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