Who should and shouldn't read 1984

Who should and shouldn't read 1984
The book is very deep, and can be hard to understand. 1984 requires a lot of its readers. Its not just a story its criticism against society, and you have to understand that to enjoy it, and to understand that you need to be of age to understand how society works.
If you like politics you will probably like this book. If you like science fiction you will probably like this book. If you like both this is your book.
If you are interested in story, and emotional storytelling this is not your book.But I still think everyone should give it a try. Even if you are not the typical "1984 reader" I think you always can learn something new from reading book that's not typical for you, and especially in the case of 1984.
Even if I don't really liked the fun factor of this book, I really liked the message. Everyone should try it out, if you don't like it, you should at least read the about it on the internet, so you get the message of the book. Because that how important the message is.

Petter

1984

The theme of the book 1984
The book 1984 is a scienes-fiction book, written by George Orwell. The main theme of the book is the so called "big brother society". How the government is trying to control us and our thoughts. How they are watching us. The characters and the story is not that important, the thing this book focus on is to tell a message, a very important message. The book was written in 1949 but is still very relevant.
Our society is becoming more and more like the society in the book. With laws like FRA and "Datalagringsdirektivet" passing through the book becomes more and more true. The government can to day always track us. Even if this book wouldn't have been good, it would still have made a difference. We became aware that of the risks of the "big brothers society" and many of us are still aware of the risks. It  was even this book that coined the expression big brothers society.
It makes us think different about society, and such book is always good, even if it makes us think about society in a bad way. Its always good to question today's standards. Its sad that we don't do that as much as we did before.
I think it would be grate to question and foresee up coming problems just as Orwell did. To simulate the future inside our heads, before it happens.
The theme of the book is really good, and it only gets better when its telled so good by the author.

A summary of The curious incident with the dog in the night-time

The curious incident with the dog in the night-time by Mike is a murder mystery that´s different from others. Christopher John Francis Boone is a fifteen year old boy who´s really talented in mathematics but has difficulties with the social. Christopher has the syndrome Asberger which is the reason way he sees things differently and doesn´t understand others behaving. One evening Christopher finds Mrs. Shears dog Wellington dead in her garden and after getting in custody after hitting a police because of a misunderstanding, he decides to solve this murder mystery. Not only does he try to figure out who the murderer is, he also writes a novel about it which is the novel that you read in this book. What he don´t suspect is that the murder mystery also leads to many answers and new information about his mother’s death which divides the novel into two stories.

This is a different and sometimes humorous novel which is told in another way from other murder mystery novels.  Mike Haddon has written a strong and very emotional novel which will never get out of your memory.

Marika

Miss Marple

Miss Marple – A pocket full of Rye

“When a upper middle class Rex Fortescue dies while having black tea, the police are shocked. Mr. Fortescue died during his morning tea in his office and the diagnosis was that a poison, taxine - a poison found as a mixture of cardiotoxic diterpenes in the leaves.” A day after his woman Mrs. Fortescue is killed just as their maid Gladys. Is it one off Rex´s children that is after his money? Miss Marple is determined to solve the murder to make the revenge on her former maid Gladys killer. 

This book is for those who want a book that is completely unpredictable and will take you on exciting adventures of the British upper class environment. According to me this Agatha Christie is the best author to make small and large characters come alive. She is an expert at describing in a way that only she can that makes the drama more fascinating. The drama is high because all the murder, all the characters that go behind each other’s backs and Miss Marple brings together the clues one after the other. Therefore, this book suits for those who love gossip and like to snoop into the lives of others. Take the chance and dream away and maybe play detective for a while.

Are you like me a fan of the old lady Miss Marple, you'll like her even in this history. Man to hang out with Miss Marple when she does what she does best namely, drinking tea and gossiping. She is always very socially gifted and the other persons in the book often like to confide in her. The most fascinating thing about her is that she is old but still a very inspiring person. She makes me yearning for old age in a world where youth is considered as the ultimate way of living.  

You should not read this book if you hate the British upper class. There will be plenty of that in the book when everything is set on a big rich man's house and everyone wants inherit the dead man's money. You should not read this book if you are a busy person when the text of the book is small and tough.

  A poem
Who am I?
I am small and gray
But I still do my thing
I love tea and gossip
On my spare time I like to solve murders
I'm Miss Marple.

Teen Idol

The plot and one conflict in the book”Teen idol”

I have read the book “Teen idol” by the author Meg Cabot. The book is about a girl called Jenny Greenley, who is a student at the Clayton High School. Jenny has a best friend called Catrina, who is in love with this big movie star Luke Striker. One day Jenny finds out that she is going to take care for Luke Striker for some weeks, because he is going to see how it is in their school so he can play a certain character in his next movie. She says of course yes and meets this guy and guides him in the school, with another name, Lucas Smith. When Catrina finds out the real truth, that this guy is Lucas Striker, she is going insane. And when she finds out that Jenny is going to the prom with the big movie star, she is going really mad and she and Jenny become each other’s enemies. And that`s the big conflict I will tell you about.

Jenny and Catrina become enemies when Jenny says that she is going to the prom with Luke Striker. And that is because Trina (Catrina is called that), knows all about this big movie star and adore him very much. So Trina thinks that Jenny is mean to her when she says yes to go with Luke Striker to the prom. This is going on for a while and the two ex best friends doesn`t even speak to each other, for a very long time. But then after awhile, Trina realizes that she misses her best friend Jenny and that it is unnecessary to fight only because of a guy. So she takes the contact with Jenny again and they become best friends again. After this Trina doesn`t care about Luke that much anymore and she finds another guy that she falls in love with. And the book has a happy ending when both Luke Striker and Jenny Greenley realize that they have found the love of their lifes.

I kind of like this book anyway, because it`s the typical genre that I like. Some love story between different kinds of persons in the book. I think it`s really interesting to read about how they are solving the problems and if it is a happy or a bad ending. So if you like to read about love and how to solve problems, you should read this book, because, it`s really good!

3 entries about Potter

Main character portrait

Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets

You may think Harry would be a secretive and anxious person because of his traumatized passed. Already as a toddler he lost both of his parents and was forced to live with his aunt’s hostile family. Throughout the years he was both physical and mentally abused, but in some way he never lost the sparkle of life. In my eyes, he’s brave, curious and naive, which often leads him into dangerous adventures. Fortunately he also owns the gift of being a brilliant wizard with a warm and sensitive heart. For example, he sacrifices himself for Ginny in the chamber of secrets. He doesn’t run or hide as a child could do. Instead he fights the Basilisk and gets awarded with the sward of Gryffindor.  All together make Harry a great hero

On the other hand, there are other views. Harry’s aunt Petunia, her husband Vernon and their son Dudley, aren’t fond of him at all. Since they’re only humans, Harry’s magical powers scare them. Uncertainty creates fear and in this case I believe they express the fear in anger and hate. They are also chasing a perfect image where Harry is a pure obstacle in their way to success. For instance, when the Dursleys have a couple over for dinner, Harry isn’t even allowed to participate, instead he’s ordered to “…be in my room, making no noise and pretending I’m not there.” They don’t want people to know their terrible secret about Harry’s odd abilities.

Harry Potter has, beside his troubled childhood, a great fame. All over the world people look up to him as the boy who stopped Lord Voldermort. It’s easy to understand them. He was a dark wizard capable to take many lives on his way to the power. Even though Harry only was a baby and never did anything particular, he became the opposite symbol for Lord Voldermort, evil and injustice. He became the symbol for love, hope and future.

The other students at Hogwarts experience Harry’s fame and his close connection to Voldermort as both frightening and exciting. When the chamber of secrets against all odds opens once again, people believe it’s because of Harry. I suppose it’s superior to gossip about, at the same time as it would be truly dangerous if it was true.

Harry is always uncomfortable with the fame though. Maybe it reminds him of the death of his parents and the reason to his current home. I guess he wishes it never happened.

Among his friends he’s just like any other eleven years old boy and that’s where he feels comfortable. Ron and Hermione love Harry for his good heart. They rely, help each other and simply enjoy themselves. I believe they are so close friends that his fame and background aren’t what matter. They value his personality more.          The settings

Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets is set in mainly two different environments.

First of all, London, with the suburbia. Harry lives with his relatives at number four, Private Drive in Little Whinging.  It’s a neighborhood of upper middleclass, where for instance perfect cut green lawns with water sprinklers are a must. People are sneak peeking over the impressive hedges or through the clean shining windows. If your car isn’t recently washed or there are other visual imperfections, it affects your value and position as a person. I imagine it as very strict and cold environment. Everything must be in control. I don’t believe the neighbors are friends in any way. It seems like they see each other more like enemies in some kind of exaggerated game.

As a contrast to this over the top normal society, there is magical Hogwarts. It’s situated in a green forest area in Scotland just by a lake. It’s an enormous castle with hundreds of towers and turrets. Surrounded by a high stone wall and powerful gates, the school is supposed to be one of the safest places in the country. Many stairs and corridors are constantly changing and moving as a contrast to stringency of Private Drive. Nothing here is predictable or controlled because of the age and all forgotten secrets of the castle. No one for example really believed the Chamber of Secrets existed until Harry and Ginny could prove it. There was a hidden passage in a sink which only could be opened by those who speak parseltongue.

I believe J.K Rowling chose these environments to create this specific contrast and energy to the story and also to make it real. In Little Whinging there are no signs of magic at all. It’s a calm normal area for humans. It makes this unbelievable plot truer.

At Hogwarts there’re green wild nature, unusual creatures like the Basilisk, magic and supernatural spirits. It’s the authors fulfilled fantasy world. Thanks to the unpredicted, she doesn’t need to relieve everything at once. There are 7 novels about Harry Potter. Through this way she could save surprises or put other fascinating details in the further book she wrote.

This world of witchcraft and wizardry is full of facts and everything fits perfect to the story, but I don’t think it would be as successful if it wasn’t for the contrast to the real world. The fact that there might be another world, a complete other society with magical powers, living next to us without our knowledge, is mesmerizing. 

He’s all alone in the night

In the cupboard under the stairs
An innocent child is found
There’s no one who cares
No one who’s there
He’s all alone in the night

Away took death his mother
One terrible accident
Gone is also his father
No parents to share their love
He’s all alone in the night

But somewhere in a hidden past
A great hero was found
One lightning so fast
One lightning went bad
And Harry Potter survived

A passed of tragic
A future of magic
He won’t be alone in the night

Who should read Battle Royale?

Battle Royale describes a nightmare scenario which takes place in an apocalyptic future; a future where the government controls everything and would do anything to keep it that way. Therefore, they have organized an annual event called the Program, in which junior high school students have to fight each other until there’s only one survivor left. It’s a bloody and gruesome thriller about isolation, fear and realizing how far you’re willing to go and how much you’re willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive.

First of all, I want to say that I personally enjoyed this book. Okay, enjoyed might not be the right word in the context, but still. I found it interesting and thrilling, while at the same time, it also got you to think. Now, it might just be me, since I’ve developed this fascination with dystopian stories, but that’s not the only reason. I think, having a particular interest for politics and psychology, is of use when reading this book. It explores the human mind and how people act during pressured situations, not to mention, life threatening. Even though the book is fiction, I can’t help but think that the author has a point when it comes to this. Also, politics plays an important part in the story. For example; the information you get about the society and the government, helps you understand the book on another level and you can easily draw parallels between this world and our world. The Republic of Greater East Asia, as the country is called, reminds you of any country run by a dictator or a strict government.

The language may be a bit complicated in some parts, but it’s still easy to understand and follow. What might be a bit of a struggle though, is keeping track of the different students. The point of view changes between them and you get to know each student to some extent; either it’s their background or how they feel about the situation they’re in. This makes the whole book a lot more interesting, since you get a lot of different views on the whole thing, not to mention, a detailed description on how the human mind works on different people. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend this book to people who can’t stand violence and death. Since you get to follow different people, you get to read about most of the deaths. In other words; if you don’t mind reading about 14-15 year olds killing each other in the most brutal and sick ways, you’re good to go.

All in all, I think anyone who’s interesting in politics and action should read this book. If you’re like me, fascinated about different social structures and the cruelty of man, it’s a big plus. Preferably though, you shouldn’t be too young while reading it. There are some pretty detailed and horrid scenes, not to mention the cruelty of forcing kids to kill each other. Also, since they tend to criticize the system and the way the country is run, the author takes it to a deeper level which might be hard to understand if you’re too young. Though, besides that, I would recommend it to anyone who’s up for a small challenge and is interested in dystopias. 

//Johanna

Write a poem based on the characters, mood, images or feeling of the novel.

Susan knows always best, when she tries to raise the rest.

Peter is king of Narnia land, and the witch is queen of sand.

Lucy is curious and sweet, the girl people like to meet.

Edward betrayed his best friend, even if he changed in the end.

Jessica Wedin

What seems to be the major point the author wants you to remember? Support your opinion with examples from the novel.

I think that the major point in this novel is a Christian point. Like Aslan can easily be compared with Jesus. They both die and resurrect. Narnia can also be compared with another place, like heaven, and you enter it through a “gate”. It’s a magical and wonderful place where the humans, humanoids and animals understand each other. There’s also a battle between good and evil, the witch symbolizes evil and the lion, Aslan symbolizes the good part. The witch tries to temp Edmund with sweets that she knows he would like, so that she could use him against the lion. This can also be compared with the story about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when snake tries to temp them with the apple.  

Jessica Wedin

Who should read this novel? Why? Who shouldn’t read this novel? Why? Use the blog to tell the world what you think.

I think that almost everyone should read this novel Narnia the witch and the lion. Because the story is very interesting and magical, you get really easy carried away, and I felt that I couldn’t stop reading sometimes and that’s always a good sign. This novel is a classic, if you don’t read this novel I really think that you’re missing out on something, just that is a major sign in why you should read it.  

But I wouldn’t recommend it to too small children. Because it can be a bit brutal and scary sometimes. For example, when the lion Aslan dies, small children can make the whole situation a whole lot worse than it actually is. They don’t understand that’s just is fiction so they can easily get nightmares. That’s a shame, I would like everyone to enjoy this novel but if they wait a few years the will eventually be ready for it.   

Jessica Wedin

Main character portrait

Mitch McDeere is a fresh college graduate from harvard. He graduated with highest grades. Mitch is person who really focus on his career. He is a good hearted person who is rather silence. He dosen't speak much but he has no enemies and his girlfriend and co workers likes him. He is not the kind of person who makes alot of noise. he likes his co workers aswell untill he gets the big secret that will change his life. As his life changes from getting so much money as he possible can to fight for his life Mitch gets a new view on life.

jacob

Who should read this novel

I have read the book the firm written by John Grisham. The book is about a new examed lawyer, Mitch McDeere. Simpley the book is about Mitch getting a great job in Memphis on a law firm. What he dosen't know is that it's owned by the mafia. In the firm, if you are once in you are never out so Mitch stands before a dilemma. Should he stay and live the good life but with a chance to get caught or should he help FBI with a chance of being haunted the rest of his life?

I found the book very good as i like John Grishams work. I don't think the book is something for everyone tho. If you are into criminal and law and order it sure is a book for you but if you are not you should choose another book. It's a pretty thick book but it's very exiting and you never know what is going to happen.


Jacob

Quotes from Battle Royale: The Novel

I chose these quotes because I believe they aren't just relevant for the book itself, but for our society in general. Most of these are about things you can find in an everyday life, not to mention, things most of us actually can relate to. So, here it goes...

“If you hate someone, you take the consequences.”

I picked this quote, because I believe it’s always relevant, no matter the situation. Considering the book is about a fight to the death, hating someone will only increase the risk of you getting killed or stabbed in the back. The same goes for our everyday life. If you end up in a situation where you need help or support, the person you hate will probably be the last to be there for you. Therefore I think this quote shows how hatred only leads to negativity and in a worst case scenario, as in the book, your own death.

“Even if you think something’s wrong, your life is too precious to risk by protesting, right?"

This quote is from a conversation between three students about the country and the way it works. They talk about how hard it is to change a system, especially when it seems to work for the masses, and why the people hasn’t done something to overthrow it. Shogo thinks it’s because most people are too afraid to do anything, as long as their life is on the line. As long as it doesn’t affect you, why take the risk? That’s how the government has become so strong; they’ve taken advantage of the fears and worries of the people and then used it to keep them in check. Often, something needs to happen before people are willing to take that risk; something that motivates them. Though, until then, there aren’t a lot of us that’s willing to go up against the system.

“Some of you might be thinking that murdering your classmates is impossible. But don’t forget there are others willing to do it.”

 “The fact was that Yoshio simply did not want to die. He was petrified by any of his classmates who’d bare their teeth at him. Just think about it, you’re surrounded by a swarm of assassins.”

These two quotes pretty much go together. I chose them to show how easily we can change during a pressured situation. In this case, many of the students choose to play the game to save their own life. The first quote shows how different we are. You might be thinking that no one will do you any harm and therefore, you won’t fight. But the truth is, you can never know, especially not under circumstances like these. For example; Yoshio’s fear of being killed by a classmate is enough for him to become an assassin himself and he is one of the first students to kill someone. Fear, especially the fear for our own life, is often the primary reason as to why people turn on each other. Fear turns a person into a selfish machine that is willing to do anything for their own survival. In this book, that’s how a lot of the students become willing to kill their own classmates. Though, how brutal it may sound, I believe that it’s not very far from the truth of how it would be if something similar ever happened to us.

“First of all, you’ve hardly slept. I know. When I got up in the middle of the night, you were up. Doesn’t that mean you don’t trust us? That’s proof right there.” 

This quote is from a scene where a group of close friends, suddenly turn on each other after a misunderstanding. I believe it shows how hard it is to trust anyone during a pressured situation. Even though you might be really close, in a situation like this, I think that anything can arouse suspicion. Also, the ones you trust the most are the ones who has the best chance of stabbing you in the back and I think that’s something that, at some point, crosses most people’s mind in a scenario like this. And as soon as thought has hit you once, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to forget it completely and that’s why anything and everything could be a reason to throw away that trust. In the book there are a lot of people dying because they trusted someone they shouldn’t have and at the same time, a lot of people died because they didn’t trust someone. It’s a vicious circle and when it comes down to it, I think all you can do is to listen to your intuition and your instincts.

“You think dying gives you the right to do anything?”

This quote is from a girl who’s been cornered by one of the boys and when he starts talking about raping her because it might be their last chance, she asks him this. It think it shows how a lot of people act under certain circumstances; war, poverty, catastrophes etc. The moral standards and ethics changes and people start living above the laws. It’s as if it becomes some sort of reward for putting your life on the line; “Since I’m risking my life, I should be allowed to do whatever I want.” People take advantage of each other by tricks and lies, to get what they want or need. If there are no rules, make your own. 

//Johanna

Poem about Christopher´s feelings in the novel “The curios incident of the dog in the night-time”

Four red cars in row

so I didn´t have to be low.

About Wellingtons dead of course,

maybe it´s Mr. Shears because of their divorce...

But a Good day makes it okay,

to not think about things that´s sad

 or that would make me mad.

 Super super good day - card for my mother

 because of the illness that her bothered.

Even though there hadn´t been any yellow cars

 it didn´t end up with happy stars.

 About her death my father had lied

 and it was because of him that Wellington had died.

Five red cars in a row would now be best,

I hope they´re next.

/Marika

Battle Royale: The Novel by Koushun Takami

”The reason why you’re all here today…is to kill each other.”

The Republic of Greater East Asia, formerly known as Japan, has become a place of isolation and dictatorship. Everything with a remote connection to the United States, mostly referred to as the American Imperialists, is strictly prohibited. If you fight or show any intentions of resistance, the government will make sure you’ll be silenced forever. Though, it doesn’t stop there… To force the citizens to obey and to protect the nation, the government has come up with something called “Battle Experiment No. 68”, also known as the Program. Each year, a third-year junior high school class is selected for the Program and sent to a deserted island. Provided with a map, food and weapons, the students are sent out one by one. The rules are simple; kill or be killed. If you don’t obey, the special tracking collar placed around each student’s neck will explode. Given a period of three days, the students are forced to fight until only one survivor remains. Trust no one and be brutal, because in the end it all comes down to one thing: Who has what it takes to win...and who doesn't?

//Johanna

Poem

So, I'm back from a small town in France called Paris and to celebrate this I am going to share my last entry with you guys. My last post in this blog is going to be a poem based on the plot and the feeling in the play "Romeo and Juliet". So sit back, relax and enjoy :) 

Once in Verona love  grew strong,
oh the lovers knew it was wrong.
It was Romeo who set his eyes on Juliet so fair,
he did not know it was all going to end in dispair.

The Capulet's and the Montague's were filled with hate,
only the stars knew the lovers fate.
Romeo & Juliet got help from a friar and a nurse,
but retrospectively you might think the couple was under a curse.

Romeo got from Verona banished,
and later he also thought that his love had vanished.
Juliet lay in a grave as suspended animation,
Romeo went there without any hesitation.

Next to his love he drank a posion so he could join her in death,
that very moment Juliet drew a breath.
Juliet saw her big love die,
she didn't even have the chance to say goodbye.
She took Romeo's dagger and stabbed her heart,
their love continued even after death did them part.

See you all in school on Tuesday ;) 

Emmy

“Who should read this novel? Why? Who shouldn´t read this novel? Why?”  

EVERYONE should read this novel in my opinion. Because this is a novel that will make everyone develop as a person. It shows life in another perspective which I think will make us see things differently. How the main character handle different situations and how he reacts to things which may be in a whole different way against other´s. I also think that this novel has this easy and sometimes humorous way of telling the story which I think many persons appreciates in a novel. And a person that isn´t a real “bookaholic” I think may find this book intresting and not too hard to read or too hard to get started with that mainly is the problem for those how doesn´t have novels as an interest. So SPA08, READ IT!

Marika

A Poem by Petter

They are watching

Every step I take, every move I make

They are watching me

Every word I say, every word I hear

They are watching me

Can I rebel, if I don't know what to rebel is?

Yes I can
Yes I can

And thats why they are watching me



Petter

Congrats!

So far - really good! I am enjoying myself while reading your entries! All of you have really engaged yourselves in digging deep into your novels whether it is the plot, the characters or an analysis of a potential reader etc. Furthermore, I must say that your poems are really worth studying! I AM impressed! Now let us hope for more entries! Some seem to be missing!

Great job!

Jenny

Love is patient and kind!

After I had read Redeeming Love I felt that I wanted to write a poem about God´s unyielding love. But every time I thought about it or grabbed my pen trying to write, my mind started to quote 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13. So I realized that I had to share it with you.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

These verses are some of the most beautiful verses in the bible. Perhaps some of the verses seem difficult to understand but those you do, you will take to your heart and keep them there. And I believe that love should be like this. Many people take love for granted and doesn’t realize what a true and honest love can mean for a human being. I think all of us can learn from these verses. Love should be used in a kind way, should be given away without any thoughts. Love should be shared and taking care of. Love can redeem the most lost of souls and fill us with joy and laughter. Love is a beautiful thing if it’s used in a proper and right way. No one should be afraid of giving love away or accept some, because love is something that everybody needs!

/Rebecca Q   

A thousand splendid suns

Who should read this novel? Why? Who shouldn’t read this novel? Why? Use the blog to tell the world what you think.

I guess what I am about to say about this book will be what most would say when they have finished a book that they think is amazing. Namely – everyone should read it!  

Though the story is kind of long, and requires an interested reader. And I think you may need to be a bit older to read it, or well – at least about 15. This may narrow the sphere of interest.

But why should everyone read it? The book embraces tremendously interesting and vital issues, in a deeply personal way.

The author, Khaled Hosseini, was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1970. After the family had been living in France for some years they were unable to return to Afghanistan, due to the alarmed situation in the country. Therefore they sought political asylum in the United States.

Even though the author himself have been living in the United States for the major part of his life, I believe that he has embraced the experience of his own, as well as the experience of his parents and are therefore entitled and competent to tell the story of Afghanistan to the world and depict the feelings of the people. This story is needed. Even thought the story itself is fiction, it describes the life how it could be – just as most literary works have, throughout history.

So well, I conclude by saying – read it! Meanwhile I’m off to France!

 C ya!

/ Carro

A thousand splendid suns

Finish this idea: “I love the way the author…” Be complete and give examples to support your opinion.

I love the way the author builds up the tension in the story. He has a fantastic narrative technique within he creates an atmosphere, that reflects the feelings and moods of the main characters and the whole afghan society during the time the story is set. He makes you feel the way they are feeling, makes you feel their hopes and their fears. And the description of the two main characters emotional life detailed and extended.

There is no specifically description of how the author succeeds making you smile, or making yours eyes fill with tears. The feelings appear in a abstract way, created by a fantastic metaphorical and emotional language, like this quote that expresses Mariam's desire for her father; “When it was time for Jalil to leave, Mariam always stood in the doorway and watched him exit the clearing, deflated at the thought of the week that stood, like an immense, immovable object, between her and his next visit. Mariam always held her breath as she watched him go. She held her breath and, in her head, counted seconds . She pretended that for each second that she didn’t breath, God would grant her another day with Jalil.”

Often histories that tells you a story in more than one perspective easily can become a bit muddled and kind of hard to follow, but in this book it does nothing more than enrich the story. By this the author gives hunches of what will happen to one or the other of the two main characters, often through the other persons perspective. “Mariam signed her name – the meem, the reh, the ya and the meem again – conscious of all eyes on her hand. The next time Mariam signed her name to a document, twenty-seven years later, a mullah would again be present. “You are now husband and wife,” the mullah said. “Tabreek. Congratulations.” This quote does not only show how the author reveals a future happening, it also gives us an example how he uses the Arabian language, by taking some words and put in the conversation. This makes you aware of where you are, in what culture the story is set.   

The whole story is melancholy, and the feelings that you experience is enhanced by the fact that everything you want to happen, almost never happens. And everything you do not want to happen happens. Still, you can not predict what will happen.

Finally, I can say – if you want a good story, told in a fantastic way – you should read Khaled Hosseini’s “A thousand splendid suns”

Whispers in the graveyard by Theresa Breslin

This is a poem I made up to describe Salomons dads love to alcohol but later on he changed.

Hey I´m a drunky,
Yeah wodka is my monkey,
I use it every night,
because then I get better sight

Hey Mr Wodka why you so fine,
I wanna keep you mine,
Tomorow comes another day,
When I take you and fly away,

Sorry Mr Wodka time to say Goodbye,
Salomons waiting and wants to say hi,
Thank you for the time we spent,
You know it was all good meant,

You didn´t help me much,
Just gave me months of lust,
I drink you one last time,
Then it´s bye bye time,

Hey Mr Wodka don´t be sad,
I´ll give you to charity don´t be mad,
My son is more meant to me,
Without him I wont get free,

Hey Mr Wodka I know you weren´t imported,
But my son is more importent.

Helena S

Whispers in the graveyard by Theresa Breslin

Who should read this novel?

I think this novel suits the ages 14-100. I think this book would be very useful if it was used in the classrooms. The story is about a boy suffering from dyslexia and he also has problems at home. This book can encourage people who think that they have this same disease to steep forward and don´t be ashamed. Salomon didn´t recive any help from his home. He only had one teacher who saw him try to be lika a normal kid. When he was feeling down from everything he just ran away.

This book I think helps people who is in the same situation as Salomon to see that they are not alone. A lot of people have the same problem, both at home and in school. Something that could have helped Salomon are his parents but he didn´t have them, because of that it took longer time for him to get better. If he would have had his parents help they would have helped him to improve. So what I´m trying to say is that this novel kinda wakes you up and you think am I treating my kid right!

You don´t have to be a drunky to neglect your child. Every parent should read this book, when you read about Salomons dads behaviour you get really sad. He takes out all of his anger on Salomon. The thing that is good in this book is that it suits a lot of people. It gets both serious and exciting. Read it and see things from a childs perspectiv.

Helena S

Whispers in the Graveyard by Theresa Breslin

Summary of the plot

The novel is about a twelve year old boy called Salomon. Salomon has a learning disability called dyslexia. His life is not easy, his mom left the house when he was younger and his dad is an alcoholic. He also has a hard time in school, when he wants to be alone he spends the time on the local graveyard. One day when he´s at the graveyard he hears men talk. Its a man called Professor Miller and a council official, they are talking about the graveyard. Salomon understands that it´s gonna be a construction site.

When the workmen starts to take down the trees that night Salomon has some bad dreams. Driven by his fathers bad behaviour when he drinks, Salomon decides to spend the night at the graveyard. When he sits there hidden in his special place he hears a man screaming. The workmen is being swallowed up by the ground. The man had touched a chest with the name "Malefice". Later on in the book Salomon finds out that "Malefice" means witchcraft.

He also finds out that the one who was burried in that chest was a person who had been a victim of the scottish witch hunt. It seemed as she was awake and wanted to take revenge for what happened to her. Professor Miller has a daughter, Amy. She and Salomon becomes good friends after he discovered her also being a lot in the graveyard. Salomon feels that the bas spirit wants to hurt her so he follows her and protects her.

After this nightmare Salomon takes the decision that he want to change his life. He gets a lot of help and support from his teacher Ms Talmur. Salomons father also tries to change, he attends an Alcoholics Anonymous class.

Helena S

Who should read A clockwork orange and who should not

The ones who should read A clockwork orange first has to have the patience with the language and maybe the the fascination of languages and a will to understand it. The language in the novel is called "nadsat" and is a mixed up combination of brittish slang, "nadsat"/russian and a children-like language. Examples of this: "Babooshka,-old lady/grandma and ptitsa-young woman" These are russian words. "Eggiweggs-eggs, skolliwoll-school, appy polly loggies-apologies" These are the child-like versions of the words. In some way you learn what all these words means by reading them in a whole sentence time after time but sometimes it can be very hard for you to guess your way out of it. So I strongly recommend this novel to someone that is interested in languages and has the patience of learning. It wouldn't hurt to fancy the dark side of the world in some way or at least not having any trouble with reading about harsch violence and melancholy scenes. This novel is a dystopia. The plot is taking place in the future where criminality has developed into something far more horrible than we could have imagined and it is told by a psychopatic teenager who loves to torture, rob and rape. This novel is not for the sensitive ones that usually read about lovestories and drama and that can't stand some violence.

Also you should be interested in psychology and philosofy. You should want to understand the psychopath Alex the maincharacter and take it from his point of view. And when he's taking part of the experiment "the ludovico treatment", to get out of jail it is a lot of psychology to catch up with. So if you don't understand psychology and thinks it's boring, then this novel is not for you. As the same as the philosofy. This novel brings up a lot of hard questions like: "What makes a man good?" , "How far can you go to keep the society safe?" and "Do we have the right to mix with others brains even if he's a criminal?" If you find these things hard to recognize while watching the movie for example, then you shouldn't read the novel. I you find these way of reasoning boring or difficult then this novel isn't for you.

By Emelie S

A missing scene from a clockwork orange

This being the second spended raz at the café next to the milky bar Korova, me not choosing any of the old moloko oh my brothers but slurping som hot cup of chai, I was waiting for my droogs to settle about the dratsing yesterday. Somehow I felt a malenky bit uneasy about that. How . We will plan for this nochy however without Pete going about Dim, and me ripping his cables and vessels (chepooka-nonsense). The biggest crast we ever did oh my little droogs. My sheeps will do whatever I ask without that sarky attitude or any vehina. I am and has always been the leader , don't see why some malenky Will the English with new ways should inspire my little droogs to mutiny. You shouldn't do to big crasts or some millicents will hear about you sooner than you think. Better living of things you can take without any bigger . To sneety too much will do you no good. It will drag you down to "the stready hole" as my dear P.Deltoid puts it. Snuffing away with my hot chasha of chai I tried to imagine Dim falling behind and ending up in the claws of the aggro owner. To bad he's too dumb for having in my shaika, he is even though his bezomny way of reason very polezny. He is better handy than any of my little droogs. While my thoughts made me smecking away I viddied a very young and molodoy ptitsa holding her granny babooshka in the hand. It was the beauty of old Bog sending down some his young angels my brothers, smiling very happily and running. She had the most beautiful voloss and litso I'd ever seen. I could picture myself taking her home on bedways without any platties on. Her little plott coming out and it would be choodessny. I'll be taking her to my mesto and she going booohooohooo, creeching, blubbing and being all poogly as she can be and yet for me the very most sladkvat and enjoyable ptitsa ever. If any of these lewdies all around could hear my thoughts they would be going "Such of a merzky horrible and bolnoy malchick!" As the old babooshka and the very lovely ptitsa passed my table. I nodded and said "Such a wonderful pleasure to making you an acquaintance! I'm delighted to ask how are thee this fine evening?" The old babooshka smiled and said " Oh fine fine fine, my young man, we're about to taking some sweeties for little Mary here, you have a good day sir" They walked by and I viddied little Mary closing up to her granny. Again I was slooshing about us lubbilubbing and me taking the neezhnies and her as a plenny. I'm not baddiwadd, that together with some of dear old Ludwig Van would be real horroshow.


This is a scene after the incident with the fighting between Alex the maincharacter and two of his "droogs". He's thinking about how he deserves the leader-role and is reflecting about the whole situation about his droogs ganging up on him. I think that this is really Alex in a nutshell. He's a bit narcissistic and views himself as the smartest and the strongest. Later on you get to see the really nasty, horrible and criminal side of him in contrast to his polite, classy and fake-gentle side. He's a real psycopath, knowing exactly what to say to manipulate people in is surroundings at the same time as he's sadistic and evil. it Is a perfect descripton of him.


By Emelie S

Redeeming Quotes!

While reading Redeeming Love I found several quotations that filled my heart with love, comfort, joy and warmth. They touched my heart and left me with great awe! Hear follows some quotes that filled me with something beyond exquisite….

“This one, beloved!”

                            /God

Well, perhaps this quote doesn’t fill you with awe or warmth, but these words create an answer to one of my prayers. I have asked God that he one day will show me my future husband, as Michael asked for a wife in Redeeming Love. Perhaps it seems like a silly dream to you, but love and marriage is a beautiful and holy thing for me so I want it to be blessed by God.

(And one more thing; no dancing for me on the prom, I will save it for my husband.)

“Do my will, beloved. I drew you up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set your feet upon a rock.”

                /God

Sometimes God can ask us something that we feel we are not brave enough to do. But then we have one of his eternal promises, that he once have placed our feet on a steady rock and that he will do so again if we would fall. If we fall seven times seven, he will forgive and lift us up seventy times seven.

“Trust me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”

                                                                                                                   /God

This is a quote that includes words worth reminded. Quite often I want to take care of everything, do things in my own way and try to understand things that I can’t control. But then God reminds me, He is God. He has everything under control.  If I feel I can’t handle something and keep on trying to, I need to let go. I need to trust in God, that he will hold everything in his hands. And when I do, everything will turn out right and at the same time He will teach me something beyond my own understanding…

“So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”

                                                                                       /Jesus, Matthew 7:12

I don’t think I need to say so much about this one. It’s the golden rule, a rule that everyone should follow because love is stronger and more beautiful than hate. Another quote that is similar to this one is: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself!” /Jesus, Matthew 19:19

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me.”

                                                                                                                                         /Psalm 23:4

This is a well known quote from the bible and it means a lot to me. Even though it feels that everything is black and you ask yourself too many times “WHY”, He will be by your side, His hand in yours. I have been through a great deal in my life, despite the fact that I’m only 19, but many times I have felt like I’m suffocating or not worthy any love. But then I can remind myself of these words, soak them in and lean on them. Because even though it feels like I’m walking through the valley of death I don’t need to be afraid, because my shepherd and my father will always be there by my side.

“I am!”

     /Jesus

These two words are words that fill my heart with joy, love and awe and that makes my eyes fill with tears.  With these two words Jesus declares with humbleness and with authority that HE IS. He is now, he is yesterday, he is tomorrow. The message is that he will never change; he will always be the same. He is the king of heaven and earth and he will always comfort us, guide us and help us. He will give us the redeeming love.

I know that many of you don’t believe in these quotes or that they are coming from God as I do. But perhaps you can learn from some of them and as a said in my last blog; don’t be afraid of love, because love is something that everyone needs, a love that can redeem!

/Rebecca Q