first impressions of me. All of these happen to be true. I am blonde, I am very bubbly and happy, and I love life. I don’t think there is a person in my life who would say any of those are wrong.
I have changed my mind on other people before. When I was in fifth grade, I meet my soon-to-be best friend, though at the time I had no idea. She was shy, quiet, and didn’t really state her own opinions. From the start my first impressions of her were that she was introverted, calm, and smart. I just thought to my self that this girl was never going to be my friend cause we had to many differences. I was wrong. Once I started talking to her and got to know her I found out she was an amazing person. She wasn’t quiet anymore; she was loud and obnoxious, just like me. She became funny and started to state her opinions and started to stand up for what she believed in. Today, we are still best friends but when I look back at what I used to think about her, it just makes me laugh. We talk all the time about what we first thought of each other and how all of our opinions have changed. From then on I have tried not to judge a book by its cover and I have tried to make better first impressions about people.
Monitoring Sites With a Hawkeye
Lily Tikijian
August 14, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Monitoring Sites With a Hawkeye
As I first glanced at the article, I had no idea it would be about MySpace or Facebook or any social network for that matter. I thought it was going to be another one of those boring reading assignments that has nothing what so ever to do with me. But after reading it, it has a lot to do with me. I don’t mean to be addicted to sites like Facebook, but I am. Like almost every other teenage, it started off as just another way to talk to friends and keep up on what is going with people’s lives. I soon found myself spending more and more time on Facebook. It has become like an addiction that I can’t get rid of. Everyday when I get home, I grab a snack and run up to my room to see if I have any new notifications or alerts. Every time I open up my laptop, I have to check my profile or see who is online. I just can’t seem to be able to help it.
Even though I think people have the right to privacy, I think that athletic departments should have people monitoring sites like Facebook. If one of their athletes is, for example, a crazy party person who stays out until 2am drinking, then post pictures on Facebook, I think the team has the right to suspend or kick that person off. Facebook isn’t a private website either, its not like no one would find that out anyway. People might not tell the coach or athletic department it though. That’s why I think it is a good reason to have people monitoring people’s profiles.
I think this rule affects me because I am one of those people who is addicted to Facebook. But, I don’t think people monitoring my profile will have an impact on me because I don’t put wild crazy pictures up or my status won’t ever say something like, out partying and drinking. That will never be me. So I do think people have the right to monitor social networks. Even though most consider it a violation of personal rights, I don’t. I hope this will never affect me anyway and I think it is a very good thing.
August 14, 2008
Literature Period 6
Mrs. Pfanschmidt
Monitoring Sites With a Hawkeye
As I first glanced at the article, I had no idea it would be about MySpace or Facebook or any social network for that matter. I thought it was going to be another one of those boring reading assignments that has nothing what so ever to do with me. But after reading it, it has a lot to do with me. I don’t mean to be addicted to sites like Facebook, but I am. Like almost every other teenage, it started off as just another way to talk to friends and keep up on what is going with people’s lives. I soon found myself spending more and more time on Facebook. It has become like an addiction that I can’t get rid of. Everyday when I get home, I grab a snack and run up to my room to see if I have any new notifications or alerts. Every time I open up my laptop, I have to check my profile or see who is online. I just can’t seem to be able to help it.
Even though I think people have the right to privacy, I think that athletic departments should have people monitoring sites like Facebook. If one of their athletes is, for example, a crazy party person who stays out until 2am drinking, then post pictures on Facebook, I think the team has the right to suspend or kick that person off. Facebook isn’t a private website either, its not like no one would find that out anyway. People might not tell the coach or athletic department it though. That’s why I think it is a good reason to have people monitoring people’s profiles.
I think this rule affects me because I am one of those people who is addicted to Facebook. But, I don’t think people monitoring my profile will have an impact on me because I don’t put wild crazy pictures up or my status won’t ever say something like, out partying and drinking. That will never be me. So I do think people have the right to monitor social networks. Even though most consider it a violation of personal rights, I don’t. I hope this will never affect me anyway and I think it is a very good thing.
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