Big Brother is Watching

Peter Nguyen
1984
George Orwell

Big Brother is Watching 

Big Brother is watching. That's a phrase you would hear a crazy hippy say while standing around in front of the White House and shoving a sign in your face. However, this isn’t the case in 1984 by George Orwell, in which Big Brother is real and the citizens of the government are brainwashed. The story takes place in 1984 in London, which is a part of Oceania, one of 3 totalitarian titans in the world. The protagonist is Winston Smith, who is one of the very few that realize how oppressive and controlling the government is. The totalitarian government is led by Big Brother, which controls people actions, desires, and thoughts with branches that carry out the controlling such as the Thought Police and Ministry of Truth. With Winston being aware of the oppressive government, he joins The Brotherhood, an underground organization that seeks to overthrow the government. Orwell provides the perfect example of a dystopian future that includes a controlling government. In his novel, we follow Winton’s struggle to fight against the oppression of human rights


The concept of a totalitarian government is present in endless books, movies, and songs. 1984 captures the concept and possible outcomes perfectly. Clearly, Orwell is not only writing a story but a theoretical situation that could happen in real life. While speaking to a coworker, “Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end, we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible because there will be no words in which to express it.” (Orwell 53) With the huge influence of social media and news channels falsifying stories to fit agendas, this aspect of the book has somewhat translated into reality. It’s interesting to see how Orwell weaves in his ideas and philosophy by incorporating subtle parallels such as this one. According to his ideas, the events in 1984 could one day become reality so, in a way, the book is also a warning about the dangers of society.


The overall mood of the book is suppressed and leaves the reader feeling terrified of the world Winston lives in. He describes everything in great detail but at the same time, keeps it simple. The sentences are almost all direct and blunt. This gets the point across without any fluff yet also reveals a deeper angle into the story giving it an element of creepiness. During the description of how the Party works, Winston states “This last was for the disposal of waste paper. Similar slits existed in thousands or tens of thousands throughout the building, not only in every room but at short intervals in every corridor. For some reason, they were nicknamed memory holes.” (Orwell 42) The sentences are blunt and matter-of-fact. Orwell himself stated that if there were any long or unnecessary words, they should be taken out or replaced, which is the reason behind the simplicity of his writing.


As stated before, this book is also a hypothetical situation that seems to get more real daily. It was written in 1949; more than 50 years ago. It’s interesting to see how many of the events in the novel have slowly become true. For instance, Google and Facebook taking user data, the NSA spying on people, and so many more. There are eyes everywhere and channel news seems to be submitting to one agenda and reporting biased news. When I read about Winston, I thought about Edward Snowden, who released top-secret NSA info and was wanted by the US Government. The first few pages of the book include “In the far distance a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an instant like a bluebottle, and darted away again with a curving flight. It was the police patrol, snooping into people's windows.”(Orwell 9) For a book that was written so long ago, there are many things that are locking into place in today’s society. At this point, I may sound like one of those hippies I made fun of earlier, but the facts are there and Orwell was right in warning about the dangers and influence of society and government.


I would highly recommend 1984 to anyone that enjoys reading dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games. It would be a waste not to read, as there are many interesting ideas and core philosophy that I haven’t even considered until I read it. If a book from 1949 can still have that type of impact on a person today, then it is definitely a must-read for anyone in general. The writing, the story, the characters, everything is well executed.

Sources

George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," The Complete Works of George Orwell, http://www.george-orwell.org/Politics_and_the_English_Language/0.html, Accessed 4 March 2009.

Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Penguin, 1949. Print

Open Culture. “Hear the Very First Adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 in a Radio Play Starring David Niven (1949).” Open Culture, 10 Aug. 2015, www.openculture.com/2015/08/hear-the-very-first-adaptation-of-george-orwells-1984-in-a-radio-play-starring-david-niven-1949.html.

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." - Aristotle

Discovering the Secrets of the Universe
Nora Haggerty

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
By Benjamin Alire Saenz

Eclectic names and one’s inability to swim are what bring Aristotle and Dante together. In the blink of an eye, they become the best of friends, each learning more about themselves by talking with the other. Dante is an artistic, creative, thoughtful boy who loves his parents deeply. He is sensitive and caring, and funnily enough, considering his name, thoroughly enjoys poetry. In contrast, Aristotle is a tougher character who feels angry and distant from his own family. He often has nightmares and feels confused about a lot of the unknowns in his life. Told from Aristotle’s point of view, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe follows the relationship between these two boys as they grow closer and closer after meeting at their local pool. Together they learn what they care most about, what burning questions they want answered, and how to deal with the difficulties they are each faced with.

So far I really enjoy this book and the topics it discusses. It is written in language that is very easy to read and understand while still covering complex themes such as family troubles, car accidents, and withheld emotions. Reading it made me really feel like it was a teenager telling the story in fragmented parts with emotions and opinions throughout.

While Aristotle and Dante are both very different characters, I found both of them likable and relatable. I think their friendship works because they are so different. One stark difference between the two is their family dynamics. Aristotle is amazed when he visits Dante’s home for the first time and Dante kisses his father on the cheek because he “would never have done that. Not ever” (24). He wonders what it would be like to have that type of connection with his dad. Instead, he feels as though he is searching for the man his father truly is, always feeling far away. Because his family never brings it up, Aristotle finds himself constantly thinking about his brother who is in jail, and wants to know more. He writes in his journal “It’s worse than being dead. At least the dead get talked about and you get to hear stories about them...My brother doesn’t get any stories...It doesn’t seem right” (96). On the other hand, from Aristotle’s perspective, Dante’s family is easygoing and patient with one another. Dante’s father is an English professor who “seemed like a man who was in live with being alive (24) and “didn’t care if the whole world knew he was kind” (102). From the respect and admiration he has for Dante’s father, it is clear that Aristotle desires an individual like that in his life.

What makes the characters most relatable is the emotions they find themselves coming to accept and deal with. It is evident to the reader that what the pair discusses often doesn’t get brought up in conversations with other people. Almost immediately, the two boys share a mutual understanding of each other and trust each other with their deepest feelings. For instance, after an accident that lands Aristotle in the hospital, Dante offers Aristotle his sketchbook, a possession he does not let anyone else see because of how personal his drawings are. Sometimes it seems that Aristotle is afraid of his own feelings, so he is more closed off than Dante. After the accident he does not want to see a counselor because he thinks “talking doesn’t help everybody” (142), even though he doesn’t often open up to anyone. He has a hard time coming to terms with how everyone around him feels and tends to bottle up his emotions, letting them out in a journal he keeps. He would rather “close [his] eyes and let the silence swallow [him] whole” (138). Dante is clearly an important addition to Aristotle’s life because he shows Aristotle a different way of looking at the world, and gives a shoulder to lean on -- something he didn’t have before. They truly are written like real people; people who go through personal hardships, learn from mistakes, and understand that it is more than okay to open up to the people around them. I think the book was written with the target audience to be teenagers who may be confused about their feelings or having trouble with understanding who they really are.

Just as one of my friends enthusiastically introduced me to this book, I would highly recommend reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Even though I have not yet finished it, what I have read makes me want to continue reading, and when I was reading it, I didn’t want to put it down. I don’t think I’ve read a book quite similar to this one, but it did remind me a little of John Green’s writing because of how casual it seemed while discussing deeper feelings, as well as the infusion of comedy here and there.

Credit

Crowded Financial History

Jaison Patel

Devil Take the Hindmost
By Edward Chancellor

“The game does not change and neither does human nature” (30)

We learn from the past - a common lie. Historical accounts of certain events exist to be passed down from generation to generation. Instances of financial speculation are considered by most to be mistakes made by society, however, they are mistakes that can be corrected by modern society. At least that’s what the history teachers preach. In his informative third-person novel, author Edward Chancellor lays out the facts, the accounts, and the results of numerous occurrences of speculation in the sales of products as exquisite as tulips or as mundane as diving company shares. He keeps his bias out of the equation while letting the reader develop their own opinion about the essence of speculation.

Outlining fundamental concepts in the stock market and its history, Chancellor sets up his book as one that will explore his multifaceted study of speculation. Writing that, “speculation is the name given to a failed investment” (xi), the author continues to share a synopsis of the origins of speculation. I appreciate Chancellor’s efforts to teach the roots of speculation before he delves into the historical events. Continuing his preamble, the author describes the human nature of speculation by explaining that “they (speculators) will sell without knowing the motive [and] buy without reason” (13). It is understandable that speculators are indeed human, and oftentimes act specific ways without specific reasons. Since it is impossible to predict the actions of each individual, prices can rise and fall instantaneously.

“Homo bulla est, man is a bubble” (21)

Nobody can be trusted in the stock market except oneself. Chancellor informs the reader about “stock jobbers,” people who scam others “in a world where… company shares became the currency of corruption” (48). During a war with France, the Scottish government debased coinage - lowering the value of currency - and shares in the Darien Company, East India Company, and Hudson’s Bay Company were unlawfully expunged. Chancellor educates the reader about speculative situations; the people leading them may be corrupt. Regardless of character flaws of CEOs, Chancellor’s writing seems reasonable because the risk of speculation stands out; the companies which rise high will fall low. Chancellor adds another component to his study, as he finds speculation to be guided by “self-interest… and unchecked by government interference” (55-56). It is logical that one starts speculating with the absence of restrictive laws and the intention to reap personal benefits.

Readers with an appreciation for trivial details will enjoy the historical accounts of speculation in Edward Chancellor’s Devil Take the Hindmost. The absence of an author’s bias enables the reader to establish assessments of the positive and negative results of distinct events. Chancellor simply widens the entrance to the realm of history’s issues; it is the audience’s job to figure out how to avoid committing the same mistakes again.

Related article about Crowd Phenomenon: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-consciousness-question/201312/the-crowd-phenomenon

Work Cited

1. Chancellor, Edward. Devil Take the Hindmost. Plume, 2005.

2. Collier, Graham. “The Crowd Phenomenon.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 5 Dec. 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-consciousness-question/201312/the-crowd-phenomenon

The Greatest Rivalry In Sports

Kyle Penton


The Greatest Rivalry in Sports


A Tale of Two Cities


Tony Massarotti and John Harper





Imagine being 1 hour away from your biggest dream, something you have worked your entire life for, and it being ripped away from you in an instant. That is what happened to the Boston Red Sox in the 2003 American League Championship Series against their biggest rival, the New York Yankees. The Red Sox led the Yankees by a score of 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, and they thought they were golden. Not only did the Yankees rally back to tie it, they ended up winning in the bottom of the 11th inning on a walk-off homerun by Aaron Boone, ending the Red Sox’s season with one swing, “Tim Wakefield, who in one pitch went from Most Valuable Player of the series to a most unfortunate, undeserving tragic figure”(7). The Red Sox and Yankees were incredibly evenly matched in the 2003 season: even in the playoffs they scored the same amount of runs in the series until Boone’s series ending homerun.





The Yankees made it to the World Series, and played against the Florida Marlins, but ended up losing the series 4 games to 2. This gave both the Red Sox and Yankees a sour taste in their mouth; the Yankees moreso more so because they were the favorites to win the Series, but fell short to the Marlins. That meant both ball clubs had some hunting to do in the offseason, needing that one player that could boost each team over the other. That is where Alex Rodriguez comes into play, “A-Rod’s future had been the talk of the baseball off-season, of course…”(27). The Red Sox were going to trade Manny Ramirez, one of their stars, for Rodriguez, but the deal fell short, giving the Yankees a chance to swoop in and grab the reigning American League Most Valuable Player. The Yankees succeeded in acquiring Rodriguez, allowing them to believe that they now had everything they need to win the World Series. The Sox could not just sit back and let this defeat their offseason, so they went out and got a new manager, Terry Francona, and two key players, Kevin Millar and Curt Schilling. Boston needed to show its city they were not scared of the Yankees, and that they could win a title, “If you believe your opponent is better than you, your opponent will be”(25).





This is a tremendous book about the city of Boston and the legend of the 2004 Red Sox team and how they were developed. Anybody who knows the slightest bit about Boston sports knows about the 86 year World Series drought that the Red Sox had after losing Babe Ruth, and about their historic comeback against the Yankees in 2004. I not only enjoy the story it tells, but I love how it is told. Tony Massarotti writes from the Red Sox perspective, and is actually a Waltham native and Waltham High School graduate, making this book even more special because he signed the inside cover. John Harper then gives information from the Yankees perspective, because he is a New York writer.





If you are familiar with the 2004 Red Sox, I encourage you to read this book because it goes in depth about many events that you may not have known about, like how the Red Sox almost acquired alex Rodriguez.

Shots Fired

Shots fired
Nina Cristofori

this is where it ends
By Marieke Nijkamp


What would you do if there was a shooter in your school? Would you call your parents and tell them you love them? Would you hide in the corner or in a closet? Or, would you try to escape and risk your life in the process? More courageously, would you try to stop the shooter from harming more lives by putting yours on the line? We all say exactly what we would do in a situation like this, but unless you experience it you don’t how you would react.


10:05 a.m., Opportunity High School, gunshots are fired. Tyler Browne, a forgotten student, friend, brother, and son, interrupts a school assembly, having locked all the doors prior, and opens fire on the entire school. Whether it be through the perspective of his sister Autumn, Autumn’s girlfriend Sylv, Sylv’s brother Tomas, or Tyler’s ex girlfriend Claire, every few pages reader’s get to step into one of the many character’s shoes, and interchange between them all. Claire runs track and when the assembly was going on, Claire was outside practicing with her track team, so she was spared from the shootings. From when the gunshots first went off, Claire and her best friend Chris attempted to run to the closest gas station to get help, but luckily a police car drove by and picked them up and brought them back to the school in a safety zone outside. Tyler had loved Claire but things didn’t work between them. Tyler and Autumn’s lives at home were tough. Autumn had a passion for dance, but gets abused by her alcoholic father every time he finds out she’s been dancing because, her mother died in a car accident on her way to pick Autumn up from dance. Autumn wants to leave her life behind and follow her dreams of dancing at Juilliard. Tyler loses his mind because he has lost everything in his life, and now he is losing Autumn too because she is so eager to follow her dreams that she is leaving him behind when they were supposed to always be each other’s support system. Tyler takes this as Autumn neglecting him just like everyone else in his life, and when Autumn tries to talk her way out of getting Tyler to stop shooting people in the auditorium, she tells him she can save him. Autumn conveys, “ His arm snaps back, and the barrel of the gun bashes my cheek. Spots of light burst in my vision. Pain blossoms over my face. Blood pools in my mouth”, and Ty says, “You’re too late to save me now” (154). From once being all each other had, Tyler was willing to inflict harm on Autumn because she hurt his feelings. Not even his own sister could stop him. Sylv was hiding in the auditorium while all of this was happening because she knows Tyler would kill her immediately because he hated her for “corrupting” his sister and making Autumn fall in love with her. Sylv’s brother Tomas, was in the principal’s office at the time of the assembly, stealing student files, and ended up help students escape the auditorium by unlocking the exit doors. When Tyler discovers Sylv, he goes on a witch hunt to kill her, but Tomas protects her. Tyler takes away significant lives, including a beloved main character. He also spares another main character, but attempts to damage their lives by taking away one of the most important things in their life. Autumn expresses, “ Ty made good on his promise. I didn’t need to die for him to kill me. He simply lowered his gun and pulled the trigger. And his bullet tore my knee to shreds” (270). Tyler tries to take away his sister’s happiness before he chooses his fate.


I recommend this book to those who can engage in horrendous and heartbreaking novels. This book is fiction, but the events that occurred in it are not unrealistic to society today. Considering the issue at hand, gun violence and school shootings, I can understand the touchy subject it is and how for some people it can really hit close to home. Nijkamp uses different perspectives to give readers insight into the minds of numerous people during a school shooting and what it's like to go through it. Her in depth detail is noteworthy while the plot of the book is only forty-five minutes long. Forty-five minutes is an insignificant amount of time to people who live to be old, but forty-five minutes of terror and violence seems like an eternity to the people subject to it. Nijkamp allows readers to feel true emotion for all the characters as if the audience personally knew them.


This book spoke to me, because with all the gun violence occurring today, and the school shootings, it illustrated to me more why our country needs to initiate change. In the final pages of the book, my heartstrings were broken as I read the words of a survivor in the book, “ We are not better because we survived. We are not brighter or more deserving. We are not stronger. But we are here. We are here, and this day will never leave us. Nor should it. We will remember the wounded. We will remember the lost” (280). I cannot imagine what enduring a situation like this would be like, and I would never wish it upon anyone. Schools are meant to be a place for kids to learn and expand upon their knowledge in a safe environment, not be shot and killed by a psychotic individual. Guns laws need to be altered and school security needs to be made even more strict so students never have to be victims to a fellow student, or adult shooting up the school.

Fly like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee

Gerard Jelloe

Muhammad Ali:A Tribute to The Greatest

Thomas Hauser


Cassius Clay or Muhammad Ali is arguably the best boxer and athlete to ever live. Many people have written to show why but no one has really shown the truth about Ali until the author Thomas Hauer wrote the book, Muhammad Ali: A Tribute to The Greatest. In this companion novel, Hauser exemplifies a credible argument on how his narrative about Ali is prominent to others with the use of reliable sources like interviews, words with close peers of Ali and memories of events in the sport of Boxing. Hauser explores Ali in extreme detail from Ali’s outstanding boxing career to his great impact on the world through his ideas.

I personally enjoyed this book because Hauser provides an ethical appeal through stories about his life, makes an emotional appeal with personal accounts and offers a counter argument to rebut. In the beginning of the book, Hauser does a good job setting up his argument with some background about Ali’s life. In the book, he tells the story about when Ali was a young boy and “wanted a drink of water, and they wouldn't give him one because of his color” (Hauser 3). By doing this, Hauser provides information that reveals Ali’s motives for his actions and beliefs. When reading this book, you get a sense that Hauser has put in the work and is credible with his argument because of his personal experience with Ali. I found it interesting that Hauser dedicated a section of the book just for his personal accounts. Hauser provides his “transcript of March 1967 radio interview”(Hauser 95”) with Muhammad Ali where he asks him questions like “would to see a world someday where the white man and Negro can live together and call each other friends?” (Hauser 96) With the interview, the reader feels insured that they aren't just reading a bunch of details that could not be true. Another aspect of the book that i found appealing was that Hauser does not only just focus on Ali and his contributions, he also takes into account other great athletes such as Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. He uses these other great athletes to show why Ali has earned the status of the best athlete. Hauser does indeed recognize what the others have done to contribute to society but in his opinion, no one tops Muhammad Ali.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to others as it really opens your eyes to how much Muhammad Ali did contribute not only to the sport of Boxing but also to society. There is a lot that the people do not know about Ali and I thought that Hauser did a very good job in telling the truth about Ali and including interesting stories about Ali.Muhammad Ali will definitely be remembered as one of the greatest athletes to live and person.

Trapped

Trapped

Sonia Ourfalian

Stolen

By: Lucy Christopher

Have you ever felt trapped? Have you ever felt like you are restricted from everything around you? Has there ever been a time where you've been taken away from everything you've ever known or loved?


Stolen by Lucy Christopher is a letter written from a victim to her captor. As 16 year old Gemma meets a 24 year old attractive man named Ty in the Bangkok airport she states “You saw me before I saw you. You had that look in your eyes. Like you wanted me. Wanted me for a long time” (1). Ty took Gemma away from everything she knew and wanted to show her a new and different perspective of life he’d been planning for awhile which is conveyed when she states “ You must have thought of everything: a ticket, a new passport, our route through, how to get past security. Was it the most carefully planned steal ever, or luck?” (11). Ty, drugs her coffee and takes her on a blurry journey where Gemma eventually wakes up in a small house in the Australian outback. Gemma’s letter describes the strange and disturbing months in that outback. At first, through Gemma’s letter it is very unclear what Ty’s intentions were because he was portrayed as a creepy and dangerous man that didn’t allow Gemma to leave or do anything. As the story progresses, he tries to show Gemma the beauty of isolation and emptiness and the idea that you don’t need much to be happy. The disturbing yet beautiful thriller has truly drawn me in with each page.


This riveting read has kept me on my feet since the moment I started it. This compelling story of survival is both complicated and beautiful. Through capturing a different perspective of life, it has shown me the beauty in things I've never seen before. The mystery of why this man has taken Gemma has persisted all the way through up till the point in which I have read so far. This book not only includes a haunting account of captivity but also the power of relationships. I am not exactly sure why he has chosen Gemma, but she must have caught his eye and with them being stuck in this outback, the only thing they have is each other. This book emphasizes that there is much more to life than what we see, with a bit of the mystery aspect, it is truly an emotionally raw thriller. From the moment I started this book till now, I have not been able to put it down, although I have not finished it just yet, I am sure I can get through the next 100 or so pages pretty quickly.

In my opinion, the way in which this book was written is complicated yet fascinating at the same time and I have truly loved it so far. It is for sure a book I wholeheartedly recommend to absolutely anyone because it is not just any typical mystery, it is a book with a whole new point of view that is difficult to predict. When I read a book that is unpredictable, I know the book is intriguing because it keeps me on the edge of my seat yearning for more and that is exactly why I am so engaged in this book. If you are looking for a book with a bit of mystery, suspense, beauty, and thriller, this is the right book for you! Lucy Christopher did an astonishing job at grabbing my attention and I’m sure she’ll do the same for you!

The Shot That Changed Everything

The Shot That Changed Everything
Mary DiMaggio

This Is Where It Ends
By Marieke Nijkamp

Nothing exciting or eventful ever happens in the ironically named town of Opportunity, Alabama, until the day high school dropout Tyler Browne shatters the peace with a bang. He feels his class has wronged and mistreated him, so he returns to Opportunity High to seek revenge. He enters the auditorium when Principal Trenton is giving her usual start-of-semester inspirational speech, where the entire school is conveniently gathered for the assembly, and starts shooting people. Mayhem and chaos break loose as everyone scrambles to avoid the shots and aid the wounded. The minutes tick by and the only thought going through people’s minds is to stay alive, as they suddenly find themselves in a life or death situation. Tyler inflicts panic in his victims by describing in detail how each person made his life miserable, calling them out by name, and killing them one by one, for everyone else to watch. The few students not in the auditorium during the assembly are stricken with fear and anxiety as they suddenly hear the gunshots but don’t know what’s happening, and all they can do is hope is that their loved ones aren’t dead. With this attack on Opportunity High, Tyler makes sure no one at Opportunity High will forget him, and how they made him feel.

This Is Where It Ends is filled with suspense and is extremely engaging. Tyler controls the whole school with the possession of his gun, ordering people to lock the auditorium doors and threatening to shoot anyone who disobeys him. There is little hesitation to obey Tyler’s orders- people are paralyzed with fear and do everything they can to avoid being shot- and “The simple fact that he carefully picks out his targets, among the hundreds of students in the auditorium, makes him more of a threat” (96). Tyler takes his time to select his victims, rather than shooting everyone very quickly, which makes his attack more personal, as he is singling out specific people. The events unfold slowly as he gives a detailed justification for shooting each person. The suspense builds as time goes on because the reader develops various questions while reading the book, such as the origin of Tyler’s motive and how the shooting concludes. These questions remain unanswered until the very end of the book, which makes the reader want to continue reading to seek answers to these questions. The story is told from multiple students’ perspectives, and so the narrator changes frequently and abruptly. This makes it a bit choppy, but in a positive way for the impact of the book. Each time the narrator switches, it feels like their story is cut short in the middle, which increases the suspense because the reader is left to wonder what will happen to them.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery books or adventure books. This Is Where It Ends has the element of mystery since, for the majority of the book, the reader is uncertain of exactly what Tyler’s goal is, and who is dead and who is alive, until the very end of the book. Tyler’s act of violence is mysterious; nothing like it has ever happened in Opportunity before, and no one knows how to handle it. Everyone at Opportunity High, including those trapped in the auditorium and those elsewhere in the school, tries to figure out a way to notify the police and put a stop to Tyler’s attack, almost like they are trying to solve the “mystery” of finding a way to stop Tyler, but quickly, so the least amount of deaths occur. Tomas and Fareed, two students not in the auditorium during the shooting, work to unlock the auditorium doors to let people out without Tyler noticing. Tyler’s sister Autumn escapes but later reenters the school to reason with Tyler and try to convince him to stop killing people. Autumn “shivers as we cross the threshold of the hallway” (236). These students risk their lives for the greater good of their classmates and their school to try to put an end to the shooting, rather than only thinking of themselves leaving the building when they have the chance. Tomas, Fareed, and Autumn act heroically to stop the violence, which gives the book a sense of adventure and gives the reader hope that the shooting will end soon.

This Is Where It Ends tackles the issue of gun violence, which is an especially relevant topic in our society nowadays. When the shooting ends and some time has passed, the students and teachers of Opportunity High get together and light candles in memory of those killed by Tyler. Fareed gives a speech, saying “We are not better because we survived. We are not brighter or more deserving. We are not stronger. But we are here” (280). This novel helps prove that gun violence is a serious issue, and gives incentive for actions be taken to prevent events like this from happening in the future. It shows how big of an impact acts of gun violence can have; many people lost their lives in this shooting, and the survivors will be permanently affected by this event as they will live with this grief for the rest of their lives. I’d additionally recommend This Is Where It Ends to anyone interested in learning about gun violence, because it provides an example of how gun violence can negatively impact people’s lives. This Is Where It Ends also brings up the concern of dealing with mental health issues, which I enjoyed reading about because I feel that mental health is a topic that should be discussed more openly in school. Tyler felt alone and like he had no one to confide in, so he turned to violence to help him solve his problems. This novel teaches the lesson that help for people with mental health issues should be more readily available in schools, because people may feel like they have to deal with their problems on their own, and may turn to violence for a solution.

Lesson Learned

Lesson Learned

Jessica Conrad

 

Beastly

Alex Flinn

Everyone, whether or not they like it, experiences change throughout their life. Life consists of a wave of changes, both good and bad, that often take us by surprise. Kyle Kingsbury, a spoiled, arrogant, charmer has his life altered forever in this Beauty and the Beast type of story. After showing his ugly character as someone who finds it “fun to kick the nerds, make them cry, then kick them some more”, to Kendra, a girl he stood up at the prom as a joke, he is transformed into a beast that is equally as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside (Flinn 30). This shows his character and his lack of appreciation for morality. Readers likely know someone like Kyle, who make the story realistic, since people like this do exist.

The only way for him to return to his normal self is to learn to love and be loved in return. Set in New York City, the lonely Kingsbury is the only one awake in the city that never sleeps. He stays awake stirring over about how hopeless his life seems, when a drug addict desperate for money breaks into his home. When Kyleーwho changes his name to Adrian to suit his darker persona better, justifying, “Kyle means ‘handsome’. I wasn’t”ーfinds the man, the man tells him he will send his daughter to live with Kyle if he lets him go (Flinn 122). Driven by his intense loneliness, he agrees and soon the daughter, Linda, is there living with him, his blind tutor, Will, and his housekeeper, Magda. Initially she hates him, but as time goes on she learns to feel comfortable with him and they become friends.

The message of this story to be kind and not focus on the exterior is very important, especially to teenagers. Perhaps knowing this, the author takes advantage of the digital aged setting, and inserts screenshots of an online chatroom featuring other people affected my magic the way the beast is. Personally, I am not a fan of those parts. I feel like at that point the author is trying too hard to be relatable, but I appreciate the attempt to appeal to teens.

    The story itself is very traditional in terms of fairytales, and at times it is very cliché and predictable. However, the setting makes it more interesting and takes away from some of the predictability since city life is often unpredictable. I find this story intriguing, yet the ending seems pretty obvious. Lovers of Disney movies would enjoy this book for sure. Although it is a modern setting, the lesson to “not judge a book by its cover” and to be open to love is timeless, especially in love stories and fairy tales. According to Odyssey, Disney type stories help teach children a lot of valuable lessons, including love and acceptance (https://www.theodysseyonline.com/11-lessons-disney-princesses-teach-young-children?sec=pop6&utm_expid=.53hHQ_sIS_GVYl9TPM4psw.3&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F). Acceptance is apparent in Beastly as well when Linda is afraid and Adrian stays up throughout the night to help her feel safe. He is happy to find out “she trusted me”, which shows she is learning to see past his beastly appearance and accept him (Flinn 205). Although not everyone who reads a book is looking to learn a lesson on morality, this book and others like it do a good job focusing on that. I have yet to actually finish the novel, but I plan to continue reading and see what the author has in store for the rest of the story, and I would encourage others to red it as well!

The Puzzle Piece Publication

The Many Lives Of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell
          This book has taken a turn that’s somehow fascinating and quite boring at the same time. I’ve started part two of the book since my last review and its all focused on how different authors and artists have portrayed Marilyn to the public after her death. It gets a little boring only reading about other authors and not reading about Marilyn herself, because that’s what you’d expect when picking up a book entitled “The Many Lives Of Marilyn Monroe”, but when you start to analyze the information yourself it becomes remarkably interesting. The book has kind of always been like this, the actual reading or the way the author writes isn’t thrilling, but she provokes thoroughly engaging thought that’s based off the information she’s gathered which makes it worth the read.
          “Producing The Life” or “Part Two” of the book begins on page 71, and we can begin with how Marilyn produced her own life. “Marilyn Monroe was not completely natural. She seems to have developed out of a performance that was deliberately played”(72), this is a quote I absolutely agree with. Personally, I think Marilyn was partially responsible for not only creating her persona, but exploiting it as well. She created the character that she became (a sexed-up dumb blonde), used the character in every role for as long as it’d be successful, and even used it to her advantage in her personal life and the press. For example, there’s a famous photo of Marilyn in the backseat of a car crying and clutching a handkerchief after a press conference announcing her divorce from baseball star Joe DiMaggio. It’s quite possible that she was just really crying but she looks insanely photogenic, I think she was obviously upset but also knew she was posing for photographers. An author named Barbara Leaming wrote “the entire press conference was one of Monroe’s better performances, in which she was weeping crocodile tears to gain public support for what would be an unpopular divorce from a national hero”(76). So now that it’s clear Marilyn didn’t even make an effort herself to let the world know the real her, (at least in my opinion), we can get into how and why authors wrote about her the way they did.
          You could count the authors that have written a book about Monroe by the dozen, including Guiles; Mailer; Miller; Oates; and obviously Churchwell. We’re going to focus on Mailer and Oates, who both wrote works of fiction based on Marilyn. Mailer wrote a fictional story based of Guiles biography because, according to him, “what is the point in biography if it only tells us what we already believe?”(116). That's pretty self explanatory and he never really tried to defend himself against anyone who criticized him for writing about a real woman and manipulating her life this way. He either didn't see how it was messed up or just didn't care. Oates however did care and tried to make sure that her book “Blonde” was “read solely as a work of fiction, not as a biography”(118); but that didn't stop critics from giving her (what I find to be) some harshly honest critiques. I agree mostly with a review stating she was “playing to reader’s voyeuristic interest in a real-life story while using the liberties of a novel to tart up the facts”(121).
          Everything in this review that isn't a quote are conclusions I came to on my own after thinking about all of the information Sarah Churchwell presented to me in this book, kind of like a puzzle. That's why I would recommend this book to anyone who likes biographies, if you're really into any kind of fiction or adventure or thrillers this just won't work for you. This isn't necessarily an interesting book on its own, you make interesting. I personally loved reading this work but I loved Marilyn Monroe, Biographies, and books that allow free thought and provide the resources for it prior to ever picking it up, so I’d only suggest it to someone who loves those same things.

To be a Sinclair

We Were Liars
By: e Lockhart

Salty hair, sun kissed skin and every breath full of a sweet sea breeze, a Sinclair’s summer. The Sinclairs live all over the east coast but each summer are welcomed by the family dock on the Vineyard. However, their last name is more than just eight letters, it is a reputation to maintain. Grandad owns his own private island and lives in his house “Clairmont” with his wife, Tipper, and his two golden retrievers. Grandad also has three daughters and a house on the island for each of them: Cuddledown, Windermere and Red Gate. The view from each house was breathtaking: the peaceful sunset in the evening and glistening sunrise had made it that way. Cady Sinclair and her mother would go up to the island every summer, Cady would reunite with her cousins Miren and Johnny's and Johnny's friend, Gat. Gat came every summer and it was if he was family. The four of them were popularly known as “The Liars” and loved every minute on the island. Just little ways away was Cady’s escape; a private beach for the family… but mostly her and the liars. Cady had an infatuation with Gat and she recalls even “the way his face lights up at the chocolate tugs at my heart” (Lockhart 115). She loved Gat; however, she hated how hard it was to love him. Unfortunately their forbidden love became harder and harder to handle, the Sinclairs did not approve… but why? Young and in love, Cady refused to let their disapproval ruin her perfect summer, until one summer it wasn’t perfect anymore. She was in a horrible accident and couldn’t remember anything. Eventually her amnesia lead to headaches that lead to medication. In a blink of an eye her memory was gone, like she never even existed. Cady soon was dependent on her medication and become depressed and isolated. She tried her best to balance out her depression with love for Gat and friendship, sadly this was only a temporary solution. But at the end of the day she came to the conclusion that “The four of us liars, we have always been. We always will be...No matter where we go, we will always be able to line up on the roof of Cuddledown and gaze at the sea. This island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever” (Lockhart 122). After grandmother “Tipper” passes the greed and filth of the Sinclair sisters pour out. Naturally their kids act out but Cady cannot remember the damage she has done. Lies behind the family name seep out and they no longer can hide behind the wall they have put up. The Liars response to their corrupted family ultimately lead cady to believe “Here I am frozen, when I deserve to burn” (Lockhart 209). Are you curious yet?

In my opinion I loved this book, the plot and storyline was extremely fascinating and left me always wanting to turn the page. I found the book easy to relate too, the main character was exactly my age and lives a summer I have wanted my entire life. A summer on Martha's Vineyard are you serious?! I would do anything to be there with her. Realistic fiction is my go to genre because I am not into history, sci fi or fantasy. The fact that the book took place in Massachusetts made me relate even more. The authors writing style was different yet beautiful. Every once and awhile she would throw in a fairytale story that related to the plot. Because of this I was able to understand any part of the plot I may have misunderstood. She also wrote with imagery and made sure all her sentences flowed together. Each sentence I read made me jealous I wasn't there. Let me tell you, reading this book in the dead middle of January, it was hard to hear Cady describe her day at the beach followed by her boat ride to go get fudge and shop. Not everything in the book was positive though, Cady also recalls “I look at the sea churning beneath me. Dark shapes lurk beneath the surface of the water” (Lockhart 141). This haunting sentence put a dark image in my head for sure. Another thing I noticed with the authors writing style was how perfectly she contrasted words and ideas to get her meaning across. Cady says “Our kiss was electric but soft, tentative and certain...we were young and ancient, warm and shivering and alive ” (Lockhart 24), and later on she adds “touching him is familiar and unfamiliar. We have been here before also we have never been here before. For a moment or minutes, for hours” (Lockhart 86). Both of these quotes demonstrate how an author has the ability to put the right words in the right order to portray a powerful message. Lastly, the story was extremely unique and not predictable, It was also nice Lockhart shed light on sensitive topics, such as depression and addiction, but not in an overbearing way.

Overall I loved this book. I would recommend this book for audiences who love surprises and a good love story. I actually enjoyed the book so much I introduced it to my friends and they read the book and loved it to. I promise you will not expect the ending. I definitely advise reading this book to find out the meaning behind the title!

The Lessons of the Past

Cara Ferguson

Profiles In Courage

Book by President John F Kennedy

Whether it be 1958 or 2018, political debates have never ceased to escalate to a heated, and sometimes, destructive level. In President John F. Kennedy’s book, Profiles In Courage, the former senator of the 1950’s, one of the United States most influential decades, recollects on the novel actions of politicians that preceded him. Kennedy selects a handful of men to focus on, first establishing the circumstances under which these men were faced with, then delivers an in depth analysis of their unorthodox or unpopular actions, furthermore explaining their impact on the country. The precedent left behind by these senators paved the way for others to follow by example. Within the confines of the front and back cover, the author crafts a captivating novel that manages to lure the audience in through descriptive language, and more importantly a story that readers can relate to and be entranced by.

Kennedy does an excellent job at giving life to historical figures that are remembered typically through the pages of a history textbook. In order to learn from one’s mistakes, they must understand the causes and reasonings behind their actions and motives-leading them to alter such decisions for the future. Learning the facts and figures of history can only do us so much good, before the limits of understanding and reliability are constrictive. The author of the novel clearly focuses much of his energy on descriptive and lively language when constructing the story of our democracy. Every word appears to be chosen with close precision, every sentence with an invaluable purpose. While telling the story of Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster, President Kennedy makes it apparent that doing so would be an injustice without telling the stories of two other men, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. Rather than assert the black and white commentary about these infamous men to the reader, Kennedy delicately and artistically transforms them into characters that are meant to tell a certain story, “[Henry Clay] a being so brilliant yet so corrupt, which, like a rotten mackerel by moonlight, shines and stinks” (53), and “John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, with bristling hair and eyes that burned like heavy coals...had a mind that was cold and narrow, concentrated and powerful” (54). The colorful commentary brings the novel to a whole new level of storytelling that draws in even the most apathetic of audiences. Not only does President Kennedy’s poetic language make the book worth a read, but also the subject matter is compelling in of itself.

Similar to the government practice in America today, the author emphasizes that throughout decades of politics and government, that one’s involvement could cost them more than they bargained for-if they are doing the job right “But to those who felt a dual loyalty to their state and country...the decision was agonizing, for the ultimate choice would involve the breaking of old loyalties and friendships, and the prospect of humiliating political defeat” (52). The themes that Kennedy discusses are forever timeless, and are relevant to almost any decade. He manages to take a rather genre, and open it up to a much more broad audience. Kennedy breaks down the boundaries of typical genres of literature, and melts them together to produce something that continues to transcend time. Politics is a topic, that in the past, too many have avoided in fear of causing chaos or disruption in their peace. Present Kennedy does an eloquent job at appealing both political parties, and people of various ideals, by highlighting both parties’ triumphs and flaws.

Profiles in Courage is certainly worth the read. Never before has there been a book so revolutionary conceptually, that it challenges our modern concept of literature's relationship with politics. Instead of condemning the actions of the past, Kennedy accentuates the good deeds of those before us. He manages to find commonalities between two polar opposite groups, reiterating the fact that both want what's best for the country. Not only did the experience of the book turn out to be enjoyable, but the lessons that last following the last page alter one’s perspective on modern day politics, as well as the pressure our elected officials are under. In a political climate as hot as this one, it may serve our society best if more people read this book, and educated themselves on the way history has unfolded, leading us to where we are now.

Untold Secrets of the Presidency

The world is full of conspiracy theories, ranging everywhere from Area 51, to the cause of JonBenet Ramsey's death. One of the most popular conspiracy theories circles around who murdered JFK. Theories cover every suspect from the CIA, to the Mafia, to the FBI, to Lee Harvey Oswald. Was Oswald the one who ended Kennedy's life? Or was he merely a decoy to protect someone else?

Uncovering the truth about Kennedy's death is only one aspect that the book explains. In Killing Kennedy, by Bill O'Reilly, the untold stories of Kennedy's life are told, giving the reader a new perspective on the beloved president. While diving into the President's life story, the book also covers the stories of Jackie Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and even his Vice President - Lyndon Johnson. This book is great for anyone who has even the slightest interest in President Kennedy. Covering his many affairs which included, but were not limited to, "Judith Campbell, the mistress who serves as Kennedy's clandestine connection to Chicago Mafia kingpin Sam Giancana" (O'Reilly 66) and "Helen Chavchavadze, whom JFK has been seeing since before the inauguration. There are the girls brought in by Dave Powers. The president's mistresses even include some of Jackie's friends and personal staff" (O'Reilly 66). Despite his womanizer ways, this is not a book that will make you hate Kennedy; it's a book that allows you to better understand Kennedy as a person - not a political figurehead. Killing Kennedy starts off talking about Kennedy's experience in the PT-109 as it sank "lower and lower into the water, remaining with the wreckage means either certain capture by Japanese troops or death by shark attack" (O'Reilly 23).

Overall, this book is perfect for people who like history, and enjoy hearing what goes on behind-the-scenes with the government. Personally, I never had a huge interest in Kennedy, but after reading this book, I find him fascinating as a person. This book really explains what happened during his presidency, covering the Bay of Pigs invasion, the beginning of the Vietnam conversation, and much more. This book is way for many people to get closer to learning about what factors may have lead certain groups to want his death, as well as finding out what group was really behind the murder of the century.

Who's in Control?

Michelle Wong

every day

by David Levithan

(A struggle between the heart and the brain)

Do you feel in control of your life? Don't worry if you don't because personally, feeling in control is something only to be judged on a case by case basis, at least to me it does. I can't always feel or even be in control because honestly, it can be a bit tiring at times. When it's not necessary to be in control, you should just take that time to enjoy life's bliss; there is so much to live for.

What if you actually couldn't control your life though and instead you were controlling others' lives? Ironically, you can't control your life because you don't have one. Your life is another's life because ever since you were born, all you've known is switching between body after body every day. That is the concept of this novel. Funny enough, I can say that the novel itself is a novel idea; I love it.

Speaking of love, this is a romance novel (just a warning for those that don't enjoy this genre). The plot goes that the main protagonist who is later named A, makes many decisions that A typically wouldn't make in response to A's love for a certain someone. In the first chapter of the book, it's clear that A is head over heels for a girl named Rhiannon when A is in the body of Rhiannon's boyfriend. Every mistake that A makes while inhabiting another person's body is due to A's love for Rhiannon. A even admits that to Rhiannon. After sharing a moment with Rhiannon, she confesses that "this is weird" because A is in another body, "it's a different hand. You're different," but A can only respond with,"But I'm not". Rhiannon refutes this by arguing that A "can't say that. Yes you're the same person inside. But the outside matter, too". Arguing continues with A giving the rebuttal, Rhiannon, "You look the same, no matter what eyes I'm seeing you through. I feel the same." "It's true, but it doesn't really address what she's saying," and A knows their response may not be the correct response, but it is the response from their heart. Rhiannon is still bewildered, she asks, "You never get involved in the people's lives? The ones you're inhabiting." A shakes their head and surrenders by conceding that they always try their best to leave the bodies the way they found them, but Rhiannon has changed that (130-131).

Going back to the main subject, Rhiannon. Rhiannon is everything to A. No matter how far apart they are from each other, which is practically every day (title drop) because of A's body swapping predicament. The two of them will try to find each other no matter what circumstances. Because of Rhiannon, A makes the most foolhardy decisions they've ever made. The end goal is Rhiannon. Boy or girl, druggie or not, suicidal or not, any body A is physically in, their mind will always go back to Rhiannon. I know I'm coming off as redundant and the reason behind that is because at the moment I wholeheartedly empathize with A's situation. I definitely don't switch bodies with people on a daily basis, but I do empathize with A's feeling for Rhiannon to a degree. To some, A will come off as annoying. I even tried to emulate A's, at times, aggravating behavior in this blog actually.

If you found this blog a bit annoying, then this novel may potentially not be for you. If you found it annoying, but acceptable, then I definitely recommend this novel still. The last route is that you also are able to empathize with A. On this route, I highly, Highly, HIGHLY recommend this novel. I personally love this novel and, aforementioned, this novel is novel. I'm not saying something novel is necessarily great every time, but for this case, I highly recommend reading, every day. This novel truly is a reading experience.

The Dark Days

The Dark Days

Today, the New England Patriots are the model American sports franchise. They have been to eight Super Bowls in the past 17 years and have won five of them. They have not been the team to sign all the best players to big contracts, but have instead trained players who were undervalued and overlooked and turned them into some of the stars of today. In last years Super Bowl 40 percent of the Patriots Roster was picked outside the first three rounds of the NFL draft. One of these players is quarterback Tom Brady who was drafted 199th overall and became the greatest football player ever. These players usually don’t make a roster, nevermind play a big role on the best team in football. This is largely due to the brilliance of owner Robert Kraft and Coach Bill Belichick. They have done everything in their power to see that the patriots went from the joke of the league, to a first class franchise and name brand. However the organization was not always lucky enough to have the greatest quarterback and coach combination of all time in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. As a matter of fact, the organization had such a dark cloud over it the light tower in present day Gillette Stadium would struggle to shine through it.

Today every kid in New England is a patriots fan, whether it be because of their love for the sport of football, or purely based on the fact that the Patriots are Super Bowl contenders every year, however in the 1960’s this wasn’t the case. Author Jerry Thornton had been a Patriots fan as long as he could remember and stuck with the team through thick and thin. He often remembers, “going to the stadium to find two dumpster fires, the ones that would ignite in the trash every so often due to the abundance of cigarettes, and the product on the field.” (27) He talks about how the first coach of the team Lou Saban was a mentally unstable maniac, who would cut the teams best players simply to send a message to the other players that he was in charge. The Author uses a slippery slope technique and dramatic irony as just when the reader thinks the story of this team couldn’t get any worse he tells the reader that many of the team’s players were homeless people who had tried out in order to get a free meal. He recalls one time Saban had, “seen a player who had been cut in the weeks prior stick around to get the meal at the practice facility in Amherst.” (73) Throughout the novel there is a slight change in mood with every chapter as Thornton begins to become more optimistic of the team and to see this develop over the novel was a beautiful writing technique to me. By the time the novel reaches the end, the author leaves us with one simple sentence, “and once the slow, skinny kid from Michigan got the starting job, the franchise became the greatest American sports dynasty we have ever seen.” (281)

I would recommend this book to not only fans of the New England Patriots, but to fans of sports in general. This tale of rags to riches is good enough to give any fan a hope that their own team may to one day join their league’s elite and become a dynasty. However one critique I have of this novel, is that it is not a very well written book. When reading it I felt as if any fan from the Boston area had picked up pen and paper and had told the story. I for one liked this as it made the story seem more real and satisfying, but many people would be turned off by the writing style. Overall I enjoyed this book as it is one of the few novels that I have read and felt a real personal connection to the author.  

Who Will You Meet in Heaven?

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

By Mitch Albom

Blog post by Melannie Cano


Have you ever wondered what happens when you die? For Eddie, it is all explained after his 83rd birthday.

Eddie grew up aside Ruby Pier; an amusement park near the ocean. His family consists of his parents and an older brother named Joe. By his 83rd birthday he is a,“Squat, white old man with a short neck, a barrel chest, thick forearms and a faded army tattoo on his right shoulder” (Albom 2), and works at Ruby Pier as head of maintenance, taking over his dad's old position.

The book begins with the end of Eddie’s life. His last day on Earth seemed like any other. There was a brand new ride called Freddy’s Free Fall. The ride was supposed to make its way high up, then drop down and stop just before the ground. A cart made its way up, regrettably malfunctioned and was, “tilted at an angle, as if trying to dump its cargo. Four passengers, two men, two women, held only by a safety bar, were grabbing frantically at anything they could” (14). Eddie and his team were able to get the passengers our safely. It was all over until the cart’s cable wire snapped, dropping it like a boulder. A little girl stood on the ground beneath it, and Eddie ran to push her out of the way, thus getting killed by the cart. “Then he was underwater. Then everything was silent. Where is my worry? Where is my pain?” (22).

Eddie awoke in the setting of an old amusement park. He meets a man with blue skin who explains to him that he is the first of five people Eddie will meet in heaven that will explain his earthly life to him, how they impacted it, and a lesson from it. He may of been close with the person, or he may have never met the person, such as the blue skin man. Nevertheless, each had an imperative role in his life, and teach him a lesson about why his life went the way he did.

The structure of the book is one that is unique. It may seem confusing at first, but I honestly appreciate it and find it more engaging. Eddie’s quest of having his life explained to him is repeatedly interrupted by flashbacks of Eddie’s birthday. Each small flashback consisting of a couple of pages reveals how Eddie’s character came to be by his 83rd birthday. As he meets the 5 people in heaven, we as readers also get flashbacks from critical scenes from his life.

I would honestly recommend this book to anyone because it has a lot of different aspects to it. It contains components of realistic fiction, fiction, drama, and mystery. Although it is about the people Eddie meets in Heaven, it is not a prominently religious book. I have yet to finish it but I think that will be soon because everytime I read it I don’t want to put it down.